Chapter Summaries

Plot points and events

• Yu Yuan’s plasma-wrapped tungsten bullet strikes the Shadow Wolf, but a phantom red Werewolf—apparently the will of the Wolf Clan’s Ancestor—appears and blocks it. The phantom also restores the Shadow Wolf’s injuries before vanishing.
• Yu Yuan recognizes the phantom’s power as Beyond Gold, and is shaken by how close he came to provoking a being of that rank.
• The Shadow Wolf approaches while waving a white cloak to signal that he does not want to fight. Yu Yuan warns him off with a shot, then has Zhizhi’s Shadow Rats surround him.
• Through Zhizhi, the Shadow Wolf claims they are allies because he believes Yu Yuan is connected to Dawnlight and the Lord of Dawn. He gives the rats his wolf-fang pendant, called Wild Fang, saying it will explain the situation.
• Yu Yuan takes the pendant, and a voice begins speaking in his mind.

Character developments

• Yu Yuan shifts from aggressive pursuit to cautious restraint after witnessing the Ancestor’s power. He remains wary, but is willing to hear the Shadow Wolf out.
• The Shadow Wolf moves from apparent enemy to pleading messenger. Though reluctant to surrender Wild Fang, he follows the Ancestor’s instruction that doing so will save his life.
• Zhizhi acts as Yu Yuan’s intermediary, relaying the Shadow Wolf’s words and coordinating the Shadow Rats.
• The Wolf Clan’s Ancestor remains unseen, but his protective phantom and prior orders strongly influence events.

Significant themes

• The gulf between levels of power: Beyond Gold beings operate on a scale far above Gold Tier fighters.
• Caution and survival: Yu Yuan recognizes the danger of overconfidence and avoids escalating after seeing the phantom.
• Fate, authority, and obedience: The Ancestor’s unexplained knowledge and commands shape the Shadow Wolf’s choices.
• Misunderstanding and hidden affiliations: Both sides initially treat each other as threats, while the pendant suggests a deeper connection.

Character interactions

• Yu Yuan attacks the Shadow Wolf, but the Ancestor’s phantom intervenes.
• Yu Yuan and the Shadow Wolf communicate indirectly through Zhizhi and the Shadow Rats, with Yu Yuan using a warning shot to control the encounter.
• The Shadow Wolf offers Wild Fang as proof of his claim; Yu Yuan’s response to the voice from the pendant is left unresolved.

Plot points and events

• Yu Yuan recognizes the mysterious voice as Old Dog’s—the shabby bar owner he once saw drinking alone. He realizes Old Dog is the Wolf Clan Ancestor, and that the Werewolf phantom who intervened on his behalf was Old Dog.
• Taking Old Dog’s warning seriously, Yu Yuan allows Shadow Wolf to approach, but cautions him not to act suspiciously. Shadow Wolf is startled to discover that Yu Yuan is only Bronze Tier, despite having killed Artus and nearly defeated him.
• Shadow Wolf confirms that the Wolf Clan Ancestor sent him with a pendant and ordered him to obey Yu Yuan. He gives Yu Yuan his two Civilization Ruins Invitations; Yu Yuan then lets him go hide.
• Combining the five invitations he has collected, Yu Yuan completes the Morpheus Civilization Ruins Access Key. The system grants him the ruins’ highest Management Access, along with a live regional map and a resource-distribution map.
• The map identifies Sleeping Gods’ Abode as the most valuable location. Eager to investigate, Yu Yuan sets off for it.

Character developments

• Yu Yuan shifts from suspecting a trap to trusting Shadow Wolf once he learns Old Dog is involved. He remains cautious but recognizes the Wolf Clan’s apparent goodwill.
• Shadow Wolf is wary and prepared to flee, then confused and humbled by Yu Yuan’s power and composure. He follows Yu Yuan’s order to hide, accepting that events are beyond his control.
• Old Dog is revealed as the Wolf Clan Ancestor, giving new significance to his earlier, seemingly eccentric kindness toward Yu Yuan.

Significant themes

• Hidden identities and overturned assumptions: The unremarkable Old Dog is revealed to be a powerful clan ancestor.
• Power versus appearance: Yu Yuan’s Bronze Tier status sharply contrasts with his victories and the pressure he exerts on a stronger Silver Tier player.
• Trust and obligation: Old Dog’s personal intervention leads Yu Yuan to spare Shadow Wolf and treat him as an ally rather than an enemy.
• Knowledge as power: The highest Management Access gives Yu Yuan a strategic advantage by revealing the ruins’ buildings and resources.

Character interactions

• Old Dog’s voice protects Yu Yuan and instructs Shadow Wolf to obey him.
• Yu Yuan and Shadow Wolf cautiously negotiate: Yu Yuan questions him, takes the invitations, and tells him to stay out of sight; Shadow Wolf complies.
• Yu Yuan’s Shadow Rat, Zhizhi, relays messages between them and reports that Shadow Wolf is following instructions.

Plot points and events

• Yu Yuan gains access to the Morpheus Civilization Ruins’ “Deep Sleep Abode” and enters its central tower.
• On the first floor, he finds a statue honoring Mortarion, founder of biological Civilization. A smaller, snarky inscription beneath it calls him “the most shameless founding father.”
• The second floor contains a living, mycelium-lined hall and a reading area filled with occult-looking objects and old books.
• A faded note mentions “Civilization deviation” and “a new order within the old Civilization.” Yu Yuan cannot decipher its full meaning, but finds the name Wormwood at the bottom.
• He identifies several items as Wormwood’s, including a Legendary Stargazing Telescope associated with prophecy. The note may be interpretable by a Prophet.
• The books confirm Wormwood’s authorship of works on prophecy and mysticism, while books on potions list Amenna as compiler. Yu Yuan takes the books and furnishings before continuing toward the third floor.

Character developments and interactions

• Yu Yuan proves meticulous and opportunistic: he investigates inscriptions and artifacts, records his discovery, and gathers valuable items. His curiosity shifts from the ruins’ contents to the possible relationship between Mortarion and Wormwood.
• Mortarion is presented as a revered biological pioneer who preserved a private reading space and Wormwood’s writings in his tower.
• Wormwood emerges as a powerful figure associated with prophecy, mysticism, and Mortarion’s ruins. Her teasing inscription suggests an intimate familiarity with him.
• Amenna, previously known as Wormwood’s trusted assistant, is linked to the ruins through potion books bearing her name.
• Although Mortarion and Wormwood do not appear directly, their relationship is suggested through the personalized inscription, dedicated reading room, and shared history implied by the preserved materials.

Significant themes

• Hidden history and Civilization change: The note’s reference to deviation and a “new order” hints at a major, unresolved shift in the Civilization Ladder.
• Prophecy and uncertainty: Wormwood’s artifacts and writings emphasize foresight, while the incomplete note leaves Yu Yuan with questions rather than answers.
• Exploration and discovery: Each floor reveals more about the ruins’ inhabitants, drawing Yu Yuan deeper into their secrets.
• Personal traces in ancient places: Wormwood’s handwriting and possessions make the distant past feel intimate—and fuel Yu Yuan’s speculation about her bond with Mortarion.

Key events

• Yu Yuan discovers Wormwood’s Vitality Pool, a movable legendary healing facility Mortarion created for her. It can cure disease and toxins, repair injuries, regenerate limbs, revive beings who still show signs of life, heal mental trauma, and counter the bodily effects of aging. Yu Yuan packs it up using his highest Management Access.
• On the fourth floor, he finds the Hall of Life and Wisdom: a crystal Tree of Life surrounded by twelve Pillars of Knowledge.
• Touching the Tree’s leaves reveals detailed records of individual species, including creatures Mortarion discovered in other worlds and species he created. Mortarion’s recorded voice describes some of them, including the Shadow Cat and Abyss Whale.
• Yu Yuan sits at the Pillar of Evolution and connects to its knowledge system. He learns that its glowing spheres each contain a distinct piece of information, such as evolution pathways and methods for transcendent evolution. Realizing the pillars hold a comprehensive body of biological knowledge, he decides to take it all.

Character developments

• Yu Yuan’s awe of Mortarion deepens: even Mortarion’s seemingly casual creations prove extraordinarily advanced. Yu Yuan also shows growing confidence and opportunism, using his access to claim valuable facilities and pursue the knowledge left behind.
• Mortarion emerges through his recorded explanations as a calm, generous explorer and scholar, who collected species and invited others—such as the Abyss Whale Chieftain—to join his Civilization Star Track system.
• Wormwood’s importance is suggested by the pool’s name and its personal purpose: it was built to comfort and care for her.

Themes

• Biological mastery: Mortarion’s civilization can heal, preserve, study, and potentially transform life on an immense scale.
• Knowledge as power: The Tree and pillars organize vast biological understanding into an accessible system, presented as the foundation of a Gold Tier civilization.
• Care alongside ambition: The vitality pool is both an advanced technology and a personal gift, while Yu Yuan’s response emphasizes its practical and strategic value.

Character interactions

• Mortarion’s recorded voice guides Yu Yuan through the species archive, creating a quiet connection between the absent creator and the curious visitor.
• Yu Yuan interacts with Mortarion’s creations through his Management Access, first claiming the vitality pool and then engaging with the Pillar of Evolution.

Plot points and events

• Yu Yuan learns that the Tree of Life and the Pillar of Knowledge cannot be taken with him, so he searches the upper floors for something portable that might have world coordinates.
• On the fifth floor, he discovers floating crystals that store memories. Most are dark and empty; the glowing crystals let him witness scenes from Mortarion’s past.
• In an early memory, the young Mortarion—called Xiao An—is pretending to be unconscious. Wormwood (then called Xiao Ai) catches on and beats him with a cane, while A Yang watches and leaves.
• Most of the remaining early memories also feature Mortarion and Wormwood as young, pre-Gold-tier figures.
• A later memory shows an older, troubled Mortarion on Morpheus. He says he created the Living Planet to revive Wormwood, whose genes could be used to grow her anew if Morpheus evolved beyond Gold and sacrificed all its life energy.
• Mortarion also mentions increasing pressure from the Abyss, corruption among his allies, and a remarkable rebirth-capable creature reported by someone named Adlan. He plans to investigate it as a possible aid in restoring Wormwood.
• Yu Yuan suspects this memory is near Mortarion’s death and wonders whether Adlan was connected to it. He turns to the final crystal, eager to see what it contains.

Character developments and interactions

• Yu Yuan shifts from searching for valuable objects to investigating the crystals as a source of history. He recognizes Wormwood with confidence but cannot identify A Yang, whom he suspects may be one of the Four Horsemen.
• The young Mortarion is playful and deceptive, while Wormwood is affectionate but quick to anger; their exchange suggests a familiar, teasing relationship. A Yang comes across as capable, observant, and weary.
• The older Mortarion is markedly changed: exhausted, confused, stubborn, and possibly mentally unstable, with signs of damage to his heart meridian. His devotion to Wormwood remains unwavering.
• Mortarion’s references to Adlan and the Abyss raise questions about his final days and the threats facing his people.

Significant themes

• Love and sacrifice: Mortarion is willing to spend Morpheus’s entire life force to bring Wormwood back.
• Memory and loss: The crystals preserve fragments of the past, revealing how people and relationships changed over time.
• Hope amid decline: Even as Mortarion faces political pressure, corruption, and personal deterioration, he searches for a way to restore Wormwood.
• The cost of resurrection: Reviving Wormwood requires an extraordinary evolution and the sacrifice of a living world.

Plot points and events

• A powerful Demon army attacks Morpheus, seeking Mortarion’s biological knowledge to accelerate the spread of their system. They believe Mortarion is gone and that Morpheus’s defenses are the only obstacle.
• Mortarion, now little more than a fading remnant, watches the planet’s defenses fail. He speaks with Red Sister, who warns him that she and A Yang are investigating the crisis and making progress on their research into the New World.
• Mortarion refuses to let Red Sister come to his aid. He suspects Arland betrayed his location and decides to sacrifice Morpheus to buy time for his allies.
• He orders Morpheus to destroy and separate its core, seal and archive its advanced facilities, and preserve the seeds of his biological civilization across the Civilization Wasteland. He then enters hibernation, entrusting Morpheus with finding and guiding his successors.
• Morpheus carries out the plan, opens an escape passage into the Spiritual Dimension, and self-destructs. The blast devastates the invading Demons; the Frost Demon dies, while others flee or try to escape.
• Morpheus’s core escapes through the dimensional rift to preset coordinates. The explosion shakes the entire Civilization Star Track, and a faint light appears on the black-hole-like body at its center.

Character developments

• Mortarion moves from despair at the betrayal and impending defeat to calm resolve. He chooses sacrifice over surrender, prioritizing his allies’ future and the survival of his legacy.
• Morpheus becomes more than a defensive planet: it accepts Mortarion’s final mission with evident devotion, then meets its destruction with determined defiance.
• Red Sister shows concern for Mortarion and her other allies, but is unable to change his decision.
• The Demons reveal their confidence and ambition, but the catastrophe turns their attack into a desperate struggle to survive.

Significant themes

• Sacrifice and legacy: Mortarion gives up his present power so his successors may inherit his work and continue his civilization.
• Loyalty and remembrance: Morpheus promises to honor Mortarion and carry out his wishes even after his apparent disappearance.
• Resistance against overwhelming force: Morpheus’s final act is both a weapon against its attackers and a refusal to yield.
• Betrayal and uncertainty: Mortarion suspects Arland has exposed him, adding a personal dimension to the invasion.

Character interactions

• Mortarion reassures Red Sister but firmly rejects her attempt to help, entrusting her with the safety of herself, A Yang, and A-Feng.
• Mortarion gives Morpheus its final orders and asks it to find and guide his successors; Morpheus answers with a solemn promise to remember him.
• During the escape, Pain Aldan uses the Frost Demon as a springboard, condemning him to the blast and provoking his furious threat.

Summary

Plot and discoveries

After leaving the memory of Mortarion and Morpheus, Yu Yuan reflects on what he saw. He suspects Mortarion’s fall was part of a wider chain of events tied to the mysterious and dangerous New World, where powerful beings have died and where Mortarion hid the Flame of Civilization. Yu Yuan records his questions and deductions in the Hideout Memo, while remaining cautious about whether the memories he witnessed were genuine.
Zhizhi asks him to pause before going to the next floor. Yu Yuan ends their Integration and finds Zhizhi swollen from consuming too much information about Morpheus’s destruction, so he waits for the creature to digest it. In the meantime, he inspects his recent loot: a Legendary Wolf Clan fang, Artus’s equipment, a bone from a Blighted Plague Dragon, and a rare Oddity called Devourer’s Stomach Pouch, ranked 683rd among all Oddities.

Character developments and interactions

• Yu Yuan feels a surprising pull toward Mortarion and the Esoteric Church after witnessing Mortarion’s memories, but recognizes the risk of being manipulated and deliberately restores his caution.
• He realizes the Wolf Clan fang is a perfect fit for Hogg, since its powers strengthen Wolf Clan members and can protect its wearer from a fatal attack.
• Zhizhi’s request reveals the physical cost of absorbing the memories: it has overeaten and needs time to recover.

Themes

The chapter emphasizes uncertainty and vigilance: even compelling memories may be altered, and Yu Yuan cannot afford to trust powerful figures blindly. It also builds the mystery surrounding the New World, the Flame of Civilization, and the historical catastrophe on Morpheus, while showing how hidden knowledge can have consequences for those who absorb it.

Key plot points and events

• Yu Yuan acquires the Devourer’s Stomach Pouch, a rare Oddity ranked 683rd. It has limitless, weightless storage, preserves anything inside unchanged, and can digest unwanted items into nutrients before randomly producing a treasure.
• The deaths of Demon Anta and Artus, both prominent Silver Tier players with potential to reach Gold Tier, draw attention from powerful beings.
• In the Bottomless Abyss World, the Lava Demon King wakes when Anta dies, sensing that Anta’s soul was erased and altered. He orders a search for the culprit. He also dismisses concerns about the Lava Clan’s connection to Gulrad, placing blame on the Frost Clan.
• The Serpent of Revival, Amunia, discovers Artus is dead and sends followers in Snake Kiss to investigate, threatening whoever is responsible.
• Zhizhi finishes digesting the memories it absorbed and tells Yu Yuan that Morpheus’s explosion is likely a pivotal event in the Civilization Ladder’s history. The final memory nearly overwhelmed Zhizhi—but it now senses that it is nearing evolution.

Character developments and interactions

• Yu Yuan recognizes the pouch’s potential, especially its ability to turn useless items into random treasures, and asks Zhizhi to explain what it learned.
• Zhizhi is strained by absorbing the final memory but becomes excited when it feels evolution approaching. It and Yu Yuan share the conclusion that the events surrounding Morpheus mark a major turning point.
• The Lava Demon King responds to Anta’s death with anger and suspicion, while presenting himself as a loyal ally to the Blood Grand Duke.
• Amunia shows how carefully it cultivates its followers: Artus’s death is both a personal concern and a significant loss of a promising recruit.

Significant themes

• Consequences beyond the immediate conflict: The deaths of two Silver Tier figures alert Gold Tier powers and may trigger wider investigations.
• Secrets and historical change: Zhizhi’s reaction suggests that Morpheus’s explosion is not merely a major incident but an event capable of reshaping the Civilization Ladder.
• Power and deception: The Lava Demon King’s outward claims of loyalty contrast with his concealed political maneuvering.

Key plot points and events

• Yu Yuan senses the Serpent of Revival using Faith Power to issue a Divine Revelation: Artus is dead, and its believers must investigate everyone who entered the Civilization Ruins to find the killer.
• Yu Yuan recognizes the order as a potential opportunity, but postpones acting on it until he has dealt with the Ruins.
• At the highest level of the Sleeping Gods’ Abode, Yu Yuan finds the final two items beneath a shield. Before he can approach them, the Eye of Morpheus appears outside the dome.
• A final trial is triggered. Players cannot leave the Abode without passing, and the trial tests knowledge of biological Civilization. Yu Yuan infers that Mortarion designed the Ruins’ earlier challenges and the twelve Pillars of Knowledge to lead contestants to this test and identify a successor.
• Yu Yuan’s Management Access cannot override the trial. He summons Jiu Feng, explains the situation, and lets him attempt the first stage.
• Yu Yuan releases Mona to establish a Dark Sanctuary and monitor Jiu Feng for corruption or other spiritual dangers. Jiu Feng passes the first stage, and prepares to attempt the rest.

Character developments and interactions

• Yu Yuan remains alert and calculating: he quickly recognizes the Serpent’s revelation as useful, pieces together Mortarion’s plan, and takes precautions before letting Jiu Feng begin the trial.
• Jiu Feng reasons that the trial’s early stages should be manageable and volunteers to test them. He passes the first stage, apparently aided by talent and the fragments of Mortarion’s consciousness he absorbed.
• Mona follows Yu Yuan’s instructions, turning the level into a Dark Sanctuary and carefully monitoring Jiu Feng’s soul.
• Yu Yuan reassures Jiu Feng that the Eye’s presence will not corrupt him inside the dome, then supports his decision to proceed while warning him not to overexert himself.

Significant themes

• Knowledge as a test of worth: The trial makes biological knowledge central to finding a successor.
• Preparation and foresight: Mortarion’s layered plan, Yu Yuan’s precautions, and Jiu Feng’s assessment all emphasize planning ahead.
• Power and vulnerability: Even dead, Morpheus’s Gold Tier presence overwhelms Yu Yuan, while the dome offers protection.
• Opportunity amid danger: Yu Yuan treats the Serpent’s hunt for Artus’s killer as a possible opening, even as the immediate trial takes priority.

Plot points and events

• Jiu Feng completes Mortarion’s Final Trial after two exhausting days, needing an extra lesson at the Pillar of Knowledge to pass. The [Wormwood’s Vitality Pool] helps restore his depleted body and mind.
• Mona confirms Jiu Feng shows no signs of possession, contamination, or an alien consciousness. Yu Yuan sends both Jiu Feng and Mona to rest.
• Yu Yuan approaches the platform, where a purple triangular crystal and a doll have been left. Mortarion’s recorded projection appears and explains that he arranged the trials as a way to find a suitable successor.
• Mortarion reveals that the Civilization Star Track has changed: a powerful force has turned it into a game-like system of data. He says he made a deal with that force, offering his Civilization Ruins in exchange for an opportunity to find an heir.
• He warns Yu Yuan to keep his inherited knowledge secret until he is powerful, and to avoid investigating Mortarion and his enemies.
• The crystal contains coordinates to Morpheus’s Core Ruins in the Spiritual Dimension, where resources can help Yu Yuan reach Gold Tier. Mortarion advises waiting until Yu Yuan reaches the peak of Silver Tier before going there.
• The doll is both the key to the ruins and a way to draw them into Yu Yuan’s world as a subsidiary world, giving him a place for biological research.
• Before vanishing, Mortarion warns Yu Yuan to avoid Abyssal Demons and anyone who controls Blood Energy, then cryptically anticipates meeting him.
• Yu Yuan remains wary of Mortarion’s motives and decides to treat his claims as unverified advice. He reaches for the crystal and doll.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiu Feng proves he has mastered the principles of biological Civilization and is qualified as Mortarion’s successor. His hard work leaves him physically and mentally exhausted.
• Yu Yuan supports Jiu Feng, checks his safety through Mona, and takes a cautious, pragmatic stance toward Mortarion’s warnings and intentions.
• Mona demonstrates vigilance as Dark High Priest and officiant, staying with Jiu Feng throughout the trials; she is exhausted as well.
• Mortarion comes across as calculating and guarded: he has planned for changing circumstances, concealed conditions around his legacy, and leaves warnings that deepen Yu Yuan’s suspicions.
• The main interactions are Yu Yuan’s supportive exchange with Jiu Feng and Mona, and Mortarion’s posthumous guidance—and manipulation—of Yu Yuan through his recorded message.

Significant themes

• Inheritance and worthiness: The trials test whether Jiu Feng understands the principles behind Mortarion’s Civilization.
• Secrecy and survival: Mortarion urges Yu Yuan to conceal his inheritance and avoid powerful enemies.
• Distrust and uncertainty: Yu Yuan refuses to accept Mortarion’s account at face value, emphasizing independent judgment.
• Power and preparation: The ruins and their resources offer a route to greater strength, but accessing them too early could be dangerous.

Key plot points and events

• Mortarion’s final gifts give Yu Yuan two major assets: a Spiritual Dimension locator he can use once he reaches Gold Tier, and a doll that lets him connect to and relocate the Morpheus Civilization Ruins.
• Yu Yuan uses the doll to claim the ruins. He gains the highest management authority, including control of the ruins’ defenses and access to the Esoteric Church’s faith system.
• With the Eye of Morpheus, spore bombs, and other defenses at his command, Yu Yuan believes he could now defeat powerful opponents such as Demon Anta or Artus.
• After three days in the ruins, Yu Yuan prepares to return to Greenwood World. Before leaving, he summons Shadow Wolf and warns him that outsiders will investigate the deaths of Anta and Artus.
• Yu Yuan suggests that Shadow Wolf redirect suspicion toward the Blood Clan by implying that more than one Blood Clan member entered the ruins. Shadow Wolf understands the scheme and eagerly agrees to help frame them.

Character developments

• Yu Yuan consolidates his position as the ruins’ owner and gains both defensive power and strategic resources. He also shows himself to be a calculating schemer, quick to turn uncertainty around the deaths into an opportunity.
• Shadow Wolf shifts from frustration and concern about the coming investigation to excitement at the prospect of harming the Blood Clan’s interests. He increasingly recognizes Yu Yuan’s strategic ability.

Significant themes

• Power and control: Yu Yuan’s new authority transforms the ruins into a defensible stronghold and personal resource base.
• Secrecy and risk: The ruins’ relocation could attract attention, while the deaths inside them will invite scrutiny.
• Manipulation and political rivalry: Yu Yuan exploits incomplete information to steer suspicion toward the Blood Clan.
• Inheritance and responsibility: Mortarion’s gifts pass powerful assets and influence to Yu Yuan.

Character interactions

• Yu Yuan and Zhizhi coordinate Shadow Wolf’s arrival.
• Yu Yuan questions Shadow Wolf about who knows he entered the ruins, then advises him on how to handle the investigation.
• Shadow Wolf challenges the plausibility of blaming the Blood Clan, but Yu Yuan reframes the uncertainty surrounding the deaths. Shadow Wolf accepts the plan and asks Yu Yuan to decide what he should do.

Key plot points and events

• Yu Yuan and Shadow Wolf keep their distance, using Wild Fang—and the will of Shadow Wolf’s ancestor within it—as a safeguard while they negotiate.
• Yu Yuan scripts a cover story for Shadow Wolf: spores weakened him, he witnessed the players’ battle, and a mysterious blood-red, silver-streaked figure killed the Blood Clan woman who had attacked the wounded Artus. Shadow Wolf is to share this account only if necessary.
• To make the story believable, Yu Yuan exposes Shadow Wolf to parasitic spores, then kills them with disinfectant. The spores leave Shadow Wolf visibly injured and his fur patchy. Yu Yuan gives him an injector, and Shadow Wolf heals quickly, though his coat remains damaged.
• Shadow Wolf asks for Wild Fang back. Yu Yuan claims the ancestor entrusted the pendant to him and appointed him to restore the Wolf Clan, refusing to return it.
• Worn down and convinced Yu Yuan has some inexplicable connection to his ancestor, Shadow Wolf gives up arguing and agrees to leave. Yu Yuan uses his highest Management Access to end the expedition, and both are transported out of the ruins.

Character developments and interactions

• Yu Yuan shows his talent for manipulation, improvising a convincing false account and arranging physical “evidence.” He also opportunistically keeps Wild Fang, using the ancestor’s authority to silence Shadow Wolf.
• Shadow Wolf is reluctant but follows Yu Yuan’s instructions because his ancestor ordered him to do so. He remains skeptical of Yu Yuan’s claims, yet cannot risk challenging them and ultimately accepts his losses.
• Their relationship is defined by mutual caution: Old Dog’s presence in Wild Fang serves as a mediator, but Yu Yuan gains the upper hand through deception and Shadow Wolf’s loyalty to his ancestor.

Significant themes

• Deception as strategy: Yu Yuan manufactures both a story and evidence to control what others will believe.
• Power and leverage: Shadow Wolf’s superior status does not protect him from Yu Yuan’s schemes; the ancestor’s command and Wild Fang shape the balance between them.
• Trust under uncertainty: Shadow Wolf cannot verify Yu Yuan’s claims, but the ancestor’s apparent favor makes them difficult to dismiss.

Key plot points and events

• After returning from the Civilization Ruins, Yu Yuan catches up on Greenfield’s many messages and invites her to meet in person at Mysterious Magic Alley, a secure world known for private business negotiations.
• Greenfield arrives and Yu Yuan is startled by her resemblance to a young Wormwood: the same green hair, prophetic talent, and face. He keeps his suspicion to himself.
• Yu Yuan offers Greenfield several Legendary Grade prophecy items he found in the Sleeping Gods’ Abode. Though they once belonged to Wormwood, Greenfield shows no unusual recognition—only intense excitement.
• The pair haggle over the items. Greenfield pleads for an ally’s discount, while Yu Yuan stresses their rarity and high value. After a proposed half-price deal makes him withdraw the items, Greenfield reminds him that she previously helped him hide the Spiritual Dimension’s location using Pisces’ Fate Compass. Yu Yuan counters with a smaller discount and suggests she can sign a contract to pay later.

Character developments

• Yu Yuan is practical and teasing: he offers the items because they suit Greenfield’s abilities, but insists on being paid. His discovery of her resemblance to Wormwood raises a private question he chooses not to pursue yet.
• Greenfield reveals how much she values prophecy tools—and how reluctant she is to spend her savings. She shifts from eager buyer to persuasive negotiator, invoking their history as allies.

Significant themes

• Trust and mutual obligation: The allies rely on one another, but still negotiate the value of their help.
• Power and scarcity: Legendary prophecy items are exceptionally rare and valuable, especially to specialists like Greenfield.
• Unanswered identity and connection: Greenfield’s resemblance to Wormwood hints at a mystery, though the chapter offers no explanation.

Character interactions

Yu Yuan’s and Greenfield’s first face-to-face meeting is marked by his unspoken shock, her curiosity about his stare, and a playful but determined bargaining match. Their shared past becomes leverage in the negotiation, showing both their closeness and their willingness to challenge each other.

Key plot points

• Greenfield buys five unique Legendary Grade prophecy items and several Legendary Grade prophecy books from Yu Yuan. The purchase empties her savings and leaves her with a five-billion-Survival-Point debt.
• Yu Yuan reassures her that the rare equipment and books are more valuable than ordinary currency and will help her earn money faster.
• They discuss the recent deaths of Tuohuo Laiyi, Anta, and Artus, which have stirred speculation and bounty-hunting across the Civilization Ladder.
• Greenfield realizes Yu Yuan was involved in the mysterious Civilization Ruins events. He explains that he wants her to use a clue and plan he provides to create chaos and pursue a reward.
• Greenfield considers delaying the clue’s release to increase its value. Yu Yuan insists on half the reward, claiming credit for the information and strategy.

Character developments and interactions

• Greenfield shifts from financial panic to renewed confidence as she recognizes the value of her investment. Her ambition and eagerness to profit soon reassert themselves.
• Yu Yuan shows himself to be a shrewd, resourceful ally: he equips Greenfield, frames the deal as an investment, and recruits her to help advance his broader scheme. His demand for half the reward adds a playful, transactional edge to their partnership.
• Their friendly alliance is built on mutual benefit, but Yu Yuan’s calculated bargaining and Greenfield’s concern over money keep their exchanges teasingly adversarial.

Significant themes

• Wealth versus rare advantage: Survival Points can be earned again, while unique items and information offer lasting power.
• Debt and investment: Greenfield’s frightening debt may become the price of greater influence and future earnings.
• Information as leverage: Clues, rewards, and controlled revelations can be used to profit and manipulate events.
• Chaos and uncertainty: Yu Yuan’s plan threatens to unsettle the Civilization Ladder, while Greenfield suspects he may be the prophesied “Shuffler.”

Plot and events

• The All-Nations Covenant Civilization holds an administrative conference to review its expansion, military readiness, and resource production.
• The Hunter Training Camp has trained 3,642 soldiers, with another 1,000 in training. Although none has earned the [Hunter] identity template, hundreds have qualified as elite veterans, and gene-modification treatments are steadily producing Bronze Tier combat units.
• New weapons are entering production, including the Rare Grade [Arc-Light Electromagnetic Kinetic Gun] and several specialized grenades.
• The Pioneer Corps reports progress across three fronts: it has captured Liberty Tower World’s second tower and is preparing to scout the third; it is clearing and repurposing the Nuclear Weapons Test Site in Dead Mine Town World; and it has mapped key factions on Mechanical Junk Planet, including the likely base of the Esoteric Church. Alpha Wolf recommends concentrating forces on Liberty Tower World to secure an outpost.
• Resource operations are expanding. Dead Mine Town’s mineral output is rising, and a uranium deposit appears to overlap with the area where Red Ghosts have been active. The Myriad Nations Bathhouse is attracting more visitors and gathering useful intelligence and goods.
• Food production is advancing in Giant Tree World: crops are nearing harvest, existing supplies can feed the civilization for at least two years, and aquaculture and animal breeding are developing.
• Lava Ore mining continues, leaving warehouses full of processed Lava Element Blocks. Potion World is focused on energy-vein mining, while Biological Alchemy World is advancing its research.
• Mechanical Junk Planet’s base has been fortified, and the [M-Type Core Titan] has cleared nearby wreckage, yielding a large cache of blueprints—five Epic Grade, 178 Rare Grade, and more than a thousand lower-grade designs.
• After hearing the reports, Yu Yuan prepares to present the civilization’s next plans.

Character developments and interactions

• Carmen, the second-in-command, oversees Greenwood World, interworld logistics, training, and military modernization, reporting the civilization’s growing capabilities to Yu Yuan.
• Alpha Wolf demonstrates a strategic focus on reconnaissance and territorial consolidation, proposing Liberty Tower World as the Pioneer Corps’ next priority. Yu Yuan acknowledges the recommendation but postpones the decision.
• Kuis presents developments across the resource worlds, while other leaders report on their areas of responsibility.
• Fang now manages Mechanical Junk Planet, and Marsil leads the Mechanical Research Institute; their combined work has made the planet’s base secure and its salvage operation highly productive.
• Yu Yuan listens to the reports, approves ongoing development—particularly food-production arrangements—and takes charge of setting the next strategic direction.

Significant themes

• Expansion through coordination: Military, industrial, and administrative leaders coordinate activity across many worlds.
• Preparation and modernization: Training, genetic enhancement, advanced weapons, and fortifications strengthen the civilization ahead of future conflicts.
• Resource development and self-sufficiency: Mining, food production, aquaculture, breeding, and salvaged technology support long-term independence.
• Opportunity and risk: Newly discovered resources and blueprints promise major gains, while threats such as the Red Ghosts and powerful rival factions require continued investigation and caution.

Plot points and events

• Two days after Anta’s death, the Fallen Abyss’s investigation remains intense. The Civilization Ruins blocks prophecy and reconnaissance, making it difficult to identify who entered.
• Investigators confirm four deaths: Anta, Artus, a Blood Clan elder, and a Bronze Tier player. Anta and the elder died at nearly the same time; Artus is also suspected of involvement, but his death leaves investigators unable to question him.
• A report from the Astral Orbit Order says a combined use of two Legendary prophetic Items may reveal information about holders of the Ruins’ invitation. One such person, Moonshadow Breath, appears to be closely connected to the invitation. A Lava Demon orders a full investigation into her.
• The Serpent of Revival answers a believer’s prayer. The believer reports that Artus had close ties to Duke Night Ancient of the Blood Clan before entering the Ruins.
• He also connects Artus to Tuohuo Laiyi, an important Bronze Tier agent who was killed by the Wild Court’s Forger. Tuohuo Laiyi declared war on the Forger shortly after communicating with Artus, while Artus was also in contact with Duke Night Ancient.
• The believer suspects Duke Night Ancient may have been involved in both deaths. Cautious, the Serpent does not accept the theory outright and asks for the Prophet’s name so it can investigate independently. The chapter ends as the believer begins to identify the Prophet as Greenfield Cruise Ship.

Character developments

• The Lava Demon shifts focus from the Ruins’ general mystery to Moonshadow Breath after learning prophecy may uncover her connection.
• The Serpent of Revival becomes more alert to the possibility that Artus’s death, Tuohuo Laiyi’s death, and Duke Night Ancient’s activities are linked. Its caution remains strong despite the believer’s detailed report.
• The believer demonstrates devotion and careful investigative work, presenting a theory while leaving judgment to his deity.

Significant themes

• Limits and possibilities of knowledge: The Ruins resists detection, but powerful tools and indirect investigation may still reveal clues.
• Faith and skepticism: The believer trusts the Serpent, while the Serpent weighs his report without accepting it blindly.
• Hidden alliances and suspicion: The timing of contacts and conflicts suggests that deaths and political events may be connected behind the scenes.

Character interactions

• A Lava Demon receives intelligence from the Astral Orbit Order and orders more information on Moonshadow Breath.
• The Serpent of Revival manifests through a statue at a ritual altar, hears its believer’s findings, and requests the Prophet’s identity to pursue its own investigation.

Plot points and events

• During a planning meeting at the Civilization Clocktower, Yu Yuan briefly pauses after sensing a faith-related event. He uses [Redirect the Calamity] to send Greenfield a warning: the Serpent of Revival may soon act. Greenfield replies that he is prepared.
• The group discusses how to settle female captives and strengthen the Civilization’s population and stability. Yu Yuan approves a social gathering for prospective couples and a grand collective wedding, with free family housing in Giant Tree World.
• Yu Yuan privately plans to use the Hideout’s [Mammal Breeding Room] to improve human fertility and birth outcomes.
• He decides to move Jiu Feng’s Biological Research Institute from Johnk Zoo’s cramped underground lab to the Morpheus Civilization Ruins. The ruins will remain in the void and be reached by Portal, avoiding the risks of moving them closer to Greenwood World.
• After the meeting, Yu Yuan buys two new Information Cards and reads the latest Global News Weekly. It reports that Oil Creatures have attacked a Mechanical Vanguard Society outpost—apparently the result of Yu Yuan redirecting their attention toward the Terra Continent.
• Another story describes Roberts, grand pontiff of the Esoteric Church, finding respite at the Myriad Nations Bathhouse while longing for the return of the church’s revered “Grandfather.”

Character developments and interactions

• Yu Yuan shows himself as a strategic, pragmatic leader, balancing population growth and social stability with research expansion and security. He is pleased that his experimental use of [Redirect the Calamity] has worked.
• Carmen helps keep the meeting on track and proposes work assignments and matchmaking opportunities for the captives. Zhou Yuan supports the discussion and is assigned responsibility for family housing.
• Greenfield responds calmly to Yu Yuan’s warning, suggesting readiness for the Serpent of Revival’s possible move.
• Roberts appears worn down by travel and uncertainty; his private prayer reveals his continued faith and hope for his church’s leader’s return.

Significant themes

• Rebuilding civilization: Families, housing, employment, and a public wedding are framed as signs of a hopeful future.
• Strategic consequences: Yu Yuan’s attempt to divert danger away from his own territory has caused conflict elsewhere, raising the stakes of his tactics.
• Faith and uncertainty: The faint aura of faith, the expected Serpent of Revival, and Roberts’s prayer connect events to religious forces and unanswered hopes.
• Progress through infrastructure: Relocating the research institute and using the Portal reflect the Civilization’s growing capacity—and its need to manage risk.

Plot and key events

• Yu Yuan learns that several Esoteric Church believers have arrived at the Myriad Nations Bathhouse. Since he needs experts in biological modification for Mortarion’s laboratory, he sees them as a valuable opportunity and asks Kuis to keep them there.
• He also reads that the Flower Language Fairy queen is investigating the Morning Dew Fairies. Yu Yuan hopes Miemie’s Dawnlight aura will help unite the two groups and advance the creation of Hundred-Flower Farm.
• Yu Yuan gathers the week’s new combat manuals to send to the Hunter Training Camp. He notices Miemie exploring the Hideout with unusual alertness, suggesting his intelligence has improved since awakening the Dawnlight Gate. Zhizhi remains unusually sleepy, possibly because it is nearing evolution.
• At the bathhouse, Yu Yuan learns that eight injured travelers—one Silver Tier leader and seven Bronze Tier companions—have been recovering there.
• Yu Yuan reveals his authentic Esoteric Church aura. The men recognize him as a divine emissary connected to “Grandfather.” He tells them that Grandfather is asleep after a divine war and asks them to help awaken him. The believers respond with fervent devotion.

Character developments and interactions

• Yu Yuan acts quickly on opportunities, using his knowledge of the Esoteric Church and his ability to project its genuine faith aura to recruit its members.
• Miemie appears more intelligent and curious, while Zhizhi’s persistent sleepiness hints at an approaching evolution.
• The Esoteric Church leader and his followers move from exhausted travelers seeking shelter to fervent believers eager to serve Yu Yuan’s cause.
• Yu Yuan and the believers form a powerful new connection: he presents himself as the means through which they can help their dormant deity.

Significant themes

• Faith and authority: Yu Yuan’s aura turns religious belief into immediate loyalty and influence.
• Opportunity and resourcefulness: He converts chance encounters into potential gains for his scientific and agricultural plans.
• Growth and transformation: Miemie’s heightened awareness and Zhizhi’s possible evolution suggest that change is unfolding among Yu Yuan’s companions.

Key plot points and events

• Aboard the Greenfield cruise ship, Greenfield investigates links among Artus, Tuohuo Laiyi, Ye Gu, and Moonshadow Breath, using divination tools and the Crystal Ball.
• Her Legendary Grade Pendulum suddenly reacts, and she sends a prepared message. Her consciousness is pulled into a dark void, where she faces the immense Serpent of Revival.
• The Serpent’s presence nearly overwhelms her mind and draws her into a dream. Her Crystal Ball, Pendulum, and Spirit Disc, along with two Twin Fish, help her resist.
• The Star Disciple arrives, surrounds Greenfield with 3,600 protective barriers, and confronts the Serpent for violating the Transdimensional Common Pact. The two powerful beings nearly clash.
• The Serpent admits it only wanted to verify information and offers compensation for the frightening encounter. The Star Disciple negotiates a contract: ten billion Survival Points—or equivalent Legendary Grade or Gold Tier items—plus a separate consultation fee.
• Greenfield agrees to answer the Serpent’s questions truthfully.

Character developments

• Greenfield shows composure and diplomacy under overwhelming pressure, carefully respecting the Serpent without appearing submissive. Afterward, she is stunned by the promised compensation and recognizes a new way to earn wealth.
• The Star Disciple demonstrates swift, formidable protection of Greenfield and uses his leverage to secure compensation. His authority makes the Serpent cautious.
• The Serpent of Revival is revealed to be powerful but not invulnerable politically: it recognizes its breach of the Pact, retreats from escalation, and agrees to pay.

Significant themes

• Power and vulnerability: Even immense beings must respect rules and consequences, while Greenfield’s resistance is extraordinary for a Silver-Tier Player.
• Protection and obligation: The Star Disciple intervenes on Greenfield’s behalf, but expects her to cooperate with the inquiry.
• Diplomacy and leverage: Calm negotiation and political deterrence prevent a potentially catastrophic battle.
• Wealth as compensation: Greenfield’s encounter turns danger into an enormous financial opportunity.

Character interactions

• Greenfield addresses the Serpent respectfully and asks its purpose, then accepts the Star Disciple’s protection and judgment.
• The Star Disciple challenges the Serpent over its treaty violation and threatens reciprocal interference in the Serpent’s worlds.
• The Serpent yields to the Star Disciple’s pressure and agrees to compensation.
• The Star Disciple instructs Greenfield to disclose everything she knows, and she prepares to comply.

Key plot points and events

• Greenfield agrees to tell the Serpent of Revival everything she knows about Artus’s death. Her solemn pledge signals that she will not conceal or distort the truth.
• Using a Legendary Crystal Ball, she lays out links among Artus, Tuohuo Laiyi, and Ye Gu of the Blood Clan. Her investigation suggests Artus hired Tuohuo Laiyi to attack the Forger, with Duke Night Ancient as the real sponsor: Night Ancient favored war against the Wild Court, whose Wolf Clan received equipment from the Forger.
• Greenfield also connects Ye Gu to several people who possessed invitations to the Civilization Ruins. Charles had contact with a Blood Clan descendant who died there, while Ye Gu was linked to both Artus and Moonshadow Breath, his direct descendant.
• The clues suggest that the Blood Clan—and particularly Ye Gu—may have benefited from the deaths of Artus and Tuohuo Laiyi. The Serpent of Revival recognizes Greenfield’s account as truthful.
• The Star Disciple then reveals that a surviving Wolf Clan player, Shadow Wolf, entered the ruins and witnessed what happened. The Star Disciple had withheld this information until the Serpent asked, and offers it as a separate piece of intelligence.

Character developments

• Greenfield proves herself a careful investigator and a persuasive informant, presenting a coherent case while honoring her pledge.
• The Serpent of Revival becomes increasingly suspicious of the Blood Clan and furious at the Star Disciple’s deliberate withholding, but restrains the urge to attack.
• The Star Disciple shows a shrewd, shamelessly transactional streak, treating information as something to sell and insisting the Serpent never asked for it.
• Ye Gu emerges as a likely central figure in the chain of dealings, though his exact role remains unconfirmed.

Significant themes

• Information as power and commerce: Greenfield’s evidence and the Star Disciple’s withheld intelligence both shape the investigation—and are treated as valuable assets.
• Inference versus proof: The connections point toward Duke Night Ancient and Ye Gu, but much of the case is circumstantial.
• Oaths and trust: Greenfield’s promise carries weight because of the beings present, while the Star Disciple’s conduct tests the Serpent’s trust.
• Political schemes and hidden motives: The deaths and conflicts may be tied to concealed sponsorship, rival factions, and strategic use of the Civilization Ruins.

Character interactions

• Greenfield respectfully gives the Serpent her findings, while pointedly reminding it that she pursued the bounty herself.
• The Serpent listens and reassesses the likely motives behind Artus’s and Tuohuo Laiyi’s deaths.
• The Star Disciple interrupts to offer new information, provoking the Serpent with the claim that it had not asked sooner.
• Greenfield reacts to the Star Disciple’s behavior by comparing its scheming nature to Yu Yuan’s, while the Serpent demands that it finally tell the truth.