Chapter Summaries

Plot points

• As Mo Xie’s three-year stay with Qin Yuer comes to an end, he prepares a final dinner in the Cave Grotto. Qin Yuer is too sad to eat, and the Snow Empress, Ice Empress, and others leave the couple alone to talk.
• Beneath the moon beside the alpine rhododendron Mo Xie gave her, he tells Qin Yuer that he came from the future. She accepts this easily and jokes that it makes her his older sister.
• Qin Yuer recalls how her family sent her away after she became a Calamity Victim. She withdrew from her parents because she feared being a burden, but says her time with Mo Xie helped her realize she can face the world again.
• Now able to control her Power of Calamity, she plans to leave Tianshan, reconcile with her parents, and eventually visit Mo Xie’s school. Mo Xie gives her the Evil Emperor’s Blessing amulet to protect her.
• Qin Yuer refuses to seek him out while he is still young, asking him to find her when he is older. The two share a tender farewell night. In the morning, Mo Xie has departed, leaving congee and a note promising they will meet again.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Yuer has moved from isolation and self-imposed separation from her family toward hope, independence, and a willingness to reconnect with them. She accepts the coming separation while holding on to her love for Mo Xie.
• Mo Xie feels guilty that others have repeatedly made sacrifices for him, but supports Qin Yuer’s choices rather than asking her to stay. He offers her the amulet and promises, through his note, that their parting is not final.
• The Snow Empress and Ice Empress show care by giving the couple privacy and reminding Mo Xie that partings can lead to reunions.
• Qin Yuer and Mo Xie share an intimate, affectionate conversation and reaffirm their commitment despite the long wait ahead.

Significant themes

• Parting and reunion: The chapter frames separation as temporary and meaningful, captured in the repeated idea that every parting may lead to a better reunion.
• Love and protection: Mo Xie’s amulet and farewell note symbolize his desire to keep Qin Yuer safe and connected to him.
• Belonging and healing: Qin Yuer’s recovery lets her move beyond loneliness and reconsider her relationship with her family.
• Time and sacrifice: Mo Xie’s knowledge of the future limits what he can change, requiring both characters to accept uncertainty and wait.

Key plot points and events

• Mo Xie returns from three years in Tianshan to the basement, where Ling restores his attention and helps him piece together questions about Qin Yuer, Shao Hongying, and the Blood-robed Man.
• He learns that the Blood-robed Man first appeared around six years earlier, but public records of that incident were suppressed. Mo Xie asks Ling to restore his memories of being in Holy City at the time.
• The memories reveal that Holy and Heretic Tribunal agents targeted Qin Yuer after the World Academy Competition. National Team captain Zu Xingyi intervened, knowing that Shao Hongying might also be exposed as a Calamity Survivor. Holy City sealed Zu’s cultivation and sent him to Bo City for his protection.
• Qin Yuer used Mo Xie’s talisman to summon a clone of the Evil Emperor. The clone rescued her, devastated Holy City, and secretly sealed Shao Hongying—explaining why she escaped capture.
• Mo Xie confirms that Qin Yuer remains in Tianshan. Though he wants to go to her, he decides to strengthen himself first, setting Advanced Level as his goal before attempting the journey.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie moves from disorientation and uncertainty to understanding what happened six years ago. Reassured about Yuer’s safety, he renews his resolve to grow stronger before returning to Tianshan and to reach Xiao Sha in the Dark Plane.
• Ling supports Mo Xie by restoring his memories, giving him the crucial explanation he lacked.
• Qin Yuer is revealed to have acted decisively to protect herself and, indirectly, others; Mo Xie recognizes her warmth and courage.
• Zu Xingyi risked his position to protect Qin Yuer and Shao Hongying. Hua Zhanhong and the Zu Clan helped protect him by sending him to Bo City.
• Shao Hongying escaped Holy City’s pursuit because the Evil Emperor’s clone sealed her.

Significant themes

• Strength and responsibility: Mo Xie concludes that power is essential to protect those waiting for him.
• Protection and sacrifice: Zu Xingyi’s intervention and Qin Yuer’s actions show people risking themselves for others.
• Memory and truth: Restored memories expose the hidden causes behind events that had seemed disconnected.
• Hope and patience: Mo Xie accepts that reunion with his loved ones must wait until he is strong enough.

Key events

• Mo Xie reviews his cultivation: his three main Elements have reached Intermediate Third Rank; Space and Summoning are Intermediate Second Rank, while Shadow remains Intermediate First Rank. His Mental Strength is still in the Third Realm but is gradually improving.
• Little White’s exceptional bloodline means his parents will provide his resources. Little White warns that Mo Xie’s slow Summoning cultivation may eventually limit his growth.
• Mo Xie has been searching for a Contract Beast and had hoped to contract Flame Belle, a powerful Fire-and-Space elemental life-form. However, the Fire Calamity that would bring her is still about a year away.
• Mo Xie discovers an unopened chest on his personal panel. Ling explains that it contains his Contract Beast and a companion left behind by his other self.
• The chest releases a purple-patterned egg, which hatches into a tiny lightning elemental life-form. The panel identifies it as Thunder Tyrant, with both Lightning and Space abilities.
• Delighted by its affinity with his primary Element, Mo Xie names it Little Thunder and feeds it a Spirit Seed Fragment. He begins preparing to form a contract, but Ling urgently advises him not to.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie is pleased by his progress but frustrated that he may be holding Little White back and cannot yet obtain Flame Belle.
• Little White’s confidence in his parents’ support reveals his privileged position, while his warning puts pressure on Mo Xie to cultivate Summoning faster.
• Mo Xie’s surprise at finding another gift from his “other self” renews his unease about his past identities, including the Shadow Descendant King and the Evil Emperor. The narration hints that the Evil Emperor is already influencing his personality.
• Little Thunder appears lively and affectionate: it eagerly eats its eggshell, accepts its new name, and happily consumes the Spirit Seed Fragment. Mo Xie immediately bonds with it, making Ling’s warning to avoid contracting it a sudden source of tension.

Significant themes

• Inheritance and hidden identity: Mo Xie continues uncovering gifts and influences left by another version of himself, raising questions about who he is becoming.
• Cultivation and responsibility: Mo Xie’s advancement affects not only his own power but also Little White’s growth.
• Unexpected opportunity and caution: Little Thunder seems like an ideal companion, but Ling’s warning suggests that accepting the gift may carry risks.

Plot points

• Ling warns Mo Xie that a normal contract could make his cultivation limit the Thunder Tyrant’s growth. Mo Xie considers using a rare Contract Ring, which allows an Equal Contract independent of the contractor’s strength.
• Ling instead teaches him an Ancient Method of contracting. Mo Xie uses it to bind the newly born Little Thunder, leaving his Summoning System’s Contract Summon available for another beast.
• The Ancient Method creates a separate Contract Space suited to the beast’s element: Little Thunder’s realm is filled with storm clouds and lightning, making it ideal for cultivation. Little Thunder consumes a Spirit Seed Fragment and falls asleep.
• Mo Xie returns from what felt like three years of time travel, though only half an hour has passed in the outside world. He finds Ye Xinxia watching television and tells her about Qin Yuer, Ding Yumian, and Tang Yue.
• Xinxia responds by kissing him and confessing her love. She accepts that he has relationships with other women, and the two share another intimate moment.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie shows growing care for Little Thunder’s future and chooses to be honest with Xinxia, despite his guilt. He remains devoted to her and emotionally affected by his long subjective separation from his family.
• Ling acts as a knowledgeable guide, identifying the risks of an ordinary contract and providing Mo Xie with a more powerful alternative.
• Ye Xinxia moves from unspoken suspicion to open acceptance. Mo Xie’s honesty makes her feel valued; she affirms her love and chooses to remain with him.
• Mo Xie and Xinxia’s relationship deepens through a candid conversation, reassurance, and physical affection. Mo Xie also briefly thinks of finding Xiao Fan a more suitable Contract Beast.

Significant themes

• Sincerity and trust: Mo Xie’s confession strengthens rather than breaks his bond with Xinxia.
• Responsibility and growth: A contract carries obligations, and Mo Xie must consider how his own cultivation could affect Little Thunder.
• Love and acceptance: Xinxia accepts Mo Xie’s other relationships, while Mo Xie struggles with guilt over them.
• Time and separation: Mo Xie experiences years away from loved ones while only minutes pass in the outside world.

Plot points and events

• During morning training, Mo Xie tries using newborn Little Thunder’s lightning to help with forging. The experiment explodes because Little Thunder cannot yet control his power, and Mo Xie’s technique requires a balance of lightning, fire, and ice.
• Mo Xie accepts that he rushed the attempt and reassures Little Thunder, who responds affectionately.
• Back upstairs, Mo Xie unexpectedly sees Ye Xinxia changing. Their shared embarrassment and memories of her intimate massage the previous night leave him flustered, so he retreats to shower.
• In a café, two Blue-clothed Deacons complain that Salang treats them poorly compared with their former service under Nine Infants. They discuss Mo Xie, whom they believe Salang favors, and decide to target him as a way to hurt Salang and potentially return to Nine Infants.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie shows both ambition and affection: he recognizes his mistake in expecting too much of Little Thunder and comforts him, but becomes bashful around Ye Xinxia after their intimate encounter.
• Little Thunder is affectionate and eager to please, though still too young to control his lightning reliably. He bonds with both Mo Xie and Ye Xinxia.
• Ye Xinxia is fond of Little Thunder and quietly enjoys seeing Mo Xie’s attraction and embarrassment; she is also shy about the massage she gave him.
• The two Deacons reveal resentment, insecurity, and divided loyalty. The burly one is impulsive and violent, while his suited companion is more cautious, though he entertains the plan.

Significant themes

• Patience and responsibility: Mo Xie learns not to demand abilities beyond Little Thunder’s stage of development.
• Affection and intimacy: The household’s warmth is shown through Little Thunder’s attachment and the playful, awkward closeness between Mo Xie and Ye Xinxia.
• Power and loyalty: The Deacons’ grievances expose factional rivalry and their willingness to use violence to shift allegiance.

Plot points and events

• Mu Ningxue wakes in the quiet Mu Family Manor, reflecting on how the Ice Crystal Bow has changed her—altering her appearance and personality while causing recurring physical torment.
• She notices the red-cord anklet Mo Xie gave her years ago. Though it symbolizes love and good fortune, she fears their relationship is nearing an unhappy end.
• At breakfast, Mu Zhuoyun laments the loss of his family’s former status and the abandonment of old friends and relatives after the Bo City disaster.
• Mu Zhuoyun and Ningxue go to buy flowers to visit her mother. They run into Mo Jiaxing, who mentions that Mo Xie has gone to the same place; Ningxue hurries ahead.
• At the graves, Mo Xie and Ningxue recall their childhood dream of finding a castle in the sky. Mo Xie admits he never found it.
• Mo Xie offers Ningxue Tianshan Pure Dew, which could spare her the pain caused by the Ice Crystal Bow. She interprets the gift as an attempt to end their relationship and asks whether he is eager to send her away.
• Unable to explain himself, Mo Xie hears Ningxue ask him to promise to live well. They each say they will, and she leaves. Mo Xie collapses beneath a tree, overwhelmed by her words.

Character developments

• Mu Ningxue appears vulnerable beneath her usually proud exterior. She longs for an ordinary life and remains emotionally attached to Mo Xie, but believes their relationship may be ending.
• Mo Xie shows care through his effort to obtain a rare remedy, yet his inability to express his intentions deepens the misunderstanding between them. Ningxue’s farewell leaves him devastated.
• Mu Zhuoyun is humbled by the family’s decline and recognizes how few people remained loyal when he lost his standing.

Significant themes

• Love and misunderstanding: Mo Xie’s gift is meant to help, but Ningxue reads it as rejection; neither can clearly express what they want.
• The cost of power and privilege: Ningxue’s exceptional magical potential brings suffering and limits her freedom, while her family’s status has also proved fragile.
• Memory and loss: The anklet, childhood dream, and visits to the graves preserve bonds that time and hardship threaten to break.
• Living well amid sorrow: Ningxue’s simple wish for Mo Xie to live well becomes the chapter’s emotional parting message.

Character interactions

• Ningxue and Mu Zhuoyun share a quiet breakfast and set out together to visit her mother.
• Mo Jiaxing warmly addresses the fallen Mu Zhuoyun as “Brother Zhuoyun,” briefly offering him companionship.
• At the graves, Mo Xie and Ningxue revisit a shared childhood dream, exchange the remedy and a painful misunderstanding, then part with a promise to live well.

Key plot points and events

• Before returning to campus, Mo Xie gives Ye Xinxia an impressive collection of protective Magic Tools and resources. Mo Fan feels envious, but Mo Xie later gives him three lower-level tools of the same types.
• Back at Pearl Academy, Mo Xie trains his Shadow Element until it reaches Intermediate Level Second Rank. Professor Shi advises him on Shadow magic and promises more instruction in Night Ruler once Mo Xie reaches Advanced Level.
• Mo Xie also tracks his other cultivation: Ice is progressing fastest, followed by Lightning. He suspects the Qilin Pendant’s rank may be linked to his cultivation, but plans to test the idea when he reaches Advanced Level. The Sacred Totem White Tiger’s energy should help him break through, while unusable resources can be sold at auction.
• As the semester ends, students prepare for vacation and for the option of moving off campus. Mo Xie offers to help Xu Zhaoting and Zhang Lulu find a rental. The dormmates joke and plan a farewell dinner as they pack.
• Mo Xie then meets Ding Yumian in their usual grove. They share an affectionate reunion and talk about their ideal places: his imagined city in the sky and her island by the sea. Ding Yumian calls Mo Xie her hero and tells him that, though the world sees her as a burden, he is her whole world. He is deeply moved, and they kiss.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie shows generosity toward both Ye Xinxia and Mo Fan, while remaining devoted to cultivation. His private meeting with Ding Yumian reveals a softer, emotionally vulnerable side.
• Mo Fan reacts with playful jealousy to the unequal quality of the gifts, but Mo Xie’s later present reassures him.
• Professor Shi becomes an important mentor, giving Mo Xie practical Shadow Element guidance.
• Xu Zhaoting and Zhang Lulu plan to live together off campus; Mo Xie offers practical help. Dormmates Mo Fan, Zhao Manyan, and Xu Zhaoting trade teasing farewells.
• Ding Yumian and Mo Xie reaffirm their intimacy and mutual devotion. Her declaration that he is her whole world is the emotional center of the chapter.

Significant themes

• Love expressed through care: gifts, protection, practical support, and affection show how the characters look after one another.
• Cultivation and ambition: Mo Xie’s disciplined training and plans for future breakthroughs drive his personal progress.
• Belonging and acceptance: Ding Yumian’s sense of being a burden contrasts with the unconditional value she finds in Mo Xie’s love.
• Contrasting dreams: Mo Xie’s sky city and Ding Yumian’s island reflect their different inner worlds, yet their relationship brings them together.

Plot points and events

• Mo Xie asks his girlfriend, Ding Yumian, to move into his spacious Magic City home so they can spend more time together. She declines because she shares a rental with her best friend, Huang Xingli, and has already booked a trip home to Ningbo for the next morning.
• Mo Xie agrees to see Ding Yumian off and visit her in Ningbo over winter break, where he may meet her grandmother. Their affectionate conversation ends when Huang Xingli comes looking for Ding Yumian.
• After meeting Huang Xingli, Mo Xie senses a trace of evil aura about her. He decides not to act on it, since she seems harmless and is Ding Yumian’s friend, but resolves to keep an eye on her.
• Disappointed that Ding Yumian cannot move in, Mo Xie jokes to himself about hiring two maids to make his house livelier. Mu Nujiao and Ai Tutu overhear him while out walking.
• Ai Tutu eagerly offers that she and Mu Nujiao could become his “maids,” seeing it as a chance to find somewhere to live and spend time near him. Mu Nujiao initially protests, but Ai Tutu persuades her by citing Mo Xie’s strength, his business ties to the Mu Clan, and Mu Nujiao’s curiosity about him. Invoking the Mu Clan finally gives Mu Nujiao a rationale to agree.
• The two women turn toward Mo Xie with unusual intensity, leaving him uneasy and confused.

Character development

• Mo Xie shows affection and longing for more time with Ding Yumian. He is also perceptive and cautious, noticing Huang Xingli’s concealed aura without jumping to conclusions.
• Ding Yumian responds warmly to Mo Xie’s invitation and clearly enjoys their closeness, but her loyalty to her roommate affects her decision.
• Huang Xingli appears shy when introduced to Mo Xie, while the unexplained evil aura around her hints at a possible secret.
• Mu Nujiao is drawn to Mo Xie’s power and mystery, though she is embarrassed by the idea of living with him. She frames her eventual decision as service to her family.
• Ai Tutu is quick-thinking, bold, and persuasive, turning Mo Xie’s offhand joke into a practical plan.

Significant themes and interactions

• Affection and proximity: Mo Xie’s invitation reflects his desire for everyday closeness with Ding Yumian, while her existing commitments limit that intimacy.
• Hidden danger and trust: Mo Xie detects something suspicious in Huang Xingli but balances caution with trust in Ding Yumian’s friendship.
• Pragmatism and self-justification: Ai Tutu mixes practical housing needs with strategic reasons to get close to Mo Xie; Mu Nujiao uses family duty to quiet her personal hesitation.
• Romantic comedy and misunderstanding: Mo Xie’s private joke is overheard and taken literally, creating an unexpected proposal that leaves him alarmed.

Key plot points and events

• Mo Xie shows Mu Nujiao and Ai Tutu around his spacious new house. Its carefully tended courtyard—with a pond, koi, flowers, and a swing—wins them over.
• He confirms that they genuinely want to move in as maids. They agree to clean weekly and prepare three meals a day, but Mu Nujiao refuses payment, considering free lodging fair compensation.
• Mu Nujiao cooks dinner, impressing Mo Xie; Ai Tutu volunteers to wash the dishes. Mo Fan is away on a bounty job, so only the three of them are home.
• Later, Mu Nujiao calls her younger sister, Mu Nuxin. Nuxin teases her about living with Mo Xie and reveals that their family approves of the arrangement. She hints that she hopes Mo Xie will eventually become her brother-in-law and says she has sent a surprise outfit for the household.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie is welcoming and practical: he offers the women a place to stay, outlines their duties, and appreciates Mu Nujiao’s cooking. He also reveals a thoughtful, domestic side through the garden he created.
• Mu Nujiao shows both competence and nervousness. She eagerly accepts the household role, insists on contributing rather than taking pay, and is anxious to make a good impression through her cooking.
• Ai Tutu is enthusiastic about the house, openly supportive of Mu Nujiao, and playful with Mo Xie. She insists that cooking is their responsibility, then takes on the dishes.
• Mu Nuxin playfully pushes her sister toward a romantic future with Mo Xie. Her teasing—and her family’s approval—suggests that the household arrangement may carry matchmaking implications.

Significant themes

• Domestic comfort and belonging: The inviting house and garden create a relaxed, home-like atmosphere.
• Reciprocity and contribution: Mu Nujiao sees free lodging as enough compensation and wants to earn her place through household work.
• Romantic teasing and family expectations: Nuxin’s hopes for Mo Xie and Mu Nujiao add a light romantic undertone to the new living arrangement.

Plot points and events

• After a difficult, exhausting demon hunt with Senior Brother Da Sheng, Mo Fan receives his payment and heads home. Leng Lingling teases him for complaining, while Da Sheng praises his work.
• At home, Mo Fan sees Mu Nujiao and Ai Tutu, then visits his brother Mo Xie in the study. He says he is flying to the Ancient Capital the next morning and will later return to Bo City with Xiao Min.
• Mo Xie asks about Mo Fan’s relationship with Guo Caitang. Mo Fan struggles to answer, and Mo Xie reminds him to treat Xiao Min well, since she has made the greatest sacrifices.
• Meanwhile, Mu Nujiao and Ai Tutu receive maid outfits sent by Mu Nuxin. They change into them and surprise Mo Xie in his study, playfully offering to serve him as maids.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Fan is shown as hardworking but driven by money; despite his fatigue, payment makes the hunt worthwhile. He is awkward when questioned about Guo Caitang, but says he understands his responsibilities to Xiao Min.
• Mo Xie is both protective of his brother and aware that his own romantic affairs are complicated. He is stunned and delighted by the women’s surprise.
• Mu Nujiao and Ai Tutu share a playful, close friendship. Ai Tutu enthusiastically embraces the maid-outfit idea, while Mu Nujiao is initially embarrassed but joins in.
• Leng Lingling and Mo Fan trade familiar insults, with Da Sheng stepping in to stop their bickering and praise Mo Fan.

Significant themes

• Money and hardship: A lucrative job motivates Mo Fan, but the hunt proves that earning money takes real effort.
• Romantic responsibility: Mo Xie urges Mo Fan to consider Xiao Min’s sacrifices and act responsibly.
• Playfulness and domestic disruption: The maid-outfit surprise turns Mo Xie’s home life into a lively, flirtatious scene, ending with his realization that peace at home may be over.

Plot points and events

• The Judgment Hall learns that the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon Barrier is weakening, so Tang Yue is ordered to prioritize it. The Hall also suspects Salang is preparing to target Mo Xie and arranges additional protection for him.
• Tang Yue’s parents unexpectedly return to Hangzhou. Her mother insists she attend a blind date, prompting Tang Yue to consider asking Mo Xie to pose as her boyfriend.
• At West Lake, Mo Xie happens to meet Tang Yue’s parents while taking their photographs. They invite him to dinner, pleased to learn he is the “Little Evil” Tang Yue often mentions.
• When Tang Yue arrives, she and Mo Xie discover they are wearing matching outfits he had given her. The four leave together, and Tang Yue affectionately links arms with him.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Yue’s concern for Mo Xie is clear, even as she faces pressure from work and her parents. She is delighted to find him in Hangzhou and quietly enjoys his attention.
• Mo Xie is considerate toward Tang Yue’s parents and openly happy that she wore the clothes he gave her.
• Tang Wanlian quickly warms to Mo Xie, praising him and treating him like family; Tang Yi supports her invitation.
• Leng Qing comforts Tang Yue and helps address the threat to Mo Xie. Tang Zhong balances the Hall’s response with concern for his niece.

Significant themes

• Family and responsibility: Tang Yue’s dangerous work worries both her family and the Judgment Hall.
• Affection and belonging: Mo Xie’s closeness with Tang Yue and her parents blurs the line between sworn family and romantic interest.
• Fate and coincidence: Their chance meeting and matching clothes reinforce the sense of a special connection.

Plot points and events

• Mo Xie visits Tang Yue’s well-off family near West Lake. He quickly bonds with her father, Tang Yi, while Tang Yue helps her mother, Tang Wanlian, prepare dinner.
• Tang Wanlian probes Tang Yue about her feelings for Mo Xie and encourages her to keep him close. Tang Yue insists they are like siblings, but privately feels uneasy because Mo Xie already has other women.
• During dinner, Tang Yi and Mo Xie drink together. Both become drunk, and Mo Xie passes out. Tang Yue helps him to the guest room; when he begs her not to leave, she comforts him and admits to herself that she cannot leave him either.
• The next morning, Tang Yue teases Mo Xie after changing him into pajamas. They share an affectionate breakfast, then spend the day shopping, with Mo Xie buying gifts for Tang Yue and her parents.
• That night, Mo Xie takes Tang Yue to West Lake and honestly tells her about Ye Xinxia and Ding Yumian. Tang Yue is hurt enough to pinch him, but appreciates his honesty and asks him to treat her sincerely.
• They reassure one another, kiss, and share a romantic moment as snow begins to fall.

Character developments

• Tang Yue moves from claiming Mo Xie is merely like a younger brother to openly acknowledging her attachment and commitment. Though she knows he has other partners, she chooses to trust him and asks only for sincerity.
• Mo Xie shows affection through his eagerness to bond with Tang Yue’s family, spoil her, and confess the truth about his other relationships. His vulnerability and fear of being abandoned deepen their intimacy.
• Tang Wanlian is openly enthusiastic about Mo Xie as a potential partner for her daughter and encourages Tang Yue to pursue him.
• Tang Yi warmly welcomes Mo Xie, and their easy rapport helps Mo Xie feel at home.

Significant themes

• Honesty and trust: Mo Xie’s confession strengthens rather than damages his relationship with Tang Yue.
• Attachment and fear of separation: Both characters voice a desire not to lose the other.
• Family acceptance: Mo Xie’s warm reception by Tang Yue’s parents makes their relationship feel increasingly like part of family life.
• Complicated romance: Tang Yue accepts Mo Xie despite knowing he has other women, while asking for loyalty of heart and sincere treatment.

Character interactions

• Tang Wanlian teases and advises Tang Yue about her feelings, while Tang Yue hides her sadness over Mo Xie’s other relationships.
• Tang Yi and Mo Xie bond over conversation and drinking; Tang Wanlian gently manages their indulgence.
• Tang Yue cares for drunk Mo Xie, and his plea for her to stay brings their feelings into the open.
• The couple spend the next day shopping and sharing affection, then deepen their bond through Mo Xie’s confession, Tang Yue’s acceptance, and their exchange of promises.

Key plot points

• Mo Xie visits the Azure Sky Hunter Agency over the New Year. Leng Qing warns him that the Black Vatican may target him because of his connection to the Earth Sacred Spring.
• Mo Xie refuses personal protection and proposes using himself as bait to draw the Black Vatican out, while arranging covert protection for his father and Ye Xinxia. Song Qiming agrees to support his plan.
• Mo Xie asks Leng Qing to help him investigate Bird City, which he bought and hopes to develop. Its persistent Sea Monster threat has driven away investors, damaged trade, and made life dangerous for residents.
• Leng Lingling joins the expedition after Mo Xie tempts her with the prospect of hunting Demon Beasts. The three travel by high-speed train to Bird City.
• On the journey, Lingling reports that the authorities have repeatedly failed to clear the surrounding islands. Some missions ended in failure or mysterious attacks, while corruption and lack of funding have discouraged further efforts.
• Mo Xie intends to improve Bird City’s safety and fortunes, but suspects the Sea Monster crisis is part of a larger conspiracy involving missing infants, the international Dylan Guild, and Su Lu.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie shows confidence and strategic boldness: rather than hide from the Black Vatican, he wants to expose it. He also takes responsibility for Bird City’s future and seeks help from people he trusts.
• Leng Qing shifts from warm, caring sister to decisive Judgment Officer when discussing the threat. She worries that Mo Xie is underestimating the danger, but readily agrees to help him in Bird City.
• Leng Lingling is initially sleepy and embarrassed to see Mo Xie, then quickly becomes enthusiastic when she hears they will hunt Demon Beasts. Her research makes her an important practical asset to the team.
• Song Qiming and Qin Zhan offer support and discuss how best to keep Mo Xie safe. Qin Zhan also jokes about Mo Xie’s status as Bird City’s young mayor.
• The family-like teasing between Mo Xie and the Leng sisters softens the serious discussion: he greets Lingling warmly and coaxes her into joining the trip.

Significant themes

• Confronting hidden threats: Mo Xie believes bringing the Black Vatican into the open is safer than remaining vulnerable to its unseen schemes.
• Duty and protection: The group’s concern for Mo Xie—and Mo Xie’s concern for his family and Bird City’s residents—drives their decisions.
• Corruption and neglected communities: Bird City’s decline reflects leaders’ inaction, inadequate funding, and the failure to protect ordinary people.
• Local danger linked to wider conspiracies: The Sea Monster crisis may be connected to powerful organizations and ambitions far beyond the city.

Key plot points and events

• Lin Junxian, head of the Lin Group, has lost hope for Bird City after months of waiting for its new leadership to act against the Sea Monster threat. He is furious that the former mayor sold the city after persuading him to invest, but regains hope when he learns that Mo Xie—Chenxi’s powerful boss and Bird City’s mayor—has come to meet him.
• Mo Xie meets Lin Junxian with Leng Qing and Leng Lingling. Lin is impressed by Mo’s confidence and asks what he plans to do about the monsters.
• Mo explains that the group will first survey the islands and map the monsters’ activity without provoking them, then return with a larger force to eliminate them. Leng Lingling reveals her Hunter Master badge, surprising Lin and overturning his assumption that she and Leng Qing are merely companions.
• Lin provides information about the threat, while Leng Lingling records details and asks questions. The group then visits Bird City’s port to assess the city’s potential.
• Seeing its excellent harbor and waterways, Mo concludes that eliminating the monsters will allow him to develop the port into a major shipping hub.

Character developments and interactions

• Lin Junxian shifts from anger and despair to renewed optimism. He respects Mo Xie’s plan and hopes Bird City’s recovery will strengthen both the Lin Group and his standing within his family.
• Mo Xie presents himself as a composed, responsible mayor: he listens to Lin, explains a cautious two-stage strategy, and begins considering Bird City’s long-term development.
• Leng Lingling demonstrates her professional competence as both a Hunter Master and an attentive note-taker. Her badge commands Lin’s respect.
• Leng Qing remains quiet during the meeting but watches Mo Xie with growing admiration, newly attracted to his confidence and maturity.
• Lin and Mo begin with formal business courtesies, then move into a serious discussion. Leng Lingling supports the conversation with questions, while Leng Qing observes.

Significant themes

• Responsible leadership: Mo Xie’s careful planning contrasts with the previous mayor’s betrayal and neglect.
• Hope and renewal: Lin’s faith in Bird City returns when he sees a leader prepared to confront its problems.
• Hidden capability and mistaken judgment: Lin misreads the two women until Leng Lingling reveals her credentials.
• Potential unlocked by security: The city’s harbor and waterways could drive prosperity once the Sea Monster threat is removed.

Key plot points and events

• Mo Xie and his companions fly to Rock Island on his Azure-Feathered Wind Eagle to investigate Red-Ridged Demons that have attacked ships and previously overwhelmed a Bird City extermination team.
• Leng Lingling explains that the island is known territory for the rare sea monsters. Mo Xie asks Leng Qing to avoid badly damaging their bodies because he wants to examine them.
• They find dozens of Red-Ridged Demons basking among the remains of the failed expedition. Leng Qing leaps into battle, using her earth magic to soften the rocky ground into a swamp, trap the younger demons, and kill many with Stone Spikes.
• More demons gather and surround her. She reshapes her sand magic into a whip and continues fighting with confidence.
• Mo Xie watches, impressed, then jumps down to join the fight, summoning his White Tiger.

Character developments

• Mo Xie’s unusual gift—being an Intermediate Mage with six elements—is known to his trusted companions, astonishing the Qin family. He also reveals a practical, curious interest in studying the demons.
• Leng Qing demonstrates formidable skill and composure, taking on dozens of Warrior-Level demons alone. Her easy trust in Mo Xie is evident when she agrees to preserve their bodies without asking why.
• Mo Xie’s admiration for Leng Qing turns into eagerness to participate, prompting him to enter the battle himself.

Character interactions

• Leng Lingling briefs the group on the demons and the island’s history.
• Mo Xie asks Leng Qing to leave the demons’ bodies as intact as possible; she agrees on trust.
• Leng Qing confidently invites Mo Xie to witness her strength, while he praises her from above.
• Mo Xie tells Lingling to stay safely on the eagle before joining the fight with Little White.

Significant themes

• Trust and cooperation: Leng Qing accepts Mo Xie’s request without demanding an explanation, and the group relies on one another’s abilities.
• Power and confidence: Leng Qing’s decisive battle showcases her strength, while Mo Xie’s own gifts and summoned beasts underline the group’s unusual capabilities.
• Risk and responsibility: Rock Island’s abandoned expedition debris and unchecked sea-monster threat reflect the dangers left unmanaged beyond the Safe Zone.

Plot points and events

• Leng Qing narrowly avoids a Red-Ridged Demon’s attack and wounds it with her Sand Whip. Little White, Mo Xie’s Great General-level Ice-Scratch Demon Tiger, kills it and frightens the lesser demons.
• Mo Xie demonstrates the power of his six Magic systems. He defeats a young demon with Fire Burst, kills a group with a lightning field, and uses ice chains to bind and impale another.
• Little Thunder saves Mo Xie from an adult demon, destroying it with lightning. He explains that he wanted to make a dramatic “savior’s entrance,” prompting Mo Xie to tease him about watching too many cartoons.
• Mo Xie uses Time Lag to slow three charging demons, then annihilates them with a molten eruption. As the battle thins, he decides to fight at full strength and calls Little Thunder to possess him.

Character developments

• Mo Xie displays how dramatically his abilities have grown: spells that once seemed daunting now dispatch groups of demons. He fights with confidence and tactical control, conserving mana by drawing enemies together before using stronger attacks.
• Leng Qing is impressed by Mo Xie’s powerful beasts and exceptional command of multiple Magic systems. She recognizes that his talent and resources could make him a one-man army.
• Little Thunder shows both loyalty and a playful, theatrical personality, eagerly protecting Mo Xie while imitating a cartoon hero.
• Leng Lingling watches with admiration, calling Mo Xie amazing.
• Little White establishes himself as a formidable battlefield presence, using his Great General aura to intimidate weaker foes.

Significant themes

• Growth and mastery: Mo Xie’s effortless victories contrast with his earlier vulnerability, showing the results of cultivation and training.
• Talent supported by resources: Leng Qing reflects that Mo Xie can turn an otherwise burdensome gift—Naturally Born Three Elements—into an advantage because of his exceptional talent and access to resources.
• Power and teamwork: Mo Xie’s strength is amplified by his summoned and contracted beasts, whose interventions protect him and shape the battle.
• Confidence and control: Mo Xie does not rely only on brute force; he manages mana, combines spells, and exploits enemy movements.

Character interactions

• Little White protects Leng Qing and then joins the assault, while Mo Xie’s arrival prompts her surprise at the strength of his beasts.
• Little Thunder rescues Mo Xie, then playfully asks him to join in the dramatic entrance; Mo Xie responds with affectionate exasperation.
• Leng Qing and Leng Lingling watch Mo Xie’s battle from different perspectives—one assessing his future potential, the other simply admiring him.
• The chapter ends with Mo Xie calling Little Thunder to possess him, setting up a more powerful combined attack.

Key events

• Mo Xie merges with Little Thunder, whose growth to Warrior Level makes the possession far more powerful than before. Wrapped in purple-black lightning, Mo Xie gains immense strength, speed, lightning affinity, and precise control over its form.
• He rapidly kills numerous Red-Ridged Demons with lightning strikes, nearly invisible needles, and a spear that pierces several enemies before devastating the battlefield.
• Leng Qing finishes the remaining demons by petrifying them with Rock Demon’s Eye.
• Mo Xie finds the corpse of a very young child inside a demon’s belly. He and Leng Qing discover a second child’s body nearby. Both children had been swallowed alive and died from suffocation.
• Mo Xie cleans the bodies and uses a vessel to reduce them to ashes. After a grim silence, Leng Qing declares they must go to Bird City and “cure the rot” there.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie experiences the full potential of Little Thunder’s growth and revels in his new mastery of lightning. His exhilaration at the battle gives way to cold, focused anger when he discovers the children.
• Little Thunder demonstrates how much it has matured: its Warrior Level strength transforms possession into a formidable partnership.
• Leng Qing first supports the fight by luring demons, then ends it decisively. The discovery of the children visibly shakes her and turns her anger toward Bird City.
• Mo Xie and Leng Qing work together through the aftermath, silently sharing their grief and outrage before agreeing to act.

Significant themes

• Power and growth: Little Thunder’s development unlocks a dramatic new level of combat ability for Mo Xie.
• The cost of violence: The battle’s triumph is overshadowed by evidence of innocent victims.
• Moral decay and justice: The children’s deaths expose a deeper evil beyond the monsters, setting up the characters’ resolve to confront Bird City’s corruption.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• In Bird City’s top-floor conference room, Deputy Mayor Li Jingming and investor Lin Junxian speculate about why Mayor Mo Xie has called a meeting.
• While serving tea, the secretary is sexually harassed by the city’s stubbled military commander. Lin notices and dismisses her so she can leave safely.
• Deputy Chief Judge Leng Qing arrives with Mo Xie, Leng Lingling, and Judgment Hall officers. She announces an investigation and presents evidence: photographs of murdered infants and their grieving families.
• The evidence reveals that infants have disappeared each spring for years. Officials falsely blamed human traffickers, while concealing that the children were killed and their hearts removed. Commander Chen is among those who helped cover up the crimes.
• Leng Qing’s psychic abilities reveal Commander Chen’s nervousness. Chief Judge Tang Zhong orders Bird City’s senior officials, including its former mayor, brought in for questioning.
• Lin Junxian is released after giving a statement. Mo Xie remains behind and proposes a business partnership with Lin Group—not as mayor, but as owner of Chenxi.

Character developments

• Lin Junxian shows moral courage by intervening when the secretary is harassed. His personal connection to one of the victims—the child was his younger cousin—intensifies his anger and disillusionment with Bird City’s government.
• Mo Xie emerges as a forceful reformer, using the Judgment Hall’s investigation to expose corruption. He also reveals a separate entrepreneurial role through his proposed partnership.
• Leng Qing is composed and commanding throughout the inquiry. She uses her psychic senses to pressure Commander Chen and detect his fear.
• Commander Chen shifts from predatory confidence to panic once the evidence exposes his role in the cover-up.
• Li Jingming is shocked to learn what has happened and recognizes that his position is likely untenable, even if he was not directly involved.
• The secretary is frightened by the commander but visibly relieved when Lin sends her away.

Significant themes

• Corruption and accountability: Officials treated disappearances as routine cases and hid evidence, allowing crimes to continue unchecked.
• The human cost of institutional failure: For families, each missing child is a personal catastrophe—not merely a statistic.
• Protection of the vulnerable: The infants’ deaths expose the moral failure of a city meant to shelter its people.
• Power and abuse: The commander’s harassment of the secretary mirrors the broader misuse of authority within Bird City.
• Reform and renewal: The Judgment Hall’s arrests are presented as a chance to uproot entrenched corruption and rebuild the city’s leadership.

Character interactions

• Lin’s intervention protects the secretary and contrasts his sense of responsibility with Commander Chen’s predatory behavior.
• Leng Qing confronts the officials with evidence, while Leng Lingling supports her by presenting the investigation’s findings.
• Tang Zhong reinforces the investigation by ordering arrests and extending scrutiny to the former mayor.
• After the inquiry, Mo Xie turns to Lin Junxian with a proposed partnership, shifting their interaction from civic crisis to business.

Key plot points and events

• Mo Xie oversees the expansion of Chenxi’s land near Bird City. Its mountain barriers and river-to-sea access make it promising, though its immense size will require major clearing and construction.
• He plans to bring the area into the Safe Zone by clearing it under official supervision, establishing watch posts, and developing the river into a canal port. Chenxi, the Lin Group, and the Zhao Group will work together to build a town within six months and a city within a year.
• Ling reveals the Evil Heaven Pavilion, calling it Mo Xie’s home. The striking gold-and-blood-red building blends ancient design with modern technology and contains living quarters, offices, and a leisure area overlooking the sea.
• The pavilion holds three Earth Cores—Thunder, Fire, and Ice—which Mo Xie recognizes as a major safeguard for the future city, though he does not understand why those particular cores are there.
• Mo Xie meets Bei Yue Shangchen, the pavilion’s guardian. Shangchen says Mo Xie has not yet recovered all his memories, then disappears, mentioning that “Madam” is eager to see him.
• A translucent woman appears. Seeing her triggers a powerful reaction in Mo Xie: a vision of a palace and a chained ancient door, followed by tears and the name “Ling.”

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie acts decisively as a planner and leader, balancing rapid urban development with security preparations. The pavilion and Shangchen’s words suggest a hidden past and identity he has yet to recover.
• Ling presents the pavilion as Mo Xie’s rightful home, speaking with tenderness and excitement. Her appearance—or the woman’s resemblance to her—awakens intense emotion and buried memories.
• Bei Yue Shangchen is respectful but enigmatic. His role as guardian links him to Mo Xie’s forgotten history, and his departure leaves Mo Xie with unanswered questions.
• Mo Xie’s wary questioning of Shangchen gives way to shock and grief when he recognizes the woman.

Significant themes

• Building security and community: Mo Xie’s city plans combine commerce, infrastructure, and defenses against future threats.
• Home and belonging: The pavilion is framed not merely as a headquarters but as Mo Xie’s rightful home.
• Forgotten identity and memory: Shangchen’s comments and Mo Xie’s vision hint that his past is deeply connected to the pavilion and the mysterious woman.
• Powerful contrasts: The pavilion’s sacred yet sinister aura, and its fusion of ancient architecture with technology, reflect the chapter’s blend of the familiar and the uncanny.

Key plot points and events

• Mo Xie sees Ling, the white-clad woman from his old dreams, and recognizes her despite being unable to remember their past. Trying to force his sealed memories open causes him intense pain.
• Ling comforts him and explains that her appearance is only a virtual meeting, not a physical reunion. She says she chose her current state so she could remain beside him.
• She warns Mo Xie not to force his memories back: he sealed them himself because they were painful, and he should wait until he is ready to face them.
• Ling reveals that moving the Evil Heaven Pavilion into the real world drained nearly all her power. The Earth Core lets her appear briefly, but she must sleep for six months to a year. Until then, Bei Yue Shangchen will serve as Mo Xie’s trump card.
• Before vanishing, Ling recalls their hope of naming a child Mo Chou and urges them not to grieve over separation.
• Mo Xie asks Shangchen about his limits. Shangchen can move only within the land Mo Xie purchased, with Bird City as his maximum range.
• Mo Xie briefly glimpses what seems to be a memory of Ling in an ancient estate. Then a phone call interrupts him: someone reports that his brother has been attacked.

Character developments

• Mo Xie is overwhelmed by recognition, grief, and love, but accepts Ling’s advice not to reopen his memories by force. He is left facing another separation while trying to remain composed.
• Ling shows deep tenderness and concern for Mo Xie, accepting their limited reunion while prioritizing his emotional well-being. Her impending sleep reveals the cost of her sacrifice.
• Bei Yue Shangchen is established as a powerful but geographically restricted protector and resource for Mo Xie during Ling’s absence.

Significant themes

• Love across separation: Mo Xie and Ling’s bond persists despite her virtual form and coming absence.
• Memory and pain: The chapter suggests that forgotten memories may be traumatic, and healing requires readiness rather than force.
• Sacrifice and endurance: Ling’s choice and depleted power underscore the costs of staying connected.
• Grief and hope: “Mo Chou” (“do not grieve”) becomes a message for enduring hardship without losing hope.

Character interactions

• Ling calms Mo Xie as he struggles to remember, and they share a tender, symbolic moment of closeness despite being unable to touch.
• Mo Xie seeks answers about their past, but Ling gently stops him and asks him to trust her.
• Mo Xie questions Shangchen about his ability to travel, then accepts his limitations.
• The chapter ends with an abrupt shift from intimate grief to urgent danger when Mo Xie receives news of his brother’s attack.