Chapter Summaries

Plot points and events

• Before the duel, Dean Xiao introduces Mo Xie and Dongfang Lie. Both receive loud support, including unexpected cheering for Mo Xie from Fire Institute students.
• Dongfang Lie says he wants to discover Mo Xie’s true strength. Mo Xie declares that he needs only one move to defeat him.
• Dongfang Lie attacks first, using his exceptional Fire talent to strengthen his fourth-level Blazing Fist: Nine Flood Dragons. Its nine fiery dragons sweep across much of the arena.
• Mo Xie blocks the attack with a Space Element barrier, remaining unharmed. Dongfang Lie and the spectators are stunned.
• Mo Xie prepares his counterattack, forming a Lightning Element constellation of 343 stars. The sky darkens with thunder and purple-black lightning, revealing that his Lightning Element has reached Advanced Level. The chapter ends on the crowd’s shocked reaction.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie shifts from a gentle, princely demeanor to a commanding, intimidating one. His confidence proves justified when he effortlessly blocks Dongfang Lie’s strongest attack; he then reveals a far higher level of power than many spectators expected.
• Dongfang Lie begins eager and confident, but becomes wary of Mo Xie’s bearing and shocked when his powerful fire attack fails. He had prepared a Mind-Concentrating Magic Tool against a possible Space Element attack, yet it does not prevent Mo Xie from countering.
• The spectators are divided between the two contenders, though Mo Xie has enthusiastic fans even among the Fire Institute. Their doubts turn to astonishment as he demonstrates his abilities.

Significant themes

• Confidence tested by action: Mo Xie’s boast is backed by his effortless defense.
• Hidden strength and surprise: Mo Xie’s Space and Lightning abilities exceed many people’s expectations.
• Reputation and spectacle: The crowd’s competing loyalties—and its rapid shift from skepticism to amazement—underline the duel’s status as a public test of power.

Key plot points and events

• Mo Xie reveals that he is an Advanced Mage, astonishing the spectators and confirming his reputation as a prodigy. His Lightning Element spell, Silent Thunder Death Ray, appears powerful enough to threaten Dongfang Lie, but Mo Xie deliberately fires it into the arena’s Barrier instead.
• The high-grade Barrier cracks under the impact, then repairs itself. Dean Xiao reveals through his composure that he anticipated Mo Xie might display this level of power.
• Dongfang Lie accepts defeat cheerfully, shakes Mo Xie’s hand, and jokingly entrusts his sister to him. Mo Xie is left puzzled by Dongfang Lie’s good humor.
• After the tournament excitement dies down, Mo Xie trains in seclusion to strengthen his foundation. He later agrees to go out with Bai Tingting, who has invited him to help her shop.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie demonstrates both exceptional strength and restraint: he shows off his Advanced-level magic without using it against Dongfang Lie, then returns to his friendly manner. He remains focused on training but is also willing to spend time with Bai Tingting.
• Dongfang Lie responds to losing without resentment, treating Mo Xie warmly and teasing him about his sister. His reaction surprises the Fire Institute students.
• Qian Kun is thrilled that Mo Xie’s advancement promises a bright future for the Lightning Institute; Wei Rong is bitter that the Fire Institute has been outshone again.
• Dean Xiao quietly supports Mo Xie and expects him to help lead Pearl Academy to prominence.
• Lin Tingyu fears the consequences of having offended Mo Xie, while Dongfang Ming reassures himself that Mo Xie probably will not retaliate.
• Mo Xie reflects on his past encounters with Bai Tingting, wondering whether he was truly the one in control during their earlier misunderstandings.

Significant themes

• Talent and ambition: Mo Xie’s advanced cultivation reinforces the contrast between extraordinary prodigies and ordinary students.
• Restraint and sportsmanship: Despite his overwhelming advantage, Mo Xie avoids harming Dongfang Lie, who accepts defeat graciously.
• Rivalry and reputation: The result boosts the Lightning Institute while further embarrassing the Fire Institute.
• Changing relationships: Dongfang Lie’s teasing and Mo Xie’s invitation from Bai Tingting suggest that personal ties are developing alongside the competition and training.

Plot points and events

• In a mall, Bai Tingting brings Mo Xie to an underwear shop, explaining that her old size has become too tight.
• She asks him to help choose between several sets, but he gives indifferent answers. Annoyed, she goes to try one on.
• Tingting messages Mo Xie to come to the fitting rooms. When he arrives, she pulls him inside and reveals herself in red lace underwear, asking if she looks good.
• She reminds him of an intimate encounter they shared during training at a hot spring. Meanwhile, a saleswoman approaches after hearing a faint sound from their fitting room and asks if Tingting is all right.

Character developments

• Bai Tingting is playful and increasingly bold, using the fitting-room visit to tease and seduce Mo Xie.
• Mo Xie starts awkward and reluctant to shop for underwear, but responds physically to Tingting’s closeness, suggesting attraction despite his initial embarrassment.

Character interactions

• Tingting seeks Mo Xie’s approval while shopping; his perfunctory replies frustrate her.
• In the fitting room, she takes the lead, drawing him close and invoking their shared past to heighten their intimacy.
• Their private moment is interrupted—or at least threatened—by the saleswoman’s concern.

Significant themes

• Intimacy and flirtation: A mundane shopping trip becomes a private romantic encounter.
• Contrast and appearance: Tingting’s sweet demeanor is juxtaposed with her confident, sensual presentation.
• Public versus private: Their secret moment unfolds in a fitting room while others remain nearby, creating tension around discovery.

Key plot points and events

• Mo Xie and Bai Tingting become intimate in a lingerie-store fitting room, with Bai admiring herself in the mirror and Mo praising her.
• Their moment is interrupted when a saleswoman checks on Bai after hearing a noise. Bai improvises an explanation about a tight bra, keeping their privacy.
• Once the saleswoman leaves, they resume, then tidy up and leave separately.
• At the register, Bai buys the lingerie and playfully promises to wear it for Mo that night. The saleswoman notices them together and guesses the reason for the purchase.
• Bai leaves feeling self-conscious about marks on her thighs, though she chooses not to heal them. She and Mo walk through the mall together, looking forward to their evening.

Character developments

• Bai Tingting is initially shy and embarrassed, but handles the interruption calmly and later teases Mo. Her reluctance to erase their marks suggests she values them as reminders of their intimacy.
• Mo Xie is openly admiring and affectionate, though his enthusiasm gets them into an awkward situation. He accepts Bai’s playful blame and follows her lead afterward.

Significant themes

• Intimacy and vulnerability: The couple’s private closeness contrasts with the public setting and the risk of being discovered.
• Embarrassment and complicity: Bai and Mo share the secret, navigating the interruption together.
• Affection and anticipation: Their teasing and Bai’s thoughts about the evening emphasize their growing romantic bond.

Character interactions

• Mo’s praise and teasing make Bai both flustered and affectionate.
• Bai quickly covers for them when the saleswoman arrives, while Mo signals her to handle the interruption.
• Afterward, Bai chides Mo but also promises to wear her purchase for him; they leave arm in arm.

Plot points and events

• After dinner, Mo Xie accompanies Bai Tingting to her apartment instead of a hotel. Her roommate, Song Xia, is away, and Tingting says she wants their first time to happen at home.
• Mo Xie waits in her bedroom, notices a childhood photo of Tingting, Zhao Manyan, and their mothers, and reflects on how little Bai Miaoying seems to have changed.
• Tingting returns from her shower wearing new lingerie. Mo Xie reassures her, and the two become intimate. Afterwards, they cuddle and talk.
• Tingting invites Mo Xie to join her and Song Xia on a National Day trip. He declines because of other obligations, disappointing her.
• To cheer her up, Mo Xie gives her a sparkling crystal necklace. She is delighted, and they fall asleep together.

Character development

• Bai Tingting begins the evening nervous and shy, but becomes more confident and affectionate after their first intimate experience. She also shows that she wants to spend more time with Mo Xie by inviting him on the trip.
• Mo Xie is attentive and gentle with Tingting, respecting her wishes and comforting her when she is disappointed. He expresses affection through both reassurance and the necklace.

Character interactions

• Tingting’s initial nervousness is met with Mo Xie’s tenderness, which helps her feel at ease.
• Afterward, they exchange compliments and share a relaxed, intimate conversation.
• Mo Xie cannot accept Tingting’s invitation, but softens the disappointment with a thoughtful gift; she responds with gratitude and affection.

Significant themes

• Intimacy and trust: Tingting’s choice to be at home and Mo Xie’s gentle response emphasize emotional reassurance alongside physical closeness.
• Affection and consideration: Their care for each other appears in small gestures, from comforting words to the necklace.
• Wanting closeness despite competing obligations: Tingting hopes to include Mo Xie in her plans, while his responsibilities prevent him from joining her.

Plot and events

• With National Day approaching, students make holiday plans. Xu Zhaoting and Zhang Lulu travel together, while Mo Fan plans to visit the Ancient Capital with Zhou Min after returning to Bo City.
• Zhao Manyan is forced by his mother to accompany Bai Tingting, and Bai Cangfeng joins them in hopes of winning Bai Tingting’s affection.
• Several women invite Mo Xie to spend the holiday with them. He politely postpones Li Yueqing, Mu Nujiao, and Ai Tutu, and orders Liu Xian to visit her sister Liu Ru in Hangzhou.
• Mo Xie travels to Ningbo to visit Ding Yumian’s family, inspect the local Chenxi Branch, and film a music video.
• Shanghe Street has become a thriving, renovated historic-tourist district, a transformation Mo Xie helped bring about. He reunites with Grandma Ye, then visits the now-grand Splendid Hotel, where staff explain that Yu Mian has them call him “the boss.”
• Mo Xie reaches the room Yu Mian prepared for him and, sensing someone hiding, tells them to come out.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie shows care and responsibility toward those close to him, making time for several personal obligations while setting limits on holiday invitations. His bond with Grandma Ye remains warm and familial.
• Yu Mian’s influence is evident in the hotel’s growth and in her playful decision to have staff call Mo Xie the boss. Her absence—and the hidden person Mo Xie addresses—sets up the next encounter.
• Zhao Manyan’s reluctance to accompany Bai Tingting contrasts with his mother’s authority; Bai Cangfeng’s decision to tag along reveals his romantic competitiveness.
• Liu Xian accepts Mo Xie’s order to visit Liu Ru, while Mu Nujiao and Ai Tutu continue hoping to deepen their relationship with him.

Significant themes

• Rest and obligation: The holiday promises relaxation, but characters balance leisure with study, work, training, and family responsibilities.
• Affection and personal boundaries: Multiple characters seek closer relationships, while Mo Xie responds kindly but keeps postponing their advances.
• Change and continuity: Shanghe Street’s modernization brings prosperity without erasing its old character, much as Grandma Ye’s unchanged warmth connects the transformed town to its past.

Key plot points and events

• Mo Xie returns to Shanghe, where Ding Yumian surprises him at the hotel. She calls him its “boss,” crediting his support for its growth.
• The two explore the newly developed Shanghe Ancient Town, reminiscing about how much the place has changed.
• At a wish-card wall, they write messages and hang them together: Mo Xie wishes for them to master life, while Ding Yumian says he is her whole world.
• Ding Yumian confesses she dreamed Mo Xie abandoned her. He reassures her that he will stay, and she tells him she hopes to become the lady of his dreamed-of Sky City.
• Her words remind Mo Xie of a silver-clad woman from his past. He silently makes room for Ding Yumian—and others—in the image of the city.
• They visit familiar places, then take a nighttime boat ride through the lantern-lit town. Ding Yumian asks why Mo Xie has come; he reveals he plans to film a music video for his new song, “Red Dust Inn.”

Character developments

• Ding Yumian is cheerful and affectionate since returning home, but her dream of being abandoned reveals deep insecurity and a strong need for lasting closeness. She also expresses hope for a shared future with Mo Xie.
• Mo Xie responds tenderly to her fears and welcomes her into his vision of the Sky City. His reaction to her words shows that memories of another woman still affect him, though his idea of the city is beginning to include others.

Significant themes

• Love and reassurance: The couple affirm their attachment and confront fear of separation.
• Memory and change: Shanghe’s transformation mirrors how places, relationships, and hopes evolve.
• Longing and uncertainty: The Sky City represents an ideal future, while Mo Xie’s remembered warning suggests that even beautiful dreams cannot escape life’s storms.
• Shared wishes and belonging: Their paired cards symbolize their bond and their desire to leave a lasting mark together.

Character interactions

Mo Xie and Ding Yumian spend the chapter in warm, playful intimacy—teasing, exploring, and sharing quiet moments. Their conversation about Ding Yumian’s fear and her hopes for the future deepens their relationship, while Mo Xie’s response links their present bond to his unresolved memories of the past.

Plot and events

• Mo Xie arrives at Shanghe Ancient Town to film a music video. His elegant traditional outfit and pose on a flower-lined bridge draw a crowd, whose members recognize him as the “Evil God.”
• As the crew prepares to film, Mo Xie considers clearing the spectators or recruiting them as extras. He waits for Ding Yumian, who is taking time to change.
• Ding Yumian arrives in a matching traditional dress, captivating the crowd. The couple greet each other, and she apologizes for being late.
• Mo Xie playfully admires her appearance, calls her his beautiful wife, and she blushes, clearly enjoying his teasing.
• Mo Xie invites onlookers to audition as extras. The crowd eagerly volunteers, quickly descending into playful insults and bickering.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie is shown as poised and charming, but also practical about organizing the shoot. He is affectionate and teasing with Ding Yumian, and readily engages the public.
• Ding Yumian appears elegant and composed, yet becomes bashful when Mo Xie praises her. Her eagerness to show him her outfit conveys affection and trust.
• The crowd shifts from quietly admiring the pair to enthusiastically competing for roles, revealing both their starstruck excitement and comic vanity.

Themes

• Beauty and performance: The pair’s carefully styled historical costumes transform the bridge into a romantic, cinematic scene.
• Affection and intimacy: Mo Xie and Ding Yumian’s playful exchange highlights their closeness.
• Celebrity and public attention: Their fame attracts spectators, while the offer of extras roles turns admiration into an opportunity—and rivalry.

Key plot points and events

• Mo Xie and Ding Yumian spend several days filming a promotional music video around Shanghe Ancient Town, including scenes in the rain, on a boat, by a lake, and at sunrise. The shoot boosts tourism so much that the town must limit visitors.
• At sunrise, Ding Yumian performs a graceful dance for Mo Xie. The moment brings them closer and symbolizes their shared future.
• Later, Ding Yumian secretly leaves Mo Xie after dinner with Grandma Ye, then waits for him in his hotel room dressed in traditional clothing. She asks him to shower, and the chapter ends as he comes out of the bathroom.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie and Ding Yumian are affectionate and playful throughout filming. Their teasing over her outfits shows their intimacy, while the sunrise dance and embrace express their deepening commitment.
• Ding Yumian is confident and graceful on camera, but nervous and shy as she prepares to take the next step in their relationship.
• Mo Xie trusts her despite sensing she is keeping something from him, and he responds to her surprise with warmth and gentle teasing.
• Grandma Ye treats Mo Xie like family and entrusts him with caring for Ding Yumian; he promises to visit and looks after her courtyard plants.

Significant themes

• Love and shared futures: The dance and embrace convey the couple’s bond and hopes for a life together.
• Public image versus private intimacy: The filming presents Ding Yumian to a wider audience, while the closing scene focuses on a private, vulnerable moment between the couple.
• Shyness and trust: Ding Yumian’s nervousness contrasts with her confidence elsewhere, while her decision to surprise Mo Xie reflects her trust and affection.

• Key events: Mo Xie comes out of the bathroom and shares an intimate, consensual encounter with Ding Yumian. She reveals that beneath her traditional clothes she is wearing black lingerie and suspenders, surprising him; the scene ends with the two spending the night together. The next morning, hotel employee Little Yu notices Ding Yumian is missing, can’t reach her by phone, and goes to check Mo Xie’s room. At his door, she hears an unusual sound from inside.
• Character developments: Ding Yumian shifts from her composed, elegant public image to a confident, seductive side, taking the initiative in their intimacy. Mo Xie is visibly captivated and surprised by her hidden attire. Little Yu’s concern for Ding Yumian leads her to suspect she may be with Mo Xie.
• Significant themes: The contrast between public appearance and private identity; romantic and physical intimacy; and the tension between personal privacy and workplace curiosity.
• Character interactions: Mo Xie and Ding Yumian communicate mainly through gestures and physical closeness, with Ding Yumian encouraging the encounter. Little Yu’s concern draws her toward their private space, setting up a possible interruption.

Plot points and events

• Mo Xie and Ding Yumian wake after spending the night and much of the morning together. Ding Yumian’s intense, pink-hued allure had kept Mo Xie unable to resist continuing, and they realize nearly ten rounds have passed.
• Once Ding Yumian chooses to stop, her aura fades. Both are exhausted and sleep until evening.
• Mo Xie wakes first, reflects that they should be more careful in future, and goes out to buy dinner.
• After returning, he gives Ding Yumian a crystal necklace, which she happily promises to treasure. They eat together.

Character developments

• Mo Xie recognizes that Ding Yumian’s unusual allure may stem from her status as a Psychic Element Calamity Victim. He resolves to show more restraint and consider precautions, such as using a spatial barrier.
• Ding Yumian appears affectionate and carefree. After waking, she playfully asks whether Mo Xie was satisfied, then responds warmly to his gift.
• Little Yu overhears the couple and feels embarrassed, though she privately admits she might also be swept up by Mo Xie’s charms.

Significant themes

• Desire and self-control: Ding Yumian’s aura overwhelms even Mo Xie’s strong discipline, prompting him to consider setting limits.
• Intimacy and affection: The couple’s closeness is shown through their tenderness, teasing, and gift-giving.
• Privacy and embarrassment: Little Yu’s accidental eavesdropping leaves both her and Mo Xie self-conscious.

Character interactions

• Mo Xie and Ding Yumian discuss stopping, recover together, and later exchange playful banter before dinner.
• Mo Xie gives Ding Yumian the necklace and fastens it for her; she cherishes it.
• Little Yu’s overhearing creates an awkward, unspoken embarrassment between her and Mo Xie.

Key events

• After the National Day holiday, Mo Xie returns to Magic City with Ding Yumian, then goes home to find Mu Nujiao and Ai Tutu cleaning.
• Ai Tutu confronts him for claiming he was busy while spending the holiday with Ding Yumian. Mo Xie explains that he went to Shanghe Ancient Town for a shoot; Ai Tutu apologizes, and Mu Nujiao tells her not to act unreasonable.
• Mo Xie shows Mo Fan the Soul Grade Black Snake Demon Armor he forged from the Totem Black Snake’s shed scales. The armor can withstand attacks from Commander-level beasts and absorb poison.
• Later, at the Azure Sky Hunter Agency, Mo Xie learns that a member of the Mu Clan has gone missing in Tianshan. Her father is offering everything he owns for her rescue. Mo Xie realizes the missing woman is likely Mu Ningxue, who may have gone to Tianshan after finding a letter from her mother.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie returns to his household routine, teases and reassures Ai Tutu, and demonstrates his growing skill as a smith: he can now forge Soul Grade tools, though Heaven Grade equipment will require further advancement.
• Ai Tutu shows jealousy and hurt over Mo Xie’s time with Ding Yumian, but admits she was partly testing his reaction. Mu Nujiao gently disciplines her.
• Mo Fan is eager to claim the armor Mo Xie promised him and is thrilled by its appearance and strength.
• Qin Zhan and Leng Lingling are discussing the dangerous rescue commission when Mo Xie arrives; Leng Lingling wants to join her father, but he refuses, concerned she would be at risk.
• Mo Xie and Ye Xinxia’s earlier conversation provides the clue connecting the missing Mu Clan member to Mu Ningxue.

Significant themes

• Jealousy and intimacy: Ai Tutu and Mu Nujiao’s teasing, emotionally charged exchange reflects their close and complicated bond with Mo Xie.
• Skill and responsibility: Mo Xie’s successful forging marks progress in his craft and lets him support Mo Fan.
• Family and risk: Leng Lingling’s wish to help clashes with her father’s protectiveness, while the desperate commission suggests the danger surrounding Mu Ningxue’s disappearance.

Key plot points and events

• Mo Xie reviews Mu Zhuoyun’s commission: his daughter, Mu Ningxue, went missing in Tianshan after setting out to search for something her mother had left in the Outer Region.
• Mu Zhuoyun explains that she traveled with a mercenary group and remained in contact until the fourth day of the holiday. By the time of the call, she had been missing for about three days. The group’s fate is unknown.
• The agency considers the case too dangerous. Its strongest hunters are away, and the available mages lack the strength and numbers needed for a Tianshan expedition.
• Despite Qin Zhan’s warning that the region’s powerful beasts make the mission perilous, Mo Xie accepts the commission and says he will recruit companions rather than go alone.
• Leng Lingling asks to join him, but Qin Zhan refuses and orders her back to school. The agency accepts the commission, and Mu Zhuoyun sends the remaining payment.
• Mo Xie leaves determined to go to Tianshan and find Mu Ningxue, alive or dead.

Character developments

• Mo Xie moves from cautious consideration to firm resolve. His personal connection to Mu Ningxue drives him to bring forward a journey he had planned for later.
• Mu Zhuoyun is shown as desperate and emotionally vulnerable, willing to pay anything to rescue his only daughter.
• Qin Zhan acts protectively and pragmatically, weighing the mission’s danger while ultimately respecting Mo Xie’s decision.
• Leng Lingling reveals her adventurous curiosity and attachment to Mo Xie, but is disappointed when she is kept out of danger.

Significant themes

• Loyalty and personal ties: Mo Xie accepts a potentially deadly mission because of his bond with Mu Ningxue.
• Risk and responsibility: The chapter stresses that good intentions cannot erase the dangers of Tianshan, and that survival requires preparation and support.
• Hope amid uncertainty: Mu Zhuoyun and Mo Xie act despite the grim odds, holding on to the possibility that Mu Ningxue can still be found.

Character interactions

• Mo Xie directs Leng Lingling’s questioning of Mu Zhuoyun, gathering the details needed to assess the mission.
• Qin Zhan and Mo Xie disagree over the danger, with Qin warning him against going and Mo Xie promising to assemble a team.
• Leng Lingling pleads to accompany Mo Xie; Qin firmly refuses, while Mo Xie tries to comfort her.
• Mo Xie’s final words to Mu Ningxue reveal that their unresolved past gives his rescue mission a deeply personal urgency.

Key events

• Bo City residents displaced by the disaster resettled in Magic City or the Ancient Capital; Bo City itself later recovered.
• In the Ancient Capital, Bocheng Street became a thriving center of magic goods, run largely by people from Bo City. Chenxi helped local businesses by supplying tools and materials, preserving their independence rather than simply giving them money.
• Mo Xie visits the street and reunites with Zhao Kunsan, then Mu Bai. The group later gathers for dinner with Zhou Min and Wang Sanpang to catch up.

Character developments

• Zhao Kunsan has become an Intermediate Mage and helps run a shop. Beneath his joking manner, he feels deeply indebted to Mo Xie for helping him awaken early and has resolved to repay that debt—even at the cost of his own life. This is why he avoids pursuing romance.
• Mu Bai remains proud and prickly, but his brief smile and willingness to sit close to Mo Xie reveal that he is glad to see him.
• Zhou Min has grown more mature in appearance and style. Wang Sanpang has lost weight and found a girlfriend.
• Mo Xie is warmly received by his old friends, though he senses that Zhao Kunsan is hiding something.

Significant themes

• Recovery and self-reliance: Bocheng Street shows the displaced community rebuilding through work and mutual support.
• Loyalty and gratitude: Zhao Kunsan’s lasting debt to Mo Xie shapes his choices and sense of duty.
• Old bonds amid change: The friends have grown and their lives have moved on, but their teasing and affection remain.

Character interactions

• Zhao Kunsan’s initial anger quickly turns to delight when he recognizes Mo Xie; he serves him tea and alerts Mu Bai.
• Mo Xie teases Mu Bai about being upset by his long absence. Mu Bai protests, but does not immediately reject his familiar closeness.
• At dinner, the friends joke about Wang Sanpang’s girlfriend and Zhao Kunsan’s apparent devotion. Mo Xie notices Zhao’s momentary seriousness but does not learn the reason behind it.

Key plot points and events

• After dinner, Mo Xie asks Mu Bai to stay behind. He reveals that he came to the Ancient Capital mainly to recruit him for an expedition to Tianshan.
• Mo Xie explains that Mu Ningxue has gone missing there and that he wants to find her and hear her answer about their relationship. He says his team is strong enough to protect Mu Bai and that Tianshan may also offer valuable Ice Element resources.
• Mu Bai agrees to join, and the two plan to depart the next morning.
• Mu He, secretly watching from nearby, decides not to interfere. He trusts that Mu Bai will be safe with Mo Xie.
• The following morning, Mu Bai joins the expedition. The group travels on a Monarch Level flying beast and includes eighteen experienced Advanced Level mages and a second-tier Super Level mage, Xiao Hui, who is accompanied by his Contract Beast, a Griffin.
• As they approach the Divine Capital, the Griffin must detour around high mountains.

Character developments

• Mo Xie shows his determination to find Mu Ningxue, while also looking for ways to help Mu Bai grow stronger.
• Mu Bai moves from surprise and skepticism to accepting the dangerous journey, partly because Mo Xie says he needs his help.
• Mu He quietly reveals concern for his son’s safety and a measure of trust in Mo Xie.
• Xiao Hui is introduced as a young but highly accomplished Super Level mage who promises to protect the team.

Significant themes

• Loyalty and friendship: Mo Xie seeks out his childhood friend and invites him to share a dangerous mission.
• Determination and unresolved relationships: Mo Xie’s search for Mu Ningxue is driven by his need to hear her answer, not by any claim that they have reconciled.
• Risk and opportunity: Tianshan is dangerous, but its resources could help Mu Bai become stronger.
• Parental concern and trust: Mu He watches over Mu Bai but ultimately lets him go with Mo Xie.

Character interactions

• Mo Xie and Mu Bai exchange teasing remarks before speaking frankly about Tianshan; Mu Bai challenges Mo Xie’s assurances, then asks whether he is genuinely needed.
• Mo Xie introduces Mu Bai to the expedition team, and Xiao Hui reassures him that he will protect both him and the Pavilion Master.
• Mu He observes Mo Xie and Mu Bai from the shadows, then withdraws without revealing himself.

Key plot points and events

• Mo Xie’s group arrives at the Divine Capital, where they admire the Potala Palace and experience the region’s distinctive culture.
• While gathering information, Xiao Hui learns that Pan Town is the nearest settlement to Tianshan’s entrance. The group heads there.
• On the way, Xiao Hui outlines the dangers ahead: a maze-like Desert Layer filled with bone-eating spiders, a Meadow Layer with deadly poisonous plants, and the remote, lethal Glacier Layer known as the Tianshan Scar.
• Mo Xie explains that Mu Ningxue may have to be sought in the Scar if the group finds no trace of her—or her body—in the outer layers.
• The group reaches Pan Town, a large staging ground populated mainly by outsiders, hunters, explorers, and treasure seekers preparing to enter Tianshan.

Character developments and interactions

• Mu Bai is awed by the Western Regions’ unfamiliar scenery and culture, then becomes visibly worried as he hears about Tianshan’s dangers.
• Mo Xie acts as the group’s leader: he checks in with Mu Bai, directs the group to gather information, and keeps them moving toward Pan Town.
• Xiao Hui serves as their source of intelligence, reporting the route and hazards ahead.
• The possibility that Mu Ningxue may be dead weighs heavily on the group, turning their journey from an adventure into a grim search.

Significant themes

• Beauty alongside danger: The sacred grandeur of the Potala Palace contrasts with Tianshan’s deadly terrain.
• Faith and perseverance: The Divine Capital’s worshippers and aspiring Holy Palace mages embody devotion and endurance.
• Risk and uncertainty: Tianshan’s layers become progressively more dangerous, and even experienced travelers may never find their way back.
• Hope and grief: The group continues searching for Mu Ningxue while confronting the possibility that they may find only her body.

Key plot points and events

• Mo Xie and his companions arrive in Pan Town, a busy gateway to Tianshan. The town is crowded with powerful mages preparing to enter before winter makes travel more dangerous.
• They see locals waiting for relatives who disappeared in the mountains. Xiao Hui reminds the group that people without support may risk everything for a chance to grow stronger, and urges them to appreciate the help they have received from the Evil Heaven Pavilion.
• A mercenary group approaches. Xiao Hui’s Super Level aura intimidates them, drawing attention to Mo Xie’s team: eighteen peak Advanced Level mages and one Super Level mage.
• The mercenary captain, Scarface, invites them to join the Raging Dragon Mercenary Group’s expedition. Mo Xie refuses, explaining they are looking for someone in the Outer Region. He recognizes the offer as self-serving and dismisses Scarface for sending a captain instead of the group’s leader.
• As the party searches for lodging, Mo Xie stops at an inn whose Alpine Rhododendron carving and familiar recorded message stir a personal memory: someone once called the flower the most beautiful they had ever seen and thanked him with great happiness. The inn’s name is Waiting for You Amid Romance.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie demonstrates authority and perceptiveness. He keeps his team focused, reins in Xiao Hui’s intimidating display, and quickly sees through the mercenaries’ attempt to recruit his powerful group.
• Xiao Hui acts as a stern mentor, reminding the younger mage of their good fortune and the risks others face. He also responds immediately when Mo Xie tells him to lower his aura.
• Mu Bai follows the exchange closely and recognizes that Scarface has an ulterior motive.
• The mercenaries shift from confidence to nervous deference once they realize who Mo Xie is and how strong his team is.

Significant themes

• Risk and opportunity: Mages may enter dangerous places like Tianshan because strength can be essential to survival.
• Privilege and gratitude: The party is urged to recognize the support that allowed them to advance safely.
• Power and exploitation: The Raging Dragon group wants to use Mo Xie’s strength for its own security, while Mo Xie refuses to be manipulated.
• Memory and longing: The inn’s flower and recorded message connect the present journey to an emotionally significant past relationship.

Plot points and events

Mo Xie hears Qin Yuer’s recorded welcome announcement outside the Wind, Flowers, Snow, and Moon Inn and rushes inside, believing she may be there. The receptionist tells him Yuer recorded it, then mistakes him for one of Yuer’s persistent suitors. After recognizing him as Mo Xie, she calls him the man who made Yuer wait ten years.
Mo Xie is overwhelmed to learn that a decade has passed for Yuer, though less than a year has passed for him since returning to the real world. The receptionist gives him a letter Yuer left for him. In it, Yuer says she still misses him and is waiting at Tianshan Scar. After reading it, Mo Xie resolves to go find her.

Character development and interactions

• Mo Xie shifts from hopeful excitement to shock and grief when he learns how long Yuer has waited. His tears reflect his guilt and concern for Yuer—and for the other women who may also have been waiting for him. He ends the chapter resolved to reunite with Yuer.
• Qin Yuer, though absent, is present through her recorded message and letter. Her inn and repeated letters reveal the depth and persistence of her longing.
• The receptionist initially confronts Mo Xie angrily, believing he is another suitor troubling Yuer. Her attitude changes after she recognizes him, though she still reproaches him for making Yuer wait.
• Mu Bai notices Mo Xie’s distress, helps arrange rooms for the group, and gives him space afterward.

Significant themes

The chapter explores the emotional cost of waiting and separation, especially the way time can pass differently for people apart. It also emphasizes devotion, regret, and the possibility that longing can shape personal growth—and turns Mo Xie’s realization into a renewed commitment to make things right.

Key plot points and events

• After recovering overnight, Mo Xie and his companions set out from the south to enter Tianshan. Mo Xie is determined to find Mu Ningxue, and privately intends to reach the Tianshan Scar to search for Yu’er.
• They encounter the Raging Dragon Mercenary Group, whose scarred squad captain resents Mo Xie for refusing an earlier invitation. The group’s leader, however, discourages a confrontation, recognizes that his people would be outmatched, and emphasizes survival in Tianshan.
• Mo Xie’s party enters the snow-covered mountains. The scenery is striking, and the strong Ice Element naturally benefits those who wield it, but the absence of animals or Demon Beasts makes the landscape feel ominously silent.
• Mo Xie and Xiao Hui detect no immediate threat. The group crosses a snowy desert without stopping, hoping to avoid being caught in the mountains after dark.
• They reach the entrance to a vast, confusing rift-valley maze. Rather than camp with the travelers gathered outside, Mo Xie decides they should press on while daylight remains. The party enters the dark passages.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie shows renewed resolve and leadership: he keeps his private search for Yu’er to himself, warns the group to stay alert, and chooses speed over rest.
• Mu Bai checks on Mo Xie’s recovery and agrees with his decisions, while noting the contrast between the hostile Scarface Man and his more sensible leader.
• Xiao Hui alerts Mo Xie to the Raging Dragon group and helps assess whether anything is amiss inside Tianshan.
• The Raging Dragon leader appears disciplined and pragmatic, restraining Scarface Man and putting his group’s safety above pride. Scarface Man, despite his earlier hostility, avoids challenging a party he knows is stronger.

Significant themes

• Determination and hidden motives: Mo Xie’s quest to find Mu Ningxue—and his unspoken aim of finding Yu’er—drives him into danger.
• Leadership and restraint: Both Mo Xie and the Raging Dragon leader prioritize caution over unnecessary conflict.
• Beauty masking danger: Tianshan’s dazzling snow and nourishing Ice Element contrast with its eerie silence and lethal reputation.
• Risk and urgency: The group must balance caution with the need to make progress before nightfall, especially in unfamiliar, treacherous terrain.

Plot and events

• Mo Xie’s party travels through the Tianshan rift, using light magic in its dark sections and relying on Haotian, a Sound Mage, to guide them through the maze-like passages.
• The rift is eerily quiet, and the group finds no other travelers or Demon Beasts—until Mo Xie spots a swarm of Desert Bone-Eating Spiders clinging silently to the ceiling.
• The spiders’ stealth is so effective that even the experienced Mages failed to detect them in time. Mo Xie warns Xiao Hui not to provoke them, and the group cautiously continues while the spiders follow overhead.
• The party reaches a broad, open gorge where the spiders have fewer places to hide. Xiao Hui then senses someone concealed behind a large boulder and demands they reveal themselves.

Character developments and interactions

• Haotian proves his value by using sound waves to map the rift and choose the right passages, though the spider swarm visibly frightens him.
• Mo Xie demonstrates calm judgment, noticing the hidden danger and preventing Xiao Hui from attacking first.
• Xiao Hui is vigilant and protective, but recognizes that the spiders’ approach escaped even his Super Level senses.
• Mu Bai is initially confused by Mo Xie’s warning, then understands the danger when he looks up. The group follows Mo Xie’s lead and proceeds carefully.

Significant themes

• Hidden danger and vulnerability: The silent spiders expose the limits of even powerful Mages’ senses.
• Restraint under pressure: Mo Xie chooses to avoid provoking the swarm while no attack has begun.
• Unease and suspense: The deserted rift, oppressive silence, and spiders’ persistent pursuit build tension toward the discovery of another hidden presence.