Chapter Summaries

Key plot points

• Xia Kingdom’s Foreign Affairs Ministry reviews footage from the Biler Red Valley garrison: Buddha Country’s troops are stopped at the border, Zhang Hongxing defeats a hundred soldiers, and a strange formation leaves the Xia side green while the neighboring land remains snowy.
• The officials debate how to explain the events to foreign governments. They worry that approaching Zhang Hongxing directly could provoke him, so Minister Wang Desheng contacts his son, Zhang Bing.
• Zhang Bing says his father was taken through a spacetime rift to another plane during his thirty-year disappearance. He also says Zhang Hongxing created the formation and taught him cultivation methods, which he has shared with the garrison.
• The officials discover Zhang Bing has uploaded a cultivation tutorial to the War Department’s internal network. Its claims and demonstrations have drawn thousands of views, though most viewers remain skeptical.
• The scene then shifts to Capital City’s packed Hive Stadium, where Xia Kingdom fighter Qin Dagang is about to challenge Cherry Blossom Country champion Banjo Ichito for the UFC lightweight title.

Character developments and interactions

• Wang Desheng initially considers how to manage international attention, but adjusts his approach after colleagues warn against acting rashly. He handles Zhang Bing’s revelations with caution.
• Zhang Bing is frank with the minister and eager to share cultivation, having openly posted a tutorial and passed the practice to the garrison.
• Zhao Yunfei, Xia Yun, and Yang Guangwen debate the risks and importance of the revelations. Their disagreement remains collegial, ending in laughter as they turn to planning responses.
• Zhang Hongxing is not present, but his actions and knowledge shape the chapter: he appears fiercely protective of the garrison and connected to extraordinary powers.
• Qin Dagang’s upcoming bout introduces a new storyline centered on national pride and international competition.

Significant themes

• Power and national security: Xia Kingdom faces the challenge of responding to abilities and events that may alter the balance between nations.
• The unknown and public disclosure: Zhang Bing’s account of another plane and his public tutorial raise questions about how extraordinary knowledge should be handled.
• Tradition versus skepticism: Cultivation is treated as real by some and dismissed by others, reflecting tension between the fantastic and modern military thinking.
• Patriotism and spectacle: Both the garrison’s defense and Qin Dagang’s title challenge draw attention as tests of national strength.

Key plot points and events

• Qin Dagang’s UFC title fight against Cherry Blossom Country boxing champion Banjo Ichito becomes a national sensation, with Xia Kingdom media and fans heavily promoting Qin.
• Qin’s manager worries the overwhelming attention may be orchestrated, but Qin insists that the crowd only makes him fight harder.
• Zhang Hongxing, the man Qin least wants to see, attends ringside, intending to witness Qin’s humiliation and downfall.
• The match begins amid fierce cheering for Qin and hostility toward Banjo. The fighters initially trade similar kicks and strikes without either gaining an advantage.
• After Banjo hits Qin near the shoulder and neck, something appears to change in Qin’s body. A probing side kick knocks Qin down, and Banjo follows with a barrage of punches until Qin is unconscious.
• Qin is taken to hospital. The crowd, which had supported him, turns on him and curses him.
• The arena’s giant screen displays “Sick Man of East Asia,” provoking an uproar. Zhang then enters the ring and challenges Banjo and every UFC fighter, promising to fight one-handed and offering fifty million to anyone who can defeat him.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Dagang begins buoyed by national support and convinced he thrives under pressure. His confidence collapses into defeat when his body inexplicably fails him, and the crowd’s swift reversal underscores how conditional its support is.
• Qin’s manager shifts from career optimism to serious anxiety about the scale of the publicity, though he ultimately encourages Qin.
• Banjo Ichito remains composed despite the hostile crowd. He handles Qin’s aggression patiently, counters effectively, and capitalizes decisively when Qin goes down.
• Zhang Hongxing watches Qin’s defeat with apparent satisfaction, then takes center stage with a bold challenge that redirects the arena’s attention.
• The crowd’s relationship with Qin changes dramatically: its patriotic enthusiasm becomes blame and contempt after his loss.

Significant themes

• Fame and fickle public opinion: National adoration quickly turns to condemnation when Qin fails.
• Pressure and spectacle: The fight is framed as a national event, making the bout a test of reputation as much as athletic skill.
• Humiliation and retaliation: The “Sick Man of East Asia” display inflames nationalist tensions, while Zhang’s challenge suggests the conflict will continue beyond Qin’s match.
• Suspicion and hidden forces: The unusually intense publicity and Qin’s sudden physical failure hint that events may have been manipulated, though the chapter does not explain how.

Key plot points and events

• After Banjo Ichito defeats Qin Dagang, Zhang Hongxing enters the ring and challenges him, declaring he will face every UFC fighter with one hand. He also offers a 50-million-yuan reward.
• Chu Yunxuan questions Zhang’s motives and whether his actions have brought shame on their country. Zhang replies that Chu helped bring about the situation by staying with him.
• The slogan “Sick man of East Asia” appears on the screen, enraging Chu. Zhang jumps into the ring before Chu can react and escalates his challenge, offering to have his legs tied as well.
• Banjo accepts despite his agent’s warning that there is no reason to risk their victory. The match is announced as a no-rules fight, ending only when someone submits or is knocked out.
• During the half-hour wait, the challenge becomes a major news story. Zhang is searched thoroughly, then has his left hand and both feet bound with thick rope—at his own insistence.
• The bell rings. The enormous crowd falls silent, and Banjo, unsettled by the atmosphere, opens with the same sweeping kick he used against Qin Dagang. Most spectators expect Zhang to be unable to avoid it; some close their eyes.

Character developments

• Zhang Hongxing appears either recklessly boastful or deliberately provocative. He accepts extreme handicaps and takes responsibility for resolving the uproar he caused.
• Chu Yunxuan moves from anger over Qin’s defeat to embarrassment and uncertainty about Zhang’s plan, then is briefly provoked into action by the insulting slogan.
• Banjo Ichito is driven by fury and pride to accept a fight his agent advises him to refuse. Once the match begins, the crowd’s reaction shakes his composure.
• Banjo’s agent remains pragmatic, recognizing that accepting an unnecessary challenge creates avoidable risk.

Significant themes

• National pride and humiliation: The slogan and Qin’s defeat intensify the crowd’s sense of shame and desire for a reversal.
• Spectacle and public attention: Zhang’s challenge makes him a headline sensation, though observers assume the attention will only damage his reputation.
• Pride versus prudence: Banjo’s anger overrides his agent’s sound advice.
• Crowd psychology: The audience’s collective hope for Zhang creates an oppressive atmosphere that affects even Banjo.

Character interactions

• Zhang and Chu argue over responsibility for the situation and what it means to represent their country.
• Zhang’s challenge insults Banjo, provoking him to accept against his agent’s counsel.
• Zhang cooperates with the searches and binding, seeking to reassure the audience that he has no unfair advantage.
• The crowd’s silent support weighs on Banjo as the fight begins.

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Hongxing evades Banjo Ichito’s kick and launches into a one-handed spinning attack, using his right hand to move across the ring. The crowd gives him the nickname “Human Helicopter” and chants for him.
• Banjo is driven into a corner, injures his foot trying to counter, and is later thrown hard onto the canvas when Zhang catches his punch and turns it into a shoulder throw.
• Zhang grabs Banjo’s arm and spins him around. Banjo’s manager concedes to prevent a potentially serious injury, and the organizers stop the match. Banjo vomits after being set down.
• Zhang’s victory becomes a sensation in Xia Kingdom. Though he cannot receive an official UFC championship belt because of the unusual circumstances of his participation, the public regards him as its champion. The mocking “Sick Man of East Asia” backdrop is removed, and the person responsible is beaten.
• Zhang announces a seven-day challenge window, offering 50 million to anyone who can defeat him and agreeing to face challengers one after another.
• Fighters in several countries react to the challenge: Tyson Kevin dismisses Zhang as a clown, while other potential opponents—including A Gui and Badov—show interest. The chapter ends by revealing that an organized conspiracy against Zhang is beginning.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhang Hongxing demonstrates confidence, creativity, and restraint. He deliberately seeks a spectacular win to avoid accusations of bribery, then stops once Banjo’s side concedes. He also accepts the risk of further fights to sustain Xia Kingdom’s renewed pride.
• Banjo Ichito shifts from aggression to desperation and humiliation. His injured foot and repeated defeats leave him vulnerable, and his manager intervenes to protect him.
• The spectators move from bottled-up frustration to enthusiastic celebration, turning Zhang’s unusual technique and victory into a shared national triumph.
• International challengers respond in contrasting ways: Kevin underestimates Zhang, while Badov welcomes a genuine contest. Their interest sets up future confrontations.

Significant themes

• National pride and restored dignity: Zhang’s victory counters the “Sick Man of East Asia” insult and gives the public a symbolic champion.
• Spectacle and public image: Zhang aims not merely to win but to do so dramatically, and the crowd’s response turns the match into a viral cultural event.
• Confidence versus underestimation: Zhang’s opponents and challengers judge him differently, foreshadowing conflicts over whether his success is skill, money, or both.
• Celebration shadowed by conspiracy: The chapter’s triumphant ending is undercut by the revelation that Zhang’s challenge has drawn organized opposition.

Plot and key events

• Zhang Hongxing’s rise to fame is overshadowed by an international crisis: foreign governments and media accuse Xia of hiding a weather-controlling weapon after unusual conditions at its base in Biler Red Valley. With pressure mounting, Xia invites foreign representatives to a three-day symposium.
• The UFC exploits Zhang’s popularity, announcing that twelve reigning champions will face him in a no-rules gauntlet with only three minutes’ rest between bouts. It also falsely identifies him as the soldier who fought a hundred men during the Xia-Buddha conflict. Xia’s leaders and Zhang are initially startled, then realize the claim is coincidental.
• Zhang has spent the past few days secretly cultivating his power, consuming over 50,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity and reaching the peak of the golden core realm—one step from the nascent soul realm.
• Chu Yunxuan asks about Zhang’s training and confidence. Zhang refuses to explain his methods but assures him he can win even if all twelve attack together. Chu Yunfei takes this confidence as a cue to promote the fight.
• On April 5, a huge crowd fills Hive Stadium. Zhang enters to patriotic music and overwhelming cheers; the twelve champions receive far less support. The announcer reveals that Zhang has chosen to face all twelve simultaneously, in a no-rules match that ends only if he concedes or all opponents are knocked out. The excerpt ends before the fight begins.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhang Hongxing remains secretive and self-assured. His extraordinary electricity use reflects his ongoing cultivation, and his confidence has grown alongside his strength.
• Chu Yunxuan is curious and tries to pressure Zhang into explaining himself, even joking that he might stop bringing food. Zhang’s indifference frustrates him, but he accepts Zhang’s assurance about the fight.
• Chu Yunfei recognizes the match’s value as a source of national pride and moves to publicize it.
• The twelve champions enter under the pressure of a massive, hostile-leaning crowd, though their competitive experience may help them cope.

Significant themes

• National pride and propaganda: The match becomes a symbol of Xia’s strength, while foreign media use the wider political crisis to attack the country.
• Publicity and spectacle: The UFC escalates the challenge for attention, and media, influencers, and spectators turn Zhang into a national celebrity.
• Secrecy and power: Zhang conceals the source of his abilities as his cultivation approaches a transformative new stage.

Plot and events

• In the one-against-twelve match, Zhang Hongxing begins with one hand and both feet bound. The champions hesitate, intimidated by a government video suggesting he is an extraordinarily powerful Xia Kingdom soldier.
• Once the crowd urges them on, the fighters surround him. Zhang swiftly defeats A Gui with a jumping stomp to the knee, then sends a muscular champion flying with a powerful kick while evading attacks from Badov and Kevin.
• Zhang’s upside-down palm strike shakes the ring and leaves a palm-shaped mark. The remaining fighters surrender, and the audience erupts into chants for Zhang and Xia Kung Fu.
• His victory sparks a nationwide celebration. Martial arts schools and ordinary citizens set off fireworks, and Zhang becomes the subject of conversation throughout the country.
• The next morning, Magic City hosts international talks on the Buddha Country–India conflict. Foreign delegates are impressed by the city’s order and development, but the American delegate and others open by accusing Xia of aggression. Minister Wang Desheng calmly rebukes them, insisting that they cannot address Xia that way on Xia’s own soil and that their accusations will be recorded.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhang Hongxing demonstrates overwhelming skill and confidence, defeating the champions despite his restraints and transforming from a feared fighter into a national symbol.
• The twelve champions shift from caution to reluctant action, then quickly surrender when Zhang reveals the full extent of his strength.
• The Xia Kingdom public responds with pride and exhilaration, treating Zhang’s victory as proof of Xia Kung Fu’s worth.
• Minister Wang Desheng remains composed amid the delegates’ attacks and asserts Xia’s authority in the talks.
• Foreign delegates admire Xia’s modern infrastructure but several revert to hostile accusations. Their confrontational approach contrasts with Wang’s controlled response.

Significant themes

• National pride and cultural vindication: Zhang’s performance is celebrated as a public demonstration of Xia Kung Fu’s value.
• Power and intimidation: The champions’ fear—and eventual surrender—shows how dramatically Zhang’s reputation and ability shape others’ choices.
• National dignity and diplomacy: The talks contrast foreign attempts to pressure Xia with Wang’s insistence on respect and sovereignty.
• Perception versus reality: Delegates suspect Xia’s achievements are staged, while the fighters initially doubt Zhang’s strength; in both cases, reality overturns their assumptions.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• At an international conference, American representative challenges the Xia Kingdom over a complaint from its ally, while also probing rumors that Xia may possess weather-control technology.
• Wang Desheng rebukes him for speaking disrespectfully on Xia soil. The American representative unexpectedly backs down, then proposes that the two countries share and jointly develop their technology.
• Zhao Yunfei angrily rejects the proposal. Wang supports his point, arguing that Xia will not surrender hard-won technology without conditions—and noting that America has plenty of technology it could share in return.
• The American delegation leaves, followed by many other countries’ representatives. The conference ends on its first day, an unprecedented outcome.
• News coverage of the confrontation ignites widespread celebrations across Xia. People take pride in the country’s newfound confidence, while older generations weep with relief and emotion over how far the nation has come.
• Offshore, American commander Holly Phelps is enraged by the conference and briefly orders a missile strike. His adjutant and a call from the president stop him. The two sides avoid war, though their military forces have displayed their weapons.
• Wang calls Zhang Hongxing afterward, saying he acted partly to protect Zhang’s identity and teasingly demanding thanks. Zhang asks what Wang wants.

Character developments and interactions

• Wang Desheng shows firm confidence and diplomatic skill: he rebukes the Americans, then uses Zhao’s outburst to make Xia’s refusal to share its technology unmistakable. He later reveals that his public actions were also meant to protect Zhang Hongxing’s identity.
• Zhao Yunfei breaks with the delegation’s polished diplomatic manner by bluntly denouncing America’s demand. Wang both smooths over his language and backs his argument.
• The American representative shifts from indignation to apology and then to a proposal for technological cooperation, but ultimately leaves when Xia refuses to yield.
• Holly Phelps reacts impulsively and aggressively, but is restrained by his adjutant and the president, reflecting America’s frustration and reluctance to risk an uncertain war.
• Zhang Hongxing is surprised to receive Wang’s call and responds warily, asking what the minister wants.

Significant themes

• National dignity and sovereignty: Xia insists that foreign powers cannot dictate terms on its soil.
• Strength-backed diplomacy: The chapter’s slogan—welcoming friends with wine and wolves with rifles—captures Xia’s willingness to be cordial without being submissive.
• Technological power and global rivalry: The dispute over sharing advanced technology underscores the changing balance of power.
• Collective vindication: The celebrations express years of hardship, sacrifice, and pent-up national frustration finally giving way to pride and hope.

Plot points and events

• Zhang Hongxing tells Wang Desheng that his weather-changing formation cannot yet be deployed widely: creating one cost him blood essence and a realm of cultivation, so he could only cover a few locations himself.
• He agrees to research a more practical method, provided scientific researchers can assist and the work is based in his hometown so he can stay near his family. Wang accepts, though he warns that funding and staff will be limited.
• After the call, Wang considers how to adjust the government’s plans. Zhang hurries to catch his flight home.
• In Xinzhou, the Black Knife Daoist has spent three days observing Zhang’s house from a distance. He is baffled by the powerful formation protecting it and cannot identify its maker.
• Acting under his organization’s orders, the Daoist enters the formation. He experiences a convincing forest illusion, tests it with a real insect, then cuts through the illusion by striking its apparent wall.
• He enters the courtyard, announces himself, and approaches the great mulberry tree. After reciting an incantation, he stabs it with his black dagger—but nothing visibly happens.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhang Hongxing is willing to help the country, but sets practical limits and prioritizes staying close to his family. He negotiates calmly and accepts modest resources.
• Wang Desheng moves from uncertainty to agreement, recognizing Zhang’s constraints and deciding to revise his plans.
• The Black Knife Daoist is wary and impressed by the formation, but his mission overcomes his caution. He shows persistence and confidence in his skills, though the failed attack leaves his intentions and next move unresolved.
• Zhang and Wang have a direct, cooperative negotiation. The Daoist, by contrast, encounters no one at the house; his challenge is directed at the unseen expert and the protected mulberry tree.

Significant themes

• Power has costs and limits: Zhang’s miraculous technique consumes scarce personal resources.
• Duty balanced with personal life: Zhang offers to serve the country without sacrificing all contact with his family.
• Appearance versus reality: The formation makes an illusion feel physically real, challenging the Daoist’s senses.
• Caution versus obligation: The Daoist recognizes the danger but proceeds because his organization ordered him to act.

Plot and events

• Black Knife Daoist tries to activate or examine the Great Mulberry Tree using incantations and blood, but it does not respond. In frustration, he chops it down and threatens to burn the house. The surroundings then vanish, leaving him alone with a thriving Great Mulberry Tree in an empty world. Confused and desperate, he challenges his unseen captor to appear.
• Zhang Hongxing returns home after about ten days away and is warmly welcomed by his grandchildren, Lele and Wenwen. He gives them gifts and promises to take them to the amusement park.
• At dinner, the family discusses Wenwen’s upcoming start at Shimen Elementary School and Zhang Ying’s cultivation practice. Zhang Jun urges his father to check on the motionless man outside, but Zhang Hongxing puts off the matter until after the meal.
• After dinner, Zhang Hongxing privately admits to Zhang Ying that he killed her husband, Qin Dagang. Zhang Ying is shocked and angry, fearing the consequences for her father and the family.

Character developments

• Black Knife Daoist shifts from cautious investigation to rage and despair as his efforts fail and his surroundings transform.
• Zhang Hongxing is affectionate and joyful at home, but his protective instincts have led him to kill Qin Dagang. He insists that no one will discover it.
• Zhang Ying is grieving and conflicted: Qin Dagang abused her and Wenwen, yet she never wanted him killed. She challenges her father’s decision and worries about its consequences.
• Zhang Jun remains easygoing and deferential toward his father, while Yan Mei shows thoughtfulness by comforting him and being sensitive to Zhang Ying’s situation.

Themes

• Protection versus justice: Zhang Hongxing believes killing Qin Dagang was necessary to stop the abuse, while Zhang Ying argues that divorce or imprisonment would have been preferable.
• Family bonds and reunion: The warm meal and the children’s affection highlight the comfort Zhang Hongxing finds in family life.
• Secrecy and consequences: Zhang Hongxing believes concealment will shield the family, but Zhang Ying insists that hiding the crime does not erase it.
• Power and helplessness: Black Knife Daoist’s failed attempts and distorted surroundings leave him powerless, contrasting with Zhang Hongxing’s confidence in protecting his family.

Character interactions

• Lele and Wenwen enthusiastically welcome Zhang Hongxing, accept his gifts, and share his excitement about their planned outing.
• Zhang Hongxing and Zhang Jun clash mildly when Zhang Jun prioritizes the man outside over the family reunion; Zhang Hongxing silences him with a glare.
• Yan Mei quietly supports Zhang Jun and tries to be considerate of Zhang Ying, who responds calmly to the couple’s affection.
• In the courtyard, Zhang Ying confronts Zhang Hongxing directly, turning their reunion into a tense dispute over his killing of Qin Dagang.

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Hongxing apologizes to Zhang Ying for killing Qin Dagang without discussing it with her. The apology acknowledges both her resentment and his long absence as a father. Ying accepts the apology only cautiously and returns inside.
• Zhang Jun asks whether his father and sister had deliberately separated from the family because of Qin Dagang. Zhang Hongxing shuts down the questions and instead asks about Zhang Jun’s cultivation training.
• Zhang Hongxing releases the Black Knife Daoist from the formation that had tormented him for days. He interrogates him, using the threat of a Soul-Eating Insect and the pressure of his Immortal Venerable presence to force him to cooperate.
• The Daoist admits he was sent by the Eternal Life Society to retrieve something hidden inside the great mulberry tree. He describes the masked leader, who bears the character 囧, and records everything else he knows.
• After getting the information, Zhang Hongxing kills the Daoist and disposes of his body. He gives the recording to Zhang Jun, telling him to pass it to the government.
• Listening to the recording, Zhang Jun learns that the apparently peaceful modern world contains serious evils and atrocities. He questions why the Eternal Life Society would not fear divine retribution; Zhang Hongxing replies that people who defy the law are unlikely to fear such warnings.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhang Hongxing shows a rare willingness to apologize and adapt his behavior for the sake of repairing his relationship with his children. He still handles threats ruthlessly, but involving Zhang Jun in reporting the Society reflects his effort not to let his own actions divide the family again.
• Zhang Ying remains hurt despite her father’s apology; reconciliation is possible, but not immediate.
• Zhang Jun is curious and increasingly unsettled by the revelations. He acts as a link between his father’s actions and the authorities.
• The Black Knife Daoist is broken by the formation and Zhang Hongxing’s overwhelming power. He pleads for his life and gives up information, but is killed once his usefulness ends.

Significant themes

• Family repair and accountability: Zhang Hongxing’s apology marks a change from unquestioned authority toward recognizing the harm caused by his choices and absence.
• Power and ruthlessness: His immense strength allows him to dominate the Daoist, while his decision to kill him shows that his methods remain severe.
• Hidden evil beneath ordinary life: The Eternal Life Society’s activities reveal that modern society is less safe and straightforward than Zhang Jun believed.
• Justice and morality: The chapter contrasts legal authority and divine retribution with people who seem undeterred by either, leaving Zhang Jun to confront a more troubling view of the world.

Plot and key events

• Zhang Hongxing takes his excited grandchildren, Lele and Wenwen, from Shimen County to Xinzhou City’s amusement park.
• The children disagree over whether to ride the pirate ship or carousel first. Zhang resolves their quarrel by encouraging them to take turns, and they agree to start with the carousel.
• He buys a park card and waits with them in the crowded line. Trouble erupts when a girl refuses to leave the carousel after her turn. Her mother slaps the attendant for enforcing the queue and threatens to have him fired.
• Zhang intervenes: he throws the woman aside, lifts the girl off the ride, and tells the attendant to start the carousel for his grandchildren. When the woman returns, Zhang’s intimidating Golden Core aura frightens her into leaving.
• The rest of the visit goes smoothly, and the three enjoy the rides. As they are leaving, Lele spots a rocket-like object streaking toward them.

Character development and interactions

• Zhang Hongxing is affectionate and indulgent with his grandchildren, enjoying the chance to guide them and make them happy. He also shows a forceful, frightening side when confronted with what he sees as bullying and rule-breaking, though he restrains himself because the children are watching.
• Lele and Wenwen show their excitement and distinct preferences, but accept Zhang’s guidance and demonstrate consideration for one another. Lele is impressed by Zhang’s intervention and asks when he will be able to stand up for justice too; Wenwen becomes frightened when the woman returns, and Zhang reassures her.
• The attendant tries to enforce fair turns, but is slapped and threatened by the girl’s entitled mother. Zhang’s intervention lets the ride proceed.
• The mother acts aggressively and demands special treatment for her daughter, then retreats when confronted by Zhang’s overwhelming presence.

Significant themes

• Fairness and consideration: Zhang teaches the children to take turns and challenges the mother’s attempt to bypass the queue.
• Protective authority: Zhang uses his power to defend the attendant and his grandchildren, but his response is intimidating and physical.
• Family affection and moral guidance: The amusement-park outing gives Zhang opportunities to bond with the children and teach them through example.
• Suspenseful turn: The unexpected rocket-like object abruptly ends the cheerful outing on a cliffhanger.

Key plot points and events

• A burning experimental aerial maglev train malfunctions and hurtles toward a crowded amusement park, triggering a mass evacuation.
• Zhang Hongxing moves his grandchildren, Wenwen and Lele, to safety, then uses his Golden Core abilities to rescue people who have fallen or been left behind.
• At the Maglev Research Center, Professor Yang explains that the train’s controls are mostly disabled. He can keep it from crashing for only about twenty minutes; if the flames are extinguished, the backup control system may take over.
• The researchers cannot reach Zhang by phone. Lin Mo and a colleague instead arrange for an announcement at the park, but Zhang overhears them before it is made.
• Zhang agrees to try. He gathers fire extinguishers, launches himself from the Ferris wheel, lands on the train, breaks through its window, and begins fighting the fire.

Character developments

• Zhang Hongxing is shown as powerful, quick-thinking, and compassionate: he protects his grandchildren but returns to risk himself for others.
• Professor Yang is deeply distressed by the apparent failure of a project he has devoted himself to, yet continues seeking a way to prevent disaster.
• Lin Mo and the researchers shift from panic to urgent cooperation, using every possible connection to reach Zhang.

Significant themes

• Courage in a crisis: Zhang acts despite the danger and uncertainty.
• Responsibility and sacrifice: He chooses to help strangers after securing his family’s safety.
• Hope and ingenuity: A slim chance remains, and the researchers’ improvised communication plan gives Zhang an opportunity to act.
• Human limits and technical failure: Advanced technology proves vulnerable, while the outcome depends on people’s judgment and effort.

Character interactions

• Zhang reassures Wenwen and Lele before sending them to safety.
• Professor Yang explains the train’s limitations to his team and reveals his despair over the project’s fate.
• Lin Mo’s repeated attempts to contact Zhang lead the researchers to enlist a colleague’s brother, who is at the park.
• Zhang overhears the call, confirms the plan directly with Lin Mo, and takes action without hesitation.

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Hongxing puts out the fire aboard the runaway maglev train. When the control system fails to restart, he reaches the front of the train and presses the emergency red button just in time.
• The train climbs away from Big Kid Amusement Park but crashes into an uninhabited mountainside. The explosion causes a localized earthquake, yet no one is killed and most injuries are minor.
• Professor Yang concludes that, despite saving the project, he must accept responsibility for the disaster. He appoints Xiao Wu to lead the Maglev Research Center, then leaves with Lin Mo.
• Zhang returns to Lele and Wenwen, having already jumped off the train to protect them. The children and park visitors admire him; several children want to learn martial arts. He directs them to the military, where his knowledge is being taught.
• Zhang takes his grandchildren to the zoo, and the outing passes peacefully. At home that evening, Zhang Jun says the city mayor has called to ask about Zhang and the family, and to discuss a possible research base. Zhang connects this to an earlier call from Minister Wang Desheng.

Character developments

• Zhang Hongxing demonstrates calm, extraordinary power and fierce devotion to his grandchildren. He remains modest about teaching others and turns his attention toward the proposed research base.
• Professor Yang shows responsibility and selflessness: rather than evade blame, he steps down and entrusts the center to someone committed to the work.
• Lin Mo shares the team’s fear and relief during the crisis, then leaves with Professor Yang.
• Lele and Wenwen are proud of their grandfather and remain cheerful and unshaken after the danger.
• Zhang Jun is eager to talk about his father’s sudden fame, though he quickly corrects himself when he senses Zhang’s disapproval.

Significant themes

• Responsibility and accountability: Professor Yang accepts the consequences of his leadership despite the project’s survival.
• Family and protection: Zhang’s priority is keeping his grandchildren safe, and the family’s shared dinner underscores the comfort of togetherness.
• Public admiration and fame: Witnesses spread word of Zhang’s rescue, while children see him as a hero.
• Science and cultivation intersect: The proposed research base hints at a growing connection between Zhang’s cultivation interests and scientific or government initiatives.

Character interactions

• Zhang works with Lin Mo and Professor Yang to prevent the train from striking the amusement park; Professor Yang’s final instructions guide Zhang to the emergency switch.
• Professor Yang appoints Xiao Wu as his successor before departing with Lin Mo.
• Children approach Lele and Wenwen, hoping to learn from Zhang; Zhang redirects them toward military training.
• At dinner, Zhang Jun tells his father about the mayor’s call and the research-base proposal, prompting Zhang to consider its significance.

Plot points and events

• After promising Wang Desheng, Zhang Hongxing agrees to meet Xinzhou Mayor Huang Sheng at his home the next afternoon. The mayor, once skeptical, has changed his mind after seeing Zhang’s extraordinary rescue at Big Kid Amusement Park.
• Zhang spends the evening nurturing the great mulberry tree with true qi, hoping to strengthen the guardian that trapped the Black Knife Daoist.
• Huang’s wife asks to accompany him on the visit so she can thank Zhang for saving their thirteen-year-old daughter, Keke. Huang agrees.
• As coverage of Zhang’s rescue spreads, Goddess Country announces it will bar all Xia Kingdom products, accusing Xia of hegemonic behavior. Xia responds by condemning the accusation and banning Goddess Country’s products in return.
• In Goddess Country’s palace, Prime Minister William admits responsibility for the decision, though Third-Generation Goddess Ili Basha suspects others are behind it. She condemns the theories guiding William as forbidden arts and warns that divine punishment will follow.
• After Ili Basha leaves, a black-robed monk reveals he has been influencing William. William accepts a porcelain bottle containing a substance that will sustain him for six months, suggesting he is dependent on the monk or his group.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhang Hongxing remains true to his word and takes practical steps to protect his home by strengthening the mulberry tree.
• Huang Sheng shifts from doubt to humility and gratitude after witnessing Zhang’s abilities; his wife shares his gratitude because their daughter was at the amusement park.
• Ili Basha shows moral opposition to the new theories and growing awareness that she has lost the power to control William.
• William is torn between loyalty to Ili Basha and submission to the group supporting him. His anger and demand for another dose expose his dependence and vulnerability.
• The black-robed monk belittles William, manipulates his anger, and uses the promised substance to maintain control over him.

Significant themes

• Tradition versus forbidden innovation: Ili Basha sees the new theories as unacceptable, while William pursues them under outside influence.
• Power, dependence, and manipulation: William’s political authority is undercut by his reliance on the monk’s group.
• Public image and political response: Zhang’s fame rises, but an international dispute quickly eclipses it.
• Gratitude and protection: Huang’s family’s response highlights the personal lives saved by Zhang’s actions, while Zhang prepares to defend his own home.

Key plot points and events

• William gives his father, Henry Norman, a secret life-extending medicine from Eternal Life. Henry’s aged body rapidly rejuvenates, restoring his health and strength.
• Henry thanks William for his decade of effort and reminds him that the Norman heir must control his emotions. William is overwhelmed with relief that his father has returned.
• In Xia Kingdom, Mayor Huang Sheng visits Zhang Hongxing with his wife and daughter, Huang Keke. The women socialize while Huang and Zhang discuss plans for a research base in Shimen County.
• Huang explains that he has made no plans yet, because he wants to understand Zhang’s needs before deciding what to build. Zhang admits he is unsure how to begin combining his formation-based methods with modern technology.
• Zhang reveals that his abilities resemble cultivation from online fiction. Huang eagerly asks if he can cultivate; Zhang teaches him the method, but Huang gets no response and accepts that he may lack the aptitude.
• Returning to the research project, Huang suggests starting with practical, small-scale applications—such as making materials harder or lighter, or improving weapons and warship defenses—rather than immediately attempting to control weather.
• Zhang considers the possibilities and suddenly realizes a promising direction: “I’ve got it!”

Character developments and interactions

• William shifts from years of anxious devotion to tearful relief when his father recovers. Henry returns to his authoritative role, both expressing gratitude and reinforcing expectations of discipline.
• Huang Sheng shows patience and tact in the negotiation, but also reveals his personal curiosity about cultivation. After his failed attempt, he regains composure and contributes practical ideas shaped by national security concerns.
• Zhang Hongxing is candid about the limits of his knowledge and listens seriously to Huang’s suggestions. Their respectful exchange moves the research project from a broad, difficult goal toward concrete applications.
• The Huang women and Zhang’s household meet warmly and spend time together, establishing a friendly domestic backdrop to the men’s discussion.

Significant themes

• Family devotion and renewal: William’s long sacrifice is rewarded by Henry’s miraculous recovery.
• The limits of ambition: Huang’s failed cultivation attempt illustrates that desire alone may not be enough to gain extraordinary abilities.
• Tradition and technology: The central research challenge is finding practical ways to combine formations and cultivation principles with modern engineering.
• Cooperation and national responsibility: Zhang’s knowledge and Huang’s administrative and strategic perspective complement each other, especially in seeking defensive applications.

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Hongxing decides to pursue a maglev train project, drawing on his experience with an earlier prototype. Though Huang Sheng warns that the project may not be useful for years, Zhang asks him to establish a research base and assign specialists. Huang agrees.
• The next morning, Zhang takes his grandchildren Lele and Wenwen to their first day of first grade. Their relaxed kindergarten routine makes them fifteen minutes late, but the school guard lets Zhang accompany them to class.
• Their teacher, Ms. Liu, welcomes the children and recognizes Zhang as a famous hero. The children proudly confirm it before Zhang leaves them at school.
• Back home, Zhang begins a difficult breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Stage, drawing on his immense cultivation experience but struggling against Earth’s scarce spiritual energy. He channels electricity into his body, anticipating a huge power demand.
• His breakthrough triggers storm clouds and lightning. A great mulberry tree intercepts the first bolt but is badly scorched; it cannot stop the second. Zhang prepares to confront the lightning himself.

Character developments

• Zhang Hongxing shows confidence and persistence in both his scientific ambitions and cultivation. He accepts that the maglev project may not yield immediate results because he values the experience of building something new.
• Huang Sheng acts as a practical adviser but ultimately supports Zhang’s decision, using his own connections and prior experience to help.
• Lele and Wenwen begin their transition from kindergarten to elementary school. They adapt quickly to lessons and proudly tell classmates about their grandfather.
• Ms. Liu is welcoming toward the new students and curious about Zhang’s identity.

Significant themes

• Long-term ambition versus immediate usefulness: Zhang values experimentation and future potential even when others see little short-term benefit.
• Family and responsibility: He personally escorts his grandchildren to school and later prepares his family and local officials for the risks of his breakthrough.
• Extraordinary power in an ordinary world: Zhang’s cultivation relies on Earth’s electricity and provokes a dramatic, dangerous storm.
• Perseverance against obstacles: Both the maglev project and the cultivation breakthrough require patience and determination.

Character interactions

• Zhang and Huang discuss the maglev proposal: Huang raises practical concerns, but respects Zhang’s resolve and agrees to help.
• Zhang gently escorts Lele and Wenwen to class, where Ms. Liu welcomes them and asks who he is. The children identify him as their grandfather—and later proudly call him a hero.
• During the breakthrough, Zhang’s connection with the mulberry tree is shown as it tries to shield him from the lightning, sacrificing its branches before the second strike overwhelms it.

Plot points and events

• Zhang Hongxing endures a lightning tribulation, using its energy to break through from the Golden Core stage to Nascent Soul and then rapidly through several more realms, ultimately reaching the Human Immortal Realm.
• The lightning grows increasingly powerful, culminating in seven-colored bolts, but Zhang absorbs them all. The dark clouds then disperse, apparently unable to destroy him.
• His ascent goes unnoticed by satellites and people nearby. At four o’clock, he follows his usual routine and picks up Lele and Wenwen from school.
• Walking home, the children bicker over who should protect whom, then recite a poem about the moon. When they mention their homework—drawing it—Lele asks whether they can go to the moon so he can see it clearly. Wenwen wants to go too.
• Zhang promises to take them, confident that his newfound power makes the trip possible.

Character developments

• Zhang’s cultivation leaps to the Human Immortal Realm, giving him extraordinary strength, speed, and limited ability to survive in space. His playful, devoted grandfatherly nature remains unchanged.
• Lele and Wenwen are now first-graders, not preschoolers. Zhang realizes he should treat them as more grown-up, though they still look up to him as someone who can do anything.

Character interactions

• Lele and Wenwen affectionately argue about which sibling should protect the other; Zhang settles the dispute by telling them to protect each other.
• The twins compete to recite and answer questions, prompting Zhang’s laughter and praise.
• Lele shares his wish to see the moon up close, and Wenwen eagerly joins him. Zhang responds with a confident promise.

Significant themes

• Family affection and everyday joy: Zhang’s pride and happiness come from spending time with his grandchildren.
• Childlike wonder and trust: The children’s longing to visit the moon reflects their curiosity and their faith in Zhang.
• Extraordinary power alongside ordinary life: Even after a near-miraculous breakthrough, Zhang returns to his familiar role of picking the children up from school.

Key plot points and events

• Two bystanders mock Zhang Hongxing’s claim that he can fly to the moon and doubt Xia Kingdom’s technological abilities. Zhang confronts them, urging greater confidence in their country, then leaves without escalating the argument.
• At home, Zhang announces that he will take his grandchildren, Lele and Wenwen, to the moon. He explains that the journey will take about six days and that his power can support the two children—but not his adult son, Zhang Jun, as well.
• After dinner, Zhang carries Lele and Wenwen into the sky. The family watches anxiously as the three disappear.
• During the journey, the children marvel at Earth, the moon, and the sights around them, asking their grandfather questions and sharing their excitement and fear.
• The unexplained glowing object draws worldwide attention. Other countries pause plans to confront Xia Kingdom while they try to understand it. Even Xia Kingdom’s aerospace officials cannot see inside the light.
• An official, Dr. Ma, learns from his colleague Xiao You that Xinzhou’s mayor says the object contains Zhang Hongxing and his two grandchildren, who are going to the moon because the children have a school assignment to draw it. Dr. Ma finds the story unbelievable.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhang Hongxing responds to public doubt with calm patriotism, then backs up his extraordinary confidence by taking the children on the trip. He also shows practical knowledge of the journey’s distance, speed, and energy demands, and encourages Zhang Jun to study and cultivate rather than focus only on work.
• Lele and Wenwen are thrilled by the adventure, though their reactions shift between wonder and fear. Their questions make the journey feel like both a family outing and a remarkable educational experience.
• Zhang Jun is excited and envious, but cannot join because of the energy cost. He accepts his father’s advice to cultivate.
• Zhang Ying and Yan Mei remain worried about the travelers. Yan Mei encourages Zhang Ying to cultivate with her, while Li Xiuying has already begun.
• Xiao You trusts his source and insists on passing along the information; Dr. Ma moves from curiosity to disbelief and suspects Xiao You is joking.

Significant themes

• Confidence and national pride: Zhang challenges the assumption that Xia Kingdom must remain inferior to America.
• Family, learning, and adventure: A school assignment becomes an extraordinary shared experience between a grandfather and his grandchildren.
• Cultivation versus ordinary work: Zhang argues that knowledge and personal development can be more valuable than conventional employment.
• The extraordinary disrupting the ordinary: A family trip to the moon becomes a global mystery, exposing the limits of scientific observation and official understanding.

Plot points and events

• Xiao You asks Huang Sheng to confirm the extraordinary claims about Zhang Hongxing. Huang confirms that Zhang is classified as an S-rank secret and says both Xiao You and Dr. Ma have the clearance to know.
• Dr. Ma accepts that the information is genuine and orders his team to stop tracking Zhang, returning to his other research.
• Foreign governments and research institutions remain interested in Zhang’s mysterious flight. At America’s Aegis Research Center, Director Will Alex learns the craft appears to be heading for the moon, but his staff cannot determine its structure or propulsion.
• Zhang, unaware of the surveillance, uses a concealment formation to hide his group. He lets Lele and Wenwen finish their drawings, then takes them to the moon.
• The children explore the lunar surface. Zhang explains the danger of space radiation and uses immortal power to collect lunar sand safely. After playing for over an hour, the three return to Earth ahead of schedule.
• When Aegis loses track of them, Will erupts in anger, accuses his staff of incompetence, and orders a full investigation.

Character development and interactions

• Dr. Ma struggles to accept the revelation but ultimately chooses to stop investigating Zhang and focus on other scientific questions.
• Xiao You is relieved when Huang confirms his story and tries to reassure Dr. Ma.
• Huang Sheng calmly explains the security classification and the reason for sharing the information.
• Zhang Hongxing acts as a patient, protective grandfather, guiding the children and keeping them safe while concealing their journey.
• Lele and Wenwen enjoy friendly competition over their drawings and show curiosity about the moon; Lele asks thoughtful questions about radiation and collecting lunar soil.
• Will Alex responds to Aegis’s failure with intimidation and violence, while his staff can offer no clear explanation.

Significant themes

• Science and the unknown: Dr. Ma’s reaction illustrates how difficult it can be for established scientific assumptions to accommodate extraordinary discoveries.
• Secrecy and surveillance: Governments compete to understand Zhang, while his concealment formation thwarts their monitoring.
• Family, wonder, and learning: Zhang’s lunar excursion turns an extraordinary journey into a shared educational adventure with his grandchildren.
• Power and responsibility: Zhang’s abilities let him travel and protect the children, while foreign efforts to match them expose the limits—and pressures—of conventional technology.

• International tensions escalate: After America loses track of an aircraft, President Will Alex and an adviser discuss the Xia Kingdom’s growing technological strength. America announces investigations targeting Xia technology companies, and several allied countries follow suit. Xia protests and retaliates by investigating American firms.
• A maglev base sparks controversy: Construction begins on a new maglev research base in Shimen County, prompting online accusations of waste and corruption. Facing public pressure, Xinzhou Mayor Huang Sheng visits the existing Maglev Research Center and tells acting manager Pan Qiwu that it will be moved to Shimen County. Pan refuses, arguing that the move will damage the research program and that Zhang Hongxing’s new site is led by someone without scientific experience. Huang insists the relocation is an administrative order and threatens to cut funding for anyone who refuses. Though Huang lacks direct authority over the center, the new base has high-level national approval, making the move effectively unavoidable.
• Lele’s school fight: At school, the teacher asks about Lele’s unusual moon painting, which depicts him, Wenwen, and their grandfather visiting the Moon. Lele freely claims they really went and brought back moon sand. His classmates mock him and call him a liar; Wenwen stands up for her little brother, who insists their grandfather is an immortal. Unable to convince them, Lele punches one child in the nose, drawing blood. The teacher, briefly distracted by the possibility that the children’s extraordinary story might be true, fails to stop him and calls Zhang Hongxing.
• Character developments and interactions: Pan shows fierce loyalty to Professor Yang’s research legacy and openly defies Huang, while Huang’s attempt to manage public criticism reveals his political pressure and frustration. Lele’s honesty and protectiveness turn into impulsive violence when he is ridiculed; Wenwen supports him, and the teacher is left to handle the consequences.
• Themes: The chapter contrasts political pressure and public misunderstanding with scientific ambition. It also explores the costs of rapid technological change, the clash between official authority and research independence, and how children’s sincere claims can invite ridicule—and provoke conflict.