Chapter Summaries

Key events

• Chen Siyao and her nervous friend, Yang Wanqing, hike into the mountains so Siyao can keep her promise to livestream an outdoor adventure. She needs the income and followers to support herself through university.
• Viewers spot a vine-hidden cave and urge the women to explore it. Inside, they discover a beautiful, cool cavern—and, deeper within, a motionless figure seated on a stone platform.
• The figure, Chen Hao, opens his eyes. Siyao’s voice awakens memories of a little sister he left behind when he transmigrated ten thousand years ago.
• The chapter shifts to Hao’s memories of the Primordial Nine Provinces: spiritual energy is fading, the laws of the world are collapsing, and the path to immortality has been cut off. Even the most powerful cultivators, at the Void Refinement Realm, face the world’s decline helplessly.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Siyao is determined and self-reliant despite her friend’s fear; she reassures Yang Wanqing, leads the exploration, and engages warmly with her viewers.
• Yang Wanqing begins anxious and reluctant but becomes captivated by the cave’s beauty. She stays close to Siyao and shares her excitement.
• Chen Hao emerges from ten thousand years of seclusion, emotionally stirred for the first time by Siyao’s voice. He suspects she may be his long-lost younger sister, though this is not yet confirmed.
• The livestream audience encourages the women to enter the cave, then reacts with alarm and curiosity when they see Hao.

Significant themes

• Family and memory: Siyao’s voice revives Hao’s deep attachment to his sister.
• Self-reliance and perseverance: Siyao presses on because she must provide for herself and honor her commitments.
• The unknown and the fantastic: An ordinary livestream expedition leads into a hidden cavern and a possible reunion across worlds and time.
• Decline and helplessness: Hao’s memories reveal a once-mighty world losing its spiritual vitality, leaving even its strongest beings powerless.

Plot points and events

• The path to immortality in the ancient Nine Provinces has collapsed. The remaining Void Refinement cultivators combine their power to open a passage to a realm where the Great Dao is intact.
• Chen Hao refuses to leave with them. Though he could pursue eternal life, he stays behind to guard the Nine Provinces and seek a way back to the modern world, where his younger sister, Chen Siyao, is waiting.
• Before departing, a diviner leaves Chen Hao a bamboo scroll containing the Divination Art. Chen Hao spends five years mastering it, then casts a hexagram asking how he can return and whether his sister is safe.
• The divination offers no shortcut: he must endure the passage of ages until the world reaches his own modern era. He resolves to keep waiting.
• In the present day, Chen Siyao and her friend Yang Wanqing enter a secluded cave while livestreaming. They discover Chen Hao seated inside. When he sees Siyao, he recognizes her as the little sister he has missed for tens of thousands of years.

Character developments

• Chen Hao chooses family and hope over immortality. His composure, sustained through the ages, breaks when he is reunited with Siyao.
• Chen Siyao is frightened by the mysterious cave and its occupant, but tries to remain calm and polite. His intense, sorrowful gaze stirs an inexplicable sense of familiarity in her.
• Yang Wanqing is alarmed and urges Siyao to leave, hiding behind her friend.

Character interactions

• The departing cultivators try to persuade Chen Hao to join them, but he calmly refuses and explains that he will stay.
• Siyao cautiously apologizes to Chen Hao and offers to leave; he responds only by looking at her, while internally recognizing her.
• The livestream audience watches the encounter, and the chat erupts as the scene unfolds.

Significant themes

• Family over power and immortality: Chen Hao considers eternal life meaningless without his sister.
• Endurance and time: His hope demands waiting through the rise and fall of civilizations.
• Longing and reunion: The chapter builds toward the moment the siblings meet again, though Siyao does not yet recognize him.

Plot points and events

• Chen Siyao and Yang Wanqing encounter Chen Hao in a remote cave. He recognizes Siyao by name and claims to be her long-lost brother.
• Chen Hao proves his identity with an old childhood photo and an ID card. Siyao is overcome with emotion, and they reunite after years apart.
• He explains that he disappeared after falling from a cliff in the Shu Region, where a Taoist priest rescued him and raised him in the mountains. He hides the truth of his extraordinary past and says he has been waiting for this reunion.
• In Pengcheng, Chen Hao proposes buying a home using valuable items left by his master. He secretly retrieves calligraphy from his magical Qiankun Bag and plans to sell it at auction.
• The next morning, Siyao starts a livestream and tells viewers Chen Hao is her brother. The group prepares to get breakfast before going to the auction house.

Character developments

• Chen Siyao shifts from fear and suspicion to joyful relief, eager to have her brother back and determined to include him in her life.
• Chen Hao, after millennia away, is deeply moved by the reunion and shows a gentle, protective affection toward Siyao. He conceals his supernatural history and abilities.
• Yang Wanqing is initially wary of Chen Hao, then remains skeptical of his claims and stunned by the reunion. She also feels self-conscious around him.

Themes

• The enduring bond between siblings and the longing for family.
• The contrast between Chen Hao’s ancient, supernatural past and modern life, including cars, housing costs, smartphones, and livestreaming.
• Secrets and concealment: Chen Hao gives his sister a believable story while hiding the true extent of his experiences and possessions.
• The gap between private truth and public perception, as livestream viewers debate whether the encounter is real or staged.

Character interactions

• Chen Hao’s quiet recognition and embrace reassure Siyao and confirm their sibling bond.
• Siyao trusts her brother readily and plans for their shared future; Chen Hao comforts her and promises not to leave again.
• Wanqing acts as Siyao’s protector at first, warning Chen Hao not to approach her, then questions his sudden wealth and plans.
• Siyao introduces Chen Hao to livestreaming and explains modern online culture, while viewers react to his appearance and the claimed reunion.

Key plot points and events

• Chen Hao brings his sister, Chen Siyao, and her friend Yang Wanqing to Dingsheng Auction House to consign a calligraphy work, Wandering Ink Traces, hoping to raise money for a larger home.
• The receptionist, Xiao Huang, assumes they are amateurs with a forgery and treats them dismissively. The group waits nearly an hour before an appraiser examines the piece.
• The appraiser recognizes signs of an important work and summons chief appraiser Elder Zhou. Zhou confirms it is an authentic, exceptionally rare Tang Yin masterpiece, stunning the room.
• The auction house manager apologizes profusely and promises a premier auction to secure the best price. Xiao Huang apologizes as well.

Character developments

• Chen Hao remains composed despite the insults, showing patience and confidence in the calligraphy’s authenticity. He responds to the receptionist’s apology with restraint rather than seeking revenge.
• Chen Siyao is hurt by the treatment but trusts her brother and later asks Yang Wanqing not to hold a grudge.
• Yang Wanqing reacts angrily to the snobbery, then celebrates the discovery and the prospect of a better home.
• Xiao Huang shifts from condescension to fear and embarrassment once the work is authenticated.
• Elder Zhou moves from professional scrutiny to awe, while the manager becomes deferential after realizing the work’s importance.

Significant themes

• Appearances can mislead: The auction-house staff judge Chen Hao and the others by their clothes and demeanor, only to discover they possess a priceless treasure.
• Humility and restraint: Chen Hao refuses to answer disrespect with hostility, even when the staff grovel afterward.
• Status and recognition: The same people who ignore the group quickly change their behavior once wealth and prestige become evident.

Character interactions

• Xiao Huang’s dismissive conduct frustrates Yang Wanqing and hurts Chen Siyao; Chen Hao calmly reassures his sister.
• Chen Siyao urges Yang Wanqing to wait and trust Chen Hao, then later prevents her from prolonging the conflict.
• After the appraisal, the manager apologizes to Chen Hao, Xiao Huang bows and apologizes to all three, and Elder Zhou respectfully offers to arrange a high-profile auction.

Key plot points and events

• At an auction house, Elder Zhou estimates Chen Hao’s calligraphy—authenticated as a work by Tang Bohu—could sell for 30–40 million. Chen Hao calmly asks to sell it quickly, explaining privately that he wrote it himself under that name long ago.
• The auction house arranges an expedited sale and has Chen Siyao complete the paperwork using her bank account, since Chen Hao has no bank card. The receptionist who previously treated them dismissively is now visibly regretful and deferential.
• The livestream audience reacts with astonishment, celebrating the revelation and mocking the receptionist’s change in attitude.
• A few days later, the auction proceeds—38.5 million—arrive. Chen Hao treats the money as unimportant and suggests they look for a home near the universities, as Siyao had proposed.
• The three visit Treasure Sky City, an upscale development overlooking both the sea and the university district. They tour a spacious top-floor apartment with sweeping views. Siyao and Wanqing love it, and Chen Hao approves.

Character developments

• Chen Hao remains composed despite the calligraphy’s enormous value and the luxury property. His apparent wealth and confidence deepen the impression that he is an extraordinary, mysterious figure.
• Chen Siyao is stunned by the sale proceeds but also shows affection and concern for Chen Hao. She takes responsibility for handling the paperwork and eagerly imagines making the apartment a home for the group.
• Yang Wanqing shares Siyao’s amazement and enthusiasm, especially about the apartment’s views.
• The receptionist, Huang, shifts from arrogance to nervous deference once he learns the value of Chen Hao’s calligraphy.
• Song Xinxue, the property consultant, is struck by Chen Hao’s bearing and suspects she may recognize him.

Significant themes

• Hidden status and underestimated people: Chen Hao’s unassuming manner conceals both immense wealth and unusual history.
• Reversal and humility: The receptionist’s humiliation contrasts with Chen Hao’s lack of interest in boasting or worldly possessions.
• Home and belonging: The apartment represents not just luxury but a shared future and a place for study, rest, and cultivation.
• Material wealth versus inner values: Chen Hao treats the millions as merely worldly goods, while judging the home by its setting and atmosphere.

Character interactions

• Chen Hao trusts Siyao to handle the sale’s paperwork and gently reassures her, while she responds with affection and growing concern.
• Wanqing celebrates the windfall and shares Siyao’s excitement about choosing a home.
• The auction-house staff’s treatment of Chen Hao changes sharply after the calligraphy is authenticated.
• During the apartment tour, Siyao seeks Chen Hao’s approval; his simple endorsement reassures her. Song Xinxue observes their closeness and becomes increasingly curious about him.

Key plot points and events

• Chen Hao, his sister Chen Siyao, and her friend Yang Wanqing choose a premium river-view apartment. Chen Hao insists that it be registered in Siyao’s name, saying he has no need for worldly possessions.
• While completing the paperwork, sales consultant Song Xinxue recognizes Chen Hao’s hometown and then his name. She realizes he is the quiet, brilliant classmate she remembers from their final year at Liyang No. 3 Middle School.
• Chen Hao recognizes Song Xinxue in return. The former classmates reconnect, and the reservation proceeds smoothly.
• Song Xinxue asks whether Chen Hao is married. When he says he is single, she hints that she could introduce him to someone—while subtly suggesting herself.

Character developments

• Chen Hao remains calm and detached about wealth and property, prioritizing his sister’s security over ownership for himself. He also shows that he remembers his former classmate despite the vast span of his experiences.
• Chen Siyao accepts the apartment being put in her name, showing her closeness to and trust in her brother.
• Song Xinxue shifts from professional composure to excitement and romantic interest after recognizing Chen Hao. She recalls her longstanding curiosity about him and tentatively tests whether he is available.
• Yang Wanqing shares in the sisters’ enthusiasm about the apartment and is amused by the unexpected reunion.

Significant themes

• A reunion across time: The encounter brings the characters’ school memories into their adult lives.
• Changed fortunes and enduring impressions: Chen Hao has transformed from a poor, withdrawn student into a wealthy, imposing man, yet he remains recognizable to Song Xinxue.
• Family devotion: Chen Hao’s refusal to claim the apartment reflects his priority of giving Siyao security.
• Unspoken romantic possibility: Song Xinxue’s old curiosity rekindles into hope, though she expresses it indirectly.

Character interactions

• Chen Hao and Siyao gently disagree over whose name should go on the property; he ultimately has it registered to her.
• Song Xinxue and Chen Hao confirm they were classmates, while Siyao and Wanqing react with surprise and delight at their connection.
• Song Xinxue handles the paperwork personally and uses their reunion to ask about Chen Hao’s marital status, then offers to introduce him to someone in a flirtatious, self-revealing way.

Plot points and events

• Song Xinxue reconnects with Chen Hao, exchanges WeChat details, and hints that she wants to see him again. Chen Hao agrees but remains emotionally reserved.
• In the car home, Chen Siyao and Yang Wanqing tease Chen Hao about his romantic prospects and promise to approve any future girlfriend. He says he is accustomed to solitude and has no interest in romance.
• The day after moving into their luxury penthouse, Chen Siyao livestreams its sea view. Viewers accuse her of renting the apartment, exploiting a sugar daddy, and faking her wholesome image. Although a few fans defend her and cite Chen Hao’s recent art sale, the abuse overwhelms her.
• Hurt and worried that the rumors will damage her account, Chen Siyao ends the stream and tells Chen Hao she would rather livestream outdoors. He agrees to take her to the Northern Frontier, partly hoping the change of scenery will help her.
• Three days later, Chen Hao drives Chen Siyao and Yang Wanqing to Green Mountain. Chen Siyao starts another stream, but some of the same trolls continue mocking her. She puts on a smile and introduces the area’s scenery and history.
• The landscape recalls Chen Hao’s memories of a loyal, scholarly warrior who died in battle a thousand years earlier. Chen Hao wonders about the man’s grave and sees the trip as meaningful for Yaoyao as well.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao remains detached from romance, shaped by a vast, sorrowful past, but his sister’s distress stirs anger and concern. He supports her decision to stream elsewhere.
• Chen Siyao is cheerful and trusting with her brother, but online cruelty visibly wounds her. She tries to keep streaming despite the attacks.
• Yang Wanqing joins Chen Siyao in teasing Chen Hao and jokingly claims a say in choosing his partner; privately, she imagines keeping other women away from him.
• Song Xinxue makes a friendly effort to reconnect with Chen Hao and appears interested in him, though he responds only politely.

Significant themes

• Family loyalty and protection: Chen Hao’s central concern is caring for Chen Siyao, and she relies on him completely.
• Online cruelty and reputation: Anonymous accusations quickly turn a happy personal moment into distress and threaten Chen Siyao’s livelihood.
• Past and memory: The Northern Frontier’s scenery links Chen Hao’s present journey to a long-lost companion and the history he carries.
• Love and loss: Chen Hao’s past experience of relationships that could not endure helps explain his reluctance to pursue romance.

Key plot points and events

• Chen Hao leads Chen Siyao and Yang Wanqing through the mountains to visit an old friend’s grave. He reveals a concealed path beneath the grass, leading to an ancient underground tomb.
• He identifies it as the tomb of Feng Changqing, a celebrated Tang dynasty general. The discovery shocks the women and sets off a storm of livestream comments accusing them of staging the find or planning to rob the tomb.
• Chen Hao enters the passage confidently, promising the others they will be safe. He reflects that Feng Changqing was also a gifted poet whose work was buried with him and resolves to let the world know about it.
• Trusting her brother despite the backlash, Siyao follows him into the tomb with Yang Wanqing. She then contacts the local cultural heritage bureau to report the discovery and clear herself of wrongdoing. Though many viewers remain skeptical, her report quiets some doubters.

Character developments

• Chen Hao remains calm and purposeful. His familiarity with the tomb and his memories reveal a deep personal connection to Feng Changqing, whom he remembers as an old friend.
• Chen Siyao moves from fear and confusion to firm trust in her brother. Facing public accusations, she acts responsibly by reporting the tomb to the authorities and stands by her decision despite the abuse.
• Yang Wanqing is startled by the discovery but supports Siyao and follows Chen Hao into the tomb.

Significant themes

• Trust amid public judgment: Siyao chooses faith in her brother over the livestream’s accusations.
• Truth versus online rumor: Viewers quickly condemn the group without evidence, while Siyao takes a transparent step to verify the discovery.
• Memory and historical recognition: Chen Hao wants Feng Changqing remembered not only as a general but also as a poet whose talent history has overlooked.

Character interactions

• Chen Hao reassures the frightened Siyao and leads both women into the passage; his calmness contrasts with their fear and the viewers’ hostility.
• Siyao defends her brother through her actions, reporting the find rather than arguing with the commenters. Yang Wanqing supports her and accompanies them.

Key plot points and events

• Chen Hao removes the Illusion Array he placed around Feng Changqing’s tomb a thousand years earlier, revealing the entrance to Chen Siyao and Yang Wanqing—and to Siyao’s livestream audience.
• The trio enters the tomb. Its Tang-dynasty carvings and construction convince viewers and online commentators that the site is genuine.
• Chen Hao safely guides the women through three deadly defenses: a spike pit, a barrage of repeating-crossbow arrows, and a Dragon-Breaking Stone above the inner door. His knowledge and supernatural abilities keep them unharmed.
• They discover Feng Changqing’s burial chamber, containing his coffin, armor, saber, military relics, poems, and writings. Chen Hao explains that Feng was not only a general but also a lover of literature who hoped to pursue poetry after peace came.
• Cultural Relics Bureau experts and patrol officers arrive. A professor confirms the tomb’s authenticity and thanks Chen Hao for protecting it and reporting it.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao remains calm and capable throughout, protecting the others and revealing a personal connection to Feng Changqing. His recollections show both respect for the general and lingering sadness.
• Chen Siyao is frightened but trusts her brother, films the discoveries as evidence, and gradually shifts from fear to awe.
• Yang Wanqing begins terrified and regretful of her earlier doubts, relying on Chen Hao and Siyao to get through the traps.
• Ying Wenjie, watching from home, becomes convinced the events are real and imagines Chen Hao as a powerful hidden master.
• The officials’ arrival changes the discovery from a livestream spectacle into an acknowledged historical find.

Significant themes

• Trust and protection: Siyao and Wanqing depend on Chen Hao’s expertise and composure.
• History and preservation: The tomb’s artifacts and writings restore a missing part of the historical record, while Chen’s actions help protect them.
• The gap between public reputation and private identity: Feng Changqing is remembered as a warrior, but his poems reveal a more literary and reflective side.
• Awe and skepticism: The livestream audience moves from mockery to belief as the evidence becomes undeniable.

Key plot points and events

• Experts confirm that the newly discovered tomb is very likely that of Tang general Feng Changqing. They praise Chen Siyao for livestreaming the discovery, leaving the relics untouched, and reporting it promptly; authorities secure the site.
• The discovery clears Siyao of the online accusations that her recent streams were staged. The Cultural Relics Bureau announces the find, and the news—and Siyao’s account—rapidly become national trends.
• Unaware of her sudden fame, Siyao starts another stream the next morning. She discovers the coverage, is overwhelmed by the surge of viewers and apologies, and shares the moment with her brother Chen Hao and friend Yang Wanqing.
• With special permission, the trio returns to the excavation site as archaeologists carefully open the tomb. Its modest chamber contains walls densely covered in Tang-era frontier poems and a wooden box. The lead professor realizes the poems are previously unknown, calling them an extraordinary discovery.

Character developments

• Chen Siyao moves from anxiety and public humiliation to relief, vindication, and excitement. She feels grateful to Chen Hao for supporting her and helping her through the backlash.
• Chen Hao remains calm and protective, comforting Siyao and encouraging her to share the newly revealed literary history. His cryptic familiarity with “Little Changzi” puzzles her.
• Yang Wanqing supports Siyao throughout, first defending her publicly and later celebrating her newfound recognition.
• The professor and archaeologists shift from investigating the site to recognizing its immense historical and literary importance.

Significant themes

• Truth and vindication: Evidence of Siyao’s honest conduct overturns online slander.
• Responsible stewardship: The discovery is handled carefully, with the relics preserved and the authorities informed.
• Rediscovered history: The tomb and its unknown poems promise to reshape understanding of Tang military and literary history.
• The power of livestreaming: The broadcast both documents the discovery and brings it to public attention.

Character interactions

• Police and experts commend Siyao for preserving the site and reporting it; viewers who previously criticized her flood the stream with apologies.
• Yang Wanqing wakes Siyao, celebrates her fame, and embraces her; Siyao turns to Chen Hao for reassurance, and he gently comforts her.
• The archaeological team permits the trio to livestream the excavation, while the professor’s reaction to the poems conveys the scale of the discovery.

Key plot points and events

• Professor Chen authenticates a collection of poems carved on the tomb wall and handwritten on silk, identifying them as works by Tang general Feng Changqing. He says the poems could reshape understanding of Tang frontier literature and fill gaps in the general’s biography.
• Siyao’s livestream audience, which had previously doubted and mocked her, reacts with awe and apologizes. Her stream surges in popularity, and the discovery trends online.
• After paying their respects at Feng Changqing’s tomb, Siyao, Chen Hao, and Yang Wanqing continue their road trip through the Northern Frontier.
• They take in the vast Bayanbulak Grassland and then arrive at the striking blue Sayram Lake. Siyao and Wanqing eagerly prepare to photograph the scenery for the livestream.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Siyao feels deeply grateful to Chen Hao: his guidance helped clear her name and give her livestream a meaningful purpose. She holds his hand at the tomb and later links arms with him.
• Chen Hao is quietly pleased by his sister’s success. The open grasslands calm him, replacing the strain of city life with serenity and reverence for nature.
• Yang Wanqing shares the group’s excitement, reading the poems in admiration and enthusiastically urging them to stop for lake photos.
• The livestream audience shifts from skepticism to praise, celebrating Siyao, Chen Hao, and the historical discovery. Some viewers also flirt with Chen Hao in the comments.

Significant themes

• History and cultural preservation: Feng Changqing’s poetry reveals a neglected side of the general and brings his legacy into sharper focus.
• Recognition and redemption: Siyao’s reputation transforms as the audience witnesses the discovery and her efforts to share history.
• Nature, time, and perspective: The enduring landscapes outlast human lives and conflicts, helping Chen Hao see personal troubles as small against the vastness of the world.
• The bond between siblings: Siyao openly credits Chen Hao for her renewed confidence and success, while he supports her with quiet affection.

Plot points and events

• Chen Hao, his sister Chen Siyao, and Yang Wanqing stop at Sayram Lake, where Siyao takes photos and Wanqing livestreams the scenery.
• They encounter Cai Jingwen and her friend Li Li. Li is distressed because her husband is seeking a divorce; Cai has brought her on the trip to help her recover.
• A yak suddenly charges at Cai, who freezes in terror. Chen Hao rushes between them and stops the animal with one hand, halting its massive charge inches from her.
• Chen Hao calms the yak with a pat and a quiet command, and it walks away docilely. The livestream audience reacts in astonishment and sends a flood of gifts.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao displays extraordinary strength, speed, and apparent control over the yak, remaining composed throughout. He brushes off the feat as “no big deal.”
• Cai Jingwen, initially frightened and helpless, is protected by Chen Hao and gradually regains her composure. She notices his calm presence and feels reassured by him.
• Li Li reacts with panic, then embraces Cai and checks that she is unharmed, showing her concern for her friend.
• Chen Siyao is amazed by Cai’s beauty, then rushes to check on her brother after the rescue.
• Yang Wanqing captures the event on her livestream and is thrilled by the spectacle. Viewers—including Ying Wenjie and Ye Chendong—wonder about Chen Hao’s abilities, with some considering him a hidden master.

Significant themes

• Courage and protection: Chen Hao acts instantly to save Cai, placing himself between her and danger.
• Hidden power and mystery: His ability to stop and calm a charging yak deepens questions about the extent and source of his strength.
• Safety amid vulnerability: Cai’s terror and Li’s personal hardship contrast with Chen Hao’s composure and the security he provides.
• Public spectacle: The livestream turns a private moment of danger into a viral, widely witnessed display of Chen Hao’s abilities.

Plot points

• After Chen Hao saves Cai Jingwen and Li Li from a rampaging yak, the women thank him and introduce themselves. Li Li explains that her husband wants a divorce and that Cai brought her to the Northern Frontier to lift her spirits.
• Chen Siyao suggests that the two women join their group. They agree, and the two cars continue touring together.
• Yang Wanqing and the livestream viewers question Chen Hao about his strength. He downplays his abilities, while Siyao says he has always been unusually fit.
• The group reaches a snowcapped mountain and spots a snow leopard and a wolf facing off in the distance. Excited by the rare sight, Yang Wanqing asks to get closer for footage.
• Chen Hao agrees, promising to keep everyone safe. Li Li refuses, warning that approaching the predators is reckless. Siyao and Yang Wanqing trust Chen Hao, while the livestream chat divides between supporters and skeptics.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao remains calm and understated, but his dramatic yak rescue and confidence around dangerous animals deepen the group’s sense that he is unusually capable.
• Cai Jingwen becomes strongly attracted to Chen Hao, admiring his strength and composure.
• Li Li is vulnerable after her marital troubles and remains cautious, voicing fears others dismiss.
• Siyao and Yang Wanqing show deep trust in Chen Hao; Wanqing is also eager to entertain her livestream audience.
• Song Xinxue, watching remotely, admires Chen Hao but worries he is difficult to reach, while hoping her proximity to him gives her a chance.

Significant themes

• Trust versus caution: The group must decide whether confidence in Chen Hao justifies approaching dangerous wildlife.
• Strength and mystery: Chen Hao’s modest claims contrast with his extraordinary actions, making others increasingly curious and impressed.
• Risk and spectacle: The livestream turns a potentially dangerous wildlife encounter into entertainment, raising questions about thrill-seeking and responsible behavior.

Chapter Summary

• Approaching the beasts: Trusting Chen Hao after seeing his earlier strength, Cai Jingwen joins him, Chen Siyao, and Yang Wanqing as they approach a snow leopard and a wolf king locked in a standoff. The animals fail to notice the group, deepening Cai’s and Siyao’s sense that Chen Hao has extraordinary abilities. Yang Wanqing livestreams the encounter; Li Li stays behind in the car, alarmed.
• The wolf king’s sacrifice: They discover a tiny cub sheltering behind the wolf king. When the snow leopard attacks, the mother fights fiercely while shielding her child, but her injuries mount. She manages to grip the snow leopard by the neck; after the leopard strikes her head, it retreats, leaving the wolf king dying.
• Chen Hao takes responsibility: The wolf king looks from her cub to Chen Hao, seemingly entrusting the animal to him. Chen Hao promises to protect it. He recognizes that the cub carries the rare bloodline of the ancient Moonshadow Wolf, said to command moonlight, shadows, and wolf packs. The wolf king dies peacefully after hearing his promise. The group buries her, and Chen Hao takes the cub in his arms.
• The pack arrives: As the group prepares to leave, twenty or thirty wolves surround them. Yang Wanqing panics and clings to Chen Hao; Siyao reassures her that her brother will protect them, while Cai Jingwen draws closer to him. Li Li shouts from the car for them to return, and livestream viewers fear the group is trapped. Chen Hao remains composed. The cub then raises its head and gives a small but majestically powerful howl that sweeps over the pack, leaving the outcome unresolved.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao is shown as both powerful and compassionate: he leads the group close to the beasts undetected, recognizes the cub’s lineage, and accepts the wolf king’s request to protect it.
• Cai Jingwen’s trust and admiration for Chen Hao deepen; she sees his strength and gentleness as equally compelling.
• Chen Siyao is accustomed to her brother’s unusual abilities and confidently encourages Yang Wanqing to trust him.
• Yang Wanqing shifts from livestreaming in excitement to grief over the wolf king’s death, then fear when the pack surrounds them.
• The wolf king’s maternal devotion defines her final actions: she fights to protect her cub and entrusts it to Chen Hao.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes a mother’s sacrifice, compassion toward vulnerable creatures, and trust in the face of danger. It also contrasts the brutality of nature with human sympathy, while the cub’s rare heritage and commanding howl introduce themes of hidden power and destiny.

Key plot points and events

• The wolves that had threatened the group abruptly submit to the newborn Moonshadow Wolf cub’s howl and disappear into the forest.
• Chen Hao explains that the cub has an ancient Moonshadow Wolf bloodline and already shows the potential to lead a pack.
• The group returns safely to the car. They name the cub Moontrace, after Cai Jingwen suggests the name and Chen Hao accepts it.
• Chen Hao decides to raise Moontrace, explaining that the cub’s dying mother entrusted him with her baby.
• Cai Jingwen and Li Li join the group’s continuing road trip. Their planned destinations—Nalati Grassland, Bayanbulak, and Swan Lake—match the group’s route.
• The livestream audience reacts enthusiastically to the wolf cub and Chen Hao’s abilities. As the car enters the Kunlun Mountains, Chen Siyao spots an Esoteric Buddhist holy site and urges everyone to visit.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao remains calm and capable. He takes responsibility for Moontrace out of respect for the cub’s mother, while remaining unaware of Cai Jingwen’s growing affection for him.
• Cai Jingwen becomes increasingly fascinated by Chen Hao and develops stronger feelings for him. She is touched by his bond with the wolf cub and quietly accepts that simply traveling alongside him is enough for now.
• Chen Siyao proudly champions her brother, celebrates the cub’s naming, and keeps the livestream audience engaged.
• Yang Wanqing shares in the excitement, especially over the livestream’s rising popularity and Moontrace’s cuteness.
• Li Li, initially stunned and skeptical about keeping a wild wolf, is reassured by the group’s confidence and by Cai Jingwen’s reminder that Chen Hao saved her.
• The livestream viewers provide comic commentary, debate the cub’s name, and praise Chen Hao and Moontrace.

Significant themes

• Trust and responsibility: Moontrace’s mother entrusts her cub to Chen Hao, who accepts the duty of raising him.
• Extraordinary power and mystery: The cub’s bloodline and Chen Hao’s abilities continue to amaze those around them.
• Growing affection: Cai Jingwen’s feelings deepen, even as Chen Hao remains focused on the journey.
• Found companionship: The group’s shared adventures—and their new wolf companion—bring them closer as they continue across the Northern Frontier.

Key plot points and events

• Chen Hao and his group visit an Esoteric Buddhist temple in the Northern Frontier. He senses an ancient, quiet “aspiration” lingering in a white stupa and recognizes the spiritual significance of the temple’s murals and scriptures.
• Yaoyao asks innocent questions about the many-armed Buddha Mother. Chen Hao tells her the arms are for embracing many people, and later suggests that compassion and sacredness can be found within people themselves.
• The group continues driving through the Kunlun Mountains and stops at a scenic overlook, where Chen Siyao livestreams a wedding-photo shoot.
• Cai Jingwen tells Chen Hao that the wolf cub seems to long for the mountains. Chen Hao explains that although the cub belongs to the wild, its dying mother entrusted it to him, and he intends to give it a better life.
• Jingwen says Chen Hao seems detached from ordinary concerns and difficult to understand. Siyao and the livestream audience notice Jingwen’s apparent interest in him, while Siyao stops Yang Wanqing from interrupting their conversation.
• A group of tourists suddenly gathers nearby. One man claims his camera captured a beam of golden light falling into a distant valley and shows a photograph. The chapter ends with someone questioning whether the image is fake.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao remains calm and perceptive, sensing spiritual traces at the temple and responding gently to Yaoyao. His commitment to caring for the wolf cub is reinforced, though he remains reserved when Jingwen praises him.
• Cai Jingwen becomes more openly interested in Chen Hao. She admires his unusual perspective and says she cannot read him, while he recognizes her perceptiveness.
• Chen Siyao enthusiastically livestreams the trip and, despite seeking gossip, protects her brother’s conversation with Jingwen.
• Yaoyao responds to the temple with childlike wonder, interpreting the Buddha Mother’s many arms as a way to hug more people.
• The wolf cub looks toward the mountains, suggesting its pull toward its natural home, even as Chen Hao takes responsibility for it.

Significant themes

• Compassion and protection: The Buddha Mother’s fierce and gentle aspects, Chen Hao’s care for the cub, and Yaoyao’s interpretation of the many arms all emphasize helping and embracing others.
• Spirituality and enduring faith: The temple’s stupa and scriptures hold traces of centuries of devotion, presented as quiet and elemental rather than forceful.
• Human nature and perspective: Jingwen contrasts everyday worries with Chen Hao’s apparent detachment, raising the question of how he differs from ordinary people.
• The wild and belonging: The cub’s longing for the mountains is balanced against the bond of trust created by its mother’s final choice.
• Mystery and the supernatural: The unexplained golden beam introduces a new, unresolved event.

Key plot points and events

• A young man shows the group an unedited photo of a mysterious golden light over remote snowy mountains. The wolf cub reacts with an unusual whimper and stares toward the same area.
• Chen Hao decides not to investigate immediately, though he says they may look if the route takes them closer. The group continues through the mountains, crosses Guozigou Bridge, and reaches a yurt camp overlooking Sayram Lake.
• At dinner, the wolf cub gently licks Li Li’s hand. Overcome with emotion, she reveals that her husband regularly insults and belittles her. The group—and viewers in Yang Wanqing’s livestream—offer her comfort and encouragement.
• Later, Chen Hao scans the camp with his spiritual sense and detects an exceptionally pure energy fluctuation coming from the direction of the snowy mountains, suggesting the mysterious light may be connected to something supernatural.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao remains cautious about the golden light, but the wolf cub’s reaction prompts him to stay alert. He quietly protects the group by monitoring the camp.
• The wolf cub shows a strong response to the distant mountains and a gentle, trusting nature toward Li Li.
• Li Li reveals the emotional abuse she has endured. The cub’s affection and the group’s support give her a moment of comfort and hope.
• Cai Jingwen supports Li Li and, watching Chen Hao with the others, reflects on the sense of warmth and safety he inspires.
• Chen Siyao looks after the group’s arrangements and reassures Li Li; she also jokes that the golden light could be a heavenly tribulation.
• Yang Wanqing keeps the livestream going and shares the viewers’ supportive messages with Li Li.

Significant themes

• Mystery and supernatural foreshadowing: The golden light, the cub’s reaction, and Chen Hao’s discovery of pure energy hint at an important event in the mountains.
• Compassion and healing: Small acts of kindness help Li Li recognize that she is valued and supported.
• Safety and trust: Chen Hao’s vigilance and the cub’s trust reinforce his role as a protector.

Plot and key events

• Chen Hao senses a strange presence in the mountains at night, and the wolf cub, Moontrace, reacts as well.
• The next morning, Chen Hao takes his companions toward the golden light they saw the previous day. Their car can go no farther, so they continue on foot and discover a breathtaking glacial lake.
• Chen Hao detects unusually strong spiritual energy there, along with a growing savage aura. While the others admire the scenery and Chen Siyao livestreams it, a chilling cry rings out from across the lake.
• Chen Hao recognizes that the sound is not a baby but a ferocious beast. Hearing roars, crashes, and signs of a fight, he leads the group toward the disturbance.
• They reach a vantage point and see a red-robed Esoteric Buddhist monk fighting a gigantic beast.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao remains calm and decisive in the face of danger. He notices the spiritual energy and threat at the lake, then leads the others to investigate.
• Cai Jingwen continues to feel drawn to Chen Hao, but his considerate yet emotionally neutral attention—focused on the lake and Moontrace—leaves her disappointed. When the cries begin, she instinctively moves closer to him.
• Chen Siyao, Yang Wanqing, and Li Li are thrilled by the lake at first, then frightened by the cries and sounds of battle. Chen Siyao clings to her brother; the others stay close to him as they follow.
• Moontrace appears to respond to the lake’s spiritual energy.

Significant themes

• Beauty beside danger: The lake’s extraordinary, serene landscape conceals a threatening presence.
• The uncanny and the unknown: A seemingly human cry unsettles the group, while Chen Hao’s sharper perception reveals a beast and a fight.
• Unreturned attraction and restraint: Cai Jingwen’s growing affection contrasts with Chen Hao’s courteous but undemonstrative regard.
• Courage and trust: The group is afraid, but follows Chen Hao because they trust his judgment.

Key events

• A huge, eagle-like beast with four legs and a horn attacks a tall, one-armed monk, Hui Ming, who fights with a vajra but is badly wounded and loses blood.
• As Hui Ming is knocked into a rock, Chen Hao steps in. Instead of circling the icy lake, he walks straight across its surface, stunning his companions and the livestream audience.
• Chen Hao reaches the far shore and kills the charging beast with a single slash of sword light, splitting it in two.
• He stops Hui Ming’s bleeding by striking pressure points. Chen Siyao and the others arrive after running around the lake, while the livestream captures the aftermath.
• Hui Ming thanks Chen Hao and introduces himself as a former Tripa of Esoteric Buddhism, prompting Chen Siyao to ask what the title means.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao reveals extraordinary abilities—walking on water, projecting sword light, and using a lost healing technique—while remaining composed and understated. He intervenes to save Hui Ming without hesitation.
• Hui Ming, initially a formidable fighter, is reduced to a helpless, grievously injured state. After Chen Hao saves him, he reacts with awe and gratitude.
• Cai Jingwen shifts from fear to fascination and deep respect for Chen Hao after witnessing his feats. She also holds his wolf cub, Moontrace, while he crosses the lake.
• Chen Siyao, Yang Wanqing, and Li Li are shocked by the battle and Chen Hao’s powers; Li Li is especially terrified, while Siyao continues livestreaming despite trembling.
• The livestream audience, including wealthy viewers Ying Wenjie and Ye Chendong, moves from disbelief to astonishment and openly begs Chen Hao to accept them as disciples.

Significant themes

• Myth made real: Legendary martial arts and supernatural creatures appear before ordinary people, challenging their sense of what is possible.
• Hidden power revealed: Chen Hao’s calm demeanor contrasts sharply with his extraordinary strength and skill.
• Courage and compassion: He risks himself to save a wounded stranger, then treats the monk rather than seeking attention.
• Modern witnessing of the supernatural: The uninterrupted livestream turns private disbelief into public proof, though some viewers still cling to skepticism.

Key plot points

• Hui Ming explains that he came to investigate the disappearances of local herders. He had killed one ordinary Gu Diao, but this stronger second beast—the Gu Diao King—bit off his left arm and nearly killed him.
• Chen Hao identifies the creature as a mutated beast with an ancient bloodline, explaining why it was much stronger than the one Hui Ming had faced before. He also says that many creatures described in the Classic of Mountains and Seas once existed, though some accounts have been distorted over time.
• The livestream audience reacts with astonishment, and two wealthy viewers publicly beg Chen Hao to take them as disciples.
• Hui Ming thanks Chen Hao for saving his life and promises that Esoteric Buddhism will help him if he ever needs it. The group discusses possible uses for the Gu Diao’s body.
• Chen Hao finds the beast’s inner core and gives it to Hui Ming, saying it can help restore his vitality and repair damage to his meridians, though it cannot regrow his arm.

Character developments and interactions

• Hui Ming accepts that his defeat was caused by the beast’s extraordinary strength, not simply a failure in his own cultivation. Grateful to Chen Hao, he vows to repay him.
• Chen Hao remains modest about his immense power, describing the one-strike victory as “no trouble.” He also shows practical compassion by giving Hui Ming the inner core.
• Cai Jingwen is increasingly drawn to Chen Hao. His quiet confidence makes her earlier attempts to scheme around him seem foolish, but only strengthens her desire to get closer.
• Chen Siyao and Yang Wanqing ask questions about the Gu Diao, ancient texts, and the uses of its remains, while the livestream viewers amplify the scene’s excitement and speculation.

Significant themes

• Myth and reality: Ancient records may preserve truths about creatures that later vanished or became legendary.
• Power and humility: Chen Hao’s extraordinary strength is matched by his understated manner.
• Sacrifice and gratitude: Hui Ming’s lost arm was the price of protecting others, and he recognizes Chen Hao’s intervention as a profound kindness.
• Wonder and changing beliefs: The Gu Diao’s existence challenges the characters’ and viewers’ assumptions about history and the supernatural.