Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• News spreads online that Building A in Treasure Sky City is haunted, with several related topics trending. A paranormal streamer entered the building at night, vanished from contact, and apparently livestreamed black mist before his broadcast cut out.
• Chen Hao explains that the building’s broken Feng Shui Array has made its yin energy vastly stronger. An ordinary person could hallucinate or lose consciousness; the streamer is likely alive if he avoided the top floor. Police have tried to enter but cannot conduct a rescue.
• Photos and reports show shadowy entities behind the windows on floors 29–31. Chen Hao confirms they are soul entities, currently held inside those floors by a banner whose purpose he does not explain.
• Online commenters recognize Chen Hao as the “High God” and urge him to intervene. Chen Siyao tells her fan group he will deal with the situation at noon, prompting excitement and requests to livestream the exorcism.
• A resident shares an audio recording of disturbing cries from Building A. Chen Hao warns Siyao not to listen, saying it would frighten her. As noon approaches, the entities remain visible despite the sunlight; a new photo shows a huge, distorted figure pressed against a window.

Character developments

• Chen Hao remains composed and knowledgeable, assessing the danger and preparing to act at noon. He is guarded about the banner and the details of the haunting.
• Chen Siyao shifts from anxious curiosity to publicly reassuring her followers that her brother will handle the threat. She remains fascinated by the online evidence but follows his warning.
• Yang Wanqing shares the others’ concern and watches events unfold, relying on Chen Hao’s judgment.

Significant themes

• Fear amplified by social media: Viral posts, photos, and speculation make the haunting a public crisis.
• The limits of ordinary people and institutions: The streamer and police are unable to manage the supernatural danger.
• Trust in expertise: Siyao and Wanqing depend on Chen Hao’s calm authority, while his planned intervention gives online followers hope.
• Hidden danger beneath ordinary appearances: Bright daylight and a sealed building do little to erase the threat.

Character interactions

• Siyao and Wanqing exchange concerns and show Chen Hao posts and photos for his assessment.
• Chen Hao answers their questions briefly, confirms the entities’ presence, and warns Siyao away from the frightening recording.
• Siyao uses her fan group to communicate Chen Hao’s plan, while commenters debate the missing streamer and appeal to Chen Hao for help.

Key plot points and events

• Chen Hao refuses to act before noon, explaining that intervening too early could make the ghosts flee and create more work. Chen Siyao relays his decision to the fan group, where residents debate why Building A became haunted and whether someone deliberately broke its seal.
• Residents worry about belongings left behind, while Chen Siyao publicly reassures them that her brother will handle the situation.
• At noon, Chen Hao sets out for Building A with Chen Siyao and Yang Wanqing. He says he will disperse some spirits, help others move on, and destroy the banner connected to the haunting.
• Outside the cordoned building, developer Qian Hong has hired Zhang Dechang, a Daoist practitioner from Dragon-Tiger Mountain who claims he originally sealed the Mass Grave more than twenty years ago.
• Chen Hao’s group is blocked by property manager He Zhongwei. He mocks Chen Hao as an internet celebrity and insists Zhang is the real expert. Chen Hao stops Siyao from arguing, leaving his response unresolved.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao remains calm and deliberate, revealing little about his methods but showing confidence that he can resolve the haunting.
• Chen Siyao is concerned for the trapped residents and eager to defend her brother, though she knows little about his plan.
• Yang Wanqing presses Chen Hao about destroying the banner, helping clarify his intentions.
• Zhang Dechang presents himself as experienced and assured, while Qian Hong relies on him to protect the development company’s reputation and stock price.
• He Zhongwei dismisses Chen Hao and favors Zhang, escalating the tension between the two would-be problem-solvers.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus ability: Chen Hao’s youth and online fame lead others to underestimate him.
• Public fear and accountability: Residents’ losses and safety concerns contrast with the company’s focus on reputation and finances.
• Patience and control: Chen Hao’s decision to wait suggests that handling supernatural threats requires timing and strategy.
• Uncertain causes: The residents suspect the haunting was deliberately triggered, but who broke the seal remains unknown.

Key events

• Chen Hao refuses to rush into Building A after property manager He Zhongwei blocks him from entering. He believes Zhang Dechang, a feng shui master hired by management, cannot handle the danger, so he waits outside with Chen Siyao and Yang Wanqing.
• Frustrated, Chen Siyao starts a livestream. Viewers debate whether Zhang’s Dragon-Tiger Mountain background makes him capable of dealing with the haunting—or whether Chen Hao’s past feats make him the safer bet. The audience increasingly backs Chen Hao, though some defend Zhang’s expertise.
• At 11:45, shouting and crashing sounds erupt inside the building. Those outside grow anxious, and the livestream audience fears Zhang has been injured.
• Zhang finally staggers out, badly hurt. His peachwood sword is broken, his Bagua compass is cracked, and his robe is bloodied. He tells Qian Hong that the situation inside is far worse than expected, ending on the ominous warning that “something terrible” has happened.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao remains composed and confident in his assessment, choosing to wait rather than force his way in.
• Chen Siyao is angry that her brother was barred, then channels her frustration into livestreaming. She becomes anxious when sounds come from inside and asks Chen Hao what happened.
• Yang Wanqing urges Siyao to trust Chen Hao.
• He Zhongwei boasts about stopping the people trying to enter, but his confidence collapses when Zhang emerges injured.
• Qian Hong initially gives little attention to the dispute, then becomes visibly worried and supports Zhang as he returns.
• Zhang Dechang is established as a respected professional, but his failed attempt reveals the threat is beyond what he anticipated.

Significant themes

• Authority versus ability: Zhang’s prestigious lineage and reputation are challenged by the danger inside Building A.
• Trust in Chen Hao: His calm warning is validated, strengthening his followers’ confidence in him.
• Escalating suspense: The livestream spreads the confrontation to a public audience, while the sounds and Zhang’s condition deepen the mystery of what is inside.

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Dechang reports that someone used a Soul-Gathering Banner to destroy his Seven-Star Evil-Subduing Formation in Building A. The escaped spirits have formed a powerful ghost domain, and the banner is growing stronger and more dangerous.
• Zhang barely escaped, badly injured and with his peachwood sword and Bagua Compass destroyed. He says the banner’s amateur wielder is trapped inside, mentally broken and unable to control it.
• Zhang urges Qian Hong to alert the Special Affairs Bureau. Their likely solution—sealing the building and slowly purging it—could take ten years.
• Qian panics at the prospect: Building A is Treasure Sky City’s flagship, and a decade-long closure could ruin Hongsheng Real Estate and cost him his chairmanship. Yet the ghost domain is expanding, making delay increasingly dangerous.
• Just as Qian is about to decide what to do, He Zhongwei points out Chen Hao, a young online personality who claims he can resolve the crisis. Qian’s secretary brings over information about Chen.

Character developments and interactions

• Qian Hong shifts from furious disbelief to fear and desperate calculation. He wants a solution but is torn between public safety and the catastrophic business and political consequences of sealing the building.
• Zhang Dechang is revealed to be seriously wounded and outmatched. Despite his own condition, he repeatedly warns Qian that the threat is beyond ordinary practitioners and must be addressed quickly.
• He Zhongwei cautiously introduces Chen Hao as a possible alternative, while noting that he had previously stopped him from entering.
• Chen Hao appears calm outside the cordon, contrasting with the panic surrounding him. His abilities and credibility remain uncertain.

Significant themes

• Human ambition and negligence: The Soul-Gathering Banner has been used recklessly, endangering countless people.
• The cost of delay: The supernatural threat is growing, while Qian’s concern about financial ruin and political rivals complicates urgent action.
• Limits of expertise: Even Zhang Dechang—and potentially the highest authorities—may be unable to contain the ghost domain by conventional means.
• Appearance versus ability: Chen’s internet celebrity persona makes Qian’s staff doubt him, leaving open whether he is a fraud or the solution.

• Key events: Qian Hong and his team review footage of Chen Hao’s apparent supernatural feats and debate whether he can handle the Ghost Domain in Building A. Zhang Dechang, injured after failing to deal with the danger, doubts Chen Hao can succeed, noting that even the Dragon-Tiger Mountain Celestial Master would not be confident. Meanwhile, Chen Siyao’s livestream surges past fifteen million viewers as users mock those who had expected Zhang to prevail. Qian Hong studies the growing online attention and the trending videos tied to Chen Hao, then decides to let him try—while quietly ordering staff to prepare for the consequences if anything goes wrong. He ultimately offers Chen Hao 20 million, then 50 million, and finally 100 million to resolve the crisis and protect the building’s residents’ belongings and billions in assets.
• Character developments: Qian Hong shifts from skepticism and caution to desperate acceptance, realizing both the danger inside and the reputational and financial stakes of failure. Zhang Dechang, humbled by his own defeat, remains wary and warns Qian Hong about the risks. Chen Siyao’s confidence in her brother never wavers. Chen Hao remains silent and unreadable throughout the negotiations.
• Character interactions: Qian Hong consults Liu Feifei and Zhang Dechang about the footage and Chen Hao’s chances. Zhang warns Qian Hong that Chen Hao could die inside, leaving them responsible. Qian Hong then asks Chen Siyao whether her brother is truly confident; her firm assurance appears to affect him. Finally, Qian Hong approaches Chen Hao directly, acknowledging his earlier misjudgment and raising his offer as Chen Hao gives no response.
• Significant themes: The chapter contrasts expertise and reputation with demonstrated power, as Zhang’s status cannot overcome the threat and online opinion rapidly reverses. It also explores the influence of public attention and financial pressure, and the value of trust: Chen Siyao’s unwavering belief in Chen Hao stands out against the uncertainty surrounding him.

Plot points and events

• Qian Hong agrees to pay Chen Hao 100 million to deal with the dangerous ghost domain in Building A, hoping to avoid sealing the building for ten years and the enormous financial losses that would follow.
• Zhang Dechang mocks the decision, warning that Chen Hao is too young to face a threat that even a Celestial Master may not be able to handle. Qian Hong points out that Zhang himself failed to control the danger and rejects his pessimism.
• Chen Hao says he is ready to enter immediately and needs no special preparations.
• Chen Siyao asks to accompany her brother. Though curious about seeing the supernatural phenomenon—and eager to livestream it—she is frightened by the injuries Zhang suffered. Chen Hao reassures her, and she decides to go.
• Siyao’s friend Yang Wanqing insists on joining them, saying she trusts Chen Hao and wants to stay by Siyao’s side.
• With millions watching the livestream, Chen Hao leads the two women into Building A. The lobby is abandoned and musty; the elevator is out, so they head up the dark emergency stairs. Chen Hao warns them not to look back, whatever they hear.

Character developments

• Chen Hao remains composed and confident, treating the ghost domain as a minor challenge and reassuring Siyao without hesitation.
• Chen Siyao wrestles with curiosity and fear but chooses to trust her brother and face the danger. She is also conscious of the livestream opportunity.
• Yang Wanqing shows loyalty and courage by choosing to accompany Siyao despite her usual fearfulness.
• Qian Hong shifts his confidence toward Chen Hao after Zhang’s failed attempt, prioritizing the chance to save his building and business.
• Zhang Dechang is humiliated by Qian’s rebuke and retreats into resentful, private mockery, convinced Chen Hao will fail.

Significant themes

• Confidence versus experience: Zhang relies on his status and training, while Chen Hao’s calm assurance challenges the assumption that age and credentials determine ability.
• Trust in the face of danger: Siyao and Wanqing enter despite their fear because they trust Chen Hao and one another.
• Money and stakes: Qian’s enormous payment reflects the potentially vast economic cost of leaving the building sealed.
• Spectacle and risk: The livestream audience’s excitement turns a dangerous supernatural encounter into public entertainment.

Character interactions

• Qian confronts Zhang about his failed attempt and then addresses Chen Hao with respect.
• Zhang voices doubts openly, then silently resents Chen Hao after the group departs.
• Siyao asks Chen Hao for permission to join him; his reassurance helps her overcome her hesitation.
• Wanqing first warns Siyao against entering, then joins her out of loyalty.
• As the trio proceeds upstairs, Chen Hao guides the others and gives them a strict safety instruction.

Key events

• Chen Hao leads Chen Siyao and Yang Wanqing up the stairwell toward the twenty-ninth floor. As they climb, the temperature drops and eerie sobbing turns to malicious laughter.
• At the twenty-eighth floor, they encounter a dense black mist filled with overlapping cries, whispers, and screams. Chen Hao identifies the next three floors as a ghost domain and shields the others with his aura, which repels the yin energy.
• Siyao livestreams their approach. The audience grows from millions to tens of millions, reacting with fear and urging her to stay close to Chen Hao.
• At Doule headquarters, Li Na and risk-control supervisor Xiao Wang debate whether to stop the broadcast, since livestreaming paranormal events violates platform rules. Concerned that cutting it off would fuel rumors, Li Na consults company executive Mr. Zhang.
• Zhang reveals that the Special Affairs Bureau had instructed Doule to keep Siyao’s livestream stable and allow her to broadcast whatever she sees—an order whose purpose now seems clear.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao remains calm and protective, explaining the supernatural danger while leading the way.
• Chen Siyao is frightened but follows her brother steadily, refusing to look back or stop.
• Yang Wanqing feels the cold and fear but continues with Siyao, holding her hand.
• Li Na weighs compliance risks against public reaction and seeks guidance rather than acting rashly.
• Xiao Wang raises the platform’s regulatory concerns; Mr. Zhang counters with the Special Affairs Bureau’s prior directive.

Significant themes

• Courage and trust: Siyao presses on by relying on Chen Hao.
• The supernatural becoming public: The livestream brings a hidden threat before a massive audience.
• Institutional uncertainty and control: Doule must balance rules, public perception, and mysterious government instructions.
• Escalating danger: The increasingly hostile stairwell and the ghost domain signal that the real threat lies ahead.

Key plot points and events

• Li Na receives instructions from Mr. Zhang after the Special Affairs Bureau contacts the company. He believes the authorities know Chen Hao is extraordinary and may be preparing to reveal such incidents to the public. The livestream must continue and remain stable.
• Li Na orders the tech department to prioritize the broadcast. Backup servers are activated, raising capacity to fifty million viewers.
• At the twenty-eighth-floor stairwell, Chen Hao asks Chen Siyao and Yang Wanqing if they are ready, then leads them into the supernatural black fog. The women follow, while the livestream’s video goes dark and its microphone captures eerie voices.
• The group emerges on the twenty-ninth floor, where the corridor is abandoned and strewn with belongings. The walls are gouged and covered in desperate messages—“Let me out,” “I don’t want to die,” and “Help”—amid bloodstains and the smell of decay.
• At the corridor’s far end, an open doorway leads to the rooftop. Sunlight falls inside, offering a striking contrast to the surrounding darkness. Chen Siyao asks Chen Hao whether the residents wrote the messages.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Na moves from uncertainty to decisive support for the livestream. She recognizes the Bureau’s warning as evidence that the event has wider significance and is relieved she previously chose to back Chen Siyao.
• Chen Hao remains calm and takes the lead, guiding the two women through the fog and telling them to look ahead rather than at the disturbing evidence.
• Chen Siyao is frightened but keeps filming and follows her brother, drawing reassurance from his steady voice.
• Yang Wanqing supports Chen Siyao by taking her hand and accompanying her into the fog.

Significant themes

• Public revelation and secrecy: The authorities may be preparing society for the disclosure of extraordinary events.
• Courage and trust: Chen Siyao and Yang Wanqing press on by relying on Chen Hao, while the audience follows anxiously through the livestream.
• Horror and human suffering: The corridor’s traces and desperate messages suggest the residents endured a terrible fate.
• Darkness versus hope: The rooftop sunlight offers a possible refuge amid the cold, death-filled corridor.

Plot points and events

• Chen Hao, Chen Siyao, and Yang Wanqing move through a corridor inside the ghost domain. Invisible footsteps approach, and the lights suddenly go out as hostile yin energy gathers.
• Chen Hao’s golden spiritual power repels the unseen presence. The footsteps retreat, and the lights come back on.
• On the twenty-ninth floor, the group passes bloodstains and scattered belongings. Chen Hao senses the building’s top three floors and discovers Song Xinxue, alive and conscious on the thirty-first floor, clutching the Imperial Green Jadeite Plaque he made for her.
• As eerie activity continues deeper in the corridor, Chen Hao reflects that the frightening setting resembles the kind of escape-room and mystery games Chen Siyao enjoys. He smiles, drawing surprise from both girls and the livestream audience, then pretends the laugh came from a ghost.
• The chapter ends with a female ghost speaking to Chen Hao through his divine sense. She asks for permission to submit “update requests” so she can keep providing thrills.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao remains composed and protective, shielding the girls from the supernatural threat. His smile briefly reveals a warmer, teasing side, though he quickly hides it behind his usual serious demeanor.
• Chen Siyao is frightened but curious and adventurous, keeping her phone steady and staying close to her brother. Her childhood fearlessness echoes in her eagerness to experience the danger like an especially realistic game.
• Yang Wanqing is visibly scared and clings to Chen Hao, but she stays with him rather than trying to flee. She and Siyao humorously accept his excuse that a ghost must have laughed.
• Song Xinxue is introduced as a living person in danger on the thirty-first floor; the jade plaque connects her to Chen Hao.
• The livestream audience reacts to the frightening events and becomes especially excited by Chen Hao’s rare smile.

Significant themes

• Calm protection amid terror: Chen Hao’s confidence contrasts with the ghost domain’s menace and reassures those around him.
• Fear mixed with curiosity: Siyao and Wanqing are frightened yet remain engaged, blurring the line between genuine peril and entertainment.
• Hidden warmth and humor: Chen Hao’s brief smile and the girls’ willingness to play along lighten the horror.
• A story aware of its audience: The livestream reactions and the ghost’s request for updates add a playful, meta layer to the supernatural suspense.

Plot points

• On the thirty-first floor, Song Xinxue is trapped with a possessed man carrying a Soul-Gathering Banner. The force inhabiting him is a Ghost King, created by the banner’s backlash.
• Chen Hao sends a powerful shout through the building, prompting Xinxue to call for help. Chen Siyao and Yang Wanqing recognize her voice and urge Chen Hao to rescue her.
• Chen Hao explains that attacking indiscriminately could harm the unconscious people scattered throughout the building. He plans to protect a three-meter area with the River Diagram Soul-Subduing Art, weakening any spirits that approach, while the two women destroy them.
• To help them, he gives Siyao a Primordial Era parasol-wood sword, which counters sinister beings, and Wanqing Soul-Returning Incense, which can revive unconscious people.
• The group sets out toward Xinxue. A door on the twenty-ninth floor bursts open, revealing two grotesque hanged ghosts. One breaks free and lunges at Siyao, aiming to possess her.

Character development and interactions

• Chen Hao remains calm and protective, explaining the danger to the others and equipping them for the rescue rather than fighting recklessly.
• Chen Siyao is initially frightened and unsure how she can fight ghosts, but her concern for Xinxue gives her resolve; she accepts the sword and says she is not afraid.
• Yang Wanqing is likewise apprehensive but agrees to help, taking responsibility for waking unconscious victims with the incense.
• Song Xinxue moves from terror to hope when she hears Chen Hao’s call and cries out for rescue.
• The siblings and Wanqing act as a team: Siyao and Wanqing trust Chen Hao’s plan and follow him despite their fear.

Significant themes

• Courage in service of others: The women act despite their fear because Xinxue needs help.
• Protection and responsibility: Chen Hao balances defeating the spirits with avoiding harm to innocent, unconscious people.
• Teamwork and trust: Each person is given a role and tools suited to it, setting up a cooperative rescue.
• Escalating supernatural danger: The Ghost King’s challenge and the sudden attack by the hanged ghost show that the rescue will require confronting increasingly hostile entities.

Key events

• Chen Siyao defeats two hanged ghosts with the Parasol Wood Sword, which makes them disintegrate within seconds. Surprised by her own success, she quickly becomes proud of her apparent strength.
• Yang Wanqing revives the first victim with Soul-Returning Incense. Chen Siyao reassures him that his apartment will be safe once the remaining soul entities are eliminated.
• The group clears more apartments. Siyao destroys three ghosts in the second, then defeats three of four in the third; Chen Hao uses his Soul-Suppressing Technique to stop the last one from escaping, allowing Siyao to finish it.
• Yang Wanqing revives the trapped residents, who are guided downstairs. A little girl calls Siyao a fairy; Siyao happily agrees, reasoning that having a High God for a brother makes her one.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Siyao shifts from frightened novice to confident, eager ghost hunter. Her confidence grows so quickly that she credits her own abilities as much as the sword, and she plays along with the child’s “fairy” idea.
• Yang Wanqing supports Siyao and revives the victims, while reacting with surprise to Siyao’s sudden prowess and gently questioning her claims.
• Chen Hao remains calm and understated. He quietly helps contain a fleeing ghost, though his theatrical hand gestures while explaining when the first apartment will be safe seem odd to Siyao.
• The rescued residents show their terror and relief, while the livestream audience celebrates Siyao’s victories and encourages her.

Significant themes

• The chapter pairs courage with sudden self-confidence: Siyao’s first frightening encounter becomes a string of decisive victories.
• It emphasizes rescue and compassion, not just combat, as the team revives and escorts the victims to safety.
• The playful exchanges and chat reactions add humor and warmth to the supernatural action.

Plot points and events

• As Chen Siyao and her companions clear the building, she grows increasingly skilled with the parasol wood sword. She learns to trust its instinctive aim and dispatches groups of soul entities with speed and confidence.
• On the twenty-ninth floor, one trapped woman’s spirit begs to be saved. Chen Hao explains that the Soul-Gathering Banner drew her in against her will and that she harmed no one. He releases her from the corruption, and she thanks Chen Siyao before disappearing peacefully.
• In the remaining apartments, vengeful ghosts use howls and illusions to attack. One imitates Chen Siyao’s parents, but she recognizes the deception and destroys it.
• Chen Siyao and the others repeatedly urge rescued residents to flee downstairs rather than stay and help. They then move up to the thirtieth floor, where the spirits are stronger and can hide, dodge, and attack strategically.
• Siyao survives an ambush from above, defeats three spirits that have joined into a monster, and kills another spirit that tells her to leave. It thanks her as it vanishes.
• After a moment of grief, Siyao regains her resolve and prepares to enter the thirty-first floor.

Character developments

• Chen Siyao becomes a more capable and perceptive fighter, responding instinctively to danger and learning to distinguish illusions from real threats. Though she remains determined, freeing the spirits weighs on her emotionally.
• Chen Hao guides Siyao’s judgment and uses the Soul-Suppressing Art to control threats and free a spirit who was unwillingly trapped.
• Yang Wanqing supports Siyao quietly, comforting her after the spirits disappear.
• The livestream audience shifts from playful banter to earnest encouragement as Siyao faces the emotional cost of her work.

Significant themes

• Liberation and compassion: Not every spirit is malicious; some are victims who need release rather than punishment.
• Duty and emotional cost: Siyao continues despite the sadness of ending spirits’ suffering.
• Growth through adversity: Each floor’s dangers test and strengthen her combat skill, judgment, and composure.
• Trust and support: Chen Hao’s guidance and Wanqing’s comfort help Siyao keep going.

Character interactions

• Chen Hao explains the trapped woman’s circumstances, frees her, and confirms her final words to Siyao.
• Siyao hesitates at spirits who seem human or plead with her, then follows Chen Hao’s judgment and carries out the necessary task.
• Wanqing holds Siyao’s hand and later embraces her, while viewers reassure her that she is freeing the spirits rather than simply destroying them.

Plot points and events

• Chen Hao, Chen Siyao, and Yang Wanqing enter the black fog covering the Thirty-First Floor to rescue Song Xinxue. Siyao insists on going despite the danger.
• Qian Hong watches the livestream from the building entrance and gains renewed respect for Siyao and Chen Hao after seeing their progress.
• The final floor is unnaturally dark and spotless. Outside the last door, the group finds the Ghost King holding a blood-marked Soul-Gathering Banner. Song Xinxue calls for help from inside.
• The Ghost King reveals that he has possessed Fan Hai, whose fixation on Xinxue has led the spirit to keep her captive. He threatens to use Siyao and the others to strengthen his banner.
• Siyao fights him with her sword. Though her golden strikes wound him, his injuries quickly heal. The Ghost King’s speed and strength overwhelm her, driving her back against a wall as she struggles to find a way to defeat him.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Siyao shows resolve and courage, refusing to retreat because Xinxue needs her. Even as she tires and is hurt, she orders Yang Wanqing to stay back and continues fighting.
• The Ghost King is revealed as a powerful, cruel spirit who mocks Siyao and boasts of his plans. Fan Hai’s fear remains visible beneath the possession.
• Yang Wanqing worries about Siyao and tries to help, but Siyao keeps her out of the fight.
• Chen Hao leads the group into the danger, quietly supporting Siyao’s determination.
• Qian Hong shifts from doubting Siyao to admiring her and feeling grateful that he did not antagonize Chen Hao.

Significant themes

• Courage and perseverance: Siyao continues despite fearsome odds and mounting exhaustion.
• Possession and divided identity: The Ghost King controls Fan Hai, but traces of Fan Hai’s fear remain.
• Protection and loyalty: Siyao’s determination is driven by her desire to save Xinxue.
• The limits of strength: Siyao’s attacks can hurt the Ghost King, but his rapid healing leaves her facing a problem that force alone may not solve.

Plot points and events

• Chen Siyao weakens during her prolonged fight with the Ghost King, but Chen Hao tells her to press a hidden button in her Parasol Wood Sword’s hilt.
• The sword awakens, glowing with golden runes and flames. It fires powerful Sword Aura, which wounds the Ghost King and keeps him at a distance.
• Siyao gains confidence and repeatedly attacks. The Ghost King’s Soul-Gathering Banner is destroyed, his ghostly form is badly damaged, and he is driven to the end of the hallway.
• Desperate, the Ghost King realizes Chen Hao is the real threat and launches a surprise attack on him. Siyao and Yang Wanqing fear Chen Hao will be killed.
• Chen Hao calmly flicks the Ghost King’s forehead with one finger. The Ghost King immediately freezes and collapses, leaving the witnesses and livestream viewers stunned.

Character developments

• Chen Siyao shifts from exhaustion and vulnerability to excitement and confidence as she masters the sword’s ranged attacks. Her anger over the Ghost King’s treatment of her and Sister Xue fuels her assault.
• Chen Hao remains composed throughout. His effortless defeat of the Ghost King reveals power far beyond what his quiet presence suggests.
• The Ghost King moves from arrogance to fear, then desperation, as his weapons and strength fail.
• Yang Wanqing remains alarmed and overwhelmed, especially when Chen Hao appears to be in danger.

Significant themes

• Hidden power and appearances: The apparently ordinary wooden sword is devastating, while the seemingly inactive Chen Hao proves to be the strongest figure present.
• Growing confidence through capability: Siyao’s newfound weapon turns her from an exhausted defender into an assertive attacker.
• The gap between spectacle and reality: The livestream audience celebrates Siyao’s Sword Aura, but Chen Hao’s understated gesture reveals an even greater level of power.

Character interactions

• Chen Hao guides Siyao by explaining how to activate her sword, enabling her comeback.
• Siyao repeatedly taunts the Ghost King while attacking, turning the fight into retaliation for his earlier bullying.
• The Ghost King targets Chen Hao when cornered, prompting Siyao and Yang Wanqing to cry out warnings.
• Chen Hao answers the attack with a casual flick, ending the threat instantly and leaving Siyao, Yang Wanqing, and the livestream audience speechless.

Key plot points and events

• Chen Siyao finishes her exhausting fight with the Ghost King, only for Chen Hao to defeat it with a single flick to the forehead.
• Chen Hao insists he merely delivered the “finishing blow,” claiming Siyao did nearly all the damage. Siyao and Yang Wanqing—and the livestream viewers—aren’t convinced.
• Siyao realizes the fight helped her develop stronger instincts and reactions. Rescuing people also gave her a powerful sense of purpose.
• The group remembers Song Xinxue is still trapped inside the room. They open the door and find her safe, clutching a glowing Jade Plaque.
• Song Xinxue breaks down in Siyao’s arms, then explains that she came to the penthouse after its owner called her. She says she saw “him”—but the chapter ends before she identifies who.

Character developments

• Chen Siyao grows more confident in her abilities and discovers how rewarding it feels to protect others. She is also exasperated by her brother’s implausible modesty.
• Chen Hao reveals a teasing, comic side beneath his calm demeanor. His decision to let Siyao fight appears to have helped her learn, though he downplays his role.
• Song Xinxue begins to recover from her terror after being rescued and starts recounting how she became trapped.

Significant themes

• Growth through struggle: Siyao gains practical skills and confidence by facing the Ghost King herself.
• Heroism and purpose: Saving people gives Siyao a sense of fulfillment and belonging.
• Humility as humor: Chen Hao’s deadpan claim that he only dealt the final fraction of the damage becomes a running joke.
• Relief and solidarity: The embrace among the three women offers comfort after fear and violence.

Character interactions

• Siyao confronts Chen Hao about watching her fight, while he calmly insists she deserves the credit; Yang Wanqing challenges his explanation too.
• The livestream chat amplifies the joke, calling Chen Hao a master of humblebragging.
• Siyao and Yang Wanqing comfort Song Xinxue as she cries, and the group listens as she begins explaining the events that brought her to the penthouse.

Key plot points and events

• Song Xinxue explains that Fan Hai, her former university classmate, had been harassing her. He trapped her in the building and tried to assault her.
• Her Jade Plaque protected her: it heated up and shocked Fan Hai when he grabbed her. Fan Hai recognized it as the charm that had disrupted his earlier attempt to control two vengeful ghosts.
• Fan Hai used a black banner to summon soul entities and trapped Song Xinxue in a room. The Jade Plaque kept them away, while Fan Hai waited outside.
• Chen Hao explains that Fan Hai lacked the cultivation to control the Soul-Gathering Banner. Its backlash let the Ghost King possess him, though Fan Hai remained partly conscious. The Ghost King acted on Fan Hai’s obsession.
• Fan Hai survives but is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison. Song Xinxue feels no sympathy for him.
• Though the Ghost King is gone, the black mist and trapped souls remain. Chen Hao uses the Righteous Vitality Art, a Confucian technique he has just learned, to dissolve the mist and restore the souls to their human forms. They peacefully depart.
• Asked why he did not use the technique in the fight, Chen Hao admits he had only just remembered and learned it—and did not know it would work. His casual answer leaves Chen Siyao, Yang Wanqing, and the livestream audience stunned.

Character developments

• Song Xinxue recounts her ordeal despite her fear, then begins to leave the scene behind. Her lack of pity for Fan Hai reflects the depth of his abuse.
• Chen Hao demonstrates a gentler side of his power: rather than attacking the souls, he restores them and allows them to pass on. His nonchalant explanation contrasts with the remarkable result.
• Chen Siyao supports Xinxue and is astonished by Chen Hao’s actions.
• Yang Wanqing questions Chen Hao’s tactics, prompting his unexpectedly blunt explanation.
• Fan Hai is revealed as the source of the haunting and as a victim of the Ghost King’s takeover, though he remains responsible for his harassment and attempted assault.

Significant themes

• Protection and safety: The Jade Plaque shields Xinxue when she is trapped and threatened.
• Justice and accountability: Fan Hai’s actions have serious consequences, despite the supernatural force that took control of him.
• Mercy and release: Chen Hao’s art heals the souls rather than destroying them, allowing them to leave peacefully.
• Humility amid power: Chen Hao’s understated, almost accidental mastery contrasts with the dramatic impact of his abilities.

Character interactions

• Xinxue confides in Chen Siyao and Chen Hao, describing her attack and the protection the Jade Plaque provided.
• Chen Siyao comforts Xinxue and leads her away from Fan Hai.
• Chen Hao explains Fan Hai’s possession and later clears the corridor for the remaining souls.
• Yang Wanqing asks why Chen Hao did not use the Righteous Vitality Art sooner, while Siyao and the livestream viewers react in disbelief to his answer.

Chapter summary

• After Chen Hao purifies the ghost domain, Chen Siyao confronts him for letting her fight through it when he could have ended the danger immediately. He explains that he wanted her to enjoy the challenge and improve her fighting skills. Though she complains, she admits the battle was exhilarating and that she feels stronger.
• Siyao realizes Hao had stayed close behind her throughout the fight, ready to intervene if she was truly in danger. She asks him to warn her next time and not make her fight until she is exhausted. Hao agrees to give her something easier to face, prompting her to chase after him for answers as they head home.
• Outside Building A, Qian Hong learns that the building’s supernatural disturbances are gone. Hao confirms the matter is resolved. Siyao tells Qian that Fan Hai caused the incident and should be reported to the Special Affairs Bureau; she also warns that property manager He Zhongwei may be connected to him. Qian has He Zhongwei detained for investigation.
• Back at home, Song Xinxue is overwhelmed by the ordeal and nearly collapses. Siyao and Yang Wanqing help her, while Hao gives her calming tea. Xinxue thanks him for the Jade Plaque, which had protected her from Fan Hai and the hostile spirits.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao reveals that his apparent inaction was deliberate: he trusted Siyao to handle the challenge and used the ghost domain as a dangerous training exercise. His protectiveness is clear in the fact that he never left her side and was prepared to step in.
• Chen Siyao shifts from anger to reluctant appreciation. She recognizes both her brother’s care and her own growth, while still asserting that she wants advance warning and less exhausting challenges.
• Song Xinxue begins to recover from her fear and expresses gratitude to Hao for giving her the Jade Plaque.
• Qian Hong responds with relief and moves to hold the people implicated in the incident accountable.

Significant themes

• Protective love and trust: Hao’s care is shown through quiet vigilance, even as he lets Siyao face danger.
• Growth through challenge: Siyao’s difficult fight builds her confidence and skill.
• Comedy and contrast: The livestream viewers treat the ghost domain as an extravagant “dungeon” Hao created for his sister, contrasting the supernatural danger with his casual attitude.
• Restoration and accountability: The building returns to normal, while the people behind the incident are referred for investigation.

Plot points and events

• Chen Hao confirms that Song Xinxue still has her Jade Plaque and tells her to keep it on. She accepts an invitation to dinner with Chen Siyao and Yang Wanqing.
• At dinner, Xinxue enjoys an unfamiliar dish that Chen Siyao identifies as spirit-beast meat. Afterward, Siyao urges her to come to them if she ever needs help.
• Back home, Xinxue notices the Jade Plaque is warm and reflects that meals at Chen Hao’s home—including the tea—seem to improve her health and energy. She realizes she has feelings for Chen Hao.
• On Friday, Siyao and Wanqing launch a livestream from a new gaming room. They decide to play a two-person “knife run” without teammates, hoping to loot valuable items.
• In the Administration Building, Siyao panics when Saeed appears. She misthrows her flashbang, misses with her knife, and is defeated. Wanqing tries to rescue her with a smoke grenade but also misses Saeed repeatedly and is shot.

Character developments

• Song Xinxue grows more comfortable accepting the Chen household’s kindness. Her physical changes and lingering thoughts about Chen Hao deepen her attraction to him.
• Chen Siyao is caring toward Xinxue but, in the game, is inexperienced and easily flustered despite insisting she has improved.
• Yang Wanqing supports Siyao and rushes in to help, but her confidence does not make her any more successful at knife combat.
• Chen Hao remains a source of protection and care for Xinxue, though he is absent from the gaming episode.

Significant themes

• Care and belonging: Siyao and Wanqing offer Xinxue food, company, and reassurance that she need not face trouble alone.
• Mystery and transformation: The Jade Plaque, spirit-beast meat, and golden tea suggest a supernatural influence on Xinxue’s well-being.
• Romance: Xinxue’s gratitude and physical awareness of Chen Hao’s care shift toward a private admission of affection.
• Comedy and contrast: The girls’ bold plans to knife-run quickly collapse into panic and defeat.

Character interactions

• Chen Hao advises Xinxue about the Jade Plaque; Siyao and Wanqing welcome her to dinner and encourage her to seek their help.
• Siyao notices Xinxue’s attention to Chen Hao but keeps her observation to herself.
• During the livestream, viewers tease Siyao about her past gaming blunders, while Wanqing encourages her to confront Saeed. After Siyao falls, Wanqing attempts a rescue but is defeated too.

Key plot points and events

• Chen Siyao laments her poor performance in Delta Force, where an NPC named Seyed has killed both her and Yang Wanqing. Chen Hao arrives with Spirit Tea and learns what happened.
• Siyao invites Chen Hao to play. Though he begins unfamiliar with the game and dies in his first match, he quickly masters the controls.
• In later matches, Chen Hao displays extraordinary reflexes, aim, and movement, wiping out enemy squads without dying. Siyao and Wanqing follow behind, collecting the loot.
• Their hour-long gaming session becomes a livestream sensation, with the audience amazed by Chen Hao’s skill and popularity climbing past twenty million.
• The chapter then shifts to Veya Group’s Pengcheng branch. Dai Jingwen (called Cai Jingwen once in the passage) is distracted by disappointing quarterly results despite her team’s hard work. Li Li enters with coffee as Jingwen stares out at Treasure Sky City, and the scene ends before their conversation begins.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao shows a playful, understated side: he accepts Siyao’s challenge, initially admits he needs time to learn, then effortlessly becomes the squad’s carry. His success delights both women and the livestream audience.
• Chen Siyao is frustrated by her repeated defeats but quickly turns to admiration and excitement once Chen Hao joins, calling him her “personal bodyguard.”
• Yang Wanqing teases Siyao about her gaming skills and encourages Chen Hao to play with them.
• Dai/Cai Jingwen is revealed to be burdened by responsibility for her staff and their lack of results; Li Li arrives to check on her.

Significant themes

• Family affection and companionship: Chen Hao comforts Siyao and bonds with her and Wanqing through gaming.
• Competence and confidence: Chen Hao’s rapid adjustment contrasts with Siyao’s struggles, while his calm skill transforms the group’s experience.
• Pressure and responsibility: The office scene introduces a more serious concern—the frustration of working hard without achieving meaningful results.

Plot points

• At work, Li Li notices that Cai Jingwen has been distracted and teases her about developing feelings for Chen Hao after their recent meeting. Jingwen denies it, but her embarrassment gives her away.
• Li Li suggests inviting Chen Siyao and the others to Jingwen’s hometown, Gusu, for National Day. Jingwen hesitates, then repeatedly considers messaging Siyao.
• At dinner, Siyao tells Chen Hao and Yang Wanqing that Jingwen has invited them to Gusu. Wanqing eagerly agrees, enthusing over the city’s gardens and food. Hao leaves the decision to Siyao and says he will go if she does.
• After Siyao confirms they are coming, Hao invites her and Wanqing to play in Space City. The three later start a livestream, where viewers excitedly anticipate Hao’s return to the game.

Character developments and interactions

• Jingwen is unusually flustered by her feelings for Hao, though she tries to maintain her composed, professional image. Li Li, her longtime friend, sees through her and gently nudges her toward spending time with him.
• Hao shows growing warmth and engagement. He is attentive to Siyao at dinner and actively invites her to play, in contrast to his formerly detached, bookish habits.
• Siyao recognizes how much happier and more present her brother has become, feels grateful for their closeness, and asks whether they can keep sharing games. Hao reassures her; Wanqing enthusiastically joins in.
• Wanqing’s excitement about travel and gaming helps bring the group together.

Significant themes

• Romance and hesitation: Jingwen’s quiet attraction to Hao is revealed through her embarrassment and reluctance to send a message.
• Family bonds and personal change: Siyao values Hao’s transformation from emotionally distant to engaged and affectionate.
• Shared experiences: Travel, food, and gaming serve as ways for characters to deepen their relationships.