Ch. 381Qi Refiners assemble

Key plot points and events

  • Three giant monsters—the rolling Crocodile Monster, wing-gliding giant wolf, and acid-spitting Lizard Monster—break through the human defensive line, devastating vehicles and killing many soldiers.
  • Qin Yumo arrives with over a thousand Qi Refiners from Ancient Dragon, Capital Gate, and Kirin. The factions attack different monsters: Ancient Dragon targets the wolf, Capital Gate surrounds the crocodile, and Kirin confronts the lizard.
  • Their combined power turns the battle, and with soldiers’ supporting fire, the beasts are driven back.
  • A new horde of Infected Creatures appears on another flank. Unfamiliar fighter jets bomb it, followed by Russian transport planes carrying over a thousand paratroopers.
  • Chu Jinliang suspects Chen Hao may have arranged the Russian reinforcements. He decides to accept their help for now and question them later.
  • Russian fighters Gergen and Vasily descend into battle. Gergen, eager to fight, releases his parachute harness and falls toward the monsters, announcing the strength of Russia’s Bear Clan.

Character developments and interactions

  • Qin Yumo takes decisive command of the Qi Refiners, leading Ancient Dragon’s attack on the giant wolf.
  • Wu Daozi and Yuan Kai lead Capital Gate and Kirin, coordinating attacks against the crocodile and lizard.
  • The Qi Refiners’ arrival restores the soldiers’ morale, and the two groups fight together.
  • Chu Jinliang responds cautiously to the Russian arrival, prioritizing survival before investigating their motives. Qiao Shan questions whether Russia could realistically spare help.
  • Gergen is brash and eager for combat; Vasily is more cautious, urging him to focus on the immediate danger and trust Chen Hao for now.

Significant themes

  • Cooperation amid crisis: Qi Refiners, soldiers, and foreign forces join the same fight against a common threat.
  • Uncertainty and trust: The Russians’ motives are unclear, and the characters must decide whether to rely on them without knowing the full story.
  • Collective strength: The humans can push back the monsters only by combining specialized abilities, weapons, and coordinated support.

Ch. 382Blood-red clouds

Key plot points and events

  • Russian paratroopers join the battle, with many transforming midair into enormous Bearfolk. They and the Russian soldiers halt the Infected Creatures threatening China’s flank.
  • Huaxia’s Qi Refiners continue fighting the three colossal beasts. Qin Yumo uses her blood-mist ability to ambush the giant wolf and tear out its spine, killing it.
  • Wu Daozi blinds the giant crocodile, then uses a talisman shield to restrain it while Capital Gate disciples unleash a concentrated assault. The crocodile is destroyed, though Wu Daozi is badly strained and spits blood.
  • The remaining giant lizard sprays sulfuric acid to scatter its pursuers and tries to flee. Qin Yumo and the other Qi Refiners pursue it.
  • Cornered, the lizard releases a pillar of blood-red light into the sky, staining it crimson. Qin Yumo senses danger and has the creature beheaded, stopping the beam—but the red clouds remain.

Character developments and interactions

  • Qin Yumo demonstrates the powers she gained from Vampire and Werewolf bloodlines: regeneration, flight, and transformation into mist. She acts decisively, kills the wolf, and pursues the lizard despite not understanding its strange signal.
  • Wu Daozi shows courage and tactical skill, placing himself between the crocodile and the soldiers and coordinating the Capital Gate disciples. His effort comes at considerable physical cost.
  • The Russian forces reveal their Bearfolk transformation and fight in close coordination with their human troops, relieving pressure on China’s flank. Their intentions remain unknown to the Huaxia forces.
  • The Qi Refiners and soldiers cooperate against the beasts, driven by the casualties and the need to finish the fight.

Significant themes

  • Sacrifice and resolve: Wu Daozi risks himself to protect others, while the pursuers press on to avenge their fallen comrades.
  • Unexpected alliances amid uncertainty: Russian intervention helps China, but its motives are still unclear.
  • Escalating danger: Even as the battlefield’s immediate threats are overcome, the blood-red sky signals that a larger danger may be emerging.

Ch. 383Russia joined

Key events

  • After the Infected Creatures’ hordes are defeated, Russian forces arrive. Their leader, Gergen, says Chen Hao promised them refuge in Huaxia in exchange for their help.
  • Chu Jinliang confirms the agreement but cannot explain how the promised refuge will be ready. He refers to the Sky Curtain as a closely guarded secret and hopes Chen Hao will return to oversee matters.
  • Two days later, the promised fifteen-day deadline arrives, but Chen Hao is still in seclusion at Nine Blades. Blood-red clouds have spread across the world, and reports suggest they signal the Infected Creatures and mark Huaxia as a target.
  • Chu Jinliang briefs officials that infected creatures across Huaxia are gathering and moving toward Central China. As the region fills with refugees, the pressure on its leaders mounts.
  • Gergen questions whether Chen Hao has abandoned them. Qin Yumo sharply rebukes him, while she and Chu Jinliang urge the group to remain united and trust Chen Hao.
  • A radar alert interrupts the meeting: giant Flying Creatures are approaching from the southeast and may reach Central China within thirty minutes. The military mobilizes, and Qin Yumo wonders when Chen Hao will return.

Character developments and interactions

  • Chu Jinliang remains publicly confident in Chen Hao but privately fears the consequences if the promise to Russia cannot be fulfilled. He tries to steady his officials as the crisis worsens.
  • Qin Yumo defends Chen Hao fiercely and pushes the group to keep faith, even as her concern for his absence becomes clear.
  • Gergen is polite but pointed, pressing Huaxia about the promised refuge and voicing the doubts others are reluctant to express.
  • CC offers comic relief, joking that dogs have a better future than humans amid the repeated emergencies.

Significant themes

  • Trust under pressure: Huaxia’s leaders must rely on Chen Hao despite his silence and an approaching deadline.
  • Leadership and responsibility: Chu Jinliang faces mounting demands from refugees, allies, and an escalating military threat.
  • Unity versus doubt: The group’s confidence is tested by Gergen’s challenge and the growing danger.
  • Crisis without respite: Just as one battle ends, signs of a larger coordinated assault emerge.

Ch. 384Return

Key plot points and events

  • A huge flock of armored, four-eyed black birds, led by a much larger giant bird, attacks the human camp from the air.
  • Fighter jets launch missiles, but the flock scatters, surrounds them, and destroys every aircraft; pilots who eject are killed.
  • Qiao Shan leads an armored unit toward the front, while Qin Yumo and other Qi Refiners take their assigned positions. They struggle to respond because they cannot fight effectively against airborne enemies.
  • Ground forces open fire, and Qin Yumo identifies the giant bird as the flock’s leader. It deflects missiles with its feathers and evades the electromagnetic cannons, then directs a suicidal assault that destroys the cannons and kills many Qi Refiners.
  • The flock proceeds to devastate vehicles, buildings, and other defenses. Further fighter jets arrive but are also lost.
  • Chen Hao suddenly flies into the battle and knocks hundreds of birds from the sky with his Golden Cudgel. As the flock swarms him, he activates his Heavenly Eye, releasing a Crimson Glow that tears the flock apart.

Character developments

  • Qin Yumo stays alert and tactical, spotting the giant bird and recognizing the threat to the electromagnetic cannons. Her confidence in Chen Hao remains strong even when others fear he has been overwhelmed.
  • Qiao Shan responds to the fighter squadron’s destruction with anger and personally leads troops toward the front.
  • Wu Daozi is furious at the deaths of his fellow Qi Refiners, but his anger underscores his helplessness against the flying attackers.
  • Chen Hao arrives as a composed, powerful figure, seemingly unafraid of being surrounded. His intervention transforms the battle and gives the defenders new hope.

Significant themes

  • Human vulnerability: Modern weapons and the Qi Refiners’ usual abilities prove inadequate against a powerful airborne enemy.
  • Sacrifice and desperation: Pilots and Qi Refiners die trying to protect the camp and its weapons.
  • Hope in a rescuer: Chen Hao’s arrival revives the defenders’ morale, reflecting the larger belief that he is essential to activating the Sky Curtain and preserving humanity.
  • The tide of battle: The chapter shifts from near-total human defeat to a sudden counterattack through Chen Hao’s power.

Character interactions

  • Qin Yumo warns commanders about the giant bird and its attack on the electromagnetic cannons, prompting the defenders to respond.
  • Wu Daozi vents his grief and rage at the birds after fellow Qi Refiners are killed.
  • When Qin Yumo identifies Chen Hao, the defenders’ fear gives way to renewed excitement and hope.
  • Chen Hao faces the giant bird and its flock alone, while those below watch, trusting that he can turn the fight around.

Ch. 385Setting up the array

Key plot points and events

  • Chen Hao arrives during the attack by strange black birds and unleashes a devastating Crimson Glow strike, destroying roughly a fifth of the flock. He then pursues and eventually kills the giant black bird, though his attempt to throw the Golden Cudgel with a dramatic flourish misses and embarrasses him.
  • The Camp celebrates Chen Hao’s return, but the alarm soon sounds again: vast numbers of Infected Creatures are approaching from every direction, with only about four hours before they arrive.
  • Chen Hao takes command of the response. He orders jade array nodes placed at the eastern, western, southern, and northern points to create the Sky Curtain’s largest possible defensive zone under the circumstances. The area will cover only half of Yunjiang Province.
  • Teams are assigned to defend each position, while others begin evacuations and support work. Chen Hao and Qin Yumo set up the eastern node, which sends a golden pillar of light skyward once charged with jade. Chen Hao leaves Qin Yumo and her team to guard it while he heads to the next position.

Character developments and interactions

  • Chen Hao demonstrates overwhelming combat power and quick, decisive leadership. His theatrical missed throw also reveals a playful, self-mocking side.
  • Qin Yumo’s fear and relief at Chen Hao’s return give way to resolve as she accepts responsibility for defending the eastern node. Chen Hao comforts her, refusing to let her speak as though she might die.
  • Chu Jinliang warmly welcomes Chen Hao back and supports the urgent response, while the gathered groups accept Chen Hao’s orders without hesitation.

Significant themes

  • Sacrifice and survival: The coming attack forces the Camp to make urgent choices about what territory can be protected.
  • Leadership under pressure: Chen Hao organizes defenses and assigns teams with little time to spare.
  • Hope and solidarity: The Camp’s celebration of Chen Hao’s return briefly lifts morale, and the groups cooperate despite the danger.
  • Love and reassurance: Chen Hao and Qin Yumo’s reunion and farewell underscore their mutual concern amid the crisis.

Ch. 386An army at the gates

Key plot points and events

  • Chen Hao reaches the final array position after hours of flight, with his Spiritual Power badly depleted. Qiao Shan warns that the western position is close to being overrun; Chen Hao orders its defenders to hold the array node, whatever the cost.
  • At the southern position, Xiang Wencun and Nine Blades are already surrounded by Infected Creatures. Chen Hao and the Stone Statue Ghoul join the fight, while Chen Hao moves to set up the array.
  • A towering, two-headed rocky behemoth charges toward the node. Xiang Wencun uses her dragon bone flute to unleash a powerful sonic attack, stunning the infected army and knocking the behemoth down.
  • CC attacks the behemoth, smashing through its defenses and destroying it. But larger monsters arrive, overwhelm CC, and knock it to the ground.
  • With the defenders in danger and the array unfinished, Xiang Wencun asks how long Chen Hao needs. He says one more minute.

Character developments and interactions

  • Chen Hao remains resolute and focused on completing the array, even as the positions face imminent collapse. His urgency grows as he sees the scale of the threat.
  • Xiang Wencun takes command of the defense, protects Chen Hao while he works, and uses her flute effectively against the behemoth. Her confidence gives way to fear as still larger enemies appear.
  • CC displays formidable strength and fearless aggression, defeating the rocky monster, but its overconfidence leaves it vulnerable to the newcomers.
  • Qiao Shan supports Chen Hao’s plan and solemnly commits to holding the western position.
  • Chen Hao, Xiang Wencun, and Nine Blades coordinate to defend the array node, while Xiang also directs CC’s attack.

Significant themes

  • Duty and sacrifice: The defenders are expected to hold their positions at any cost so the array can be completed.
  • Urgency and mounting peril: Each victory is quickly overtaken by a greater threat, leaving Chen Hao only moments to finish his task.
  • Teamwork and courage: The characters combine their abilities to protect the node, though individual bravery alone may not be enough against the overwhelming enemy.

Ch. 387The Sky Curtain Finally Activates

Summary

  • The defenses nearly collapse: Infected creatures overwhelm the forces defending the array sites in Yunjiang Province. Qin Yumo, Ancient Dragon, and Capital Gate are driven back as the creatures make repeated suicidal attacks. Wu Daozi orders his people to protect the array at any cost.
  • Soldiers sacrifice themselves: Ordinary soldiers and Qi Refiners use explosives—including strapping them to their own bodies—to stop the infected from reaching the array’s core. Their sacrifices buy Chen Hao the time needed to finish the final array.
  • The Sky Curtain activates: Once the last array is complete, golden pillars at all four sites resonate and create an enormous, bowl-shaped barrier over nearly all of Yunjiang Province. Infected creatures outside cannot breach it, while those trapped inside are left vulnerable. Qin Yumo rallies everyone to kill them.
  • The battle turns to celebration: Chen Hao collapses with relief, recognizing that the barrier has not ended the apocalypse but has given humanity a chance and renewed its hope. The survivors celebrate and honor him as their savior.
  • Personal moments afterward: Chen Hao embraces and thanks Qin Yumo for her efforts; they nearly kiss before CC interrupts. Chen Hao chases the dog, but Qin Yumo defends him, noting how much he has helped. Xiang Wencun arrives, jokes with Chen Hao, and sends him and Qin Yumo to meet Commander Chu at the Military Base.

Character developments and interactions

  • Chen Hao remains focused under pressure, urging the defenders to hold on until the array is complete. Once it succeeds, he shows his relief and affection for Qin Yumo.
  • Qin Yumo endures the battle alongside the defenders, then takes charge of the counterattack against the infected trapped inside the barrier. Her care for CC and comfortable response to Chen Hao’s friendship with Xiang Wencun reveal her warmth and trust.
  • Wu Daozi, the soldiers, and the Qi Refiners demonstrate courage and selflessness, repeatedly risking or giving their lives to protect the array.
  • CC, Chen Hao, and Qin Yumo provide comic relief after the battle: CC interrupts the near-kiss, gets chased by Chen Hao, and is defended by Qin Yumo.
  • Xiang Wencun and Chen Hao share easy, teasing familiarity. Her arrival shifts the group from celebration toward their next military discussion.

Significant themes

  • Sacrifice and duty: The defenders willingly give their lives to protect others and preserve the array.
  • Hope amid catastrophe: The Sky Curtain offers safety without ending the larger crisis; even a small chance of survival can sustain people.
  • Solidarity and affection: Shared effort binds the defenders together, while the quieter exchanges afterward show the personal relationships they are fighting to protect.

Ch. 388The Sky Curtain's drawbacks

Key plot points and events

  • Chen Hao arrives at the military base, where the core members applaud him for creating the Sky Curtain. Gergen and Vasily apologize for doubting him.
  • Chen Hao explains that the barrier’s four magic arrays must be protected and that its jade supply may keep it running for only about ten days—less if infected creatures attack in greater numbers.
  • Qin Yumo warns that jade supplies are finite, even if other countries help. The prospect of the barrier eventually failing leaves the group alarmed.
  • Chen Hao claims he has a plan to cleanse the world and eliminate the infected, but says he cannot reveal it yet. He orders a worldwide appeal for jade, offering shelter inside the Sky Curtain to countries that contribute enough.
  • Later, Chen Hao privately admits to Qin Yumo that his plan is not fully worked out. She suspects he is hiding something, but he reassures her and promises never to leave her.
  • The next morning, people in the base enjoy a rare sense of normality. Civilians regard Chen Hao as their savior.

Character developments and interactions

  • Chen Hao is celebrated as a hero, but the limits of the Sky Curtain reveal that his achievement is not a complete solution. He projects confidence to the leadership while privately remaining uncertain about what comes next.
  • Qin Yumo shifts from addressing the practical problem of jade supplies to expressing concern for Chen Hao personally. She reads his unease, presses him for the truth, and asks for reassurance about their future.
  • Chu Jinliang backs Chen Hao without hesitation, orders security around the arrays, and quickly launches the international jade appeal.
  • Gergen and Vasily acknowledge their earlier skepticism and propose that Russia could help supply jade.
  • Ordinary civilians show gratitude and hope, with one mother encouraging her daughter to remember Chen Hao as the person who saved them.

Significant themes

  • Fragile security: The Sky Curtain protects people, but its dependence on guarded arrays and dwindling jade makes safety temporary.
  • Trust and leadership: The group accepts Chen Hao’s promise of a larger plan despite his refusal to explain it.
  • Hope amid uncertainty: Chen Hao’s confidence inspires people, even though the next stage remains unresolved.
  • Love and reassurance: Qin Yumo’s promise-seeking exchange with Chen Hao adds an intimate counterpoint to the public crisis.

Ch. 389Let's break up

Key plot points and events

  • News of Huaxia’s Sky Curtain prompts nations worldwide to send jade and request shelter for their citizens. The promised jade exceeds expectations, but applications from just a dozen countries already involve millions of people—more than the current shelter can hold.
  • Chen Hao refuses to turn anyone away. He vows to build a second Sky Curtain and asks Supreme Lord Lao to create another Magic Array, offering him the lucrative Charlatan Shop in exchange. Lao Jun agrees to finish it in five days.
  • As refugees and jade arrive, the infected outside the Sky Curtain continue to grow larger and stronger. The available jade would power one Sky Curtain for about a month, but two for only ten days.
  • Chen Hao plans to lead the Qi Refiners beyond the shelter in two days to establish the next Sky Curtain, despite the danger.
  • That evening, Chen Hao tells Qin Yumo they should break up. She suspects he is trying to spare her worry about his dangerous mission, but he insists he is serious and says they are not right for each other.

Character developments and interactions

  • Chen Hao accepts responsibility for refugees worldwide, prioritizing their survival over his own interests. He sacrifices his business and prepares for a near-suicidal mission, while hiding—or at least not explaining—the reasons behind his sudden breakup.
  • Chu Jinliang supports the refugee effort but worries about capacity, dwindling jade, and the threat outside. He is left uneasy when Chen Hao insists the dangerous plan must go ahead.
  • Supreme Lord Lao initially resists making another array because of the physical strain, but quickly agrees when Chen Hao offers him the Charlatan Shop. Their negotiation shows Chen Hao’s ability to bargain under pressure.
  • Qin Yumo is happy to share a rare peaceful dinner with Chen Hao, then is stunned by his breakup announcement. She believes his words are meant to protect her from worrying about his mission; Chen Hao denies this, leaving the relationship unresolved.

Significant themes

  • Collective responsibility and sacrifice: Chen Hao refuses to abandon people even when shelter and resources are scarce.
  • Hope against impossible odds: He chooses a dangerous attempt to build another refuge rather than accept certain failure.
  • The cost of survival: Jade, business interests, personal safety, and intimate relationships are all placed at risk.
  • Emotional concealment: The candlelit dinner and breakup suggest Chen Hao may be withholding his true motives, creating tension around his relationship with Qin Yumo.

Ch. 390A kindly lie

Key plot points and events

  • Chen Hao breaks up with Qin Yumo, claiming he has fallen in love with Xiang Wencun. When Qin doubts him, he kisses Xiang in front of her, prompting Qin to leave in a cloud of blood-red mist.
  • Xiang is furious and initially tries to follow Qin to explain. Chen Hao reveals the breakup is a deliberate lie meant to spare Qin greater grief: he may die carrying out his plan to gather the five elemental powers, form a golden core, and use the resulting heavenly tribulation to destroy the monsters threatening the world.
  • Xiang recognizes Chen Hao’s intention to sacrifice himself and asks whether he can survive. He cannot say. She offers to accompany him as he goes outside the protected zone to build another Sky Curtain, but he warns that it would be nearly suicidal.
  • Later, Chen addresses the Qi Refiners gathered in the square. He argues that the current Sky Curtain cannot shelter the growing number of survivors and urges them to help build another one. Many object, citing the danger and insisting that people from other countries are not their responsibility. Chen appeals to their empathy and shared humanity, asking them to imagine being refused help themselves.

Character developments

  • Chen Hao accepts the possibility of his own death and presents himself as willing to give his life for humanity. His staged rejection of Qin shows his attempt to protect her from future heartbreak, though it also causes immediate pain.
  • Xiang Wencun shifts from confusion and anger to understanding and concern. Despite seeing through Chen’s excuse that he truly loves her, she stands by him and insists on joining the dangerous mission.
  • Qin Yumo is devastated and furious when Chen appears to betray her, leaving before she can hear the truth.
  • The Qi Refiners reveal fear and reluctance, but Chen challenges them to reconsider their priorities.

Significant themes

  • Sacrifice and mortality: Chen accepts that saving the world may cost his life.
  • Compassion beyond borders: He argues that survivors’ nationality should not determine who deserves protection.
  • Protective deception and its cost: Chen lies to Qin to soften a future loss, but the lie hurts her in the present.
  • Courage and responsibility: The chapter contrasts self-preservation with the duty to help others.

Character interactions

  • Chen’s apparent betrayal of Qin is staged through his public claim of renewed feelings for Xiang and a kiss; Qin responds by leaving in anger.
  • Xiang confronts Chen, rejects his claim that he loves her, then offers to face danger alongside him.
  • Chen appeals to the crowd first with the people they personally cherish, then with a perspective-taking argument about how they would feel if another country refused them shelter.

Ch. 391Mobilization rally

Key plot points and events

  • Chen Hao’s speech inspires cooperation: Gergen and Russia’s Bear Clan volunteer first, followed by Long Xiaotian and Ancient Dragon, and then the wider crowd.
  • The group plans to build the New Sky Curtain. Qiao Shan agrees to lead a dangerous military “suicide squad” that will draw away the Infected Creatures, while Qi Refiners clear the four corners so Chen Hao can establish the formation. The operation is set to begin the day after tomorrow.
  • Chen Hao notices Qin Yumo is missing. Later that night, she sits alone beneath the Sky Curtain, hurt and confused by what she sees as his sudden rejection.
  • The next morning, a flood of arrivals makes the protected area more crowded and tense. A wealthy young man claiming to be Tu’s prince starts a fight, then insults and provokes the soldiers enforcing order.
  • Chen Hao steps in after the prince mocks Huaxia’s soldiers, confronting him and demanding he repeat his insult.

Character developments

  • Chen Hao shifts from rallying the crowd to directing a perilous, coordinated plan. He is grateful to those who volunteer, but remains preoccupied with Qin Yumo.
  • Gergen and Long Xiaotian set aside rivalry long enough to lead their groups in volunteering, helping unite the crowd.
  • Qiao Shan shows the military’s willingness to sacrifice itself, accepting leadership of the dangerous diversion.
  • Qin Yumo is emotionally wounded and isolated, unsure why Chen Hao has pushed her away.
  • The Tu prince is arrogant and entitled, treating the soldiers’ restraint as weakness. Chen Hao’s intervention challenges his sense of impunity.

Significant themes

  • Unity amid catastrophe: The rally challenges national and factional divisions in the face of a common enemy.
  • Sacrifice and duty: The plan depends on people knowingly accepting a high risk of death to protect others.
  • Leadership and responsibility: Chen Hao must organize the mission while confronting disorder within the refuge.
  • Power and justice: The prince’s status complicates the enforcement of rules, exposing the tension between equal treatment and political consequences.
  • Personal pain amid collective crisis: Qin Yumo’s private heartbreak contrasts with the urgent public struggle.

Character interactions

  • Gergen’s early offer prompts Long Xiaotian to assert Ancient Dragon’s commitment, spurring others to volunteer.
  • Chen Hao entrusts Qiao Shan with organizing the diversion squad and thanks him for accepting the danger.
  • Xiang Wencun reminds Chen Hao that he drove Qin Yumo away, underscoring the strain between them.
  • Soldiers try to control the brawl, but the prince taunts them, exploiting their fear of political repercussions.
  • Chen Hao’s arrival immediately changes the soldiers’ demeanor; he confronts the prince directly as the chapter ends.

Ch. 392The final operation

Key plot points and events

  • Chen Hao punishes a foreign man who insults Huaxia’s soldiers, warning the crowd that the Sky Curtain’s safety was bought with Chinese soldiers’ lives. He throws the man outside, where Infected Creatures kill him.
  • Xiang Wencun tells Chen Hao that Qin Yumo has been helping defend the Sky Curtain’s perimeter. She challenges his choice to distance himself from Qin, but he says he wants to spare her the pain of watching him die.
  • The next morning, leaders gather to prepare for the Final Operation. Chu Jinliang reveals that Infected Creatures from around the world are converging on Huaxia and may all arrive within two days.
  • Chen Hao steadies the group, saying they need to hold out for four hours, then assigns roles and orders everyone to prepare. Qin Yumo leaves without speaking to him, and he keeps his distance, believing their future depends on whether he survives the coming days.

Character developments and interactions

  • Chen Hao shows both authority and resolve: he enforces discipline harshly, then uses calm confidence to rally the operation’s team. Privately, his love for Qin Yumo is evident, but fear for her pain makes him suppress his feelings.
  • Xiang Wencun teases Chen Hao about their pretend relationship, then speaks earnestly about his feelings for Qin Yumo and promises to stand by him.
  • Qin Yumo remains mostly absent, but her work defending the perimeter shows her commitment. Her quiet departure underscores the distance between her and Chen Hao.
  • CC interrupts the serious conversation and runs off, providing brief comic relief.

Significant themes

  • Sacrifice and duty: The safety of the Sky Curtain rests on soldiers’ sacrifices, while the coming operation demands further risk.
  • Love and protection: Chen Hao’s attempt to protect Qin Yumo by shutting her out may cause the very heartbreak he hopes to prevent.
  • Leadership amid fear: With a global threat closing in, Chen Hao’s confidence restores the group’s resolve.
  • Unity and survival: The approaching convergence of Infected Creatures makes the operation a collective fight for humanity’s survival.

Ch. 393Let's begin

Key plot points and events

  • Qi Refiners and soldiers prepare to leave the Sky Curtain base, sharing emotional farewells with their families. One officer reassures his young daughter that he is going to protect her by fighting the monsters.
  • Chen Hao and Xiang Wencun joke about being lonely and about CC’s enormous following of female dogs, using humor to ease the tension.
  • The operation begins: successive waves of fighter aircraft draw infected creatures away from the Sky Curtain, creating space for the teams to establish four array nodes.
  • Chen Hao escorts Xiang Wencun’s squad to the northern position and fights off attackers while the soldiers establish a defensive perimeter.
  • An infected creature erupts from underground and destroys the first array node. Chen Hao kills it, finds a new location, and completes the node, raising a golden pillar of light.
  • Chen Hao strengthens the node with a protective shell of vines, instructs Xiang Wencun’s team to defend it, and heads west to establish another node.

Character developments and interactions

  • The departing officer’s loving farewell to his wife and daughter highlights the personal cost of the mission.
  • Chen Hao and Xiang Wencun share easy, teasing camaraderie; their jokes briefly lighten the grim atmosphere.
  • Qin Yumo watches Chen Hao and Xiang Wencun with visible anger before leaving with the departing forces.
  • Chen Hao is decisive and resourceful under pressure: after the first node is destroyed, he quickly relocates it and uses his wood-grain power to protect it.
  • Xiang Wencun trusts Chen Hao’s judgment and promises to hold the northern position.

Significant themes

  • Duty and sacrifice: Soldiers and Qi Refiners leave loved ones behind to protect the people within the Sky Curtain.
  • Hope and morale: The first golden pillar signals progress and renews the defenders’ resolve.
  • Teamwork under pressure: Aircraft, soldiers, Qi Refiners, and Chen Hao coordinate to create and defend the array nodes.
  • Humor amid danger: The banter between Chen Hao and Xiang Wencun offers a brief release from the life-threatening stakes.

Ch. 394Qin Yumo's madness

Key events

  • Gergen and the Bear Clan hold off an infected horde until Chen Hao arrives. Chen wipes out many attackers, completes the second array core, and seals it behind a golden barrier. Gergen promises to defend it.
  • At the third site, defended by the Capital Gate and Kirin, Chen uses Landmine to clear a large number of infected creatures, then completes the core and raises earthen walls around it.
  • The eastern site, where Qin Yumo commands the Heavenly Gate forces, is under the greatest pressure. Chen joins the fight, but Qin rejects his help and charges into the enemy. He begins setting up the final core while she continues fighting.
  • A colossal, fire-breathing, Godzilla-like infected beast arrives and kills dozens of soldiers with its flames. Chen orders everyone to retreat, but Qin attacks it alone. Its fire knocks her out of her blood-mist form and shatters her Qi Armor.
  • Chen rushes to protect Qin, but she refuses his help and accuses him of pretending to care. After clearing the enemies in front of them, he sharply tells her to get out of the way and help save the others.

Character developments and interactions

  • Chen Hao remains focused on the urgent array mission, balancing combat, defense, and command. He checks on Qin, but their strained relationship makes even his rescue attempt contentious.
  • Gergen rallies the Bear Clan with humor and confidence, then accepts responsibility for guarding the completed core.
  • Qin Yumo grows increasingly reckless and hostile toward Chen, insisting she can manage alone even as the danger overwhelms her. Her accusation suggests deep distrust or hurt between them.
  • The fighters at the second and third sites respond enthusiastically to Chen’s support, while the eastern troops obey his evacuation order—Qin alone defies it.

Significant themes

  • Duty under pressure: Chen must finish the array despite the mounting danger and the cost of every delay.
  • Leadership and sacrifice: Each group risks its life to defend a core, while Chen’s commands are tested by Qin’s defiance.
  • Pride, distrust, and strained relationships: Qin’s refusal to accept help turns a battlefield rescue into a personal confrontation.
  • Escalating danger: The arrival of the giant beast shows that the threat is growing beyond the infected hordes the groups have already faced.

Ch. 395Success at Last

Key plot points and events

  • Chen Hao confronts Godzilla alone, shattering its earthen armor with the Golden Cudgel. Godzilla answers with a blast of flame.
  • Qin Yumo deliberately jumps in front of Chen Hao, apparently testing whether he still cares for her. He instinctively shields her with his Qi Armor, but angrily scolds her for risking lives and wasting time.
  • Chen Hao unleashes Samadhi True Fire and Underworld Fire together. The twin flames pursue and enter Godzilla, destroying it in a massive explosion that scorches the surrounding area and wipes out nearby Infected Creatures.
  • While the soldiers recover from the display, Chen Hao heads to a clearing to set up the Magic Array. The remaining Infected Creatures soon charge again in greater numbers.
  • With the soldiers facing near-certain defeat, a golden pillar of light rises behind them: Chen Hao has completed the array, and the group’s hope is restored.

Character developments and interactions

  • Chen Hao shows both his instinctive concern for Qin Yumo and his willingness to put the larger mission first. After rescuing her, he rejects her attempt to turn the moment into proof of his feelings and hurries to finish the array.
  • Qin Yumo tries to confirm that Chen Hao still likes her by putting herself in danger. His reaction gives her hope, but his rebuke leaves her hurt. Afterward, she sets aside her emotions, organizes the soldiers, and later rejoices when the array activates.
  • The soldiers are awestruck by Chen Hao’s power, then follow Qin Yumo’s orders to tend the wounded and form a defensive perimeter.

Significant themes

  • Personal feelings versus collective responsibility: Qin Yumo’s romantic test clashes with the urgency of protecting everyone.
  • Power and sacrifice: Chen Hao’s devastating attack turns the battle, but its scale underscores the destructive cost of overwhelming force.
  • Hope in a crisis: The golden light of the completed array renews the group’s courage just as another assault threatens them.

Ch. 396The leader of the New World

Key plot points and events

  • The fourth golden pillar activates the final magic array, and the Sky Curtain descends, splitting the infected army and killing some creatures caught in its path.
  • With the barrier complete, fighters at all four sites launch a final counterattack. Chu Jinliang sends in reinforcements, and the battle ends after nightfall.
  • After Chen Hao’s group returns, Chu Jinliang convenes the leaders to elect a leader for the New World, arguing that the survivors need unity and orderly governance.
  • Chen Hao declines nomination despite widespread support, then recommends Chu Jinliang and Qin Yumo instead.
  • Chu Jinliang privately reveals that he had intended the election to make Chen Hao leader. Chen Hao insists he cannot accept and says Chu will understand why in a few days.

Character developments

  • Chen Hao remains influential but refuses political authority, suggesting he has other plans or a reason he cannot yet disclose.
  • Chu Jinliang shows both genuine excitement at humanity’s success and a desire to pass leadership to Chen Hao, though he conceals this at first.
  • Qin Yumo is recognized for her battlefield leadership but is surprised and displeased when Chen Hao nominates her.
  • Qiao Shan briefly loses his composure in celebration, revealing how deeply the Sky Curtain’s success affects him.

Significant themes

  • Unity and survival: The Sky Curtain offers safety, but the survivors must cooperate to build a functioning society.
  • Leadership and legitimacy: The group debates whether the new leader should be chosen fairly and command broad respect.
  • Duty versus personal choice: Chen Hao’s refusal challenges the assumption that the person most responsible for saving everyone must also govern them.

Character interactions

  • Qiao Shan embraces Chu Jinliang in excitement, then apologizes; Chu teases him while privately sharing his joy.
  • Chu Jinliang proposes a vote, and the gathered leaders discuss the need for a respected, widely supported ruler.
  • The group urges Chen Hao to accept the role, but he redirects their attention toward Chu Jinliang and Qin Yumo.
  • In private, Chu presses Chen Hao for an explanation; Chen Hao asks him to wait a few days.

Ch. 397Chen Hao's decision

Key plot points and events

  • Chen Hao abstains from the leadership vote, and Qin Yumo is elected the New World’s first leader. Chu Jinliang formally announces her appointment.
  • Qin asks Chen why he refused the role and urges him to tell her if he is hiding something. Chen reassures her vaguely and leaves without explaining.
  • At home, Chen asks his mother, Li Xia, to make the tomato-and-egg noodles he loved as a child, then spends unusual, unhurried time talking with his father, Chen Yong.
  • That night, Chen records a video for Qin Yumo, beginning, “If you’re watching this video, it means I’ve already…”—suggesting he expects to be gone or unable to speak to her.
  • Under Qin’s leadership, the people sheltered by the two Sky Curtains organize themselves into a functioning society. The first zone focuses on planning and shared rules; the second adopts a regional, UN-style administrative model. Electric Crystals provide the power that makes this development possible.
  • The relative safety is threatened by growing swarms of infected creatures covering the Sky Curtains. Qin warns that the barriers may eventually fail, their jade power source may run out, and creatures on the domes could block sunlight. She convenes a meeting to plan a response.

Character developments and interactions

  • Chen Hao deliberately steps aside for Qin, saying she is better suited to lead. His emotional farewell-like gestures toward his parents and secret video suggest he may be preparing for a serious sacrifice or departure, though he tells no one.
  • Qin Yumo moves from reluctant appointee to decisive leader, overseeing the New World’s organization and confronting its next crisis. She remains worried about Chen and looks to him during the emergency meeting.
  • Chu Jinliang accepts Chen’s refusal, announces the vote, and helps spread news of Qin’s appointment.
  • Chen and his parents share a rare, affectionate family meal and conversation, making Chen’s unexplained sentimentality especially striking.

Significant themes

  • Duty and selflessness: Chen gives up leadership for what he believes is best for the community.
  • Renewal and fragile hope: Society begins rebuilding beneath the Sky Curtains, but its security depends on resources and barriers that may not last.
  • Unspoken affection and impending loss: Chen’s tenderness toward his family and his unfinished message to Qin hint at a private burden.
  • Leadership under pressure: Qin must guide a diverse population while preparing for threats that could undo their progress.

Ch. 398I'll solve every problem

Plot points and events

  • With tens of thousands of Infected Creatures gathered outside the Sky Curtain, the leaders debate whether to open it and attack or conserve the dwindling jade needed to keep it running. Both options appear dangerous.
  • Chen Hao declares that he will solve every problem himself. He plans to go outside alone at 2 p.m. the next day and tells the others to put all available jade into the Magic Array. He offers no explanation, saying only that they should look up and welcome the sunlight.
  • In private, Chen Hao tells Qin Yumo that he wants everyone to remain safe—and that he hopes they will think of him when they look at the sky. His words suggest he may be preparing to make a great sacrifice.
  • Concerned that Chen Hao intends to face danger alone, Qin Yumo asks Xiang Wencun whether she knows his plan. Xiang denies knowing anything, and Qin leaves disappointed.

Character developments and interactions

  • Chen Hao displays confidence and resolve, taking sole responsibility for a seemingly impossible crisis while concealing his intentions from Qin.
  • Qin Yumo moves from questioning Chen’s promise to fearing for him. She admits she loves him and is willing to stand by him even at the cost of her life.
  • Xiang Wencun appears to know or suspect more than she reveals, but maintains that she knows nothing. Qin’s heartfelt confession briefly unsettles her.
  • The group is divided between fear of attacking the creatures and fear that the Sky Curtain will fail, but those closest to Chen trust him enough to let him proceed.

Significant themes

  • Sacrifice and responsibility: Chen accepts the burden of protecting everyone, potentially at tremendous personal cost.
  • Hope amid catastrophe: His promise of sunlight contrasts with the darkness and danger surrounding the survivors.
  • Love and secrecy: Qin’s devotion clashes with Chen’s decision to keep her uninformed, leaving her helpless and anxious.

Ch. 399The final farewell

Plot points and events

  • Chen Hao asks Supreme Lord Lao whether a magical treasure could protect him from the heavenly tribulation caused by gathering all five elements. Lao explains that such protection would also cancel the energy needed to cleanse the world: Chen Hao cannot save himself from the danger and still use it for his purpose.
  • Knowing that the infected world can only be cleansed through this perilous plan, Chen Hao accepts that he may die. He tells Xiang Wencun he must go alone and gives her his phone to pass to Qin Yumo if he does not return.
  • The next day, the Sky Curtain’s magic array is strengthened with jade. Chen Hao flies outside it, fights off swarms of infected creatures with the Golden Cudgel, Crimson Glow, and combined fires, and surveys the devastated landscape.
  • After the creatures temporarily hold back, Chen Hao gathers the remaining fire power to complete the five elements. Before doing so, he sends a farewell to his loved ones, then presses samadhi true fire to his chest, engulfing himself in flames.
  • Qin Yumo begs for the Sky Curtain to be opened, but Chu Jinliang refuses, believing that doing so could ruin Chen Hao’s efforts. He understands that Chen Hao had anticipated this sacrifice.

Character developments and interactions

  • Chen Hao moves from seeking a way to survive to accepting the cost of his plan. His farewells and actions show both resolve and deep affection for those inside the Sky Curtain.
  • Xiang Wencun keeps Chen Hao’s secret, struggles to hide her grief, and accepts his request to deliver his phone to Qin Yumo. Their exchange acknowledges their missed chance at a relationship while expressing a lasting bond.
  • Qin Yumo reacts with alarm when she hears Chen Hao’s farewell and desperately tries to reach him.
  • Chu Jinliang chooses duty over the urge to intervene, refusing to open the Sky Curtain and recognizing Chen Hao’s foresight.
  • The people beneath the dome cheer Chen Hao’s victories, while those who understand his plan feel dread rather than celebration.

Significant themes

  • Sacrifice and selflessness: Chen Hao accepts the risk of death to give millions a chance to survive.
  • The cost of doing good: The power needed to cleanse the world cannot be safely neutralized without defeating its purpose.
  • Love, loss, and farewell: Chen Hao’s final words reveal the relationships he values and the possibility of unresolved bonds.
  • Duty and restraint: Chu Jinliang’s painful refusal to help demonstrates that sometimes honoring another person’s sacrifice means not interfering.

Ch. 400The Heavenly Tribulation Descends, a New World Is Born

Key plot points and events

  • Chen Hao allows samadhi true fire to consume him, using the power of the five elements within his body to unleash a force that summons a catastrophic heavenly lightning strike.
  • The strike obliterates the Infected Creatures and devastates the world outside the Sky Curtain. The Curtain nearly collapses, but the Magic Array’s jade stones keep it standing.
  • Chen Hao disappears in the blast. Those sheltered beneath the Curtain realize he sacrificed himself to save humanity and mourn him as a hero.
  • Xiang Wencun gives Qin Yumo a phone containing Chen Hao’s farewell video. He explains that he is not dead but has gone somewhere far away, asks her to forgive him, and urges her to help rebuild and care for his family and loved ones.
  • After days of grief and a long storm, the devastation outside becomes visible. Patrols confirm that the world is free of the Infected Creatures, and the survivors celebrate the birth of a new world.

Character developments and interactions

  • Chen Hao accepts what appears to be a final sacrifice, finding comfort in his parents’ support and trying to spare Qin Yumo the danger and pain of joining him. His farewell reveals both his love for her and his hope that she will carry on.
  • Li Xia and Chen Yong recognize the danger intuitively. Li Xia breaks down, while Chen Yong expresses fierce pride and unconditional support.
  • Qin Yumo refuses to look away as Chen Hao faces the lightning, then collapses into grief. She remains by his phone for three days, overwhelmed by his loss and his final message.
  • Xiang Wencun admits she knew Chen Hao intended to sacrifice himself but kept his secret at his request. She brings Qin Yumo the video, enabling her to understand his decision.

Significant themes

  • Sacrifice and heroism: Chen Hao’s apparent death saves humanity, and the survivors honor him as a symbol of selfless courage.
  • Love and protection: Chen Hao’s separation from Qin Yumo is an attempt to protect her, while his message asks her to live on and care for those he loves.
  • Grief and remembrance: Qin Yumo’s mourning and the memorial statues show the lasting emotional cost of survival.
  • Renewal after catastrophe: The destruction of the old, infected world creates the possibility of rebuilding a new one.
Show
Page 20 of 21