Chapter Summaries

Chen Mu questioned Sang Hanshui about his research into Faction Era cards and learned that he had spent decades seeking a powerful card. Sang Hanshui reconsidered his approach after Chen Mu urged him to focus on mastering a card, then examined Chen Mu’s [Dual-Polarity Thunderball Card] and reacted with growing excitement.

• Chen Mu dismissed the unfamiliar [Mirror] structure and asked Sang Hanshui whether he knew the famous cards of history.
• Sang Hanshui explained that he had studied Faction Era cards to find a powerful legacy, blaming the Six Great Academies’ control of first-rate cards for independent Card Adepts’ disadvantage.
• Chen Mu told Sang Hanshui that dedicated study could make an ordinary card formidable, leaving Sang Hanshui shaken by the realization that he had pursued the wrong path.
• Sang Hanshui promised to answer Chen Mu’s questions, and Chen Mu showed him the [Dual-Polarity Thunderball Card] without revealing the Mysterious Card.
• Chen Mu demonstrated the card’s black and white thunderballs and [Chess Cage Thousand Cuts], and Sang Hanshui reacted with intense excitement.

Chen Mu asked Sang Hanshui to identify several rare cards, and Sang Hanshui recognized the [Bipolar Card], the [Golden Word Lock], and the [Snake Mirror] while explaining their histories. Sang Hanshui revealed that more than a hundred Faction Era factions still survived across the Federation, leaving Chen Mu with a new understanding of the past and possible threats to the Six Great Academies.

• Sang Hanshui identified Chen Mu's [Bipolar Card] as a creation of Zhongda Academy card crafter Cao Bairan and explained its history alongside the [Nine Veils].
• Sang Hanshui advised Chen Mu to trade the [Bipolar Card] to Zhongda Academy for a card with a training legacy, but Chen Mu declined to commit because he already had the [Node-Style Link] legacy and preferred developing his own style.
• Sang Hanshui recognized the [Snake Mirror] as a rare Faction Era detection card suited to team combat and said its hidden faction had survived in Beilian District.
• Chen Mu questioned whether any factions remained, and Sang Hanshui said more than a hundred still existed, some concealed and others infiltrating the Six Great Academies.
• Sang Hanshui suggested Faya might have grown from a surviving faction and described the historical purges between factions and the Six Great Academies, surprising Chen Mu.

Tang Hanpei sent Si Dongkou, Yi Rou, and Fang Han to Tiandongli District to disrupt Frostmoon Cold Isle’s effort to unite the region’s factions. He also ordered them to look for Chen Mu, whose Digital Series Cards and potential influence could shift the Federation’s balance of power.

• Tang Hanpei reflected on Song Chengyan’s death, the damage Xie Yanbai had done to the academy, and the leaked manhunt for him.
• Tang Hanpei summoned Si Dongkou, Yi Rou, and Fang Han and assigned them to represent the academy at Frostmoon Cold Isle’s upcoming summit in Tiandongli District.
• Tang Hanpei explained that they had to prevent Frostmoon Cold Isle from consolidating the district’s factions and could consider joining with Faya or the Desert Camp.
• Tang Hanpei showed them Chen Mu’s image and ordered them to search for him while watching for small, newly established factions in remote areas.
• Tang Hanpei warned them not to let another faction, especially Frostmoon Cold Isle, recruit Chen Mu, and the three prepared to depart.

Mobley and Qingqing discussed Frostmoon Cold Isle’s plan to unite Tiandongli District’s factions, while Chen Mu kept Sang Hanshui under Wei'a’s watch and trained with Bu Mo. The chapter ended with Bagnell and Xi Ping suspecting that the Snowflake Card Adept Corps’ covert watchers were looking for Chen Mu.

• Mobley asked Qingqing to assess Frostmoon Cold Isle’s summit invitation, and they agreed that the Snowflake Card Adept Corps could barely compete for a place in the planned alliance.
• Qingqing asked Mobley about Chen Mu’s whereabouts and requested to accompany him to the summit.
• Chen Mu assigned Wei'a to guard Sang Hanshui, who watched Wei'a train Bu Mo in Uncard Flow and realized how dangerous Wei'a was.
• Bu Mo ate twelve standard meals, leaving Chen Mu and the others astonished by his appetite.
• Bagnell and Xi Ping discovered that the Snowflake Card Adept Corps was watching Snow Silk Worm Valley and suspected its agents were targeting Chen Mu.

The masked madam in Faya ordered her subordinates to track down Cao Dong and his associates while dismissing the possibility of recruiting Qiao Yuan. Chen Mu completed an experimental calculation-focused Planning Card, but could not figure out how to use it and named it [Little Child]; Wei'a then sensed something outside the Training Room.

• The madam learned that Frostmoon Cold Isle's reinforcements were a day's journey away and decided to attack them, suspecting someone had set a trap.
• The madam ordered her subordinates to search for Cao Dong, Bagnell, and Xi Ping, and chose to leave Qiao Yuan alone.
• Chen Mu spent three days making a complex Planning Card designed to maximize its calculation ability.
• Chen Mu activated the card and saw a strange display of silver stars, lines, and planes, but could not control or understand it.
• Chen Mu named the card [Little Child] and put it away, while Sang Hanshui watched Wei'a's training and Wei'a suddenly looked toward the sky outside the Training Room.

Chen Mu, posing as Qiao Yuan, refused Lin Yao’s request to help Frostmoon Cold Isle and considered leaving Zha’erqian as trouble gathered around Qiqi Trading Company. [Heavenly Pattern] orchestrated a mass-media spectacle that turned the company into the target of a crowd assault, while the veiled madam and Dang Han watched.

• Wei'a knocked Sang Hanshui unconscious and vanished with him and Bu Mo just before someone arrived at Chen Mu’s door.
• Lin Yao asked Chen Mu to help Frostmoon Cold Isle after its team was attacked, but he refused and shut the door on her.
• Chen Mu considered leaving Zha’erqian as a commotion began outside the courtyard.
• [Heavenly Pattern] abducted reporters and forced them to broadcast from Qiqi Trading Company, announcing that something sensational was about to happen.
• The veiled madam learned that Qiao Yuan had taken the [Golden Word Lock] from Mota and told Dang Han she would reward him with the card.
• A crowd surged into Qiqi Trading Company, and the veiled madam, Dang Han, and the bronze-masked man followed them inside.

Lin Yao used reporters to publicly claim Frostmoon Cold Isle had partnered with the Qiqi Trading Company, pressuring A Sang to bring Qiao Yuan out. Chen Mu refused to get involved or accept A Sang’s offer of herself, but as she broke down, his anger toward Lin Yao grew.

• After Qiao Yuan rejected Lin Yao, reporters arrived and questioned her about Frostmoon Cold Isle’s presence in Zhaerqian.
• Lin Yao falsely announced a partnership between Frostmoon Cold Isle and the Qiqi Trading Company, then demanded that A Sang bring Qiao Yuan out.
• Under pressure from the reporters and Lin Yao, A Sang entered the Training Room and found Chen Mu.
• Chen Mu told A Sang he would not get involved, and she offered her body in desperation.
• Chen Mu rejected A Sang’s offer, watched her collapse into tears, and looked toward the door with killing intent toward Lin Yao.

Chen Mu used Qiao Yuan’s identity to outmaneuver Lin Yao and prepare to leave Zhaerqian, but Jin Yin challenged him just as he was about to depart. Before the challenge could be resolved, Madam stepped forward with Dang Han and the bronze-masked man, drawing the crowd’s attention.

• Chen Mu told Lin Yao to pass his farewells to Mr. Zeng, claiming his contract with A Sang had ended and he had urgent business elsewhere.
• Chen Mu publicly praised Lin Yao for establishing a partnership with the Qiqi Trading Company, trapping her into following through on the announcement.
• A Sang thanked Chen Mu as he prepared to leave, but Jin Yin stepped forward and challenged Qiao Yuan.
• Chen Mu reminded Jin Yin that he had already lost to him, while Wen, Yuchi Bai, and the bronze-masked man predicted Jin Yin would not win.
• Madam walked out of the crowd with Dang Han and the bronze-masked man, and spectators turned their attention to her.

Chen Mu recognized the veiled madam as the woman who had killed his friend Yang An, but knew that attacking her would endanger his companions. He accepted her proposal to fight Jin Yin and Dang Han together, demanding a public kiss as his stake and agreeing to become her slave if he lost; as the battle approached, his fury began to ignite.

• The veiled madam challenged Qiao Yuan to fight Jin Yin and Dang Han at once, and the spectators urged him to accept.
• Chen Mu recognized the madam as the woman who had killed Yang An and struggled to restrain his desire for revenge.
• Chen Mu accepted the two-on-one fight and demanded that the madam kiss him in public if he won.
• The madam agreed, setting Chen Mu's enslavement as the price of losing, and ordered Dang Han to win or die.
• The bronze-masked man threatened Chen Mu, but Chen Mu remained composed as the crowd prepared for a deadly fight.
• The madam noticed a spark of fury in Chen Mu's previously lifeless eyes.

Chen Mu faced Jin Yin and Dang Han in a televised fight, unleashing the Bipolar Card to counter Dang Han’s attack while Jin Yin began a deadly Cloud Spike Burst. The chapter ended as Jin Yin plunged toward Chen Mu through the damaged energy-bead sphere.

• Chen Mu released his full Perception and battle intent, convincing Jin Yin and Dang Han that he was prepared to fight to the death.
• Wei'a refused Bu Mo’s request to help Chen Mu, saying Chen Mu wanted to fight.
• Jin Yin launched into the sky as Dang Han sent three energy starfish at Chen Mu, two of them streaking toward him.
• Chen Mu formed a ten-meter sphere of black and white beads with the Bipolar Card, prompting Lady Zhi Lian to recognize it as a card more advanced than Super [007].
• Dang Han’s two energy starfish collided with the beads and annihilated one another, leaving two holes in the sphere.
• Jin Yin executed Cloud Spike Burst and dove toward Chen Mu, locking his Perception onto him through the damaged sphere.

Chen Mu fought Jin Yin’s Sharp Cloud Burst with the Chess Cage Thousand Cuts and endured a lethal ambush from Dang Han. The chapter ended with Chen Mu gravely wounded but apparently killing Dang Han with a final strike.

• Chen Mu formed his remaining Energy Bead Spheres into a chess cage and unleashed Chess Cage Thousand Cuts against Jin Yin’s airflow attack.
• Jin Yin recoiled for an instant, letting Chen Mu shift the beams and strike him, then gave up his chance to escape and forced the airflow back together.
• Jin Yin continued charging through the beams until one cut his throat, and his airflow projectile collapsed after Chen Mu’s final beam sliced through it.
• The collapsing projectile blasted Chen Mu toward Dang Han, who ambushed him with an energy starfish and pierced him with three arms.
• Chen Mu twisted through the air toward Dang Han, and his right arm burst open as a thin line of blood appeared across Dang Han’s throat.

After defeating his opponents, Chen Mu lay badly wounded as spectators across the Federation urged him to stand. He rose, then summoned enough strength to call Madam Faya over and bite her lips.

• Bu Mo and spectators across the Federation shouted for Chen Mu to stand as he lay unconscious in a pool of blood.
• Chen Mu slowly rose to his feet, revealing severe wounds and a badly mangled right arm.
• After recovering some awareness, Chen Mu realized he had won and struggled to call Madam Faya over.
• Madam Faya approached Chen Mu and lifted the corner of her veil.
• Chen Mu pulled Madam Faya toward him and savagely bit her lips.

Chen Mu escaped Zha'erqian City with Wei'a, Sang Hanshui, and Bu Mo after Wen fled from the Training Room. Half a month later, Chen Mu was recovering in the snowy wilderness and learned that his fight had boosted his reputation, while Bagnell hinted at his new Black Line Star Ranking.

• Chen Mu reached the Training Room and disappeared inside, prompting Wen to attack, but Wen sensed a frightening presence and fled with Yuchi Bai.
• After half an hour with no sign of Qiao Yuan, A Sang entered the Training Room and found it empty.
• Wei'a revealed that he had taken Chen Mu, Sang Hanshui, and Bu Mo out through the sewer, and they had spent half a month crossing the wilderness; Chen Mu had been unconscious for seven days.
• Chen Mu used Thousand Miles to contact Bagnell, Xi Ping, and Su Liu Cherou, who checked on his recovery and teased him about kissing Madam Faya.
• Bagnell and Xi Ping told Chen Mu that Frostmoon Cold Isle had suffered a major loss, Zeng Yushan had fought Yuchi Bai to a draw, and Chen Mu had gained fame; Bagnell asked him to guess his new Black Line Star Ranking.

Chen Mu learned that he had risen to fiftieth on the Black Line Star Ranking, but he and his companions remained under threat from a powerful pursuer in the Jungle. Meanwhile, Xie Yanbai refused Madam Zhi Lian’s offer to become Zhongda Academy’s Academy Head.

• Bagnell told Chen Mu and the others that Chen Mu had reached fiftieth on the Black Line Star Ranking, drawing excitement from Sang Hanshui and Bu Mo.
• The ranking’s appraisal highlighted Chen Mu’s unknown card and his Advanced Uncard Flow Technique, renewing public interest in Uncard Flow.
• Wei'a sensed one expert following the group, and Chen Mu suspected the pursuer was the Bronze Mask Man.
• Chen Mu and his companions gathered their belongings and hurried onward while the pursuer kept a calculated distance, preventing them from relaxing.
• At Zhongda Academy’s secret contact point in the Capital, Xie Yanbai told Madam Zhi Lian he would not accept the Academy Head position while the Academy Head remained alive.

Xie Yanbai refused to become Zhongda Academy's head and set off alone for Tiandongli District, where Madam Zhi Lian asked him to find Qiao Yuan and the Bipolar Card. Meanwhile, Chen Mu's group reached Griffin City, where Chen Mu recovered, grew stronger, and trained with Wei'a as the green flower on his wrist became more vivid.

• Madam Zhi Lian tried to persuade Xie Yanbai to reconsider leading Zhongda Academy, but he firmly refused.
• Xie Yanbai decided to travel alone to Tiandongli District, and Madam Zhi Lian asked him to look for Qiao Yuan and possibly recover the Bipolar Card.
• Chen Mu and his masked companions entered Griffin City after the mysterious pursuer stopped following them near the city.
• Chen Mu rented a medical recovery unit and reflected on how his battle with Jin Yin had revealed a new approach to using his perception in combat.
• After seven days of recovery, Chen Mu found that his body and perception had improved, then sparred with Wei'a to adjust to his increased strength.
• Chen Mu continued training while the green flower on his wrist grew more vivid, increasing his dread.

Jia Yingxia crushed Faya’s foothold in Tiandongli District and turned Frostmoon Cold Isle’s summit into a major gathering of powerful factions. In East Rui City, Chen Mu’s group encountered an arrogant young lady, and Sang Hanshui’s released perception silenced the street as her protector stepped forward.

• Jia Yingxia ordered a forceful response to the Zhaerqian incident, and Bai Yue led Frostmoon Cold Isle’s pursuit of [Heavenly Pattern], leaving Wen and Yuchi Bai as its only survivors.
• Jia Yingxia drew more than twenty small alliances into Frostmoon Cold Isle, uprooted Faya’s covert outposts, and invited the top ten [Black Line Star Ranking] Card Adepts to a lavish summit.
• Chen Mu and his companions arrived in East Rui City and marveled at its wealth and the floating satellite city, Heart Garden.
• A young lady mocked Chen Mu’s group as country bumpkins and ordered her guards to remove their masks, but Sang Hanshui released his perception and terrified them.
• The middle-aged man stepped in front of the pale, trembling young lady and faced Sang Hanshui.

Chen Mu and his companions encountered Taishu Ying and her guards in East Rui City, then accepted her invitation to visit the Taishu Family. They left with Taishu Ying curious about Little Bu Mo, who obediently performed frog jumps at Wei'a’s command.

• Sang Hanshui overwhelmed the Taishu Family guards with his perception after Taishu Ying’s behavior provoked a confrontation.
• The middle-aged man apologized for Taishu Ying and revealed that he served the Taishu Family, whose head was Taishu Yong.
• Chen Mu recognized the family name and accepted Taishu Ying’s invitation to visit her household.
• Taishu Ying asked Chen Mu and Little Bu Mo their names, but neither responded as she hoped.
• Wei'a ordered Little Bu Mo to do frog jumps, and Taishu Ying watched him in a daze.

Taishu Ying brought Chen Mu and his masked companions to visit her father, Taishu Cheng, after introducing them to her friend Ling'er. Taishu Cheng welcomed them with rare tea and asked what had brought them there.

• Ling'er laughed at Bu Mo before apologizing to Chen Mu, then joined Taishu Ying and her guards on the way to Taishu Cheng's office.
• Chen Mu practiced using an Airflow Card to move slowly through the air, while the burly guard watched him and Bu Mo with interest.
• Taishu Ying and the others arrived at the president's office and found Taishu Cheng furious after smashing a cup.
• Taishu Ying introduced Chen Mu's group as powerful guests, prompting Taishu Cheng to apologize and serve them his treasured Fragrant Leaf.
• After tasting the tea, Taishu Cheng asked Chen Mu and the others what had brought them there.

Chen Mu sought an audience with Taishu Yong, but Taishu Cheng explained that family rules kept him from seeing his father for another month and a half. Taishu Cheng offered Chen Mu a chance to earn that audience by leading his guards to a top-four finish in the East Rui City Showdown, and Chen Mu began taking command.

• Taishu Cheng told Chen Mu that only the best-performing sons could meet Taishu Yong and that he could not guarantee an introduction before the next family gathering.
• Chen Mu refused to reveal his identity and asked Taishu Cheng how he could help him meet Taishu Yong.
• After Chen Mu criticized Taishu Cheng's guards, Taishu Cheng offered him full command of them for the East Rui City Showdown in exchange for placing in the top four.
• Chen Mu accepted on the condition that he chose the people and Taishu Cheng did not interfere.
• Taishu Cheng assigned An Qi to handle Chen Mu's needs and allowed Taishu Ying and Ling'er to accompany the group.
• After Chen Mu and the others left, Taishu Cheng worried that this year might be his last chance in the struggle to become family head.

Chen Mu took charge of Taishu Cheng’s neglected Card Adepts and enforced discipline at the training area. After Ma Hu challenged him, Chen Mu had Sang Hanshui break both of Ma Hu’s arms and ordered the late arrivals to complete fifty sets of training.

• Chen Mu learned that An Qi’s team had placed fifty-eighth in the last East Rui Showdown and heard Taishu Ying mock Ma Hu.
• At the deserted training area, Chen Mu ordered An Qi to assemble the Card Adepts within five minutes and told Sang Hanshui to prepare to subdue anyone who disobeyed.
• The Card Adepts arrived late, and Ma Hu swaggered in after twenty minutes, insulting Chen Mu and reaching for his mask.
• Chen Mu ordered Sang Hanshui to break Ma Hu’s arm, and Sang Hanshui struck both of Ma Hu’s arms, leaving him badly injured.
• Chen Mu knocked Ma Hu unconscious and ordered the Card Adepts to complete fifty sets of Grade B No. 115 Complete Tactical Training, with the last ten to finish losing dinner.
• Chen Mu told An Qi to get Ma Hu treated and assigned Taishu Ying to supervise the training; Jiang Ling followed her with the bodyguard.