Chapter Summaries

Bo Wen suspected Chen Mu’s strength had declined since their fight, while Chen Mu quietly studied his perception and sensed danger approaching. When Liduhong announced a group of Long-Legged Apes, Chen Mu tried to enter his breath-concealing state before they arrived.

• Bo Wen observed Chen Mu’s slow reactions and wondered whether his injuries had diminished his strength enough to make him a burden.
• Chen Mu examined the spiral spring structure of his perception and sensed Liduhong secretly scattering powder near the camp.
• Chen Mu detected a rapidly approaching group, and Liduhong identified them as Long-Legged Apes while hiding a flash of smugness.
• Chen Mu sensed that eight Long-Legged Apes would arrive in about a minute and began trying to enter his breath-concealing state.
• Bo Wen and Cheng Ying took to the air to prepare for battle, while Chen Mu remained motionless and the Long-Legged Apes closed in.

Chen Mu entered the breath-concealing state and threatened Liduhong as the group faced a pack of Long-Legged Apes. Bo Wen and Cheng Ying fought back, but the apes focused their Shaluo Discs on Bo Wen, injuring him and forcing him to withdraw his energy shield and launch himself into the air.

• Chen Mu succeeded in entering the breath-concealing state and flew beside Cheng Ying with precise control.
• Chen Mu warned Liduhong that he would kill him if he tried anything again, frightening the child into silence.
• The Long-Legged Apes attacked with Shaluo Discs, and Bo Wen killed one while Cheng Ying injured another.
• The remaining Long-Legged Apes concentrated their discs on Bo Wen, smashing through a tree and knocking him down with an injury.
• A black-furred Long-Legged Ape ordered another barrage at Bo Wen, and Bo Wen withdrew his energy shield and shot into the air.

Chen Mu saved Bo Wen from a fatal attack by killing a Long-Legged Ape with three Tail-Shedding Shuttles, then detected and pursued someone hiding in the jungle. Bo Wen and Cheng Ying examined the ape’s devastating wound and waited for Chen Mu to return.

• The Long-Legged Apes hurled Shaluo Disc fragments at Bo Wen while their Thousand-Swallow Wave Blades attacked them.
• A wounded pure-black Long-Legged Ape prepared to throw its Shaluo Disc at the nearly defenseless Bo Wen.
• Chen Mu fired three Tail-Shedding Shuttles into the ape’s right eye, killing it instantly.
• Chen Mu sensed someone hidden in the jungle, fired another shuttle toward them, and flew off in pursuit.
• Bo Wen and Cheng Ying saw that the shuttle had blasted away half the ape’s skull, and Bo Wen wondered whether Cross Night had developed a new technique.
• Cheng Ying confirmed that she had heard the hidden person’s grunt, while Bo Wen admitted he had failed to detect the ambush.

Chen Mu pursued an injured watcher through the jungle but could not catch him before the Breath-Concealing Method ended. Back at camp, Liduhong confessed that the watcher was his Third Brother, who remained at large.

• Chen Mu struck the hidden watcher with a Tail-Shedding Shuttle and chased him through the jungle, but the man's evasive movements kept him out of reach.
• Chen Mu abandoned the pursuit when he realized he could not catch the watcher before his breath-concealing state ended, then returned to camp and collapsed with severe side effects.
• Bo Wen demanded that Liduhong explain what had happened while Cheng Ying watched in silence.
• Liduhong confessed that the watcher was his Third Brother and claimed he was the best in the village at escaping.
• Chen Mu arrived and told Bo Wen and Cheng Ying that he had failed to catch the man, delighting Liduhong.

Bo Wen, Chen Mu, and Cheng Ying decided to head for the village with Liduhong rather than wait for its people to approach them. Chen Mu began modifying Cheng Ying’s Awn Rain card, preparing a fragrant liquid before opening his Weak Water pen set.

• Bo Wen explained that Liduhong’s village was powerful and potentially hostile, and Chen Mu and Bo Wen agreed to go there with the boy.
• Chen Mu asked to examine Cheng Ying’s Awn Rain card and decided he could modify it if they found the required materials.
• Cheng Ying supplied most of the materials, and Bo Wen contributed a piece of duo lian stone.
• Bo Wen carved a bluestone bowl, and Chen Mu heated the materials with Twin-Hook Beast blood until they became a clear, fragrant liquid.
• Chen Mu unfolded his Weak Water pen set beside the prepared liquid.

Chen Mu used the [Weak Water] pens and a precious fragrance to modify Cheng Ying's card, greatly enhancing its attacks. After Cheng Ying demonstrated its new abilities, the group saw that the card could fire a concentrated beam through multiple tree trunks and shatter granite with energy needles.

• Bo Wen watched Chen Mu prepare the fragrance, realizing that its formula could bring great wealth to the Ning Family.
• Chen Mu used the [Weak Water] pens and the fragrance to modify Cheng Ying's card.
• Cheng Ying tested the modified card and pierced fifteen tree trunks with a concentrated beam.
• Cheng Ying used the card again to unleash energy needles that shattered a granite boulder.
• Bo Wen inspected the fragments while Liduhong stared at Chen Mu with admiration.

Chen Mu, Bo Wen, and Cheng Ying reached Liduhong’s village, where the villagers confronted them with drawn energy blades. The village elder recognized Chen Mu as the expert who had injured Xiao San and abruptly welcomed the group inside.

• Bo Wen considered the potential profits from the spices while Liduhong guided the group through the Jungle to his village.
• At the village entrance, the elder ordered Wei'a to take Liduhong to his mother, but Bo Wen blocked him from taking the boy.
• Five young men drew energy blades as Bo Wen demanded assurances that the group would be safe.
• The elder identified Chen Mu as the expert Xiao San had mentioned and, after learning he had injured Xiao San, invited the group into the village.

Chen Mu inspected the village’s powerful defensive card machinery, then met Alfonso, its famed device maker. The elder proposed a contest between Alfonso and Chen Mu, leaving Liduhong ready to wager on Chen Mu’s victory.

• Chen Mu examined the village houses and recognized their roof spikes as machinery that generated defensive energy shields.
• Liduhong praised Chen Mu’s skill before the elder, who sent Wei'a to fetch Alfonso.
• Alfonso arrived, and the elder asked him to look after Chen Mu and exchange knowledge with him.
• The elder proposed that Chen Mu and Alfonso test model houses to compare their defenses and counterattacks, offering to settle the village’s past grievances if Chen Mu did well.
• Bo Wen urged Chen Mu to accept, and Liduhong offered to bet on Chen Mu while Anskor and Brid considered their stakes.

Chen Mu accepted a wager to compete in the village’s exchange and inspected Alfonso’s card machinery before deciding to rely on his card-crafting skills. He began studying the house model he had been given, considering how to build a protective device for the contest.

• Liduhong persuaded Anskor and Brid to wager their treasures, and they agreed while Brid warned Alfonso not to throw the match.
• Chen Mu accepted the exchange, and he and his companions settled into the village.
• Alfonso led Chen Mu to his cluttered home, offered him materials, and left him a model of a village house to study.
• Chen Mu examined Alfonso’s card machinery and reflected on its role and the villagers’ extensive use of it.
• Chen Mu decided to use his expertise in cards rather than attempt unfamiliar card machinery, then studied the model and thought about the protective devices on village houses.

Hungry and waiting for food, Chen Mu left Alfonso’s house and met Wei'a, who fed him and answered his questions about fighting and life outside the village. Brid summoned them to the Clan Leader’s welcome feast, where Chen Mu was astonished by the enormous assembly hall and suddenly drew in a sharp breath.

• Alfonso told Chen Mu that the Clan Leader was holding a welcome feast that night, so Chen Mu left to find food.
• Wei'a took Chen Mu to his crude home, roasted a deer leg, and gave it to him to eat.
• Chen Mu showed Wei'a his Tail-Shedding Shuttle and described Bo Wen’s Thousand-Swallow Wave Blades; Wei'a said he fought with strength and speed rather than card implements.
• Wei'a asked Chen Mu what the outside world was like and how many people there were stronger than him, and Chen Mu said there were plenty.
• Brid arrived to summon Chen Mu and Wei'a to the feast, and Chen Mu was astonished by the enormous assembly hall before suddenly drawing in a sharp breath.

Chen Mu and Bo Wen attended the village’s evening party, where the Clan Leader introduced them to its leaders and villagers. Bo Wen recognized the village’s immense wealth, and the gathering ended with someone asking whether Chen Mu was the guest who injured Xiao San.

• Wei'a led Chen Mu into the hall, where the villagers made way for him and the Clan Leader welcomed the guests.
• The Clan Leader introduced Ba Fu, Conrad, Kit, and Xiao San, who apologized for the misunderstanding that led to the earlier confrontation.
• Bo Wen accepted Xiao San’s apology on behalf of the group, while Xiao San remained uneasy around Chen Mu.
• Chen Mu sampled the village’s food and examined its card-machinery devices as Bo Wen noticed the expensive gemstones, metalwork, and zebra-stone flooring.
• A villager asked the Clan Leader whether Chen Mu was the guest who had injured Xiao San.

Colin challenged Chen Mu, but Cheng Ying volunteered to fight him in the Competition Arena and badly damaged his armor with her light-ball attack. Colin unexpectedly hurled his spear at Cheng Ying, leaving Bo Wen on his feet as villagers moved to surround him.

• Colin learned that Chen Mu had injured Xiao San and challenged him to a match, but Cheng Ying volunteered to fight first.
• The Clan Leader brought the group to the Competition Arena, where Chen Mu studied the arena's energy shield and card machinery.
• Cheng Ying and Colin took their positions, and Colin readied his arm shield and dark red light spear.
• Cheng Ying sent beams from her light balls converging into a dazzling blast that cracked Colin's metal arm ring and armor.
• Colin suddenly hurled his light spear at Cheng Ying, and Bo Wen rose as villagers moved to surround him.

Cheng Ying survived Colin’s dangerous Light Spear attack and won his concession, earning the villagers’ respect. The village leaders then asked Chen Mu to make Wrist Devices and cards, and he agreed to try.

• Cheng Ying used her [Green Ring] and Airflow Card to withstand Colin’s Light Spear until its energy ran out, forcing Colin to concede.
• Bo Wen and Chen Mu praised Cheng Ying, who thanked Chen Mu for modifying her card and received his encouragement.
• The Clan Leader and Elder Ba Fu asked Cheng Ying to guide the village’s young people, and she explained that her fighting techniques required Wrist Devices and cards.
• Conrad asked how the village could obtain the equipment, and Liduhong revealed that Chen Mu could make it.
• Chen Mu agreed to try making Wrist Devices and cards for the village, disappointing Bo Wen.

Chen Mu settled into a house stocked with materials and began planning how to craft cards, while Cheng Ying and Bo Wen trained the villagers. The chapter ended with Chen Mu opening the door to find the requested supplies had arrived, and abruptly waking up at the sight outside.

• The Clan Leader brought Chen Mu to his temporary residence, where Alfonso and Elder Ba Fu had gathered materials and equipment for him.
• Chen Mu inspected the storeroom and asked for gold-sprinkled grass or star-pattern leaves, with white banana leaves as a substitute, and the Clan Leader arranged to obtain a large quantity.
• Alfonso introduced the stored materials to Chen Mu, who recognized many of their names but struggled to identify unfamiliar items.
• Cheng Ying and Bo Wen began teaching the villagers to train their Perception, and Cheng Ying demonstrated flight maneuvers to the children.
• Cheng Ying told the children that Chen Mu could score eighty points in close-range evasive flight training at difficulty eighty, prompting a child to ask Bo Wen how he would score.
• After spending the night helping Alfonso make basic card-crafting instruments, Chen Mu opened the door to the arriving supplies and jolted awake at what he saw.

Chen Mu received a huge supply of rare card-making materials and recruited village children to help process them before they spoiled. As Alfonso helped him build a laboratory, Bo Wen grew increasingly frustrated watching Chen Mu gain influence in the village.

• Colin and nine men brought Chen Mu large bundles of gold-sprinkled grass and star-pattern leaf, which they mistook for thatching grass.
• Chen Mu realized the materials would spoil within five days, woke Alfonso, and asked him to find young helpers.
• Villagers rushed to Chen Mu’s house with their children, while Bo Wen became furious that many of his students were joining Chen Mu instead.
• Alfonso selected several dozen children to help process the materials, including Liduhong.
• Chen Mu and Alfonso continued building the laboratory, which took shape as the Chen Laboratory.

After two months in the village, Chen Mu learned about its advanced metalworking, taught the villagers card skills, and expanded his laboratory. Wei’a kept urging Chen Mu to learn his forgotten combat skills until Colin arrived with a summons from the Clan Leader.

• Chen Mu discovered that the Moqi village’s metalworking surpassed the Tianyou Federation’s, while its knowledge of cards remained limited.
• Chen Mu taught Alfonso and the village children card-making and Perception training, and Liduhong emerged as one of the fastest learners.
• Chen Mu expanded the Chen Laboratory and introduced practical one-star Energy, Lighting, and Heating Cards to the villagers.
• Wei’a repeatedly tried to persuade Chen Mu to learn his skills, but Chen Mu refused because he was focused on his research.
• Colin entered the laboratory and told Chen Mu that the Clan Leader wanted to see him.

Chen Mu and the village leaders learned that an unstable glue cloud layer could soon unleash vast, suffocating masses that absorbed energy, forcing the village to prepare for a dangerous migration. The Clan Leader ordered the people to move northwest and asked Chen Mu to help make weapons, leaving Chen Mu determined to find a practical way to protect them.

• Kit explained that falling glue cloud masses could suffocate living things and absorb energy, and Chen Mu demonstrated their effect by placing a One-Star Energy Card inside one.
• The Clan Leader said the village had only three to four months, according to uncertain records, before a large-scale glue cloud fall might occur.
• The Clan Leader decided to move the hundred thousand villagers northwest and assigned Ba Fu, Conrad, and Kit to organize the warriors, supplies, and families.
• The Clan Leader asked Chen Mu to pause his research and help Alfonso make weapons for the migration, and Chen Mu agreed.
• After learning that the village could not mass-produce advanced weapons, Chen Mu resolved to find a workable way to help the villagers survive.

Chen Mu dismantled Alfonso’s weapons and designed new components while the village prepared for the Gum Cloud Layer Disaster. After recovering from exhaustion, he found two hundred sets of parts ready, but the laboratory still did not know what they were for.

• Chen Mu had Alfonso dismantle the Cluster Cannon and other card machinery so they could study how it worked.
• Chen Mu spent days examining the machinery, then gave the laboratory drawings and collapsed asleep after ordering everyone to manufacture the parts.
• Cheng Ying told Bo Wen she believed the Gum Cloud Layer Disaster warning because she had witnessed two powerful Card Adepts die after flying too high.
• Chen Mu woke two days later and learned that the laboratory had completed two hundred sets of the components.
• Alfonso and the youths presented the finished parts to Chen Mu, who saw that they were waiting to learn what the components would do.

Chen Mu assembled an unconventional weapon that fired a fixed stream of powerful Wave Blades. The villagers, Alfonso, and the youngsters were left stunned by its destructive force.

• Chen Mu inspected the twenty-five metal parts and made an incomplete three-star Wave Blade card with a fixed, stable energy structure.
• Chen Mu assembled the parts into an ugly, heavy weapon, and Alfonso and the youngsters realized the components were meant for multiple weapons.
• Chen Mu carried the weapon outside to test it, followed by Alfonso and the others despite their embarrassment.
• Chen Mu pulled the weapon’s metal rod, unleashing a stream of deep-blue Wave Blades that struck the same spot on a large tree and stunned everyone watching.

Chen Mu and Alfonso refined Chen Mu’s weapon designs into the Blue Moon Gun and Small Cluster Cannon, while Chen Mu produced weapons for the village’s defenses. As the Gum Cloud Layer Disaster drew closer, the Clan Leader prepared the first group to leave, and Chen Mu began making Three-Star Energy Cards for the looming crisis.

• Alfonso redesigned Chen Mu’s weapon and named the lighter, more practical result the Blue Moon Gun; he also improved Chen Mu’s Small Cluster Cannon.
• The villagers admired Chen Mu’s designs, and many asked the village chief to let their children study under him.
• The Clan Leader showed Elder Ba Fu and the others a Blue Moon Gun, and they discussed its limited production because Chen Mu alone could make its core card.
• Chen Mu made cards with help from his students while Alfonso and villagers handled the other components; over twenty days, they produced eight hundred Blue Moon Guns and forty Small Cluster Cannons.
• As glue clouds became more active and a mass roughly ten meters wide fell from the sky, the Clan Leader ordered the first group to depart in five days.
• Chen Mu continued working and used his spare moments to make Three-Star Energy Cards for the crisis ahead.