Chapter Summaries

Tang Wangong resolved to resist Chu Xiaoang’s pressure as Qin Siyang began negotiating over the Titan Reed Inner Leaf Fragments. Qin Siyang refused to reveal the real fragments and left Tang Wangong and Chu Xiaoang to inspect a numbered photograph while Chu Baxing watched him.

• Tang Wangong concluded that Chu Xiaoang had driven up the Thunder Snow Wolf materials to limit the Administration Department’s ability to bid for the Titan Reed Inner Leaf Fragments, and decided to push back.
• Qin Siyang spread out a life-size photograph of the Titan Reed Inner Leaf Fragments instead of taking the actual materials from his Storage Box.
• Qin Siyang warned Chu Xiaoang that Chu Baxing’s apparent interest in the Storage Box made him fear he might be attacked if he showed the fragments.
• Chu Xiaoang glared at Chu Baxing, who stopped watching the Storage Box so intently and settled back into the sofa.
• Qin Siyang presented a numbered photograph of all thirty-one fragments, and Tang Wangong and Chu Xiaoang stood to study them while Chu Baxing watched Qin Siyang.

Chu Xiaoang scolded Chu Baxing for nearly ruining their plan to obtain the Titan Reed Inner Leaf Fragment, which they needed to save Zheng. In private, Tang Wangong told Qin Siyang he would help raise the price against Chu Xiaoang in retaliation for Chu Xiaoang doing the same to him.

• Tang Wangong invited Qin Siyang to speak privately, claiming Gu Weiyang had authorized special terms for the Titan Reed Inner Leaf Fragment.
• Chu Xiaoang revealed that he had intended to steal the Storage Box and criticized Chu Baxing for making his intentions obvious and acting without consulting him.
• Chu Xiaoang warned Chu Baxing that Zheng might die if they failed to bring back the fragment, and Chu Baxing admitted he was wrong.
• Tang Wangong told Qin Siyang that Chu Xiaoang had likely planned to snatch the real fragment and explained that Chu Xiaoang’s actions had angered him.
• Tang Wangong offered to help Qin Siyang drive up the price against Chu Xiaoang.

Qin Siyang offered Tang Wangong additional titan reed inner leaf fragments and learned why Tang could not award him enough points to compete with Chu Xiaoang. Tang agreed to seek approval for a high-reward Corrosive Black Centipede mission, then revealed that the military could set its own point rewards through missions.

• Qin Siyang offered Tang Wangong extra titan reed inner leaf fragments in a private deal and planned to transfer them through Li Tianming.
• Tang Wangong explained that public scrutiny and the lack of a preexisting Thunder Snow Wolf hunting mission prevented him from awarding Qin Siyang enough points to take first place among Nanrong University's freshmen.
• Qin Siyang asked Tang Wangong to apply for a high-reward mission to hunt a Corrosive Black Centipede, and Tang agreed.
• Tang Wangong said he would help raise the price of the titan reed fragments for Chu Xiaoang, then revealed that the military could set its own point rewards through mission applications.

Tang Wangong explained the Military’s point-awarding privileges and the compromise behind them, then persuaded Qin Siyang to lower the price of the Thunder Snow Wolf remains. Back in the conference room, Chu Xiaoang offered fifty thousand points, ten thousand Sequence Potions, and ten Gold Coins for the titan reed fragments, leaving Qin Siyang confused when Tang Wangong signaled him to lower the price further.

• Tang Wangong told Qin Siyang that the Military could distribute mission points freely because the United Government had made a compromise with its semi-autonomous forces.
• Tang Wangong asked Qin Siyang to reduce the Thunder Snow Wolf remains’ price by twenty thousand points, promising to compensate him through the Corrosive Black Centipede mission and Chu Xiaoang’s offer.
• Qin Siyang handed Tang Wangong the Storage Box containing the Thunder Snow Wolf remains and let him decide how many points to award.
• Qin Siyang and Tang Wangong returned to the conference room, where Chu Xiaoang offered fifty thousand points, ten thousand Sequence Potions, and ten Gold Coins for all the titan reed inner leaf fragments.
• Qin Siyang nearly accepted Chu Xiaoang’s offer, but Tang Wangong subtly signaled him to lower the price.

Qin Siyang realized Chu Xiaoang’s extravagant offer for the Titan Reed Inner Leaf Fragments could be a setup to accuse him of extorting military supplies and have him executed. He refused to trade and confronted Chu Xiaoang, ending by revealing that he knew the commander needed the fragments to save someone important.

• Tang Wangong explained that Chu Xiaoang’s offer would cost the Chu Character Legion more than half a year of mission resources and a year of pay for thousands of junior officers.
• Qin Siyang suspected Chu Xiaoang intended to use the deal to frame him for extorting military supplies, a crime punishable by death.
• Qin Siyang asked Chu Xiaoang to lower the offer, but Chu Xiaoang insisted on keeping it unchanged.
• Qin Siyang accused Chu Xiaoang of wanting his life, then declared that he would not sell the Titan Reed Inner Leaf Fragments.
• Chu Xiaoang threatened Qin Siyang, who stood his ground and said the commander needed the fragments to save someone important.

Qin Siyang negotiated with Chu Xiaoang over the titan reed fragment, securing fifty thousand points while refusing other compensation. He and Chu Baxing also wagered a Tier-Four God-Hunting Artifact on who would earn more points before school started.

• Chu Xiaoang conceded to negotiate after Qin Siyang stood his ground, and Qin Siyang kept his demand for fifty thousand points.
• Chu Baxing agreed not to use Legion points missions and wagered a Tier-Four God-Hunting Artifact against Qin Siyang.
• Tang Wangong realized Qin Siyang had arranged a Corrosive Black Centipede mission that could give him over a hundred thousand points.
• Qin Siyang asked for Sequence Potions, money, God Remains, God-Hunting Artifacts, and yellow-silver star ore, but Chu Xiaoang could not offer what he wanted.
• Qin Siyang dropped his other demands and agreed to accept only the fifty thousand points to secure his survival.

Qin Siyang concluded his deal with Chu Xiaoang, receiving a hundred silver coins for the Storage Box after handing over the titan reed inner leaf fragment. After Chu Xiaoang left, he and Tang Wangong discussed how Qin Siyang had recognized and avoided Chu Xiaoang’s trap.

• Qin Siyang gave Chu Xiaoang the Storage Box and its contents, and Chu Xiaoang had Chu Baxing transfer him a hundred silver coins for the box.
• Chu Xiaoang left with Chu Baxing and explained that Tang Wangong had warned Qin Siyang about his plan to frame him for extorting military supplies.
• Chu Xiaoang realized that Chu Baxing might lose their bet and have to give Qin Siyang a tier-four God-Hunting weapon when school began.
• Tang Wangong praised Qin Siyang for recognizing the trap, and Qin Siyang credited Tang Wangong’s warning and said he had studied law out of boredom.

Qin Siyang finished negotiating with Tang Wangong, who warned him that talented people often died before they could grow. After a female supervisor tried to assassinate him with a shadow skill, Qin Siyang escaped her restraint and struck back.

• Tang Wangong warned Qin Siyang to stay alert and said the Corrosive Black Centipede mission would be posted after the Crimson Crystal meeting.
• Tang Wangong explained that Qian Wendao would represent the Administration Department and chair the Crimson Crystal meeting.
• After Tang Wangong left, Qin Siyang rested in the conference room while the female supervisor tidied the table.
• The female supervisor used a shadow to bind Qin Siyang and drew his God-Hunting Dagger to kill him.
• Qin Siyang activated [Feast Domain] and [Violence], vanished from the shadow’s grasp, and punched the female supervisor into the wall.

Qin Siyang killed Sun Yaru after she tried to assassinate him, but her head exploded after her death, preventing anyone from reading her memories. Zhao Longfei recognized the act as evidence that a powerful enemy had targeted Qin Siyang on Zhao Family territory.

• Qin Siyang crippled Sun Yaru with rapid punches and killed her with a kick before she could reveal who had sent her.
• Qin Siyang realized Sun Yaru's head had exploded, seemingly to stop someone from examining her memories.
• Zhao Longfei entered, proved his identity to Qin Siyang, and learned that the corpse belonged to Sun Yaru, the supervisor of the Black Market at the Soaring Construction Site.
• Qin Siyang explained that Sun Yaru had tried to slit his throat after his negotiations ended and that her head exploded on its own after she died.
• Zhao Longfei concluded that whoever wanted Qin Siyang dead was powerful and declared that no minor player would dare act on Zhao Family territory.

After Sun Yaru's failed assassination attempt, Qin Siyang and Zhao Longfei investigated who might have sent her and why. Zhao Longfei's brother suggested the attempt could be connected to a Vine Heart acquired by the Three Major Merchants' Associations for an upcoming High-Level Trade Fair.

• Qin Siyang ruled out several possible enemies, including the World Salvation Church and Xiao Zhigang, as likely suspects behind Sun Yaru's attack.
• Zhao Longfei explained that Sun Yaru had worked for the Zhao Family for three years and had recently managed the underground market in Area No. 9.
• Qin Siyang and Zhao Longfei reasoned that Sun Yaru had been a mole targeting the Zhao Family, and that killing Qin Siyang must have offered someone a major benefit.
• Zhao Longfei called his elder brother to report Sun Yaru's assassination attempt and ask for his thoughts.
• Zhao Longfei told Qin Siyang that the Three Major Merchants' Associations had acquired a Vine Heart and planned a High-Level Trade Fair in the middle of the year.

Zhao Longfei explained that Qin Siyang’s larger Vine Heart had disrupted the Three Major Merchants’ Associations’ plans, but their real motive to kill him was the Zhao Family’s attempt to establish a rival merchants’ association. He revealed that Qin Siyang’s rare materials had become the new association’s signature treasures.

• Zhao Longfei explained that Qin Siyang’s Vine Heart had weakened the scarcity and value of the Three Major Merchants’ Associations’ Vine Heart, though the financial losses were temporary.
• Qin Siyang questioned Zhao Longfei about barter, rare materials, and why money and Sequence Potions could not serve as currency.
• Zhao Longfei said the Three Major Merchants’ Associations wanted Qin Siyang dead because the Zhao Family had announced plans to establish a merchants’ association.
• Zhao Longfei described the Zhao Family’s backing and resources for the new association, including the Vine Heart, Crimson Crystal, and titan reed.
• Qin Siyang realized those signature treasures were materials he had given Zhao Longfei, and Zhao Longfei insisted that even small fragments were exceptionally rare.

Qin Siyang confronted Zhao Longfei about the danger of the Three Major Merchants' Associations targeting him to undermine the Zhao Merchants' Association. Zhao proposed using Qin's rare materials to build the association's credibility without a Sharing Contract, and Qin considered the arrangement acceptable.

• Qin Siyang warned Zhao Longfei that the association's centerpiece treasures made him a target for assassination and demanded a solution.
• Zhao Longfei refused to abandon the association's plans and proposed using Qin's entire Crimson Crystal to boost its reputation.
• Qin Siyang suspected Zhao's family had arranged Sun Yaru's assassination to obtain the Crimson Crystal, but Zhao denied it.
• Zhao Longfei suggested depositing Qin's other rare materials with the association as proof of its credibility, without sharing a contract.
• Qin Siyang considered the deposit proposal because it could protect his ownership and help keep the Three Major Merchants' Associations from targeting him.

Qin Siyang offered his remaining Crimson Crystals to help Zhao Longfei establish the Zhao Merchants' Association, then negotiated for a leadership role in return. Zhao Longfei agreed to discuss Qin Siyang's demand for a vice-chairmanship and board seat with his brother.

• Qin Siyang offered his four remaining Crimson Crystals as proof of the Zhao Family Merchants' Association's credibility.
• Zhao Longfei was astonished that Qin Siyang had so many Crimson Crystals and asked when he would hand them over.
• Qin Siyang demanded compensation for supporting the association and proposed becoming its chairman.
• Zhao Longfei refused to make Qin Siyang chairman, insisting that Sifang would hold the position.
• Qin Siyang asked to become vice chairman and a board member with decision-making power and a share of the profits.
• Zhao Longfei agreed to discuss Qin Siyang's terms with his brother, while Qin Siyang insisted they were his bottom line.

Qin Siyang secured a vice president position in the Zhao Merchants' Association by offering four Crimson Crystals, and Zhao Longfei told him the association would be founded the following Tuesday. After returning to the hotel, Qin Siyang called Wen Shu, whose conversation revealed tension with a man who urged her to help with a matter tied to their shared past.

• Zhao Longfei called Zhao Longteng, who readily agreed to make Qin Siyang a vice president and board member of the Zhao Merchants' Association in exchange for four Crimson Crystals.
• Zhao Longteng scolded Zhao Sifang and joked that he would marry him off to Qin Siyang if he were a girl.
• Zhao Longfei told Qin Siyang about the upcoming Crimson Crystal meeting and the association's founding ceremony, then drove him back to the hotel.
• Qin Siyang rested at the hotel and called Wen Shu to ask how she was doing and whether her Gaokao preparations were going smoothly.
• A man teased Wen Shu about Qin Siyang and reminded her of their shared past, but Wen Shu said she never wanted to think about it again and he insisted she help him.

After Qin Siyang received points for his Thunder Snow Wolf remains and the Chu Character Legion mission, he took first place among Nanrong University's incoming students, drawing widespread praise on the forums. As his fan club's leaders quietly celebrated his success, Qin Siyang prepared to attend the Zhao Merchants' Association founding ceremony.

• Qin Siyang received ninety thousand points from Chu Xiaoang and Tang Wangong, bringing his total to 102,388 and putting him first among Nanrong University's incoming students.
• Forum users learned that Qin Siyang had earned points by completing a legion mission and handing over a titan reed inner leaf fragment from the Thunder Snow Wolf, and they praised his strength.
• Zhao Longfei left the Qin Siyang Fan Club under his Jade-Faced Little Flying Dragon account, while the club's leaders privately discussed their relief and happiness at Qin Siyang's success.
• Zhao Sifang took Qin Siyang to Xuanxuan Clothing Store to buy a suit for the Zhao Merchants' Association founding ceremony and told him he was a fan club member.
• Qin Siyang reviewed the association's young leadership and waited for the ceremony to begin.

After the Crimson Crystal meeting, Qin Siyang revealed that he was vice president of the Zhao Merchants' Association. He invited Li Tianming and the others to attend its founding ceremony, where they hoped to learn why he had been given the position.

• Qin Siyang stayed at the hotel while Zhao Longfei and the others spent the day negotiating the Crimson Crystal allocation.
• Zhao Longfei and the professors returned exhausted, discussed the tense negotiations, and agreed that the Crimson Crystal share and promised support were acceptable.
• Li Tianming invited Zhao Longfei to a celebratory dinner, but Zhao Longfei said he and Qin Siyang had to attend the Zhao Merchants' Association ceremony.
• Qin Siyang revealed that he was the association's vice president and a member of its Board of Directors, surprising Li Tianming and the others.
• Zhao Longfei suggested the group attend the ceremony to learn more, and Qin Siyang offered to bring them along without invitations.

Li Tianming, Qin Siyang, and their companions attended the Zhao Merchants' Association founding ceremony, where Qin Siyang took his place as vice president despite feeling out of place among the powerful families. Gu Yunpeng opened the ceremony and introduced Gu Weirong to give the opening address.

• Li Tianming and Qin Siyang arrived at the association hall, where Zhao Sifang, Gu Yunpeng, and Zhao Longfei welcomed guests.
• Li Tianming and Zhao Longfei reassured Qin Siyang that his different background would not keep him from belonging, and Qin Siyang promised not to disrupt the ceremony.
• Gu Weirong invited Qin Siyang and Zhao Longfei to the stage, where Qin Siyang initially stood at the end of the board of directors.
• Zhao Sifang called Qin Siyang to stand beside him, drawing the audience's attention and leaving Qin Siyang embarrassed by their comparisons.
• Gu Yunpeng announced the ceremony's start and introduced Gu Weirong to deliver the opening address.

At the Zhao Merchants' Association's founding ceremony, Zhao Longfei predicted that rivals would challenge Zhao Sifang, and Hua Weicai of the Lotus Cloud Merchants' Association interrupted Sifang's speech to question the new association's strength. Hua displayed three complete treasures from his association and demanded that Sifang compare them with the Zhao association's incomplete prized materials.

• Qin Siyang asked Zhao Longfei whether anyone would disrupt the ceremony, and Zhao predicted that Zhao Sifang would face trouble.
• Zhao Longfei delivered his speech without interruption, then warned Qin Siyang that the rivals would target Sifang instead.
• Hua Weicai interrupted Zhao Sifang's address and criticized the Zhao Merchants' Association for possessing only fragments of its three prized materials.
• Zhao Sifang asked whether Hua spoke for himself or the Lotus Cloud Merchants' Association, and Hua claimed his association could produce all three materials.
• Hua's attendants opened cases containing a whole Vine Heart, a Crimson Crystal, and a complete middle leaf of titan reed, leaving Zhao Sifang to answer Hua's challenge.

At the Zhao Merchants' Association's founding ceremony, Zhao Sifang revealed four Crimson Crystals entrusted to the association, stunning the guests and silencing Hua Weicai's challenge. Hua Weicai refused to back down and attacked Qin Siyang's qualifications, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Zhao Sifang presented four Crimson Crystals as proof that their owners trusted the newly founded Zhao Merchants' Association.
• Hua Weicai questioned the value of the crystals because they did not belong to the association, but Zhao Sifang challenged him to name anyone who had entrusted Crimson Crystals to the Lotus Cloud Merchants' Association.
• Hua Chengliang recognized the danger of antagonizing the forces behind the four crystals and signaled Hua Weicai to stop.
• Hua Weicai ignored Hua Chengliang because he needed a major achievement to advance in the Lotus Cloud Merchants' Association's succession struggle.
• Hua Weicai called the Zhao Merchants' Association a makeshift outfit and questioned why Qin Siyang, an orphan from the Safe Zone's fringes, deserved to be vice president.

Hua Weicai and Hua Chengliang challenged Qin Siyang’s appointment as vice president of the Zhao Merchants' Association, prompting Qin Siyang to take the microphone and answer his critics. He borrowed Lu Daoxing’s bird-shaped Lie Detector, leaving the crowd waiting to see what he would do with it.

• Hua Weicai criticized the Zhao Merchants' Association for appointing the inexperienced Qin Siyang as vice president, and Zhao Sifang defended the decision by pointing to Hua Chengliang’s own unlikely rise.
• Hua Weicai continued attacking the association, while Hua Chengliang privately resolved to punish his grandson but publicly supported him.
• Hua Chengliang questioned whether Qin Siyang’s god-hunting talent qualified him to lead a merchants' association, and Georgia Warren and Jiang Changqing urged Qin Siyang to respond.
• Qin Siyang accepted the microphone from Zhao Sifang and asked Lu Daoxing to lend him the bird-shaped Lie Detector.
• Lu Daoxing released the bird-shaped Lie Detector, and it flew onto Qin Siyang’s shoulder.