Chapter Summaries

Young Xiao Yan struggled with memories of Earth and remained distant from his father, Xiao Zhan, who took him out to relax. On the ride through Wutan City, Xiao Yan recognized a bicycle and accidentally revealed a word from his former world, leaving Xiao Zhan suspicious.

• Xiao Yan remembered Earth and wished his ring could bring his mother back.
• Xiao Zhan watched over Xiao Yan, worried about his son's isolation and strange behavior.
• Xiao Zhan persuaded Xiao Yan to leave the estate and took him by carriage through Wutan City.
• Xiao Yan spotted a boy riding a bicycle and called it by its Earth name.
• Xiao Zhan questioned Xiao Yan about the unfamiliar word, but approaching shouts interrupted him.

Xiao Yan met a strange boy who rode a homemade bicycle and spoke his language, while Xiao Zhan learned the boy had appeared mysteriously in Wutan City. The chapter left Xiao Zhan weighing the boy’s unknown background against the possibility that he could become Xiao Yan’s first friend.

• The boy on the bicycle caught up with Xiao Yan’s carriage, and the two exchanged lines in Chinese before the boy excitedly asked whether Xiao Yan had transmigrated too.
• Older children attacked the boy for allegedly hurting Laifu, but he dodged their stones and escaped down an alley on his bicycle.
• Xiao Yan fell silent under Xiao Zhan’s scrutinizing gaze, and Xiao Zhan sent a guard to investigate the boy after they returned to the Xiao Clan estate.
• The guard reported that no one knew the boy’s name or origins and that he lived in a shack in Wutan City’s western slums, tinkered with scrap metal, and fought fiercely.
• Xiao Zhan considered keeping the mysterious boy away from Xiao Yan, but remembered how naturally Xiao Yan had responded to him and wondered if the boy could become his companion.

Xiao Yan grew increasingly preoccupied with Crazy Ghost and slipped out to find him, while Xun'er secretly followed and Ling Ying watched them both. Xiao Yan found Crazy Ghost in the western district, defiantly facing an angry crowd with a bucket of manure and a manure ladle.

• Xiao Zhan watched Crazy Ghost shout toward the Xiao Clan estate before the boy gave up on his bicycle and headed west.
• Xiao Yan kept thinking about Crazy Ghost, and Xun'er grew curious and jealous when he would not explain what was on his mind.
• Xiao Yan sneaked out of the Xiao Clan to find Crazy Ghost, and Xun'er followed him while Ling Ying covertly followed them both.
• Xiao Yan followed a commotion to a dilapidated alley and found Crazy Ghost arguing with locals who accused him of causing trouble.
• Crazy Ghost denied the accusations and brandished his manure bucket and ladle to keep the crowd at bay, leaving Xiao Yan stunned.

Crazy Ghost fought off the villagers with his dung ladle and bucket, turning the alley into a chaotic battle. As the villagers tried to demolish his shack, he unleashed a spinning bucket attack and drove them back.

• A villager tried to attack Crazy Ghost from behind, but Crazy Ghost splattered his face with filth.
• Crazy Ghost struck the burly leader with his dung ladle and used more filthy attacks to scatter the villagers.
• Xiao Yan watched the fight in shock, while Ling Ying moved behind Xun'er to protect her.
• The enraged villagers charged toward Crazy Ghost's shack, threatening to tear it down.
• Crazy Ghost spun his full bucket like a hammer, knocking down villagers and forcing the crowd to flee.

Crazy Ghost used the Whirlpool Swimming Dragon Hammer to rout the villagers with his spinning manure bucket, while Xiao Yan and Ling Ying got Xun'er to safety. Xun'er wondered whether the Gu Clan could recruit Crazy Ghost, but Ling Ying said only the clan elders could decide.

• Crazy Ghost turned the manure bucket into a fluid-linked meteor hammer and struck villagers with its unpredictable ranged attacks.
• The terrified villagers abandoned their weapons and fled, and Crazy Ghost taunted the stragglers as he recalled the bucket.
• Xiao Yan retreated from the alley, while Ling Ying escorted Xun'er to a safer place after the villagers were routed.
• Xun'er asked Ling Ying whether they could take Crazy Ghost back to the Gu Clan for his fertilizer-throwing skills.
• Ling Ying said Crazy Ghost's origins and methods were too unusual for him to decide whether to recruit him.

After repeatedly avoiding Crazy Ghost’s strange visits, Xiao Yan suddenly discovered that all his Dou Qi had vanished. Xiao Zhan and Xun'er tried to comfort him, but Xiao Yan withdrew from them, leaving his father worried about what awaited him.

• Crazy Ghost repeatedly visited the Xiao Clan estate to invite Xiao Yan out, and Xiao Yan hid from him each time.
• Xiao Zhan heard bizarre accounts of Crazy Ghost’s fight with the villagers and suspected the stories had been exaggerated.
• Xiao Yan found that his Dou Qi had completely disappeared despite repeated attempts to cultivate it.
• Xiao Zhan tried to reassure his devastated son, who sat silently and did not respond.
• Xun'er brought Xiao Yan porridge and offered comfort, but he coldly sent her away.
• Xiao Zhan worried about Xiao Yan’s future and realized his son needed loyal friends.

Xiao Zhan, worried that Xiao Yan’s despair had left him vulnerable, offered Crazy Ghost a place in the Xiao Clan as an adopted son in exchange for staying beside Xiao Yan. Crazy Ghost considered the offer while Xiao Yan remained withdrawn in his room.

• Crazy Ghost called for Xiao Yan to try his modified vehicle, but Xiao Yan did not react, deepening Xiao Zhan’s concern.
• Xiao Zhan approached Crazy Ghost and offered him a place with the Xiao Clan as an adopted son, along with shelter and cultivation resources, if he stayed by Xiao Yan’s side.
• Crazy Ghost questioned Xiao Zhan’s motives and muttered an unfamiliar phrase before asking if the offer was serious.
• Xiao Zhan said he would bring the adoption proposal to the clan meeting and warned Crazy Ghost not to use his disgraceful fighting methods again.
• After Xiao Zhan left, Crazy Ghost weighed the offer and the prospect of a stable home while Xiao Yan remained motionless in his room.

At the Xiao Clan council meeting, Xiao Zhan proposed adopting Crazy Ghost as a companion for Xiao Yan, drawing out the elders’ competing schemes. The clan approved the plan, and Xiao Zhan scheduled the adoption ceremony for seven days later.

• The Third Elder criticized the younger generation’s unstable cultivation, indirectly targeting Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Zhan proposed adopting Crazy Ghost so he could keep Xiao Yan company and cultivate alongside him.
• The Third Elder and other clan members voiced support while raising concerns about resources and considering how Crazy Ghost might serve their interests.
• Xiao Zhan decided to proceed with the adoption despite the elders’ hidden motives.
• Xiao Zhan ordered the First Elder to arrange the formalities for a ceremony seven days later.

Crazy Ghost completed the Xiao Clan’s adoption ceremony, passed the Dou Qi test at the fifth stage, and became Xiao Zhan’s adopted son, Xiao Yi. After receiving his new quarters, he secretly retrieved and hid his belongings, keeping his Bicycle close.

• Crazy Ghost completed an assessment and tested at the fifth stage of Dou Qi, a result that seemed to suit the Xiao Clan’s expectations.
• After bathing and changing, he recited the clan oath and was formally adopted by Xiao Zhan as Xiao Yi.
• An overseer gave Xiao Yi silver and a jade status token, then led him to a small courtyard on the compound’s outskirts.
• That night, Xiao Yi retrieved his Bicycle and two other treasures, hid the treasures in the privy, and parked the Bicycle beneath the eaves.

Xiao Yi visited Xiao Yan after becoming his adopted brother and discovered that Xun'er was deeply attached to him. After Xun'er described how Xiao Yan had secretly nourished her meridians at night when they were children, Xiao Yi slapped him and accused him of abusing a little girl.

• Xiao Yi found Xiao Yan exhausted in his courtyard and told him he had become Xiao Yan's adopted brother.
• Xun'er arrived with food, was surprised to see Xiao Yi, and insisted that she cared most about Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yi criticized Xun'er for frequently visiting Xiao Yan and mocked Xiao Yan's condition, prompting Xiao Yan to defend her.
• Xun'er explained that Xiao Yan had secretly used his Dou Qi to nourish her blocked meridians when she was little.
• Xiao Yi slapped Xiao Yan and shouted that he deserved a minimum of three years in prison, leaving Xiao Yan stunned and furious.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi got into a filthy brawl after Xiao Yi accused Xiao Yan of improper behavior with Xun'er. Ling Ying intervened and sent Xun'er back to her courtyard, leaving Xiao Yan to blame Xiao Yi and resume their fight.

• Xiao Yan attacked Xiao Yi, and the two wrestled through the courtyard until they were covered in mud.
• While they washed at the well, Xiao Yi accused Xiao Yan of behaving improperly with Xun'er, but Xun'er defended Xiao Yan.
• Ling Ying appeared and ordered Xun'er to return to her courtyard until Xiao Yan could prove his innocence.
• Xiao Yan blamed Xiao Yi for Xun'er being taken away and attacked him again, leading them to grapple and pull each other's hair.
• Xiao Yi struck Xiao Yan between the legs, and Xiao Yan retaliated by twisting Xiao Yi's chest; they continued trading insults without either giving in.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi set aside their quarrel when Xiao Ning and the Xiao Clan youths attacked them. Xiao Yan was quickly pinned down, while Xiao Yi held off several opponents with an unusual, fluid fighting style, leaving Xiao Ning and the others alarmed.

• Xiao Ning entered the courtyard with several Xiao Clan youths and mocked Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi before ordering his companions to attack.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi agreed to a temporary truce and stood back-to-back against the surrounding disciples.
• Xiao Yan charged Xiao Ning but missed, and three youths restrained him on the ground.
• Xiao Yi evaded and redirected the attacks of four or five disciples, countering with precise, light strikes.
• Xiao Yan watched Xiao Yi fight with surprise, while Xiao Ning's expression darkened as his group struggled to overcome the newcomer.

Xiao Yi used his Chain-Rebound Force to defeat Xiao Ning and the other Xiao Clan youths, freeing Xiao Yan from their grip. After the youths fled to fetch an elder, Xiao Yi and Xiao Yan discovered their dou qi had vanished, just as an angry group arrived outside the courtyard.

• Xiao Yi bounced through the attackers, struck Xiao Ning, forced him to his knees, and knocked away the youths pinning Xiao Yan down.
• The remaining Xiao Clan youths fled to find an elder while Xiao Yan asked Xiao Yi about his fighting style, which Xiao Yi called Pinball Force or Chain-Rebound Force.
• Xiao Yi discovered his fifth-stage dou qi had disappeared, and Xiao Yan found his own dantian empty as well.
• The attackers returned with the Third Elder and accused Xiao Yi and Xiao Yan of injuring them.

The Third Elder arrived after Xiao Ning accused Xiao Yi and Xiao Yan of attacking him, but Xiao Yi turned the accusation around with a clever invented story. The elder remained unsure whom to believe and condemned the pair as sharp-tongued brats.

• The Third Elder and several stewards entered Xiao Yan's courtyard, where Xiao Ning accused Xiao Yi and Xiao Yan of beating and humiliating his group.
• Xiao Yi and Xiao Yan told the Third Elder that Xiao Ning's group had intruded and started the trouble.
• When the Third Elder said the pair had gone too far, Xiao Yi claimed they had never fought anyone.
• Xiao Yi argued that Xiao Ning's group had injured themselves and fabricated the accusation to get Xiao Yi driven away, while Xiao Yan backed up his story.
• The Third Elder struggled to judge the conflicting accounts and called Xiao Yi and Xiao Yan sharp-tongued brats.

After Xiao Yi helped Xiao Yan fend off Xiao Ning’s group, Xiao Zhan brought the family physician to examine Xiao Yan and heard what had happened. Xiao Yan remembered that his father had arranged for Xiao Yi to be his companion, accepted the decision with less resistance, and the physician finished taking his pulse.

• The Third Elder found no evidence against Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi, ordered everyone to disperse, and left with Xiao Ning’s group.
• Xiao Yi teased Xiao Yan, then left the courtyard before Xiao Zhan arrived.
• Xiao Zhan came with the family physician, who examined Xiao Yan while Xiao Yan described the fight and Xiao Yi’s defense before the Third Elder.
• Xiao Zhan laughed at Xiao Yi’s actions and reminded Xiao Yan that he had agreed to have a companion, prompting Xiao Yan to recall his father’s earlier concern.
• Xiao Yan acknowledged that he had not listened to his father back then and accepted that Xiao Yi would stay; the physician then released his wrist and opened his eyes.

Xiao Yan learned that his Dantian remained empty, while Xiao Yi discovered that his own Dou Qi had vanished and began preparing to use Daoist arts instead. Xiao Yi gathered substitute materials in Wutan City and stopped at a flatbread stall when hunger struck.

• The physician told Xiao Zhan that Xiao Yan's body was healthy but his Dantian was still empty, and Xiao Zhan encouraged his son to remain hopeful.
• Xiao Yi tried to circulate his Dou Qi, discovered his Dantian was empty, and suspected Xiao Yan might be involved.
• Xiao Yi collected his money, rode his Bicycle out of the Xiao Clan estate, and considered using his Daoist training to compensate for losing Dou Qi.
• Xiao Yi bought Black Rock Lizard blood, red mineral powder, and special grass paper from wary stallholders at low prices.
• Xiao Yi finished shopping, felt hungry, and spotted a roadside flatbread stall.

Xiao Yi gathered materials and built strange ritual tools as he searched for another way to regain power after his Dou Qi vanished. He suspected Xiao Yan or the ring near him was responsible, while Ling Ying secretly watched Xiao Yi’s preparations with growing confusion.

• Xiao Yi bought a cross pendant and fragrant wood, hoping to try religious rituals and meditation as alternatives to cultivating Dou Qi.
• Xiao Yi returned to his courtyard, sorted his materials, and began carving beads while recalling that his Dou Qi seemed to be drained whenever he approached Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yi wondered whether Xiao Yan or his seemingly ordinary ring was connected to the disappearance of his Dou Qi.
• Ling Ying secretly observed Xiao Yi assembling a wheeled ritual altar and preparing unusual battle robes.

Xiao Yi staged an exorcism to drive out the ghost he believed was stealing Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi, but his improvised attack struck Xiao Yan’s Black Ring and forced an ancient translucent old man to appear. Xiao Yi, Xiao Yan, and Ling Ying were left stunned by the revelation.

• Xiao Yi broke into Xiao Yan’s courtyard at night and prepared his makeshift ritual implements for an exorcism.
• Xiao Yi woke Xiao Yan with burning Talismans, a bell, and a chaotic invocation, then chased him around the courtyard.
• Xiao Yi struck Xiao Yan with a Cross, scattered prayer beads under his feet, and spat a mixture of blood and ore powder into his face.
• Xiao Yi leaped at Xiao Yan with a burning Talisman on his Peachwood Sword, and Xiao Yan blocked it with the Black Ring.
• The Black Ring burst with white light and expelled an ancient translucent old man, shocking Xiao Yi, Xiao Yan, and Ling Ying.

Xiao Yi knocked Yao Chen’s soul out of the ring while trying to exorcise Xiao Yan, then claimed his bizarre attack had driven away an unclean spirit. Xiao Yan accused Xiao Yi of beating him, leaving the Second Elder to judge the dispute as the clan members gathered around them.

• Xiao Yi’s attack dazed Yao Chen, and Ling Ying recognized the soul as the legendary Yao Chen before hiding again to protect Xun’er.
• Xun’er rushed toward Xiao Yan’s courtyard, but Ling Ying led her away as Yao Chen returned to the ring and Xiao Clan members entered the courtyard.
• The clan members found Xiao Yan bruised and covered in foul-smelling liquid, while Xiao Yi stood among strange exorcism props.
• Xiao Yi told the Second Elder that he had used his Unmatched Chinese-Western Demon-Exorcism Method to drive an unclean thing from Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan protested that Xiao Yi had attacked him and demanded that the Second Elder deliver justice.

Xiao Yi faced accusations of attacking Xiao Yan and attempting dark sorcery after his failed exorcism, while Xiao Yan played the victim. The Second Elder ordered both of them taken into custody until the truth could be uncovered.

• The Xiao Clan members blamed Xiao Yi for beating Xiao Yan and speculated that he had tried to kill him to take his place.
• Xiao Yi tried to explain that he had been driving out an apparition, but the crowd dismissed his account because they had not seen one.
• Xiao Yan encouraged sympathy by presenting himself as a wronged victim, making the crowd more hostile toward Xiao Yi.
• The clansmen suspected Xiao Yi had used dark sorcery to possess Xiao Yan, and an old woman suggested their souls might have switched bodies.
• The Second Elder stopped the speculation and ordered guards to take both Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi into custody.
• Xiao Yan protested that he was the victim, but the Second Elder's order stood.