Chapter Summaries

Stelle struggled through Herta’s Simulated Universe events about Xian Zhiyu’s followers, where every choice led to her team’s near-destruction, then tried an old game Silver Wolf recommended. The chapter ended with Stelle creating a race called “Stellaron” and immediately dying because the Empire had no Stellarons.

• Stelle entered the Simulated Universe and repeatedly encountered portraits of Xian Zhiyu’s followers, but every choice caused her team to lose 99% of its HP.
• Herta explained that the correct choices could earn generous rewards, while Stelle gave up after encountering a fourth follower whose options both killed her.
• Stelle complained to the Astral Express crew about the events and later told Silver Wolf what had happened.
• Silver Wolf introduced Stelle to an obscure, eight-hundred-year-old game called Empire Simulator and sent her an installation package.
• Stelle created a race called “Stellaron” without reading the options, and the game immediately declared her dead because the Empire had no Stellarons.

Stelle played Empire Simulator, repeatedly dying before earning a powerful talent and reaching a story about an eccentric emperor who indulged his subordinates. Dan Heng joined her game on the Astral Express, then messaged Xianyu, who planned an extravagant welcome for his return to the Luofu.

• Stelle tried several species and builds in Empire Simulator, dying in various ways before earning an SSR talent that granted fifty extra stat points.
• Stelle’s character survived long enough to meet the emperor, who warmly indulged strange behavior from his subordinates, and Stelle saved her progress after causing trouble at a gathering.
• On the Astral Express, Stelle handed the timed game to Dan Heng, who played through a full day of story with her.
• Dan Heng messaged Xianyu and said he might return to the Luofu around the Thanksgiving Festival; Xianyu promised him a grand welcome banquet.
• Xianyu planned to welcome Dan Heng with sixty-four Servers after Yingxing argued him down from inviting one hundred and twenty-eight, while Jing Yuan realized Yingxing had been manipulated.

Jing Yuan teased Xianyu for telling Yanqing a false story about how he and Jingliu fell in love, prompting Jingliu to make Xianyu court her again. The couple resumed their playful romance, while the chapter ended with Stelle telling Dan Heng that she had died after trying to assassinate the Emperor in a game.

• Yanqing asked Jing Yuan about Jingliu and Xianyu's relationship, and Jing Yuan confirmed that Jingliu had pursued Xianyu.
• Jing Yuan messaged Jingliu that Xianyu had claimed he fell for her at first sight and pursued her for centuries.
• Jingliu confronted Xianyu, and he agreed to court her again, beginning with cooking her instant noodles.
• Jingliu declared that she was courting Xianyu, and Xianyu asked what they were; Jingliu called them the pursuer and the pursued.
• Baiheng, Jing Yuan, Yingxing, and Dan Heng puzzled over why Xianyu was courting Jingliu again during a video call.
• Stelle arrived at the Archive and told Dan Heng that the Emperor had killed her when she tried to assassinate him.

Dan Heng guided Stelle through the game’s branching assassination plot, uncovering its tangled relationships between the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and an Aeon. After several failed assassination attempts, Stelle chose to frame the Crown Prince, and the Aeon succeeded.

• Dan Heng loaded Stelle’s save and chose to run away, causing her character to die as the Crown Prince returned and confronted the Emperor.
• Dan Heng used an earlier save to drive a wedge between two colleagues, then helped the character win one colleague over by saying the Emperor brought humanity peace and joy.
• Stelle followed the Eldest Prince’s instructions, caught colleagues sneaking around, and used the evidence to enter their social circles while Dan Heng messaged Xianyu.
• Stelle and Dan Heng watched the Emperor recognize the character as a god and invite her to help bring humanity joy, after which Stelle died by answering that the Aeons’ inaction was not a sin.
• Stelle tried assassinating the Emperor using a borrowed body and the Eldest Prince’s identity, but both attempts failed; Dan Heng then clicked the Crown Prince option, and the Aeon succeeded.

Stelle and Dan Heng struggled through a bleak game about Xianyu’s death and funeral, then explored a new planet while Jing Yuan and Xianyu set a trap for the Reignbow Arbiter Faithful. Xianyu found the beings he sought in a world without Higher-Dimensional Invaders, where Pom-Pom’s confused questions left an injured man devastated by the loss of his memories of Eric.

• Stelle and Dan Heng repeatedly reloaded the game as the Crown Prince killed them through the emperor’s funeral, until they survived the funeral scenes with help from Welt, Himeko, and March 7th.
• After arriving on a new planet, Stelle got stuck in a trash can, and Dan Heng later guided the group through sightseeing and a museum visit.
• Dan Heng learned that Jing Yuan had visited the planet before and discovered that an old friend’s descendant had become a famous boxer.
• Xianyu lured Reignbow Arbiter Faithful into a trap by posing as a descendant of the Father of the Xianzhou, then told Jing Yuan to execute them if he did not return in time.
• Xianyu found the beings he sought in a world without Higher-Dimensional Invaders.
• In that world, an injured man asked Pom-Pom for his knife and Eric’s badge, but Pom-Pom said they had found no knife and did not know who Eric was.

Akivili searched for their dead best friend Eric on the Luofu, struggling with the possibility that the world and their memories were false. After a stranger appeared wearing Eric’s face, Akivili recognized Aha and warned them not to use it.

• Akivili found their Captain’s Uniform washed clean and mourned that it had held the last trace of Eric’s blood.
• Akivili told Pom-Pom they did not know what to do, and Pom-Pom reassured them that the bonds between the Nameless were real.
• Pom-Pom asked Dan Heng to take Akivili to the Luofu, and Akivili introduced themself to him as Eric Fish.
• Akivili asked Dan Heng about the Forest of Utmost Loyalty, learned that it did not exist on the Luofu, and realized this world had no Eric.
• Akivili found a group photo of themself, Eric, and Qlipoth, then met someone who looked like Eric and recognized Aha beneath the disguise.

Aha listened as Akivili spoke about the man they called their best friend, while Dan Heng followed Jingliu’s lead on the Luofu and encountered three mysterious strangers, including a red-haired young man called Bacchus. Jingliu warned Dan Heng and Yanqing to watch the trio closely.

• Aha impersonated the red-haired figure in Akivili’s photograph, then listened as Akivili described the man as special and the most real.
• Aha asked Akivili to tell them more about their best friend.
• Dan Heng met Jingliu at the General’s Residence after learning the general was absent, and realized she had sent the unsigned letter.
• Jingliu told Dan Heng and Yanqing about Baiheng as the three walked through Starskiff Haven.
• Dan Heng spotted a black-haired man, a white-haired woman, and a red-haired young man named Bacchus; the black-haired man called the red-haired youth Bacchus and hurried the group away.
• Jingliu watched the strangers leave and told Dan Heng and Yanqing to keep a closer eye on them.

Xianyu and Jingliu visited another world to find Akivili, but their arrival drew the attention of local Cloud Knights and Jingliu’s counterpart. After Jingliu agreed to leave with her other self, Xianyu met a man resembling Dan Heng, introduced himself as Eric Fish, and ended the conversation frustrated by their wildly different ideas of an allowance.

• Xianyu sent Aha to find Akivili and explained that he and Jingliu were visitors from another world who had come to search for the Aeon.
• Jingliu agreed to accompany Xianyu, and the two joked about the damage their encounter with the local Cloud Knights might cause.
• Jingliu recognized her counterpart’s approach and fought her briefly before the two agreed to go somewhere else.
• Xianyu sat down with a man resembling Dan Heng, introduced himself as Eric Fish, and demanded compensation while asking about Xianzhou doctors.
• Eric talked about his wealthy upbringing and allowance, leaving Dan Heng baffled when he revealed he received no allowance at all.

Xianyu questioned Dan Heng about the Luofu’s past while Jingliu fought her alternate self, who eventually brought her back to meet Xianyu. Jing Yuan began negotiating with Xianyu, but the conversation was interrupted by two red-haired visitors who loudly proclaimed Xianyu’s grand titles and accomplishments.

• Xianyu probed Dan Heng about Yingxing, the Luofu, and Dan Heng’s past, then ordered food and asked him to share his experiences as one of the Nameless.
• Jingliu concealed her age from her alternate self, fought her in the streets, and accompanied Jing Yuan back to the teahouse after their match remained undecided.
• Jing Yuan saw Xianyu’s picture on Jingliu’s Jade Abacus and learned that she was married to him; the alternate Jingliu then invited Jingliu to meet her again before leaving with Dan Heng.
• Jing Yuan introduced himself to Xianyu, discussed their shared saying about adversity and the stars, and withdrew the Cloud Knights after Xianyu asked for them to leave.
• A powerful red-haired young man appeared on the tea table, and another red-haired young man arrived and introduced Xianyu with an extravagant list of titles and claims.

Jing Yuan tried to learn about Xianyu and the visiting Aeons while arranging to tell him about the Reignbow Arbiter’s miracles. The conversation ended when Jing Yuan recognized the book Jingliu handed Xianyu as a traditional Vidyadhara opera.

• Jing Yuan watched Jingliu suppress a laugh as she examined the knot on her pastry package and suspected the Lord of Eternal Joy had been lying about his titles.
• Xianyu invited Akivili to sit with him, and Akivili recognized him as Eric after years apart.
• Akivili left with Aha and Bacchus, while Xianyu told Jing Yuan they would leave in one system hour and no more outsiders would arrive.
• Jing Yuan hinted that a suitable gift might persuade him to share information, then began recounting the Reignbow Arbiter’s deeds.
• Jingliu handed Xianyu a book titled “Lush Red Dragon, Dense Green Pines,” and Jing Yuan identified it as the Cloud-Singing Anthology, a traditional Vidyadhara opera.

Jing Yuan recounted the Jidu Mirage’s attack on Fanghu and reflected on how his old friends’ lives differed in another world. After Xianyu offered the River of Child and Mother Water as compensation, Jing Yuan accepted the extraordinary gift on behalf of the Luofu.

• Jing Yuan recalled the burden of becoming general and concluded that there had been no way to save his friends from their fate.
• Jing Yuan told Jingliu and Xianyu that the Jidu Mirage had attacked Fanghu and the Reignbow Arbiter’s arrow had destroyed nearly a fifth of its cavern abodes.
• Xianyu learned that Lord Huyuan served as Fanghu’s general and decided to offer the River of Child and Mother Water as compensation.
• Jing Yuan examined the short dagger, recognized Huaiyan’s craftsmanship and Yingxing’s maker’s mark, and asked how its maker was doing.
• Xianyu told Jing Yuan that Yingxing was doing well and offered the River of Child and Mother Water, which could let people conceive new life, as compensation for the Luofu.
• Jing Yuan asked whether the water had restrictions, then called the offer a tremendous gift.

Dan Feng tried to help Jingliu court Xianyu, while Jing Yuan and the High Elders watched the plan unfold. When snow fell during their meeting, Jingliu quietly draped her cloak over Xianyu’s shoulders, leaving his reaction unclear.

• Dan Feng prepared storybooks and psychology books for Jingliu, but Baiheng and Yingxing doubted that she would learn romantic advice from them.
• Baiheng asked Jing Yuan to help, and he watched Xianyu meet with Zandar and Polka, who teased him about his romantic troubles.
• Xianyu failed to get advice from Zandar and accepted Dan Feng’s invitation to meet.
• Dan Feng gave the other High Elders gifts and explained that he wanted them to help Jingliu make her sparring with Xianyu look graceful.
• At the meeting, Jingliu removed her cloak and draped it over Xianyu’s shoulders as snow fell, while Dan Feng and Jing Yuan watched in shock.

Dan Feng arranged for Xianyu and Jingliu to spend time alone while Guan Liang tried to protect the Marshal from romantic complications and Wardance risks. As the Wardance approached, Zandar arrived on the Luofu and greeted Xianyu with confetti to celebrate his first date.

• Jingliu showed concern for Xianyu in the snow, while Dan Feng suspected she had feelings for the Marshal and hurried away with Jing Yuan after inventing an excuse.
• Dan Feng and Jing Yuan met Marty and Guan Liang at Teng Xiao's residence, where Guan Liang discussed the Wardance preparations and learned that Shuhu was being held on the Cloud-Roaming Aeon.
• Guan Liang warned Teng Xiao about the danger of anything distressing Xianyu during the Wardance, then found Jingliu's cloak at Xianyu's residence and teased him about her feelings.
• Xianyu told Guan Liang that Marty and Hua were enough for him and assigned Guan Liang to receive Zandar at the Wardance.
• Zandar arrived on the Luofu, and after greeting Xianyu, scattered confetti to celebrate his first date and offered him Black Forest Cake.

Xianyu gave Jing Yuan the River of Child and Mother Water and Talisman Paper before leaving the Luofu with the others. Jing Yuan watched the Astral Express depart, then turned to face the worried subordinates gathered around him.

• Xianyu asked Akivili whether he wanted to see Pom-Pom again, and Jingliu packed their belongings as the group prepared to leave.
• Jing Yuan agreed that the decision about using the water for the Vidyadhara belonged to his superior, and Xianyu said his offer came from selfish concern for the Xianzhou and its allies.
• Before parting, Xianyu told Jing Yuan that Dan Feng would have said he had done well, then gave him four sheets of Talisman Paper.
• Jing Yuan asked whether another person had received a talisman, and Xianyu said he had and had paid a Strale for it.
• Jing Yuan watched the Astral Express leave, then turned to his subordinates and reassured them as he stepped forward.

Akivili reunited with Pom-Pom aboard the Express and introduced Xianyu’s wife, Jingliu, while Eric helped Akivili learn about the events they had missed. After Eric left gifts and a mysterious note for Pom-Pom, the Conductor was left alarmed by the possibility that the glowing stones were creations or fragments of an Aeon.

• Pom-Pom tried to drive away Bacchus and Aha, but Akivili explained the visitors’ presence and introduced Xianyu’s wife, Jingliu.
• Eric listened as Pom-Pom recounted the Express’s adventures, and he suggested that the new Nameless might become a savior before asking for Dan Heng’s room and paper.
• Akivili admitted to Pom-Pom that they did not belong to this world, then hugged and thanked them for being a great Conductor.
• A visitor delivered a finely carved box and a letter from the Xianzhou, and Eric said the general had sent him a thank-you gift.
• Pom-Pom found gifts for Dan Heng and the Express, along with a borrowed IPC executive’s black card and glowing stones that Eric claimed might be Aeon creations or fragments.

Zandar remembered how Eric had once charmed his elderly teacher during a visit, then recalled the argument that followed when he presented the Astral Computer’s experimental data. The memory ended with Eric sneaking off to ride a foal and Zandar rushing after him, while his teacher reflected that the one person who could stop Zandar could not understand the research.

• At the Luofu Research Institute, Zandar noticed Matthias anxiously refreshing his screen until Eric’s signal returned, then invited Eric and Jingliu to dinner and added Matthias to the gathering.
• At his residence, Zandar remembered bringing fifteen-year-old Eric to meet his teacher, who mistook Eric for Zandar’s son after Eric introduced himself using Zandar’s surname.
• Eric helped Zandar’s elderly teacher explore the garden and lake, then hurried off to find a foal despite being warned about his clotting disorder and lack of protective gear.
• Zandar told his teacher how he had met Eric, and the teacher praised the boy’s cleverness before accepting Zandar’s Astral Computer experimental data.
• After reviewing the data, Zandar’s teacher reprimanded him and said he could not stop him; they then heard a horse neigh, and Zandar ran outside after Eric while his teacher remarked that Eric could not understand the experimental data.

After Eric nearly drowned when a runaway horse carried him into the lake, Zandar rescued him and struggled to control his anger, while his teacher treated Eric’s bruises. Eric developed a fever, and as Zandar stayed beside him overnight, Eric promised he would be more careful because he wanted to live.

• Zandar ran after Eric as the runaway horse raced across the grass, but Eric’s frightened command sent it into the lake.
• Zandar pulled Eric from the water, covered him with his coat, and nearly hit him before his teacher struck Zandar with his cane and ordered him to carry Eric back.
• Zandar’s teacher examined Eric’s bruises and found no external wounds, then had Zandar treat the injury on his back.
• Eric talked with Zandar’s teacher about his hair, education, and plans to study business so he could fund research, while Zandar listened from upstairs.
• At dinner, Zandar’s teacher noticed Eric had a fever and gave Zandar medicine and an injection to use if the fever persisted overnight.
• In the guest room, Zandar apologized for wanting to hit Eric, and Eric promised to be more careful, saying he wanted to live.

Eric encouraged Zandar to protect himself and helped him turn his plan involving the Astral Computer into a proposed Genius Society. After hearing about Eric’s illness, family, and growing faith in himself, Zandar realized Eric understood that he should rely on himself rather than pray to gods.

• Eric proposed a pact with Zandar: they would allow themselves to make mistakes, protect their bodies and souls, and put their own feelings first.
• Eric and Zandar left Zandar’s teacher, then received the Astral Computer as Zandar grew increasingly uneasy about his creation.
• Zandar created a linked Game System for himself and Eric, whose panel let Eric adjust his physical condition and try sports.
• During another argument with Zandar’s teacher, Eric suggested gathering allies and named their proposed organization the Genius Society.
• Eric shared memories of his loving parents and his struggle with illness, then told Zandar that his own flesh was the most powerful temple and asked who he should pray to.

Zandar reflected on how his Astral Computer had become a god and closed off the path of knowledge for scholars, then resolved to take responsibility and find a way forward. He encouraged Eric to pursue business school while secretly planning dimensional ascension and considering how to protect his student.

• Zandar recalled creating the Astral Computer to help scholars overcome ignorance, but his creation became a god and seemed to set the limits of knowledge.
• Eric noticed Zandar was unsettled, and Zandar reminded him to wear a bow tie before declaring that gods dwelled in people rather than temples.
• Zandar decided he would repair the damage himself instead of asking Eric to deal with his creation.
• Zandar encouraged Eric to study business, and Eric excitedly discussed food and a space strategy game with him.
• Zandar began devising a dimensional ascension plan that would use his creation as a reserve energy source, while privately resolving to ensure Eric would always succeed.

Zandar arranged Eric’s admission to an elite school, guided him through campus conflicts, and prepared a formal outfit and ring as a graduation gift. He hoped the gift would support Eric’s future, but he died before he could give it to him, and Eric no longer needed it when they met again.

• Zandar found an elite school for Eric, gave him a name ending in Sangyuan, and secured his admission alongside five heirs.
• Eric complained about his wealthy roommates and strict uniform inspections, then followed his own routines and principles at school.
• After Eric won a three-against-one fight, Zandar met with the teacher and warned Eric that a jealous student might resent his help, but Eric chose to trust his own judgment.
• Zandar established a trust, introduced Eric to other geniuses, and commissioned a formal suit, hat, glasses, and a yellow-diamond ring for him.
• As Eric’s graduation neared, Zandar placed the completed gifts in his wardrobe and wished his student a bright future, but he died before giving them to Eric.