Chapter Summaries

Li Qiuzhi brought the weakened Focalors to Wonderland Space to recover after separating out the Ancient Dragon Authority, then placed the authority in the Library for others to study. Several days later, with Focalors improving and the Simulated Universe ready, he prepared to return to Herta Space Station for its first test.

• Li Qiuzhi took Focalors to Wonderland Space and promised she would help resolve the Fontainians’ vulnerability to Primordial Sea Water once she recovered.
• Focalors thanked Li Qiuzhi for saving her from sacrificing herself, and her Friendship Level with him rose to Lv. 8.
• Li Qiuzhi put the Ancient Dragon Authority in the Library, where Lisa, Mona, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, Raiden Ei, Guizhong, and others studied it.
• Several days passed as Focalors recovered with the soul-restoring potion, while Herta urged Li Qiuzhi to begin testing the Simulated Universe.
• Li Qiuzhi prepared to go to Herta Space Station and test the Simulated Universe.

Li Qiuzhi learned how to enter the Simulated Universe and chose the Path of Preservation as his first test. Herta explained how its blessings and progression worked, leaving him ready to begin fighting enemies on Mokolo Planet.

• Li Qiuzhi arrived at Herta’s office, where Herta gave him goggles for viewing the world outside the Simulated Universe.
• Li Qiuzhi used the goggles to enter the Simulated Universe and found himself in a realistic virtual version of Mokolo Planet.
• Herta explained that Li Qiuzhi needed to choose a Path before he could begin testing and gaining blessings.
• Li Qiuzhi chose the Path of Preservation and received three possible starting blessings.
• Herta explained how Preservation powers grew and told Li Qiuzhi that defeating enemies would let him progress in the Simulated Universe.

Li Qiuzhi tested which abilities still worked in the Simulated Universe and reasoned that defeating its virtual lifeforms might earn him Experience Points. After Herta sent him into a low-level mining region, he examined a Company employee controlled by a simulated Stellaron.

• Li Qiuzhi found that Fischl's and Miko's affection skills could identify targets in the Simulated Universe, while his other passive skills only affected his real body.
• Li Qiuzhi concluded that defeating established virtual lifeforms might grant Experience Points, with stronger enemies potentially yielding more.
• Herta finished explaining the test, provided Li Qiuzhi with a map and Domain Anchors, and offered Herta Bonds as payment for assignments and encountering an Aeon.
• Li Qiuzhi selected a low-level mining region, teleported there, and chose a Preservation shield ability before approaching the Company employee camp with a branch.
• Li Qiuzhi used Fischl's and Miko's abilities to inspect a level 22 Company employee and learned that a simulated Stellaron had made the virtual lifeform lose its sense of self.

Li Qiuzhi farmed enemies in the Simulated Universe, rapidly strengthening his virtual body and gaining millions of Experience Points. After he destroyed dozens of barren Star Systems to attract an Aeon, Qlipoth appeared and killed him with a single hammer strike, ending Herta’s test.

• Li Qiuzhi defeated a company employee and discovered that enemies in the Simulated Universe granted Experience Points and feedback from his Path of Preservation.
• He cleared the mining area, gained more than a dozen Path upgrades, and moved to a higher-level area to continue farming.
• After reaching level one hundred, Li Qiuzhi gained Resonance, an ability that let him destroy large areas and accelerate his progress beyond level one hundred and eighty.
• At Herta’s suggestion, Li Qiuzhi destroyed dozens of barren Star Systems to attract an Aeon, and Qlipoth appeared and killed him with a hammer strike.
• Herta reviewed the recording and prepared to roll back the Simulated Universe, while Li Qiuzhi left the test with over fifty-two million Experience Points.

Li Qiuzhi gained a level after testing in the Simulated Universe, then cultivated with Tingyun and helped her reach level 105. In the morning, Focalors announced that she had recovered and thanked him, leaving Li Qiuzhi intent on asking her to join the Wonderland Space and resolving Fontaine’s crisis by returning the Hydro Authority to its owner.

• Herta ended the day's testing and sent Li Qiuzhi back, while he counted the experience points he had earned.
• Li Qiuzhi invested experience points to reach level 125, then cultivated with Tingyun before she left for work at level 105.
• Li Qiuzhi rested in Fischl's room, where Little Amy woke and cultivated with him in the morning.
• Li Qiuzhi found Focalors awake and nearly recovered, and she thanked him for looking after her.
• Focalors's friendship with Li Qiuzhi increased, and he planned to have her guide the others in understanding Hydro Authority and help return it to its owner.

Focalors reunited with Furina and explained that she would share the Hydro Archon's duties, then began telling Neuvillette how she had planned to save Fontaine. The chapter ended as Focalors started revealing the full truth to everyone present.

• Li Qiuzhi and Focalors decided to return to Fontaine after breakfast to resolve the Prophecy Crisis.
• Focalors reunited with Furina, who reluctantly agreed to appear as the Hydro Archon while Focalors handled most of the work.
• Focalors, Furina, Li Qiuzhi, and Clorinde went to Neuvillette's office, where Neuvillette recognized Focalors.
• Focalors apologized to Neuvillette and began explaining her plan to save Fontaine.

Focalors returned the Hydro Authority to Neuvillette, who restored his full power as the Hydro Dragon Sovereign and agreed to resolve the Prophecy Crisis publicly. With Charlotte, Navia, Arlecchino, Chevreuse, and other witnesses gathered, Neuvillette absolved the Fontainians of their sins, and their Primordial Sea blood began changing into ordinary human blood.

• Focalors offered Neuvillette the Hydro Authority, and he agreed to reclaim it and help resolve the Prophecy Crisis.
• Li Qiuzhi proposed a public demonstration to correct misunderstandings about Furina and reassure Fontainians; Neuvillette agreed to begin that day.
• Li Qiuzhi invited Charlotte, Navia, Arlecchino, Lynette, Chevreuse, Wriothesley, and other concerned witnesses to Palais Mermonia.
• Neuvillette integrated the Ancient Dragon Authority and became the fully restored Hydro Dragon Sovereign.
• Neuvillette rose above Palais Mermonia in the rain and declared that he would absolve all Fontainians of their sins.
• The Hydro Authority's power fell with the rain, transforming the Primordial Sea blood in Fontainians such as Navia into ordinary human blood.

After the Prophecy Crisis ended, Li Qiuzhi gave Furina and Clorinde protective abilities and brought Focalors to the Wonderland Space to recover. There, he saw Kitsune Saiguu watching the sea and approached her, hoping to raise her affection to its maximum.

• Lyney tested the primordial sea water on his hand, confirming that it no longer harmed him, and Arlecchino left after inviting Li Qiuzhi to visit the Bouffant Abode.
• Fontaine’s officials and residents thanked Furina and Neuvillette, while Charlotte interviewed witnesses and Navia returned to tell the Spina di Rosula that the crisis was over.
• Focalors thanked Neuvillette, agreed to recover at Li Qiuzhi’s home, and gained affection for him.
• Li Qiuzhi gave Furina and Clorinde protective Friendship abilities, raising both women’s affection for him.
• Li Qiuzhi returned to the Wonderland Space with Focalors and noticed Kitsune Saiguu watching the sea, then walked over to her.

Li Qiuzhi reached maximum friendship with Kitsune Saiguu and gained the Nine-Tailed Hakushin Celestial Fox ability, which gave him a charm boost, her racial abilities, and nine chances to avoid death. He then resumed testing Herta’s Simulated Universe, advanced rapidly along the Path of The Hunt, and prepared to draw Lan’s attention by challenging the Path’s control.

• Li Qiuzhi became intimate with Kitsune Saiguu, and their friendship reached its maximum level.
• Li Qiuzhi acquired Nine-Tailed Hakushin Celestial Fox, whose celestial fox spirit could take fatal blows in his place and whose tails gradually recovered.
• Miko, Ayaka, Sara, and others returned and joined Li Qiuzhi and Kitsune Saiguu before he later spent the evening with more of the girls.
• Li Qiuzhi returned to Herta Space Station and entered the Simulated Universe, choosing the Path of The Hunt on a forest-covered planet.
• Li Qiuzhi used a wooden sword and his swordsmanship to reach level 199, then sensed he was close to an Aeon’s power along The Hunt.
• Herta urged Li Qiuzhi to try seizing control of The Hunt to draw Lan out, hoping he could defeat the Aeon with outside help.

After Lan destroyed Li Qiuzhi’s Simulated Universe test, Herta planned to make him appear as the fallen Akivili so he could attract other Aeons’ attention. Li Qiuzhi raised his level, spent time with Kitsune Saiguu and Focalors, then began a new test as Akivili on a zombie-infested planet.

• Lan erased Li Qiuzhi and the forest planet after Li Qiuzhi tried to seize control of the Hunt, and Herta proposed giving him Akivili’s identity for the next test.
• Li Qiuzhi gained over 100 million Experience Points and advanced from level 125 to level 128.
• Li Qiuzhi spent the day introducing Focalors to the other girls in Wonderland Space and became intimate with Kitsune Saiguu.
• Li Qiuzhi returned to Herta Space Station, where Herta started a test that gave him Akivili’s identity while leaving his strength unchanged.
• Li Qiuzhi appeared on a ruined planet where a Stellaron-triggered virus had turned the Costa Civilization’s inhabitants into zombies, and he set out to defeat them for Experience Points.

Li Qiuzhi chose the Path of Destruction in the Simulated Universe, used its powers to eradicate a zombie-infested planet, and met Nanook, who mistook him for Akivili. After Herta rewarded him, Li Qiuzhi reached level 130 and faced a new choice of racial specialty.

• Li Qiuzhi received the Flame of Destruction and used it to kill the regenerating zombies in the high-rise.
• Li Qiuzhi listened to the Extraterrestrial Choral Performance, gained random effects, and spread lava through the building and across the planet, reaching level 190.
• Nanook appeared, addressed Li Qiuzhi as Akivili, and said that worlds with brighter hope were more worthy of destruction.
• Li Qiuzhi left the Simulated Universe, received two Herta Bonds from Herta, and spent experience to reach level 130.
• Li Qiuzhi received three racial specialty options: Devourer of All, Golden Kingdom, and Dream of Time.

Li Qiuzhi chose the “devourer of all” racial specialty, allowing him to absorb unlimited imaginary internal energy and gain effectively infinite energy. After his affection-based talent strengthened the benefits of affection skills, he planned to meet Arlecchino in Fontaine, likely to discuss the Gnosis.

• Li Qiuzhi compared the three racial specialties and selected “devourer of all,” then confirmed he could perfectly absorb imaginary internal energy.
• Li Qiuzhi reviewed Herta’s Curio list and found he lacked enough Herta Bonds to exchange for a Light Cone.
• Li Qiuzhi’s “intertwined affection” talent gained an attribute bonus that increased the benefits of affection skills according to his and Nahida’s combined levels.
• Li Qiuzhi learned the Astral Express would arrive at the Space Station in a week and resolved not to miss the chance to visit a Stellaron-Contaminated Zone.
• Li Qiuzhi returned to Wonderland Space to sleep, then prepared to visit Arlecchino in Fontaine and discuss what she wanted to tell him.

Skirk came to Fontaine seeking the All-Devouring Narwhal, her master's escaped pet, and learned that Li Qiuzhi had sold it. When he refused to help her retrieve it, Skirk announced she would use force, and Li Qiuzhi prepared to fight.

• Skirk appeared before Li Qiuzhi in Fontaine and asked where he had taken the giant starry whale.
• Li Qiuzhi confirmed he had subdued the All-Devouring Narwhal and explained that he had sold it.
• Skirk asked Li Qiuzhi to take her to the buyer so she could buy the whale back.
• Li Qiuzhi refused, citing the danger the whale had posed and his obligation to honor the sale.
• Skirk acknowledged the whale's fault but said she would resort to impolite methods to retrieve it.
• Li Qiuzhi assessed Skirk's extraordinary strength and turned his eyes golden as he faced her.

Li Qiuzhi negotiated terms for a sparring match with Skirk, who agreed to do one thing within her abilities if she lost. They traveled to a deserted stretch of sea, where Li Qiuzhi chose to fight her on equal footing and summoned the Lightfall Sword.

• Skirk challenged Li Qiuzhi to a match, asking for the All-Devouring Narwhal's whereabouts if she won.
• Li Qiuzhi negotiated for a reward if Skirk lost, and she promised to do one thing within her abilities.
• Li Qiuzhi gained Friendship points with Skirk and considered asking her to stay with him so he could build their bond.
• Li Qiuzhi and Skirk teleported to a deserted sea between Inazuma, Liyue, and Mondstadt.
• Li Qiuzhi considered several powers that could defeat Skirk easily but chose a fair fight and summoned the Lightfall Sword.

Li Qiuzhi defeated Skirk after a long sword fight and claimed her agreement to leave the All-Devouring Narwhal alone and do one thing for him. He asked Skirk to teach him her space-distorting power, giving him a reason to keep spending time with her.

• Li Qiuzhi and Skirk fought across the sea, and he moved their battle into the simulated Void Sea of Stars to prevent damage from reaching any nation.
• Li Qiuzhi gradually overpowered Skirk but kept the fight going as she refused to concede.
• Li Qiuzhi stopped time, took Skirk's sword, and restrained her, prompting her to admit defeat.
• Li Qiuzhi reminded Skirk of her agreement to leave the All-Devouring Narwhal alone and asked her to do one thing for him.
• Li Qiuzhi asked Skirk to teach him her space-distorting power, and she expressed surprise that he wanted to learn from someone he had defeated.

Li Qiuzhi arranged to teach Skirk the Power of the Star Abyss and gave her a Beacon for contacting him. He then met Arlecchino, who asked him to help negotiate for Focalors's Gnosis, and he agreed to ask her in exchange for Snezhnaya's proposed support for Fontaine.

• Skirk agreed to teach Li Qiuzhi the Power of the Star Abyss, and he gave her a Beacon that let them contact each other.
• Li Qiuzhi visited Arlecchino at the Bouffant Abode and reassured her and Lynette that Skirk would not threaten Fontaine.
• Arlecchino asked Li Qiuzhi to persuade Focalors to trade her Gnosis to the Fatui, and he agreed to ask her.
• Arlecchino handed Li Qiuzhi documents detailing Snezhnaya's proposed economic, political, and military support for Fontaine.

Li Qiuzhi secured Focalors’s approval to trade Fontaine’s Hydro Gnosis to Arlecchino for resources, then became intimate with Focalors and gained a new friendship ability. The chapter left him embracing Focalors after their intimacy, with her affection at maximum and the ability Justice of Dedication and Sacrifice newly acquired.

• Li Qiuzhi brought Arlecchino’s offer to Focalors, who approved the trade but said the Fatui must fulfill the terms before receiving the Gnosis.
• Focalors handed Li Qiuzhi the Hydro Gnosis so he could show it to Arlecchino when he delivered her answer.
• Li Qiuzhi kissed Focalors, and their encounter grew intimate after she reluctantly allowed him to continue.
• Focalors developed affection for Li Qiuzhi, reached maximum Friendship Level, and gained a notification linking her Stella to his.
• Li Qiuzhi acquired Justice of Dedication and Sacrifice, which granted permanent increases for contributions made without compensation.

Li Qiuzhi delivered the Hydro Gnosis to Arlecchino and explained why the Electro and Dendro Gnoses could not yet be traded. He purified the corruption in Arlecchino’s arms, reached maximum friendship with her, and gained the skill The Evil Moon Rises.

• Li Qiuzhi gave Arlecchino the Hydro Gnosis and said he could trade the Electro and Dendro Gnoses after the Akasha system expanded across Teyvat.
• Arlecchino agreed to explain the Akasha system’s expansion and its conditions to the Tsaritsa.
• Arlecchino told Li Qiuzhi that her Bloodfire corroded her body, and he used Dustless Divine Maiden to purify her arms.
• Arlecchino tested the Bloodfire and saw the corrosion return whenever she let it run wild, while Li Qiuzhi’s skill repeatedly purified it.
• Arlecchino reached maximum friendship with Li Qiuzhi, Lynette’s friendship increased, and Li Qiuzhi acquired The Evil Moon Rises.

Li Qiuzhi discovered that Arlecchino’s Friendship skill could spread the Power of the Evil Moon and generate Cultivation Progress, then discussed his relationships with Arlecchino and Lynette. Arlecchino agreed to visit his home with Lynette, and Lynette’s Friendship reached its maximum, granting Li Qiuzhi a new magic ability.

• Li Qiuzhi examined Arlecchino’s Evil Moon skill and realized that people who cultivated its power would earn him Cultivation Progress, though the Moon’s limited illuminated area meant it would need to travel across a planet.
• Arlecchino confronted Li Qiuzhi about pursuing women for his ability, while Freminet left and Lynette realized she had romantic feelings for him too.
• Li Qiuzhi admitted that he wanted Arlecchino and Lynette as lovers and offered to introduce them to his other partners, including the Raiden Shogun, Lesser Lord Kusanali, and Focalors.
• Arlecchino agreed to visit Li Qiuzhi’s home, and Lynette agreed to come along while leaving her feelings open for her own decision.
• Li Qiuzhi gave Arlecchino and Lynette several Friendship skills, and Lynette’s Friendship reached level ten.
• Li Qiuzhi obtained Magic: Kitty Trick, which let him conceal objects or attacks, swap places while obscured, and transform into cards or pigeons.

Li Qiuzhi collected the House of the Hearth’s Primogems and considered where to use Arlecchino’s new Evil Moon ability. He entered a World Bubble and discovered a large population of oppressed humans ruled by people with draconic bloodlines.

• Arlecchino explained that the House of the Hearth’s chest contained about a thousand Primogems, which Li Qiuzhi collected.
• Arlecchino said she would visit Li Qiuzhi’s home in the next few days to discuss giving Focalors the Gnosis early.
• Li Qiuzhi decided to explore a World Bubble in the Sea of Quanta to see whether it could support an Evil Moon.
• Li Qiuzhi entered the World Bubble and found a continent with seventy to eighty million people, most of them ordinary humans.
• Li Qiuzhi discovered that humans with draconic bloodlines exploited and ruled the powerless human majority.