Chapter Summaries

Lier reflected on how warfare had changed, while Lin Jiaren suspected that Cai Mao might be testing him. More than three hundred dragons approached, Judas attacked a bald old man, and Wang Mang surveyed wounded martial artists who had abandoned the Divine Spring.

• Lier recalled that he had not considered the changing nature of warfare before all-out war broke out in his previous life.
• Gu Qian'er approached Wang Hao and asked whether the Lan fellow had troubled him.
• Lin Jiaren considered whether Cai Mao intended to test him after he visited the Cai Residence with Ling but was the only one the gatekeeper saw.
• More than three hundred enormous dragons swept toward the group amid thunderous roars.
• Judas followed Leng Tian's instructions, burst out of his body, and plunged into the bald old man's body.
• Wang Mang surveyed more than a dozen wounded martial artists after Tyrannosaurus left and found that they had abandoned the Divine Spring and were healing themselves.

Several separate incidents involved personal concerns, an emperor's unexplained injury, and advances in technology. Ye Tian anticipated that a wind farm would protect Peter Town from tornadoes, while Zhang Yi appreciated Fang Jinming's help obtaining specialized machines.

• Xia Ame broke open a rose pastry under Magpie's eager gaze.
• An Mu left with Dai Jia and Fang Shuer after concluding that Meng Bo would not provide the contact information.
• Yao Xinluo practiced a mental cultivation method and slimmed down until her made-to-measure spring clothes were too loose.
• Zhen Yu learned that the emperor had been seriously injured and wondered whether another assassination attempt had occurred.
• Ye Tian knew that the wind farm was intended to stop tornadoes from ravaging Peter Town.
• Zhang Yi felt grateful to Fang Jinming for helping him obtain a lithography machine and an etching machine.

Lier considered the material foundation needed to produce intercontinental missiles in a world where agricultural giants sabotaged rival crops with genetic viruses. Ling Luo lost track of Lao Hei, Li Yi struggled against a hurricane, and Jiang Ling caught Shi Yi's kick.

• Lier considered how to mobilize society's resources for intercontinental missile production despite declining agriculture.
• Ling Luo failed to keep pace with Lao Hei, who vanished beyond his divine sense.
• Xing Yue took a taxi home from campus to see Zhou Yi sooner.
• Li Yi's blade strike was diverted by a hurricane, and his agitated wind essence energy prevented him from using Wind-Following Flash.
• Fan Xun offered to take Bi Shuyin away under guard and asked the Reverend Mother for clarification.
• Shi Yi kicked at Jiang Ling's head, and Jiang Ling caught her leg on his shoulder.

Maelstrom and the Animals arrived at a Watson District stop on a Night City bus, part of efforts by Ryan and Peralez to stimulate the local economy. The chapter then moved through several disconnected scenes, including battles and plans to seize power or resources.

• Maelstrom and the Animals arrived at the same Watson District bus stop.
• Ryan and Peralez developed public transportation to boost Night City's domestic economy and create legitimate work opportunities.
• Mami Tomoe used silver-white flintlock guns to defeat familiars.
• Yang Lie calmly stated a fact and threw a punch.
• Fusier drew a counter-magic formation while estimating that an imitation could restrain them for ten minutes.
• Xuanhuang Guyan sought to open the Chaotic Inner Realm and seize resources after witnessing Ning Cheng's strength.

Lier recalled footage of Yorinobu Arasaka killing Saburo Arasaka after Arasaka Tower fell two years earlier. Elsewhere, Zhang Jingxuan treated injuries, pirate generals encouraged relocation, and Wang Lingyu defended his disciple Yue Chengfeng.

• Lier finished watching a video in his head of Yorinobu Arasaka throwing a katana and destroying Saburo Arasaka's head.
• Zhang Jingxuan treated everyone's external injuries, provided medicine, and arranged two days of rest.
• Jing Huanxue flew to a scenic place, sat on a rock, and burst into tears.
• Chen Xizhen, Ma Ling, and other pirate generals coordinated assistance to encourage common people in Shu to relocate.
• Wang Lingyu defended Yue Chengfeng before his martial relatives and argued that his disciple could not be blamed.
• Zhuo Bufan manifested a purple hammer called Mjolnir above his head.

David regarded Jackie and V as the greatest mercenaries after their attacks forced New America and Arasaka to scale back their presence in Night City. Other events included Qin Mei stabbing Guo Feng, Lan Yu extinguishing an altar lamp, and Yurou's parents reporting her sudden death.

• Jackie and V attacked corporate convoys for two years, forcing New America and Arasaka to reduce their investment in Night City and effectively withdraw.
• Xie Yeyu took Yagami's God Clan blood and every trace of Orochi Will after Yagami expelled the Blood of Madness.
• Qin Mei stabbed Guo Feng through the chest and twisted the blade despite Xuantian Sheng's warning.
• Zhou Zhou consulted the Jade Disc of Creation and learned that the entity in the Huiyang Haunted Building could create a ghost domain and capture living people.
• Lan Yu threw a pebble at the middle oil lamp around the altar and extinguished its flame.
• Yurou's parents called the narrator that afternoon and reported that Yurou had died.

Jackie helped Misty rearrange Misty's Esoterica while communicating through a homemade throat device. The text then shifted among unrelated scenes, ending with Du Feng returning to his Cave Abode to cultivate Daoist arts and spiritual sense.

• Jackie carried odds and ends and rearranged the room with Misty while using a homemade voice device.
• Bai Fan told Li Yuan and his son that His Majesty had summoned him back because the empress was about to give birth.
• Taishang Laojun ordered the furnace fire increased and expected to harvest fifty pills in twenty days.
• Cheng Chuifan struck his opponent in the face with two full-strength punches.
• Taiji Sage Emperor questioned a Dali envoy about the progress of a sudden war and both sides' deployments.
• Du Feng returned to his Cave Abode and began cultivating his Daoist arts and spiritual sense.

MaxTac operated independently of city hall under Max Hammerman's sole command. In separate incidents, Shen He reacted to an incoming sword, Guo Hao commanded thirty thousand troops, and Liu Qichao and Chen Zhoujin rushed toward the Fifth Hall to eliminate a threat.

• Max Hammerman held sole command over MaxTac's combat personnel, who took no orders from city hall.
• Xia Yuning read Wen Chengzhi's message and wondered whether her senior brother was showing concern for her.
• Shen He awakened in the ancestral hall and instinctively twisted around and kicked as a longsword hurtled toward him.
• Shui Yingxue told Shui Lingyingyue about Qin Moqi's battle with the Green-Eyed Ghost Python.
• Guo Hao commanded thirty thousand troops armed with cold weapons that were of no use to He Xuan.
• Liu Qichao and Chen Zhoujin raced toward the Fifth Hall to eliminate a threat before the Divine Sect Leader's battle was decided.

Los Padres Correctional Facility subjected potential MaxTac recruits to secret, brutal modifications that left surviving Cyberpsychosis sufferers obedient. Elsewhere, Tang Huang planned a probing attack, Gu Beichen struggled with betrayal, and Song Xuekang refused to risk his political future by helping.

• Los Padres Correctional Facility used brutal, undisclosed modifications to make Cyberpsychosis sufferers docile and obedient.
• Tang Huang deemed a probing attack against the Dazhong joint ship necessary to protect his war fortress.
• Lin Shihao planned to teach Tang Xi singing techniques rather than rely on her voice alone.
• Lin Yi released yellow and gray energy that intertwined and spread through Thunder Fiend Rock.
• Gu Beichen struggled to calm himself after learning that those closest to him had schemed against him.
• Song Xuekang refused to help because he feared jeopardizing his last opportunity for political advancement.

Night City faced resource shortages and uncertain support from the European Community while several military forces maneuvered elsewhere. Gao Xun's doctor favored keeping him in South Korea, and DeWitt later wounded Xia Lan in a surprise attack.

• Night City faced energy and mineral shortages, while unrest limited the European Community's ability to support it.
• The Sixth Legion's resistance in Palan bought time for the Fourth Legion in Pandov.
• Gao Xun's doctor agreed with Tiffany that Gao Xun should remain in South Korea because of the memories and relationships he had formed there.
• Severfield's Undead Legion pursued its targets while another force from the Warsong Clan remained unaccounted for.
• Park Ji-hoon received a call from Bud Grint, the head of MY Investment Company's United Kingdom operations.
• DeWitt appeared before Xia Lan without warning and wounded her arm with his sword.

Ultron threatened to come for something Lier possessed and claimed his gift had burned hackers' brains. Lier realized that Ultron had likely controlled the robots fighting in Africa after JARVIS disconnected.

• Ultron expressed hope that his gift had burned the brains of hackers who overestimated themselves.
• Ultron announced that he was coming for something Lier possessed.
• Lier inferred that the robots fighting in Africa had run Ultron after JARVIS disconnected and they entered autonomous combat mode.

The United States split into rival camps under Ellis and the Roxxon Group, while separate confrontations involved Yin Ji, Jing Tianhong, and competitors from Tianfu Academy. Captain Lin found a workshop consumed by a deliberately set fire, and an unnamed fighter survived an attack from A Point of Cold Light with little damage.

• Ellis and the Roxxon Group controlled a United States divided into two major camps that extended their influence abroad.
• Yin Ji released a surge of internal energy and swept her sword in an arc that sent a ring of light outward.
• Jing Tianhong staged a car accident to kill Jing Zhichen, leaving Jing Zhichen's mother unwilling to keep living with him.
• He Shaojie of Tianfu Academy won again in the second round, prompting speculation about three consecutive victories.
• Captain Lin and the others reached a deliberately burned processing workshop too late to enter or recover evidence.
• A Point of Cold Light struck an unnamed fighter with a skill but was surprised by how little damage it caused.

Jiang Hai discovered that the essence-blood creature had departed, while Zhang Haotian and Primordial Spirit Zhizhen subdued Fairy Lingxia amid several separate confrontations. Jia Min later learned that Wei Ruolan had rescued Sun Yuanfei, Wang Xin, Niu Jizong, and the others.

• Jiang Hai concluded that the essence-blood creature had left because the surrounding blood energy had vanished.
• Zhang Haotian and Primordial Spirit Zhizhen found the ancestral root of the lingxia wood and subdued Fairy Lingxia.
• The Sparrow Immortal Sect and the personal troops of the Jiedushi Residence overwhelmed Yuan Yue Hall in a bloody assault.
• Yang Ren reassured Xue Chuan about Cai Ning while concealing that Lü Sihan had taken her to the County Yamen.
• The guardian spirit fought the two insect emperors and numerous immortal powerhouses without a clear outcome.
• Jia Min learned from Feng Zij ing that Wei Ruolan had rescued Sun Yuanfei, Wang Xin, Niu Jizong, and the others.

Ultron robots devastated the presidential palace and disabled the city's command system while ground units seized infrastructure. Elsewhere, Jiang Yanming vowed to clear the Jiang Family's name after a villain was caught and the truth emerged.

• Ultron robots bombarded the city's administrative agencies and paralyzed its command system.
• Ground-force robots moved into infrastructure nodes to establish physical control.
• A soldier struggled to move rubble off the president in the ruined presidential palace.
• Sanguinius ordered his personal guards to remain outside the lighthouse.
• Jiang Yanming declared that he would clear the Jiang Family's name despite having been adopted into the Yao Family.

Latveria used the captured floating fortress "Throne of the King" as an airborne command center. Elsewhere, Wang Xu became an inner disciple, Qingfeng pleaded for Ye Feng's help, and Meng Xinghui offered students free training with a chance to start work.

• The Pilots seized the floating fortress from the Red Room, and Latveria converted it into an air base.
• Yan Ze accepted Wang Xu as his disciple, and Wang Xu received an inner disciple's Cave Abode, Spirit Beast Pouch, and benefits.
• Wei Zhan returned to the courtyard and greeted Ji Xianxian coldly as his second sister-in-law.
• Yao Ruoyu dodged the executioner's slash, retreated, and considered a countermeasure.
• Qingfeng knelt before Ye Feng and begged him to save Mount Longevity and his master.
• Meng Xinghui offered university students free job-skills training and immediate work if they passed the assessment.

Italy and Turkey lay devastated after overnight bombardment, with destroyed Ultron Robots scattered through the ruins. Elsewhere, Xinghe considered the consequences of a court takeover of the Qinglian Sect, while Lin Xingchen became the target of ghosts seeking revenge.

• Overnight bombardment reduced cities in Italy and Turkey to rubble and left destroyed Ultron Robots in the streets.
• County Princess Qingying scolded her son and credited Noble Consort Yi with saving him from execution.
• Ming reported that four burly men had seized Liu Da as he tried to flee.
• Xinghe lamented the damage a court takeover would cause the Qinglian Sect and quietly gave an attendant instructions.
• Yuantang Yuan stated that surveillance targets would be killed immediately if they slipped beyond control.
• Lin Xingchen learned that beaten ghosts feared challenging the Ghost Messengers and instead wanted to find and strangle him.

The Atlas Group's Brain-Computer Interface implants gained wider adoption as compatible technologies developed, and Lier encouraged countries to include them in social security systems. Chen Yun achieved another breakthrough, Heavenly Ghost faced a stalled recovery, and Li Chengqian arranged secluded lodging for Xuanzang.

• The Atlas Group introduced Brain-Computer Interface implants for people with disabilities before newer technologies encouraged wider adoption.
• Chen Yun's soul power broke through again as blood energy attacked the golden light protecting it.
• Boss Liu was shot in the leg and fell to the ground.
• Quan Bingzhong fearfully called into the phone after the person on the other end hung up.
• Heavenly Ghost returned to the cave and found that the alluring ghost's condition had not improved, although his plan could not wait.
• Li Chengqian hosted a banquet for Xuanzang and then arranged for him to rest in a secluded palace.

Europe rushed weapons, vehicles, and soldiers to the front while Chu Yu faced her father's continued opposition and Ye Xiang failed to stop a fleeing zombie. Liusha's secrets and unusual dominance over other players remained unexplained.

• European workers accelerated production and sent equipment and soldiers toward the front.
• Chu Yu questioned why her father still opposed her relationship with Xiao Yao.
• Tiger Shark led a few thousand men to challenge the guards at the Yu Qianlong River pass.
• Old Madam Rong asked what would happen if Todo Tateo's conditions could not be met.
• Ye Xiang was angered when the blue-eyed zombie escaped and ordered the other zombies to flee.
• Yan Cheng washed his face repeatedly, studied Meng Ningyou from a distance, and produced a rope.

Latverian soldiers faced an artillery bombardment and an Ultron robot assault, while Long Yang confronted the limits of Ghost Eye and Li Xin prepared for a pill competition. Cheng Yiping later watched the sea beneath Tianyin after a person's figure disappeared from view.

• Ultron robots charged a Latverian armored vehicle after artillery shock waves overturned it.
• Long Yang settled against an ancestor's gravestone to spend the night.
• Long Yang realized that Ghost Eye consumed more soul power than expected and should only be used when his life was threatened.
• Li Huo ordered his men to make the Red Army's name known.
• Li Xin planned preparations for the pill competition after the captain redirected visiting pill refiners to the head of the Su Family.
• Cheng Yiping sighed as he watched the churning seawater beneath Tianyin, where a person's figure was no longer visible.

The Throne of the King’s command capabilities were compared with Ultron’s vastly greater arsenal as Ultron revealed its weapons. The passage left the scale of Ultron’s firepower impossible to intercept.

• The Throne of the King was described as a powerful command center, exceeding ordinary aircraft carriers and slightly surpassing Roxxon Group’s Helicarrier.
• Ultron’s metal hive city opened its maw and unleashed a curtain of metal and fire that seemed impossible to intercept.
• Gao Qianqian frowned and drank a bottle of Erguotou.
• Shen Jian leaned against a transport vehicle abandoned in the swamp by other troops.