Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary — Heartless

Key Plot Points and Events

• Old Xu witnesses a historical projection of his younger self making a wish to the Little Sprite at the Wishing Fountain.
• The Little Sprite grants the wish by giving the young Old Xu a heart-shaped Relic. As a result, the young man loses both his heart and his memory of the original wish, becoming a Heartless One.
• Old Xu realizes that his present condition was caused by his own childish wish. Although deeply regretful, he accepts that the past cannot be changed and is relieved that he has avoided illness, injury, or distortion.
• The Little Sprite sends the young man out of the fountain, while Old Xu is left confronting the consequences of his past.
• The Little Sprite unexpectedly speaks directly to the present-day Old Xu, proving that it can perceive and communicate across time rather than being a mere historical illusion.
• It reveals that it can see the future and already knows that the Wishing Fountain will eventually be sealed. However, it claims that its future self will deal with this.
• The Little Sprite repeatedly asks Old Xu whether he is satisfied now that his wish has been fulfilled, but Old Xu refuses to answer. Before disappearing into the water, it casually advises him to drink more hot water.
• The group is shocked by their encounter with an entity capable of communicating through history. Old Xu warns the others that the fountain may still be dangerous and tells Li Xiangyi to keep the light active so that the mirage mist will disperse once the outside barrier is broken.
• Mo Ling studies the Little Sprite and determines that it appears to be composed of woven light rather than normal organs or a core. The Golden Water Flow is ordinary water manipulated by this light, suggesting that the Sprite itself may not be the true Main Body.
• After leaving the fountain, the historical young Old Xu wanders in confusion. Mo Ling considers whether his teleportation can affect historical events and throws a stone beneath the young man's feet to test the possibility, ending the chapter on a cliffhanger.

Character Developments

• Old Xu: Confronts the painful truth that his own youthful wish created his Heartless condition. He moves from shock and regret toward reluctant acceptance, though the Little Sprite’s questions leave him deeply unsettled and suspicious.
• Young Old Xu: Is shown as naïve and impulsive. After his wish is granted, he loses his heart, his memory of the wish, and much of his emotional awareness, becoming bewildered and empty.
• Li Luo: Offers emotional support to Old Xu and confidently recognizes that their encounter constitutes communication with history.
• Li Xiangyi: Reacts with fear and concern to the Little Sprite’s immense power and follows Old Xu’s instructions to maintain the light.
• Mo Ling: Takes an analytical approach, examining the Sprite’s structure and the nature of the Golden Water Flow. He also becomes curious about whether his teleportation can interact with the past and attempts an experiment.
• Little Sprite: Is revealed to be far more powerful and mysterious than expected. It can perceive the future, communicate across time, manipulate light and water, and possibly exist independently of its visible form.

Significant Themes

• Regret and personal responsibility: Old Xu must accept that his suffering originated from his own past decision.
• The irreversibility of the past: Although Old Xu can witness his former self, he cannot alter what happened, emphasizing the limits of time and memory.
• The danger of wishes: The fulfilled wish produces consequences far beyond what the young Old Xu likely intended, suggesting that wishes may be literal, incomplete, or fundamentally deceptive.
• Identity and emotional loss: Losing one’s heart represents more than physical damage; it also strips away memory, desire, and emotional connection.
• Time and fate: The Little Sprite’s knowledge of future events raises questions about predestination and whether the future is already fixed.
• Appearance versus reality: The Sprite looks like an illusion but possesses awareness and agency, while the visible “Sprite” may only be a projection of a larger, unknown entity.

Character Interactions

• Old Xu watches and emotionally reacts to his younger self, symbolically confronting his own past.
• Li Luo comforts Old Xu when he becomes distressed.
• Old Xu questions the Little Sprite, but it responds cryptically and confidently, turning the interrogation into a disturbing philosophical exchange about fulfilled wishes and satisfaction.
• The group discusses whether their encounter constitutes genuine communication with history and worries about the consequences of the fountain’s power.
• Mo Ling observes both the Sprite and Old Xu, then attempts to interfere with the historical projection by placing a stone in the young man’s path.

Summary of “Touching History”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mo Ling accidentally trips over a stone while observing a scene from the past, causing a young man to crash into the Shell Wall. The impact reveals a previously hidden weak point.
• Mo Ling realizes that his actions can influence history, but the result also feels as though it was predetermined. This creates a disturbing sense of fate and prevents him from deliberately interfering further.
• He returns to Li Luo and the fountain while the Investigation Team gathers around the newly discovered weakness in the Shell Wall.
• As the mirage gas begins to dissipate, forces from the present break through the dome. Soldiers enter using a Stone Egg Relic, which shatters the Shell Wall and rapidly widens the opening.
• Old Xu identifies himself and his companions—Li Luo and Li Xiangyi—as members of the Abyss Investigation Team. The soldiers escort them outside, confirming that all the shell people inside have been killed.
• Outside, the group learns that Oasis City is under martial law because unexplained, localized earthquakes and ground fissures have been occurring throughout the city.
• The earthquakes appear abnormal: fissures vanish and reappear, some areas are unaffected, and the danger level is rising as previously safe regions become dangerous.
• Near the plaza, one fissure fails to disappear. At dawn, Old Xu notices white particles rising from it and realizes that the fissure is releasing mirage gas, suggesting that the crisis is connected to the Shell Wall and the Wishing Fountain.

Character Developments

• Mo Ling: Becomes increasingly aware of the mysterious relationship between his actions and historical events. His inability to tell whether he is changing history or fulfilling it deepens his sense of helplessness and caution.
• Old Xu: Continues acting as the group’s protector and knowledgeable investigator. He recognizes the seriousness of Oasis City’s worsening conditions and becomes especially concerned about the Wishing Fountain.
• Li Luo: Displays composure and familiarity with Mo Ling’s unusual behavior. She remains alert throughout the danger and cooperates with the group’s investigation.
• Li Xiangyi: Shows fear as the crisis escalates but also concern for the others, urging them to remain together. Her anxiety emphasizes the growing threat.
• Mo Ling’s Cube: Continues moving independently, apparently helping reveal the Shell Wall’s weakness, though its exact role remains mysterious.

Significant Themes

• Fate versus free will: Mo Ling’s intervention seems both spontaneous and predestined, raising questions about whether history can truly be changed.
• The consequences of interference: Even a seemingly accidental action can affect major events, though the story suggests that such changes may already be part of history.
• Escalating catastrophe: The earthquakes, fissures, mirage gas, and shell people’s invasion indicate that Oasis City’s danger is expanding beyond a single incident.
• Hidden connections: The Shell Wall, the Wishing Fountain, mirage gas, and the strange earthquakes appear to be linked by a deeper, unresolved phenomenon.
• Human uncertainty in the face of disaster: Despite advanced Relics and emergency forces, Oasis City’s authorities cannot explain the earthquakes or fully control the situation.

Character Interactions

• Mo Ling observes the young man from the past and indirectly causes him to discover the Shell Wall’s weakness.
• Li Luo accepts the Cube’s unexplained behavior without questioning it, showing her growing familiarity with its nature.
• Old Xu introduces himself and the others to the soldiers, securing their safe evacuation.
• The soldiers and city officer treat Old Xu as a familiar troublemaker, creating a brief contrast between the emergency’s seriousness and their casual familiarity with him.
• Li Xiangyi asks the group to stay close as the danger rises, while Old Xu attempts to reassure her that Oasis City can withstand the crisis.
• The group collectively investigates the earthquakes and fissure before Old Xu identifies the decisive clue: the rising substance is mirage gas.

Chapter Summary: “Spreading Mirage Mist”

Key plot points and events

• Old Xu discovers that the fissure is releasing mirage mist, despite the fissure itself being dangerous. He also sees countless Shell People shells beneath it, proving that the Shell People Graveyard extends beneath Oasis City.
• Old Xu attempts to contact the Guard Team through his Citizen Card, but the emergency line is overwhelmed by reports. He sends messages instead, though he is unsure whether anyone will receive them.
• The mirage mist rapidly spreads, engulfing Old Xu, Li Luo, and the others before they can return to safety. It is far denser than previous manifestations, with gray fog and expanding rainbow light.
• Mo Ling’s vision remains unaffected by the fog, but the rainbow light interferes with him. He tries to reach the others with the Cube, only to watch them disappear completely. Their movements and voices become impossible to detect.
• The mist begins producing highly realistic illusions, including office workers casually discussing cafeteria food and a reconstructed version of Oasis City’s Core Area.
• Mo Ling realizes the cityscape is a historical phantom replaying the morning when he, Li Luo, and Li Xiangyi first arrived in Oasis City.
• The scene appears nearly identical to reality, including the Guard Team convoy and the two siblings entering the building where Li Luo reported the Black Tower. However, Mo Ling notices one crucial inconsistency: the Cube is missing from the replay.

Character developments

• Old Xu shifts from disbelief to urgent alarm after confirming the graveyard’s dangerous reach beneath the city. His failed attempts to contact the authorities emphasize his helplessness and growing anxiety.
• Mo Ling remains the only person able to see clearly through the dense mist, but this advantage does not protect him from the rainbow light’s illusions. He becomes increasingly anxious when he loses track of the group and must rely on observation to understand what is happening.
• Li Luo and Li Xiangyi are briefly shown within the mirage’s replay of their arrival in Oasis City, reinforcing their importance to the mystery surrounding the city and the Black Tower.

Significant themes

• Reality versus illusion: The mirage mist can conceal not only people but entire locations, replacing reality with convincing historical scenes.
• Buried danger and hidden history: The Shell People Graveyard beneath Oasis City suggests that the city’s foundations conceal a major threat.
• Helplessness in a crisis: Communication systems fail, the mist spreads too quickly to escape, and even Mo Ling’s superior vision cannot distinguish the true world from the illusion.
• Flawed memories and altered history: The replay appears accurate but contains an important omission, suggesting that the mirage does not simply reproduce the past—it may distort or selectively reconstruct it.

Character interactions

• Old Xu reports his discovery to Li Luo and the others, warning them about the Shell People beneath the fissure.
• He urges everyone not to move once the fog becomes impenetrable.
• Mo Ling attempts to reunite with the group after they vanish, but instead encounters phantom office workers and reconstructed crowds.
• The replay shows Li Luo and Li Xiangyi arriving under Guard Team escort, while Mo Ling observes them from outside the scene and begins questioning the illusion’s authenticity.

Chapter Summary: “Mirage Qi City”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mo Ling observes a phantom image of his first arrival in Oasis City, following Li Luo and another person into an office.
• He notices that the Cube is completely absent from the scene, despite being present in his memories. This reinforces the idea that Mo Ling—and possibly the Cube—possesses a unique, unreproducible nature.
• Mo Ling discovers a strange, potato-chip-shaped patch of unstable rainbow light. The mirage qi repeatedly fails to solidify, as though an unseen force is disrupting it.
• When Mo Ling passes through the rainbow light, he destabilizes it and is transported into an earlier version of the city. The modern facilities and crowds vanish, while hunters in Combat Suits become more common.
• He overhears a meeting about the Wishing Fountain. Oasis City officials are debating whether it is safe to open the fountain to the public.
• Researchers explain that wishes made honestly can produce extremely powerful Relics with minimal costs, but lying to the Wishing Fountain results in severe hidden consequences.
• The example of Hu Qing is shown: after lying that he wished for greater strength, he received a powerful necklace but began transforming into a Cave Limb, losing control of his body. His condition may eventually require euthanasia.
• The chapter ends as the researcher prepares to show the meeting another volunteer’s experience with the Wishing Fountain, suggesting that the fountain may have beneficial aspects despite its dangers.

Character Developments

• Mo Ling: Becomes increasingly aware that his existence is abnormal and possibly unique even within historical phantom images. His curiosity leads him to interfere with the unstable rainbow boundary, allowing him to access another historical period.
• The elderly official: Displays a pragmatic and dismissive attitude toward danger. He prioritizes confirming that the fountain is technically safe and appears willing to disregard Xu Jianguo’s opposition.
• The middle-aged officer: Takes a cautious, protective stance, strongly opposing the fountain’s public opening after hearing about its risks.
• The researcher: Provides a balanced assessment. Although he details the fountain’s horrifying dangers, he also emphasizes its potential benefits when users are honest.
• Hu Qing: Serves as a tragic example of the consequences of dishonesty. His desire for power leads to a monstrous physical transformation and the loss of his autonomy.

Significant Themes

• Uniqueness and identity: Mo Ling’s inability to be reproduced within the phantom image raises questions about what makes him—or the Cube—unique.
• History and fractured reality: The rainbow-light boundary appears to separate different phantom images or eras, suggesting that Mirage Qi City contains layered versions of the past.
• The cost of desire: The Wishing Fountain grants powerful abilities, but wishes carry literal and potentially devastating prices.
• Honesty versus deception: The fountain rewards sincere wishes while punishing lies through hidden transformations and dangerous Relic effects.
• Ethics and exploitation: The officials debate whether the fountain’s benefits justify exposing people to its risks, revealing tension between scientific opportunity, public safety, and political expediency.

Character Interactions

• Mo Ling observes Li Luo and the bespectacled office worker without directly interacting with them.
• During the meeting, the elderly official questions the officer about Xu Jianguo’s opinion and consults the researcher about the Wishing Fountain’s dangers.
• The officer challenges the fountain’s safety, while the elderly official pressures the researcher to present its advantages.
• The researcher uses Hu Qing’s suffering as evidence of the fountain’s risks, then prepares to present a more positive case involving another hunter.

Chapter Summary: “Director”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The eccentric hunter known as the Director visits the Wishing Fountain to record the wishing process for his superior.
• The Little Sprite eagerly participates in the filming, even asking whether it looks cute on camera.
• The Director wishes to become a documentary filmmaker who records the dangers and wonders of the Abyss, honoring its explorers and warning outsiders about its true perils.
• The Little Sprite grants his wish by creating a Relic Camera capable of recording a person’s experiences in the Abyss from a third-person perspective.
• When the Director complains that the original professional camera is too large and that film is difficult to obtain, the Sprite transforms it into a handheld camera and changes the usage cost to patting it three times before each use.
• The Director interviews the Little Sprite about the Fountain. It explains that:
  • It grants wishes because it likes humans.
  • Wishes have no serious consequences unless the wisher lies.
  • The price of a wish is forgetting the original wish.
• The Director points out that his recording can restore his memory of the wish, but the Sprite casually says that the price has still been paid.
• After the Director leaves, the footage is reviewed by a Meeting Room of officials and researchers.
• The researcher confirms that the camera works as described and concludes that the Sprite is innocent, patient, and generally benevolent toward honest people.
• A debate follows over whether the Wishing Fountain should be opened to Oasis City’s growing population. The old man favors making use of it, while a middle-aged officer warns against the risks of an unpredictable wish-granting Relic.
• Under pressure, the researcher recommends opening the Fountain only partially, beginning with children.

Character Developments

• The Director is shown as eccentric but serious and highly professional. He carefully negotiates the conditions of his wish, prioritizing practicality and mobility. His desire to document the Abyss reveals courage, responsibility, and a wish to educate and protect society.
• The Little Sprite appears playful, naïve, cooperative, and eager for attention, but also displays a literal and detached understanding of consequences. It is willing to adjust the Relic to satisfy the Director and shows no hostility toward humans who are honest.
• The Researcher shifts from an observer under pressure to someone willing to make a cautious policy recommendation. His final proposal balances the Fountain’s potential benefits against its dangers.
• The Old Man and Middle-Aged Officer represent opposing approaches: resource utilization and public benefit versus strict caution concerning unknown Relics.

Significant Themes

• Truth and honesty: The Fountain’s main condition is that lies create negative consequences, making honesty central to safe wish-making.
• The danger of wish-granting power: Even a seemingly innocent Relic may carry unclear risks, prompting debate over regulation and access.
• Knowledge as protection: The Director’s documentary goal emphasizes recording the Abyss not merely for fame, but to honor heroes and warn people of its dangers.
• Childlike innocence versus adult caution: The Sprite’s pure intentions contrast with the officials’ fear of unpredictable consequences.
• Responsible use of resources: Oasis City’s growing population and limited Relics create pressure to use every available asset, even when it has not been fully understood.

Character Interactions

• The Director and Little Sprite develop a playful but cooperative relationship. He directs its performance, while it enthusiastically accommodates his requests.
• Their interview reveals the Sprite’s simple worldview and the Director’s analytical skepticism.
• In the Meeting Room, officials interpret the footage differently: some see evidence that the Sprite is safe, while others remain concerned about the unknown nature of its power.
• The researcher becomes the deciding voice between the optimistic old man and the cautious officer, recommending controlled access—“Children First”—rather than unrestricted public use.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A researcher proposes a controversial plan to allow children to enter the Wishing Fountain and obtain Relics to increase their survival rate in the Abyss and protect Oasis City.
• A high-level meeting is held to discuss the proposal, with the majority voting in favor of the plan.
• The meeting is observed by Mo Ling, who later discovers a Rainbow Light that takes him to an earlier era of Oasis City.

Character Developments

• The researcher shows increasing confidence and fluency in presenting his proposal, demonstrating his conviction in its necessity.
• The middle-aged Officer initially opposes the plan but eventually accepts the majority's decision, showing his dedication to Oasis City's safety despite his personal reservations.
• Mo Ling observes these events and reflects on the complexities of decision-making and the consequences of seeking comfort and security.

Significant Themes

• The necessity of sacrifice for comfort and security.
• The struggle between short-term and long-term benefits.
• The responsibility of leaders in making difficult decisions.

Character Interactions

• The researcher and the middle-aged Officer have a tense interaction, with the researcher presenting his case confidently and the Officer expressing his disapproval.
• The elder in the meeting acts as a mediator, guiding the discussion and ultimately voting in favor of the plan.
• Mo Ling observes these interactions silently, reflecting on the events and the characters involved.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mo Ling, in the Cube, accidentally hits a bird from the past with a can of food, altering history.
• He observes a past Investigation Team, led by a young Captain, discovering an oasis with fresh water.
• The team debates whether to drink the water, risking injury or death, or find an alternative.

Character Developments

• Mo Ling: Realizes the extent of his impact on history and decides to leave the past to avoid further interference.
• Young Old Xu: Speaks out against gambling with injured team members' lives.
• Young Officer (later Mo Ling's father): Volunteers to drink the water, displaying courage and selflessness.
• Captain: Prioritizes the safety of the majority, demonstrating leadership and responsibility.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of interfering with history.
• The importance of prioritizing the greater good over individual needs.
• The dangers and uncertainties of exploring the Abyss.

Character Interactions

• Mo Ling observes the past Investigation Team from a distance, feeling guilt for altering their history.
• Young Old Xu confronts the Glasses Member for suggesting a risky plan.
• The Captain and the young Officer have a tense moment, with the Captain ultimately prioritizing the team's safety over the individual's sacrifice.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mo Ling enters the Oasis and encounters a Rainbow Light, which transports him to a desert.
• He realizes he's in a scene from before the Oasis existed, recreated by the Mirage Qi.
• A sudden Sandstorm engulfs the Cube, and Mo Ling encounters a Strange Turtle, the god of the Shell People.
• The Strange Turtle is laying eggs, and the Shell People are trying to protect it, unaware of Mo Ling's presence.

Character Developments

• Mo Ling: Shows curiosity and determination to understand the Oasis's origin.
• Strange Turtle: Revealed to be the god of the Shell People, currently weak and laying eggs.
• Shell People: Display loyalty and eagerness to protect their god, but lack awareness of their surroundings.

Significant Themes

• The origin and history of the Oasis.
• The relationship between the Strange Turtle and the Shell People.
• The power and limitations of the Mirage Qi.

Character Interactions

• Mo Ling interacts with the Strange Turtle, trying to understand its situation.
• The Shell People interact with the Strange Turtle, trying to protect it from an unseen enemy (Mo Ling).

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mo Ling discovers a weak, strange turtle in the desert, which turns out to be a Spinning Turtle.
• The turtle reveals it has come to lay eggs on land, as its race's life cycle requires.
• The turtle shares its race's history and life cycle, involving Shell People who protect and live on their shells.
• Mo Ling witnesses the turtle laying eggs, with Shell People defending them, while a mysterious Purple Gauze Being appears, stopping the wind and sand.

Character Developments

• Mo Ling: Shows curiosity and empathy towards the turtle, understanding its plight and history.
• The Spinning Turtle: Initially hostile, it opens up to Mo Ling, sharing its race's story and showing vulnerability during egg-laying.
• Shell People: Display loyalty and protectiveness towards the turtle, intensifying their efforts despite not seeing Mo Ling.

Significant Themes

• Life Cycle and Destiny: The turtle's race has a predetermined life cycle, with both hardships and protection.
• Communication and Understanding: Mo Ling's ability to communicate with the turtle leads to understanding and empathy.
• Power and Vulnerability: The powerful turtle is vulnerable during egg-laying, highlighting the cycle of life.

Character Interactions

• Mo Ling and the Spinning Turtle: Initially hostile, they develop a dialogue, with Mo Ling showing understanding and the turtle opening up.
• The Spinning Turtle and Shell People: The turtle is protected by the Shell People, who display loyalty and fear for their 'god'.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Purple Gauze Being attacks the weakened Spinning Turtle, trapping it with its endless, constricting gauze nets.
• The Shell People attempt to free the turtle using seashells but are overwhelmed by the gauze's speed and quantity.
• The Spinning Turtle, despite its efforts, is eventually buried under a mountain of seashells and sand.
• After trapping the turtle, the Purple Gauze Being releases a golden light, which it places near a pool of clear water. The golden light merges into the water and disappears.

Character Developments

• The Spinning Turtle, despite its powerful ability to vibrate its shell and tear apart the gauze, is ultimately overwhelmed and trapped.
• The Shell People, while trying to help their god, inadvertently contribute to its entrapment.
• The Purple Gauze Being demonstrates immense power and resilience, easily recovering from damage and trapping the Spinning Turtle.
• Mo Ling, observing the battle, realizes that the Purple Gauze Being cannot see him, unlike the Spinning Turtle.

Significant Themes

• The relentless and overwhelming power of the Purple Gauze Being, symbolizing the inevitability of certain events.
• The unintended consequences of the Shell People's actions, highlighting the theme of unintended consequences or misguided intentions.

Character Interactions

• The Spinning Turtle and the Shell People interact through communication, with the turtle expressing its inability to escape and the Shell People trying to help but ultimately failing.
• Mo Ling observes the battle between the Spinning Turtle and the Purple Gauze Being, noting the latter's inability to see him.
• The Purple Gauze Being interacts with the golden light, guiding it towards the pool of clear water.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A clear pool of water transforms into the Wishing Fountain, created by the Purple Gauze Being.
• The Wishing Fountain is revealed to be made of ordinary water and special golden light.
• The Purple Gauze Being transforms into a Purple Little Sprite and enters the Wishing Fountain.
• Inside the Wishing Fountain, the golden light transforms into a Golden Little Sprite, which interacts with the Purple Little Sprite.
• The Golden Little Sprite displays the ability to see the future and mimics the Purple Little Sprite's actions.
• The Purple Little Sprite makes a wish gesture towards the Golden Little Sprite, mirroring the gesture from the Mirage Qi discovery records.

Character Developments

• Mo Ling: Witnesses the creation of the Wishing Fountain and the interaction between the Little Sprites, leading to new insights about the Mirage Qi's origins.
• Purple Gauze Being: Transforms into a Purple Little Sprite, showing fear towards the golden light and attempting to make a wish.
• Golden Little Sprite: Transforms from the golden light, displays childlike behavior, and shows the ability to see the future and mimic others.

Significant Themes

• Creation and origin: The chapter explores the creation of the Wishing Fountain and the origin of the Mirage Qi.
• Fear and anxiety: The Purple Gauze Being's fear of the golden light and its anxious behavior when interacting with the Golden Little Sprite.
• Learning and mimicry: The Golden Little Sprite's ability to learn and mimic others, reflecting the theme of growth and understanding.

Character Interactions

• Mo Ling and the Little Sprites: Mo Ling observes the Little Sprites' interactions without interfering.
• Purple Little Sprite and Golden Little Sprite: They interact through mimicry, play, and a potential wish-making gesture.
• Purple Gauze Being and Golden Light: The Purple Gauze Being is afraid of the golden light and attempts to communicate with it.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Purple Little Sprite makes a wish-gesturing motion, intriguing the Golden Little Sprite.
• The Golden Little Sprite projects the Purple Little Sprite's wish onto a water flow: a girl walking in a purple void, escaping, and integrating into human society.
• The Golden Little Sprite struggles to understand and control its wish-granting ability.
• It agrees to fulfill the Purple Little Sprite's wish, taking its wish as payment.
• The process of granting the wish involves transforming the Purple Little Sprite's gauze form into a human shape.

Character Developments

• The Golden Little Sprite evolves from a playful, confused state to a focused, understanding being, regaining its wish-granting ability.
• The Purple Little Sprite remains eager and expectant throughout, showing no signs of understanding the complexity of its wish.

Significant Themes

• The power of wishes and their consequences.
• The struggle between understanding and confusion.
• The transformation from otherworldly to human.

Character Interactions

• The Purple Little Sprite initiates interaction by making a wish gesture, intriguing the Golden Little Sprite.
• The Golden Little Sprite projects the Purple Little Sprite's wish, leading to a conversation about wishes.
• The Golden Little Sprite agrees to fulfill the Purple Little Sprite's wish, taking its wish in return.
• The process of granting the wish involves physical interaction, with the Golden Little Sprite transforming the Purple Little Sprite.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Purple Gauze Being wishes to transform into a human, which Mo Ling finds surprising and obsessive.
• The Golden Little Sprite fulfills the wish crudely and quickly, creating a human-shaped being from the Purple Gauze Being.
• The human form disappears into the Water Flow Space, and the Golden Little Sprite explains that she has returned to her correct position.
• Li Xiangyi, a girl from Mo Ling's past, appears and creates an oasis on the white seashells using various threads and energy extracted from underground (Guilinggao).

Character Developments

• Mo Ling: Realizes the obsession of the Purple Gauze Being and witnesses Li Xiangyi's creation of an oasis, leading to shock and disbelief.
• The Golden Little Sprite: Matures and explains the Purple Gauze Being's transformation and Li Xiangyi's appearance. It also recovers its energy during the chapter.
• Li Xiangyi: Demonstrates her ability to control threads and create life, showing a god-like power.

Significant Themes

• Transformation and change: The Purple Gauze Being transforms into a human, and Li Xiangyi transforms the barren landscape into a vibrant oasis.
• Obsession: Mo Ling compares the Purple Gauze Being's desire to become human to someone who loves cats so much they want to become one.
• Creation and life: Li Xiangyi's actions showcase her ability to create and nurture life, highlighting the theme of creation.

Character Interactions

• Mo Ling and the Golden Little Sprite: They communicate, with the Little Sprite explaining the transformations and Li Xiangyi's appearance to Mo Ling.
• Li Xiangyi and the environment: Li Xiangyi interacts with the environment, using her powers to create an oasis and bring life to the barren landscape.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Xiangyi, previously the Purple Gauze Being, uses the Rainbow Shuttle Relic to create an oasis, extracting energy from the Spinning Turtle.
• Upon completing the oasis, Li Xiangyi's sense of direction becomes severely impaired due to the Relic's cost.

Character Developments

• Mo Ling becomes more confused about Li Xiangyi's motivations and the true purpose of the oasis.
• Li Xiangyi's condition worsens after using the Rainbow Shuttle, leading to a loss of sense of direction.

Significant Themes

• Power and Sacrifice: The Rainbow Shuttle's immense power comes at the cost of the user's sense of direction.
• Creation and Consequences: Li Xiangyi creates an oasis, but the process has severe consequences for herself and the Spinning Turtle.

Character Interactions

• Mo Ling and the Little Sprite discuss Li Xiangyi's condition and the nature of the Rainbow Shuttle Relic.
• Li Xiangyi's interaction with her surroundings becomes chaotic and confused due to her loss of sense of direction.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Little Sprite explains that the sense of direction and time are interconnected, and losing one affects the other.
• Mo Ling learns that Li Xiangyi's stasis is due to her lack of a sense of time, preventing her from aging or changing.
• Li Xiangyi's wish to create an oasis is revealed to be a manifestation of her love for humans.
• The Little Sprite shares that Li Xiangyi's wish has been transferred to it, and it now seeks to fulfill it.

Character Developments

• Mo Ling gains a deeper understanding of the relationship between time, space, and direction.
• Li Xiangyi's motivation for creating the oasis is revealed to be her affection for humans.
• The Little Sprite shows empathy and understanding of Li Xiangyi's wish, indicating a personal connection to it.

Significant Themes

• The interconnectedness of time and space.
• The power of love and affection, driving Li Xiangyi's actions.
• The concept of wishes and their fulfillment, with the Little Sprite now responsible for Li Xiangyi's wish.

Character Interactions

• Mo Ling and the Little Sprite have a conversation about Li Xiangyi's situation, leading to Mo Ling's increased understanding.
• The Little Sprite reveals its personal connection to Li Xiangyi's wish, showing empathy and understanding.
• Li Xiangyi, confused and without a sense of direction, leaves the oasis, unaware of her role in fulfilling her past wish.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mo Ling encounters a dejected Little Sprite in the Water Flow Space, which is capable of stealing and fulfilling wishes.
• Mo Ling learns about the Little Sprite's origin, abilities, and future actions from historical illusions.
• Mo Ling asks the Little Sprite to carry a can of cola into the future, hoping to influence reality within historical illusions.

Character Developments

• The Little Sprite: Initially optimistic, it becomes troubled and contemplative, questioning its own happiness. It shows understanding and willingness to help Mo Ling.
• Mo Ling: He becomes more curious and proactive, seeking to understand and influence the nature of historical illusions and reality.

Significant Themes

• The nature of reality and illusion: Mo Ling explores whether reality can turn into illusion and vice versa.
• The power of wishes: The Little Sprite's ability to fulfill wishes raises questions about the significance and consequences of making wishes.
• Time and memory: The historical illusions allow Mo Ling to witness past events and understand the Little Sprite's origins and future actions.

Character Interactions

• Mo Ling and the Little Sprite: They communicate and cooperate, with Mo Ling seeking the Little Sprite's help to carry an object into the future, and the Little Sprite agreeing without asking for compensation.
• Mo Ling and his past self: Mo Ling reflects on his past actions and thoughts, comparing them to his current understanding and motivations.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mo Ling bids farewell to the Little Sprite and travels to a distant past via a Rainbow Light Surface.
• He finds himself in a boundless, dark deep sea, surrounded by massive creatures and strange shadows.
• He escapes to Oasis City, where he witnesses an earthquake and the city's residents transforming into dark shadows.
• Mo Ling encounters historical phantoms of Oasis City residents, who are being questioned by Little Sprites about their deepest desires.

Character Developments

• Mo Ling experiences fear and disorientation in the deep sea and Oasis City illusions.
• The Little Sprite continues to ask people about their deepest desires, suggesting it has been granting wishes throughout the Mirage Qi spread.

Significant Themes

• The boundary between reality and illusion is blurred, with historical phantoms appearing in Mo Ling's perception.
• The Little Sprite's persistence in uncovering people's true desires highlights the theme of honesty and self-awareness.

Character Interactions

• Mo Ling interacts with Little Sprites and Oasis City residents in their historical phantoms, but no direct communication occurs between him and these figures.
• The Little Sprite and an Oasis City woman have a tense interaction, with the Little Sprite pressing the woman to reveal her true desire.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A woman in the deep sea has her deepest desire, a wish, read aloud by the Little Sprite, who then grants it by sending her away.
• Mo Ling, a third-person observer, sees this and watches as the Little Sprite approaches an Oasis City resident, a farmer known as the "Greenhouse King."
• The Little Sprite asks the Greenhouse King about his wish, but he refuses to make one, believing in self-achievement rather than wishes.
• The Little Sprite offers the Greenhouse King two Relics (a flashlight for accelerated plant growth and a camera for object replication) if he makes a wish, but he declines, finding the ideas behind the Relics useful for his own plans.

Character Developments

• The woman: Her deepest desire is revealed, and she is granted her wish by the Little Sprite.
• The Little Sprite: It continues to seek wishes from humans, showing persistence and adaptability in its approach, but also displays signs of distress or malfunction, such as its distorted expression and dullness.
• The Greenhouse King: He demonstrates maturity and self-reliance, refusing to make a wish and instead planning to achieve his goals through his own efforts. He shows empathy for his community, wanting to ensure they have access to fresh fruit.

Significant Themes

• Wishes vs. self-achievement: The Greenhouse King's refusal to make a wish highlights the theme of self-reliance and hard work over relying on external forces or miracles.
• The power of Relics: The Little Sprite's offers of Relics showcase their potential and the desire they can inspire, but also the consequences of their misuse or misalignment with one's values.

Character Interactions

• The Little Sprite and the woman: The Little Sprite grants the woman's wish without hesitation, showing its ability to fulfill desires.
• The Little Sprite and the Greenhouse King: Their interaction highlights the Greenhouse King's self-reliance and the Little Sprite's persistence in seeking wishes, despite the Greenhouse King's refusal. Their conversation also reveals the Greenhouse King's empathy for his community and his plans for improving their lives.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Greenhouse King refuses to make a wish, causing the Little Sprite to disappear.
• Mo Ling observes the Little Sprite's behavior across different eras, noting its inability to interfere with those who haven't made a wish.
• Mo Ling discovers that the Little Sprite can only punish those who have made a wish and are lying about it.
• Mo Ling uses his teleportation ability to capture and neutralize the Little Sprites, preventing them from punishing the residents.
• A Little Sprite confronts Mo Ling, trying to discern his wish, but fails due to Mo Ling's lack of a clear desire.
• Mo Ling asks for a television that shows his true inner desires, causing the Little Sprite to create one before freezing again.

Character Developments

• The Greenhouse King: Stands firm in his refusal to make a wish, demonstrating his confidence and determination.
• Mo Ling: Shows initiative and resourcefulness in dealing with the Little Sprites, using his teleportation ability to protect the residents.
• The Little Sprite: Becomes increasingly frantic and confused in its attempts to fulfill wishes, revealing its limited capabilities and vulnerability to manipulation.

Significant Themes

• The power of wishes and their potential consequences.
• The struggle between free will and external influence.
• The importance of clear communication and understanding one's true desires.

Character Interactions

• The Greenhouse King and the Little Sprite: The Greenhouse King's refusal to make a wish leads to a stalemate with the Little Sprite, who can't force him to act.
• Mo Ling and the Little Sprites: Mo Ling's intervention disrupts the Little Sprites' plans, leading to a cat-and-mouse game between them.
• Mo Ling and the confronting Little Sprite: Their interaction highlights the Little Sprite's confusion and vulnerability when faced with ambiguity.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mo Ling manipulates a Little Sprite to drain energy from others, causing chaos in Oasis City's illusion.
• The Little Sprite reveals that the Spinning Turtle, not it, created the Mirage Qi and wants to return to the sea, threatening Oasis City.
• The Little Sprite confirms that the Spinning Turtle made a wish, which is being fulfilled, and that other residents' wishes are also coming true, stabilizing Oasis City.

Character Developments

• Mo Ling: Becomes more manipulative and reckless in his pursuit of power.
• The Little Sprite: Initially frenzied and easily manipulated, it later regains its rationality and reveals crucial information about the Spinning Turtle's plan.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and its consequences: Mo Ling's manipulation of the Little Sprite leads to chaos and endangers Oasis City.
• Wishes and their consequences: The Little Sprite fulfills wishes, but the consequences are not always positive, sometimes leading to disaster.
• Protection and resilience: Despite the chaos, residents' wishes to protect Oasis City help stabilize the city.

Character Interactions

• Mo Ling and the Little Sprite: Mo Ling manipulates the Little Sprite, initially making it frenzied and causing it to drain energy from others. Later, the Little Sprite regains its rationality and shares crucial information.
• The Little Sprite and the Spinning Turtle: The Little Sprite reveals that the Spinning Turtle made a wish, which is being fulfilled, threatening Oasis City.