Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• A magical fountain grants children's wishes, creating Relics based on their desires.
• A little boy wishes for a toy pistol that shoots candy, surprising his mother who wanted him to wish for a powerful Relic.
• Another boy wishes for a Relic that can erase any creature it sees, with the cost of temporarily becoming ethereal. The Little Sprite grants his wish, but seems disappointed.

Character Developments

• The little boy who wished for candy shows empathy and understanding towards his mother's wishes, revealing his maturity beyond his years.
• The boy who wished for the powerful Relic demonstrates ambition and precision, reciting his wish like a contract.
• The Little Sprite shows empathy and understanding towards the children's wishes, but disappointment when a child asks for something harmful.

Significant Themes

• The power of genuine desires and wishes.
• The consequences of not following one's heart.
• The responsibility that comes with power (as seen in the boy's wish to erase creatures).

Character Interactions

• The little boy and his mother: They have a heartfelt moment after he reveals his wish was for her happiness.
• The ambitious boy and his father: The father seems more interested in the powerful Relic than his son's well-being.
• The Little Sprite and the children: It interacts with each child, granting their wishes but showing disappointment when a child asks for something harmful.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A man laughs uncontrollably after handling a ring, drawing attention to himself.
• An old man in a cloak attacks the man, demanding information about a Relic.
• Soldiers intervene, and the old man is taken away. Li Luo and Li Xiangyi follow and eavesdrop on their conversation.
• Old Xu, the old man, invites them to his home and agrees to explain the situation with the Spring Water.

Character Developments

• Old Xu: Initially appears aggressive, but later shows a gentle side, caring for his flowers and inviting strangers into his home. He reveals a deep understanding of the Abyss and its Relics, suggesting a complex history and wisdom.
• Li Luo and Li Xiangyi: They display curiosity and courage, following Old Xu and engaging in conversation with him despite the initial altercation.

Significant Themes

• The Abyss's Relics: Old Xu's warnings about the Spring Water highlight the potential dangers and traps associated with the Abyss's wish-granting Relics.
• Change and Nostalgia: The contrast between the old man's initial aggressive behavior and his later gentleness, as well as his reluctance to move from his original home, suggests a theme of change and nostalgia for the past.

Character Interactions

• Old Xu and the Soldiers: Old Xu's interaction with the soldiers shows a mix of frustration and concern, as he tries to convince them of the Spring Water's danger, but they dismiss his warnings.
• Old Xu and Li Luo/Li Xiangyi: After initially being aggressive, Old Xu invites the duo to his home, showing trust and a willingness to share his knowledge about the Abyss. Li Luo and Li Xiangyi, in turn, show curiosity and respect for Old Xu's wisdom.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The story unfolds with Old Xu reminiscing about a spring in Oasis City, which was initially ordinary but later revealed to be a Relic.
• The spring is a geyser that erupts at certain times and was the source of drinking water for the initial investigation team.
• Oasis City was built around this spring, but its early days were troubled by attacks from creatures, including the Shell People, an intelligent mollusk-like species.

Character Developments

• Old Xu: Initially a member of the investigation team, he becomes a key figure in the story. He is determined, resourceful, and cares deeply about the safety and well-being of his companions and Oasis City.
• The Little Sprite: A manifestation of the spring, it is revealed to be a Relic. It is curious, honest, and has the power to grant wishes but is also naive and inexperienced.

Significant Themes

• Adversity and Resilience: The story explores how the humans in Oasis City faced and overcame adversities, eventually turning it into a safe haven.
• The Power of Nature: The spring, a natural entity, is revealed to have immense power and consciousness, challenging the humans' understanding of their environment.
• Communication and Understanding: The interaction between Old Xu and the Little Sprite highlights the importance of understanding and communication, even with entities vastly different from humans.

Character Interactions

• Old Xu and the Little Sprite: Their interaction is a mix of confusion, anxiety, and curiosity. Old Xu is initially cautious and anxious, while the Little Sprite is naive and eager to help. Their conversation reveals their contrasting perspectives and priorities.
• Old Xu and the Shell People: Though not directly interacting in this chapter, their conflict is a significant part of the story. Old Xu's determination to protect his people from the Shell People's attacks is evident.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Old Xu receives a Relic from a Little Sprite, which turns out to be a heart that stops his own heart from beating.
• Old Xu, despite his condition, leads the investigation team to find and eliminate hidden Shell People, using an intuition-based ability granted by the Relic.
• The team regains control of the Monitoring Station, and Old Xu reports his experience to the Captain.

Character Developments

• Old Xu: He gains an intuition-based ability and becomes a key suspect due to his unusual actions and the Relic's origin.
• Captain: He becomes more serious and concerned after learning about Old Xu's wish and its potential consequences.

Significant Themes

• Consequences of Wishes: The theme explores the potential dangers and hidden costs of granting wishes, as Old Xu's heart stops beating, and he becomes a suspect.
• Trust and Suspicion: The dynamic between Old Xu and the team changes as they question his actions and the origin of his new abilities.

Character Interactions

• Old Xu and the Captain: Their relationship shifts from camaraderie to caution and concern, as the Captain becomes aware of the potential risks associated with Old Xu's wish.
• Old Xu and the Team: The team members become more wary of Old Xu after witnessing his unusual actions and learning about the Relic.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Old Xu's intuition warns him about the ward window, which later proves correct when a bird flies into it.
• The doctor reveals that Old Xu's heart is missing, replaced by an air-filled cavity.
• Old Xu becomes an outcast due to his "jinx" reputation, living alone for years.
• He steals and destroys relics from the fountain to prevent misfortunes, keeping his Abyss Investigation Team ID as proof.
• He shares his story with Li Luo and Li Xiangyi, revealing his method of destroying relics and his motivation for fighting with the soldier.

Character Developments

• Old Xu: Initially portrayed as eccentric, his backstory reveals him as a lonely figure with a genuine desire to protect others from misfortune, despite being misunderstood and avoided.
• The Captain and Doctor: They initially dismiss Old Xu's concerns but later acknowledge his intuition's accuracy, albeit reluctantly.

Significant Themes

• Intuition vs. Reason: Old Xu's intuition is repeatedly validated, contrasting with the initial disbelief and skepticism from others.
• Loneliness and Isolation: Old Xu's outcast status highlights the theme of loneliness and the consequences of being different.
• Perception of Danger: The relics from the fountain are perceived as dangerous, leading to Old Xu's actions to destroy them.

Character Interactions

• Old Xu and the Captain: Their interaction highlights the captain's initial disbelief and later acknowledgment of Old Xu's intuition.
• Old Xu and the Doctor: The doctor's calm explanation of Old Xu's heart condition shows professional detachment, while Old Xu's reaction reveals his vulnerability.
• Old Xu, Li Luo, and Li Xiangyi: Their interaction shows Old Xu opening up about his past, revealing his motivations and methods. Li Luo and Li Xiangyi are shocked but non-judgmental, showing empathy towards Old Xu's situation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Wishing Fountain's Relics are swept into the sewer by Old Xu, who annually 'confiscates' a portion due to their potential danger.
• Old Xu explains that he uses his intuition, granted by the Fountain, to determine which Relics to confiscate.
• He reveals that he wants the Fountain closed to prevent future issues but hasn't succeeded in convincing his former teammates.

Character Developments

• Old Xu: Shows his dedication and responsibility in managing the Fountain's Relics, revealing his loneliness and frustration in dealing with the issue alone.
• Li Luo and Li Xiangyi: Display curiosity and concern about Old Xu's situation and the Fountain's Relics.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of greed and exploitation of power.
• The struggle between intuition and logic.
• The responsibility of individuals in maintaining order and safety.

Character Interactions

• Old Xu interacts with Li Luo and Li Xiangyi, sharing his experiences and thoughts about the Fountain and its Relics.
• Old Xu's former teammates are mentioned, showing their disagreement with his stance on closing the Fountain.
• Li Luo and Li Xiangyi question and learn from Old Xu, showing empathy and understanding towards his situation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Old Xu's intuition scale detects a strange phenomenon: the air has a danger level, but a certain relic doesn't.
• The danger level in Oasis City rapidly increases, while some relics and the Spring decrease in danger level.
• A massive earthquake occurs, causing a crack in the ground that swallows several people. They end up in an underground sewer.
• The group discovers they're in the Sewer, a constantly changing network of waterways beneath Oasis City, home to dangerous creatures like Shell People.

Character Developments

• Old Xu: Shows expertise in understanding Oasis City's history and the threat of Shell People.
• Li Xiangyi: Demonstrates resourcefulness by using her Relic, the Yellow Silk Thread, to light up the dark sewer.
• Mo Ling: Shows quick thinking and bravery by using the Cube to try and rescue the fallen people.

Significant Themes

• Unpredictability: The changing nature of the Sewer network and the sudden earthquake highlight the unpredictable nature of the Oasis environment.
• Threat and Adaptation: The presence of Shell People and their destructive actions emphasize the constant threat to Oasis City and the need for its inhabitants to adapt and prepare.

Character Interactions

• Old Xu and Li Luo discuss the danger level anomalies in Oasis City.
• Mo Ling attempts to rescue the fallen people using the Cube.
• The group works together to navigate the sewer and share their knowledge about it.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Old Xu, a Fifth Level Hunter, uses his unique ability to guide Li Luo and Li Xiangyi through the Underground Waterway.
• They encounter a toad-like creature and a Cave Limb, a creature with a parasitic arm.
• Old Xu collects the mucus from the toad, showing an unusual interest in it.

Character Developments

• Old Xu reveals his past as a Fifth Level Hunter, showing confidence and nonchalance about his abilities.
• Li Luo and Li Xiangyi learn from Old Xu's experience and adaptability in the Abyss.
• Mo Ling observes Old Xu's Heart, noting its unusual state and transparency.

Significant Themes

• Adaptation and Survival: Old Xu's ability to adapt and survive in the Abyss is highlighted, emphasizing the importance of these traits in the dangerous environment.
• Unusual Creatures: The chapter introduces unique creatures, reflecting the strange and unpredictable nature of the Abyss.

Character Interactions

• Old Xu and Li Luo/Li Xiangyi: Old Xu guides the duo through the Waterway, displaying his knowledge and experience. Li Luo and Li Xiangyi rely on Old Xu's guidance and learn from him.
• Old Xu and Mo Ling: Mo Ling observes Old Xu's Heart, trying to understand his unique ability and the state of his Heart.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Old Xu finds a bottle of mucus from a Honey Toad, which he finds delicious and valuable.
• The group descends a spiral waterway, with Old Xu noting they're going deeper, not leaving the waterway.
• They reach a vast expanse of white flat ground covered in shattered Shell People shells.

Character Developments

• Old Xu: Shows his knowledge of the Abyss, its creatures, and relics. He's cautious and experienced but can be overly focused on his intuition.
• Li Xiangyi: Reveals her navigational disability, relying on others to guide her. She's adaptable and has a positive outlook, having managed to find Oasis City despite her challenge.

Significant Themes

• Adaptation: Li Xiangyi's ability to adapt to her navigational disability and Li Luo's acceptance of her condition.
• Intuition vs. Logic: Old Xu relies heavily on his intuition, while Li Xiangyi and Mo Ling use logic and observation to question their direction.

Character Interactions

• Old Xu and Li Xiangyi: Old Xu tries to reassure Li Xiangyi about their direction, while she shares her experiences navigating the Abyss.
• Li Xiangyi and Li Luo: Li Xiangyi moves closer to Li Luo for reassurance due to her navigational disability.
• Old Xu and Mo Ling: They both observe the environment, with Mo Ling relying on his vision and Old Xu on his experience and intuition.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Luo and his team discover a vast expanse of shells, suspected to be the remains of Shell People.
• Old Xu confirms the shells belong to Shell People and suggests they are in a graveyard.
• The team learns about the elusive Shell People, their social structure, communication, and resistance to capture.
• They decide to explore further, guided by Old Xu's intuition, amidst a misty, rainbow-lit environment.

Character Developments

• Li Luo and Mo Ling are surprised and curious about the Shell People and their graveyard.
• Old Xu, an experienced researcher, is excited and determined to uncover more about the Shell People.
• Li Xiangyi is puzzled but follows the team, using his Light Band to illuminate the path.

Significant Themes

• Elusiveness and Mystery: The Shell People's elusiveness and the mystery surrounding their graveyard drive the plot forward.
• Discovery and Exploration: The team's journey into the Shell People Graveyard represents their desire to uncover the truth.
• Communication and Understanding: The Shell People's unique communication method and the team's attempt to understand them are central themes.

Character Interactions

• Li Luo and Old Xu discuss and share information about the Shell People.
• Li Xiangyi asks questions, showing his curiosity and desire to understand.
• The team members interact, sharing their thoughts and experiences as they explore the graveyard together.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A mysterious Rainbow Light appears, solidifying and expanding, causing changes in water mist.
• The light is identified as Mirage Qi, a phenomenon causing illusions.
• Shen Ping, a Hunter, discovers a mirage-filled island with classical Chinese pavilion relics.

Character Developments

• Li Xiangyi: Initially worried, she becomes more at ease after Old Xu's reassurance.
• Old Xu: Calm and knowledgeable about Mirage Qi.
• Shen Ping: Confident and daring, he explores a mysterious island despite potential illusions.

Significant Themes

• Illusions and reality: Mirage Qi blurs the line between the two.
• Exploration and discovery: Shen Ping's journey mirrors humans' curiosity and drive to explore the unknown.

Character Interactions

• Li Xiangyi and Old Xu: They interact cautiously, with Li Xiangyi seeking reassurance from Old Xu.
• Shen Ping and the island: Shen Ping interacts with the island's environment and relics, experiencing its illusions firsthand.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Ping discovers that the strange Immortals are mirages, but they solidify and ascend a wooden pavilion when a golden light appears.
• He follows them into the pavilion and notices a door carved with ocean creature patterns. The door leads to a vast, illuminated pavilion filled with more mirage Immortals.
• The Immortals receive golden relics one by one from a blue olive in the sky, which Shen Ping suspects is distributing relics.
• After all the Immortals leave, Shen Ping attempts to receive a relic himself by mimicking their gesture.

Character Developments

• Shen Ping remains curious and cautious throughout, learning from the mirages and attempting to interact with them.
• He shows a desire for the relics, feeling frustrated that he can't obtain them.

Significant Themes

• Illusion vs. Reality: The chapter explores the theme of distinguishing between illusion and reality, with Shen Ping trying to determine if the mirages and relics are real.
• Desire and Frustration: Shen Ping's desire for the relics leads to frustration when he realizes they might be out of reach.

Character Interactions

• Shen Ping interacts with the mirage Immortals by mimicking their gestures, but they remain unresponsive to his touch.
• He doesn't interact with any real characters in this chapter.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Ping triggers a blue olive to release a Relic, which turns out to be a Bronze Cup.
• The Bronze Cup passes through his hands and falls to the ground, disappearing with the olive.
• Shen Ping explores the pavilion, finding only some antique utensils which later turn out to be rotten wood.
• The illusion collapses, and Shen Ping finds a real Bronze Cup in the pavilion.
• He reports his experience to the authorities and hands over the Bronze Cup.

Character Developments

• Shen Ping's curiosity and determination drive him to explore the pavilion despite its illusions.
• He becomes more cautious and respectful after realizing the historical significance of his experience.

Significant Themes

• The power of illusion and reality.
• The significance of history and its remnants.
• The concept of communication with past existences.

Character Interactions

• Shen Ping interacts with the illusions of immortals, feeling a sense of connection with them.
• He later interacts with an official who explains the historical context of his experience.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Ping encounters a mysterious mist (Mirage Qi) on an island, which creates phantom images of historical events.
• Official Personnel explain that the mist has no physical effect but can record history and create Relics under certain conditions.
• Shen Ping learns that the Bronze Cup he found in the mist can replicate medicine, and it knew he needed medicine for his ill sister.
• Mirage Qi is named, and its discovery process is recorded.
• In the Abyss, a group of Shell People and their God are seen through Mirage Qi. The God is trapped and asks for help, but the Shell People can't save it. They decide to pass down the message to their next generation.

Character Developments

• Shen Ping: Realizes the Bronze Cup's ability and understands its connection to his sister's illness.
• Shell People: Evolve from unconscious, newly hatched creatures to intelligent beings who inherit their ancestors' mission to "fix the Outsider."

Significant Themes

• Communication with the past through Mirage Qi.
• The burden of history and the passage of knowledge.
• The struggle between intelligence and instinct.

Character Interactions

• Shen Ping and the Official Personnel: Shen Ping learns about the mist and the Bronze Cup from the Official Personnel.
• The Shell People and their God: The Shell People try to help their trapped God but fail. They decide to pass down the message to their descendants.
• The Shell People and their environment: The newborn Shell People grow and evolve in the Graveyard, influenced by the surrounding environment and the Mirage Qi.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Graveyard of seashells rises to the surface due to earthquakes, giving birth to new Shell People.
• Mirage Qi (illusions) emerge from the seashells, replaying the history of the Shell People's attacks on humans.
• The Shell People learn from their predecessors' experiences, passed down through generations, to improve their tactics against humans.
• Old Xu and the Li siblings witness these illusions, learning about the Shell People's determination and methods.

Character Developments

• Old Xu: Realizes the Shell People's ability to create Mirage Qi and understands their persistent motivation.
• Li Luo and Li Xiangyi: Learn about the Shell People's history and their potential threat.

Significant Themes

• Persistence and determination: The Shell People's relentless pursuit of their goal, despite generations of failure.
• Learning and adaptation: The Shell People's ability to learn from their predecessors and improve their tactics.
• The cycle of life and death: The repeated birth and death of Shell People generations.

Character Interactions

• Old Xu shares his insights with Li Luo and Li Xiangyi, helping them understand the Shell People's behavior.
• Li Luo and Li Xiangyi discuss the possible reasons behind the Shell People's attacks on humans.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Xiangyi uses her ability to turn the group into Shell People to infiltrate the Graveyard.
• They attempt to leave undetected but are discovered by a Shell Person Chief who begins planning an invasion of Oasis City.
• Old Xu, unable to bear the Chief's plans, shouts out, drawing the attention of all Shell People.

Character Developments

• Li Xiangyi demonstrates her ability to transform others into creatures she's seen before, showing initiative and resourcefulness.
• Old Xu shows concern for Oasis City's safety and bravery by drawing the Shell People's attention to give his companions time to think.

Significant Themes

• The Shell People's unquestioning loyalty to their ancestors' actions and their limited intelligence.
• The potential consequences of unchecked, unquestioning obedience to tradition or authority.

Character Interactions

• Li Xiangyi, Li Luo, and Old Xu work together to try and escape the Graveyard.
• Old Xu interacts with the Shell People, questioning their motives and causing them to pause and think, showing his quick thinking and courage under pressure.
• The Shell People Chief demonstrates strategic thinking, contrasting with the dazed state of the other Shell People.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Old Xu engages in a dialogue with the Shell People to understand their motivations and strategies.
• The Shell People reveal they live for only 17 days and their civilization is transmitted through the Mirage Qi.
• Old Xu suggests attacking the fountain in the Core Area to destroy Oasis City, and the Shell People agree.
• Old Xu plans to lead the Shell People through the waterways to the Core Area Plaza.

Character Developments

• Old Xu: Shows strategic thinking and manipulation skills, trying to use the Shell People to destroy the Wishing Fountain.
• Shell People: Reveal their short lifespan and single-minded focus on following their ancestors' instructions.

Significant Themes

• Obsession and Tradition: The Shell People's unyielding adherence to their ancestors' instructions, even to their detriment.
• Civilization and Lifespan: The Shell People's civilization is tied to their short lifespan, preventing them from developing further.

Character Interactions

• Old Xu interacts with the Shell People, trying to persuade them to change their strategy, but ultimately manipulates them to serve his own ends.
• Li Luo and Li Xiangyi, now Shell People, agree to Old Xu's plan to attack the fountain.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Old Xu leads the Shell People through Oasis City's sewers to reach the city park.
• They avoid surveillance and reach the Plaza where the Wishing Fountain is located.
• The Shell People create a dome around the Plaza to seal it off from the outside world.
• Old Xu directs the Shell People to reinforce the dome and then leads them to the fountain to destroy it.

Character Developments

• Old Xu demonstrates his knowledge of Oasis City's infrastructure and guard deployments, revealing his past intentions to destroy the fountain.
• He shows leadership and understanding of the Shell People's abilities, acting as their chief.

Significant Themes

• The conflict between humanity and the Shell People, and Old Xu's role in manipulating both sides.
• The potential danger of the Wishing Fountain and the need to destroy it to prevent a crisis.

Character Interactions

• Old Xu interacts with Li Luo and another person, explaining his past plans and current actions.
• He communicates effectively with the Shell People, directing them to create and reinforce the dome, and to destroy the fountain.
• Li Luo and the other person follow Old Xu's instructions, showing trust in his knowledge and abilities.

Chapter Summary: “Cut the Weeds and Eliminate the Roots”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Old Xu leads the shell people in a desperate attempt to destroy the dormant fountain by filling its pool and sealing the Rock Crevices beneath it with shells.
• The shell people are already exhausted from creating the protective dome, but Old Xu urges them to continue, claiming that destroying the fountain will prevent future generations from repeating their sacrifice.
• One by one, the shell people collapse into the pool while still producing shells. Their bodies become mixed with the shells, making it difficult to distinguish them from their creations.
• Through their shell-clacking communication, the shell people agree to continue securing the outsiders.
• A shell person who has been questioning their mission confronts Old Xu, asking why they must follow their ancestors’ instructions and whether their actions will truly save their god.
• The shell person admits that he has never understood the purpose of their orders: saving an unknown god, securing outsiders, avoiding the Core Area and guards, and destroying the fountain. Though confused, he continues obeying because he does not know what else to do.
• He dies in the pool before Old Xu can answer. The other shell people also perish, turning the dome into their tomb.
• After confirming that the shell people are dead, Li Xiangyi uses the shuttle to restore herself and the others from their shell forms and reveals the wreckage in the pool.
• Li Luo tells Old Xu that the result is what he wanted—“mutual destruction”—but Old Xu remains silent, visibly shaken by the deaths.

Character Developments

• Old Xu: Initially acts as a forceful leader, motivating the shell people with promises of protecting future generations. However, when directly challenged about the purpose of their actions, he is unable to provide an answer. His silence and trembling at the end reveal guilt, doubt, or the collapse of his certainty.
• The questioning shell person: Develops from a passive follower into someone capable of independent thought and moral questioning. Although he doubts the traditions imposed on him, he continues sacrificing himself because he lacks alternatives or understanding.
• The shell people: Their devotion to inherited commands is emphasized. They willingly sacrifice themselves despite being newly born and possessing no personal knowledge of the god, fountain, or larger conflict.
• Li Xiangyi and Li Luo: They remain observers and survivors of the event. Li Xiangyi takes practical action by restoring their human forms, while Li Luo openly interprets the massacre as mutual destruction.

Significant Themes

• Blind obedience versus independent thought: The shell people follow ancestral instructions without understanding their purpose, raising questions about whether obedience has value without comprehension.
• Sacrifice and inherited suffering: The shell people are born into a predetermined cycle of labor and death, repeating the sacrifices of their ancestors without knowing whether they are meaningful.
• The burden of leadership: Old Xu inspires the shell people but cannot answer the fundamental questions behind his commands, suggesting that leaders may perpetuate traditions they themselves do not understand.
• Meaninglessness and existential confusion: The shell person’s repeated statement—“I don’t understand anything”—captures the tragedy of beings trapped in a mission without knowledge of its goal.
• Mutual destruction: The fountain’s destruction comes at the cost of the shell people’s lives, making victory indistinguishable from annihilation.

Character Interactions

• Old Xu and the shell people: Old Xu commands and encourages them, invoking their descendants to push them beyond their physical limits.
• Old Xu and the questioning shell person: Their exchange exposes the ideological weakness of Old Xu’s leadership. The shell person asks the questions Old Xu once posed, but Old Xu cannot respond.
• The shell people among themselves: Their shell-clacking communication shows solidarity and collective purpose, even as they die.
• Li Luo and Old Xu: Li Luo bluntly identifies the outcome as “mutual destruction,” while Old Xu’s silence suggests that the statement forces him to confront the consequences of his actions.

Chapter Summary: “Wish”

Plot and Events

After destroying the Wishing Fountain and defeating the shell-people, Old Xu and Li Luo remain trapped inside a hardened dome. Old Xu jokingly plans to blame the fountain’s destruction on the shell-people. When Li Xiangyi’s light band activates the broken fountain again, mist and mirage qi spread through the dome, creating visions of the past.
The mirages reveal members of Old Xu’s former Investigation Team, including its captain, Medic Xiao Wang, survival expert Old Lin, chef Guo Xiaomei, and Old Xu himself as a younger man. The scene depicts the day the spring first appeared and the day Old Xu gained his ability. The young Old Xu is pulled into the fountain and meets a golden sprite, which asks him to state his deepest desire.
Inside the fountain, the group witnesses Old Xu’s wish: he gains extraordinary power, breaks through the dome, defeats the shell-people, saves teammates, predicts disasters, protects Oasis City, explores the Abyss, and becomes celebrated as its greatest hero. The vision culminates in him defeating an entire army of shell-people. The sprite then explains that those who make wishes eventually forget their true wishes, with deeper obsession bringing a greater loss, and asks Old Xu whether he accepts the price.

Character Development

• Old Xu: Becomes visibly shaken and nostalgic upon seeing his former team and younger self. His reaction reveals lingering regret and emotional pain over the choice he made in the past. He recognizes the wish as a reflection of his deepest desire for power, recognition, and importance.
• Li Luo and Li Xiangyi: Continue supporting and observing Old Xu. They realize the mirages are historical memories rather than ordinary illusions and follow him into the fountain’s interior. Li Xiangyi is initially anxious about the danger and consequences of their actions but remains curious and cooperative.
• Young Old Xu: Is portrayed as fearful and inexperienced before the wish, yet secretly longs to become powerful enough to protect others and gain admiration.
• The Golden Sprite: Acts as the fountain’s mysterious relic-spirit, politely presenting the wish while warning of its psychological cost.

Significant Themes

• The danger of desire and obsession: The fountain can grant a person’s deepest wish, but the fulfillment gradually causes them to forget what they truly wanted.
• Power versus identity: Old Xu’s imagined success is built around becoming indispensable, powerful, admired, and heroic, suggesting that his desire for recognition may have overtaken his original motivations.
• Regret and the past: Old Xu is forced to watch the moment that shaped his life, unable to alter it. The chapter emphasizes the pain of confronting one’s former self and irreversible choices.
• Illusion and reality: The mirages blur past and present, making it difficult to distinguish remembered events from actual reality.
• Heroism and sacrifice: Old Xu’s fantasy presents heroism as both protection of others and a source of fame, raising questions about whether his wish was altruistic or driven by vanity.

Character Interactions

Old Xu explains the situation to Li Luo and Li Xiangyi, while Li Xiangyi helps reactivate the fountain’s mirage-producing conditions. Old Xu identifies each phantom member of his former team, sharing his memories with the others. He urgently warns his younger self not to accept the sprite’s offer, but the historical illusion cannot hear or obey him. The golden sprite directly questions young Old Xu about his greatest desire and ultimately confronts him with the cost of receiving it. The chapter ends as the sprite asks whether he accepts the bargain.