Chapter Summaries

Shen Heng was overwhelmed by Shadow Erosion’s tentacles and left badly injured, but while preparing to face death, he realized Origin Power might be able to resonate like his blade and body. He began accelerating his Origin Power and activated Flow · Overclock.

• Shen Heng searched for a way to defeat Shadow Erosion but found that his ability, the terrain, and distant reinforcements could not help him.
• Shadow Erosion battered Shen Heng through the seafood market, and Shen Heng severed one tentacle before another struck him into a shattered stall.
• Shen Heng struggled up, retrieved his long blade, and prepared to face Shadow Erosion despite his injuries.
• Shen Heng realized Origin Power might be able to vibrate and resonate, then accelerated its circulation through his body.
• Shen Heng’s body began resonating with Origin Power as he faced Shadow Erosion and activated Flow · Overclock.

Shen Heng used Origin Power · Flow · Overclock to close the physical gap with Shadow Erosion and turn the battle in his favor. He severed Shadow Erosion's tentacles and ultimately decapitated it.

• Shen Heng dodged Shadow Erosion's attacks and cut through three tentacles at once with Twofold Force and Vibrating Blade · Triple · Flow · Overclock.
• Shen Heng advanced while severing Shadow Erosion's tentacles, preventing it from retrieving the severed parts.
• Shen Heng noticed two hidden tentacles moving to retrieve the severed limbs, then charged Shadow Erosion and cut off the two tentacles beside it.
• Shen Heng evaded Shadow Erosion's attacks, sliced through the slit in its head, and severed every connection between its body and tentacles.
• Shen Heng kicked Shadow Erosion's lower half away, and its oval head fell to the ground.

Shen Heng tried to wear down Shadow Erosion’s regeneration with repeated attacks, but his body began to fail before the creature’s healing was weakened enough. When Wang Hai arrived and took over, Shen Heng discussed other ways to kill Shadow Erosion, and Wang Hai told him to bring Wu Cheng and find a way to wake him.

• Shen Heng repeatedly slashed Shadow Erosion, but its wounds continued to regenerate, and the strain of Flow · Overclock began to exhaust him.
• Shen Heng considered burning Shadow Erosion but concluded it would escape unless someone held it back.
• Wang Hai arrived at the seafood market and found Shen Heng fighting Shadow Erosion.
• Wang Hai took over the attacks after Shen Heng admitted that Flow · Overclock was heavily straining his body.
• Shen Heng learned the others could not be awakened without risking greater mental damage and told Wang Hai his ideas for killing Shadow Erosion.
• Wang Hai told Shen Heng to bring Wu Cheng and find a way to wake him.

Shen Heng woke Wu Cheng and had him burn Shadow Erosion’s scattered remains while Wang Hai kept the creature occupied. As the remains crumbled into smoke, Shadow Erosion stirred and its yellow eyes lit up again.

• Wang Hai told Shen Heng to wake Wu Cheng and have him burn Shadow Erosion’s remains while he held the creature off.
• Shen Heng used sound waves and slaps to wake Wu Cheng, who recalled Shadow Erosion knocking them unconscious and complained of head and face pain.
• Shen Heng gathered Shadow Erosion’s remains while Wu Cheng rested, then confirmed Wu Cheng could still use his fire ability.
• Wu Cheng burned the remains with golden flames, reducing them to black smoke as Shadow Erosion began to stir and its eyes lit up again.

Wang Hai lured Shadow Erosion into engulfing him, then trapped it between two Origin Power walls. Shadow Erosion turned to inflict soul-deep pain on him.

• Wang Hai blocked Shadow Erosion while Wu Cheng continued attacking it with flames.
• Wang Hai invited Shadow Erosion to try eating him, and Shen Heng realized the captain had a plan.
• Shadow Erosion enveloped Wang Hai, but it could not digest him through his Origin Power protection.
• Shadow Erosion tried to escape and discovered that Wang Hai was trapped between two Origin Power walls.
• Shadow Erosion attacked Wang Hai again, this time inflicting pain etched into the soul.

Shen Heng, Wu Cheng, and Wang Hai burned Shadow Erosion to nothing, but all three collapsed from exhaustion. At the hospital, Shen Heng received surveillance footage and stayed awake to handle any further Calamity Beasts before falling asleep.

• Wu Cheng finished burning away the black smoke, then poured golden flames onto Shadow Erosion inside the Origin Power barrier.
• Wang Hai endured Shadow Erosion's pain as Wu Cheng kept burning it, and Shen Heng watched over them.
• Shadow Erosion stopped resisting and died, while Wu Cheng and Wang Hai collapsed from exhaustion.
• At the hospital, Shen Heng accepted the seafood market surveillance hard drives from a police officer and asked to be contacted if more Calamity Beasts appeared.
• Shen Heng sat by the hospital room's bay window and gradually fell asleep.

After the battle with Shadow Erosion, Shen Heng and Le Gu Nan woke and shared breakfast while he reassured her that her abilities were important. Their quiet meal ended when Shen Heng sensed that the others had awakened and wanted breakfast too.

• Le Gu Nan woke first and asked Shen Heng what had happened after they passed out; he told her he had fought Shadow Erosion with help from the captain and Wu Cheng.
• Le Gu Nan regretted being unable to help, but Shen Heng reassured her that her analysis, Reconstruction, and healing made her important.
• Shen Heng invited Le Gu Nan to breakfast, and they tried soy milk, fried dough sticks, buns, and other local foods together.
• At an Old Xiguan shop, Shen Heng and Le Gu Nan overheard the owner and Uncle Chen discussing the Calamity Beast attack at the seafood market.
• Shen Heng seemed to listen to something, then told Le Gu Nan that the others had woken up and wanted them to bring breakfast.

After recovering from the encounter with Shadow Erosion, Shen Heng agreed to write the mission report, while the headquarters learned the beast was connected to the deaths of unaffiliated martial artists. The chapter ended with Zhao Yonggang reacting to the report’s claim that someone had colluded with a Calamity Beast.

• Shen Heng and Le Gu Nan brought food to the hospital, where Wang Hai, Han Ling, and Wu Cheng discussed their lingering injuries.
• Shen Heng explained that he had drowned out the pain by activating Sound Wave Perception at full strength and said Shadow Erosion had struggled against his fighting style.
• Wang Hai asked Shen Heng to write the mission report because Shen Heng had witnessed the incident from beginning to end.
• Shen Heng returned to the Linhai City Supervision Bureau and began writing the report from the mission report template.
• Lü Mingzhe told Zhao Yonggang that the newly emerged Calamity Beast was in Linhai and was linked to the deaths of unaffiliated martial artists.
• Zhao Yonggang learned the report accused someone of colluding with a Calamity Beast and reacted with alarm.

Zhao Yonggang reviewed the battle footage and confirmed Shadow Erosion as an S-Class Calamity Beast. Days later, Wang Hai asked Shen Heng to look after Little Bell while he went to headquarters to advance to the fourth tier.

• Lü Mingzhe briefed Zhao Yonggang on Shadow Erosion, the Linhai Supervision Bureau’s report, and the divided opinions over its classification.
• Zhao Yonggang watched footage of the battle and recognized Shen Heng as the inspector who had suppressed Shadow Erosion with his saber techniques.
• After considering Shadow Erosion’s strength and abilities, Zhao Yonggang confirmed its S-Class classification and advised seeking capable support if it appeared.
• Wang Hai told Shen Heng that his fourth-tier advancement application had been approved and asked him to care for Little Bell while he went to headquarters.
• Shen Heng checked with his family and agreed to host Little Bell, while Wang Hai added that Shen Heng would need to take her to school and pick her up.

Shen Heng picked Little Bell up from kindergarten and brought her to stay at his home for a few days, where Xu Yuqin welcomed her. He decided to delay his trips to the Supervision Bureau until Little Bell fell asleep, and the chapter ended with him helping her with her homework.

• Shen Heng picked Little Bell up from kindergarten, where she celebrated with paper stars and showed him her drawing.
• Little Bell held Shen Heng's hand on the way home and greeted Xu Yuqin when they arrived.
• Shen Heng carried Little Bell's luggage to Shen Shuning's room and updated the captain.
• At dinner, Shen Heng told Little Bell he would stay with her before going to the Supervision Bureau, and she asked for more meat.
• Little Bell counted on her fingers to solve her homework, got four plus two wrong, and started counting again after Shen Heng corrected her.

Shen Heng cared for Little Bell, then returned to training and planned how to develop his techniques. After days of routine practice, he completed synchronization of his ability.

• Shen Heng helped Little Bell finish her arithmetic homework and put her to bed.
• After checking that Little Bell was asleep, Shen Heng went to the Supervision Bureau, confirmed that his body had recovered from Flow · Overclock, and planned to focus on Threefold Force and cultivation.
• Shen Heng resumed practicing Threefold Force, while his routine continued until the kindergarten closed for the New Year holidays.
• While practicing his breathing, Shen Heng sank into a deep state of reflection as Origin Power circulated through his body.
• Shen Heng raised his hand, watched sound waves swirl around it, and completed ability synchronization.

Shen Heng completed Synchronization and discussed his ideal directions for his next ability evolution with his teammates. After putting Little Bell to bed, he heard her ask when her father was coming back.

• Shen Heng told Wu Cheng and the others that his ability had completed Synchronization after one year and three months.
• Shen Heng explained that he hoped his ability would evolve by strengthening his sound waves or deriving an ability related to hearing.
• Wei Leyang reminded Shen Heng that the outcome of Ability Evolution could not be controlled, and Shen Heng accepted that uncertainty.
• Shen Heng returned home and carried Little Bell to bed after she had spent the evening talking with Xu Yuqin.
• Little Bell told Shen Heng about her day at the park, then asked when her father was coming back.

Wang Hai returned to collect Little Bell and explained how reaching the fourth tier marked a step toward transcendence, including the ability to fly. That night, Shen Heng attempted to evolve with a fourth-tier Origin Crystal, and the chapter left him motionless as the gathered Supervision Bureau members worried that he had failed.

• Wang Hai arrived at Shen Heng’s home, reunited with Little Bell, and thanked Xu Yuqin for caring for her.
• While packing Little Bell’s things, Wang Hai told Shen Heng that the fourth tier was a new realm beyond the third and that it granted flight, though sustaining it required the fifth tier.
• Wang Hai gave Shen Heng the Origin Crystal, and Shen Heng decided to try evolving that night.
• Little Bell gave Shen Heng and Xu Yuqin drawings before leaving with Wang Hai and asking to visit again.
• That night, Shen Heng pressed the fourth-tier Origin Crystal to his forehead and experienced a strange transformation as the world around him seemed to collapse.
• Shen Heng remained motionless for twelve minutes, while Wang Hai, Old Li, and the others worried that his evolution had failed.

After Shen Heng successfully evolved, he discovered that he could hear other creatures’ thoughts and emotions and influence emotions. He recognized Dahuang’s thoughts, exposed that Dahuang had reached Tier 2, and left everyone demanding an explanation for when it began cultivating.

• Shen Heng realized his new ability let him hear other creatures’ thoughts and emotions, and he suspected Dahuang was the source of a rough voice in his mind.
• Wang Hai asked whether Shen Heng had evolved successfully, and Shen Heng confirmed that he had.
• Shen Heng asked Dahuang when it had learned to cultivate, prompting everyone to discover that Dahuang had reached Tier 2.
• Dahuang panicked under the group’s scrutiny, spoke aloud, and told Wang Hai that it had sensed Origin Power and started cultivating in February of the previous year.

The Supervision Bureau discovered that Dahuang had secretly cultivated to the second tier and killed Calamity Beasts near Lanshan District. Wang Hai planned to report Dahuang to headquarters, leaving the frightened dog to ask Shen Heng for help.

• Dahuang admitted it began cultivating in February, reached the first tier in June, and reached the second tier last month after staying at the Supervision Bureau.
• Wang Hai questioned whether Dahuang had harmed humans, and Shen Heng indicated it had not; Wang Hai said headquarters would decide its fate.
• Old Li and Wei Leyang asked Wang Hai to spare Dahuang, but Wang Hai questioned whether it might become like the Calamity Beasts.
• Dahuang revealed that it had secretly killed Calamity Beasts near Old Li's home, matching several past incidents around Lanshan District.
• Wang Hai said he would include Dahuang's actions in his report, and Dahuang begged Shen Heng to save it from being sliced up for research.

Shen Heng and Wang Hai discussed Dahuang’s value as an observation subject and planned to ask headquarters to let him remain with the Supervision Bureau under supervision. After the group settled Dahuang’s immediate arrangements, Shen Heng demonstrated his new ability to identify and influence emotions, leaving Dahuang overwhelmed by fear.

• Shen Heng explained that Dahuang could help determine whether cultivating animals might become allies or enemies of humanity, while Wang Hai warned that animals could otherwise face expulsion, killing, or control.
• Wang Hai said he would report Dahuang’s conduct and ask headquarters to let him stay, and Le Gu Nan proposed keeping him beside whoever was on duty until a decision arrived within three days.
• Old Li comforted Dahuang, who accepted that he would have to behave while waiting for headquarters’ response.
• Han Ling asked Shen Heng about his new ability, and he said he could identify and influence creatures’ emotions through sound.
• Shen Heng asked Dahuang to help test the ability, and Dahuang found himself unable to refuse before being overcome by intense fear.

Shen Heng demonstrated how his voice could intensify and soothe Dahuang’s emotions until the dog fell asleep, then began testing another ability in a spar with Wei Leyang. The fight ended with Shen Heng cutting through Wei Leyang’s surprise attack, leaving Wei Leyang shaken by Shen Heng’s apparent foresight.

• Shen Heng made Dahuang tremble with fear through Origin Power pressure, then used his voice to calm it and put it to sleep.
• Shen Heng explained that sharp emotional shifts could exhaust the mind and that his emotion-stirring ability seemed to carry a mental attack.
• Wang Hai arranged for Wei Leyang to spar with Shen Heng so Shen Heng could test another aspect of his ability.
• Shen Heng rushed Wei Leyang and dodged his Thread Bullets through precise movements guided by sound.
• Wei Leyang sprang a combination of Thread Bullet and Ground Net, but Shen Heng anticipated the attack and cut through the threads with his saber.

Wei Leyang tested Shen Heng’s newly developed ability in a spar and concluded that Shen Heng could anticipate attacks. Wang Hai then fought Shen Heng to investigate the ability, and their battle remained unresolved as Wang Hai countered Shen Heng’s blade.

• Wei Leyang attacked Shen Heng with successive thread techniques, but Shen Heng cut through each one with precise timing.
• Wei Leyang stopped the spar, convinced Shen Heng could foresee attacks, and told Han Ling that facing Shen Heng felt like fighting someone who knew every move in advance.
• Shen Heng confirmed the test was complete and decided to limit his ability to hearing inner voices to combat and situations involving hostility.
• At Wei Leyang’s suggestion, Wang Hai agreed to test Shen Heng’s ability in a spar.
• Shen Heng and Wang Hai exchanged attacks, with Shen Heng seeming to anticipate Wang Hai’s movements until Wang Hai halted his punch and swung it upward.

Shen Heng explained that his new B-Class ability let him manipulate emotions and hear others’ thoughts, giving him partial combat precognition with clear limitations. The group considered ways to counter it and left with the question of whether thought-hearing worked outside combat.

• Shen Heng explained that he could hear an opponent’s general intentions, but could not learn the exact trajectory of an attack before it began.
• Wang Hai and the others discussed how the ability struggled against much stronger opponents, unintelligent enemies, and fighters who acted without conscious thought.
• Shen Heng said Origin Power could weaken his emotion manipulation, while thought-hearing was harder to block unless someone could prevent their thoughts from spreading outward.
• Le Gu Nan explained that thinking produced faint electrical signals, and Shen Heng noted that creatures able to conceal their thoughts might exist in the Ruins Realm.
• Shen Heng used a testing plate, which glowed blue and ranked his ability as B-Class.
• Han Ling asked whether Shen Heng could hear thoughts only during combat, and everyone turned to him for an answer.

Shen Heng explained that he could hear thoughts but usually suppressed the ability, and Wang Hai advised him to describe it to outsiders as a combat skill. Wei Leyang proposed an honest ones' game, and the group agreed to experience Shen Heng's usual hearing as he shared the surrounding sounds.

• Shen Heng revealed that he could listen to other people's thoughts, but said he would avoid doing so unless combat or necessity required it.
• Wei Leyang tested Shen Heng's ability and suggested that the group play an honest ones' game by having Shen Heng broadcast their thoughts.
• Wang Hai advised Shen Heng to describe the ability to outsiders as stealing opponents' thoughts during combat.
• Wang Hai, Le Gu Nan, Han Ling, and Wei Leyang agreed to experience the sounds Shen Heng normally heard.
• Shen Heng used Origin Power to share the surrounding sounds, and the group soon found the overlapping noise chaotic and overwhelming.