Chapter Summaries

Qiji set all livestream tips to go to charity, earning a surge of Popularity Points before training through the night. Huomu and Setsuna sought him out to ask for help getting stronger, and Qiji answered their early-morning knock.

• Qiji directed all future tips to Blue Star charities, prompting viewers to send gifts and raising his Popularity Points by fifty thousand during dinner with his sister.
• After ending the stream, Qiji pushed himself to train until daylight despite his exhaustion.
• Huomu and Setsuna discussed asking Qiji to teach them how to become stronger, and Huomu proposed kneeling to persuade him.
• Setsuna refused to kneel and decided to invite Qiji for a meal to repay her debt to him.
• Qiji hurried home, showered, and pretended to have been asleep when Huomu and Setsuna knocked; Huomu begged him to agree to her request.

Huomu asked Qiji to teach him how to get stronger, convinced that Qiji could solve what he could not. At the training ground, Qiji's special training stalled as the two stared at each other, and Huomu returned with breakfast for Qiji and addressed him as “Master.”

• Huomu tried to kneel before Qiji and begged him to help him grow stronger, so Qiji agreed to guide him.
• Huomu explained that he had concluded he was an idiot and trusted Qiji to find a way to make him stronger; Qiji praised his reasoning while Setsuna was bewildered.
• Qiji led Huomu and Setsuna to the training ground, where he tried to assume a wise mentor's pose before teaching him.
• Qiji and Huomu stared at each other for several minutes while Setsuna left to buy breakfast and returned with soy milk and fried dough sticks.
• Huomu went to buy his own breakfast, then offered Qiji salty soy milk and called him “Master,” making Qiji stop him.

Qiji tried to guide Huomu toward awakening his potential by arguing that Heart Essence could be used without an Echo, though he disguised his own uncertainty behind confident advice. Huomu and Setsuna took his words to heart and began practicing on their own.

• Qiji accepted Huomu's savory soy milk and planned a way to help him grow stronger.
• Huomu said he wanted to awaken an Echo, and Qiji warned him to discover his own power rather than rely on outside guidance.
• Qiji challenged the belief that Heart Essence needed an Echo and asked Huomu what he felt when protecting something; Huomu described a sense of heat.
• Qiji told Huomu to keep experimenting by himself, then went to sleep while Huomu practiced energetically.
• Setsuna doubted her understanding, decided to test Qiji's claims through practice, and stood before a training dummy.

Qiji encouraged Huomu to keep practicing Flame Fist through repetition, and Huomu finally awakened his Heart Essence and broke a training dummy with a fiery punch. The chapter left Huomu having mastered the technique's first breakthrough.

• Qiji woke in the evening and found Huomu and Setsuna discouraged after failing to make progress in training.
• Huomu admitted he feared he lacked the talent to learn the advanced technique, and Qiji told him that persistence mattered more than talent.
• Qiji urged Huomu to channel his frustration and determination into repeated punches against a training dummy.
• Huomu recalled his helplessness during the Metal-Rending Battle Eagle attack and resolved to become strong enough to protect everyone.
• Huomu felt his Heart Essence for the first time and struck the dummy with Flame Fist, snapping it in half with an explosive burst of fire.

Huomu successfully used [Flame Fist] under Qiji’s guidance, moving Huomu to tears and inspiring Setsuna to train harder. When Qiji urged Huomu to repeat the technique so he could learn its workings, Huomu failed to summon the flames again and panicked.

• Huomu landed a powerful [Flame Fist] on a training dummy, and Qiji praised his achievement.
• Huomu remembered Qiji’s support and felt overwhelming gratitude toward him.
• Setsuna admired Qiji’s teaching and encouragement, then resolved to improve herself by practicing the punch.
• Qiji urged Huomu to repeat [Flame Fist], hoping to observe how he used his Heart Essence and learn the technique himself.
• Huomu tried several more punches, but produced no flames and turned to Qiji in confusion.

Qiji encouraged Huomu to analyze and report on how he had used Flame Fist, partly to help him learn and partly to study the power himself. He then watched the newly released episodes, where his spectacular fights and compassionate moments boosted his popularity, while Yuejian also drew attention with his Armament.

• Qiji told Huomu to review the details of his successful Flame Fist and write him a report, and Huomu trusted his advice.
• Qiji admitted that he wanted to learn Flame Fist because he feared unexpected plot changes and wanted to grow stronger before awakening his Echo.
• Huomu and Setsuna finished training, and Qiji declined Setsuna's dinner invitation because he wanted to watch the new episodes.
• Qiji watched episode four, where his stand against the beast tide and his sword fighting captivated viewers.
• Yuejian's Armament stole some of Qiji's attention in episode five, but Qiji regained viewers with his brutal kills.
• Episode six highlighted Qiji rescuing the group, defeating the Gold-Hunting War Eagle, and showing kindness toward children while explaining what makes a hero.

After Qiji’s masked reveal was cut off at the end of episode six, Echo’s popularity and Qiji’s channel surged, earning him a large number of Popularity Points. As Yuejian gained fans and rivalries sparked online, Qiji decided to improve his abilities, then discovered a system update that added recording and optimized livestream mode.

• Episode six ended just as Qiji removed his mask, sending viewers to his personal channel to search for the uncut scene and driving his popularity to the top of the rankings.
• Qiji received 199,991 Popularity Points from episodes four through six, bringing his total to 580,000.
• Yuejian’s debut with the God of the Moon Scroll boosted Lao Yue’s channel, and fans of Yuejian and Qiji began arguing online.
• Qiji watched Yuejian’s fights and set goals to learn Huomu’s Flame Fist, awaken his own Echo, and develop an impressive Armament.
• The system added a recording function and optimized livestream mode to address the time difference between the anime world and Blue Star.

Qiji spent a month cultivating in the rift and repeatedly battered the Iron Wall Turtles while trying to master Flame Fist. When he rushed to stop the turtles from mating, his mask awakened and his Flame Fist erupted with overwhelming power, leaving him realizing his training had finally paid off.

• Qiji chose recording mode so the system could compile the most valuable footage into a livestream.
• Qiji planned to reveal his mask and summon his Echo at the upcoming Echo Academy joint first-year competition.
• Qiji skipped most classes for a month and relentlessly trained against the Iron Wall Turtles in the rift.
• The surviving Iron Wall Turtles began breeding frantically, and Qiji returned from dinner to find them mating on the riverbank.
• Qiji charged into the turtle crowd, and the silver lines on his mask glowed and formed crimson flame patterns.
• Qiji unleashed a vastly stronger Flame Fist that engulfed his body and burned nearby Iron Wall Turtles to ash.

After a month of training, Qiji used the Mask of Miracles to master Flame Fist and discover that it could convert his attributeless Heart Essence into other elements. He defeated the Iron Wall Turtles with his new techniques, then rested, satisfied with his progress but still determined not to lose to Huomu.

• Qiji realized the Mask of Miracles had transformed his Heart Essence into fire attribute in response to his persistent hope, allowing him to master Flame Fist.
• Qiji directed his hope toward another power, and the mask enabled him to develop Thunder Fist.
• Qiji fought the Iron Wall Turtles with Flame Fist, Thunder Fist, Ice Fist, Storm Fist, and Haymaker, defeating them all.
• Qiji noticed that converting his Heart Essence into different attributes consumed it quickly, but decided the techniques were powerful enough to serve as trump cards.
• Qiji collapsed to rest after his month of training and reflected on his gains, while remaining determined not to lose to Huomu.

Qiji returned to Echo Academy and learned that Suyo had challenged him to a fight in their joint practical combat class. As the crowd eagerly awaited the masked geniuses’ showdown and Qiji’s supposed handsome face, Qiji entered Class Eight, ready to defeat Suyo.

• Qiji arrived at Class Eight and asked Cao E why students were expecting a fight between him and Suyo.
• Cao E explained that Suyo had challenged Qiji after students compared him unfavorably to Qiji following his harsh rejection of Bai Lili.
• Qiji decided he would beat Suyo, partly because Suyo had made Bai Lili cry and because the match could boost Qiji’s popularity.
• Cao E said she hoped Qiji would lose so she could see Suyo’s face, and Qiji revealed his identity by answering her in person.
• The crowd recognized Qiji, welcomed him excitedly, and parted to let him enter the classroom.

Qiji returned to Class Eight after a month away and learned that his classmates, led by Huomu, had prepared a synchronized welcome for him. As Qiji prepared to face Suyo, Yuejian revealed his bet with Kijika and gave him notes about Suyo, but Qiji refused them, confident that he already knew her better than anyone.

• Huomu welcomed Qiji back and explained that Class Eight had arranged the ceremony because they were grateful to him.
• Qiji told Huomu he had spent the past month having fun, while Setsuna privately worried about her lack of progress and considered asking Qiji for help.
• Teacher Tsukimi, also called Yuejian, enthusiastically greeted Qiji and explained that he had bet Kijika that Qiji would beat Suyo, with the loser covering the winner’s classes for three days.
• Class Eight urged Qiji to win so Kijika could teach them, and Yuejian handed Qiji a booklet of information about Suyo.
• Qiji returned the booklet, confident that his nine years of studying Suyo had made him understand her better than anyone.

Qiji and Suyo prepared to spar in front of a growing crowd of students, while Bai Lili worried over which of them she wanted to win. Liuli pressed Bai Lili to choose between them, after spending the month helping her pursue Suyo.

• Yuejian eagerly arranged for Qiji and Suyo to fight first so he could get his three days off.
• Suyo proposed an opening match, and Teacher Kijika agreed to let them spar after a short wait.
• Students from Class Three and the other first-year classes, along with some upper-year students, gathered to watch.
• Bai Lili fretted that she had caused Suyo to challenge Qiji and did not want either of them to lose.
• Liuli asked Bai Lili which fighter she wanted to win, while the narration revealed how she had coached Bai Lili on pursuing Suyo.

Liuli decided Bai Lili did not truly love Suyo and tried to steer her away from him, while Qiji approached them to ask Liuli for the Sword of No Thought. After Bai Lili offered Qiji a pouch of money, he eagerly promised to deal with Suyo.

• Liuli concluded that Bai Lili was only acting like a fiancée out of duty and should not fall for Qiji.
• Qiji approached Liuli and asked for the Sword of No Thought, but she refused because the crowd was too large.
• Qiji learned that the Kamishiro Family had not contacted Liuli for a month and stopped pressing her for the sword.
• Bai Lili called Qiji back and offered him a bulging money pouch to make up for the trouble she had caused.
• Qiji took the pouch and promised Bai Lili he would beat Suyo for bullying her.

Qiji entered the much-anticipated match against Suyo and placed all of Bai Lili’s money on himself to win at exactly nine minutes and ten seconds. After the referee cleared Yuejian from the arena, Qiji told Suyo his precise bet, and the crowd erupted as the fight was about to begin.

• Bai Lili realized Qiji had mistaken her support for a request to beat Suyo, but the class bell rang before she could correct him.
• Tian Hao pretended to know Qiji well when Panyan asked who would win, then said either Suyo or Qiji could win.
• Qiji heard Yuejian and others discussing bets, gave Yuejian the pouch from Bai Lili, and wagered it all on winning at nine minutes and ten seconds.
• Qiji borrowed Yuejian’s watch to track the match time, and his livestream viewers opened their own betting through a Guessing Card.
• Suyo asked Teacher Kijika to clear the arena, and Kijika dragged Yuejian away from Qiji.
• Qiji told Suyo he had bet on himself to beat her at the nine-minute-ten-second mark, provoking an uproar from the spectators.

Suyo attacked Qiji with ice blades after his taunts enraged her, but he calmly evaded them and appeared behind her. He dismissed her claim that they were equals, leaving Suyo startled and diving forward to escape.

• Qiji taunted Suyo by claiming he could defeat her in one second, and the spectators turned their support toward him.
• Suyo snapped open an ornate fan, changed her mask to a penguin face, and used Thousand Faces: Frost to launch ice blades at Qiji.
• Qiji vanished from the crowd’s view, then Huomu explained that he had simply walked past the attack.
• Qiji appeared behind Suyo and called her arrogant for claiming they were on the same level.
• Suyo heard Qiji behind her, sensed danger, and instinctively dove forward.

Suyo escalated her fight with Qiji by using her Flame Dance Echo to cover the arena in fire, while Qiji remained relaxed and watched her performance. The chapter ended before her attack landed.

• Suyo used Gale to boost her speed, but Qiji evaded her strike with an afterimage and appeared behind her.
• Suyo realized Qiji had completely outmatched her and that she could not sense his Echo resonating with the Sea of Consciousness.
• Suyo used two fans and the Flame Dance Echo, channeling Heart Essence to prepare a sweeping fire attack across the arena.
• Qiji stood still and criticized Suyo’s dancing, which angered her and made her dance faster.
• Suyo warned Qiji that he still had not dodged, then began explaining the power of her Echo.

Suyo unleashed her Flame Dance: Meteor Fire Rain against Qiji, but he emerged completely unharmed, leaving the spectators stunned. Tian Hao declared Qiji the winner, though his classmates doubted his prediction after his earlier contradictions.

• Suyo warned Qiji to leave the arena, then finished her dance and unleashed Flame Dance: Meteor Fire Rain across the arena.
• Bai Lili worried about Qiji, while Liuli reassured her by comparing Suyo's attack to the blood arrows Qiji had survived.
• After the fire rain and dust cleared, Qiji stood unharmed in his clean black trench coat.
• Tian Hao first insisted Suyo would win, then reasoned that Qiji had already won because Suyo had exhausted her strength without hurting him.
• Cao E challenged Tian Hao to swear to his prediction, and he swore that Qiji would win or he would eat it.

Suyo revealed the Thousand Faces Family’s Imagery Forgery and fought through her fear of losing while carrying the burden of her dead brother’s name. The chapter ended by revealing how her family blamed Shi for Suyo’s death and mourned the loss of their status as the main branch.

• Suyo dropped her fans and revealed a prism, which Teacher Jing recognized as a reason to worry about the betting pool.
• Qiji identified the prism as the Thousand Faces Family’s Imagery Forgery and told Suyo he felt sorry for her reliance on it.
• Suyo lost her composure as she confronted her fear that defeat would expose her as an ordinary, frightened person beneath her genius mask.
• Suyo remembered her brother sacrificing himself to save her when she was five.
• Suyo’s mother and father blamed Shi for Suyo’s death and lamented that their family would lose its main-branch status.

Suyo's past revealed why she took her dead brother's identity and trained to live up to his talent, turning the livestream audience sympathetic toward her. As she faced Qiji, she explained her Echo and began constructing her Armament, with the Sea of Consciousness responding to her confession.

• Suyo recalled how her family treated her brother's death as a fortunate loss and how she took his mask and name, resolving to become as strong as he had been.
• The livestream audience learned Suyo's story, regretted their harsh comments, and began cheering for her against Qiji.
• Suyo threatened to beat Qiji until he cried, while the crowd wondered whether she had taken the lead in the match.
• Tian Hao refused to change his prediction that Qiji would win, citing his oath and claiming he had seen the future.
• Suyo poured heart essence into Imagery Forgery, declared her Echo to be Thousand Faces: Mimicry, and explained that she simulated and substituted for other lineages' powers.
• The Sea of Consciousness resonated with Suyo's frank explanation as her aura rose and Imagery Forgery shook.

Suyo revealed that she was preparing a Lineage Investiture and urged Qiji to attack before she completed her Armament, but Qiji chose to wait, confident he could still win. As Suyo continued preparing, Qiji relaxed and called Huomu over, while the crowd worried that he had thrown the match.

• Teacher Jing explained Self-Revelation Resonance to the Class Eight students, and Yuejian complained that she was interfering with his teaching plan.
• Suyo revealed she planned to use Imagery Forgery to activate Lineage Investiture and said she would be unable to fight for up to five minutes while preparing her Armament.
• Suyo challenged Qiji to attack before she finished, hoping his arrogance would make him let her complete the preparation.
• Qiji said he had thousands of ways to beat Suyo and agreed to wait as long as she finished her Armament within six minutes.
• The crowd panicked at Qiji's decision, and referee Kijika stopped spectators from throwing objects into the arena.
• Qiji walked to the arena's edge and beckoned Huomu over while Suyo continued preparing.