In the galactic era of 122, the galactic empire, which ruled 25 million inhabited planets and covered the whole galaxy, has stood for 12, years. Under the rule of the young emperor Cleon I, the empire was undoubtedly in its heyday, which was called "the twilight" in history. This year, hari seldon, a 32-year-old young mathematician and assistant professor at Heilikon University, came to Trantor, the capital of the galactic empire, to attend the "Ten-year Congress" held once every ten years, which was a gathering of the best mathematicians from all over the empire. At this conference, Seldon published a paper to prove the feasibility of using mathematics to estimate some trends of future development and the probability of their realization, and called it "Psychohistory". Therefore, he attracted the attention of Emperor Cleon I and his prime minister, the mysterious Eto Demerzel, who wanted to use his psychohistory to serve the increasingly unstable rule of the empire. However, Seldon has repeatedly stated that his psychohistory has only theoretical significance but no operability, so the emperor had to give up. When Seldon was about to return to Heliken, he was attacked by a group of hooligans, and a man who claimed to be a newspaper reporter named Chetter Hummin stepped forward to save him. Fu Ming told Seldon that those hooligans belonged to Dan Motzl, who was after Seldon. Fu Ming also told Seldon that according to the information he had from all over the empire, the galactic empire was slowly collapsing. Although the trend of this collapse was not significant because of the huge territory of the empire, it was irreversible. For the benefit of all mankind, he asked Seldon to develop a real psychohistory to save the declining empire. Seldon encouraged it and decided to develop psychohistory. In order to escape the pursuit of Dan Motzl, Seldon began the famous "Great Escape" period.

Seldon was first placed in Streeling University in Chuantuo by Fu Ming, and Fu Ming arranged a female historian Dors Venabili from the Sinar world to help and take care of Seldon. Seldon and study history, while thinking about psychohistory. As the center of the imperial government, Chuantuo is a world wrapped in metal, and 4 billion residents (mostly administrative staff of the imperial government) live under the dome of darkness. In order to get inspiration, Seldon followed the scientific expedition to the dome of Streuli University, but he was in distress there, forgotten on the cold dome and almost froze to death. Then Doris saved him. Seldon thought his situation was very dangerous, and Fu Ming left with Seldon and Doris and went to other places in Chuantuo.

under the arrangement of Fu Ming, they came to Mycogen, a closed area on Chuantuo. People there follow strict religious precepts. They clean their hair, and women are in an extremely humble position. The people there are extremely xenophobic and have been indulging in past legends. Because their ancestors were pioneers of Aurora, the first peripheral colony in the early stage of interstellar colonization, and their ancestors also had a large number of robots to serve mankind, they were extremely proud and nostalgic. However, their microbial culture and fermentation techniques are quite outstanding, so they have excellent food.

[span] Seldon followed a maiqusheng woman, Raindrop Forty-three, to visit their micro farm, and got their scriptures from her, from which it was inferred that there was a robot in their sacred pavilion that had survived for 2, years. Seldon and Doris disguised themselves as strangers to explore, but they were discovered and almost executed by the ruler of the area, Sunmaster Fourteen. Fortunately, Fu Ming came urgently, and with Fu Ming's intercession, they were able to leave Maiqusheng District.

They came to the poor and backward Dahl again. There, they met their later adopted son, Raych, and the most important research partner, Yugo Amaryl. They are all "inferior people" there, Ricky is a Stray Kids, and Hugo is a local worker. The polarization between the rich and the poor in Darfur is very serious. The middle class and the rich despise the "inferior people" who engage in manual labor and manual labor itself, so there is a revolution for equality brewing there.

while living in Darfur, Seldon heard a legend that an old woman named Mother Rittah lived in Billibotton, a slum in the area. According to Hugo, the old woman knows the legend of the origin of a human being. But the umbilical eye is the most dangerous place in the whole Darfur, and the warfare often occurs. Seldon ignored the danger and resolutely entered the umbilical eye with Doris. While searching for Mammy Rita in the umbilical eye, Seldon asked a teenager the way, and this teenager was Ricky. Sister Rita told Seldon that humans first lived on the earth, and called Aurora and robots (called "robot servants") badland and things. She also mentioned Ba-Lee, the hero who saved the earth and defeated Aurora, and his robot helper Da-Nee.

During the period of leaving the navel eye, Seldon and Dorce fought with some local bandits, and they defeated 1 people with superb fighting skills. Their fame soon spread throughout the Darfur region, and Davan, a secret leader of Umbilical Eye, wanted to meet them. Da Fan leads an underground organization, and he cooperates with Weihe District, hoping to overthrow the existing emperor and build an equal world. Later, Seldon and Daryl were chased by the police, and Richie and Dafan took them to the underground pipeline.

Later, they were taken to the Weihe District (Wye) in the south pole of Chuantuo, where they plotted against the empire and usurped the imperial power for a long time. There, Rashelle, the female district head of Weihe District, wanted to use Seldon's theory to build momentum and theoretical basis for her to seize the throne. Just as Rui Xier was preparing to launch a coup to seize power, a large number of imperial troops suddenly appeared and surrendered their weapons to the troops in Weihe District. Rui Xier tried to kill someone, but Fu Ming suddenly led the imperial army and saved Seldon three. At this time, they realized that Fu Ming was the imperial prime minister Dan Motzl who had been trying to hunt down and monitor them. At this time, Seldon pointed out that Danmotzl was a robot, and it was the robot Danny who had silently guarded mankind for 2, years, and said that the name "Fu Ming" was taken from "human". Danmotzl admitted that he was a robot, whose real name was Rboot. Daneel Olivaw, and introduced Seldon to the "Three Laws of Robotics" and "Zero Law" that guided his behavior, as well as his mind control ability. Daniel hoped that Seldon would continue to develop psychohistory for the benefit of mankind, so Seldon had to agree. After saying goodbye to Daniel, Seldon had guessed that Doris was actually a robot sent by Daniel to protect him, but he still proposed to her.

At this point, Seldon's "Great Escape" period ended. In this process, he strengthened his confidence in developing a practical psychohistory.