Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Melinda realizes she's jealous of Isabel and Chen Cheng.
• Isabel, reminded by Melinda, confronts Chen Cheng about tricking his teacher.
• Chen Cheng fears the consequences of Isabel exposing his actions.
• Fini's intervention leads Isabel to realize her improper thoughts about Chen Cheng.
• Isabel feels guilty and ashamed, running off with Melinda.
• Chen Cheng returns to find Fini and Adalin arguing over him.

Character Developments

• Melinda: Shows jealousy, understanding, and strategic thinking in handling Isabel's crush on Chen Cheng.
• Isabel: Develops feelings for Chen Cheng, feels guilty and ashamed, maintains rationality due to Melinda's influence.
• Chen Cheng: Feels grateful towards Melinda, guilty about his actions, and worried about the consequences.
• Fini: Shows concern for Chen Cheng, jealousy towards Adalin's interest in him.
• Adalin: Develops feelings for Chen Cheng, expresses her intentions openly.

Significant Themes

• Love triangles and jealousy (Melinda, Isabel, Chen Cheng)
• Guilt and shame (Isabel)
• Possessiveness and manipulation (Melinda)
• Open expression of feelings (Adalin)

Character Interactions

• Melinda and Isabel: Sisters with a complex dynamic, Melinda manipulates Isabel's feelings subtly.
• Chen Cheng and Isabel: Isabel confronts Chen Cheng, feels guilty about her feelings.
• Fini and Adalin: Argue over Chen Cheng, both expressing their interest in him.
• Chen Cheng and Fini/Adalin: Chen Cheng tries to mediate, feels annoyed by their behavior.

Chapter Summary: “News”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Adalin’s declaration the previous day, Chen Cheng realizes that a major conflict is imminent.
• During the night, Fini and Adalin fight over Chen Cheng. Neither girl is visibly injured, but Chen Cheng emerges with his head covered in bumps, making it clear that he suffered most from their rivalry.
• The other female students gossip about the incident and envy Fini and Adalin for possessing such a capable slave. They praise Chen Cheng’s usefulness, intelligence, cultivation talent, and ability to make money, with some even imagining marrying him if his status were different.
• Fini and Adalin overhear these comments and threaten the girls with warning glares. They then punish Chen Cheng further by dragging him along by the ears and accusing him of flirting with other girls.
• At school, everyone notices the strange situation involving Fini, Adalin, and Chen Cheng.
• Adalin searches for Russoff, who is also covered in bruises. He finally delivers his family’s inherited “Body Tempering Technique,” which he had wagered in a previous bet.
• Russoff had been beaten and forced to kneel by his father after trying to undermine the agreement by bribing the teacher. His actions violated his family’s knightly code of honor, and his father warns that a repeat offense would result in punishment under strict knightly rites—potentially even suicide.
• Russoff then approaches Chen Cheng with an envious look, making Chen Cheng suspicious that Russoff may have developed an inappropriate interest in him.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Becomes the unwilling center of attention and the object of rivalry between Fini and Adalin. Although he insists he did nothing wrong, he is punished by both girls and increasingly aware that his popularity among the female students is becoming dangerous.
• Fini: Displays strong jealousy and possessiveness toward Chen Cheng. She joins Adalin in physically punishing him after their fight.
• Adalin: Publicly competes with Fini for Chen Cheng and successfully obtains Russoff’s family technique. She remains determined to claim Chen Cheng and shows little concern for the gossip surrounding them.
• Russoff: Suffers consequences for dishonesty and attempting to break the terms of his wager. His father’s severe punishment forces him to take family honor and knightly rules seriously. His apparent envy of Chen Cheng creates a new source of awkward tension.
• The female students: Their gossip reveals how highly Chen Cheng is regarded despite being a slave. They admire both his talents and his desirability, while also fearing retaliation from Fini and Adalin.

Significant Themes

• Jealousy and possessiveness: Fini and Adalin’s rivalry turns Chen Cheng into the prize of a personal conflict.
• Social status and desirability: Chen Cheng’s talents make him attractive and valuable, but his status as a slave prevents the girls from treating him as an equal potential husband.
• Gossip and public reputation: The students quickly transform the private fight into school-wide entertainment, showing how rumors shape social relationships.
• Honor and consequences: Russoff’s punishment emphasizes the strict moral code of knightly families and the severe consequences of violating one’s word.
• Power and exploitation: Chen Cheng is admired and fought over, yet he remains legally subordinate, highlighting the contradiction between his personal value and his lack of freedom.

Character Interactions

• Fini and Adalin vs. Chen Cheng: Their jealousy leads to a physical confrontation, after which both blame and punish Chen Cheng despite his lack of involvement.
• Female students and Chen Cheng: The girls admire and fantasize about him, treating him as an ideal partner in theory while acknowledging that his slave status makes such a relationship impossible.
• Fini and Adalin vs. the gossiping students: Both girls intimidate students who openly express interest in Chen Cheng.
• Adalin and Russoff: Russoff fulfills his wager by giving Adalin the “Body Tempering Technique,” while she accepts it without much acknowledgment.
• Russoff and Chen Cheng: Russoff approaches Chen Cheng after delivering the technique, and his envious gaze makes Chen Cheng uneasy about his possible intentions.

Chapter Summary: “Coles’s Predicament”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Russoff visits Chen Cheng before class, joking that Chen Cheng should envy him because he was beaten by his father while Chen Cheng’s injuries came from two beautiful girls fighting over him.
• Russoff’s lecherous comments provoke Adalin, who kicks him across the room. Despite the pain and the class’s contempt, Russoff perversely enjoys being kicked by her and quickly retreats when she threatens to do it again.
• Russoff reflects on his lack of success with the girls in his class and decides that country girls from his family’s territory would make better wives because they would be gentler, more obedient, and more willing to care for him.
• The narration contrasts Russoff’s thick skin and easygoing nature with the former Coles, suggesting that Coles’s inability to endure humiliation contributed to his family’s downfall.
• The story then shifts to Coles, who has been living with an old Lich for several months. A growth potion has transformed him from a short child into a tall, handsome young man.
• Although his physical shortcomings have been corrected, Coles remains consumed by grief and hatred. His Lineage has been destroyed, Brown is still alive, and he wants to return immediately to kill his enemies.
• The Lich promised to teach Coles cultivation and help him rebuild his Lineage, but instead has spent months making him perform chores. Coles returns carrying a massive wild bull and angrily demands training.
• The Lich slaps Coles with incredible speed, provoking Coles’s interest in learning the technique. Coles obediently breaks down the bull’s corpse and is then ordered to smoke the meat, revealing that the Lich intends to make him support their survival rather than begin training him immediately.

Character Developments

• Russoff: His shameless, masochistic humor and ability to tolerate ridicule distinguish him from the more resentful Coles. He copes with rejection by rationalizing that village girls would be better partners than the aristocratic girls at school.
• Adalin: She remains assertive and physically dominant, responding decisively to Russoff’s inappropriate remarks. Her cruel amusement after kicking him highlights her confident, intimidating personality.
• Chen Cheng: He is irritated by Russoff and tries to dismiss him, but he restrains himself from attacking because of his status as a slave and his awareness of social consequences.
• Coles: Although he has gained height and a handsome appearance, his emotional state has not improved. He is isolated, bitter, and fixated on revenge. He remains with the Lich only because he hopes to gain power and restore his Lineage.
• The Lich: He is domineering, abusive, and deliberately keeps Coles under his control. Rather than teaching him directly, he uses slaps, insults, and chores to discipline him, while hinting that he possesses extraordinary abilities.

Significant Themes

• Different responses to humiliation: Russoff turns embarrassment into humor and fantasy, while Coles allows resentment to consume him.
• Appearance versus inner condition: Coles’s transformation gives him the looks and stature he once desired, but it does not heal his grief, loneliness, or hatred.
• Power and dependency: Coles seeks power from the Lich but remains dependent on him, illustrating how desperation can place someone under another person’s control.
• Class and gender expectations: Russoff’s fantasies reflect aristocratic attitudes toward marriage, social status, and the perceived usefulness of women from different backgrounds.
• Foreshadowing and fate: The narration suggests that the Coles family may have been doomed by its ruthless traditions, raising questions about whether individual choices or inherited family values determine its collapse.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng attempts to end Russoff’s visit, but Russoff continues teasing him.
• Adalin interrupts and punishes Russoff physically, creating a comic but revealing confrontation.
• Russoff’s reaction contrasts sharply with the contempt of the other girls, emphasizing his unusual personality.
• Coles confronts the Lich about his delayed training, but the Lich answers with violence and orders rather than explanation.
• Their relationship is simultaneously exploitative and practical: the Lich controls Coles, while Coles tolerates the abuse because he believes the Lich can give him the power needed for revenge.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Lich and Coles prepare to flee, with Coles obediently building a meat-smoking rack while the Lich sorts through his stored treasures and specimens.
• The Lich repeatedly provokes Coles, claiming that he is fleeing because saving Coles from the Dragon’s Lair angered the Black Dragon King.
• When Coles refuses to respond, the Lich slaps him. Coles retaliates by striking the Lich with a cow leg bone, prompting a brutal beating.
• The Lich blames Coles for the destruction of his Lineage and for forcing him to flee. His accusations deeply wound Coles, who responds with even greater anger.
• During the beating, Coles unconsciously absorbs the power of his hatred and resentment, causing him to grow stronger.
• The Lich explains that the Black Dragon King has advanced beyond the Dragon race’s normal age restrictions and become an Epic Rank Dragon Emperor. This advancement has made the Lich genuinely afraid and convinced him to escape.
• Meanwhile, the Black Dragon King completes his advancement and becomes the undisputed ruler of Nanmu Forest. The surrounding Beast Kings, including the Eight-faced Demon Spider and Titan Giant Python, come to congratulate him.
• The Beast Kings urge the Black Dragon King to retaliate against the humans of the Kingdom of Moss, who previously drove them away despite being spared.
• Although the Black Dragon King is angry at the humans, his fear of Chen Cheng restrains him. Instead, he focuses on finding the Lich, who stole his entire hoard.

Character Developments

• Coles becomes more emotionally hardened and resistant to the Lich’s manipulation. Though badly beaten, he resumes his work rather than submitting emotionally, demonstrating stubborn endurance.
• Coles’s hatred of his enemies and grief over his destroyed Lineage begin to produce actual power, suggesting that his negative emotions may become a source of strength.
• The Lich is revealed to be manipulative, abusive, greedy, and fearful. He tries to shift responsibility for his troubles onto Coles, while secretly packing his valuables and preparing to flee.
• The Black Dragon King reaches a major milestone by advancing to Dragon Emperor, transforming from a powerful dragon into the supreme ruler of Nanmu Forest.
• Despite his new strength, the Black Dragon King remains cautious. His fear of Chen Cheng overrides his desire for revenge against the humans.
• The Eight-faced Demon Spider shows intelligence and political skill through immediate flattery, while the Titan Giant Python remains direct, aggressive, and less subtle.

Significant Themes

• Blame and manipulation: The Lich repeatedly blames Coles for consequences caused largely by his own greed, especially his looting of the Dragon’s Lair.
• Trauma transformed into power: Coles’s pain, hatred, and memories of his destroyed Lineage fuel his growing strength.
• Power and fear: The Black Dragon King’s advancement establishes him as the strongest force in Nanmu Forest, yet even he remains wary of Chen Cheng.
• Greed and consequences: The Lich’s theft of the Dragon King’s treasures is the true source of their conflict and flight.
• Endurance and resentment: Coles survives abuse by clinging to his hatred, while the Black Dragon King similarly preserves his grudges against both humans and the Lich.

Character Interactions

• The Lich attempts to tease and control Coles, but Coles increasingly refuses to engage with him.
• Their relationship becomes openly violent when Coles retaliates against the Lich’s slap, leading to a savage beating.
• The Lich uses Coles’s destroyed Lineage as an emotional weapon, while Coles’s anger reveals that the accusation strikes at his deepest trauma.
• The Eight-faced Demon Spider flatters the newly empowered Black Dragon King, while the Titan Giant Python advocates immediate revenge against humanity.
• The Beast Kings encourage the Black Dragon King to attack the Kingdom of Moss, but he postpones revenge and instead prioritizes recovering his stolen treasure from the Lich.

Chapter Summary: “Reassurance”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hui Dun City continues developing rapidly after the Calamity Beast Tide. Rather than delaying progress, the disaster cleared away troublesome demolition and relocation issues, allowing the city to expand into an increasingly industrial center.
• The city’s population has grown, and Chen Cheng’s introduced factories, workshops, and ideas are transforming Hui Dun into a major commercial and manufacturing hub.
• The original minor nobles suffered heavy losses because their territories lost most of their subjects. However, they retained ownership of their land, which they could lease to merchants for factories or use for their own businesses.
• Many merchants who established factories in Hui Dun City suddenly face severe difficulties. Former business partners have canceled contracts, refused their goods, or cut off raw-material supplies, apparently as part of an effort to pressure Count Wisdom Shield.
• The merchants gather at Blustro’s residence, demanding an explanation and reassurance. Blustro has anticipated their arrival and is prepared to calm them.
• Blustro advises the merchants to endure the crisis for one more month rather than abandoning their businesses. He argues that their former partners are also suffering because Hui Dun’s exchange allows the city to trade directly with merchants from other kingdoms.
• He predicts that the hostile companies will be unable to sustain their boycott and will soon return to negotiate. By then, the Hui Dun merchants will have greater bargaining power and can demand more favorable contracts.
• Blustro offers to buy the businesses of merchants who cannot continue. Several merchants accept and transfer their factories to him at market value.
• His real objective is not the factories themselves but the land they occupy. He views the purchases as an investment, expecting land values to rise as Hui Dun City continues developing.

Character Developments

• Blustro demonstrates composure, strategic thinking, and business acumen. Although his own operations have suffered, he has diversified enough to remain profitable and understands the broader economic situation.
• He acts as both a leader and opportunist: he reassures the merchants to prevent an economic collapse while positioning himself to acquire valuable property from those forced to sell.
• Solon and the other merchants are shown as anxious and vulnerable after losing their contracts and supplies. They trust Blustro’s reputation but remain cautious about whether his advice is genuinely in their interest.
• Chen Cheng’s influence is evident even though he does not appear directly. His industrial policies and creation of the exchange have reshaped Hui Dun’s economy and provided the foundation for its future prosperity.
• Wisdom Shield remains an important political presence in the background. The city’s economic stability matters because Blustro would be held responsible if the merchants and factories collapsed.
• Princess Fipsa, now head of the Treasury Department, is cited as evidence that political and financial support exists to counter those attempting to undermine the Count.

Significant Themes

• Economic resilience and patience: The chapter emphasizes surviving temporary hardship instead of making rash decisions.
• Crisis as opportunity: The beast tide and current commercial boycott both create openings for redevelopment, consolidation, and future profit.
• The importance of infrastructure: Hui Dun’s exchange reduces dependence on old business partners and allows the city to connect directly with foreign merchants.
• Power through control of land and trade: Blustro recognizes that long-term wealth lies not only in factories or contracts but in ownership and strategic access to land.
• Trust and self-interest: Blustro genuinely helps stabilize the merchants, but he also protects his own interests by acquiring failing businesses and valuable leases.
• Political and economic conflict: The merchants’ difficulties are presented as part of a larger attempt to weaken Wisdom Shield, showing how commercial pressure can be used as a political weapon.

Character Interactions

• Solon and the merchants collectively voice their fears and seek Blustro’s guidance.
• Blustro remains calm while they panic, earning their attention and gradually restoring their confidence.
• He explains the situation directly, persuading them to wait while also revealing that he will purchase the businesses of those who give up.
• The merchants respond differently: some choose to endure, while others accept Blustro’s offer and sell their factories.
• Their negotiations remain formally fair, as Blustro pays market value, but his underlying strategy ensures that he benefits from the city’s expected future growth.

Chapter Summary: “Wisdom Shield’s Foresight”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Solon and his associates leave, Blustro worries that their dispute over land prices could later damage his reputation, so he goes to report the matter to Wisdom Shield.
• At Earl Huidun’s estate, Blustro finds Wisdom Shield speaking amicably with Dean Adolf. Their meeting is actually about the Western Territory Province Academy Grand Competition, which has been moved forward by several years because the governor wants to develop more talent after the Calamity Beast Tide.
• Adolf asks whether Huidun Academy should participate and discusses travel and lodging arrangements. Wisdom Shield assigns these responsibilities to Blustro, who readily agrees because it will help him build relationships with promising students and future recruits for the Wisdom Shield Group.
• After Adolf leaves, Blustro tells Wisdom Shield about Solon’s proposed blockade and the views he and Chen Cheng hold regarding its economic effects.
• Wisdom Shield argues that the First Prince and his faction will not merely redistribute wealth rationally; they will use political power to intimidate merchants. This would discourage large-scale trade and force merchants to deal mainly with Wisdom Shield or Blustro.
• He predicts that such a system would gradually create a monopoly, absorb smaller merchants, weaken the market, and potentially cause economic collapse.
• Rather than confronting the First Prince directly, Wisdom Shield decides to report the blockade to the court. Since the nation’s official policy is to strengthen the economy and military, the faction’s disruption of trade can be portrayed as opposition to national policy.
• Wisdom Shield prepares an official document and asks Blustro to provide monthly exchange reports as evidence of Huidun City’s economic progress.
• He also plans to use his commercial activities to counteract his growing heroic reputation in the capital. Because the nobility looks down on business, news that he is occupied with trade may make him seem less admirable and reduce political attention.

Character Developments

• Wisdom Shield demonstrates a broader understanding of economics and politics than either Blustro or Chen Cheng. He recognizes that economic policy cannot be separated from power struggles and factional manipulation.
• Blustro shifts from viewing the blockade primarily as a merchant’s opportunity to understanding its broader political and economic dangers. He also becomes more willing to support Wisdom Shield’s larger plans.
• Dean Adolf and Wisdom Shield appear to have overcome their previous tension, though the real reason is that the issue causing their disagreement—Wisdom Shield’s marriage to Melinda—has effectively been set aside. Adolf’s visit focuses on practical cooperation rather than family relations.
• Wisdom Shield shows political cleverness by avoiding a direct confrontation with the First Prince and instead using official policy and court opinion against him.
• Adolf continues to act as a supporter of Huidun Academy and takes responsibility for organizing its participation in the upcoming competition.

Significant Themes

• The relationship between economics and politics: Economic systems are vulnerable to coercion and factional power, not just guided by rational market principles.
• The danger of monopoly: Even policies that benefit one merchant or ruler in the short term can destroy competition, reduce market vitality, and damage the broader economy.
• Political strategy and indirect confrontation: Wisdom Shield prefers using national policy and institutional authority rather than openly attacking his rivals.
• Reputation and public perception: Wisdom Shield deliberately tries to replace his heroic image with the less glamorous image of a businessman to avoid attracting excessive attention.
• Talent development and regional growth: The Academy Grand Competition reflects the government’s effort to address the province’s shortage of capable people and strengthen its future.

Character Interactions

• Blustro and Wisdom Shield: Blustro reports the blockade, while Wisdom Shield corrects his overly optimistic assessment and gives him new responsibilities involving the academy competition and economic reports.
• Wisdom Shield and Adolf: They cooperate cordially on the academy competition despite Adolf’s former opposition to Wisdom Shield’s marriage to Melinda. Their relationship is practical and more harmonious because the marriage issue has been removed from consideration.
• Blustro and Adolf: Blustro agrees to arrange travel and lodging for the academy’s students, earning Adolf’s gratitude and strengthening business ties with the academy.
• Wisdom Shield and the First Prince’s faction: Though they do not meet directly, Wisdom Shield anticipates their strategy and prepares to undermine them through a formal appeal to the court.
• Wisdom Shield, Blustro, and Chen Cheng: Their differing perspectives highlight the distinction between merchant interests, economic theory, and political foresight.

Summary

Wisdom Shield is pleased rather than ashamed that his reputation among the nobility has suffered. By personally supporting domestic economic development and allowing himself to appear less socially respectable, he hopes to win King Moss XIII’s approval and strengthen his future claim to the throne. This strategy contrasts him with the First Prince and other nobles, who oppose the King’s shift away from foreign expansion because they profit from war.
To reinforce this image, Wisdom Shield sends Moss XIII an official briefing about the exchange’s legitimate business activities. He deliberately excludes the bank’s financial details, fearing that the enormous sums involved might tempt the King to seize the assets or create the impression that Wisdom Shield intends to surrender them. He trusts that Moss XIII will understand the distinction between privately allowing an investigation and officially offering the bank to the crown.
The discussion then turns to the growing real-estate business in Huidun Territory. Wisdom Shield warns Blustro that development must not create a speculative bubble in which land prices become unaffordable and ordinary workers are left homeless. Drawing on Chen Cheng’s warnings and memories of the damaging effects of real estate speculation in his former life, Wisdom Shield recognizes property finance as a potentially destructive economic “landmine.” Blustro agrees, emphasizing that the territory depends on its workers, and proposes forming a group to study real estate and establish regulations. Wisdom Shield approves the plan and suggests consulting Brown.
After Blustro leaves, Wisdom Shield reflects on the political difficulty of regulating land, especially as industrialization drives up factory and development-site prices. He also recognizes that the minor nobles’ apparent enthusiasm for Chen Cheng’s “new learning” is largely opportunistic: they embraced reform because Wisdom Shield favored it and because Kekebor gained influence by doing so.
At Huidun Academy, Chen Cheng is miserable because his classmates gossip about his relationships with Fini and Adalin, while Isabel and Melinda treat him with visible annoyance after learning about the previous night’s events. Adalin tries to reconcile with him by offering to share the rare Body Tempering Technique, a martial cultivation manual originally obtained through Chen Cheng’s wand. She suggests that his excellent physique might allow him to cultivate both magic and martial arts. Chen Cheng dismisses the manual, having already learned far more advanced techniques from the Demigod-level warrior who raised him. Hurt and angry, Adalin leaves. Fini then smugly asserts that Chen Cheng belongs to her and taunts Adalin, who responds by calling Chen Cheng an idiot and declaring that she no longer wants to compete for him.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Wisdom Shield: Becomes more politically calculating and demonstrates commitment to Moss XIII’s domestic-development policy. He also shows growing awareness of the social consequences of industrialization and real-estate speculation.
• Moss XIII: Although absent, he functions as the central political authority whose approval Wisdom Shield seeks. His reformist policy is challenged by entrenched noble interests.
• Blustro: Proves loyal and pragmatic, accepting the need for real-estate regulation and proposing formal study and legal controls.
• Chen Cheng: Influences Wisdom Shield through his prior warnings but personally feels alienated and embarrassed at school.
• Adalin and Fini: Their rivalry over Chen Cheng intensifies. Adalin’s sincere attempt to share a valuable manual is rejected, while Fini confidently claims superiority and openly provokes her.
• Major themes: Political image-making, loyalty versus opportunism, responsible economic development, the dangers of speculative real estate, class interests, and romantic rivalry.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng, Adalin, and Fini have a brief argument due to Fini's embarrassment over the previous night's incident.
• Melinda and Isabel announce the Academy Grand Competition and the Academy's internal competition to select participants.
• Students initially reluctant to sign up, but Isabel's provocation leads them to register.
• Chen Cheng is unexpectedly signed up by Melinda.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Shows confusion and reluctance to participate in the competition, but ultimately agrees.
• Adalin: Competitive and eager to participate in the competition.
• Fini: Also competitive and challenges Adalin to a competition.
• Melinda and Isabel: Use provocation to encourage students to sign up for the competition.

Significant Themes

• Competition and rivalry among students.
• The impact of teachers' actions on students' behavior and motivation.

Character Interactions

• Adalin and Fini's argument escalates, showing their competitive nature.
• Chen Cheng attempts to mediate but is unsuccessful.
• Melinda and Isabel's interaction with students, using provocation to encourage participation.
• Chen Cheng's confusion and reluctance when Melinda signs him up for the competition.

Chapter Summary: “The New Tournament Format”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng reflects on his time as a student and remembers that his homeroom teacher had always known about the nicknames students gave him, choosing not to punish them because he understood their thoughts.
• Now competing in the Governor’s Mansion tournament, Chen Cheng has easily defeated every first-year opponent. Despite appearing to be a low-rank mage, he has secretly reached Silver Rank and can use Variable Magic with exceptional efficiency.
• Even a Church Academy prodigy who has reached initial Silver Rank manages only to force Chen Cheng to make a second move before being defeated.
• Governor Modornik abruptly announces a new tournament format: instead of six separate grade champions, the ten winners from each grade will be reshuffled and matched regardless of age, year, or cultivation level. The last surviving victor will become the sole champion.
• The announcement shocks the younger students, who realize they will have to face much stronger upper-year competitors. Chen Cheng, however, is conflicted: he finally has the challenging fights he wanted, but winning could expose the true extent of his strength.
• Modornik gives the advancing students three days to prepare or withdraw. Participants may disguise themselves, leave their academy groups, and even keep their identities hidden after winning.
• Chen Cheng becomes especially interested in the disguise rule, seeing it as a possible way to fight seriously without revealing that he is far stronger than he appears.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Revealed to be vastly stronger than his public reputation suggests. He has effectively dominated the first-year division and may possess combat ability approaching the peak of Silver Rank. However, he is worried about defeating higher-year students too easily and exposing himself. His greatest concern is fighting Silver Rank warriors, whose physical strength and close-range attacks could counter his magic.
• Fini: Continues treating Chen Cheng as her “Little Slave,” but privately offers to remove his Slave Collar if he wins the championship. Her attitude combines possessiveness, affection, and growing recognition of his talent. She also advances in the tournament thanks to the wand Chen Cheng created for her.
• Adalin: Has also advanced with the help of Chen Cheng’s compact wand. She challenges his reluctance to learn the Warrior’s Path and insists that he must genuinely fight rather than deliberately lose.
• Governor Modornik: Demonstrates authority and strategic thinking by unexpectedly changing the tournament rules and introducing secrecy, disguises, compensation, and a major final reward.
• The other students: Their fear and uncertainty increase after the new format is announced. They recognize Chen Cheng as an abnormal genius, even though they still do not understand the full extent of his abilities.

Significant Themes

• Hidden identity and concealed power: Chen Cheng’s apparent status as a low-rank mage conflicts sharply with his real strength. The disguise rule provides him with a chance to compete without exposing himself.
• Social restrictions and prejudice: Chen Cheng’s Slave Collar represents the continent’s belief that slaves must remain socially inferior and should not study magic. His success threatens this unwritten order.
• Competition versus responsibility: Chen Cheng wants a genuinely challenging battle, but he must also control his strength to avoid revealing his secret or humiliating powerful academies.
• Magic versus martial power: The new format introduces a serious challenge because warriors can overwhelm mages in close combat, forcing Chen Cheng to confront the limits of relying solely on Variable Magic.
• Freedom and recognition: Fini’s promise to remove the Slave Collar links victory with Chen Cheng’s hope of gaining freedom and openly earning respect.

Important Character Interactions

• Fini approaches Chen Cheng before the tournament and warns that his overwhelming strength will make his opponents suffer.
• Chen Cheng complains that the original tournament is merely an exercise in defeating weaker students and wishes for a more difficult format.
• After the rules change, Fini promises to remove his Slave Collar if he wins.
• Adalin criticizes Chen Cheng for refusing to learn the Warrior’s Path and argues that he must not fake a loss.
• Fini and Adalin agree to judge whether Chen Cheng has truly done his best, increasing the pressure on him.
• Chen Cheng reacts with frustration, realizing that he may no longer be able to withdraw or deliberately lose without disappointing them.
• The chapter ends with Chen Cheng considering the possibility of disguising himself, potentially allowing him to fight freely while protecting his identity and secrets.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Modornik announces a new rule for the competition, allowing students to hide their identities, which benefits Chen Cheng.
• Academy deans, including Adolf, visit Modornik to protest the competition format, fearing it might demotivate talented students.
• Modornik defends his decision, stating that the competition aims to uncover truly ambitious and talented individuals.
• Adolf stays behind to discuss Chen Cheng's participation, worried that Chen Cheng might accidentally win and reveal his slave status.

Character Developments

• Modornik is revealed to be an Epic Rank expert, showing his power and influence.
• Adolf demonstrates his concern for Chen Cheng's safety and the academy's reputation.
• Riddon, the dean of the Royal Academy of Moss and leader of the Academy Alliance, shows interest in Chen Cheng's abilities.

Significant Themes

• Ambition vs. Caution: Modornik encourages ambition, while the academy deans express caution.
• Revealing Identity: The theme of hiding one's identity is explored, with Chen Cheng's secret mastery of all elements at stake.

Character Interactions

• Modornik and Riddon discuss the competition format and the value of ambitious students.
• Adolf confides in Riddon and Modornik about Chen Cheng's true abilities, seeking their understanding and discretion.

Chapter Summary: “Adolf’s Purpose”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Riddon considers whether the Academy Alliance should recruit Chen Cheng. Although Chen possesses unparalleled magical talent and could become the strongest person below Demigod Level, he is currently a slave and is deeply involved in a kingdom’s succession struggle.
• Riddon concludes that recruiting Chen would force the Academy Alliance into political complications and violate its long-standing policy of avoiding interference in national affairs. Chen’s potential also does not guarantee that he will become a Demigod-level expert, making the risk unjustifiable.
• Adolf realizes that Riddon has reached the conclusion he wanted. By revealing Chen’s talent, slave status, and political entanglement, Adolf has ensured that major organizations will avoid competing for Chen and will instead leave him under the protection of the Kingdom of Moss.
• Adolf’s actions are motivated by gratitude toward Chen for creating the Stem Lotus, which saved Adolf and Pembez, and for developing Variable Magic. Adolf and Pembez have begun using Variable Magic to pursue a possible breakthrough to Epic Rank.
• After Adolf leaves, Riddon and Modornik understand his strategy. The Academy Alliance decides Chen is not worth provoking the Kingdom of Moss over, while Modornik views Chen as a potential future Guardian of the kingdom.
• Modornik’s support for Wisdom Shield strengthens because Hui Dun City’s recent tax revenues have surpassed those of the kingdom’s main city, demonstrating Wisdom Shield’s political and economic value.
• At the academy’s hotel, students react to the newly altered competition format. Younger students who must now face stronger upperclassmen begin withdrawing, encouraged by the Governor’s promise of compensation.
• Chen observes one withdrawing student and recognizes his calm self-awareness as a rare form of talent.

Character Developments

• Riddon: Moves from excitement over Chen’s potential to a pragmatic decision not to recruit him. He prioritizes the Academy Alliance’s neutrality and long-term interests.
• Adolf: Reveals himself as highly strategic and protective of Chen. He deliberately shapes how powerful organizations perceive Chen so that Chen will remain valuable to the Kingdom of Moss rather than become a target of outside competition.
• Modornik: Becomes more receptive to Chen’s future role as a kingdom Guardian and increasingly favors Wisdom Shield as a political successor.
• Chen Cheng: Remains mostly offstage but gains greater political importance. His extraordinary talent, political connections, and loyalty to his current position make him a valuable asset to the kingdom.
• The withdrawing student: Demonstrates maturity and self-knowledge by recognizing that an unwinnable contest would be pointless and choosing a practical reward instead.

Significant Themes

• Pragmatism versus idealism: Extraordinary talent alone is insufficient when political risks and institutional principles are involved.
• Protection through perception: Adolf protects Chen not by direct intervention, but by ensuring others believe Chen is politically complicated and limited in ultimate potential.
• Power and political usefulness: Chen’s value depends not only on magical strength but also on the kingdom’s lack of Demigod-level experts and its need for future Guardians.
• Institutional neutrality: The Academy Alliance’s survival depends on avoiding political entanglements, even when faced with exceptional talent.
• Self-awareness and rational choice: The students’ withdrawals emphasize that knowing one’s limits and making practical decisions can be wiser than fighting out of pride.

Important Character Interactions

• Adolf and Riddon discuss Chen’s talent, status, and political involvement, with Adolf subtly guiding Riddon toward rejecting recruitment.
• Adolf’s departure prompts Riddon and Modornik to silently recognize and understand his true intentions.
• Riddon and Modornik reach a shared understanding that Chen can remain aligned with the Kingdom of Moss without creating conflict with the Academy Alliance.
• A student consults his mentor about withdrawing; the mentor tests whether he will regret the decision before approving it.
• Chen watches the student leave and privately respects his ability to judge the situation clearly.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng meets Akasto, the 'little fatty', who reveals the competition rules have changed to a random draw.
• Fini and Adalin join them, expressing their surprise at Akasto's presence and disdain for his lack of study.
• Fini and Adalin share their cultivation struggles: Fini with inscribing energy storage magic, Adalin with body tempering's heat damage.
• Adalin asks Fini for help in cooling her body during tempering, but Fini declines due to the risk.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Shows concern for his friends' cultivation issues but is cautious about sharing Samlet's inheritance.
• Akasto (Little Fatty): Reveals he's involved in selling scented soap and supports Chen Cheng in the competition.
• Fini: Struggles with inscribing energy storage magic due to insufficient spiritual sense.
• Adalin: Faces challenges in body tempering due to heat damage and seeks Fini's help.

Significant Themes

• The struggle and dedication in cultivation, with each character facing unique challenges.
• Friendship and support among cultivators, despite their differences in approach and progress.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Akasto's friendly banter, with Akasto showing support for Chen Cheng's competition.
• Fini and Adalin's dynamic as close friends, sharing their struggles and offering advice.
• Chen Cheng's concern for his friends' well-being, but also his hesitation in sharing Samlet's inheritance.

Chapter Summary: “Heat Conduction”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng realizes that his expertise in heat dissipation from his previous life—where he worked on artificial suns—can help Adalin endure the extreme heat produced during Body Tempering.
• Although Adalin doubts that he can help, she agrees to let him try after he insists that he has a method.
• Chen Cheng requests an open space, Mithril, and Magic Crystals. Little Fatty quickly arranges the materials and clears a room for the experiment.
• Chen Cheng modifies a resonance Magic Array originally used in forging. He removes its heating function and retains its ability to control and confine thermal radiation.
• Adalin undergoes Body Tempering inside the array. Chen Cheng initially worries that the untested formation might accidentally burn her, but the experiment succeeds: the heat radiating from her body is dispersed without causing external burns.
• Despite the successful heat control, Adalin still experiences severe pain from the chaotic energy tempering her body. When the process ends, she is exhausted and soaked in sweat.
• Fini helps Adalin back to her room, bathes her, and puts her to sleep. Chen Cheng and Little Fatty dismantle the array, discovering scorch marks left on the floor by the heat Adalin had produced.
• Chen Cheng reflects on the dangers of the Warrior’s Path and decides he is glad he avoided it. The narration reveals, however, that Chen Cheng’s strong consciousness, exceptional body, royal bloodline, and precise bodily control would actually make him unusually suited to the path.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Demonstrates his scientific knowledge, ingenuity, and willingness to apply unfamiliar principles to magic. He takes a calculated risk by testing an unproven technique on Adalin, though his concern for her safety shows caution beneath his confidence. His reflections reinforce his preference for rational energy research over the dangerous Warrior’s Path.
• Adalin: Initially dismissive of Chen Cheng’s claim, she gradually agrees to trust him. Her willingness to undergo the experiment despite uncertainty shows courage and growing confidence in him. She successfully completes Body Tempering but is left physically drained by the pain.
• Little Fatty: Responds efficiently to Chen Cheng’s request, obtaining the necessary materials and space. His curiosity about Chen Cheng’s unfamiliar technique highlights his interest in the experiment.
• Fini: Acts supportively toward Adalin, helping her after the Body Tempering and caring for her recovery.
• Samlet: Though absent, he is discussed as someone who had previously recognized Chen Cheng’s unusual potential for the Warrior’s Path.

Significant Themes

• Science and magic: Chen Cheng combines scientific knowledge of thermal radiation with magical formations, showing how the two systems can complement one another.
• Trust and experimentation: Adalin agrees to Chen Cheng’s dangerous, untested method because she trusts him, while Chen Cheng accepts responsibility for the risk.
• The dangers of strength-based cultivation: Body Tempering is portrayed as intensely painful and hazardous, requiring practitioners to endure chaotic energy and potentially fatal mistakes.
• Rationality versus reckless destiny: Chen Cheng rejects the idea of relying on protagonist-like luck or “Fortune Aura,” preferring careful research and controlled methods.
• Hidden potential: The chapter reveals that Chen Cheng is naturally well suited to the Warrior’s Path, even though he does not recognize or pursue that potential.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Adalin discuss whether he can help manage the heat of Body Tempering, leading to Adalin’s reluctant but meaningful expression of trust.
• Chen Cheng gives Little Fatty instructions, and Little Fatty immediately organizes the materials and location needed for the experiment.
• During the procedure, Chen Cheng monitors Adalin closely and worries about the consequences of failure.
• Fini supports Adalin after the painful process, caring for her while Chen Cheng and Little Fatty dismantle the array.
• Chen Cheng’s memories of Samlet connect his current observations to his past and emphasize how unusual his own abilities are.

Summary: “Heat Dissipation Array Business”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Little Fatty notices the damaged floor of his family’s restaurant loft after Chen Cheng tests the Heat Dissipation Array on him. The experiment successfully proves that the array can rapidly remove the heat generated during Warrior’s Path Body Tempering.
• Chen Cheng realizes that, although the array does not solve every problem associated with Warrior cultivation, it resolves one major obstacle: overheating. He reflects that large scientific breakthroughs are often built from many smaller solutions.
• Little Fatty immediately identifies the array’s immense commercial and strategic value. Since Warriors form the core of most armies, an inexpensive method of making Body Tempering safer could help kingdoms produce more powerful fighters.
• Chen Cheng initially criticizes Little Fatty for trying to commercialize what could be considered strategic-level information, but Little Fatty defends the idea. He argues that selling the array would benefit the world while also protecting his family’s uncertain future.
• Little Fatty explains that his family relies heavily on the explosives factory and lacks the stable backing Chen Cheng enjoys through the New School, the count, and other alliances. Commercializing the array would give him an independent source of influence and security.
• Chen Cheng agrees to cooperate but proposes involving Aunt Mei and the Adventurer’s Guild rather than keeping the business between themselves. He suggests selling the array and dividing the profits equally with the Guild, while Little Fatty receives an additional share for handling negotiations and operations.
• Little Fatty worries that the Adventurer’s Guild might simply seize the array because of its greater power. Chen Cheng reassures him that Aunt Mei will not use underhanded methods, though the final deal will depend on Little Fatty’s negotiating skill.
• Fini arrives after putting Adalin to sleep and reminds Chen Cheng that she also wants help advancing to Silver Rank.

Character Development

• Chen Cheng shows greater self-awareness. He recognizes that he acted recklessly by testing an unverified array on a person and admits that he had become overconfident about research. He also regains his appreciation for the importance of incremental discoveries.
• Chen Cheng further demonstrates his strategic and ethical judgment by refusing to monopolize the array’s profits. He chooses to involve the Adventurer’s Guild, broadening the array’s reach and building another alliance.
• Little Fatty proves himself both commercially shrewd and politically perceptive. He sees the array’s value immediately and understands how it could strengthen his family’s position. At the same time, his concern for his family reveals that his ambition is motivated by insecurity and a desire for long-term protection.
• Little Fatty’s relationship with Chen Cheng deepens. He openly treats Chen Cheng as a brother, while Chen Cheng acknowledges that Little Fatty is his first true friend in this world.
• Fini remains practical and assertive, directly reminding Chen Cheng of his promise to help her improve her cultivation.

Significant Themes

• Scientific progress through incremental breakthroughs: The array does not solve the entire Warrior’s Path problem, but solving one major branch of it is still a significant achievement.
• Responsibility in experimentation: Chen Cheng’s reckless test highlights the dangers of applying unverified discoveries to human bodies.
• Innovation and commercialization: The chapter explores how a powerful invention can become both a public benefit and a source of wealth and political influence.
• Power, security, and alliances: Little Fatty seeks economic independence because his family’s influence is fragile, while Chen Cheng uses the array to strengthen relationships with larger organizations.
• Trust and brotherhood: Their business arrangement is shaped not only by profit but by mutual loyalty and concern for each other’s futures.

Important Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Little Fatty argue playfully over whether commercializing the array is greedy or practical, but the conversation ultimately reveals mutual trust.
• Little Fatty appeals to Chen Cheng as a brother, asking him to consider his family’s vulnerable position. Chen Cheng responds by accepting the partnership and ensuring Little Fatty receives a meaningful role.
• Chen Cheng places Little Fatty in charge of negotiations with the Adventurer’s Guild, relying on his persuasive “merchant’s tongue.”
• Fini interrupts their discussion and reminds Chen Cheng that their broader cultivation commitments—particularly her goal of reaching Silver Rank—must not be forgotten.

Chapter Summary: “Two Sides”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng encourages Little Fatty to think through his own situation, then helps Fini attempt her promotion to Silver Rank.
• Fini wants to surpass Adalin and complete her advancement before Adalin awakens, believing Adalin only advanced first because Chen Cheng helped her.
• Chen Cheng explains that Fini does not need the same dangerous method Adalin used. Instead, she can use her magic wand to activate Star Tear, which temporarily enhances her Spiritual Sense.
• With Star Tear’s assistance, Fini easily outlines and completes her Silver Rank Energy Storage Magic. Natural Wind Magic energy rapidly fills her newly completed storage system.
• Chen Cheng warns Fini that Star Tear’s boost is temporary and potentially dangerous. Overreliance could make her misjudge her true strength, damage her foundation, collapse her Consciousness Body, and even cause her physical death.
• Fini reassures Chen Cheng that she understands the difference between genuine and borrowed power. She promises to ask his permission before using Star Tear for similar purposes.
• Adalin awakens and immediately teases Fini, revealing that she has also reached Silver Rank first. Fini’s plan to surpass Adalin fails, and the two resume their playful rivalry.
• The trio finally goes downstairs to eat after realizing they have all skipped meals. Little Fatty jokes that the two girls may have argued themselves full.

Character Development

• Fini successfully advances to Silver Rank, demonstrating both her talent and her ability to use Star Tear effectively. She remains competitive and eager to outperform Adalin, but she also shows trust in Chen Cheng by accepting his warning and promising to consult him.
• Chen Cheng acts as Fini’s protector, instructor, and stabilizing influence. Although he helps her exploit Star Tear’s power, he recognizes its risks and worries that he may have encouraged dangerous dependence on it.
• Adalin maintains her confident, teasing personality. Her own successful promotion gives her a temporary advantage over Fini and reinforces their rivalry.
• Little Fatty remains observant and sarcastic, providing comic relief while arranging food for the exhausted group.

Significant Themes

• The dual nature of power: Star Tear is both a valuable aid and a potential source of catastrophe. Its benefits come with hidden dangers, reflecting the chapter’s title, “Two Sides.”
• True strength versus borrowed power: Chen Cheng emphasizes that Star Tear does not genuinely increase Fini’s underlying cultivation. Relying on temporary enhancement could weaken her foundation.
• Competition within friendship: Fini and Adalin sincerely care about each other but constantly compete to avoid falling behind. Their rivalry is affectionate rather than hostile.
• Trust and responsibility: Fini trusts Chen Cheng’s judgment, while Chen Cheng feels responsible for guiding her safely and protecting her from the consequences of her ambition.
• Balance and moderation: The chapter stresses that extraordinary tools must be used carefully rather than becoming substitutes for genuine growth.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng gently advises Little Fatty, then supports Fini’s advancement.
• Fini affectionately calls Chen Cheng “Little Slave,” pulls him along, and kisses him after he reminds her about Star Tear.
• Chen Cheng gives Fini detailed instruction and later cautions her about the risks of using the treasure.
• Fini reassures him by promising to seek his approval before using Star Tear again.
• Adalin enters just after Fini’s promotion and taunts her for still finishing second, renewing their playful competition.
• The chapter ends with all three characters sharing a meal, while Little Fatty mockingly comments on the girls’ rivalry.

Chapter Summary: “Before the Competition Begins”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After dinner, Adalin and Fini continue bickering until Dean Adolf privately summons Chen Cheng.
• Chen Cheng’s friends worry that Adolf may have discovered his slave identity and intend to remove him from the competition. Their fears are justified: Adolf has learned the truth.
• Instead of asking Chen Cheng to withdraw, Adolf explains that he has already revealed Chen Cheng’s identity to Governor Modornik and other important figures. He wants Chen Cheng to stop holding back and display his full abilities, while disguising his identity during the tournament.
• Chen Cheng agrees to do his best, though he remains uncertain about Adolf’s deeper motives. He trusts that the dean does not intend to harm him.
• Fini and the others explain the political importance of the competition. Success could bring Chen Cheng to the attention of the Academy Alliance’s upper ranks, giving him protection and improving his future position despite his slave background.
• Chen Cheng realizes that the contest is more than a simple student tournament: it is an opportunity for ambitious geniuses to gain influence and recognition.
• Three days pass. Some contestants train desperately, others withdraw, and several mourn after rule changes eliminate their chances of winning.
• Chen Cheng initially thinks their grief is exaggerated, but after understanding the stakes, he recognizes that they have genuinely lost valuable opportunities.
• More than forty contestants enter the arena, reduced from an original sixty due to withdrawals. Most competitors use masks and aliases to conceal their identities.
• The tournament begins with formal speeches, introductions, and a lottery assigning each participant a competition name. Chen Cheng’s alias is Great Sage Equal to Heaven, while Fini becomes True Faceless Man.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng becomes more aware of the political value of the tournament and the dangers surrounding his identity. Though he originally viewed the competition casually, he now understands that winning could provide him with protection and status.
• Dean Adolf demonstrates unusual support for Chen Cheng by publicly acknowledging his background to powerful figures and encouraging him to compete without restraint.
• Fini reveals her strong concern for Chen Cheng’s future. Her desire for him to win is not merely for prestige; she wants to give him political protection against persecution.
• Adalin remains aggressive and competitive, but her concern for Chen Cheng and willingness to participate alongside him show her loyalty to the group.
• The contestants’ reactions to the changed rules reveal how seriously they view the tournament and how much their ambitions depend on its outcome.

Significant Themes

• Identity and concealment: Chen Cheng must hide his status as a slave while competing, highlighting the prejudice and political danger attached to his background.
• Power and social connections: The competition offers access to influential figures, showing that success depends not only on ability but also on recognition by powerful institutions.
• Opportunity and fate: Rule changes and withdrawals demonstrate how quickly circumstances can destroy someone’s carefully prepared chance at advancement.
• Friendship and protection: Fini, Adalin, and the others support Chen Cheng and hope his success will shield him from political persecution.
• The reality behind appearances: What initially seems like exaggerated emotional behavior among privileged contestants is revealed to be sincere once the importance of the competition is understood.

Character Interactions

• Adalin threatens Little Fatty during their playful argument, while Fini defends him and reminds Adalin that he supplied the resources for her breakthrough.
• Chen Cheng breaks up their quarrel and later tells everyone to rest.
• Fini anxiously questions Chen Cheng about his private meeting with Adolf, reflecting the group’s fear that his identity may have been exposed.
• Chen Cheng reassures them that Adolf wants him to compete at full strength.
• Chen Cheng and Fini jokingly discuss the crying contestants while disguised as “Monkey” and “Faceless.” Fini admits that she would cry too but would still fight, prompting Chen Cheng’s admiration and playful teasing.
• Adalin warns Chen Cheng and Fini that she will not show them mercy if they meet in the tournament, reinforcing the friendly rivalry among the three.

Chapter Summary: “The Properties of Light”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng draws Demon King as his opponent and initially mocks the dramatic name, though he soon recognizes that it reflects the opponent’s confidence as a powerful mage.
• To match his alias, Chen Cheng transforms himself into a short, monkey-like figure resembling the legendary Great Sage Equal to Heaven. The audience laughs at his appearance and condemns his arrogant name.
• Demon King is revealed to be a Church contestant known as Fifth Brother, wearing conspicuous holy robes despite hiding his identity behind a mask.
• Chen Cheng launches the battle with a combined Wind Fire Curse, using wind to amplify fire and increase its destructive force.
• Demon King counters with his original spell, Holy Flame Radiance, producing pure white flames that penetrate Chen Cheng’s ice barriers.
• Realizing the flames are based on light rather than ordinary fire, Chen Cheng uses Space Magic to remove the attack and explains that the spell’s penetrating nature is its key property.
• Demon King creates a powerful Holy Light Shield. Chen Cheng bombards it with dozens of small fireballs, apparently without effect, but uses the shield’s subtle vibrations to identify its weak point.
• Chen Cheng fires a precise, concentrated needle of magical energy, piercing both the shield and Demon King’s hand. Demon King drops his wand and admits defeat.
• After winning, Chen Cheng gives Demon King advice on improving Holy Flame Radiance, suggesting that it could be countered by reflection or absorption and might become even stronger if its light were made invisible.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates overwhelming versatility, rapid spellcasting, technical knowledge, and exceptional combat perception. His playful attitude disappears when he identifies the shield’s weakness, revealing his serious tactical ability.
• He also displays a tendency to lecture and boast, using modern scientific concepts—such as light’s penetration, resonance, pressure, reflection, and invisibility—that Demon King does not fully understand.
• Demon King is shown to be talented, disciplined, and innovative. His Holy Flame Radiance is a self-created spell praised by the Church, and he remains calm and humble even after being defeated.
• Demon King’s defeat begins to expose the gap between possessing a powerful spell and understanding all of its underlying principles.

Significant Themes

• Knowledge versus raw power: Chen Cheng wins not by overpowering Demon King directly, but by understanding how light behaves and exploiting the shield’s momentary instability.
• The importance of scientific principles in magic: The battle treats magic as something governed by physical properties, particularly the penetrative and reflective qualities of light.
• Appearance and identity: Both fighters hide behind theatrical names, masks, and disguises, while their true abilities matter more than their outward presentation.
• Humility and mentorship: Although Chen Cheng teases Demon King, he also sincerely recognizes the quality of his spell and offers advice for improvement.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng mocks Demon King’s name and obvious Church affiliation, while Demon King responds plainly and without offense.
• During the battle, Chen Cheng explains the weaknesses of Demon King’s techniques, effectively turning their confrontation into an impromptu lesson.
• After Demon King concedes, Chen Cheng helps him up and continues offering suggestions, while Demon King silently accepts the criticism despite feeling pride in his creation.
• Their interaction establishes a relationship combining rivalry, respect, and Chen Cheng’s irreverent, overconfident mentorship.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng defeats the Demon King in a duel by using the concept of invisible light waves to break his opponent's Holy Light Barrier.
• The Demon King, misunderstanding Chen Cheng's words, views him as an enemy of the Church.
• Chen Cheng tries to approach the Demon King for knowledge exchange but is avoided.
• Fini, wearing a Faceless mask, faces off against another Faceless competitor in the arena.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng shows his strategic thinking and adaptability in battle, using scientific concepts to outsmart his opponent.
• The Demon King displays religious fanaticism, misinterpreting Chen Cheng's words and viewing him as a threat to his faith.
• Fini demonstrates her growth as a mage, using spells without incantation and employing new strategies taught by Chen Cheng.

Significant Themes

• Misinterpretation and misunderstanding can lead to conflict and hostility, as seen in the Demon King's reaction to Chen Cheng.
• The power of knowledge and adaptability is shown through Chen Cheng's use of scientific concepts in battle.
• The theme of growth and learning is evident in Fini's improved magical skills and strategies.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and the Demon King have a tense interaction, with the Demon King viewing Chen Cheng as an enemy due to a misunderstanding.
• Chen Cheng attempts to engage the Demon King in knowledge exchange but is rebuffed, showing the Demon King's hostility.
• Fini faces off against another Faceless competitor, displaying her growth as a mage and her ability to adapt to new situations.

Chapter Summary: “Medium—Elements”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fini uses Chen Cheng’s newly taught spell, Elemental Storm, during her match against Faceless. The spell disrupts the surrounding elemental medium, creating a magic-nullifying domain that causes Faceless’s completed spell to collapse.
• Faceless suffers a backlash and collapses, while Fini wins the match. The spectators and judges are impressed, though most do not understand what happened.
• Elemental Storm places an enormous strain on Fini’s mental power, nearly causing her to lose consciousness. She returns to her lounge in severe pain and exhaustion.
• Chen Cheng visits Fini, feels guilty for underestimating the spell’s burden, and urges her never to use it again if it risks her health. Fini refuses to give up, pointing out that she still has the Star Tear, a treasure capable of restoring mental power.
• Fini begins recovering with the Star Tear, and Chen Cheng reluctantly leaves to continue watching the competition.
• Adalin later wins her match against a mage with ease, combining her abilities as a Silver Mage and Warrior with the wand Chen Cheng forged for her.
• The day ends with only fifteen competitors advancing. The competition has become far more brutal under the new format, with many contestants seriously injured or forced to withdraw.
• Seven of the fifteen remaining competitors are sixth-years, including Tuotuo, a powerful Church student and leading favorite. Chen Cheng notices Tuotuo repeatedly watching him.
• Wisdom Shield is reduced to three remaining competitors: Chen Cheng, Fini, and Adalin. Their sixth-year teammate was eliminated by Tuotuo.
• Before the next round, Chen Cheng advises Fini to avoid using Elemental Storm against Church members, since their Light Magic may rely on a different medium than ordinary elemental magic. He also warns Adalin not to reveal all her strength at once and to preserve a hidden advantage.

Character Developments

• Fini demonstrates impressive magical creativity and courage by successfully using Elemental Storm despite being only a Silver Mage. Her willingness to endure severe pain for a chance at victory reveals her determination and competitive spirit.
• Chen Cheng becomes increasingly protective of Fini. He feels responsible for the spell’s dangers and prioritizes her safety over winning. His careful observations also show his growing suspicion that Church Light Magic operates according to fundamentally different rules.
• Adalin proves the effectiveness of her dual Mage-and-Warrior training, defeating her opponent through overwhelming speed, magic, and physical force. However, Chen Cheng recognizes that her straightforward strategy may be dangerous against stronger opponents.
• Faceless is defeated when his spell collapses inside Fini’s magic-nullifying domain, suffering a physical backlash in the process.
• Tuotuo is established as a major threat and likely future opponent, particularly because he eliminated Wisdom Shield’s sixth-year member and is considered a championship favorite.

Significant Themes

• Power and personal cost: Fini’s victory shows that extraordinary magic can require an equally extraordinary sacrifice, as Elemental Storm nearly overwhelms her mind.
• The unknown nature of magic: Chen Cheng’s uncertainty about Light Magic emphasizes that different magical systems may depend on entirely different mediums or conditions.
• Strategy versus brute force: The remaining competitors must rely not only on strength but also on restraint, surprise, and understanding their opponents’ abilities.
• Determination and protection: Fini’s refusal to surrender contrasts with Chen Cheng’s concern for her safety, highlighting the tension between ambition and responsibility.
• Changing social perceptions: The fierce performance of lower-status Warrior’s Path cultivators challenges the spectators’ contempt for their discipline and exposes the brutality of the tournament.

Character Interactions

• Fini’s victory over Faceless establishes her as a serious contender, while Chen Cheng’s reaction shows their close bond and his emotional investment in her survival.
• Chen Cheng and Fini argue over whether she should risk using Elemental Storm again. Fini remains confident and teasing, while Chen Cheng is serious and protective.
• Chen Cheng advises Adalin after observing her reckless but effective one-sided attack. Unlike Fini, Adalin accepts his warning without argument.
• Chen Cheng, Fini, and Adalin meet as the last representatives of Wisdom Shield and prepare together for the next, more dangerous stage of the competition.

Chapter Summary: “Adalin vs. Muttal”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Adalin warns Chen Cheng that if he draws Tuotuo in the next round, he should immediately forfeit. She suspects the Church may possess secret methods to manipulate the tournament’s lot-drawing.
• Chen Cheng dismisses her fears and insists that, if necessary, he can use Super-class Magic again. He believes his improved understanding of magic and Magic Runes makes the technique less dangerous than before.
• Fini is alarmed by Chen Cheng’s willingness to risk himself. Having researched Super-class Magic, she knows it can overdraw and destroy the user’s Consciousness Body, ultimately causing death. She reminds him that their agreement concerning the Slave Collar will remain valid even if he forfeits.
• The tournament resumes. Tuotuo receives the bye, to the relief of the other contestants. His seemingly gentle glance and smile toward Chen Cheng make Chen Cheng feel uneasy.
• Adalin is paired against Muttal in the first match. She attacks with both magic and swordplay, while Muttal relies on his fists and physical strength.
• Adalin’s fireball is destroyed by Muttal’s fist-force, and he easily counters her close-range assault. Although he jokes about her nearly striking his “family jewel,” he remains cautious and takes her seriously.
• Recognizing that Muttal is far stronger—at the peak of Silver Rank and nearing Gold Rank—Adalin launches a large-scale magical bombardment. Muttal focuses on evading the spells rather than risking injury.
• While Muttal is distracted, Adalin closes in with a two-handed sword attack. However, she is already exhausted, and Muttal overwhelms her in close combat. He warns her to surrender before the recoil from his punches permanently damages her hands.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Shows confidence in his growing magical abilities and his determination to live up to the expectations of those supporting him. However, his readiness to use Super-class Magic reveals his tendency to take extreme risks.
• Fini: Demonstrates deep concern for Chen Cheng and a stronger understanding of the dangers he faces. Her reaction suggests that her emotional attachment to him is growing.
• Adalin: Displays courage, discipline, and determination despite knowing she is outmatched. She uses her abilities creatively, combining magic and swordsmanship rather than surrendering immediately.
• Muttal: Reveals himself to be both powerful and tactically cautious. Though he jokes and behaves casually, he carefully avoids injury because he expects to face Tuotuo later.

Significant Themes

• Risk versus responsibility: Chen Cheng’s willingness to use Super-class Magic contrasts with Fini’s concern that power should not be pursued at the cost of his life.
• Hidden manipulation and distrust: Adalin’s suspicion of the Church introduces the possibility that the tournament is not governed fairly.
• Courage despite overwhelming odds: Adalin fights even when she knows Muttal is significantly stronger, emphasizing determination over guaranteed victory.
• Power and restraint: Muttal’s strength is clear, but he wins through controlled evasion and tactical judgment rather than reckless force.

Character Interactions

• Adalin warns Chen Cheng about Tuotuo and the Church, while Chen Cheng reassures both her and Fini that he can handle the danger.
• Fini confronts Chen Cheng over his reckless attitude, emphasizing that their agreement does not require him to risk his life.
• Tuotuo’s quiet, unsettling smile toward Chen Cheng creates tension between the two.
• During the match, Adalin and Muttal exchange formal knightly respect, followed by sharp combat and Muttal’s irreverent humor.
• The chapter ends with Muttal urging Adalin to surrender as his punches begin to threaten serious injury to her hands.