Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Slaying”

Key Plot Points and Events

• She Li confronts the Golden Mane Lion Beast King and the Tiger Fang Beast King, focusing his attacks on the lion.
• Using his extraordinary speed and repeated, precise slashes, She Li severely wounds the Golden Mane Lion Beast King, cutting his neck and nearly killing him.
• The Tiger Fang Beast King attacks She Li with its tusks and earth-manipulating magic, injuring him despite the protection of his armor. The two beasts’ poor coordination occasionally helps She Li evade their attacks.
• She Li retreats into the shadow world and provokes the Tiger Fang Beast King into killing the weakened Golden Mane Lion Beast King, promising that devouring him will increase its strength.
• Although the lion warns that She Li is manipulating them, the Tiger Fang Beast King attacks anyway, driven by its natural bloodlust and desire for power.
• When the lion transforms into a stronger golden form and resists the Tiger Fang Beast King’s assault, She Li reenters the battle. He strikes the lion while also taking a direct attack from the tiger.
• She Li’s slash kills the Golden Mane Lion Beast King, while the Tiger Fang Beast King’s tusk is broken or severed in the exchange.
• She Li escapes through Shadow Evasion, leaving the Tiger Fang Beast King with the lion’s corpse.
• The Tiger Fang Beast King devours the dead lion, anticipating both evolution and retaliation from the Zhuyan Beast Emperor.
• The lion’s beast horde falls into chaos: some beasts submit to the Tiger Fang Beast King, while others flee.
• She Li escapes several dozen miles away but suffers severe internal injuries. After killing another attacking beast, he resumes pursuit of Chen Cheng and the others.

Character Developments

• She Li demonstrates exceptional swordsmanship, speed, tactical thinking, and willingness to endure serious injuries to achieve his goal. Rather than trying to defeat both Beast Kings directly, he manipulates their instincts and rivalry.
• Despite his confidence and lethal ability, She Li is badly wounded by the Tiger Fang Beast King’s attacks. His injuries reveal the physical cost of his strategy and force him to rely even more heavily on the Shadow Demon and his armor.
• The Golden Mane Lion Beast King shifts from arrogance to fear after realizing that She Li’s blade can penetrate all his defenses. He attempts to use the Zhuyan Beast Emperor’s authority to intimidate She Li and later correctly recognizes She Li’s scheme.
• The Tiger Fang Beast King proves highly aggressive and opportunistic. Although it calls the lion a “good brother,” it readily attacks him when presented with the chance to gain strength. Its decision to devour the corpse shows its instinctive brutality and pragmatism.
• The balance of power among the beasts changes with the lion’s death, as the Tiger Fang Beast King becomes the dominant figure over the remaining horde.

Significant Themes

• Strategy over brute force: She Li succeeds not by overpowering both enemies, but by exploiting their poor coordination, rivalry, and bloodlust.
• The cycle of predation: The Beast Kings are both hunters and potential prey. The Tiger Fang Beast King’s devouring of the lion reflects the brutal survival hierarchy among magic beasts.
• Deception and manipulation: She Li deliberately provokes the Tiger Fang Beast King while allowing the beasts to believe they are acting independently.
• The cost of victory: Although She Li kills a Beast King, he sustains grave injuries and can barely wield his weapon, emphasizing that success comes at a substantial price.
• Power and allegiance: The lion’s death immediately destabilizes the beast horde, showing how loyalty is tied to strength rather than personal devotion.

Character Interactions

• She Li repeatedly clashes with both Beast Kings, using the lion as his primary target while evading their combined attacks.
• The Golden Mane Lion Beast King attempts to frighten She Li by invoking the Zhuyan Beast Emperor, but She Li dismisses the threat and turns the lion’s ally against him.
• She Li manipulates the Tiger Fang Beast King by suggesting that killing and consuming the lion will increase its power and earn protection from its own Beast Emperor.
• The lion warns the tiger that She Li is trying to make them weaken each other, but the tiger’s instincts override its caution.
• In the final exchange, She Li kills the lion while the tiger injures him and loses a tusk, after which the tiger claims the lion’s body and assumes control of the surrounding beasts.

Chapter Summary: “The Power of the Sword of Kings”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng, Emil, and Daha flee through a horde of Magic Beasts while She Li stays behind to buy them time.
• Emil uses precise arrows and explosive magic arrows to clear the route, while Chen Cheng cuts down pursuing beasts with the Sword of Kings.
• After She Li kills the Golden Mane Lion Beast King, the beast pack panics. Several powerful High-grade Magic Beasts pursue Chen Cheng and his companions.
• Chen Cheng jumps from Daha’s back to confront the attackers, allowing Emil and Daha to escape ahead. He fights fiercely but is wounded and gradually overwhelmed.
• When Chen Cheng’s blood touches the Sword of Kings, the sword’s rusty covering falls away, revealing its true golden form. It releases immense power, enabling Chen Cheng to unleash a gigantic crescent-shaped Sword Qi that destroys everything across a stretch more than one hundred meters wide.
• The attack exhausts all of Chen Cheng’s Battle Aura, leaving him barely able to stand. The surviving beasts retreat in terror.
• Emil refuses to abandon Chen Cheng and returns to carry him away with Daha.
• She Li rejoins them and warns that the Tiger Fang Beast King is devouring the Golden Mane Lion Beast King. If it completes its evolution, they will be unable to escape.
• The group reaches a functioning station ruin later that night and takes shelter. Chen Cheng gives She Li the remaining Stem Lotus petals, which rapidly heal She Li’s severe injuries.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Demonstrates courage and self-sacrifice by staying behind to protect Emil and Daha. His blood awakens the Sword of Kings, revealing its extraordinary power, but the weapon’s devastating attack leaves him physically and magically drained.
• Emil: Shows exceptional combat skill with her bow and explosive arrows. More importantly, she reveals her loyalty by refusing to leave Chen Cheng behind, even when ordered to escape.
• She Li: Successfully kills the Golden Mane Lion Beast King and later warns the group of the greater danger posed by the evolving Tiger Fang Beast King. Despite his own severe injuries, he remains focused on the group’s survival.
• Daha: Continues running at extreme speed despite the danger, helping transport the exhausted Chen Cheng and the others to safety.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice and loyalty: Chen Cheng risks his life to protect his companions, while Emil demonstrates that companionship means refusing to abandon someone in danger.
• Hidden power and awakening: The Sword of Kings’ true strength is unlocked through Chen Cheng’s blood, suggesting a deeper connection between the weapon and its wielder.
• Survival under overwhelming danger: The characters must constantly flee, fight, and make urgent decisions while facing powerful beasts and the threat of the Tiger Fang Beast King’s evolution.
• Power and its cost: The Sword of Kings grants Chen Cheng nearly unstoppable strength, but its ultimate attack consumes all his Battle Aura and leaves him vulnerable.

Important Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng repeatedly urges Daha to keep running while Emil protects their route with arrows.
• Chen Cheng orders Emil to flee without him, but she refuses to abandon him and later pulls him back onto Daha.
• She Li reunites with the group and emphasizes the urgency of reaching a station ruin before the Tiger Fang Beast King evolves.
• After reaching safety, Chen Cheng gives She Li the Stem Lotus petals, creating a reciprocal moment of aid after She Li had helped secure their escape.

Chapter Summary:

The Price of Using a Divine Artifact

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the battle, She Li recovers and remains the group’s strongest combatant. Emil is physically unharmed but has spent much of her magic, while Daha is exhausted from fleeing for an entire day and night.
• Chen Cheng is in poor condition: the ghostly entity still stalks him, his Battle Aura has been completely depleted, and he is weakened despite possessing unusually strong physical endurance.
• Chen Cheng offers Emil a Space Bag of artificially created Magic Crystals, but she explains that they are ineffective for Elves and that she can recover naturally after resting. Chen Cheng instead uses a Healing Crystal on himself.
• While recovering, Chen Cheng examines the Sword of Kings, a treasured relic left by his parents. For the first time, he fully recognizes its terrifying power after using it to kill or overwhelm Gold Rank Magic Beasts with ease.
• The sword gives Chen Cheng an unprecedented sense of power and security. He realizes that greater strength and a higher realm might allow him to unleash the sword’s attacks on an even larger scale, awakening a powerful determination to grow stronger.
• Brother Octopus interrupts Chen Cheng’s trance by kicking him in the face. He warns that Chen Cheng’s mind had become unstable and that continued exposure to the sword’s power could have led to his death.
• Brother Octopus claims that mortals must pay a price when using divine power and identifies attacking him with the sword as “God Slayer,” an act supposedly carrying a deadly backlash.
• Chen Cheng remains suspicious, pointing out that he has previously damaged Brother Octopus without suffering consequences. Brother Octopus explains that ordinary physical attacks could not truly harm a higher-dimensional god, whereas the Sword of Kings might.
• Chen Cheng abandons the idea of testing the sword on Brother Octopus and returns him to the Space Bag. He concludes that the artifact’s cost is probably not immediately fatal, perhaps manifesting instead as an obsessive or reckless urge to become stronger.

Character Development

• Chen Cheng gains a new understanding of the Sword of Kings and the power it offers. His previous caution and emotional distance toward the relic are replaced by fascination, confidence, and a stronger ambition to increase his realm and Battle Aura.
• At the same time, Chen Cheng shows practical skepticism. He does not blindly accept Brother Octopus’s warning and refuses to risk himself without further proof.
• Chen Cheng also displays a harsher, more experimental side by considering striking Brother Octopus to test the artifact’s effects, though he ultimately stops before doing so.
• Emil is shown as calm and self-sufficient. She declines Chen Cheng’s crystals and assures him that her exhaustion is temporary, while offering to heal him in return.
• Brother Octopus acts protectively despite his usual suspicious motives. His intervention suggests that he is concerned about Chen Cheng’s mental state, though Chen Cheng still distrusts his explanations.

Significant Themes

• Power and its consequences: The chapter emphasizes that overwhelming strength is never free. The Sword of Kings grants Chen Cheng immense power but may exact a psychological or supernatural price.
• Control over fate: Chen Cheng’s exhilaration comes from feeling, perhaps for the first time, that he can determine his own fate rather than merely survive events beyond his control.
• The danger of divine power in mortal hands: The sword represents the gap between mortal limitations and godlike abilities. Using it risks consequences ordinary beings cannot fully understand.
• Trust and skepticism: Chen Cheng must evaluate Brother Octopus’s warning while recognizing that the octopus may be manipulating him. Their relationship remains based on mutual usefulness and suspicion.
• Identity and inheritance: The Sword of Kings is both a powerful divine artifact and one of the few personal links Chen Cheng has to his parents and his role in this world.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Emil exchange supplies and concern. Chen Cheng offers her Magic Crystals, while Emil rejects them and offers to heal him instead.
• Chen Cheng’s relationship with Brother Octopus is confrontational and distrustful. Brother Octopus interrupts Chen Cheng’s dangerous fascination with the sword, then warns him about the consequences of harming a god.
• Chen Cheng challenges Brother Octopus’s claims by citing his previous attacks on him, forcing the octopus to explain the difference between ordinary damage and true divine harm.
• The chapter ends with Chen Cheng retaining both the Sword of Kings and his suspicions, while privately accepting that the artifact may be influencing his desire for greater power.

Chapter Summary: “A Breakthrough by a Twist of Fate”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng reflects on the fall of the Empire and the uncertain authenticity of the Doomsday Codex. Although he remains wary, the lack of confirmed information reassures him somewhat.
• After exhausting nearly all his Battle Aura with the powerful sword strike from the previous day, Chen Cheng awakens with no energy reserves despite meditating through the night.
• To recover more quickly, he uses an egg-sized Magic Gemstone given to him by Hills. This is his first time using such a powerful cultivation resource.
• The gemstone releases an overwhelming amount of energy, forcing Chen Cheng to circulate the Body Tempering Technique and guide the Battle Aura through his body.
• His cultivation produces tremendous heat. Golden points of light move across his body in the shape of a complex inscription, revealing the connection between the Body Forging technique and the inscription-based body cultivation school.
• The process becomes extremely painful. His muscles, bones, and organs seem to be hammered, torn, and scorched from within. He screams, curses the kingdoms and factions that pursued him, and vents his agony through howls.
• Filthy impurities emerge from his skin, his clothes burn away, and the surrounding vegetation catches fire. The strain also causes him to suffer an urgent stomach problem, forcing him to rush into the bushes once the gemstone’s energy is depleted.
• After cleaning himself and changing clothes, Chen Cheng emerges visibly transformed. His body is more muscular and powerful, and his face has lost its former youthful softness.
• Emil congratulates him on advancing to the Gold Rank. Chen Cheng confirms his breakthrough by examining his greatly expanded Battle Aura and effortlessly producing an explosive shockwave with his fist.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Demonstrates immense endurance and determination by enduring the full pain of Body Forging without protective array inscriptions. His cultivation results in both a physical transformation and a major increase in Battle Aura, elevating him to Gold Rank. His curses also reveal lingering anger toward the forces that hunted him.
• Emil: Continues to watch over Chen Cheng and responds practically to the dangers caused by his cultivation, helping prevent a wildfire. She recognizes his advancement before he does and reacts with admiration to his transformed appearance.
• She Li: Assists Emil in clearing the burning vegetation and retrieves Chen Cheng’s Space Bag so he can wash and dress after the cultivation session.
• Hills: Though absent from the scene, his earlier compensation of Magic Gemstones makes Chen Cheng’s rapid recovery and breakthrough possible.

Significant Themes

• Pain as the price of power: Body Forging is portrayed as brutally painful, suggesting that extraordinary strength requires exceptional suffering and discipline.
• Transformation and maturation: Chen Cheng’s physical changes symbolize his progression from a youthful fighter into a more formidable adult warrior.
• Improvisation and survival: Lacking ordinary means of rapid recovery, Chen Cheng uses the Magic Gemstone despite his inexperience, turning an emergency into an opportunity.
• Hidden connections between cultivation methods: The inscription formed by Chen Cheng’s Battle Aura route reveals that Body Forging may be based on an imitation of the more advanced body infusion school.
• Anger as an outlet: Chen Cheng’s curses and howls show how accumulated pain and persecution fuel his emotional release and perhaps his determination to grow stronger.

Character Interactions

• Emil and She Li cooperate to protect the surrounding forest from the fire generated by Chen Cheng’s cultivation.
• Emil observes Chen Cheng’s transformation and personally congratulates him on reaching Gold Rank.
• She Li provides practical support by recovering Chen Cheng’s Space Bag and assisting him indirectly after his embarrassing physical reaction to the cultivation process.
• Chen Cheng’s internal reaction to Emil’s admiring gaze adds a light, humorous contrast to the otherwise intense and painful breakthrough.

Chapter Summary: The Beast Emperor’s Might

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng reaches Gold Rank, gaining a measure of self-preservation but recognizing that he remains far weaker than true powerhouses. He reminds himself that he must reach Platinum Rank before he can truly act confidently.
• The group decides to rest for one day at the ruins of a relay station so that Daha can recover from the exhaustion of fleeing for an entire day and night. They plan to continue toward Moonlight Forest the following day.
• Emil reassures Chen Cheng that her Elf clan will reward him with Moonflower Fruit and other heavenly treasures because he saved her life. Neither realizes that their concern for each other has become mutual.
• The chapter reveals that Chen Cheng’s conversation with Brother Octopus the previous night was hidden from Emil and She Li by spiritual power. They had worried that his apparent conversation with “nothing” indicated mental instability, but his successful breakthrough proves that he is sound.
• Deep within Nanmu Forest, the Tiger Fang Beast King devours the Golden Mane Lion Beast King and is rewarded by the Zhuyan Beast Emperor with the promise of territory.
• Before Zhuyan can finish speaking, the Two-winged Tiger Beast Emperor arrives, enraged over the death of his subordinate. He challenges the Tiger Fang Beast King and attacks Zhuyan.
• Zhuyan and the Winged Tiger engage in a devastating battle. Their clash destroys the forest across a huge area, killing or frightening away countless weaker creatures. Their attacks produce power far beyond what Chen Cheng has witnessed from ordinary human Epic Rank experts.
• The ancient formation protecting the relay station blocks the battle’s pressure and shockwaves, allowing Chen Cheng and the others to remain safe.
• She Li feels that the battle could help him break through the bottleneck in his Way of the Blade, while Emil mourns the damage inflicted on the living forest.
• The Beast Emperors eventually separate with few injuries. The Winged Tiger mocks Zhuyan for having been burned despite being famed as a flame-born demon god. Zhuyan recalls that his wounds were inflicted by a Black Dragon, emphasizing the terrifying strength of the Dragon race.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Gains confidence after reaching Gold Rank but remains cautious and aware of the gap between himself and the world’s strongest beings. His concern for Daha and his companions shows his growing sense of responsibility.
• Emil: Demonstrates concern for Chen Cheng’s mental state and offers him future support from her clan. Her reaction to the forest’s destruction highlights her deep spiritual connection to nature.
• Daha: Though largely inactive in the chapter, his exhaustion establishes the group’s need to balance speed with recovery.
• She Li: After the previous battle, he reaches the threshold of a new realm in his swordsmanship. Witnessing the Beast Emperors’ battle intensifies his desire for a life-or-death confrontation that can trigger his breakthrough.
• Zhuyan Beast Emperor: Appears as an immensely powerful, battle-hardened figure, but his scars reveal that even he has suffered serious wounds in past encounters.
• Two-winged Tiger Beast Emperor: Acts with fierce pride and anger over the death of his subordinate, immediately confronting Zhuyan rather than accepting the situation.
• Tiger Fang Beast King: Gains territory through his alliance with Zhuyan but is immediately overwhelmed by the Winged Tiger’s bloodline pressure, emphasizing the vast difference between Beast Kings and Beast Emperors.

Significant Themes

• The hierarchy of power: Chen Cheng’s Gold Rank breakthrough is important to him personally, yet the Beast Emperors’ battle shows how insignificant ordinary advancement is compared with the highest realms.
• Self-preservation versus overconfidence: Chen Cheng is pleased with his growth but consciously restrains his pride, understanding that genuine strength requires reaching higher ranks.
• Mutual care and trust: Emil and Chen Cheng worry about one another, while the group cooperates to protect Daha and reach Moonlight Forest.
• Nature and destruction: The Beast Emperors’ fight devastates the forest for decades or centuries, contrasting their overwhelming power with Emil’s reverence for nature and grief at its suffering.
• The danger of supreme beings: The battle demonstrates that Beast Emperors can reshape the environment simply by fighting, reinforcing their status as forces of disaster.
• The exceptional strength of dragons: Zhuyan’s scars, inflicted by a Black Dragon, suggest that Dragons can challenge Beast Emperors even before reaching the same rank.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Emil discuss the group’s travel plans, Daha’s recovery, and the possibility of obtaining Moonflower Fruit.
• Emil reassures Chen Cheng that her clan will repay him for saving her, strengthening the bond between them.
• The hidden conversation between Chen Cheng and Brother Octopus indirectly affects Emil and She Li, who worry about Chen Cheng’s mental condition.
• Zhuyan praises and attempts to reward the Tiger Fang Beast King, but the arrival of the Winged Tiger interrupts their exchange.
• The Winged Tiger and Zhuyan clash directly, trading attacks and insults. Their final exchange reveals Zhuyan’s resentment toward the Dragon race and the lasting injuries caused by his previous battle with a Black Dragon.

Chapter Summary: “Alliance”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhu Yan and the Winged Tiger pause their battle and discuss the superiority of the Dragon race. Zhu Yan mocks the Winged Tiger’s pride in possessing wings, arguing that dragons possess far greater natural advantages.
• Zhu Yan reveals that the Black Dragon King has secretly advanced to the Dragon Emperor realm. This alarms the Winged Tiger, who realizes that the dragon could eventually dominate Nanmu Forest and threaten their freedom.
• The Winged Tiger, overwhelmed by his beastly instincts and suspicion that Zhu Yan may be manipulating him, attacks again. Zhu Yan responds, and the two Beast Emperors engage in a destructive battle.
• Zhu Yan uses “Earth’s Wrath,” cracking the ground and launching magma, while the Winged Tiger counters with “Raging Wind Roar,” summoning devastating winds and dark clouds. Their clash injures both of them and devastates the surrounding area.
• Regaining some composure, the Winged Tiger agrees to cooperate with Zhu Yan. They decide to mobilize their subordinates, locate the injured Black Dragon Emperor, and kill him before he recovers.
• Both Beast Emperors are motivated not only by fear but also by greed: they hope to devour the dragon and gain access to his superior bloodline, potentially advancing toward godhood.
• After the Winged Tiger departs, Zhu Yan summons the Tiger Fang Beast King, grants him control of the area, and orders him to search for the Black Dragon Emperor and report immediately.

Character Developments

• Zhu Yan: Reveals deep envy of the Dragon race and a strong desire to overcome the limits of his mutant bloodline. He proves himself manipulative, using the Black Dragon’s advancement to provoke the Winged Tiger into an alliance. His ambition extends beyond survival toward obtaining the power necessary to pursue godhood.
• The Winged Tiger: Initially arrogant about his wings and combat ability, he becomes alarmed after learning that the Black Dragon has become a Dragon Emperor. His beastly instincts briefly overwhelm his reason, but after their battle he regains control and accepts cooperation with Zhu Yan.
• Tiger Fang Beast King: After fleeing the earlier conflict, he is placed under Zhu Yan’s authority. He is ordered to rule the territory and assist in the hunt for the Black Dragon, though Zhu Yan clearly distrusts him and uses mental pressure to ensure obedience.
• Black Dragon King: Though absent from the chapter, he becomes its central threat. His secret advancement and powerful bloodline make him a target for both Beast Emperors.

Significant Themes

• Envy of innate superiority: The beasts resent the Dragon race’s intelligence, physical perfection, magical talent, and inherited potential.
• Power and advancement: The characters seek stronger bloodlines and higher realms, viewing the Black Dragon’s body as a means to break through their own limitations.
• Fear driving alliance: Zhu Yan and the Winged Tiger cooperate not out of trust, but because the Black Dragon’s rise threatens their dominance.
• Instinct versus reason: The Winged Tiger’s beastly nature causes him to attack impulsively, while Zhu Yan’s controlled slaughtering instinct gives him greater strategic awareness.
• Manipulation and distrust: Zhu Yan presents the alliance as necessary defense, but his greed and calculated provocation suggest that personal ambition is equally important.

Character Interactions

• Zhu Yan taunts the Winged Tiger by comparing him unfavorably to dragons, exploiting his insecurity.
• The Winged Tiger challenges Zhu Yan’s claims and attacks him when he suspects deception.
• Their violent confrontation ultimately forces mutual recognition of the Black Dragon threat.
• After agreeing to cooperate, both openly share the same goal: finding and consuming the Black Dragon Emperor.
• Zhu Yan later asserts dominance over the Tiger Fang Beast King, assigning him territory while compelling him to obey through Beast Emperor mental pressure.

Chapter Summary: Black Dragon King Awakens

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhu Yan, the Zhuyan Beast Emperor, helps the injured Tiger Fang Beast King refine and absorb the flesh and blood of the Golden Mane Lion Beast King. His immense heat fuses the energy into Tiger Fang’s body, causing him considerable pain but greatly increasing his size and strength.
• Zhu Yan promises Tiger Fang additional true dragon flesh and blood if he completes an upcoming mission and helps defeat the Black Dragon King. Motivated by the possibility of reaching the Emperor realm, Tiger Fang leaves with renewed ambition.
• After Tiger Fang departs, Zhu Yan reveals lingering unease about his own past injuries. His wounds heal rapidly, but a scar on his chest remains, reminding him of a powerful enemy and tempering his usual violent aura with fear.
• In the northern Nanmu Forest, the Black Dragon King awakens after nearly three months of recovery. His followers—the Eight-faced Demon Spider, Titan Giant Python, and other Beast Kings—had disbanded their beast horde to conceal his location.
• The Black Dragon King accepts their explanation and formally declares them members of the Dragon race and his subjects. This grants them a higher status and freedom from having to submit to ordinary dragons.
• He orders them to use the Illusory Form Art to assume human forms. The Eight-faced Demon Spider transforms first, followed by the others.
• The transformed Beast Kings discover that human form suppresses their beast nature, improves their ability to use inherited cultivation techniques, and offers greater control despite temporarily limiting their physical power.
• The chapter ends with the Eight-faced Demon Spider asking whether they will seek revenge against the Lich, William Das, whom the group deeply hates.

Character Developments

• Tiger Fang Beast King: Becomes significantly stronger after Zhu Yan helps him assimilate the Golden Mane Lion’s flesh and blood. His fear of Zhu Yan gives way to ambition when promised dragon essence, making him more determined to complete the mission.
• Zhu Yan: Demonstrates both overwhelming authority and calculated manipulation. He rewards loyalty while exploiting Tiger Fang’s desire for advancement. Despite his arrogance and aggression, his permanent chest scar reveals fear and respect for a formidable past opponent.
• Black Dragon King: Awakens still severely injured but remains commanding and authoritative. He elevates his followers by officially declaring them dragonkind and guides them toward greater control and cultivation through human transformation.
• Eight-faced Demon Spider and the other Beast Kings: Their loyalty is reaffirmed through their willingness to accept punishment. After transforming, they begin moving beyond their former reliance on instinct and brute force, gaining greater reason and cultivation potential.

Significant Themes

• Power and hierarchy: Strength determines status, while dragon blood grants the Beast Kings a new social and biological identity.
• Ambition and manipulation: Zhu Yan motivates Tiger Fang through promises of greater power, showing how desire can be used to secure obedience.
• Transformation and evolution: The Beast Kings’ movement from beast forms into human forms symbolizes their progression toward intelligence, discipline, and higher cultivation.
• Reason versus instinct: The Black Dragon King argues that human rationality surpasses beast nature, and that mastering this quality is essential for achieving greater strength.
• Fear beneath power: Zhu Yan’s reaction to his unhealed scar suggests that even powerful rulers carry trauma and recognize the existence of forces capable of threatening them.

Character Interactions

• Zhu Yan dominates and strengthens Tiger Fang while simultaneously binding him to a dangerous mission through promises of dragon flesh.
• The Black Dragon King’s followers submit themselves to his judgment, but he responds by legitimizing rather than punishing them.
• He instructs the Beast Kings in using the Illusory Form Art, and their successful transformations deepen their loyalty and admiration.
• The group’s shared hatred of the Lich William Das establishes revenge as the likely direction of the next events.

Chapter Summary: The Beginning of Revenge

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Black Dragon King and his followers abandon their campaign to conquer Nanmu Forest after suffering severe losses in the battle with the Lich. They dismiss their forces and retreat to recover.
• Fearing that Zhu Yan and the Winged Tiger will soon join forces against him, the Black Dragon King decides to travel to Moonlight Forest and seek refuge or assistance from the Elves, despite their hostility toward destructive magic beasts.
• He reassures the Eight-faced Demon Spiders and the others that the Illusory Form Art will allow them to conceal their beastly nature by taking human form.
• Elsewhere, Coles and the Lich William Das hide in a cave. Coles hunts down and dismembers a Platinum Rank magic beast for potion-making and experimentation.
• William awakens after several months of recovery. Using Divine Blood from the ruins, he has successfully reconstructed and strengthened his body, becoming much taller and more robust than before.
• William reminds Coles of his promise to help him avenge the destruction of his lineage. Coles, now having broken through to Platinum Rank through his fury and grief, declares that they will destroy Hui Dun City and kill the “lowly slave” responsible for his hatred.
• At the Ancient Road Post Station, Chen Cheng, Emil, and their companion recover from witnessing the devastating battle between Zhu Yan and the Winged Tiger. They resume their journey toward Moonlight Forest.
• The group had feared that the Tiger Fang Beast King would betray them to the Beast Emperor, but he ignores them after receiving Zhu Yan’s promise and instead begins searching for the Black Dragon King. This indirectly causes the Black Dragon King’s current predicament.
• The chapter ends in Moonlight Forest, where Samlet recognizes an old man who followed the Black Dragon King’s bloodline mark and expresses surprise that he survived persecution by the Elves.

Character Developments

• Black Dragon King: Becomes more cautious and pragmatic after his defeat. Although proud, he reluctantly seeks help from the Elves and takes responsibility for protecting his followers.
• William Das: Gains a new, physically powerful body through Divine Blood and confirms that his resurrection and transformation were successful. His eccentric, ruthless personality remains unchanged.
• Coles: Advances to Platinum Rank, driven by anger over the destruction of his lineage. His long-term restraint gives way to open vengeance, and he commits himself to destroying Hui Dun City.
• Chen Cheng: Continues traveling toward Moonlight Forest and remains curious about Elf civilization, especially the World Tree. His influence continues to affect events indirectly, particularly the Black Dragon King’s worsening circumstances.
• Emil: Reflects on the extraordinary natural advantages of magic beasts after witnessing the clash between Zhu Yan and the Winged Tiger.
• Tiger Fang Beast King: Does not betray Chen Cheng’s group, but not out of loyalty; he is preoccupied with hunting the Black Dragon King and earning Zhu Yan’s favor.

Significant Themes

• Revenge and vengeance: Coles’s transformation and breakthrough are fueled by his desire to avenge his destroyed lineage. The chapter establishes revenge as the central force driving the next stage of the story.
• The consequences of past actions: Chen Cheng’s earlier choices continue to produce unforeseen effects, contributing indirectly to the Black Dragon King’s injuries and pursuit.
• Power and survival: The Black Dragon King’s retreat, William’s reconstruction, and Coles’s advancement all show characters adapting to survive in an increasingly dangerous world.
• Racial prejudice and uneasy alliances: The Elves distrust magic beasts, forcing the Black Dragon King to approach them despite mutual hostility. The chapter also contrasts the perceived strengths of Elves, humans, dragons, and magic beasts.
• Transformation and rebirth: William’s new body symbolizes physical renewal, while Coles’s advancement marks his rebirth as an avenger.
• Long-term consequences of conflict: The battle between powerful Demigod-level beings reshapes the movements and strategies of multiple factions across the forest.

Character Interactions

• The Black Dragon King firmly dismisses his followers’ concerns about entering Moonlight Forest and orders them to follow his plan.
• William and Coles reunite after William’s recovery. Their relationship combines dark humor, mutual dependence, and a shared commitment to revenge.
• Emil comments on magic beasts’ natural advantages, prompting Chen Cheng’s internal disagreement as he considers the superior talents and longevity of the Elves.
• Chen Cheng’s group discusses the danger of trusting the Tiger Fang Beast King, unaware that he has already shifted his attention elsewhere.
• Samlet meets the mysterious survivor who followed the Black Dragon King’s bloodline mark, setting up a new development within Moonlight Forest.

Chapter Summary: “Almost There”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Alchemy Old Monster encounters Samlet, the former master of the Empire’s Demigod Temple, and is terrified by the meeting.
• When Chaos Demon is mentioned, Samlet reveals his intense hatred for him and vows to capture and sacrifice him. The mention of Chaos Demon also triggers Samlet’s suppressed killing intent, frightening everyone present.
• Samlet suspects Alchemy Old Monster may have defected to the Elves, but Alchemy Old Monster immediately kneels and tearfully insists that he remains loyal to the Empire and its emperor.
• Alchemy Old Monster explains that the adventurers accompanying him came only to trade with the Elves and know nothing of his true purpose. Samlet confirms that, since they have not committed treason, he will not harm them.
• After Samlet departs, the adventurers collapse in relief and distance themselves from Alchemy Old Monster, blaming him for exposing them to such danger.
• Alchemy Old Monster reassures them that they will likely be allowed to leave after meeting the emperor, provided they sign confidentiality agreements.
• Meanwhile, the emperor and his companions continue cutting through the overgrown ancient road toward Moonlight Forest. They are nearing the Elven territory, where patrols should soon appear.

Character Developments

• Samlet is shown to be extremely intimidating, fiercely loyal to the Empire, and consumed by hatred for Chaos Demon. Despite his frightening presence, he is not needlessly violent and distinguishes between treasonous enemies and innocent citizens.
• Alchemy Old Monster appears fearful and submissive before Samlet but demonstrates loyalty and compassion by defending the adventurers. His history of using his own body in alchemy reinforces that he is self-sacrificing rather than selfish.
• The adventurers lose their earlier confidence and become deeply frightened by the powerful figures and secrets they encounter. They quickly emphasize their loyalty to the Empire to protect themselves.
• Chen Cheng actively helps clear the road with his Demonic Sword, showing his practical involvement in the expedition.
• Emil provides knowledge about Elven territory and explains the protective influence of the World Tree.
• She Li remains observant and skeptical, questioning why the Elves do not patrol or claim the large protected area around Moonlight Forest.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and treason: The chapter contrasts genuine loyalty with the fear of being suspected of betrayal, especially in the Empire’s unstable political situation.
• Power and intimidation: Even powerful or experienced individuals become helpless before figures such as Samlet and the emperor.
• Secrecy and political danger: The adventurers realize they have stumbled into dangerous imperial secrets and may need confidentiality contracts to survive.
• Protection and authority: The World Tree’s influence keeps Magic Beasts away, illustrating both the Elves’ dependence on ancient power and the authority of their race.
• Compassion beneath fear: Though Alchemy Old Monster is responsible for the adventurers’ danger, he still protects them, while Samlet spares them because they are innocent.

Character Interactions

• Samlet and Alchemy Old Monster: Samlet interrogates and threatens Alchemy Old Monster, who responds with panic, kneeling, and emotional pleas for mercy.
• Samlet and the adventurers: His presence terrifies them, but he reassures them that he will not kill innocent imperial subjects.
• Alchemy Old Monster and the adventurers: Although they resent him for involving them in danger, he defends them and later reassures them about their chances of surviving.
• Chen Cheng, Emil, and She Li: As they approach Moonlight Forest, they discuss the World Tree’s protective power and the absence of Elven patrols, ending the chapter with She Li’s practical challenge to Emil’s explanation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• She Li makes aggressive remarks about the Elf race, causing Emil to defend her people.
• Chen Cheng apologizes on She Li's behalf, attributing his behavior to living in darkness too long.
• She Li insists on his stance but apologizes for his impudence.
• Chen Cheng receives a telepathic message from Brother Octopus, warning him about a True God's presence.
• She Li reveals he can't sense Samlet's presence within the last hundred miles.
• The group finally reaches the Moonlight Forest and encounters the World Tree, with Emil greeting it as the Tree God.
• A mysterious figure, later revealed to be Sifite, approaches the group.

Character Developments

• She Li: Shows stubbornness and suspicion towards the Elf race, later revealed to be due to his concern for Samlet's safety.
• Chen Cheng: Becomes more vigilant and cautious, showing concern for She Li's mental state.
• Emil: Shows pride in her race and their connection to the World Tree, displaying no hostility towards Chen Cheng's group.

Significant Themes

• Suspicion and Trust: She Li's initial suspicion of the Elf race contrasts with Emil's openness and Chen Cheng's cautious trust.
• Power Dynamics: The Elf race's power and the presence of a True God are acknowledged, influencing Chen Cheng's actions.
• Nature and Divinity: The World Tree is portrayed as a divine entity, connecting the heavens and the earth.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and She Li: Chen Cheng shows concern for She Li's mental state, while She Li remains loyal and protective of Chen Cheng.
• Emil and Chen Cheng's group: Emil shows hospitality and openness towards Chen Cheng's group, inviting them to see the true life of the Elf race.
• Emil and the World Tree: Emil greets the World Tree as the Tree God, showing her race's reverence for it.

Summary of “A Tentative Inquiry”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng, She Li, and Daha wait for Emil’s Elf relatives to arrive after reaching the edge of the Elf territory.
• Several armed Elves emerge from the forest, including Sifite and Ireland, whom Emil warmly greets.
• Emil introduces Chen Cheng and his companions to the Elves, explaining that they are human friends who helped her.
• Before Emil can advocate for him, Chen Cheng openly admits that he has come seeking treatment for his Faith Contamination and is relying partly on the favor owed to him for saving Emil.
• He emphasizes that he does not expect special treatment and is willing to pay any reasonable price for the Elves’ help.
• Sifite tests Chen Cheng by suggesting that the Elf clan might cure him if he devoted himself to them, implying a lifelong form of service or submission.
• Chen Cheng refuses, unwilling to surrender his freedom even to save his life. He has already struggled to escape slavery and does not want to enter another arrangement.
• Sifite then reveals that the Elves will save him without demanding repayment: because Chen Cheng saved an Elf, their clan will save his life “in equal measure.”
• The Elves reveal a hidden path and provide a magical carriage made of vines and branches, drawn by an unusual black unicorn, to take Chen Cheng into their territory.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Demonstrates honesty, dignity, independence, and consideration for others. He prevents Emil from being pressured into defending him and insists on a fair exchange rather than exploiting her gratitude. His refusal to trade his freedom for treatment shows that personal liberty matters more to him than even his survival.
• Emil: Shows strong affection and concern for Chen Cheng. She becomes anxious when Sifite appears stern, suggesting that she feels personally responsible for helping him. Her relief after Sifite agrees to assist him highlights her loyalty and emotional attachment to her human companions.
• Sifite: Initially appears aloof and teasing, testing Chen Cheng’s resolve by proposing that he devote himself to the Elves. After recognizing his determination, she respects him and offers help without conditions.
• Ireland: Acts warmly toward Emil and helps calm the situation. She understands the Elf clan’s traditions and lightly scolds Emil for forgetting that the clan repays kindness according to its rules.
• She Li and Daha: Remain present as part of Chen Cheng’s group, though they play no major role in the negotiations. She Li’s lack of contamination remains relevant in the background.

Significant Themes

• Freedom versus survival: Chen Cheng refuses to sacrifice his autonomy, even when faced with a potentially fatal condition. His choice reflects his desire to remain free in both body and spirit.
• Reciprocity and honor: The Elves operate according to a tradition of repaying kindness. Their decision to save Chen Cheng is not treated as charity but as a balanced return for his rescue of Emil.
• Personal dignity and fair exchange: Chen Cheng rejects begging, manipulation, or dependence on status. He seeks a clear and honorable arrangement.
• Prejudice and cultural differences: Chen Cheng initially assumes the Elves may demand slavery or lifelong service, based on his past experiences. The Elves’ response challenges his expectations about their society.
• A new life and ordinary freedom: Chen Cheng reflects on his previous life and his desire not for power, but for a peaceful and ordinary existence away from political struggles and obligations.

Character Interactions

• Emil affectionately greets Sifite and Ireland and introduces them to Chen Cheng’s party.
• Chen Cheng respectfully explains his condition and his debt to Emil, trying to protect her from being forced to plead on his behalf.
• Sifite challenges Chen Cheng’s resolve by offering help in exchange for devotion to the Elf race.
• Chen Cheng firmly refuses, leading Sifite to respect his determination.
• Sifite then invokes the Elves’ code of reciprocity and promises to cure him without demanding anything further.
• Ireland comforts Emil and reminds her of the clan’s custom of repaying kindness, while the group is invited into the Elf realm by way of the newly revealed forest road and magical carriage.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng arrives at the Elf settlement in a magical vine carriage.
• The Elves greet him as "Your Imperial Majesty," revealing they know his true identity.
• Samlet, Chen Cheng's loyal servant from his past life, appears and confirms his identity.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Becomes more vigilant and cautious upon realizing the Elves know his secret.
• Samlet: Reveals his loyalty and emotional attachment to Chen Cheng.

Significant Themes

• Identity: Chen Cheng's true identity as an emperor is revealed, impacting his relationships and safety.
• Trust: Chen Cheng's trust in the Elves is tested, and he must decide how to proceed.
• Loyalty: Samlet's unwavering loyalty to Chen Cheng is demonstrated.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and the Elves: Their relationship shifts from friendly to tense upon the revelation of his identity.
• Chen Cheng and Samlet: Their reunion is emotional and heartfelt, highlighting their strong bond.
• Sifite and Chen Cheng: Sifite tries to reassure Chen Cheng and explain the Elves' actions.

• Key Plot Points: Chen Cheng returns to the elf tribe, where he's mistaken for the Emperor of the Empire. He meets Melos, the elf elder, and is taken to the World Tree. He greets the Tree God by shaking its root, causing a stir among the elves.
• Character Developments: Chen Cheng displays regal bearing, proving he can adapt to his new identity. Melos remains composed and respectful towards Chen Cheng.
• Significant Themes: The power and reverence for the World Tree, the elves' acceptance of Chen Cheng, and the display of authority.
• Character Interactions: Chen Cheng and Melos interact respectfully, with Melos leading Chen Cheng around the elf tribe. Chen Cheng also interacts with the Tree God in a unique way.

Chapter Summary: “The Elven Race’s Banquet”

Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng and his companions arrive at the end of a massive tree branch, where Melos opens a concealed entrance in the trunk.
• Inside, they discover a vast plaza that resembles a separate world, complete with its own sky and sun, revealing the Elves’ remarkable magical capabilities.
• They are greeted by Fisili, an unusually beautiful Elf formally dressed as a Saintess. She stares intensely at Chen Cheng, drawing a gentle reprimand from Melos.
• Fisili reunites with Emil, who teases her for repeatedly failing to complete her coming-of-age ceremony. Emil offers to help finance Fisili’s next attempt, making Fisili extremely happy.
• Chen Cheng asks Melos about Elven adulthood. She explains that although Elves live for over three thousand years and grow stronger naturally with age, they mature mentally at roughly the same rate as Humans.
• Elves must therefore pass a coming-of-age ceremony that tests their temperament and ability to control their power. Those who succeed leave Moonlight Forest, cross the Starry Sea, and travel through the Empire to gain experience.
• Chen Cheng praises the wisdom and restraint built into this system, recognizing that it prevents the Elves’ naturally increasing power from becoming destructive.
• At the banquet, Chen Cheng is placed in the seat of honor while Elven leaders and experts attend in formal leaf-based clothing. The celebration features Elven songs, dances, and customs influenced by Human traditions.
• Afterward, Chen Cheng and his companions are taken to lavish guest quarters. Samlet recognizes Chen Cheng’s room as a magical reconstruction of the royal palace’s bedchamber, reminding him of the Royal Capital after nearly two centuries away.

Character Development

• Chen Cheng displays curiosity and humility as he learns about Elven culture. He also shows sound judgment by appreciating the Elves’ coming-of-age system rather than merely admiring their power.
• Melos acts as a knowledgeable host and cultural guide. Her warm attitude toward Chen Cheng becomes more apparent, especially as she explains Elven traditions.
• Fisili is introduced as naïve, charming, and somewhat immature despite her age. Her inability to complete her coming-of-age ceremony suggests poor luck or difficulty controlling herself, while her excitement at Emil’s offer reveals a youthful personality.
• Emil is shown to be close to Fisili and somewhat protective. She combines teasing criticism with genuine concern and financial support.
• Samlet experiences an emotional moment when the Elves recreate the Royal Capital’s palace chamber, reviving memories from his distant past.

Significant Themes

• Power and responsibility: The Elves’ naturally increasing strength creates a danger that their coming-of-age ceremony is designed to control.
• Maturity versus age: Although Elves live for millennia, they are judged by wisdom, temperament, and self-control rather than chronological age alone.
• Cultural exchange: The banquet adopts Human-style ceremonies, while Chen Cheng gains a deeper understanding of Elven customs.
• Hospitality and diplomacy: The elaborate reception, formal clothing, entertainment, and luxurious accommodations demonstrate the importance of Chen Cheng’s visit to the Elven race.
• Memory and nostalgia: Samlet’s reaction to the reconstructed royal chamber emphasizes the emotional power of places associated with the past.

Character Interactions

• Melos gently corrects Fisili for staring at Chen Cheng, establishing Fisili’s innocent curiosity and Melos’s role as an authority figure.
• Emil and Fisili interact like close sisters, combining teasing, reprimands, affection, and practical support.
• Chen Cheng’s conversation with Melos allows him to understand the Elves’ social structure and reinforces their growing diplomatic connection.
• Samlet’s emotional response to the guest room adds a personal, human element to the otherwise grand diplomatic celebration.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng, now incognito as Emil, meets his old teacher Samlet after a year.
• Chen Cheng reveals he's been living as a commoner, seeking the Elves' help for his severe, hidden injuries.
• Samlet learns about Chen Cheng's injuries, his past struggles, and his current plans for the Empire's future.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng (Emil): Shows maturity and introspection, revealing his desire to experience the world and decide the Empire's future based on its needs. He values his relationships with Samlet and She Li, considering them family.
• Samlet: Realizes Chen Cheng's growth and capabilities but feels guilty for not protecting him. Struggles with his desire to restore the Empire and Chen Cheng's wish to live a peaceful life.

Significant Themes

• Growth and Maturity: Chen Cheng's experiences have led him to question and reassess his goals and the Empire's relevance.
• Family and Loyalty: Chen Cheng values his relationships with Samlet and She Li, emphasizing their bond as a family rather than a hierarchical power dynamic.
• Sacrifice and Guilt: Samlet feels guilty for not protecting Chen Cheng, while She Li feels responsible for Chen Cheng's injuries.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Samlet: Their conversation reveals their deep bond and mutual respect. Chen Cheng shares his thoughts about the Empire's future, while Samlet struggles with his desire to restore the Empire and Chen Cheng's wishes.
• Chen Cheng and She Li: Chen Cheng reassures She Li, who blames himself for Chen Cheng's injuries, emphasizing their familial bond and She Li's faithful service.
• Samlet and She Li: Samlet punishes She Li for Chen Cheng's injuries but also acknowledges She Li's dedication and service to Chen Cheng.

Chapter Summary: “The Vote”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Samlet argues passionately that the Empire is essential to maintaining peace and protecting humanity from the Beastfolk, Dragons, Sea Clan, and Elves. He believes the Empire’s former power united humanity and suppressed rival races.
• Chen Cheng acknowledges the Empire’s past greatness but disagrees with Samlet’s belief that its restoration should be based solely on its former authority. Drawing on his knowledge of history, he argues that a dynasty survives only when its people still support it and genuinely want it to return.
• Chen Cheng explains that he wants to restore the Empire without triggering a destructive war. He intends to grow stronger, develop a sound plan, and ensure that the former subjects themselves willingly rally behind the imperial banner.
• Samlet agrees to follow Chen Cheng’s wishes, and the two decide to give each other time to see whether Chen Cheng’s approach is correct.
• Chen Cheng then asks whether the Elves can heal his severe injuries and his contamination by External Evils. Samlet reassures him that the Moon Goddess may be able to help.
• Meanwhile, Melos informs the Elf elders that Chen Cheng has indeed been tainted by External Evils, though the corruption is still limited.
• The Elf elders react with fear and grief because Chen Cheng is central to their race’s hopes and to the Saintess’s long-awaited expectations.
• Since the Moon Goddess is herself weakened by a lasting divine injury, the elders debate how much assistance she can provide. They ultimately vote unanimously to pray to her for guidance and healing methods.
• The Elves also decide to send Chen Cheng water from the Moon God Spring, hoping it will ease his injuries.
• The next morning, Samlet wakes Chen Cheng to begin personally guiding his cultivation.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates political maturity and independent judgment. Though he respects Samlet and understands the Empire’s historical importance, he refuses to restore it through nostalgia, coercion, or blind militarism.
• Samlet reveals deep emotional devotion to Chen Cheng, viewing him not only as his emperor but almost as his own child. Although he still believes strongly in the Empire, he agrees to support Chen Cheng and give him time to prove his philosophy.
• Melos acts as a responsible leader, clearly identifying Chen Cheng’s condition and steering the elders toward practical action rather than panic.
• Shui Luo initially responds with anger and grief, blaming Samlet for Chen Cheng’s injuries, but eventually calms down and supports the decision to pray.
• The Elf elders show that Chen Cheng’s fate is closely tied to their race’s hopes. Their unanimous vote reflects their loyalty and willingness to cooperate to protect him.

Significant Themes

• Legitimacy versus inherited authority: The chapter questions whether a fallen empire can be restored simply because it was once powerful, emphasizing that genuine public support is more important than historical glory.
• Political idealism versus realism: Samlet focuses on the Empire’s role in protecting humanity, while Chen Cheng considers the practical cost of war and the need to win the people’s voluntary loyalty.
• The burdens of leadership: Chen Cheng recognizes that ruling requires more than power; it requires understanding the people and making decisions that preserve the nation.
• Loyalty and familial devotion: Samlet’s relationship with Chen Cheng is portrayed as both political and deeply paternal.
• Faith, prophecy, and uncertainty: The Elves trust in divine prophecy and the Moon Goddess while also recognizing the limits imposed by her injuries.
• Collective decision-making: The elders’ vote demonstrates cooperation and shared responsibility during a crisis.

Important Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Samlet: They debate the meaning of the Empire’s restoration but reach a temporary understanding based on mutual respect and patience.
• Chen Cheng and Samlet: Their conversation about healing reveals Samlet’s protective affection and gives Chen Cheng renewed hope.
• Melos and the Elf elders: Melos informs them of Chen Cheng’s condition and guides their discussion toward a practical response.
• Shui Luo and the elders: Shui Luo’s emotional outburst highlights the importance of Chen Cheng to the Elves, but the group ultimately unites behind prayer and support.
• The Elf elders collectively: Their unanimous vote marks a formal commitment to seek divine aid and protect Chen Cheng.

Chapter Summary: “New Secret Technique”

• Morning cultivation: Chen Cheng and Samlet cultivate together at dawn using a technique that absorbs purple qi from the sunrise. Chen Cheng discovers that Samlet’s method significantly reduces the pain of absorbing Battle Aura, making the Warrior’s Path safer and more efficient.
• Improved combat techniques: Chen Cheng asks Samlet about the Returning Vitality Art and Exploding Vitality Art, two techniques previously given to him by Isabel. Samlet identifies them as original versions preserved in the Demigod Temple and teaches Chen Cheng upgraded versions that are over thirty percent more powerful.
• A powerful new technique: Samlet begins teaching Chen Cheng another secret technique capable of helping those below Platinum Rank form a pseudo-domain and strengthening the domains of higher-ranked practitioners. Because of its extraordinary value, Samlet secretly transmits the formula without producing audible sound.
• Brother Octopus’s interruption: As Chen Cheng attempts to cultivate the new technique, Brother Octopus suddenly emerges from the Space Bag and disrupts the process by slapping the forming technique apart. Chen Cheng is unharmed but furious, beating the bag and scolding the octopus. He realizes Brother Octopus is hiding because, as an Outer God, he entered the World Tree and Moon Goddess’s territory without permission.
• Trust between Chen Cheng and Samlet: Samlet is shocked to learn that a living creature has been concealed inside the Space Bag. Chen Cheng explains Brother Octopus’s identity and his possible importance in dealing with the Elf race’s crisis, asking Samlet to keep the matter secret. Samlet accepts the information seriously rather than reacting with panic.
• The truth about the Ancient Ruins: Samlet reveals that the First Emperor could decipher Ancient Ruins with the help of the God of War, Aruthira. Before dying alongside the Extraterrestrial Demons, Aruthira warned that revealing the ability to unlock the ruins would tempt people to release imprisoned gods in pursuit of divine power.
• The Doomsday Codex: Samlet explains that the legendary Doomsday Codex was believed to be the key to opening the ruins. This led the First Emperor to command his descendants never to seek it. The Empire’s destruction was later attributed to the Codex.
• Chen Cheng’s doubts: Chen Cheng points out that he personally opened the ruins using knowledge from his previous life, not a mysterious Codex. He concludes that the Thirteenth Emperor likely never possessed it, despite Samlet’s assumption that he must have. Chen Cheng then proposes another possibility: the Thirteenth Emperor may have hidden the Codex in the Imperial Capital after witnessing the Empire’s collapse.

Character Development and Interactions

• Chen Cheng becomes more confident in his cultivation and demonstrates caution by protecting Isabel’s secret techniques while still seeking expert advice. He also shows growing independence in challenging accepted historical explanations.
• Samlet acts as a mentor, providing improved techniques and revealing suppressed imperial history. His respect for Chen Cheng deepens as he compares him to the First Emperor.
• Brother Octopus remains mischievous and secretive, but his interference suggests he may be connected to matters too dangerous for Chen Cheng to pursue recklessly.
• The developing trust between Chen Cheng and Samlet allows major secrets—Brother Octopus’s identity, the Ancient Ruins, and the Doomsday Codex—to be exchanged openly.

Major Themes

• The danger of forbidden knowledge: Ancient Ruins and divine power can bring catastrophe when exposed or misused.
• History versus truth: Official explanations about the Doomsday Codex and the Empire’s fall may be incomplete or wrong.
• Trust and secrecy: Characters must carefully decide which truths can be shared and with whom.
• Cultivation and inherited knowledge: Chen Cheng’s modern understanding and Samlet’s ancient traditions combine to produce stronger techniques and new discoveries.

Chapter Summary: “Scientific Cultivation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng and Samlet discuss the Empire’s destruction and the mysterious Doomsday Codex. If the Codex caused the Empire’s collapse, the Church may have seized it while searching the Imperial ruins, benefiting from the sacrifice of Chen Cheng’s great-grandfather.
• Their inability to challenge the powerful Church leaves both men frustrated and discouraged.
• Chen Cheng changes the subject by asking Samlet about a potential improvement to the Warrior’s Path: dividing Body Forging into separate stages for the tendons, bones, skin, blood, and organs.
• Samlet explains that others had tried similar approaches, such as forging the limbs, torso, and head separately. One such cultivator died instantly after beginning because the imbalance disrupted his body.
• Samlet emphasizes that the human body must be strengthened as a complete system. Strengthening one part disproportionately would overwhelm the others, particularly the heart and bones, causing fatal failures.
• Chen Cheng realizes that copying cultivation methods from web fiction would have been extremely dangerous. His own innovations, especially the array that prevents overheating during Body Forging, have already removed one of cultivation’s greatest difficulties.
• He accepts that there are no easy shortcuts: cultivation must follow the principles of science and requires enduring genuine hardship.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng becomes more cautious and scientifically minded. His imaginative idea about dividing Body Forging is corrected by Samlet’s practical knowledge, and he recognizes how close such experimentation could have brought him to death.
• He also gains a more mature view of cultivation, accepting that strength cannot be obtained without corresponding effort or risk.
• Samlet acts as a mentor and voice of experience. He explains the biological dangers of unbalanced cultivation while expressing pride in Chen Cheng’s achievements, especially his solution to the overheating problem.
• Samlet’s personal resentment toward the Church is revealed, but he remains realistic about their current inability to oppose it.

Significant Themes

• Science versus fantasy-based assumptions: Chen Cheng’s knowledge from his previous life inspires useful ideas, but fictional cultivation concepts cannot simply be applied to reality.
• Balance and systemic integrity: The body must be cultivated as a whole; strengthening one component without supporting the rest leads to catastrophic failure.
• The cost of power: There are no true shortcuts in cultivation. Every gain requires pain, effort, or sacrifice.
• Innovation through knowledge: Although Chen Cheng cannot eliminate all cultivation difficulties, scientific and magical understanding allows him to solve the overheating problem.
• Historical injustice and resentment: The Church may have profited from the Empire’s destruction and the sacrifice of Chen Cheng’s ancestors, deepening his anger toward it.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Samlet share a conversation that shifts from political frustration to cultivation theory.
• Chen Cheng proposes an unorthodox method, while Samlet counters with historical evidence and practical reasoning.
• Samlet’s explanation forces Chen Cheng to reconsider his assumptions and reinforces their mentor-student relationship.
• Samlet’s pride in Chen Cheng’s achievements provides emotional warmth after their discussion of the Empire and the Church.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng's condition worsens, requiring divine intervention for healing.
• Melos, an Elder, informs Chen Cheng that the Elf clan lacks the power to heal him.
• Chen Cheng and Melos embark on a high-speed journey to a temple for a prayer ritual to invoke the Moon God for guidance.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng shows understanding and acceptance of the challenges ahead.
• Melos demonstrates respect and concern for Chen Cheng's well-being.
• Saintess Fisili shows curiosity and acceptance of Chen Cheng's importance to the Elf race.

Significant Themes

• The power of faith and its connection to divine intervention.
• The importance of patience and perseverance in the face of overwhelming challenges.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Melos: Melos shows deference to Chen Cheng's position while also caring for his comfort during their high-speed journey.
• Chen Cheng and Saintess Fisili: Fisili apologizes for her previous behavior and expresses curiosity about Chen Cheng, acknowledging his importance to the Elf race.

Chapter Summary: “Presenting a Memorial of Prayer”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng reassures the Elf Saintess, Fisili, that she should call him “Brown” rather than “Your Majesty,” while Fisili asks him to use her name instead of “Saintess.”
• The Elf elders begin a formal prayer ritual that strongly resembles Taoist fasting ceremonies from Chen Cheng’s former life. They recite an ornate memorial, perform ritual steps, burn incense, and present the memorial to Heaven.
• Chen Cheng notices that the memorial is addressed to the Moon Palace Taiyin Imperial Lord, Universal Radiance Great Celestial Venerable, leading him to conclude that the Moon Goddess is the same Taiyin deity he knows.
• The memorial’s smoke gathers above Fisili and enters her body, allowing the Moon Goddess to descend through her.
• Chen Cheng instinctively feels an overwhelming emotional urge to embrace and mourn before the Moon Goddess, but suppresses it and formally pays his respects.
• The Moon Goddess reveals that she already knows about Chen Cheng’s contamination or other divine-related problem, but says she cannot personally intervene to resolve it.
• Chen Cheng offers the sword symbolizing imperial legitimacy in exchange for her help, but she refuses, explaining that his problem does not require her direct intervention.
• She summons Brother Octopus from Chen Cheng’s Space Bag, exposing that he has been pretending to be unconscious.
• Brother Octopus nervously identifies himself as a Supreme God of a divine lineage and insists that he is not an Evil God.
• The Moon Goddess confirms that Brother Octopus’s divine lineage specializes in understanding contamination and possesses the means to solve Chen Cheng’s problem.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng shows greater familiarity and informality with Fisili, encouraging a more personal relationship despite their differences in status. His desperation is revealed when he considers sacrificing the symbolic imperial sword for a chance at healing.
• Fisili remains innocent and good-natured, casually accepting Chen Cheng’s request to use their personal names. She becomes the vessel for the Moon Goddess during the ceremony, demonstrating her importance as Saintess.
• The Moon Goddess is established as powerful, distant, and knowledgeable. Although she refuses to act directly, she offers crucial guidance by identifying Brother Octopus as the potential solution.
• Brother Octopus is revealed to have been conscious all along and deliberately hiding his abilities. His fearful, respectful behavior toward the Moon Goddess suggests that he understands the danger of divine powers and is anxious to protect himself.
• Melos acts as the serious authority overseeing the ceremony, correcting Fisili when she becomes distracted and successfully completing the memorial ritual.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus true identity: The ritual’s Taoist-like structure and the Moon Goddess’s elaborate title connect Chen Cheng’s former world with his present one, suggesting that familiar divine systems may exist beneath unfamiliar cultural forms.
• Power and legitimacy: Chen Cheng briefly considers trading away the imperial sword, but his thoughts emphasize that true authority comes from power and popular support rather than symbols alone.
• Desperation and compromise: His willingness to sacrifice the empire’s symbol shows how deeply he fears his condition and how far he may go for a solution.
• Hidden knowledge and manipulation: Brother Octopus has concealed both his consciousness and expertise, while the Moon Goddess exposes him at the decisive moment.
• Limits of divine intervention: Even a goddess who understands Chen Cheng’s problem cannot or will not directly solve it, reinforcing the idea that salvation may depend on mortal choices and unexpected allies.

Important Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Fisili establish a friendlier, less formal rapport through their exchange of names.
• Chen Cheng formally addresses the Moon Goddess while struggling against the powerful emotional influence generated by her presence.
• Chen Cheng asks the Moon Goddess for help and offers his imperial sword, but she redirects him toward Brother Octopus.
• The Moon Goddess confronts Brother Octopus, who immediately becomes submissive and explains his divine background.
• By returning Brother Octopus to Chen Cheng and endorsing his expertise, the Moon Goddess links the two characters’ futures and provides the first credible path toward resolving Chen Cheng’s contamination.