Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• After the survivors of Hui Dun City are evacuated, Chen Cheng prepares to finish Coles, but Melos stops him and shoves him away from the city.
• The ground erupts with immense earth energy, destroying Hui Dun City and the surrounding area. An ancient demon god emerges, spreading deadly Profound Yellow Earth Fiend Energy that kills all life within its reach.
• Melos escapes the death zone with She Li, who turns against her because he believes she has endangered Chen Cheng. She restrains him while anxiously watching the forbidden area.
• Chen Cheng discovers that his pendant grants him a new way of seeing the world: he perceives it as a vast mechanism and identifies the spreading death energy as a “world virus.” A mysterious system asks whether to clear it, and he loses consciousness.
• A world-shaking spell descends, purging the deadly energy. The world’s Demigod-level beings are struck by the backlash and spit blood. Chen Cheng regains consciousness in time to restrict the spell’s destruction, saving the surrounding area from becoming the legendary Sky Pit.
• Life begins to return to the ruins. Chen Cheng survives, and Melos apologizes. He reveals that he understands her actions because he recovered memories of being the Son of God from a past life.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Cheng shows growing awareness of his extraordinary past and powers. He remains calm and even jokes with Melos, despite having nearly died.
• Melos acts decisively to remove Chen Cheng from the blast zone, but her choice leaves him in apparent mortal danger. Her fear and regret reveal how much she cares about him.
• She Li remains fiercely loyal to Chen Cheng and treats Melos as an enemy when he believes she has harmed him. Melos restrains him rather than letting him interfere.
• Chen Cheng and Melos resolve the immediate misunderstanding: he explains that, without his recovered memories, he might have blamed her as an enemy.

Significant themes

• Sacrifice and trust: Melos risks Chen Cheng’s anger to protect him, while Chen Cheng’s trust depends on understanding her motives.
• Memory and identity: Chen Cheng’s past-life memories reshape his understanding of the present and avert a fatal misunderstanding.
• Power and consequences: The world’s cleansing spell is so immense that it harms every Demigod, underscoring the danger of forces operating beyond mortal control.
• Renewal after destruction: Life returns to a landscape transformed from a dead zone into ruins, suggesting that devastation can be followed by restoration.

Plot points and events

• Chen Cheng confronts Melos over her actions but chooses to set the matter aside, focusing on the remaining danger.
• He kills the badly wounded Lich, whose reckless attempt to harness Earth Sha had nearly plunged the world into primordial chaos. The Lich crumbles to dust, leaving behind valuable Spatial Rings.
• Coles emerges from the rubble and attacks. Chen Cheng refuses Melos’s help and kills him, then destroys his body to prevent any chance of his return.
• Overcome with grief and guilt, Chen Cheng blames the conflict between himself and Coles for the wider catastrophe and the many deaths that followed.
• Chen Cheng says the site’s next eruption should release purified earth-attribute Magic Energy, potentially turning it into a cultivation Holy Land. He plans for the kingdom and elves to protect it together and claim its benefits.
• Though injured and strained, Chen Cheng leaves with She Li and Melos.

Character developments

• Chen Cheng shifts from anger to grief and self-reproach, recognizing his own part in the chain of events. Despite his pain and Melos’s betrayal, he remains pragmatic and willing to work with her.
• Melos feels increasingly guilty and moved by Chen Cheng’s decision to trust and cooperate with her.
• Coles is revealed as a hollow figure sustained by his obsession with defeating Chen Cheng; he dies still unable to accept losing.
• The Lich is exposed as a near-dead, unnatural being whose pursuit of power endangered the world.

Significant themes

• Responsibility and unintended consequences: A personal feud can escalate into widespread disaster, leaving those involved to reckon with their roles.
• Grief, guilt, and vengeance: Chen Cheng’s rage at Coles gives way to sorrow and a sense of responsibility for the dead.
• Trust and loyalty: Chen Cheng’s willingness to forgive—or at least continue cooperating—deepens Melos’s remorse and attachment.
• Power and its aftermath: The corrupted energy that nearly destroyed the world may become a valuable resource, requiring political cooperation and protection.

Character interactions

• Chen Cheng checks Melos’s confrontation and later stops her from intervening in his fight with Coles.
• He speaks to Coles with contempt, but his posthumous fury is mixed with grief over the deaths he associates with their feud.
• She Li stays close to Chen Cheng and watches Melos warily.
• Chen Cheng chooses to travel with Melos rather than be carried by She Li, signaling that he still accepts Melos as an ally despite the unresolved tension.

Key plot points and events

• After the Lich’s Abyss is left behind, clouds of Profound Yellow Earth Qi restore the ruined land. A new Spirit Vein and a living Earth Brain form, surrounded by fragrant treasures that conceal it.
• Outside Kailan City, Wisdom Shield and the others wait anxiously for Chen Cheng, fearing that the immense magical event in Hui Dun City was a divine attack.
• Chen Cheng suddenly appears unharmed. Fini rushes to embrace him, and their playful exchange eases everyone’s fears.
• Melinda tells Chen Cheng she wants to be with him, admitting she cannot bear the thought of losing him again.
• Elder Melos points out that Melinda carries Elf blood and offers to suppress it so she can live a human-length life beside Chen Cheng.
• Chen Cheng refuses the offer and urges Melinda not to make a life-changing choice in the heat of emotion. He suggests she take time, explore the world, and consider whether they truly suit each other.

Character developments

• Fini openly reveals how deeply she cares for Chen Cheng, though she quickly hides her vulnerability behind teasing and mock sternness.
• Wisdom Shield tries to reassure the others, but his own unease shows that his old religious beliefs still conflict with the teachings he has studied.
• Melinda finally acts on her feelings and speaks candidly, while confronting the implications of her Elf heritage.
• Chen Cheng shows affection for Fini and caution toward romance with Melinda, valuing lasting compatibility over an impulsive commitment.
• Elder Melos demonstrates compassion: rather than opposing Melinda’s love, she offers a way for Melinda to choose a human life.

Significant themes

• Renewal after destruction: The Profound Yellow Earth Qi restores life and creates new sources of spiritual power.
• Love and mortality: Melinda’s mixed heritage raises the question of whether she would give up a long life to share an ordinary one with someone she loves.
• Emotional honesty and restraint: Melinda’s confession is sincere, but Chen Cheng argues that lifelong partnership requires more than intense feelings in a crisis.
• Belief versus experience: Wisdom Shield’s fear reflects the tension between his inherited faith and the new ideas he has learned.

Character interactions

• Fini’s tearful reunion and teasing with Chen Cheng turns the group’s anxiety into relief.
• Wisdom Shield comforts Fini and the others, though his confidence masks his own fear.
• Melinda makes a direct confession to Chen Cheng; Elder Melos responds with an offer that respects her choice.
• Chen Cheng answers Melinda gently but firmly, asking her to take time rather than decide under emotional pressure.

Key plot points and events

• Chen Cheng declines to commit to Melinda for now, saying he wants to wait and is working to help elves achieve compatibility between their bloodlines and bodies.
• Melinda accepts his answer without anger. She explains that her feelings are sincere and that she does not consider him someone who exploited her vulnerability.
• Mei Luo watches their exchange and realizes she has fallen for Chen Cheng too, but feels unable to confess because of practical barriers.
• After Melinda and the others leave, Chen Cheng introduces Elder Melos to Wisdom Shield, then heads to his room to sleep.
• Xiao Wu, a former member of Haosen’s gang, tells Chen Cheng that Haosen’s stories have made him an idol to the city’s lower-ranking people. Their conversation about unclear duties prompts Chen Cheng to recognize a weakness in the government: city lords wield unchecked local power, making coordinated administration difficult.
• Chen Cheng concludes that centralization alone is not enough; officials also need clear rules and procedures—a framework for governing. Too tired to pursue the idea, he leaves it for Wisdom Shield’s capable staff and falls asleep.
• He then experiences another strange transition and hears an unseen voice guide a young hunter’s aim. The hunter kills a reindeer with surprising force.

Character developments

• Chen Cheng shows responsibility and restraint in his romantic life, while also revealing his growing influence as someone admired by people who rose from humble beginnings. He begins thinking seriously about political reform.
• Melinda demonstrates confidence and emotional clarity, giving Chen Cheng time rather than demanding an immediate answer.
• Mei Luo recognizes the depth of her own feelings but remains silent.
• Xiao Wu is nervous around Chen Cheng but earnest and ambitious, embodying the opportunities reform might create for ordinary people.
• The young hunter is introduced as determined to provide for his mother, though he appears to be receiving unexplained mental guidance.

Significant themes

• Responsibility and love: Chen Cheng’s caution comes from concern that a relationship could expose Melinda to hardship.
• Centralized governance versus fragmented power: The chapter argues that autonomous city-states obstruct cooperation, crisis response, and national strength.
• Merit and social mobility: Chen Cheng’s rise inspires Xiao Wu, while proposed reforms could give capable people clearer paths to advancement.
• Order and competence: Effective government requires not just central authority but clear standards and procedures.
• Mystery and intervention: The voice guiding the hunter hints at an unexplained connection or power.

Character interactions

• Melinda and Chen Cheng discuss their feelings openly, while Mei Luo silently observes and struggles with her own affection.
• Chen Cheng encourages Xiao Wu and listens to his uncertainty about his role, turning their exchange into the catalyst for his political insight.
• The chapter closes with an unseen voice instructing the hunter, whose obedient adjustment leads to a successful kill.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lyka, a young boy, hunts a reindeer to provide nourishment for his ailing mother.
• He returns to his tribe, crossing a mountain ridge to reach a lush, warm plain where his tribe resides.
• Chieftain Grandpa scolds Lyka for hunting alone and emphasizes the importance of Lyka's divine status and cultivation.
• Lyka feels guilty for his actions and promises to cultivate diligently.
• Chieftain Grandpa offers to help prepare the reindeer and fetch radishes for Lyka's planned stew.
• Lyka visits his mother, who is severely ill, and decides to ask Chieftain Grandpa to use Deer Blood to help her.

Character Developments

• Lyka: Shows concern for his mother's health, takes responsibility for his actions, and feels guilty for upsetting his grandfather. He also demonstrates strength and skill in hunting.
• Chieftain Grandpa: Exhibits concern for Lyka's well-being and the tribe's future, emphasizing Lyka's divine status and the importance of his cultivation.
• Lyka's Mother: Appears weak and ill, relying on Lyka for support.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility: Lyka feels responsible for his mother's health and the tribe's well-being.
• Divine Status: The tribe believes in Lyka's divine status, which comes with expectations and pressure.
• Guilt: Lyka feels guilty for upsetting his grandfather and not living up to his divine status.

Character Interactions

• Lyka and Chieftain Grandpa: Their interaction shows a mix of respect, tension, and guilt, with Lyka feeling he has let his grandfather down.
• Lyka and his Mother: Their interaction highlights Lyka's concern and love for his mother, as well as her reliance on him.
• Lyka and the tribe's children: Lyka's interaction with the children shows his kindness and generosity, as he plans to treat them to stewed venison with radishes.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lyka discovers a mysterious voice that offers to help cure his ailing mother.
• He learns about parasitic diseases and the use of Artemisia/Sweet wormwood as a cure.
• Lyka and the Chieftain gather Artemisia/Sweet wormwood, and Lyka brews the medicine for his mother.
• Lyka's mother drinks the medicine and falls into a deep sleep.

Character Developments

• Lyka: Becomes more determined to save his mother, learns to communicate with the mysterious voice, and gains confidence in his abilities.
• Lyka's Mother: Starts to trust Lyka's efforts to heal her, showing faith in her son's capabilities.

Significant Themes

• Trust and faith in one's abilities and knowledge.
• The power of determination and perseverance in the face of adversity.
• The importance of community support and cooperation (shown through the Chieftain and the aunts' help).

Character Interactions

• Lyka and the Mysterious Voice: Lyka learns to communicate with the voice to gain information and advice.
• Lyka and the Chieftain: They work together to gather Artemisia/Sweet wormwood, showing mutual respect and trust.
• Lyka and his Mother: Their bond strengthens as Lyka takes the initiative to help his mother, and she trusts his efforts to heal her.
• Lyka and the aunts: They support Lyka's actions without question, showing their faith in him as the Divine Child.

Plot points and events

• Lyka learns from the strange voice about hygiene and disease prevention. He stops the tribe from eating raw fish and shares practical precautions with the chief, who promises to pass them on.
• The chief praises Lyka for helping protect the tribe, then gives him a potion made from Deer Blood. Lyka brings it to his recovering mother, who is hungry for the first time in a long while, and follows it with her medicine.
• The voice also teaches Lyka a recipe for a nourishing Deer Blood soup. Lyka briefly considers using contact with other tribes’ treasures to gain more knowledge, but sets the idea aside to focus on training.
• While practicing with the Magic Bones, Lyka hears the voice identify them as Magic Crystals and provide knowledge about them. He begins tracing Magic Runes, but the interruption disrupts his progress.
• The voice then teaches him meditation and how to connect his consciousness to the Sea of Magic. There, Lyka finds advanced magical legacies and acquires a complete Water Magic legacy, along with a new method for cultivating his Consciousness Body.

Character developments

• Lyka grows more deliberate about using the voice’s knowledge: he applies it to help the tribe, care for his mother, and advance his own training.
• His mother shows signs of recovery, including renewed appetite, giving Lyka hope.
• The chief’s trust and admiration for Lyka deepen; he sees him as a divinely sent savior.

Significant themes

• Practical knowledge can improve collective health and survival.
• New knowledge can transform a community’s prospects, even when its origins are mysterious.
• Lyka’s path shifts from basic, primitive practice toward access to a much broader and more sophisticated magical tradition.

Character interactions

• Lyka guides the children and aunties in preparing fish safely, then explains disease-prevention measures to the chief.
• The chief responds with gratitude and enthusiasm, while Lyka remains aware that the knowledge comes from the strange voice.
• Lyka comforts and cares for his mother, giving her the Deer Blood potion and medicine before returning to his studies.

Plot points and events

• Lyka independently masters a new cultivation method, opens his Consciousness Body, and becomes a mage in a single night. After accidentally soaking himself with a failed water spell, he confirms his success.
• He initially wants to tell the chieftain about the method, but after bathing and thinking clearly, decides it would be dangerous to spread it widely. He plans to train a small, loyal group in secret before considering broader use.
• Chen Cheng wakes from another vivid dream of Lyka. Unable to communicate clearly in the dream, he is left with a headache and, under the moonlight, feels intense homesickness for his old life and deceased parents.
• She Li checks on Chen Cheng. Chen Cheng confides in him, then urges him to rest; She Li leaves him a small knife that will summon him if Chen Cheng needs help.
• Chen Cheng examines the Spatial Rings taken from the Lich. One contains over ten million gold coins and detailed account books showing that the Lich accumulated more than twenty million gold coins over centuries by trading life-extending potions with nobles.
• The records reveal repeated payments to someone called Long San. Chen Cheng suspects Long San may be a powerful figure connected to the Lich and possibly to the alchemist who possessed Coles and triggered the Calamity Beast Tide.

Character developments and interactions

• Lyka shows rapid magical growth and growing caution, recognizing that his knowledge could endanger his people if it reached rival races. He prepares to consult the chieftain about a controlled plan.
• Chen Cheng is emotionally vulnerable as he confronts his displacement and grief, but soon returns to practical investigation. He trusts She Li enough to share his feelings.
• She Li reveals a more sensitive, caring side beneath his cold manner. He responds to Chen Cheng’s distress and provides a way to call for help.
• Chen Cheng and She Li share a quiet moment of mutual concern: Chen Cheng gives She Li permission to rest, while She Li remains prepared to protect him.
• The dream connection between Chen Cheng and Lyka continues, though Chen Cheng cannot control what he says within it.

Significant themes

• Knowledge as both power and danger: Lyka understands that a valuable cultivation method could provoke disaster if it spread beyond his people.
• Homesickness and grief: Moonlight and an old poem awaken Chen Cheng’s longing for his former home and parents.
• Trust and companionship: Chen Cheng’s openness and She Li’s concern deepen their relationship.
• Hidden powers and looming threats: The Lich’s financial records suggest a long-standing, possibly powerful network behind events involving Coles.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng loots three Space Rings from a Lich.
• The first ring contains a mountain of gold, the second has various Magic Gems, potions, and notes.
• The third ring holds the Lich's most cherished treasures in a few wooden boxes.
• Chen Cheng opens the first box, revealing a mysterious, hunger-inducing substance.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng becomes more cautious and analytical as he explores the Space Rings.
• Brother Octopus, a creature in Chen Cheng's Space Bag, shows sentience and saves Chen Cheng from the mysterious substance's influence.

Significant Themes

• Greed and temptation (represented by the mysterious substance and Chen Cheng's initial excitement over the rings).
• The consequences of unethical research (the Lich's experiments on spirits and beasts).
• The value of knowledge and resources (Chen Cheng plans to use the Lich's notes and potions for beneficial purposes).

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng interacts with the Lich's consciousness through the notes and potions in the Space Rings.
• Chen Cheng communicates with Brother Octopus, acknowledging the creature's sentience and gratitude for its help.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng shows the mysterious space rings and the Lich's loot to Elder Melos for appraisal.
• Melos reveals that the space rings are of unknown origin and should not be given to outsiders.
• The Lich's loot includes a melted Creation Gold Crystal and four destroyed Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures: Earth Brain, Water Essence, Blazing Flame, and a withered Spirit Branch.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Shows curiosity and caution in dealing with the mysterious items. His greed is evident in his desire to keep the valuable items for himself.
• Elder Melos: Demonstrates extensive knowledge about space magic and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. Melos shows anger and disgust at the Lich's waste of these valuable resources.

Significant Themes

• Greed: Chen Cheng's desire to keep the valuable items for himself, despite their potential danger, highlights his greed.
• Waste: The Lich's destruction of the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures emphasizes the theme of waste and the consequences of unchecked power.
• Respect for Life: The withered Spirit Branch hints at the loss of life and the impact of the Lich's actions on other races.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Elder Melos: Their interaction is one of mutual respect and shared knowledge. Melos provides valuable information to Chen Cheng, while Chen Cheng shares the mysterious items with Melos, seeking his expertise.
• Chen Cheng and the Lich (implied): Chen Cheng's anger at the Lich's waste of valuable resources suggests a growing animosity towards the Lich, even after its defeat.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Melos and Chen Cheng find and examine the remaining treasures left by the Lich. They discover that the Lich used these treasures to refine something, and the remaining ones are ordinary now.
• Chen Cheng finds a box containing the Lich's daily belongings, which Melos finds unpleasant due to the strong odor.
• Melos reveals that the Lich likely killed an Elf race friend, as indicated by a withered Spirit Branch among the treasures.
• Melos shares that the Earth Brain under the abyss rift will attract the attention of major forces, leading to a potential competition or fight.

Character Developments

• Melos shows concern for Chen Cheng's well-being, making up for his earlier disappointment.
• Melos demonstrates her responsibility and commitment to the agreement with Hui Dun City, despite the changing situation.
• Chen Cheng shows understanding and reciprocity, offering to share the Earth Brain with the Elf race if possible.
• Melos reveals her knowledge of the path to enlightenment for the Kingdom of Moss's rulers and the threat posed by the Church.

Significant Themes

• Friendship and Alliance: Melos and Chen Cheng's relationship deepens, with Melos sharing crucial information and Chen Cheng considering the Elf race's interests.
• Power Dynamics: The competition for the Earth Brain highlights the power struggle among different forces and kingdoms.
• Enlightenment and Threats: The path to enlightenment is revealed, along with the threat posed by the Church to those who might walk this path.

Character Interactions

• Melos and Chen Cheng work together to examine the treasures, with Melos providing guidance and protection.
• Melos shares secrets with Chen Cheng, showing trust and recognition of his potential.
• Chen Cheng considers the Elf race's interests, showing reciprocity and understanding of their alliance.

Chapter Summary: The Foundation of Dao Attainment

Key Plot Points and Events

• Elder Melos explains that Samlet’s Dao is intertwined with the empire and the emperor. His earlier injury resulted not from the Heavenly Punishment itself, but from his weakened foundation.
• Chen Cheng realizes that ruling the empire as one’s Dao grants immense power but creates a fatal vulnerability: if the empire suffers a major crisis, the emperor may experience devastating backlash and die.
• He deduces that the empire’s sudden historical collapse was likely caused by exploiting this weakness through rumors that the emperor possessed the forbidden Doomsday Codex.
• Chen Cheng identifies the Light Church as the organization most capable of spreading such rumors nationwide. He also suspects that the kingdom kings who traveled to the Imperial Capital were collaborators.
• The discussion strengthens Chen Cheng’s hatred toward the church and the traitorous kingdoms, while also convincing him of the importance of centralized authority.
• As Chen Cheng prepares to leave, Liuyun, a Supreme Elder of the Adventurer’s Guild and a Demigod-level figure, arrives outside Kailan City with an oppressive aura.
• Elder Melos confronts Liuyun and suppresses his aura. Chen Cheng withdraws to his courtyard while the city’s soldiers aim their newly installed artillery at the unexpected visitor.
• Liuyun senses that the artillery is genuinely dangerous and becomes intrigued by the weapons.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Gains a deeper understanding of the empire’s downfall, the risks of imperial Dao attainment, and the political forces behind the historical betrayal. He rejects the “path of invincibility,” recognizing that public sentiment can be manipulated and that relying on the empire’s prosperity is dangerously unstable. His hostility toward the Light Church intensifies.
• Elder Melos: Acts as Chen Cheng’s mentor and protector, providing crucial historical and political insight. She also demonstrates her power and authority by countering Liuyun’s aura.
• Liuyun: Introduced as a powerful Demigod and an imposing figure from the Adventurer’s Guild. Despite his overwhelming strength, he shows curiosity rather than immediate hostility toward the city’s artillery.
• The soldiers of Kailan City: Despite being overwhelmed by Liuyun’s aura, they fulfill their duty and aim the city’s strongest weapons at him.

Significant Themes

• Power and vulnerability: Great power often carries an equally dangerous weakness. The emperor’s strength is directly tied to the empire’s stability.
• Manipulation of public opinion: Chen Cheng understands that rumors and collective fear can be weaponized to destroy even the most powerful institutions.
• Historical betrayal: The empire’s collapse may have resulted from coordinated treachery by the Light Church and regional rulers trusted to protect the empire.
• Centralization versus fragmentation: Chen Cheng recognizes that a strong centralized government might have prevented the empire’s downfall and the rise of traitorous local powers.
• Technology confronting supernatural power: The artillery represents mortal ingenuity challenging beings of legendary or demigod-level strength.

Important Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Elder Melos: Their conversation deepens Chen Cheng’s understanding of imperial Dao attainment and the empire’s history. Elder Melos respects his need to process the revelations.
• Chen Cheng and the Light Church: Though they do not meet directly, Chen Cheng views the church as both a political enemy and a personal adversary responsible for historical crimes.
• Elder Melos and Liuyun: Their first exchange is tense and confrontational. Melos rebukes Liuyun for attempting to intimidate others with his aura and meets him with equal force.
• Liuyun and the soldiers: The soldiers respond to his threatening arrival by targeting him with artillery. Rather than becoming offended, Liuyun is fascinated by the weapons and recognizes their unusual potential.

Chapter Summary: “Kill the Chicken to Warn the Monkey”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liuyun enters Wisdom Shield City and forcibly snatches a howitzer from the city wall. When the gunners fire at him, he effortlessly blocks the shells and dismisses the weapon as crude “scrap iron.”
• He dismantles the howitzer, criticizing its slow speed and limited power while failing to understand the scientific principles behind it. The new-learning students quietly recall Chen Cheng’s warning that ignorance breeds arrogance and leads to death.
• Enraged that the gunners attacked him, Liuyun prepares to kill them. Melos intervenes, protecting the ordinary soldiers and challenging Liuyun’s behavior.
• Rather than argue, Melos transports Liuyun hundreds of miles away to Nanmu Forest, where they engage in a brief but devastating battle.
• While the fight takes place, Wisdom Shield reassures the frightened soldiers and recognizes that the Kingdom of Moss must become stronger and more self-reliant.
• Melos returns alone, claiming that Liuyun has been subdued and will no longer act tyrannically. She warns Wisdom Shield that more Legendary Rank experts may arrive because various powers seek the newly formed Earth Brain.
• The Elf race agrees to protect Wisdom Shield City and negotiate a rule allowing contestants below Gold Rank to participate in the coming struggle, buying the Kingdom of Moss time.
• Liuyun emerges battered from the ruined Nanmu Forest, furious that Melos destroyed his valuable Beastmen King Armor. He realizes that he was sent to intimidate Wisdom Shield, but instead became the “chicken” killed—or defeated—to warn the “monkeys,” demonstrating the Elf race’s power.
• The chapter ends when Liuyun encounters a familiar figure, “Little Melonie,” and is delighted to learn that she has reached the mid-stage of Epic Rank.

Character Developments

• Liuyun: His arrogance and disdain for mortals are exposed. He initially believes his superior cultivation makes him untouchable, but Melos humiliates him in battle and destroys his prized armor. Despite this setback, he remains boastful and confident.
• Melos: She demonstrates overwhelming strength, tactical intelligence, and responsibility by protecting ordinary soldiers and defeating Liuyun quickly. She also deliberately presents herself as weakened afterward to conceal her true condition and discourage further attacks.
• Wisdom Shield: He becomes more politically aware and understands the importance of strengthening both his nation and its military power. He accepts the Elf race’s protection with gratitude while promising to restrain his subordinates.
• The new-learning students: Though outwardly silent, they gain confidence in Chen Cheng’s teachings and anticipate that future scientific developments may overturn the current power hierarchy.
• Chen Cheng: He does not appear directly, but his influence is central through the students’ recollection of his lesson about ignorance and arrogance.
• The mysterious “Little Melonie”: Her advancement to mid-stage Epic Rank establishes her as a significant figure and suggests a close personal relationship with Liuyun.

Significant Themes

• Arrogance versus knowledge: Liuyun’s contempt for science reflects the danger of dismissing what one does not understand.
• Science challenging traditional power: The howitzer is primitive compared with Chen Cheng’s inventions, but it already possesses the force of an Epic Rank attack, hinting that scientific learning may eventually rival or surpass cultivation.
• Strength as political deterrence: Melos’s defeat of Liuyun protects Wisdom Shield City while signaling to larger factions that the Elf race will defend the Kingdom of Moss.
• Protection and self-reliance: Wisdom Shield accepts outside assistance but realizes that his kingdom must ultimately become stronger on its own.
• “Killing the chicken to warn the monkey”: Liuyun is used as an example to warn other powerful factions against intimidating or attacking Wisdom Shield City.

Character Interactions

• Liuyun and the gunners: His theft and mockery of the howitzer provoke them into firing, after which he attempts to punish them.
• Liuyun and Melos: Melos stops Liuyun from harming the soldiers, transports him away, and decisively defeats him. Their conflict establishes the Elf race’s superiority and restrains Liuyun’s behavior.
• Melos and Wisdom Shield: She reassures him of the Elves’ support, outlines the danger posed by future Legendary Rank arrivals, and proposes rules to protect the kingdom’s interests.
• Liuyun and the students: Though he does not directly interact with them, his contempt reinforces their belief in Chen Cheng’s teachings.
• Liuyun and “Little Melonie”: Their final encounter shifts Liuyun from anger to affection, revealing a familiar relationship and setting up a new development.

Chapter Summary: “Teasing”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liuyun offers to help Mei Luo obtain the earth brain, a Dao Attainment treasure, suggesting he can summon other guild elders to oppose the Elf race’s Elder Melos. He argues that Mei Luo should acquire a complete set of five-element treasures using both the earth brain and resources prepared by her father.
• Mei Luo refuses, explaining that she has already chosen her cultivation path and does not need the treasure. She also insists that the Adventurer’s Guild should not damage its alliance with the Elves over it.
• Liuyun realizes that Mei Luo’s concern is probably connected to Chen Cheng, the man she secretly loves and who has apparently taken resources from the guild. He teases her about possibly having feelings for Chen Cheng or another prominent young man.
• Mei Luo admits enough to reveal her affection for Chen Cheng and begs Liuyun not to retaliate against him, claiming that Chen Cheng wants to reconcile with the guild and that she was responsible for many of his demands.
• Liuyun agrees not to seize the earth brain and jokingly calls it Mei Luo’s “dowry.” His teasing embarrasses her, and she flees. He privately imagines how furious her father will be if he learns about the relationship.
• A new threat then arrives: Mowendika, Supreme Elder of the Church of Light, enters the area with overwhelming pomp and pressure. His grand procession and divine aura intimidate the small Kingdom of Moss and appear to be a deliberate threat.
• Many civilians mistake Mowendika for the manifestation of a True God and kneel in worship. However, soldiers who fought the recent disaster remain standing, resentful that the Church did little to help them.
• When Mowendika releases killing intent toward the unbowed soldiers, Wisdom Shield forms a military formation with the troops. The formation manifests a Military Momentum Demon God that blocks the attack, though it shatters afterward because the soldiers are mostly inexperienced civilians.
• Melos observes the event and is impressed by Wisdom Shield and the soldiers’ courage to resist the powerful Church elder.

Character Developments

• Mei Luo: Demonstrates maturity and loyalty by prioritizing peace between the Adventurer’s Guild and the Elves over her own cultivation benefits. Her emotional attachment to Chen Cheng becomes clear, and she openly protects him despite his history of exploiting the guild.
• Liuyun: Shows strategic judgment by recognizing that an alliance is more valuable than a single Dao Attainment treasure. He also reveals a playful, affectionate side while teasing Mei Luo, though he still retains some desire to discipline Chen Cheng.
• Chen Cheng: Does not appear directly, but his influence is central. His demands on the guild and relationship with Mei Luo suggest both cunning opportunism and a possible desire to reconcile with the guild.
• Mowendika: Is portrayed as arrogant, domineering, and accustomed to being worshiped. His reaction to the soldiers’ defiance reveals the Church’s intolerance toward opposition.
• Wisdom Shield: Emerges as a capable leader who protects ordinary soldiers and refuses to submit to the Church’s intimidation.
• Melos: Shows admiration for courage and resistance rather than simply respecting power, highlighting her relatively open-minded character.

Significant Themes

• Love versus political loyalty: Mei Luo’s feelings for Chen Cheng influence major decisions involving powerful factions.
• The limited value of treasures to great powers: Liuyun recognizes that alliances and long-term stability matter more than fighting over resources that may reappear elsewhere.
• Resistance to religious and political authority: The soldiers’ refusal to kneel represents growing distrust of the Church after its failure to aid them during the catastrophe.
• Power versus legitimacy: Mowendika possesses overwhelming strength and spectacle, but Wisdom Shield and the soldiers gain moral legitimacy by defending their people.
• Teasing and family affection: Liuyun’s jokes expose Mei Luo’s feelings while showing the warmth and familiarity between uncle and niece.

Important Character Interactions

• Liuyun and Mei Luo discuss the earth brain, with Mei Luo persuading him not to interfere in the Elf–Guild relationship.
• Liuyun teases Mei Luo about Chen Cheng, prompting her to defend Chen Cheng and beg Liuyun not to harm him.
• Mowendika’s pressure confronts Wisdom Shield’s soldiers, leading to a clash between the Church’s intimidation and the soldiers’ military formation.
• Melos silently evaluates the confrontation and approves of the soldiers’ refusal to surrender to superior power.

Key plot points and events

• Melos stops Wisdom Shield’s officers from confronting the Church delegation by releasing her divine pressure. The Law Venerables fall to the ground, while Mowendika remains composed. Melos makes the point without seriously humiliating or injuring the visitors.
• Liuyun taunts Mowendika for not retaliating, but the Supreme Elder responds with polished humility, thanking Melos for the reminder about proper conduct.
• Melos privately warns Wisdom Shield that Mowendika is likely a Level 21 Legendary, and that the accompanying Law Venerables are dangerous when fighting together.
• Mowendika explains that the Church came to investigate the magical upheaval surrounding the Royal Capital—and, specifically, the being that appeared over the Kingdom of Moss and devoured an evil Godly Thought.
• Wisdom Shield denies knowing anything, concealing the truth to protect Chen Cheng and the secretive Brother Octopus.
• Mowendika suddenly tries to probe Wisdom Shield’s mind by touching his forehead. Melos blocks him, and Liuyun intervenes to hold back the Law Venerables. Mowendika withdraws, but Melos strikes back through his attacking finger, leaving him bleeding.

Character developments and interactions

• Melos shows both restraint and authority: she disciplines the delegation without initially escalating matters, then reacts decisively when Mowendika threatens Wisdom Shield.
• Mowendika is courteous and self-controlled in public, but his attempt to invade Wisdom Shield’s mind reveals the Church’s determination to uncover the truth—and the danger beneath his diplomatic manner.
• Wisdom Shield stays loyal to Chen Cheng despite pressure, maintaining a convincing denial while recognizing the Church’s hostile intentions.
• Liuyun mocks Mowendika and relishes the prospect of seeing him humbled, but ultimately steps in to protect Wisdom Shield, treating it as repayment for their earlier conflict.
• The exchange between Mowendika and Wisdom Shield is formally respectful on the surface but tense underneath; Mowendika’s sudden attack exposes how fragile that civility is.

Significant themes

• Power and hierarchy: Melos’s divine pressure establishes the vast difference in strength between her and the Church’s delegation.
• Diplomacy as performance: Mowendika’s humility helps him manage public embarrassment, while Wisdom Shield’s stiff courtesy masks suspicion.
• Loyalty and secrecy: Wisdom Shield refuses to expose Chen Cheng or Brother Octopus, even when the Church tries to force the truth from him.
• Restraint giving way to conflict: The scene shifts from controlled posturing to open violence when Mowendika crosses the line.

Key plot points and events

• Mowendika justifies his earlier attack by claiming he feared the mysterious “evil spirit” might threaten an entire nation. Wisdom Shield counters that Mowendika had tried to turn him into an idiot, exposing the self-serving nature of the Churchman’s excuse.
• The soldiers and citizens side with Wisdom Shield. Their improved lives under his rule make them distrust anyone who threatens the reforms that gave them work, wages, and dignity.
• Liuyun warns Mowendika to stop the fighting, and Mowendika orders the other Venerables to withdraw. He offers Wisdom Shield a crystal containing a Legendary expert’s full-power strike as compensation.
• Wisdom Shield declines the valuable gift and instead asks the Church to provide relief supplies to disaster victims. Mowendika claims the Church has already prepared aid, though it has not yet arrived, then leaves.
• Laden, Supreme Elder of the Academy Alliance, arrives with disaster-relief supplies and materials to rebuild the academy. His concrete aid earns the gratitude of the people and Wisdom Shield’s respectful welcome.

Character developments and interactions

• Wisdom Shield demonstrates political skill and integrity: he rejects an extravagant private compensation and redirects the discussion toward public need. His policies have also earned him genuine popular loyalty.
• Mowendika is revealed as an eloquent but calculating religious leader. His usual rhetoric fails because the people can compare his promises with Wisdom Shield’s practical improvements to their lives.
• Melos helps Wisdom Shield assess Mowendika’s offer and refuses it on his behalf, while Liuyun uses force and a direct warning to end the confrontation.
• Laden contrasts with the Church’s talk by arriving with tangible assistance. Wisdom Shield acknowledges the Academy Alliance’s earlier contribution to Hui Dun City’s defense.

Significant themes

• The chapter argues that religion’s influence rests not only on persuasion or fear, but on people’s material conditions. When ordinary people have work, food, security, and dignity, their dependence on religious authority can weaken.
• Practical service matters more than grand words: Mowendika’s rhetoric falters, while Laden’s aid wins trust.
• Political legitimacy comes from improving common people’s lives. Wisdom Shield’s reforms turn former serfs into workers and make the citizens invested in defending his rule.

Plot points and events

• Wisdom Shield welcomes Laden and Liuyun to Kailan City after the recent disaster, but tries to keep Mowendika and the Law Venerables outside the city. Mowendika insists on investigating the evil tide, claiming responsibility for protecting people; after Melos advises that refusing him could create trouble, Wisdom Shield allows him to inspect the situation.
• The chapter reveals that Chen Cheng has already left Kailan City with She Li, slipping away while attention is focused on the visiting powers. He believes the strike attributed to Melos could expose him: he knows it surpassed Nature Magic, and fears the demigods will discover he was responsible.
• Wisdom Shield finds Chen Cheng’s farewell letter and a Spatial Ring containing a vast archive of his writings. The letter reveals that Chen Cheng is the emperor of the Thornflower Empire and admits he used Moss to test his ideas about governing. He asks Wisdom Shield to continue those principles and pass his writings and letters to his students.
• The letter burns itself to ash. Wisdom Shield destroys every remaining trace, then binds the ring and finds manuscripts and envelopes intended for Chen Cheng’s students.

Character developments

• Chen Cheng chooses flight over confrontation, as he has throughout much of his life. Though he admits to manipulating Wisdom Shield, he also expresses sincere remorse and concern for Moss’s future.
• Wisdom Shield is devastated by the revelation and Chen Cheng’s sudden departure, but quickly prioritizes protecting his friend’s identity and preserving his work.
• Mowendika shows persistence and political skill, using concern for public safety to secure access despite Wisdom Shield’s deliberate rebuff.
• Melos remains practical, advising that letting Mowendika investigate is safer than provoking covert interference.

Significant themes

• Trust, deception, and remorse: Chen Cheng’s confession complicates the bond he built with Wisdom Shield, while leaving open whether their brotherhood can survive.
• Duty versus political maneuvering: Mowendika frames his persistence as service to the people, though Wisdom Shield recognizes the political pressure behind it.
• Legacy and governance: Chen Cheng leaves behind principles and writings meant to shape Moss even after he is gone.
• Secrecy and survival: Chen Cheng’s departure and the self-destroying letter emphasize the danger of his hidden identity.

Character interactions

Wisdom Shield rejects Mowendika’s attempt to enter the city, but Mowendika counters with an appeal to duty until Melos recommends allowing the inspection. Later, Wisdom Shield’s relationship with Chen Cheng is reframed through the farewell letter: Chen Cheng apologizes for using him, entrusts him with his legacy, and leaves him to decide whether to preserve their shared work.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng and She Li leave Kailan City, followed by Sifite and others who catch up to them.
• Chen Cheng receives an Earth Pearl from Fisili to shield his aura.
• Sifite suggests Chen Cheng visit Alchemist Zhulu in the Great Desert.
• Chen Cheng and She Li travel north, reaching Xiangbei Province in winter.
• Chen Cheng decides to continue towards the Great Desert despite the harsh weather.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates responsibility and determination in his journey.
• She Li shows concern for Chen Cheng's well-being.
• Fisili shows maturity and understanding of Chen Cheng's responsibilities.
• Sifite provides valuable advice and assistance.

Significant Themes

• The importance of responsibility and determination in achieving goals.
• The challenges and hardships faced in a journey.
• The value of friendship and assistance in overcoming obstacles.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng interacts with Sifite and Fisili, accepting their help and advice.
• Chen Cheng and She Li discuss their journey and Chen Cheng's health.
• The group of travelers in the tavern discuss the House of Sto and the Snow Maiden, unaware of Chen Cheng's presence.

Plot points and events

• Chen Cheng overhears five brothers discussing a Snow Maiden they plan to capture and present to the Crown Prince in hopes of winning his favor.
• He recognizes that a drop of Snow Maiden’s heart blood is the key ingredient in a potion from the Lich’s notes. The potion could restore his depleted vitality, though it carries a serious monthly side effect.
• Chen Cheng wins the brothers’ trust by treating them to an expensive meal and convincing them he is a close friend of Akasto. He proves this by knowing that Akasto has effectively stopped attending school.
• The brothers explain that they were once sworn brothers with the wealthy S tuo. Hoping to improve their own prospects, they intend to capture the Snow Maiden reported near Satuo Town.
• Chen Cheng invents a story about needing a life-extending potion to survive long enough to find the Alchemy Old Monster’s inheritance. He claims the Snow Maiden is the missing ingredient.
• The eldest brother, Mei Zhe, realizes what Chen Cheng needs and asks whether the Snow Maiden is his target.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Cheng shows himself to be observant, quick-thinking, and persuasive. He uses hospitality, shared connections, and a fabricated personal crisis to turn suspicious strangers into potential allies.
• The five Mei brothers, led by Mei Zhe, begin guarded but prove straightforward and generous once reassured. They apologize for their suspicion and offer to help Chen Cheng.
• Chen Cheng and the brothers build rapport through talk of Akasto, shared drinks, and mutual disclosures. Their new goodwill creates a possible opening for Chen Cheng to pursue the Snow Maiden.

Significant themes

• Identity as something constructed: Chen Cheng adopts the role of Akasto’s close friend and shapes his story to suit his aims.
• Trust and caution: The brothers’ initial suspicion is presented as sensible for people living by their wits, while Chen Cheng’s hospitality gradually earns their confidence.
• Ambition and survival: Both sides are pursuing scarce opportunities—Chen Cheng needs a remedy, while the brothers seek advancement through the Crown Prince.
• The cost of power: The potion may extend Chen Cheng’s life, but its dangerous side effect underscores that survival comes with a price.

Key plot points and events

• The Mei brothers learn that Chen Cheng needs the Snow Maiden’s Heart Blood for medicine. They explain that, because the Snow Maiden is a spirit of ice and snow, the snowflakes shed from her body are her “heart blood”—no harm or capture is required.
• Chen Cheng admits his mistaken assumption and asks She Li to accompany the brothers on their nighttime expedition. She Li demonstrates his strength, impressing them.
• The brothers agree to collect the snowflakes for Chen Cheng, partly hoping his recovery might lead to a recommendation for official positions. They mistake him for the son of a powerful lineage, and Chen lets the assumption stand.
• After the group leaves for Great Snow Mountain, Chen suffers a severe headache. Gripping the Sword of Kings eases the pain. He compensates the frightened tavern staff generously and goes to bathe.
• Chen considers using a second potion that can restore mental strength and prolong life, but risks dependence and madness. He resolves to avoid it unless desperate.
• On the mountain, the Mei brothers use prepared traps and a snow cave to wait for the Snow Maiden, with She Li joining them.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Cheng is candid about why he needs the ingredient, but remains guarded about the prescription’s true source. He also uses generosity and allows the brothers’ mistaken assumptions to work in his favor. His worsening condition reveals his vulnerability and the difficult choices he faces.
• The Mei brothers shift from suspicion to friendliness after Chen’s explanation. They respect She Li’s abilities and treat Chen as an influential potential patron.
• She Li follows Chen’s orders and earns the brothers’ admiration with a display of skill.
• Chen and the waiter interact after Chen’s collapse: Chen apologizes and pays generously, turning the waiter’s fear into gratitude.

Significant themes

• Knowledge and mistaken assumptions: Chen misunderstands the Snow Maiden’s “heart blood,” while the brothers misread Chen’s status.
• Trust, influence, and obligation: The brothers help Chen partly out of goodwill and partly in hope of future advancement.
• Desperation and self-restraint: Chen’s worsening pain and the dangerous potion present a choice between immediate relief and the risk of addiction and madness.