Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng offers books to Yuri Jin to help him understand the Array Disk.
• Prince Pingbei reveals that Zhulu, the reason for Chen Cheng's visit to the Northern Region, is alive and escaped with a Chaos Demon named Meris Hops.
• Prince Pingbei becomes enraged upon hearing Meris Hops's name and unleashes his Demigod pressure, causing fear among the artisans.
• Chen Cheng calms Prince Pingbei, who then recounts the story of Meris Hops's betrayal and the empire's collapse.
• Prince Pingbei spits out stagnant blood due to emotional distress.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Shows understanding and patience towards Prince Pingbei's emotional outburst.
• Prince Pingbei: Reveals his deep-seated anger and grief towards Meris Hops, demonstrating his loyalty to the royal family and Thirteenth Majesty.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal: Meris Hops's actions highlight the theme of betrayal, with severe consequences for the empire and its people.
• Trust: The story explores the dangers of misplaced trust, as Meris Hops's betrayal was facilitated by Thirteenth Majesty's trust in him.
• Grief and Anger: Prince Pingbei's emotional state illustrates the depth of his grief and anger towards Meris Hops's actions.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Prince Pingbei: Chen Cheng shows concern and understanding towards Prince Pingbei, while Prince Pingbei seeks solace in Chen Cheng's presence.
• Bourne, Dean, Hisha, and She Li: They intervene to calm Prince Pingbei and protect those present from his Demigod pressure.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Prince Pingbei learns that Meris, the traitor, is alive and imprisoned by rebels, causing him great distress.
• Chen Cheng promises to find and execute Meris.
• Prince Pingbei decides to step back from military affairs due to his age.
• Chen Cheng delivers a speech to the armored soldiers, instilling a sense of honor and responsibility towards the common people, and begins writing ideological guidance for the revolution.
• Zhulu safely escorts the Guild adventurers out of the Great Desert, collecting the remaining reward.

Character Developments

• Prince Pingbei accepts his age and decides to step back from active duties, showing a degree of self-awareness and wisdom.
• Chen Cheng demonstrates his leadership and ideological prowess, guiding the soldiers and beginning to write revolutionary doctrine.
• Zhulu shows integrity and respect for contracts, ensuring the safety of the Guild adventurers despite their fears.

Significant Themes

• Honor and Responsibility: Chen Cheng emphasizes the importance of honor and responsibility towards the common people, instilling this in the soldiers.
• Aging and Acceptance: Prince Pingbei comes to terms with his age and steps back from active duties.
• Integrity and Contracts: Zhulu upholds his promise to the Guild adventurers, showing respect for contracts.

Character Interactions

• Prince Pingbei and Chen Cheng: Prince Pingbei relies on Chen Cheng to find and execute Meris, showing trust in his abilities.
• Chen Cheng and the Armored Soldiers: Chen Cheng delivers a powerful speech, inspiring the soldiers and fostering a sense of unity and purpose.
• Zhulu and the Guild Adventurers: Zhulu ensures the safe return of the adventurers, maintaining a respectful and professional demeanor despite their initial fears.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhulu, with Luca, prepares to meet his guests, offering Luca a choice to join or return to the Oasis.
• Mang Liu's disappearance in the Desert Town sparks a frenzy due to rumors about Imperial Remnants, leading the city lord to search for him and Chen Cheng.
• Chen Cheng conducts an ideological training session for the soldiers, introducing the concept of Scientific Dialectic.

Character Developments

• Zhulu shows leniency and respect for Luca's choice, indicating his growth as a mentor.
• Luca's loyalty to Zhulu and his lineage is reinforced.
• Chen Cheng demonstrates his leadership and teaching skills, planting seeds of new ideas among the soldiers.
• Dean struggles with accepting Chen Cheng's ideas about the Emperor's supremacy.

Significant Themes

• Choice and Free Will: Zhulu gives Luca the choice to join him or return to the Oasis, reflecting the theme of free will and personal agency.
• Ideological Change: Chen Cheng's lecture on Scientific Dialectic explores the theme of changing one's worldview and accepting new ideas.
• Power and Fallibility: The potential downfall of those in power is hinted at, reflecting the theme of power's corrupting influence.

Character Interactions

• Zhulu and Luca: Zhulu shows respect and understanding towards Luca, treating him as an equal rather than a subordinate.
• Chen Cheng and the Soldiers: Chen Cheng challenges the soldiers' existing beliefs, fostering critical thinking and intellectual growth.
• The City Lord and the Hotel Owner: The city lord's desperation for power and wealth leads him to disregard the hotel owner's warnings, highlighting their contrasting priorities.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng, the ruler, teaches dialectics to his soldiers, emphasizing the importance of understanding societal events and problems.
• He announces his intention to leave in a month to pursue his own strength and find other survivor groups, entrusting Dean with the leadership of the army.
• Chen Cheng also plans to visit Brother Octopus in the Great Desert to address faith pollution issues.
• Meanwhile, the Dark Holy See, a secret organization of former Church members, gathers for a crucial meeting. Their leader, the Chairman, reveals that their God has descended to the mortal world and that they must protect the true Divine Kingdom.
• Jamir, the Divine Envoy, is introduced, and he selects some members to accompany him to meet their God.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: He shows his strategic thinking by planning to leave and find other survivor groups, aiming to integrate their strengths. He also acknowledges his limitations and delegates responsibilities to capable subordinates like Dean.
• Dean: He shows growth in understanding and acceptance of Chen Cheng's decisions, demonstrating his ability to lead and make decisions.
• The Chairman and the Dark Holy See members: They show fervent devotion to their newfound faith and eagerness to protect and serve their God.

Significant Themes

• Faith and Belief: The theme of faith and belief is central to this chapter, with both Chen Cheng and the Dark Holy See members grappling with their understanding and interpretation of their respective beliefs.
• Leadership and Delegation: Chen Cheng's decision to leave and entrust Dean with leadership responsibilities highlights the theme of effective leadership and delegation of power.
• Power and Control: The struggle between the Dark Holy See and the Church for control over the true faith and power is a significant theme.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Dean: Their interaction shows a growing trust and understanding between the ruler and his subordinate, with Chen Cheng entrusting Dean with important responsibilities.
• The Chairman and the Dark Holy See members: Their interaction highlights their shared devotion to their new faith and their eagerness to serve their God.
• Jamir and the Chairman: Their interaction shows Jamir's role as the Divine Envoy, guiding and instructing the Chairman and the Dark Holy See members on their new faith.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A ten-thousand-strong army from the Kingdom of Fildor, led by the town lord, assembles at Labyrinth Valley, aiming to annihilate the Imperial Remnants.
• The Imperial Remnants, led by Chen Cheng and Prince Pingbei, discuss their strategy, deciding to use the valley's natural traps to defeat the enemy while minimizing their own exposure.
• Dean proposes a bold plan to capture the town lord, control the nearest town, and spread disinformation about the valley's danger and lack of Imperial Remnants.
• Chen Cheng approves Dean's plan and names the operation "Dawn," marking the end of darkness and the return of light.
• The enemy army enters the valley, encountering natural traps and Magical Beast Sandworms, leading to chaos and heavy casualties.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates strategic thinking and a willingness to take calculated risks.
• Dean showcases his tactical prowess and boldness in proposing a high-stakes plan.
• The Imperial Remnants, under Chen Cheng's guidance, become more composed and strategic in their thinking.

Significant Themes

• Calculated risk-taking: Chen Cheng and Dean are willing to gamble on their plan's success to achieve their goals.
• Stealth and misinformation: The Imperial Remnants aim to minimize their exposure and spread disinformation to protect their secret land.
• The power of terrain and traps: The valley's natural traps and Magical Beasts prove to be formidable weapons against the enemy army.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Prince Pingbei discuss the strategic implications of annihilating the enemy force and the potential consequences.
• Dean presents his plan to Chen Cheng and the others, leading to a tense moment of consideration before Chen Cheng approves it.
• The Imperial Remnants work together to formulate a plan, demonstrating unity and trust in their leaders.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The North City Lord's army, sent to eliminate the Imperial Remnants, retreats in chaos after encountering sandworms.
• The Imperial Remnants, led by Chen Cheng, use the sandworms' habitat to their advantage, nearly annihilating the enemy.
• The North City Lord is captured and brought before Chen Cheng.

Character Developments

• The North City Lord is revealed to be cowardly and spineless, begging for mercy upon seeing Chen Cheng.
• Chen Cheng demonstrates strategic thinking and patience, deciding to recondition the North City Lord rather than killing him immediately.

Significant Themes

• The contrast between the North City Lord's perceived warlike nature and his cowardice.
• The importance of strategic patience in achieving long-term goals.

Character Interactions

• The North City Lord kowtows to Chen Cheng, begging for his life.
• Chen Cheng and his companions discuss the North City Lord's character and the best course of action.
• The North City Lord is taken away for reconditioning.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng and his forces rescue and treat the captured prisoners, who were expecting to be killed or tortured.
• Chen Cheng visits the prisoner camp, causing the prisoners to kneel out of fear and submission, highlighting their divided loyalties.
• Outside the Valley Secret Land, Zhulu and Luca find the military camp abandoned after a battle, with soldiers fleeing. They learn from a captured soldier that Prince Pingbei's remnants have escaped.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Shows compassion and understanding towards the lower-class prisoners, viewing them as victims of alienation rather than enemies. He plans to re-educate them.
• Dean: Realizes the pitiable state of the prisoners after seeing them kneel before Chen Cheng, shifting his perspective on them.
• Zhulu and Luca: Arrive too late to stop Prince Pingbei's remnants from escaping and decide not to pursue the fleeing soldiers, acknowledging the futility of further action.

Significant Themes

• Divided Loyalties: The prisoners' fear and submission to Chen Cheng despite their previous resistance highlights their internal conflict and the power dynamics of their society.
• Alienation and Exploitation: Chen Cheng views the lower-class prisoners as victims of alienation, reflecting the theme of the ruling class exploiting and manipulating the lower classes.
• Futility of Resistance: Zhulu and Luca's decision not to pursue the fleeing soldiers underscores the futility of some actions and the importance of strategic choices.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and the Prisoners: Chen Cheng's visit to the prisoner camp leads to a powerful dynamic where the prisoners, despite their previous resistance, kneel before him, highlighting their divided loyalties.
• Zhulu and Luca: The two work together to gather information, ultimately deciding not to pursue the fleeing soldiers, showing their understanding of strategic priorities.
• Chen Cheng and Dean: Dean's perspective shifts after seeing the prisoners' reaction to Chen Cheng, potentially leading to a deeper understanding between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhulu and Luca enter the valley labyrinth, finding numerous corpses and encountering Magical Beast Sandworms.
• They are surrounded and captured by A Da's brothers and Black Armor Guards.
• Zhulu and Luca are taken to the valley's main camp, where they meet Bourne and Chen Cheng (the true emperor).
• Chen Cheng reveals that his identity has been exposed, and he needs Zhulu's help.

Character Developments

• Zhulu shows his familiarity with the valley and its magic array, hinting at his past involvement.
• Luca demonstrates his loyalty and deference to Zhulu.
• Chen Cheng shows concern for Zhulu's well-being, indicating his desire to maintain good relations with him.

Significant Themes

• Survival and Adaptation: The valley's inhabitants have adapted to their environment, maintaining a hidden oasis in the desert.
• Loyalty and Trust: Zhulu and Luca's loyalty to each other and to Chen Cheng is tested and reinforced.
• Power Dynamics: The interactions between Zhulu, Bourne, and Chen Cheng highlight the shifting power dynamics among the characters.

Character Interactions

• Zhulu and Luca's dynamic shows a mentor-mentee relationship, with Zhulu guiding Luca and Luca looking up to Zhulu.
• Zhulu's interactions with Bourne and Chen Cheng reveal a shared history and mutual respect.
• A Da and his brothers' interactions with Zhulu and Luca show tension and mistrust, which is later eased by Chen Cheng's intervention.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng hosts a grand banquet for Zhulu, the Black Armor Guards, and the prisoners, celebrating their victory.
• Chen Cheng tries to win Zhulu over by offering him a position in his court.
• Chen Cheng lectures the Black Armor Guards and prisoners about the source of the lower class's suffering and how to address it.
• North City's City Lord, captured and imprisoned, undergoes mental torment due to Chen Cheng's lectures and the prisoners' hatred towards him.
• Chen Cheng offers the City Lord a chance to atone for his sins by cooperating with Bourne to stabilize North City.

Character Developments

• Zhulu: Shows high emotional intelligence, understanding Chen Cheng's intentions and offering his loyalty.
• North City Lord: Suffers a mental breakdown due to guilt and fear, begging for mercy and atonement.
• Bourne: Given a mission to stabilize North City with the reformed City Lord.

Significant Themes

• The mental and psychological effects of guilt and fear.
• The power dynamics between the ruling class and the oppressed lower class.
• The potential for redemption and reform.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Zhulu: Chen Cheng tries to win Zhulu over, and Zhulu offers his loyalty in response.
• Chen Cheng and the North City Lord: Chen Cheng's lectures and the prisoners' hatred cause the City Lord to break down and beg for mercy.
• Bourne and Chen Cheng: Bourne is given a mission by Chen Cheng to stabilize North City with the reformed City Lord.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng's cold poison erupts violently, and he's taken back to camp.
• Prince Pingbei helps suppress the poison, but Chen Cheng refuses extraction.
• Chen Cheng decides to leave for the Great Desert to resolve his physical issues.
• Chen Cheng, Snow Maiden, and She Li depart, with Chen Cheng accepting scrolls of powerful attacks from Prince Pingbei and Dean.
• Upon entering the Great Desert, Chen Cheng's spiritual burden lifts, but his magic remains inaccessible.
• The Snow Maiden turns into a snowball due to the desert's harsh conditions.
• Jamir, a priest, feels a spiritual jolt and begins praying towards the north, suspecting a connection to the Great Desert.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Shows determination to resolve his physical problems independently, accepts help when needed, and demonstrates strategic thinking by not revealing his full condition.
• Snow Maiden: Shows concern for Chen Cheng's well-being, helps suppress his cold poison, and accepts rewards for her assistance.
• Prince Pingbei: Offers help and support to Chen Cheng, provides him with royal archives, and respects his decision to leave.
• Jamir: Exhibits devotion to his beliefs, notices the spiritual change, and suspects a connection to the Great Desert.

Significant Themes

• Determination and independence: Chen Cheng's resolve to face his problems alone.
• Trust and support: Characters offering help and understanding to Chen Cheng.
• The Great Desert as a dangerous, godforsaken place: Implied by Jamir's reaction and the Snow Maiden's discomfort.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Prince Pingbei: They show mutual respect and understanding, with Prince Pingbei providing assistance without pushing for information.
• Chen Cheng and Snow Maiden: They develop a working relationship, with the Snow Maiden helping Chen Cheng and accepting rewards.
• Jamir and his deity: Jamir's interaction with his spiritual connection highlights his devotion and the significance of the Great Desert in the context of his beliefs.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jamir, a Divine Envoy, learns of his God's danger and assembles a group of powerful individuals (all at Epic Rank) to rush to the Northern Region to aid Chen Cheng.
• Chen Cheng, in the Great Desert, follows Brother Octopus's guidance, hoping for a solution to his physical issues.
• In the Void Sea, the God of Light (Chen Cheng's God) defends the Karmak World, erasing numerous True Gods and Supremes who attempted to invade.
• The God of Light's display of power stuns observers, including a Great Celestial Venerable who acknowledges his method.
• The erased deities reappear in the cosmic void, but most True Gods and many Supremes die due to the harsh conditions and power drainage.
• A nearby civilization discovers the floating corpses, but no identities can be determined.

Character Developments

• Jamir shows concern for Chen Cheng's safety and demonstrates strategic thinking by gathering powerful allies.
• Brother Octopus exhibits mysterious behavior, guiding Chen Cheng but refusing to explain.
• The God of Light reveals immense power, erasing numerous deities and defending his world, indicating growth and increased prowess.
• Great Celestial Venerable Zhao acknowledges the God of Light's method, showing respect and caution towards him.

Significant Themes

• Power and its consequences: The God of Light's display of power has severe repercussions for the erased deities, highlighting the theme of power dynamics and its potential dangers.
• Guidance and trust: Chen Cheng follows Brother Octopus's guidance, raising questions about trust and the potential consequences of following mysterious entities.

Character Interactions

• Jamir and his selected group: They cooperate to rush to Chen Cheng's aid, demonstrating teamwork and shared purpose.
• Chen Cheng and Brother Octopus: Their interaction is limited, but Chen Cheng follows Brother Octopus's guidance, showing trust in the mysterious entity.
• The God of Light and the invading deities: The God of Light's actions in the Void Sea show his protective stance towards his world and his disregard for the invading deities' lives.
• Great Celestial Venerable Zhao and the Supreme: Their interaction reveals the Great Celestial Venerable's caution towards the God of Light and his advice to the Supreme, showing his influence and wisdom.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The God of Light is confronted by the Venerable Great Bodhisattva and other Buddhist figures.
• The God of Light attempts to send them millions of years into the future but is stopped.
• The Ten Evils Bodhisattvas merge to form a powerful being, but the God of Light remains unharmed.
• The God of Light is tormented by demonic arts and eventually disappears, later revealed to have died.
• The Great Celestial Venerable Zhao arrives, seals the area, and awaits the Divine Court's arrival.

Character Developments

• The God of Light: Initially defiant, he is eventually overwhelmed by the Buddhists' powers and dies.
• The Venerable Great Bodhisattva: Shows compassion and understanding, attempting to help the God of Light but ultimately fails.
• The Ten Evils Bodhisattvas: Display their power by merging into a single being, but their attack is ineffective against the God of Light.
• The Great Celestial Venerable Zhao: Arrives to manage the situation, revealing his powerful capabilities and the Divine Court's influence.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between the God of Light's protection of his world and the Buddhists' teachings.
• The consequences of one's actions (karma) and the need for redemption.
• The power dynamics between different divine beings and organizations.

Character Interactions

• The God of Light and the Venerable Great Bodhisattva: The God of Light initially rejects the Bodhisattva's teachings, leading to a confrontation.
• The Ten Evils Bodhisattvas and the God of Light: They attempt to subdue the God of Light but fail, highlighting the God of Light's resilience.
• The Great Celestial Venerable Zhao and the Venerable Great Bodhisattva: They greet each other respectfully, indicating their equal status, and the Great Celestial Venerable takes charge of the situation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A God of Light, identical to a previous one, escapes from the Karmak World, untouched by any worldly karma, indicating he's reached the level of a Buddha Ancestor.
• The Great Celestial Venerable Zhao and the Venerable Bodhisattva, along with other Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, confront the God of Light.
• The God of Light, defying the norms of Buddhism, causes fear and disbelief among the cultivators.
• The God of Light disappears, and a membrane envelops the Karmak World, leaving only a gap connected to the main universe.
• The Great Celestial Venerable attempts to retrieve the God of Light but fails, and the group of cultivators retreats.
• On the Karmak Continent, Chen Cheng and She Li journey through the Great Desert, guided by a Space Bag containing Brother Octopus.

Character Developments

• The God of Light demonstrates his power and defiance, challenging the norms of Buddhism and instilling fear in the cultivators.
• The Great Celestial Venerable Zhao shows his power and wisdom, attempting to control and understand the God of Light.
• Chen Cheng, though not directly involved in the confrontation, shows determination and persistence in his journey.

Significant Themes

• Challenge to Norms: The God of Light's appearance and actions challenge the established norms and beliefs of Buddhism, causing fear and disbelief among the cultivators.
• Power and Control: The Great Celestial Venerable's actions highlight the struggle for power and control between different entities.
• Journey and Destination: Chen Cheng's journey through the desert represents the theme of perseverance towards a goal, despite the challenges and uncertainties along the way.

Character Interactions

• Confrontation: The God of Light's interaction with the Great Celestial Venerable and the other cultivators is marked by tension and defiance, highlighting the power dynamics between them.
• Companionship: Chen Cheng and She Li's interaction shows trust and cooperation as they journey together towards their goal.
• Mentorship: The Venerable Bodhisattva's presence, though minimal, suggests a mentoring role, guiding the other cultivators, as seen when he awakens the Six Sense Arhats.

Key Plot Points & Events

• Chen Cheng and Brother Octopus argue, leading to Brother Octopus being thrown into the Space Bag, which opens and allows him to escape.
• Chen Cheng discovers that Brother Octopus can be harmed by She Li's Saber Intent, using this to threaten Brother Octopus.
• Brother Octopus reveals two methods to help Chen Cheng with his faith corruption: becoming his believer or undergoing Ascension to Godhood.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates cunning and strategic thinking, using She Li's power to threaten Brother Octopus.
• Brother Octopus shows fear and caution, realizing Chen Cheng's potential threat.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and manipulation (Chen Cheng uses She Li's power to control Brother Octopus).
• The consequences of one's actions (Brother Octopus faces torture for his misdeeds).
• The struggle between cooperation and conflict (mutually beneficial relationship vs. potential threat).

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Brother Octopus: Chen Cheng threatens Brother Octopus, while Brother Octopus warns Chen Cheng about his actions.
• Chen Cheng and She Li: Chen Cheng supports She Li after he uses his Saber Intent, showing concern for his well-being.
• Brother Octopus and She Li: Brother Octopus fears She Li's power and warns Chen Cheng about She Li's actions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng meets Brother Octopus, who offers two solutions to Chen Cheng's problem.
• Chen Cheng suspects Brother Octopus is hiding something and threatens him with a golden sword.
• Brother Octopus reveals information about the Sequence Ascension Path and its tasks.
• Chen Cheng learns that the medium for interacting with the Sequence Law can be the Sword of Kings, his armor, or The Moon God's Tear.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates his cunning and assertiveness by threatening Brother Octopus to extract information.
• Brother Octopus shows his knowledge about the Sequence Ascension Path and his caution in dealing with powerful entities like "He".

Significant Themes

• The pursuit of power and godhood through the Sequence Ascension Path.
• The importance of mediums in interacting with the Sequence Law.
• The caution and secrecy surrounding powerful entities and their influence.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Brother Octopus engage in a tense negotiation, with Chen Cheng threatening Brother Octopus to reveal information.
• Brother Octopus warns Chen Cheng about the dangers of knowing too much without the strength to back it up.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng and Brother Octopus discuss the choice of medium for Sequence Ascension.
• Chen Cheng decides to use his Crystal Pendant, despite Brother Octopus' warnings.
• Chen Cheng presses the pendant against his forehead, initiating the Sequence Ascension process.
• Chen Cheng finds himself on a modern street and is assaulted by a tattooed man named Hu Ming.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Shows determination and independence in his choices, even against Brother Octopus' advice. He also demonstrates quick thinking and assertiveness when dealing with Hu Ming.
• Brother Octopus: Becomes increasingly irritated and frustrated with Chen Cheng's decisions and lack of ambition.
• Hu Ming: Reveals himself to be a local thug with a short temper and a lack of respect for others.

Significant Themes

• Ambition vs. Pragmatism: Chen Cheng's decision to use the Crystal Pendant despite Brother Octopus' warnings highlights his pragmatic approach, contrasting with Brother Octopus' desire for higher-level power.
• Power Dynamics: The interactions between Chen Cheng, Brother Octopus, and Hu Ming illustrate the dynamics of power and control.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Brother Octopus: Their interaction is marked by tension and disagreement, with Chen Cheng asserting his independence and Brother Octopus expressing frustration.
• Chen Cheng and Hu Ming: Their encounter showcases Chen Cheng's quick thinking and assertiveness in dealing with a hostile situation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng, a man from an unknown time, encounters Hu Ming, a local thug, and confirms the current year as 2024.
• Chen Cheng beats up Hu Ming to verify his knowledge, starting from advanced physics to elementary school level questions.
• Chen Cheng decides to use Hu Ming as a cover and sends him to study, confiscating his phone.
• Chen Cheng plans to disrupt a local casino, and Hu Ming provides him with directions and a password.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Shows exceptional strength, intelligence, and a desire to guide Hu Ming onto a better path.
• Hu Ming: Initially a thug, Hu Ming is terrified by Chen Cheng and decides to change his ways, aiming to study and enter graduate school.

Significant Themes

• Transformation: Hu Ming's transformation from a thug to a prospective student.
• Mentorship: Chen Cheng's desire to guide Hu Ming and others onto a better path.
• Disruption of Vice: Chen Cheng's plan to disrupt the local casino, reflecting his disapproval of gambling.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Hu Ming: Chen Cheng uses Hu Ming to confirm the current time and then mentors him, while Hu Ming sees Chen Cheng as a mysterious and powerful figure.
• Chen Cheng and the Casino: Chen Cheng plans to disrupt the casino, showing his disapproval of gambling and his desire to guide people away from vice.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng, after confirming he's in his original world, seeks money quickly by heading to an underground casino.
• He's initially stopped by a security guard due to his desert attire, but he intimidates the guard and enters the club.
• Chen Cheng encounters a group of thugs and easily defeats them, seeking their boss, "Brother Hui."
• He enters the underground casino, and Brother Hui is alerted, seeking help from a master named Ying.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Shows his strength and fearlessness, using his newfound powers to intimidate and defeat opponents. He's confident and arrogant, seeking out trouble.
• Brother Hui: A local crime lord, he's cautious and seeks help from a higher authority when faced with a strong opponent.

Significant Themes

• Power and Strength: Chen Cheng's new powers make him confident and reckless, while Brother Hui's power is challenged by Chen Cheng's arrival.
• Territoriality: Both Chen Cheng and Brother Hui view the city as their territory, leading to a confrontation.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng vs. Club Security & Thugs: Chen Cheng easily defeats the security guards and thugs, showing his power and instilling fear.
• Brother Hui vs. Chen Cheng (indirect): Brother Hui is cautious and seeks help from Master Ying to deal with Chen Cheng, showing his respect for power and authority.
• Chen Cheng vs. Brother Hui (implied): Their interaction is indirect, but their conflict is clear, with Chen Cheng seeking out Brother Hui and Brother Hui seeking to control Chen Cheng.

Chapter Summary: “Casino”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Chen Cheng suddenly vanishes, She Li confronts Brother Octopus while wielding the Sword of Kings. However, the divine artifact’s backlash has left She Li extremely weak.
• Brother Octopus tricks She Li by throwing sand into his eyes and knocking him unconscious. He takes the Sword of Kings, shelters She Li beneath a sand wall, and gives him water.
• Brother Octopus realizes that Chen Cheng’s disappearance was unnatural. Even his perception failed to detect any spatial fluctuation, suggesting that powerful forces may have interfered with the Law Sequence or the process of Apotheosis.
• Chen Cheng reappears on Blue Star in 2024, arriving at a large underground casino while dressed like a beggar.
• With only fifty yuan stolen from some thugs, Chen Cheng boldly demands casino chips despite the casino’s usual minimum exchange of one hundred yuan. After mocking the casino’s pawn service, he pressures the staff into giving him a fifty-yuan chip.
• The casino staff identify him as a possible troublemaker and report him to the management. They decide to let him gamble temporarily because “Brother Hui” and “Master Ying” are on their way to deal with him.
• A casino thug, pretending to help Chen Cheng choose a game, directs him toward a dice table. Chen Cheng recognizes him as one of the men near the exchange counter but plays along.
• Relying on his photographic memory and apparent confidence, Chen Cheng places his entire fifty-yuan chip on the highest-paying bet: triple ones.
• The dice reveal triple ones, earning him 7,500 yuan. Chen Cheng proudly declares himself a “God of Gamblers” and demands that the game continue.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates extraordinary confidence, cunning, and risk-taking. He quickly adapts to his unfamiliar surroundings and uses his memory, bravado, and ability to read people to manipulate the casino’s staff and gamblers.
• His theatrical arrogance appears partly deliberate: by acting like an outrageous gambler, he attracts attention while concealing how capable and observant he really is.
• Brother Octopus shows both ruthlessness and unexpected compassion. He defeats She Li to protect himself but chooses to save and shelter him because he needs a human host or ally. He also becomes suspicious of the greater forces controlling recent events.
• She Li is left vulnerable after using the Sword of Kings, emphasizing the cost of wielding divine power.
• The casino’s female manager is portrayed as composed and professional on the surface, but calculating underneath. She immediately recognizes Chen Cheng as a potential threat and begins arranging for him to be handled.

Significant Themes

• Power and its consequences: The Sword of Kings grants She Li tremendous authority but exacts a debilitating physical price.
• Manipulation and hidden forces: Chen Cheng’s unexplained disappearance suggests that reality, fate, or the Law Sequence itself may be controlled or altered by a higher power.
• Survival through deception: Both Brother Octopus and Chen Cheng rely on trickery to survive—Octopus uses sand to defeat She Li, while Chen Cheng uses bravado and calculated gambling to gain leverage.
• Chance versus control: The casino presents gambling as random risk, but Chen Cheng’s memory and observation allow him to act with unusual confidence, turning apparent luck into a display of control.
• Appearance versus reality: Chen Cheng looks like a beggar but behaves like a powerful gambler; the casino staff appear courteous but are connected to intimidation and predatory lending.

Character Interactions

• Brother Octopus attempts to persuade She Li to lower his sword, then ambushes and incapacitates him when She Li becomes distracted.
• Afterward, Octopus treats She Li’s injuries and keeps him hidden, creating an uneasy relationship based on mutual dependence rather than trust.
• At the casino, Chen Cheng clashes verbally with the chip-exchange attendant, mocking the establishment while forcing her to accommodate him.
• A casino thug tries to guide Chen Cheng toward dice, but Chen Cheng recognizes his connection to the staff and uses the interaction to enter the game.
• Chen Cheng’s spectacular first win shocks the surrounding gamblers and signals that his confrontation with the casino’s leadership is about to escalate.

Chapter Summary: “Upstairs”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng, who began gambling with only fifty yuan, wins successive rounds at the casino’s downstairs dice table.
• He boldly bets everything on triple ones, a result paying 150-to-1, and miraculously wins 1.125 million yuan.
• The dealer is horrified because she had secretly activated a mechanism intended to produce a high-point result. Chen Cheng’s win proves that he has either countered or overcome the casino’s cheating method.
• The casino initially lacks enough chips to cover the payout, but a manager-like man settles the debt with high-value chips.
• The man, Liu Ming, invites Chen Cheng upstairs, where the betting limits are much higher and the casino’s more dangerous gamblers play.
• Chen Cheng realizes the casino knows about his unusual clothing and the thugs he defeated outside, suggesting that information about him has already spread through the establishment.
• He accepts the invitation, orders the casino thug Ah Qiang to carry his chips, and publicly asserts his confidence by calling himself the “Gambling God.”
• Liu Ming explains that the upstairs area contains several private gambling rooms. Since Chen Cheng only wants to play dice, he takes him to the casino’s only dice room.
• Inside, Chen Cheng witnesses a gambler lose millions and incur an additional multimillion-yuan debt before being dragged away by casino staff, revealing the brutal consequences of losing upstairs.
• Chen Cheng takes the gambler’s vacated seat. Liu Ming becomes the dealer and announces that the upstairs game has the same rules as downstairs but no betting limit.
• Liu Ming shakes the dice with unusual speed and force, apparently using techniques designed to defeat players who rely on hearing. Chen Cheng immediately pushes all his chips onto triple ones, setting up the next confrontation.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng becomes increasingly confident and provocative. His extraordinary luck—or hidden ability—allows him to defeat the casino’s rigged game, and he deliberately adopts an arrogant persona to intimidate his opponents.
• The young female dealer changes from nervous control to complete fear when the casino’s mechanism fails and Chen Cheng wins despite her manipulation.
• Liu Ming is introduced as the casino’s upstairs manager and likely its resident gambling expert. He remains outwardly polite but clearly intends to test or defeat Chen Cheng.
• Ah Qiang, the casino thug who had followed Chen Cheng, is exposed as connected to the casino. Rather than allowing him to escape, Liu Ming orders him to carry Chen Cheng’s chips.
• The upstairs gamblers are portrayed as wealthier and more ruthless, treating millions as ordinary stakes and demonstrating the serious risks of the private rooms.

Significant Themes

• Skill versus cheating: The casino relies on hidden mechanisms and manipulated dice, but Chen Cheng defeats these methods, suggesting superior perception or supernatural gambling ability.
• Confidence and intimidation: Chen Cheng’s exaggerated claims and fearless betting help establish psychological dominance over the casino and the other gamblers.
• Escalation of danger: Moving upstairs transforms the game from a public gambling match into a high-stakes contest where financial losses can lead to coercion or violence.
• Appearance versus reality: Chen Cheng’s strange clothing initially makes him seem ridiculous, but Liu Ming recognizes its expensive quality. Likewise, the casino’s polite hospitality conceals threats and predatory intentions.
• Power and control: The casino appears to control its dealers, patrons, and debtors, but Chen Cheng repeatedly disrupts that hierarchy.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng confronts the frightened dealer and demands his winnings, refusing to let the casino avoid payment.
• Liu Ming takes over negotiations, pays Chen Cheng, and attempts to lure him into a more dangerous upstairs game.
• Chen Cheng and Liu Ming exchange polite but guarded remarks, each probing the other’s intentions.
• Chen Cheng publicly humiliates and commands Ah Qiang, while Liu Ming reinforces his authority by ordering Ah Qiang to obey.
• In the private room, Liu Ming presents Chen Cheng to the gamblers as the self-proclaimed “Gambling God,” while Chen Cheng responds with open arrogance and immediately challenges him through an all-in bet.