Chapter Summaries

Summary of “Mondy’s Test”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mondy discovers that Moka has brought Bonawa into a dangerous situation involving Lingling and a major national-security incident. He criticizes Moka for handling the matter poorly.
• Mondy agrees to let Bonawa join the mission, but only under strict conditions: Bonawa must stay beside him, obey orders, and understand that disobedience could be treated as treason, potentially implicating his father and Lineage.
• This warning serves as Bonawa’s first psychological test. Despite the pressure and the danger to his family, Bonawa agrees because he is determined to find Lingling.
• Mondy assigns Bonawa the task of acting normally while locating Lingling. The real challenge is controlling his fear and concern rather than revealing that he knows something is wrong.
• Moka explains that Mondy is testing Bonawa’s suitability as an agent and future successor. Bonawa successfully maintains a convincing outward calm while traveling with Mondy.
• On the way to the circus, Bonawa observes several people secretly delivering messages to Mondy, increasing the tension and confirming the mission’s seriousness.
• Mondy warns Bonawa that his emotional control is almost too deliberate; he must behave naturally, not merely appear calm.
• Mondy and Bonawa enter the circus using two tickets. Their seats are beside Lingling and Cai’er, allowing Bonawa to reunite with them without exposing the mission.
• When Cai’er asks why Bonawa came with Mondy, Bonawa gives a casual explanation about receiving a reward for ranking first in his exams, successfully concealing the true reason for his presence.

Character Developments

• Bonawa: Demonstrates courage, loyalty, and exceptional emotional discipline. Although Mondy’s threats frighten him, his concern for Lingling motivates him to accept the risk. He begins proving that he may have the qualities required of an agent.
• Mondy: Acts as both mission leader and evaluator. His harsh language and controlled behavior reveal his methodical approach to testing Bonawa under pressure. He also shows a gentler side by treating Bonawa to the circus.
• Moka: Is embarrassed by Mondy’s criticism but remains invested in Bonawa’s future. He recognizes that passing Mondy’s test is necessary for Bonawa to become his true disciple and inherit his mantle.
• Lingling: Remains unaware of the hidden mission but reacts with mild annoyance when Bonawa appears.
• Cai’er: Provides a natural social distraction by questioning Bonawa’s unexpected arrival and helping create the appearance of an ordinary outing.

Significant Themes

• Emotional control and professionalism: The chapter emphasizes that an agent must suppress fear and excitement without appearing unnaturally calm.
• Loyalty versus personal safety: Bonawa must choose between protecting himself and his family from accusations of treason or risking everything to find Lingling.
• Mentorship and succession: Moka’s and Mondy’s tests suggest that becoming an agent requires proving oneself through difficult psychological trials.
• Deception and appearances: Bonawa must maintain the illusion of a normal student outing while participating in a covert operation.
• Trust and responsibility: Mondy’s willingness to include Bonawa reflects both confidence in his abilities and the seriousness of the responsibility being placed on him.

Character Interactions

• Mondy reprimands Moka for involving Bonawa but then takes control of Bonawa’s evaluation.
• Mondy pressures Bonawa with threats of treason and guilt by association, testing whether his resolve will hold.
• Moka silently begs Mondy not to reject Bonawa and later encourages the boy not to be intimidated.
• Mondy coaches Bonawa on appearing natural rather than visibly tense.
• At the circus, Cai’er questions Bonawa’s arrival, while Lingling greets him with slight irritation. Bonawa improvises a harmless explanation, preserving the mission’s secrecy.

Chapter Summary: “Fire”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cai’er notices Lingling’s feelings for Bonawa and mischievously tries to arrange time alone for them, encouraging Bonawa to take Lingling shopping as compensation for Cai’er’s “sacrifice.”
• Bonawa hesitates because he has promised Mondy something, but Lingling mistakenly interprets his concern about the principal as embarrassment over showing affection in front of Mondy.
• The circus performance concludes with a dangerous aerial act through a flaming hoop. The ringmaster announces that it is the circus’s final performance in Nawatu.
• Afterward, Mondy invites Bonawa, Lingling, and Cai’er to dinner, claiming he still needs to give Bonawa his reward and thank Lingling for purchasing the tickets.
• The group shares a relaxed meal at a temporary open-air commercial street. Their conversation reveals Mondy’s approachable, humorous personality, while Cai’er continues teasing Lingling about her attraction to Bonawa.
• A fire suddenly breaks out at the abandoned circus. The flames grow rapidly, but the surrounding fence prevents the crowd from entering to help.
• Bonawa realizes the fire is likely connected to Moka and the circus performers, whom he knows are spies. He suspects the blaze is part of an operation to eliminate evidence or witnesses.
• Mondy goes toward the circus, appearing to act like a concerned civilian. Several people who had previously met him also head toward the fire, but Bonawa recognizes them as agents intending to prevent anyone from escaping.
• Bonawa decides to assist Mondy and runs toward the burning circus with a water bucket. Lingling stays behind with Cai’er and pays the stall owner for the bucket after Bonawa takes it.

Character Developments

• Bonawa: Demonstrates growing alertness and strategic awareness. Although he appears relaxed during dinner, he remains focused on the suspicious circus staff and quickly identifies the fire as a deliberate operation. He also takes responsibility by rushing to help Mondy.
• Lingling: Her romantic feelings for Bonawa become increasingly obvious. She misreads his hesitation, becomes embarrassed by Cai’er’s teasing, and shows practical support by compensating the bucket’s owner.
• Cai’er: Acts as an enthusiastic matchmaker and “third wheel,” deliberately pushing Lingling and Bonawa together. Her playful teasing exposes Lingling’s feelings and provides comic relief.
• Mondy: Reveals a warm, humorous, and approachable side while dining with the students. At the same time, his actions during the fire suggest he is still operating with hidden objectives connected to the circus spies.
• The circus performers and their allies: Their suspicious disappearance after the performance and the later fire strongly imply a coordinated attempt to destroy evidence and silence witnesses.

Significant Themes

• Romantic awkwardness and matchmaking: Cai’er’s teasing highlights Lingling’s affection and Bonawa’s lack of romantic awareness.
• Hidden identities and deception: The circus appears to be a front for spies, while ordinary-looking helpers at the fire are actually pursuing a covert mission.
• Duty beneath ordinary life: A cheerful dinner and circus outing abruptly turn into a dangerous emergency, showing how quickly the characters’ normal activities can be interrupted by larger conflicts.
• Trust and cooperation: Bonawa and Mondy act together despite the danger, while Lingling supports Bonawa from behind the scenes.

Important Character Interactions

• Cai’er repeatedly pushes Bonawa and Lingling toward spending time together and whispers provocative suggestions to embarrass Lingling.
• Lingling’s awkward answers about Mondy’s supposed girlfriend or wife reveal her innocence and romantic discomfort.
• Mondy jokes comfortably with the students, strengthening their familiarity with him.
• Bonawa and Mondy’s coordinated responses to the fire suggest mutual understanding of the threat.
• Lingling’s purchase of the bucket reflects her quiet support for Bonawa as he enters the danger.

Chapter Summary: “Hypnotic Interrogation”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Bonawa reaches the circus, which has been breached and set ablaze, with the performance animals running loose. He uses a wet elephant blanket to protect himself from the flames and enters the circus.
• Inside, he discovers that the fire has already been controlled and that the “circus performers” are actually intelligence agents. Several genuine firefighters and rescuers lie unconscious on the ground.
• Mondy, leader of the third group of the Shadow Intelligence organization of the Kingdom of Moss, and Moka, a former assassin who now leads Mondy’s operations group, have been captured.
• The circus ringmaster reveals Mondy’s identity and attempts to force him to disclose a code phrase by applying painful pressure to the nerves at the back of his neck. He intends to use hypnotic interrogation if necessary.
• Bonawa realizes that Mondy is about to break and deliberately shouts that the circus is surrounded. His distraction gives Mondy and Moka’s hidden allies the opportunity to strike.
• The “circus members” attack the enemy agents. Moka, despite having badly injured hands, uses cyanide-coated poison needles and disables the ringmaster, while Mondy regains control of the situation.
• Moka reveals that he had already replaced the ringmaster’s men with his own people. The apparent capture was largely a trap, and Mondy had been pretending to be near death to deceive the enemy.
• The ringmaster is taken prisoner. Mondy then confronts the traitors who betrayed the organization for money, assuring them that their families will not be punished before they die.
• The intelligence agents destroy the evidence by spreading fire oil throughout the circus and allowing the flames to consume the entire tent.

2. Character Developments

• Bonawa demonstrates courage, quick thinking, and loyalty. Although he is young and initially underestimated, his improvised distraction saves Mondy from revealing vital intelligence.
• Mondy remains composed and defiant even while being tortured. His confidence suggests that he is experienced at resisting interrogation and manipulating his captors. He also shows compassion by protecting the families of the dying traitors.
• Moka is revealed to be highly capable and strategically deceptive. Despite his injured hands, he reacts swiftly, uses lethal poison needles, and exposes that he had already infiltrated the ringmaster’s group.
• The circus ringmaster/Cameron shifts from smug interrogator to helpless prisoner. His confidence collapses once he realizes that Mondy and Moka had turned his own operation against him.
• The traitors are portrayed as people who sacrificed loyalty for money, though their final moments suggest regret and fear for their families.

3. Significant Themes

• Loyalty and betrayal: The traitors’ greed threatens the organization, while Mondy, Moka, and Bonawa risk themselves to protect it.
• Deception and counterintelligence: Both sides attempt to manipulate the other, but Moka’s long-term infiltration and Mondy’s feigned weakness ultimately prevail.
• Courage under pressure: Bonawa acts despite danger, and Mondy resists torture even when physically overwhelmed.
• Mercy amid conflict: Mondy condemns the traitors’ actions but refuses to punish their innocent relatives, emphasizing that guilt belongs to individuals rather than entire families.
• The expendability of evidence: The final destruction of the circus underscores the secretive, ruthless nature of intelligence work.

4. Character Interactions

• Bonawa pretends to belong to the enemy organization when he first enters, casually addressing the clown-like agent and using the man’s assumptions against him.
• The ringmaster taunts and interrogates Mondy, while Mondy responds with deliberate provocation rather than fear.
• Bonawa’s sudden warning interrupts the interrogation and allows Mondy’s allies to attack.
• Moka protects Bonawa from criticism, arguing that his intervention succeeded because Mondy convincingly appeared to be dying.
• Mondy later addresses the traitors directly, combining condemnation with reassurance that their families will be spared.

Chapter Summary: Intelligence: The Shadows

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the circus fire, Mondy tells Bonawa to return to school on time, while Moka escorts Bonawa away with the other teachers.
• Bonawa asks whether their dangerous activities represent their normal lives. Moka jokingly contrasts their secret work with their ordinary identities as teachers, though Bonawa sincerely regards them as heroes.
• Bonawa learns that joining the organization does not mean entering a separate base or abandoning school. He will become part of Moka’s action team and receive training after classes while continuing his education.
• In the Crown Prince’s Manor, Torey—now director of The Shadows—delivers an interrogation report to Wisdom Shield. The report confirms that several foreign kingdoms have launched a coordinated intelligence operation against Moss.
• The enemy powers are investigating Moss’s economy, military, culture, and especially its new weapons. They mistakenly believe Moss’s firearms and cannons are magical weapons powered by magic nodes.
• Their intended strategy is to destroy those supposed magic nodes at the beginning of a war, believing this would disable Moss’s new military technology. The report also reveals that enemy intelligence services have bribed or recruited Moss officials and nobles.
• Wisdom Shield orders The Shadows to secretly eliminate infiltrators while issuing a nationwide Wanted Order to make it appear that Moss is reacting angrily and hastily. His real goal is to use the enemy’s false assumptions to create a trap and launch a counter-infiltration campaign.
• The chapter emphasizes that Wisdom Shield has spent years using Moss’s growing wealth to build The Shadows into a powerful intelligence network. The organization has remained dormant while its agents embedded themselves abroad, waiting for the right moment to act.
• Wisdom Shield is then occupied with preparations for the Grand Council, including being measured for formal clothing.
• Meanwhile, Dean and the four A Da brothers arrive in the capital after a difficult journey. They have adopted numbered aliases but repeatedly confuse one another because Dean has taken the name “A Da,” already belonging to one of the brothers.
• Before meeting Wisdom Shield, the group must remain undercover. They avoid local bullies and arrive hungry, debating whether to eat at a restaurant or go directly to the Crown Prince’s Manor.

Character Developments

• Bonawa shows growing admiration for Moka, Mondy, and the organization, viewing their covert work as heroic rather than merely dangerous. He also accepts his new responsibilities while remaining committed to school.
• Moka continues to balance his role as a teacher with that of an operative. He treats Bonawa warmly and humorously but makes clear that training must not interfere with education.
• Wisdom Shield is revealed as a strategic and patient leader. Rather than openly exposing everything Moss knows, he intends to manipulate the enemy’s mistaken beliefs and retaliate through carefully planned intelligence operations.
• Torey has advanced to become director of The Shadows, demonstrating the organization’s increasing scale and importance.
• Dean is portrayed as capable but increasingly frustrated by the confusing alias system. He has assumed leadership among the brothers despite the continuing identity mix-ups.
• The A Da brothers remain loyal and cooperative, though their identical backgrounds and names create comic confusion during their mission.

Significant Themes

• Dual identities and hidden lives: Teachers, officials, and travelers conceal their true roles, showing how ordinary public lives coexist with covert national service.
• Duty versus normal life: Bonawa must continue attending school even after joining dangerous operations, emphasizing the effort to preserve normalcy.
• Intelligence and deception: Victory depends not only on military strength but on controlling what the enemy believes.
• Patience and preparation: Wisdom Shield’s years of investment in dormant agents demonstrate the value of long-term planning.
• National defense and heroism: The chapter questions what makes someone a hero, ultimately suggesting that quiet protection and sacrifice can be as heroic as open combat.
• Comic relief amid political tension: The naming confusion among Dean and the brothers lightens an otherwise serious chapter focused on espionage and impending war.

Character Interactions

• Bonawa and Moka: Bonawa sincerely praises the teachers as national heroes, while Moka responds with teasing humor and practical guidance.
• Mondy and Bonawa: Mondy acts protectively and insistently reminds Bonawa to maintain his responsibilities at school.
• Wisdom Shield and Torey: Their exchange establishes the scope of the foreign espionage threat and Wisdom Shield’s sophisticated counterintelligence strategy.
• Wisdom Shield and the Garment Bureau: This brief interaction links the secret preparations for war with the public and political preparations for the Grand Council.
• Dean and the A Da brothers: Their argument over names highlights the group’s close but chaotic relationship, as well as the difficulties of maintaining a shared cover identity.

Chapter Summary: “Secret Infiltration”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dean and the five former members of the Mei family travel to the Crown Prince’s Manor to meet Wisdom Shield. To preserve their secret identities as a force cultivated by the Crown Prince, they avoid the crowded front entrance and infiltrate through the back gate.
• After failing to receive an answer at the rear entrance, one of the brothers climbs over the wall and opens the gate from inside. The group searches the rear courtyard but cannot find Wisdom Shield, who is working in the front courtyard.
• Hunger becomes a major distraction. The group decides to follow servants delivering Wisdom Shield’s meal, using the dishes’ nameplates to identify the correct food.
• They hide in the dining hall and observe that Wisdom Shield’s meal is modest but carefully prepared, confirming his reputation for frugality.
• Wisdom Shield arrives with Xiaodun and discusses the progress of the fighters being trained for the Grand Council. The five Mei brothers have all reached Platinum Rank and begun mastering a combined attack technique.
• The group’s hunger gives them away when their stomachs loudly growl. Xiaodun draws his sword and Wisdom Shield prepares magic, alerting nearby Imperial Knights.
• Dean quickly presents the token given to him by Chen Cheng. Wisdom Shield recognizes it and dismisses the knights, while Xiaodun pretends the incident was merely a test of the guards’ reactions.
• Once alone, Dean and the five reveal themselves to Wisdom Shield and explain their connection through the token.

Character Developments

• Dean demonstrates caution and leadership by agreeing to use the back entrance and guiding the group’s infiltration.
• The five brothers continue adjusting to their new identities and rank order, repeatedly correcting one another’s titles. Their hunger and clumsy humor provide comic relief but also reveal their straightforward personalities.
• The brothers’ cultivation has advanced dramatically: all five have reached Platinum Rank and learned the beginnings of a cooperative combat technique.
• Wisdom Shield is shown as disciplined, frugal, politically capable, and quick-thinking. He immediately understands Dean’s token and smoothly prevents the guards from discovering the infiltration.
• Xiaodun proves alert and competent, reacting quickly to the disturbance and supporting Wisdom Shield’s cover story.

Significant Themes

• Secrecy and infiltration: The group must conceal its origins and carefully navigate the manor without exposing its connection to the Crown Prince.
• Loyalty and preparation: The fighters’ training is vital because the Grand Council’s political influence depends heavily on success in its gladiatorial contests.
• Political power beyond combat: The Legacy Exchange Platform is presented as a growing network connecting major forces, powerful individuals, and ordinary participants across kingdoms.
• Practical leadership and restraint: Wisdom Shield’s modest meal and responsible management contrast with extravagant royal behavior, reinforcing his reputation as a frugal and capable ruler.
• Humor amid danger: The brothers’ confusion over their new titles and their inability to control their hunger lighten an otherwise tense secret mission.

Important Character Interactions

• Dean repeatedly manages the brothers’ joking and impulsiveness, establishing himself as their leader.
• The brothers debate whether to eat first or find Wisdom Shield, highlighting their differing priorities and close camaraderie.
• Wisdom Shield and Xiaodun discuss the fighters’ cultivation, emphasizing their preparation for the Grand Council.
• When the group is discovered, Wisdom Shield and Xiaodun cooperate instantly to deceive the Imperial Knights.
• Wisdom Shield questions Dean about Chen Cheng’s half-token, setting up the token’s larger political significance: it may grant Wisdom Shield greater authority over the Legacy Exchange Platform and help him gain influence at the Grand Council.

Chapter Summary: “Bonds”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dean and his four companions arrive before Wisdom Shield, carrying a token and a coded letter from Chen Cheng. The letter confirms Dean’s identity as the fallen heir of a princely estate and reveals that he has been sent to support Wisdom Shield.
• After deciphering the letter, Wisdom Shield recognizes Dean as a “Young Prince.” Dean downplays the formal title and explains that he and his companions are secretly trained fighters working under Wisdom Shield’s command.
• Dean introduces the group:
  • He is a mid-stage Epic Rank warrior capable of challenging ordinary late-stage Epic Rank opponents.
  • A Da, A Er, A San, and A Si are quadruplets at the late Platinum Rank whose linked minds allow them to perform a powerful combined attack.
• Their mission is to help Wisdom Shield defeat his political enemies at the upcoming Grand Council and secure the Kingdom of Moss’s political advantage.
• Wisdom Shield learns that Chen Cheng has been active in the Northern Wasteland, where he helped establish a base, defeated the suppression army sent by Russoff, and prepared to resist the planned invasion by Fildor and allied kingdoms.
• Chen Cheng has gone north to the Northern Frontier and seek the aid of the Great Wall Legion. His purpose is to restrain the major kingdoms backing Fildor, preventing them from intervening directly if Moss defeats their proxies.
• This news greatly reassures Wisdom Shield, who had feared that Moss lacked the time and strength to resist the major kingdoms. Without Chen Cheng’s intervention, Wisdom Shield had been prepared to wage a devastating, all-encompassing war against Fildor and its allies.
• Meanwhile, Chen Cheng travels through the Northern Frontier Great Wasteland, following reports of a compassionate sage who appears to be Azkaban, the northern divine envoy.
• Chen Cheng’s experiences lead him to reconsider the Church of Light, realizing that some of its members are genuine believers rather than mere schemers.
• Brother Octopus explains that the God of Light’s influence is weak in the Northern Frontier because another power opposes him. Azkaban’s growing local following has increased the God of Light’s influence, but his control remains incomplete.
• Brother Octopus urges Chen Cheng to exploit this weakness and seize the region.
• Chen Cheng’s magic energy and Battle Aura are beginning to merge into divine power following his apotheosis. However, unlike ordinary gods, whose strength depends primarily on the faith of believers, Chen Cheng can still cultivate by absorbing the energy of heaven and earth, converting it into five-colored aura within his consciousness body.

Character Developments

• Dean demonstrates confidence, humility, and strategic awareness. Although powerful and of noble origin, he presents himself as a subordinate and emphasizes his commitment to Wisdom Shield’s cause.
• Wisdom Shield shifts from suspicion and uncertainty to trust and renewed confidence. Learning of Dean’s strength and Chen Cheng’s plans relieves his fear of intervention by the major kingdoms.
• Chen Cheng is shown as increasingly influential and self-sacrificing. His decision to go north places him in danger but protects Moss from a larger geopolitical threat.
• Brother Octopus continues acting as Chen Cheng’s adviser, helping him understand the relationship between divine power, faith, and regional influence.
• Azkaban is presented indirectly as a sincere and influential religious figure whose presence is reshaping faith in the Northern Frontier.

Significant Themes

• Trust and hidden identities: The coded letter and secret identities reveal how political and military alliances depend on secrecy and recognition.
• Loyalty and sacrifice: Chen Cheng risks his life in the north to protect Wisdom Shield and the Kingdom of Moss from overwhelming foreign intervention.
• Political strategy versus open warfare: The chapter contrasts Wisdom Shield’s plan for destructive total war with Chen Cheng’s more strategic approach of restraining the major powers.
• Faith and power: Religious belief directly affects divine strength and political control, while the chapter questions whether organized religion is wholly corrupt.
• Transformation and divine evolution: Chen Cheng’s merging of magic and Battle Aura marks his transition toward godhood, while his unusual ability to cultivate independently suggests that he may not follow the normal rules governing gods.

Character Interactions

• Dean and Wisdom Shield establish a formal alliance, with Dean offering his group’s strength to support Wisdom Shield at the Grand Council.
• Wisdom Shield’s initial guardedness disappears after he reads Chen Cheng’s letter and hears Dean’s explanation.
• The group’s hunger briefly lightens the tense meeting, allowing Wisdom Shield to welcome them more warmly.
• Dean gives Wisdom Shield a detailed account of Chen Cheng’s actions, emotionally affecting the crown prince and strengthening his resolve.
• Brother Octopus counsels Chen Cheng about the Northern Frontier’s religious balance and encourages him to take advantage of the God of Light’s weakened influence.

Summary: “Chen Cheng’s Domain”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng reflects on his unusual power system. He can simultaneously wield magic and martial strength, having fused the Magic Path and Warrior’s Path into a single form of power.
• His strength is centered in a mysterious pellet obtained during the Ascension Tasks. Rather than drawing on external forces, he now channels all power through himself.
• Chen Cheng has developed an incomplete Divine Domain based on the range of his perception. Unlike conventional domains, it provides no direct attribute enhancements, but allows him to manipulate energy within its boundaries and create an anti-magic—or energy-forbidden—zone.
• He tests this ability against Dean. Without the domain, Chen Cheng cannot defeat Dean, but within the energy-forbidden zone, Dean loses access to external power and is ultimately defeated.
• Overconfident after defeating Dean, Chen Cheng challenges Bourne and learns the limits of his domain. Demigod-level beings possess Dao Fruits and embryonic domains that grant them deep affinity with a particular type of power. Chen Cheng cannot permanently strip away this affinity.
• Samlet is cited as an example: his mastery of the Great Void God Fist gives him extraordinary spatial affinity, potentially allowing him to become the world’s true god of space after completing Sequence Apotheosis.
• While traveling with She Li and the others, Chen Cheng reaches Engela City, a major commercial center in the Northern Frontier. The group crosses a vast snow-covered wasteland and walks over a hundred li to reach the city.
• At the crowded city gates, Chen Cheng pays the entrance fee and bribes a guard for information about lodging. The guard recommends Snowfall Pavilion, but Chen Cheng realizes it is a brothel and asks for another recommendation because Snow Maiden is traveling with him.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Gains confidence in his unique fusion of magic and martial power. His victory over Dean briefly makes him arrogant, but Bourne’s demonstration reminds him that his anti-magic domain has important limitations against Demigod-level opponents.
• Dean: Serves as a test subject for Chen Cheng’s domain. Though powerful under normal conditions, Dean is severely weakened when cut off from external energy.
• Bourne: Acts as a knowledgeable and humbling opponent, teaching Chen Cheng about Dao Fruits, Demigod-level domains, and the special affinities of advanced cultivators.
• Samlet: Is established as exceptionally gifted, possessing rare spatial affinity through his martial technique.
• She Li: Continues accompanying Chen Cheng and alerts him when Engela City is near.
• Brother Octopus: Provides important explanations about Divine Domains and Samlet’s potential, while Chen Cheng humorously criticizes his tendency to encourage conflict among powerful beings.
• City Guard: Initially dismissive, he becomes friendly and talkative after receiving Gold Coins, revealing the commercial and disreputable nature of Snowfall Pavilion.
• Snow Maiden: Travels with Chen Cheng and influences his choice of lodging.

Significant Themes

• Integration of opposing paths: Chen Cheng’s power comes from combining magic and martial cultivation rather than following a conventional discipline.
• Self-reliance versus external power: His new system depends entirely on internal strength, while most cultivators draw on the world’s energy. The chapter explores the advantages and drawbacks of both methods.
• Limits of power: Chen Cheng’s anti-magic domain is extraordinarily effective against ordinary domain users but cannot completely suppress Demigods with deeply integrated power affinities.
• Growth through humiliation: Chen Cheng’s defeat or inability to overcome Bourne’s level of cultivation prevents his victory over Dean from turning into lasting arrogance.
• Practicality and social maneuvering: Despite his immense strength, Chen Cheng relies on bribery, questioning locals, and gathering information to navigate Engela City.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng experiments with his domain against Dean, demonstrating its devastating effect on opponents dependent on external energy.
• He argues jokingly with Brother Octopus, accusing him of sounding like an evil god who enjoys provoking wars, while also recalling Jamir’s earlier offer to build him a following.
• Bourne explains the nature of Demigod power and indirectly corrects Chen Cheng’s inflated confidence after the fight with Dean.
• Chen Cheng, She Li, and their companions arrive at Engela City and interact with the gate guard. Chen Cheng’s gold quickly changes the guard’s attitude, but the guard’s recommendation of a brothel leads Chen Cheng to clarify that he needs suitable lodging for himself and Snow Maiden.

Chapter Summary: “Lodging”

Key Plot Points and Events

• At the city gate, a guard recommends White Elegance Residence, an expensive but prestigious inn owned—according to rumor—by the city lord. He mentions that several Church elders are staying there.
• Chen Cheng becomes interested in the Church’s presence because the Church remains an enemy, despite his lack of plans to recruit followers in the Northern Frontier.
• Chen Cheng, Snow Maiden, and She Li enter the city and easily locate the famous residence.
• The inn’s refined, inland-style architecture reflects the tastes of wealthy settlers from the central kingdoms.
• A maid presents them with a detailed miniature model of the residence and explains its different accommodation tiers. Snow Maiden is openly fascinated, while She Li quietly studies the models.
• Chen Cheng criticizes the inn’s exorbitant prices but then pretends that he and his “younger sister” are devoted Church believers who wish to stay near the elders.
• To overcome the inn’s restriction against renting rooms near the Church delegation, Chen Cheng offers the maid an additional hundred Gold Coins. Motivated by her commission, she immediately accepts.
• Chen Cheng signs a rental contract and is led to a luxurious inland-style courtyard, whose price would have purchased a similar property in the inland regions.
• Afterward, Chen Cheng remarks that the city lord must be a remarkably shrewd—and unscrupulous—businessman.

Character Development

• Chen Cheng demonstrates his continued suspicion of the Church and his willingness to approach it strategically rather than confront it directly.
• He displays strong improvisational and deceptive skills, convincingly pretending to be a devout believer to gain access to the Church elders.
• His comments reveal a sharp understanding of commerce, contracts, and power structures. He recognizes that the inn’s legal agreements and rumored connection to the city lord protect it from retaliation.
• Snow Maiden shows more open curiosity and emotional spontaneity than She Li, becoming fascinated by the miniature buildings.
• She Li remains composed and disciplined, though his intense attention to the models reveals that he is just as impressed as Snow Maiden.
• The maid is shown to be practical and profit-driven, prioritizing commission over strict adherence to the inn’s original lodging restrictions.

Significant Themes

• Deception and manipulation: Chen Cheng uses a false religious identity and carefully chosen bribes to reach the Church elders.
• Commercial exploitation: White Elegance Residence charges extreme prices by combining luxury, novelty, exclusivity, and legal protection.
• Power and authority: The inn’s possible ownership by the city lord gives it protection, illustrating how local political power can outweigh distant authority.
• Cultural influence and adaptation: Although located in the Northern Frontier, the inn caters to inland tastes because many influential residents originate from the central regions.
• Appearance versus reality: The residence presents itself as elegant and refined, while Chen Cheng recognizes the greed and calculated business practices beneath its polished image.

Character Interactions

• The city guard gives Chen Cheng useful information about the inn and the Church elders.
• The maid attempts to sell the accommodations, while Chen Cheng challenges her claims about quality and price.
• Chen Cheng deceives the maid with his supposed religious devotion and persuades her through a monetary incentive.
• Snow Maiden and She Li react differently to the miniature architectural models, highlighting their contrasting personalities.
• Chen Cheng’s final conversation with his companions frames the inn as both impressive and exploitative.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng and Brother Octopus discuss the lord of Engela City, whom they believe may be able to help them reach the Northern Great Wall. Chen argues that the lord’s greed and shrewd business sense could be exploited during negotiations.
• Chen plans to use Brother Octopus’s mental ability to subtly intensify the lord’s existing greed and lower his defenses.
• At their lodging, a head maid arrives with several half-orc maids as part of the establishment’s premium services. The half-orcs are trained employees rather than slaves, and their presence is marketed as an exotic luxury for wealthy guests.
• Chen initially accepts their assistance but becomes uncomfortable when the head maid mentions that satisfied customers may arrange to take the maids home. She clarifies that this involves employment agreements with their families, not outright slavery.
• A deer half-orc girl serves Chen tea. He asks why he saw no half-orcs during his travels through the Northern Frontier, prompting her to explain the social position and history of the beastkin.
• She reveals that racial discrimination prevents most half-orcs from living openly in human settlements. Humans historically defeated and expelled the Orc race, and official propaganda has continued to portray orcs as brutal enemies.
• Although the authorities distinguish between savage Beastmen and ordinary beastkin, common people generally discriminate against all orcs and half-orcs. As a result, service work in human cities is rare and highly sought after by half-orcs.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates his pragmatic and manipulative side by planning to exploit the Engela lord’s greed, while also showing moral discomfort toward the commodification of half-orc workers.
• Brother Octopus is established as a useful but somewhat sarcastic companion whose mental abilities can influence emotions. Chen expects him to contribute actively to their negotiation.
• The deer half-orc maid emerges as calm, knowledgeable, and accustomed to explaining beastkin society to human newcomers. Her composed manner contrasts with the discrimination and hardship she describes.
• The head maid is portrayed as commercially astute, emphasizing the value of the half-orc service and her commission, but her brief sorrow suggests sympathy for the maids’ difficult circumstances.

Significant Themes

• Discrimination and historical prejudice: The chapter explores how old conflicts and state-sponsored narratives create lasting hostility toward an entire race.
• Exploitation and labor: Though the half-orc maids are technically free employees, their exoticized uniforms, premium pricing, and potential transfer to wealthy customers blur the line between employment and commodification.
• Manipulation and greed: Chen’s strategy depends on amplifying the desires of powerful people, while the lodging house profits by turning unusual identities into luxury experiences.
• Cultural misunderstanding: Chen’s lack of familiarity with half-orcs reflects the separation between inland human society and the Northern Frontier.
• Moral complexity: The chapter avoids presenting the conflict as entirely one-sided: ancient orc rulers were genuinely brutal, but later discrimination unfairly affects peaceful half-orcs and beastkin as well.

Character Interactions

• Chen and Brother Octopus banter over whether the Engela lord is a genius or merely greedy, revealing their familiarity and contrasting personalities.
• She Li challenges the head maid’s decision to bring in half-orc workers, forcing her to explain their status.
• Chen questions the head maid about the service and reacts negatively to the suggestion of taking the maids home.
• Chen’s conversation with the deer half-orc girl shifts the chapter from a commercial encounter to a broader discussion of race, history, and social exclusion.

Chapter Summary: “Snowfall Order”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng questions a deer half-orc girl about life in the Northern Frontier and why orcs do not move inland or join the orcs beyond the Northern Great Wall.
• She explains that, despite discrimination, Northern Frontier orcs can live freely, endure the cold, hunt Magic Beasts, and trade their pelts. Inland, they would likely be enslaved, while the Great Wall is under military lockdown and offers no route to the orcs beyond it.
• At dusk, the Church group staying nearby begins evening prayers. She Li returns with information about meeting the City Lord: Chen Cheng must use White Elegance Residence’s premium lodging key at the rear courtyard of the City Lord’s Mansion.
• Chen Cheng leaves with She Li, instructing the Snow Maiden and the half-orc girls to remain behind.
• Shortly afterward, Feixin, a seductive woman from the Snowfall Order, arrives looking for “Brown,” Chen Cheng’s alias. The Snow Maiden suspects the organization may be connected to the snowflake-patterned map she possesses and fears they may investigate her Frost Elf identity.
• The Snow Maiden tells the half-orc girl to say that Brown has already left. Feixin warns that Chen Cheng must go to the Snowfall Pavilion immediately or he and those around him will die.
• The half-orc girl passes along the warning, mistakenly assuming it may involve an unpaid debt connected to the Pavilion’s reputation.
• Meanwhile, Chen Cheng and She Li reach the imposing City Lord’s Mansion in Engela City, whose grandeur reflects the strength of the Engela Kingdom.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng remains observant and diplomatic, gathering information about the Northern Frontier and its racial tensions even when the information seems limited. He also continues pursuing his political or practical objectives by seeking an audience with the City Lord.
• The deer half-orc girl reveals her pragmatic worldview. Though she recognizes the injustice faced by orcs, she values the relative freedom of the Northern Frontier over the slavery they might face inland.
• The Snow Maiden displays caution and strategic thinking. She recognizes the danger posed by the Snowfall Order and deliberately conceals Chen Cheng’s whereabouts to protect herself and the group.
• Feixin shifts from an alluring, seductive demeanor to an innocent and hurried one, suggesting that her warning is urgent and that she may be under pressure from a superior or larger crisis.
• She Li continues acting as Chen Cheng’s reliable aide, gathering information and showing concern for his well-being in the severe cold.

Significant Themes

• Racial discrimination and slavery: Orcs are tolerated in the Northern Frontier but face enslavement and dehumanization inland, emphasizing the social hierarchy and prejudice of the setting.
• Freedom versus security: The half-orc girl accepts a harsh life because it allows her people to remain free rather than risk slavery elsewhere.
• Isolation and political division: The Northern Great Wall separates different orc populations and prevents communication, demonstrating how borders create cultural and emotional divisions.
• Hidden identities and danger: Chen Cheng uses an alias, while the Snow Maiden conceals her Frost Elf nature. The arrival of the Snowfall Order heightens the threat surrounding their identities.
• Power and national strength: The City Lord’s Mansion symbolizes Engela’s wealth and authority despite the harsh environment of the Northern Frontier.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and the half-orc girl have a respectful conversation about orc society, discrimination, and the Great Wall.
• Chen Cheng gives the Snow Maiden and the half-orc girl instructions before leaving, showing his trust in them while maintaining leadership.
• The Snow Maiden and the half-orc girl coordinate their response to Feixin, choosing to hide Chen Cheng’s departure.
• Feixin indirectly threatens Chen Cheng and his companions, creating a new conflict between them and the Snowfall Order.
• She Li and Chen Cheng travel together to meet the City Lord, with She Li acting as both assistant and protector.

Chapter Summary: “The Honest and Incorruptible Ailafu”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng and She Li arrive at the back gate of Engela City’s Lord’s Mansion to request an audience with the City Lord, Ailafu.
• The supposedly humble back entrance is extremely busy, functioning almost like an official reception area. Two gatekeeping servants charge visitors a fee and advise them to estimate the value of their request before offering the City Lord a thirty-percent profit.
• Chen Cheng gives the servants two Gold Coins as “tea money,” earning their cooperation and a warning about how the City Lord’s system works.
• Chen Cheng presents the key to Courtyard Number Two at White Elegance Residence as proof of his status. The key, which cost him nearly a thousand Gold Coins, allows him to bypass the ordinary process and meet Ailafu personally.
• The attendant explains that visitors without proof are considered unimportant and are handled by the mansion steward, while holders of expensive proof are treated as people whose matters deserve the City Lord’s personal attention.
• Chen Cheng realizes that the “proof” system mainly identifies wealthy visitors willing to spend large amounts of money, rather than powerful or influential figures. Truly important people would enter through the front gate.
• The City Lord’s Mansion is enormous but strikingly plain, with bare decorations, old furniture, and little evidence of luxury.
• Ailafu is found in his office checking accounts with an abacus. Contrary to Chen Cheng’s expectations, he appears modest, practical, and impoverished rather than lavish or corrupt.
• Ailafu personally welcomes Chen Cheng and She Li, prepares them ordinary tea, and assures them that he is willing to help with their urgent problem.
• When Chen Cheng and She Li remain suspicious, Ailafu openly acknowledges his reputation for taking money. He insists that the rumors are not entirely false but claims there is another side to the matter, though he stops short of explaining it and redirects the conversation to their request.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates social cleverness and adaptability by flattering the gate servants, paying them a gratuity, and using the White Elegance Residence key to gain access to Ailafu. He is observant and skeptical, recognizing the mansion’s hidden financial rules and questioning Ailafu’s public reputation.
• She Li accompanies Chen Cheng throughout the visit but remains comparatively quiet, serving as his partner and witness.
• Ailafu is introduced as a contradictory figure. Publicly, he is known as greedy, but privately he appears restrained, humble, organized, and courteous. His efficient accounting, calm manner, and willingness to acknowledge his corruption complicate the image of a simple villain.
• The mansion servants reveal that Ailafu’s administration is highly structured. Although the system is corrupt, the servants are expected to treat visitors properly and follow strict procedures.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: The mansion and Ailafu do not match Chen Cheng’s expectations. The supposedly greedy City Lord lives and works simply, while the plain back gate conceals an elaborate money-based system.
• Corruption and administrative efficiency: Ailafu openly profits from visitors, yet the process is organized and efficient. The chapter questions whether corruption can coexist with competence and public service.
• The price of access and influence: Money determines who receives attention and how quickly matters are handled. Wealth functions as both proof of importance and a means of buying political access.
• Reputation and partial truth: Ailafu’s reputation may be justified, but he suggests that outsiders understand only one side of his actions. The chapter leaves open whether he is genuinely misunderstood or merely skilled at presenting himself sympathetically.
• Skepticism and judgment: Chen Cheng repeatedly evaluates people and institutions beneath their surfaces, refusing to accept either the servants’ system or Ailafu’s friendly behavior at face value.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng flatters and tips the gate servants, turning an initially transactional encounter into a cooperative one.
• The servants explain the mansion’s fee structure and distinguish between ordinary visitors and wealthy holders of “proof.”
• The attendant treats Chen Cheng and She Li with increased respect after seeing the White Elegance Residence key and escorts them directly to Ailafu.
• Ailafu interacts warmly with the visitors, personally serving them tea and inviting them to explain their difficulties.
• When Chen Cheng’s silence reveals suspicion, Ailafu addresses it directly, admitting that he accepts money while asking them not to judge him solely by his reputation.

Chapter Summary: “Ailafu Wiped the Spit from His Face”

Plot and key events

Chen Cheng maintains his false identity as “Brown,” a fur merchant from the distant Hazy Kingdom, explaining that he has come to Engela City because his usual Northern Frontier supplier can no longer provide goods. Ailafu engages him in friendly conversation, recalling the Hazy Kingdom and its famous Hazy River, which helps create the impression of trust and familiarity.

Ailafu’s revelation

The conversation shifts from trade to the Northern Frontier’s military situation. Ailafu explains that the Northern Great Wall was not built merely to keep out the Beastmen, as many inland people believe, but to defend against the Black Calamity, a devastating force from the Far North that destroys all life. The calamity has been appearing more frequently and with increasing intensity.

Military background

The original Northern Great Wall Army was once one of the Empire’s five strongest legions, but after the Imperial Capital was destroyed nearly two centuries earlier, the army was left without imperial orders or reinforcements. The great kingdoms therefore stationed their own troops in the Northern Frontier so they could eventually take over the defense of the wall.

Ailafu’s justification

Ailafu admits that he accepts bribes, but insists that he uses the money to strengthen Engela’s poorly funded garrison rather than for personal luxury. He claims to have a clear conscience and says that, despite his corruption, he will not violate his principles. Chen Cheng remains highly skeptical, reasoning that a ruler who openly diverted bribes to build an independent military force would likely be executed if discovered.

Character development and interactions

Ailafu presents himself as both personable and morally complicated: he is shrewd, eloquent, politically aware, and skilled at defending questionable actions. His frankness nearly lowers Chen Cheng’s guard, but Chen Cheng remains observant and manipulative, carefully acting frightened and admiring in order to encourage Ailafu to reveal more. Their interaction becomes a contest of performance, with both men concealing their true motives.

Chen Cheng’s response and plan

Pretending to be deeply inspired by Ailafu’s dedication, Chen Cheng says he will calculate how many tens of thousands of pelts he can transport in one shipment. He claims he will take only enough profit to cover transportation costs and donate the rest, in Ailafu’s name, to the Northern Frontier army. This proposal both flatters Ailafu and creates a potential way for Chen Cheng to gain access to the fur trade while exploiting the City Lord’s greed and political ambitions.

Major themes

The chapter explores deception and political theater, as both characters perform false identities and moral positions; corruption justified as patriotism, through Ailafu’s claim that bribery funds national defense; and the hidden dangers threatening the wider world, represented by the increasingly powerful Black Calamity. It also highlights the gap between public narratives and buried historical truths, since ordinary people misunderstand the purpose of the Northern Great Wall.

Chapter Summary: “Playing the Rich Man”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Chen Cheng agrees to make a large “donation,” City Lord Ailafu personally sees him out and privately celebrates the expected profit.
• Ailafu and another official jokingly debate whether the payment is a donation, tribute, or bribe. Although Ailafu presents himself as respectable, he clearly treats his position as a source of income.
• Ailafu orders an official to investigate Chen Cheng and ensure the promised money arrives, revealing a threatening side beneath his friendly exterior. He is suspicious of wealthy outsiders who use his influence without being able to pay.
• She Li secretly observes Ailafu’s office and discovers an account book recording hundreds of thousands of Gold Coins in monthly earnings. Ailafu apparently assigns a price to every service or piece of information he can provide.
• The records include transactions with nobles and even a Church elder searching for the northern divine envoy. They also show that Ailafu has taken inland nobles to see the Great Wall for roughly twenty thousand Gold Coins.
• Chen Cheng and She Li eat at a roadside stall. Chen Cheng deliberately orders the most expensive food and later gives the owners ten Gold Coins—far more than the meal costs.
• On their way home, Chen Cheng buys expensive clothing and other goods, claiming they are for his younger sister, and gives generous tips. Their spending quickly spreads the impression that he is an extremely wealthy young man.
• The chapter ends with local people investigating Chen Cheng’s spending, confirming that his performance as a rich patron is succeeding.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates strategic thinking and an understanding of how greed can be used to influence people. He plans to use his apparent wealth to persuade Ailafu to help him gain access to the Great Wall.
• He also shows generosity and appreciation toward the food-stall owners, suggesting that his spending is not entirely an act; he genuinely enjoys their meal and wine.
• She Li proves useful as a spy, secretly examining Ailafu’s office and uncovering valuable financial information. His usually cold manner softens slightly when he politely thanks the stall owner’s wife, though Chen Cheng teases him about it.
• Ailafu is revealed to be deeply corrupt and calculating. Despite his approachable appearance and claims of sincerity, he profits from nearly every service he performs and uses intimidation to protect his income.
• The food-stall owners are ordinary people whose unexpectedly generous payment makes them unwitting sources of information about Chen Cheng’s wealth.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: Ailafu disguises bribery as “donations,” while Chen Cheng deliberately constructs the image of a wealthy nobleman.
• Corruption and power: Ailafu’s account book shows that political authority in the Northern Frontier can be bought, with information, access, and favors all carrying fixed prices.
• Strategic manipulation: Chen Cheng realizes that money and reputation may open doors more effectively than force or honest appeals.
• Wealth as performance: Chen Cheng’s extravagant purchases are less about actual luxury than about creating a public image that will influence Ailafu and others.
• Generosity and exploitation: Chen Cheng’s spending benefits ordinary shopkeepers, but it also attracts suspicion and envy from people eager to exploit or rob someone who appears rich.

Character Interactions

• Ailafu and the administrative officer mock the language surrounding bribery, exposing their shared awareness of the City Lord’s corruption.
• Ailafu’s order to investigate Chen Cheng introduces an adversarial relationship beneath their polite negotiation.
• Chen Cheng and She Li discuss Ailafu’s records and debate whether money will be enough to secure passage to the Great Wall.
• Chen Cheng encourages She Li to be more courteous, revealing a familiar, teasing relationship between them.
• Chen Cheng treats the food-stall couple warmly, praises their cooking, and rewards them generously, while their later interrogation shows how quickly his behavior becomes public knowledge.

Chapter Summary: “Promise”

Key Plot Points and Events

• During a blizzard, Feixin travels to a hidden summit where Zhixin, leader of the Snowfall Order, lives in a springlike secret realm atop the Great Snow Mountain.
• Zhixin has just finished a board game with Azkaban, a Church priest. After losing, Azkaban promises to honor his agreement and help the countless heroes Zhixin represents. Zhixin allows him to leave peacefully.
• Feixin initially mistakes Azkaban for an enemy and activates her snow domain, but Zhixin stops her, revealing that he is not hostile. Azkaban passes effortlessly through Feixin’s domain and departs.
• Feixin explains that she failed to find Chen Cheng because he had already gone to meet Ailafu. Fearing that Ailafu’s faction might investigate Chen Cheng and uncover the Snowfall Order, she returned instead of pursuing him.
• Zhixin angrily reminds Feixin of the Order’s purpose: avenging the fallen Empire and their destroyed lineage. She also stresses that Chen Cheng’s identity and their sworn obligations make it necessary to approach him.
• Feixin breaks down in tears, admits her mistake, and promises to return to find Chen Cheng. Zhixin comforts her, then decides to meet Chen Cheng personally while Feixin helps organize the Order’s intelligence.
• Meanwhile, Chen Cheng learns that Feixin and the Snowfall Order have been monitoring him. He suspects they know his true identity but have deliberately kept the information from the great kingdoms, perhaps intending to negotiate with him.
• Chen Cheng prepares to visit the Snowfall Pavilion to find Feixin. The Snow Maiden insists on accompanying him, creating an awkward situation because of the Pavilion’s questionable reputation. He reluctantly agrees to take her.

Character Developments

• Feixin is shown as playful and impulsive but deeply loyal to Zhixin and the Snowfall Order. Her fear of exposing the organization overcomes her sense of duty, but Zhixin’s rebuke makes her recognize that she has failed to honor their oath. Her tears reveal her dependence on and affection for Zhixin.
• Zhixin appears stern and authoritative, yet compassionate toward Feixin. She carries the burden of the Order’s history and sees its mission as a sacred obligation. Her decision to meet Chen Cheng personally demonstrates her willingness to take responsibility.
• Azkaban is established as a powerful and honorable figure. Although he is connected to the Church, he has made an agreement with Zhixin and appears committed to helping their cause.
• Chen Cheng remains cautious and analytical. He suspects the Snowfall Order knows his identity and is trying to determine why they have protected his secret.
• The Snow Maiden displays her usual childish stubbornness and curiosity, insisting on joining Chen Cheng despite his concerns.

Significant Themes

• Oaths and responsibility: The chapter emphasizes that promises made to the fallen Empire and its survivors carry moral and political weight.
• Revenge and inherited trauma: The Snowfall Order’s mission is rooted in the destruction of their nation and lineage, showing how historical suffering shapes present actions.
• Family and mentorship: Zhixin’s relationship with Feixin resembles that of a strict but loving elder sister and a wayward younger sibling.
• Trust and hidden identities: Both the Snowfall Order and Chen Cheng conceal information from one another, creating uncertainty over their true intentions.
• Power beneath appearances: The peaceful secret realm, Azkaban’s effortless escape from Feixin’s domain, and Zhixin’s political influence all suggest that the characters possess far greater power than their outward actions reveal.

Character Interactions

• Zhixin and Azkaban: Their board game serves as a formal negotiation. Azkaban’s loss seals his promise to assist Zhixin’s cause.
• Feixin and Azkaban: Feixin reacts defensively to his Church robes, but Zhixin intervenes and prevents conflict.
• Zhixin and Feixin: Their confrontation centers on duty, loyalty, and the Order’s oath. Zhixin scolds Feixin but ultimately comforts her and gives her another responsibility.
• Chen Cheng and the Snow Maiden: Their exchange is playful and comedic. Chen Cheng tries to avoid bringing her to the Snowfall Pavilion, but her persistence forces him to take her along.
• Chen Cheng and the Snowfall Order: Though they do not meet directly in the chapter, the Order’s surveillance and Chen Cheng’s suspicions establish an important impending confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “A Nauseating Bitch”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Despite the freezing weather, Snowfall Pavilion’s courtesans entertain guests in revealing clothing. Chen Cheng enters the upscale establishment with Snow Maiden, intending to find a friend.
• Snow Maiden innocently approaches a courtesan and asks how she can tolerate the cold and how much money she earns. Chen Cheng apologizes, explaining that Snow Maiden is his younger sister and speaks without thinking.
• Mistaking Chen Cheng’s politeness for weakness, the courtesan insults him, suggesting he is from a ruined family and intends to sell Snow Maiden. She further threatens to arrange for Snow Maiden to be sold through the pavilion.
• Enraged by the insult, Chen Cheng slaps the woman so forcefully that she is sent flying out of the building.
• The injured courtesan calls for help, prompting Snowfall Pavilion’s thugs to surround Chen Cheng, Snow Maiden, and She Li. The lead thug cautiously asks Chen Cheng to accompany them, recognizing that the situation may involve someone important.
• The courtesan threatens Chen Cheng by invoking “Young Master Ming,” later identified by She Li as Ming Huai, son of Ming Ting, the deputy commander of the city guards.
• Chen Cheng refuses to back down and orders the thugs to move aside. He commands She Li to destroy the woman’s mouth and force her to apologize to Snow Maiden.
• She Li swiftly defeats the courtesan, crippling both her arms, beating her mouth, and dragging her before Snow Maiden to kneel. His overwhelming strength frightens the pavilion’s thugs.
• The guests realize that She Li is likely at least a Gold Rank warrior, indicating that Chen Cheng possesses considerable status or wealth.
• The chapter ends with Snowfall Pavilion’s reputation and backing now challenged. Chen Cheng is furious, not only because of the confrontation, but because he suspects Feixin deliberately sent him into this establishment and may be connected to it.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Demonstrates strong protective instincts and a strict sense of dignity. Though initially embarrassed and apologetic, he becomes ruthless when Snow Maiden is insulted. His willingness to confront Snowfall Pavilion shows growing confidence and authority.
• Snow Maiden: Remains innocent, direct, and socially unaware. Her questions are not malicious, but her naïveté unintentionally provokes the courtesan. Chen Cheng’s defense of her reinforces their protective sibling-like relationship.
• She Li: Reveals himself to be an exceptionally powerful and loyal guard. His effortless defeat of the courtesan and intimidation of the thugs establishes him as a major source of Chen Cheng’s influence.
• The Courtesan: Her arrogance and reliance on Young Master Ming lead to her downfall. She misjudges Chen Cheng, escalating the situation through insults and threats.
• Snowfall Pavilion’s Thugs: Initially attempt to handle the matter diplomatically, suggesting they recognize Chen Cheng may have powerful backing. Their hesitation after seeing She Li indicates fear and uncertainty.
• Feixin: Though absent, she becomes increasingly suspicious in Chen Cheng’s mind. Her recommendation of Snowfall Pavilion appears potentially deliberate rather than coincidental.

Significant Themes

• Respect and humiliation: Chen Cheng’s initial courtesy is interpreted as weakness, while the courtesan’s contempt turns a minor misunderstanding into a violent clash.
• Power and social status: The chapter emphasizes how wealth, rank, connections, and powerful retainers determine who can act with impunity.
• Misjudgment: The courtesan assumes Chen Cheng is vulnerable because of his polite behavior, failing to recognize She Li’s strength and Chen Cheng’s real position.
• Protection and loyalty: Chen Cheng defends Snow Maiden’s dignity, while She Li carries out his orders without hesitation.
• Hidden conflicts and manipulation: Chen Cheng suspects that Feixin has drawn him into a situation connected to Snowfall Pavilion, hinting at a larger scheme.

Character Interactions

• Snow Maiden’s innocent questioning clashes with the courtesan’s cynicism.
• Chen Cheng apologizes to the courtesan but immediately turns against her when she insults Snow Maiden.
• The courtesan attempts to intimidate Chen Cheng through her connection to Ming Huai.
• Chen Cheng asserts authority over Snowfall Pavilion’s thugs, while She Li physically enforces his command.
• She Li forces the courtesan to kneel before Snow Maiden, reversing the power dynamic and publicly restoring Snow Maiden’s dignity.

Chapter Summary: “One Punch Defeats a Platinum Rank”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A rugged middle-aged man named Augudin, a Platinum Rank cultivator, emerges from an upper room of Snowfall Pavilion carrying a woman.
• Seeing the chaos below, Augudin orders the pavilion’s thugs to attack Chen Cheng, criticizing them for standing by.
• Chen Cheng immediately recognizes Augudin’s Platinum Rank strength but dismisses him as noisy and confronts him directly.
• Augudin activates his domain and attacks with both palms, expecting to crush Chen Cheng. Instead, Chen Cheng defeats him with a single punch, shattering both of Augudin’s arms and collapsing part of the pavilion.
• Chen Cheng nearly kills Augudin with a second punch but deliberately stops just before striking his face, intimidating him without finishing him.
• The woman accompanying Augudin fears Chen Cheng will blame her for provoking the conflict. Chen Cheng correctly realizes that she could not have manipulated a dignified Platinum Rank cultivator and allows her to flee.
• Chen Cheng questions Augudin about the reason for the confrontation. Augudin admits he provoked Chen Cheng because he wanted to pursue the master of Snowfall Pavilion.
• Augudin apologizes and promises not to seek revenge. Chen Cheng mocks his confidence, suggesting that Augudin may be the weakest of all his enemies, then allows him to leave for medical treatment.
• The remaining VIP guests in the pavilion witness the aftermath and become frightened by Chen Cheng’s overwhelming strength and apparent youth.
• Snow Maiden praises Chen Cheng for defeating Augudin with one punch. Chen Cheng instead apologizes for allowing her to be humiliated earlier.
• Snow Maiden, touched by his sincerity, reassures him and says he has already punished the woman on her behalf.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates an enormous gap in strength between himself and a Platinum Rank opponent. His casual victory reveals that he is far more powerful than his appearance suggests.
• Chen Cheng also shows restraint and discernment. He chooses not to kill Augudin, recognizes that the hostess was not responsible for the conflict, and limits Augudin’s injuries to those that can be healed.
• Despite his intimidating power, Chen Cheng displays compassion toward Snow Maiden. His apology shows that he cares about her dignity and circumstances.
• Augudin changes from an arrogant aggressor into a fearful and submissive survivor once Chen Cheng defeats him. He quickly explains himself, apologizes, and abandons any thoughts of revenge.
• Snow Maiden reveals emotional sensitivity and gratitude. As a spirit of heaven and earth, she can sense Chen Cheng’s sincerity, allowing her relationship with him to deepen.
• The hostess acts pragmatically, immediately distancing herself from Augudin and escaping once Chen Cheng spares her.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming strength and hidden power: Chen Cheng’s one-punch victory emphasizes the vast difference between apparent rank and true ability.
• Humility versus arrogance: Augudin’s Platinum Rank status gives him confidence, but his arrogance collapses instantly when faced with Chen Cheng’s superior strength.
• Mercy and restraint: Chen Cheng could have killed Augudin but chooses instead to punish and release him, reinforcing that true power includes control.
• Compassion beneath intimidation: Chen Cheng’s apology to Snow Maiden reveals a gentler side that contrasts with his brutal treatment of his opponent.
• Social vulnerability and dignity: Snow Maiden’s poverty and past exploitation explain why she was sensitive about the earlier insult, while Chen Cheng’s defense validates her circumstances.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Augudin: Their confrontation moves from threats to complete submission. Chen Cheng defeats Augudin effortlessly, questions him, and releases him after extracting the truth.
• Chen Cheng and the hostess: She pleads for her life, and Chen Cheng dismisses her after determining she was not responsible for Augudin’s actions.
• Chen Cheng and Snow Maiden: Snow Maiden admires his strength, while Chen Cheng apologizes for her humiliation. Their exchange strengthens the mutual trust and affection between them.
• Chen Cheng and the onlookers: The surviving VIP guests silently reassess him, recognizing him as an exceptionally powerful young genius rather than an ordinary troublemaker.

Chapter Summary: “Reputation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Snow Maiden defeats and humiliates the woman who insulted her. Chen Cheng orders the thugs to remove the woman rather than kill her, avoiding further complications.
• Chen Cheng publicly apologizes for the disruption at Snowfall Pavilion and pays compensation for the property damage. His actions leave the crowd with a more favorable impression of him.
• He realizes that Feixin and Snowfall Pavilion deliberately manipulated him by pretending to arrange a meeting that never occurred.
• She Li confirms that there were no hidden forces inside the pavilion, proving Chen Cheng had been deceived.
• Instead of retaliating, Chen Cheng decides the incident is still useful because it reassures Ailafu that he is wealthy and powerful.
• Chen Cheng takes Snow Maiden, She Li, and Brother Octopus shopping, offering to pay for whatever they want. Their spending spree quickly becomes widely known.
• News spreads that Chen Cheng defeated the Platinum Rank Augudin with one punch. Ailafu receives the report and becomes convinced that Chen Cheng possesses considerable wealth.
• Ailafu withdraws his spies and begins studying official political information so he can determine Chen Cheng’s true purpose and avoid damaging his own reputation for successfully fulfilling bribe-related requests.
• After an exhausting morning of shopping, Chen Cheng and Snow Maiden stop at the food stall they visited previously.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Demonstrates both overwhelming strength and restraint. He punishes those who deserve it but compensates Snowfall Pavilion for the damage, presenting himself as principled, composed, and socially adept. He also shows strategic thinking by allowing Ailafu to interpret his spending and display of power in a way that benefits him.
• Snow Maiden: Becomes more relaxed and playful after the conflict, enthusiastically joining the shopping trip. Her bond with Chen Cheng and Brother Octopus grows through their lighthearted interactions.
• She Li: Shows fierce loyalty and protectiveness toward Chen Cheng, becoming angry that he was manipulated. Chen Cheng’s calm response helps restrain his violent impulse.
• Brother Octopus: Continues acting mischievously and develops a stronger, spiritually empowered tentacle attack, hinting at increasing abilities.
• Ailafu: Is portrayed as a corrupt but highly capable official who values his reputation for delivering results. Rather than acting recklessly, he studies the political situation and analyzes Chen Cheng’s motives before committing to any agreement.

Significant Themes

• Reputation and appearances: Chen Cheng’s conduct reshapes public opinion, while Ailafu’s entire influence rests on his reputation for successfully completing deals.
• Power balanced by restraint: Chen Cheng proves that strength is most effective when combined with discipline, fairness, and control.
• Manipulation and counter-manipulation: Although Chen Cheng is deceived by Feixin, he turns the situation to his advantage by using the incident to influence Ailafu’s perception.
• Corruption as a system: Ailafu’s bribery is presented as an established political practice, governed by efficiency and professional credibility rather than morality.
• Companionship and humor: Shopping and teasing provide comic relief and strengthen the relationships among Chen Cheng, Snow Maiden, She Li, and Brother Octopus.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Snow Maiden share a growing familiarity, with Chen Cheng defending her and later encouraging her enthusiasm for shopping.
• Chen Cheng restrains She Li’s anger after learning they were deceived, emphasizing strategy over revenge.
• Chen Cheng teases Brother Octopus about finding a mate, prompting a playful attack that reveals the creature’s developing power.
• Ailafu’s subordinates provide him with reports, and he uses their information to reassess Chen Cheng’s wealth and intentions.
• The chapter ends with Chen Cheng and Snow Maiden united by their shared hunger and anticipation of returning to the food stall.

Chapter Summary: “Zhixin”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng, the Snow Maiden, and She Li return to the restaurant where they ate the previous night. The Snow Maiden suggests continuing their stroll afterward, visibly alarming Chen Cheng.
• A stunning and mysterious woman approaches their table. Although the Snow Maiden is immediately fascinated by her beauty, both Chen Cheng and She Li sense that she is extremely powerful and become cautious.
• The woman asks to share their table. The Snow Maiden eagerly welcomes her, while Chen Cheng agrees politely but remains wary because he cannot initially sense her presence or true strength.
• The woman introduces herself as Zhixin. The Snow Maiden notices that Zhixin shares a name with one of her benefactors and interprets the coincidence as fate.
• When Zhixin asks about their origins, Chen Cheng claims that they are merchants from the Hazy Kingdom dealing in Magic Beast pelts. He then directly asks about her identity and power.
• Zhixin reveals that she is the holder of the Snowfall Order and that she has come on behalf of her younger sister, Feixin, to apologize for failing to meet Chen Cheng earlier due to other important matters.
• Her revelation makes the table’s atmosphere tense, since Feixin and Snowfall Pavilion had previously treated Chen Cheng poorly.
• The restaurant proprietress mistakenly assumes Zhixin and Chen Cheng are husband and wife and praises them as a perfect match. Zhixin does not correct her, while Chen Cheng becomes embarrassed and quickly clarifies the misunderstanding.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng remains composed and skeptical. He can appreciate Zhixin’s beauty without being distracted by it, showing emotional restraint and worldly experience. More importantly, he demonstrates increased confidence by detecting Zhixin’s otherwise concealed power.
• Chen Cheng’s recently completed Sequence Apotheosis and nascent Divine Domain are revealed indirectly as the reason he can perceive Zhixin’s strength, even though someone of similar rank normally could not.
• The Snow Maiden/Xue’er is openly captivated by Zhixin’s appearance and eagerly invites her to join them. However, once Zhixin identifies herself as connected to Feixin and Snowfall Pavilion, Xue’er becomes more subdued and remembers the earlier mistreatment of Chen Cheng.
• She Li remains quiet but alert, immediately recognizing Zhixin as a potential threat.
• Zhixin is presented as elegant, powerful, perceptive, and diplomatic. Unlike her sister, she approaches Chen Cheng personally and offers an apology, suggesting a more conciliatory attitude.
• Feixin’s absence and previous conduct continue to influence the group despite her not appearing directly.

Significant Themes

• Power hidden beneath appearances: Zhixin appears as an ordinary beautiful woman but possesses overwhelming strength. Chen Cheng’s ability to perceive her reflects his own growing power.
• Caution and political awareness: Chen Cheng avoids trusting Zhixin immediately and carefully asks about her identity before sharing a meal with her.
• Beauty versus self-control: The Snow Maiden is dazzled by Zhixin, whereas Chen Cheng treats her beauty objectively, emphasizing his restraint and experience.
• Fate and coincidence: Xue’er sees the shared name between Zhixin and her benefactor as evidence of fate, creating an immediate sense of connection.
• Reconciliation and strained relations: Zhixin’s apology begins a possible improvement in the relationship between Chen Cheng’s group and Snowfall Pavilion, though the previous offense keeps the encounter tense.
• Social misunderstanding and humor: The proprietress’s assumption that Chen Cheng and Zhixin are married briefly lightens the otherwise serious encounter and embarrasses Chen Cheng.

Character Interactions

• The Snow Maiden teasingly accuses Chen Cheng of being attracted to Zhixin, while Chen Cheng rebukes her for being overly superficial.
• Zhixin and the Snow Maiden quickly establish a friendly, almost affectionate rapport, with Xue’er repeatedly admiring her and Zhixin responding warmly.
• Chen Cheng treats Zhixin respectfully but maintains a guarded distance, questioning her identity and refusing to be disarmed by her beauty or soothing voice.
• Zhixin directs her formal apology specifically toward Chen Cheng, acknowledging the earlier conflict involving Feixin.
• The proprietress’s mistaken romantic assumption creates an awkward exchange: Zhixin remains silent, while Chen Cheng hurriedly denies that they are a couple.

Chapter Summary: The Mercy of a Sovereign

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the proprietress leaves, Zhixin teases Chen Cheng for hurriedly defending her reputation, hinting at a possible romantic implication.
• Chen Cheng responds seriously, praising Zhixin’s beauty and strength while explaining that he only wished to prevent rumors from damaging her standing.
• Snow Maiden supports Chen Cheng’s character, but he tells her not to speak while eating, creating a tense and quiet atmosphere for the rest of the meal.
• Afterward, Zhixin offers Chen Cheng a handkerchief, but he politely declines and uses one from his spatial ring instead. Snow Maiden happily accepts Zhixin’s handkerchief.
• Zhixin pays for the meal as an apology and then asks Chen Cheng to stay so they can discuss something important.
• Chen Cheng realizes Zhixin is likely connected to the Snowfall Order and rejects her implied request for cooperation. He argues that although Zhixin may be willing to pursue revenge and restore the old nation, many members of the organization may not share those goals.
• Chen Cheng leaves with She Li and Snow Maiden, while Zhixin remains behind, deeply affected by his words.
• On the way back, Snow Maiden complains that Chen Cheng prevented her from spending more time with Zhixin. Chen Cheng frightens her by warning that Zhixin’s identity as the Snowfall Order’s mistress could bring danger.
• He then teases Snow Maiden by suggesting they might encounter Zhixin again, causing her to attack him playfully. He apologizes and agrees to return.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates righteousness, caution, and compassion. He refuses to exploit or endanger uninvolved members of the Snowfall Order merely to advance a political cause. His concern is not only strategic but genuinely humanitarian.
• Zhixin begins to see Chen Cheng as more than the person described in intelligence reports. His compassion reminds her of the former sovereign’s “sovereign aura,” strengthening her desire to support him in restoring the nation.
• However, Chen Cheng’s refusal forces Zhixin to reconsider her own leadership. She realizes that while she and certain members may have legitimate reasons for revenge, many ordinary members may not willingly risk their lives for her cause.
• Snow Maiden remains lively, affectionate, and emotionally attached to Zhixin, but Chen Cheng’s warning reveals her vulnerability and lack of awareness of the political dangers surrounding them. Her playful fight with Chen Cheng also reinforces their familiar, sibling-like relationship.

Significant Themes

• Compassion versus political ambition: Chen Cheng refuses to treat ordinary members of the Snowfall Order as expendable tools in a rebellion.
• The responsibility of leadership: Zhixin is forced to confront whether she has the moral right to demand that everyone under her command share her hatred and risk death for her objectives.
• The meaning of sovereignty: Zhixin interprets Chen Cheng’s concern as the “mercy of a sovereign,” though the narration clarifies that his actions arise from basic human compassion rather than a deliberate claim to rulership.
• Identity and choice: The chapter distinguishes between those driven by vengeance and those who merely serve within an organization without sharing its deeper motives.
• Trust and restraint: Chen Cheng’s refusal to accept Zhixin’s invitation reflects both his suspicion of hidden political motives and his unwillingness to involve others in danger without their consent.

Character Interactions

• Zhixin playfully tests Chen Cheng’s attitude toward her, while he responds with formal courtesy rather than romantic interest.
• Chen Cheng and Snow Maiden display a teasing but affectionate dynamic: he reprimands her during the meal, frightens her afterward, and ultimately apologizes when his joke goes too far.
• Zhixin’s gentle exchange with Snow Maiden—giving her the handkerchief and receiving her farewell—reveals a warm bond between them.
• The most significant interaction is between Chen Cheng and Zhixin: his brief refusal leaves a lasting impression, prompting her to question the morality and future of the Snowfall Order.

Chapter Summary: “Blasphemy”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After returning to the courtyard, Chen Cheng hears a disturbance from the neighboring courtyard where several Church elders and Captain Sgert are staying.
• The Church delegation has come to the Northern Frontier to locate Jamir, now regarded as the Church’s greatest heretical traitor. They seek to use the divine-system power link between Jamir and his former master, Azkaban, who is now the Northern Divine Envoy.
• Sgert refuses to allow the Church to inspect or exploit this connection, calling the act “blasphemy.” He insists that Azkaban remains a divine envoy whose spirit belongs to God.
• Elder Keqin and the other Church members are visibly frightened by the possibility of angering God by violating a divine envoy’s spiritual connection. They ultimately agree that Sgert should ask Azkaban personally rather than acting without permission.
• Chen Cheng secretly eavesdrops on the discussion and realizes that the Church’s investigation may provide him with an opportunity to help Jamir and possibly manipulate events involving Azkaban.
• Chen Cheng reflects on his own recent apotheosis and the mysterious mist entering his consciousness and being absorbed by his Golden Elixir. He suspects it may be faith power generated by Brother Octopus, suggesting that he has begun benefiting from belief in him despite not actively seeking followers.
• Snow Maiden interrupts Chen Cheng while he is thinking, teasing him for his suspicious grin and accusing him of having improper thoughts. Their exchange ends in mutual irritation and comedic banter.

Character Developments

• Sgert is shown to remain loyal to Jamir and respectful toward Azkaban, despite Jamir’s status as a heretic. His refusal to participate in the investigation reveals both personal gratitude toward his former teacher and genuine religious fear.
• Elder Keqin appears powerful and authoritative within the Church, but his hesitation demonstrates that even senior Church officials fear divine punishment and abandonment.
• Chen Cheng becomes increasingly aware of his new status as a god and the possible advantages of faith power. He begins considering how to use the Church’s conflict with Jamir to his own benefit.
• Snow Maiden continues to act as Chen Cheng’s outspoken and mischievous foil, turning a serious moment into comic confrontation.

Significant Themes

• Faith and religious authority: The Church’s hierarchy depends on divine power and faith, but its members remain uncertain and fearful of God’s judgment.
• Blasphemy and spiritual boundaries: Examining the divine-system link of a divine envoy is treated as an extreme violation, showing how sacred power is protected even within the Church.
• Loyalty versus institutional judgment: Although Jamir has been branded a traitor, Sgert still remembers his teacher’s influence and refuses to condemn him blindly.
• Power and manipulation: Chen Cheng recognizes that faith can strengthen him and considers exploiting the Church’s pursuit of Jamir without revealing his own identity.
• Humor amid tension: The grave religious conflict is contrasted with Chen Cheng and Snow Maiden’s petty, teasing interaction.

Character Interactions

• Sgert and Elder Keqin: They clash over whether to use the divine link to track Jamir. Sgert rejects the idea as blasphemous, while Keqin ultimately retreats from the plan out of fear of divine consequences.
• Chen Cheng and the Church delegation: Chen Cheng observes them secretly and begins plotting how their mission might be turned to his advantage.
• Chen Cheng and Snow Maiden: Snow Maiden catches Chen Cheng eavesdropping and mocks his expression, while Chen Cheng objects to being interrupted. Their exchange highlights their familiar, antagonistic, and comedic relationship.