Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “The Fisherman”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After initially parting from Chen Cheng, the old fisherman calls him back, apparently gathering the courage to make an important request.
• Chen Cheng invites the fisherman aboard rather than speaking down to him. He offers him tea, impressing the fisherman and his grandson, Dandan, with his effortless magic.
• Chen Cheng gives Dandan a powerful Defensive Magic Crystal as a reward for protecting his grandfather. The crystal can shield him from attacks up to the Golden Peak level, making it an extraordinarily valuable gift for the impoverished pair.
• The old fisherman asks Chen Cheng to take Dandan in as either a disciple or servant. Since Dandan’s parents died at sea and the fisherman believes he is nearing death, he wants to secure the boy’s future.
• Dandan understands that his grandfather may soon die and begins crying, clinging to him.
• Rather than accepting Dandan, Chen Cheng uses healing magic to reverse the fisherman’s illnesses and organ failure. The old man immediately feels decades younger and regains his health.
• Chen Cheng explains that he cannot take Dandan because he is involved in dangerous affairs that threaten his own life. He instead asks the fisherman to continue raising the child now that his health has been restored.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng is shown to be compassionate, humble, and generous. He treats the fisherman respectfully, gives Dandan a priceless magical artifact, and uses his abilities to save the old man despite being unable to offer Dandan permanent protection.
• The old fisherman shifts from cautious desperation to gratitude and relief. His willingness to “shamelessly cling on” reflects his devotion to Dandan and his determination to secure the child’s future.
• Dandan is portrayed as brave, spirited, innocent, and deeply attached to his grandfather. His childish admiration of Chen Cheng quickly develops into trust, while his reaction to the possibility of losing his grandfather reveals his emotional vulnerability.

Significant Themes

• Compassion across social boundaries: Chen Cheng’s respectful treatment of a poor fisherman contrasts with the fisherman’s ingrained sense of inferiority and uncertainty around powerful people.
• The responsibilities of family: The fisherman’s request is driven by his concern for Dandan’s survival after the loss of the boy’s parents.
• Power used for protection: Chen Cheng’s extraordinary abilities are presented not as displays of dominance, but as tools to protect the vulnerable and restore someone’s life.
• Limits of kindness: Although Chen Cheng wants to help, his dangerous circumstances prevent him from taking responsibility for Dandan. He chooses a practical alternative by healing the fisherman.
• Hope amid grief: The fisherman’s declining health and family losses suggest despair, but Chen Cheng’s healing gives both grandfather and grandson a renewed chance to remain together.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and the fisherman develop a respectful relationship, with Chen Cheng’s hospitality encouraging the old man to voice his request.
• Chen Cheng bonds warmly with Dandan by teasing him, touching his cheek, and rewarding his courage.
• The fisherman and Dandan share a deeply emotional moment when Dandan realizes his grandfather may die, reinforcing their strong familial bond.
• Chen Cheng ultimately supports their relationship rather than replacing it, healing the grandfather so he can continue caring for Dandan.

Chapter Summary: “Sea God Ruins”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The old fisherman privately thanks Chen Cheng for saving him and his grandson, Dandan. He reveals that his earlier account of his son and daughter-in-law’s deaths was incomplete.
• The fisherman explains that he, his son, and daughter-in-law went to sea to catch valuable Rainbow Fish so they could afford treatment for Dandan’s illness. They were attacked by crab-like sea demons, and his son and daughter-in-law died while trying to save him.
• After killing and dragging the sea demon ashore, the fisherman discovered hidden coordinates on its body. He realized the creature had likely traveled there specifically to find them.
• Following the coordinates, he found a mysterious location known as the Sea God Ruins. He had originally intended to offer this information to Chen Cheng in exchange for taking Dandan as a disciple, but instead gives it freely as repayment for Chen Cheng’s kindness.
• The fisherman returns to his boat with Dandan. Chen Cheng promises to return for the boy once he has resolved his current affairs.
• Chen Cheng gives the fisherman a piece of dragon scale from his Set Armor, assuring him that it will protect them from sea demons. The fisherman recognizes it as a powerful treasure and treats it as Dandan’s protective talisman.
• The fisherman warns Dandan never to reveal the events of the day or show the dragon scale to anyone, fearing soul-bewitching techniques or other methods experts might use to extract secrets.
• As Chen Cheng sails toward shore, he considers whether the Sea God Ruins may be another Ancient Ruin connected to the Twisted Realm and Noah’s Small World.
• He concludes that the ruins may be connected to the disappearance of She Li and the others, but decides not to investigate alone. His immediate goal is to reach the Royal Capital, contact Samlet, and seek help from the Adventurer’s Guild.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates compassion and trust. Rather than exploiting the fisherman for information, he comforts him, honors his grief, promises to accept Dandan as a disciple, and gives the family a valuable protective gift.
• Chen Cheng also becomes more cautious and strategic. Although the Sea God Ruins may provide clues about his missing companions, he recognizes that entering them without preparation could be fatal.
• The old fisherman changes from a desperate survivor into a grateful ally. His grief over his son and daughter-in-law remains profound, but he chooses to repay Chen Cheng honestly by revealing the ruins’ coordinates.
• The fisherman also shows practical wisdom by teaching Dandan secrecy and emphasizing the dangers of revealing powerful treasures.
• Dandan is portrayed as clever despite his mischievous nature. He quickly understands the importance of keeping silent and accepts the dragon scale as a treasured safeguard.

Significant Themes

• Gratitude and repayment: The fisherman gives Chen Cheng the coordinates not because he is forced to, but because he wants to repay genuine kindness.
• Compassion over suspicion: Chen Cheng’s refusal to harm or silence the fisherman proves that he can be trusted, deepening the bond between them.
• Family sacrifice and grief: The fisherman’s son and daughter-in-law sacrificed themselves to save him, while their efforts to obtain Rainbow Fish reveal the hardships caused by poverty and Dandan’s illness.
• Secrecy and survival: Both characters understand that knowledge of the ruins and the dragon scale could attract dangerous enemies. Concealing power is presented as essential in a world filled with manipulation and soul techniques.
• Preparation versus recklessness: Chen Cheng’s desire to find She Li and the others is balanced by his realization that he needs allies and resources before entering the ruins.

Important Character Interactions

• The fisherman confesses the truth about the sea demon attack to Chen Cheng aboard the sealed dharma vessel.
• Chen Cheng listens sympathetically and offers condolences rather than pressing the grieving man for more information.
• The fisherman gives Chen Cheng the coordinates of the Sea God Ruins as repayment.
• Chen Cheng promises to return for Dandan as a future disciple and gives the fisherman a piece of dragon scale for protection.
• The fisherman and Dandan share a warm grandfather-grandson moment as they plan to return home, cook, and preserve the secret.
• Chen Cheng’s final decision to seek the Adventurer’s Guild’s assistance shows that the fisherman’s information has shifted his immediate plans toward organized preparation for exploring the ruins.

Chapter Summary: “Vent”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng arrives at an inner waterway in the late afternoon aboard his large Elf-made magic ship.
• Because of its size, nearby ship owners assume it is a cargo vessel and mock him for docking among passenger ships. Once they recognize it as an Elf race magic ship, they become cautious.
• A corrupt dock tax collector approaches Chen Cheng and demands taxes, threatening to detain the ship if he does not pay enough. Chen Cheng explains that the vessel is a pleasure boat carrying no cargo.
• Refusing to believe him, the tax collector orders his thugs to search the ship. Chen Cheng warns them not to board without permission, but deliberately allows them on.
• The thugs find no goods and retreat uneasily. Chen Cheng then confronts the tax collector, accusing him of abusing his authority.
• The tax collector boasts that he is related to the Earl’s steward and assumes this connection will protect him. Chen Cheng slaps him hard enough to knock out several teeth, then cripples both of his arms and strikes him again when he continues cursing.
• A squad of guards from the Earl’s territory arrives. Their captain immediately assumes Chen Cheng is the criminal and orders his arrest, threatening to kill him if he resists.
• Rather than backing down, Chen Cheng identifies himself as the one who attacked the tax collector. He recognizes that the guards are also corrupt enforcers and decides to use them to release more of his pent-up anger.
• Chen Cheng activates his Battle Aura and attacks the guards physically instead of using magic. He overwhelms them with tremendous speed and strength, crushing their armor and shattering their bones. The chapter ends during this assault.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Reveals a calm but intimidating personality. He deliberately provokes the tax collector and allows the situation to escalate so he can vent his anger. He is confident enough to challenge the Earl’s authority and powerful enough to defeat armed Gold- and Platinum-Rank opponents with ease. He also shows restraint and control by choosing not to reveal his magical abilities.
• The tax collector: Is portrayed as greedy, arrogant, and dependent on borrowed authority. His confidence collapses once Chen Cheng retaliates, exposing how little personal power he actually possesses.
• The guards and their captain: Are shown to be brutal extensions of the local authority rather than impartial law enforcers. The captain immediately threatens Chen Cheng without investigating the circumstances.
• The dock crowd: Initially fears the tax collector but gradually mocks him, suggesting that his corruption and abuse are widely known. Their quick retreat once violence begins shows their instinct for self-preservation.

Significant Themes

• Abuse of authority and corruption: The tax collector exploits his connection to the Earl’s steward to extort travelers, while the guards appear to protect this system rather than uphold justice.
• Power versus status: The tax collector and captain rely on titles and noble associations, but Chen Cheng demonstrates that actual strength matters more than official position.
• Revenge and emotional release: Chen Cheng’s actions are motivated partly by accumulated anger. The confrontation becomes an opportunity for him to “vent” through controlled violence.
• Intimidation and social hierarchy: The crowd and thugs are influenced by fear of noble power, while Chen Cheng reverses the hierarchy by making the supposed enforcers fear him.
• Justice outside the law: Since the local authorities are corrupt, Chen Cheng personally punishes those abusing their positions.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng clashes verbally with the tax collector over the ship’s classification and the demand for taxes.
• The tax collector attempts to intimidate Chen Cheng through his connection to the Earl’s steward, but Chen Cheng responds with physical punishment.
• The crowd’s jeers undermine the tax collector’s authority and encourage Chen Cheng’s confrontation.
• The guards’ captain treats Chen Cheng as a criminal and orders his execution if he resists, prompting Chen Cheng to openly challenge the entire force.
• The chapter concludes with Chen Cheng physically overpowering the guards, turning the corrupt authorities’ attempt at intimidation into another display of his dominance.

Chapter Summary: “Just Playing”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng confronts a group of guards after their brutal treatment of people at the docks.
• The guard captain, a Platinum Rank warrior, activates his domain and attacks Chen Cheng with full force, assuming Chen Cheng is only a physically powerful Gold Rank fighter.
• Chen Cheng deliberately refuses to use his own domain. He effortlessly reflects the captain’s attack, causing the captain’s arms to explode and his internal organs to be destroyed.
• The captain dies from shock and rage after Chen Cheng mocks his “murderous heart” and claims he merely returned the captain’s own force.
• Chen Cheng spares the other guards but cripples both arms, leaving them unable to recover for at least six months.
• He warns them to tell their count to act with restraint, or others may suffer the same fate as their captain.
• One surviving henchman warns Chen Cheng that the dead captain’s older brother is the strongest warrior in the count’s territory and serves as captain of the knights.
• Chen Cheng recognizes that the henchman is manipulating him, pretending gratitude in hopes of making Chen Cheng stay and bear responsibility when the brother seeks revenge.
• Playing along, Chen Cheng offers to let the guards accompany him if they can no longer remain in the area. The guards accept after staging further displays of reluctant gratitude.
• At the docks, Chen Cheng stores Jelina’s large arcane ship inside his spatial ring.
• He deliberately boasts that the ring can hold an enormous estate and is worth as much as a count’s title. The guards immediately become consumed by greed.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates overwhelming power and confidence. He defeats a domain-wielding Platinum Rank opponent without using his own domain, enjoying the opportunity to dominate an ordinary high-level warrior after previously facing far stronger enemies.
• He is shown to be perceptive and cynical, quickly seeing through the henchman’s false gratitude and understanding that the man wants protection from the captain’s brother.
• Chen Cheng remains merciless toward those who attack him but shows restraint toward lesser guards, crippling rather than killing them.
• The guard captain is revealed as arrogant, violent, and accustomed to overwhelming weaker opponents. His confidence collapses when his full-strength attack is effortlessly reflected.
• The surviving guards shift rapidly from brutality to fear and submission. Their apparent gratitude is largely an act motivated by self-preservation and greed.
• The henchman is manipulative, attempting to steer Chen Cheng’s actions while disguising self-interest as loyalty and gratitude.

Significant Themes

• Absolute power and status: The chapter contrasts ordinary physical strength with the superiority traditionally associated with possessing a domain. Chen Cheng overturns this hierarchy by defeating a domain user through raw ability alone.
• Arrogance and self-destruction: The captain’s violence and overconfidence lead directly to his death; Chen Cheng emphasizes that the captain effectively destroys himself.
• Manipulation and survival: The guards’ sudden change in attitude reveals how fear and self-interest govern their behavior.
• Justice versus cruelty: Chen Cheng punishes the guards but does not kill them, presenting his actions as a measured response to their brutality.
• Calculated deception: Chen Cheng knowingly plays along with the henchman’s scheme and then appears to bait the guards by advertising the immense value of his spatial ring.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and the captain engage in a one-sided clash in which the captain attacks with his domain, while Chen Cheng calmly reflects the blow and ridicules him.
• Chen Cheng intimidates the remaining guards through both his overwhelming victory and his warning to their count.
• The henchman attempts to manipulate Chen Cheng by invoking the threat of the captain’s powerful brother, but Chen Cheng exposes the likely motive behind the warning.
• Chen Cheng offers the guards protection, allowing them to accompany him, while simultaneously recognizing their performance as dishonest.
• At the end of the chapter, Chen Cheng deliberately encourages the guards’ greed by revealing the apparent value of his spatial ring, setting up a likely betrayal or trap.

Chapter Summary: “Settling the Score”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After killing the corrupt captain, Chen Cheng forces the remaining guards to help him find a place to rest. Fear of their captain’s corpse keeps them from attacking him immediately.
• A monkey-faced guard leads Chen Cheng to a secluded mountain cave formerly inhabited by a Demon Bear.
• Chen Cheng pretends to leave to gather firewood, allowing the guards to reveal their plan: drug him with knockout powder, steal his possessions, cripple him, and torture him to appease their superior, Lord Knight Commander Count Siskek.
• The guards lure Chen Cheng toward the Demon Bear’s hidden honey store, intending to drug honey water and use it against him.
• Chen Cheng recognizes their scheme but plays along. He drinks the drugged honey water without being affected, since his strength makes ordinary knockout drugs useless.
• When the guards realize they have been exposed, they accuse Monkey of betrayal. The leader kills Monkey by smashing his skull.
• Chen Cheng abandons any attempt to reform or manipulate the criminals and kills the remaining guards swiftly by destroying their internal organs.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates increasing ruthlessness and confidence. Although he initially considers avoiding unnecessary deaths and protecting others from involvement, he concludes that these men are irredeemable and chooses decisive execution.
• He also shows strong tactical intelligence, deliberately allowing the guards to expose their plans and using their knowledge of the area for his own purposes.
• Chen Cheng reflects that he is not suited to the conventional heroic approach of forgiving enemies or winning them over; he prefers eliminating threats directly.
• Monkey appears cowardly and self-serving, first betraying his companions by revealing the cave and later attempting to save himself by kneeling before Chen Cheng. Despite his apparent surrender, he is killed by his own allies when they suspect him of betrayal.
• The guards are revealed to be habitual criminals who exploit travelers, drug women, and serve the interests of Count Siskek.

Significant Themes

• Greed and corruption: The guards’ greed overwhelms their fear and leads them to plot against Chen Cheng despite witnessing his power.
• Betrayal and self-preservation: The criminals quickly turn on Monkey when their scheme fails, showing that their alliances are based only on personal benefit.
• Justice versus mercy: Chen Cheng rejects the idea that every enemy should be forgiven or redeemed, deciding that some criminals deserve immediate punishment.
• Predator and prey: The guards believe Chen Cheng is an easy target, but their attempted ambush instead exposes their helplessness before someone far stronger.
• Strength and deception: Chen Cheng’s ability to conceal his true power allows him to manipulate the guards into revealing themselves before he strikes.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng maintains a calm, lightly teasing attitude toward the guards, while they pretend to be grateful and friendly.
• Monkey repeatedly acts as the group’s spokesman, guiding Chen Cheng to the cave and the honey pit, but becomes visibly terrified when Chen Cheng hints that he understands the deception.
• The guards cooperate in drugging Chen Cheng, then immediately accuse and murder Monkey when the drug fails.
• Chen Cheng watches Monkey’s death without intervening and then kills the remaining criminals, ending the group’s threat.

Chapter Summary: “New Uses for Divine Domain”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After defeating the group in the cave, Chen Cheng retrieves their pool of premium honey and camps nearby instead of leaving immediately.
• The next morning, he prepares breakfast and kills the alpha of a pack of Bloodrage Demon Wolves. He roasts the wolf with salt and honey while waiting for Count Siskek’s forces to arrive.
• Anthony, captain of the county’s knights, reaches the cave while pursuing the people responsible for his younger brother’s death. The tax chief, terrified, confirms Chen Cheng’s involvement.
• Anthony is enraged by his brother’s corpse and vows revenge, viewing Chen Cheng and the murdered guards as criminals and traitors.
• Chen Cheng casually tells Anthony that he eliminated the “ungrateful bastards” and advises him to surrender.
• Anthony attacks using his Domain Battle Aura. Chen Cheng effortlessly counters him with a wolf rib bone, targeting flaws in Anthony’s armor and disrupting his Battle Aura.
• Despite being injured, Anthony refuses to yield. He abandons his personal Battle Aura and draws directly on the power within his Domain.
• Chen Cheng responds by using his Divine Domain in a new way: he physically “tears” apart the surrounding space and Anthony’s Domain. The backlash severely injures Anthony, causes blood to pour from his orifices, and hurls him through several trees.
• Chen Cheng removes Anthony’s visor, carries him more than a hundred li away, and leaves him alive but incapacitated.
• Anthony’s soldiers arrive too late, find the battlefield and corpses, and begin searching for their missing commander.
• Chen Cheng explains that he deliberately restrained his attack. Anthony’s Domain will be unusable for several years, and his overall strength has been greatly reduced.
• The battle confirms that Chen Cheng’s Divine Domain can do more than suppress ordinary Domains: it can directly disrupt and destroy them, allowing him to cripple an Epic Rank opponent almost instantly.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Remains relaxed, confident, and irreverent, even while anticipating a powerful enemy. His casual cooking and joking contrast sharply with his overwhelming combat ability. He also demonstrates growing creativity in using his Divine Domain, moving beyond simple suppression to directly tearing apart another person’s Domain.
• Anthony: Introduced as a high-status knight with strong convictions and loyalty to his family. Although he recognizes that his brother was troublesome, his grief and sense of duty drive him to attack Chen Cheng. His refusal to surrender reveals his adherence to knightly ideals, but it ultimately leads to his severe defeat and loss of power.
• The tax chief: His earlier arrogance disappears completely. Frightened by Anthony, he abandons any pretense of authority and provides information without resistance.
• Anthony’s younger brother: Though already dead, he influences the chapter’s conflict. His repeated misconduct and exploitation of his position caused resentment, while Anthony’s protection of him indirectly makes Anthony an enemy of Chen Cheng.

Significant Themes

• Power and innovation: True strength comes not only from possessing superior power but from discovering new applications for it. Chen Cheng’s experimentation transforms Divine Domain from a defensive or suppressive ability into a weapon capable of dismantling another Domain.
• Justice versus loyalty: Anthony pursues Chen Cheng out of loyalty to his brother, but Chen Cheng regards the brother as a corrupt abuser who harmed ordinary people. The chapter questions whether familial loyalty can excuse protecting wrongdoing.
• Mercy and restraint: Chen Cheng defeats Anthony decisively but chooses not to kill him. His punishment is severe—temporary loss of Domain power and greatly reduced strength—yet deliberately limited.
• Composure versus rage: Chen Cheng remains calm and humorous throughout the confrontation, while Anthony’s grief and anger drive him into battle. Their contrasting mental states emphasize Chen Cheng’s control and superiority.
• Status versus actual ability: Anthony’s position as captain of knights and an Epic Rank fighter cannot protect him from Chen Cheng, who defeats him with improvised weapons and superior technique.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng interacts with the tax chief indirectly through Anthony’s interrogation, exposing the man’s fear and lack of courage.
• His conversation with Anthony begins mockingly: he presents himself as someone who has done Anthony a favor by killing the corrupt group. When Anthony refuses to surrender, Chen Cheng’s tone becomes cold and threatening.
• Anthony’s attacks reflect his loyalty and knightly principles, while Chen Cheng challenges those principles by arguing that the victims of Anthony’s brother also deserve justice.
• The final interaction shows Chen Cheng treating Anthony as a defeated but recoverable opponent rather than killing him, emphasizing both his dominance and his controlled mercy.

Chapter Summary: “Taming”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng forces the injured Anthony to change out of his armor and return his sword, warning him not to interfere in matters beyond his ability.
• Chen Cheng deliberately leaves a tracking mark beneath a tree, then hides with Anthony and waits for Anthony’s pursuers to arrive.
• When the pursuers appear, Chen Cheng brutally kills them while Anthony watches helplessly. He then confronts Anthony with the consequences of involving his subordinates in a conflict he could not control.
• Anthony breaks down while holding the bodies of his dead men. Chen Cheng uses the incident to destroy Anthony’s arrogance and instill fear and obedience in him.
• Chen Cheng keeps Anthony alive because Anthony’s strength, status, and knowledge of the Kingdom of Como make him a useful guide in unfamiliar territory.
• The pair travel for several dozen days toward the Como Royal Capital. Along the way, Anthony begins to suspect that Chen Cheng is the disciple of a hidden Legendary Rank expert and is pursuing the mysterious God Ascender.
• They reach the vicinity of Skywater and learn that the nearby Skywater River is inhabited by two dangerous Beast Emperors: an Alligator Dragon Emperor and a Scarlet Fish Emperor. Chen Cheng chooses to avoid traveling at night and instead stays at a nearby inn.
• At the inn, Chen Cheng learns that many travelers are heading toward the Royal Capital because the newly emerged God Ascender is expected to appear before the Grand Council.
• Chen Cheng rents two rooms and orders food and wine, quietly gathering information while maintaining control of the situation.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Demonstrates calculated brutality and psychological manipulation. Rather than simply killing Anthony, he breaks his pride and makes him fear the consequences of opposing him. He remains practical, using Anthony as a guide while concealing his own motives. He also shows caution by avoiding the territory of the two nighttime Beast Emperors.
• Anthony: Begins as an arrogant and authoritative knight who assumes his position and subordinates protect him. After witnessing Chen Cheng slaughter his men, he is forced into grief, helplessness, and submission. He becomes more cautious and obedient, suppressing his anger because he understands that Chen Cheng could easily kill him or endanger his lord.
• The inn attendant: Acts as a shrewd, evasive businessman, initially trying to substitute standard rooms for the unavailable superior rooms while promoting the inn’s quality. He ultimately reveals the important rumor about the God Ascender.

Significant Themes

• Power and fear as tools of control: Chen Cheng believes that overwhelming strength alone is not enough; Anthony must also fear for his own life and the life of his lord before he will obey.
• Consequences of reckless interference: Anthony’s subordinates die because he involved them in a conflict without possessing the strength to control it. Chen Cheng uses their deaths to make the lesson unforgettable.
• Pragmatism over morality: Chen Cheng’s actions are cruel, but he views them as necessary for survival and travel in an unfamiliar kingdom.
• Reputation and speculation: Because Chen Cheng reveals little about himself, Anthony and others construct theories about his identity, particularly the idea that he is connected to a hidden Legendary Rank expert.
• The vastness and danger of the wider world: The immense Kingdom of Como, its abundant resources, powerful Beast Emperors, and gathering god-seekers emphasize that Chen Cheng has entered a far more dangerous and developed region.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng dominates every interaction with Anthony, alternating between practical assistance—returning his sword and providing clothing—and intimidation.
• Anthony’s grief contrasts sharply with Chen Cheng’s detached, instructional attitude. Chen Cheng treats the destruction of Anthony’s group as a lesson rather than a tragedy.
• During the journey, Anthony serves as Chen Cheng’s guide and source of local knowledge, while Chen Cheng remains emotionally distant and lets Anthony speculate about his identity.
• At the inn, Chen Cheng uses a friendly but probing manner to pressure the attendant into revealing information, showing that his manipulation is not limited to combat situations.

Chapter Summary: “The Message Spreader, Shadow Guard”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Anthony and Chen Cheng stop at an inn in the Kingdom of Como, whose warm climate keeps the land covered in flowers despite it being winter.
• Anthony urges Chen Cheng to hurry, fearing that Chen Cheng intends to kill him once he has served his purpose as a guide. Chen Cheng responds cryptically, questioning why Anthony is eager to die despite the world’s beauty.
• Their meal is revealed to be a trap. An undercover agent in the neighboring room has drugged Chen Cheng’s wine cup with a specialized magical substance.
• Chen Cheng detects the drug, resists its effects, and incapacitates the spy by throwing a chopstick through his hand and into his forehead.
• The spy is exposed as a Shadow Guard and a Godseeker working for Lord Fisher Doge. His mission was to extract information from travelers and determine whether the Ascendant was truly heading to the Royal Capital.
• Chen Cheng threatens the spy with the drug, forcing him to confess. The substance weakens psychological resistance and induces hallucinations, functioning more effectively than a conventional truth serum.
• After eating and drinking calmly, Chen Cheng takes the spy away through the window. When he returns, he instructs Anthony to rest and prepare to continue traveling the next morning.
• Anthony cleans the blood from the room rather than fleeing, demonstrating his growing acceptance of Chen Cheng’s authority and protection.
• Alone, Chen Cheng reflects on the intelligence he obtained: the Kingdom of Como has deliberately spread rumors that the Ascendant will appear before the Grand Council, though the reason remains unclear.
• Chen Cheng concludes that the Church likely has not revealed his identity as the Ascendant, since identifying him as the True God would strengthen rather than weaken his authority as emperor.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng displays extreme composure, perceptiveness, and confidence. He immediately recognizes the drug, understands its general mechanism, and turns the Shadow Guard’s own interrogation tool against him.
• He continues to behave casually—even eating the poisoned meal and discussing chemistry—while maintaining complete control over the situation.
• Chen Cheng also shows strategic thinking, using the spy’s confession to assess the larger political situation surrounding the Ascendant.
• Anthony begins the chapter frightened and suspicious, aware that Chen Cheng may eventually kill him. However, he follows Chen Cheng’s commands, helps retrieve the captured spy, cleans the room afterward, and chooses not to escape.
• Anthony’s obedience suggests that he is becoming more loyal to or dependent on Chen Cheng, even though he remains wary of him.
• The Shadow Guard agent is professionally trained and initially conceals his identity, but Chen Cheng’s threat forces him to abandon his cover. His willingness to reveal his employer shows the overwhelming effectiveness of the drug and Chen Cheng’s intimidation.

Significant Themes

• Power and psychological control: Chen Cheng defeats the spy not through brute force alone but by understanding and manipulating the spy’s own methods.
• Appearance versus reality: The inn appears peaceful, and the food seems ordinary, but the meal conceals a carefully prepared assassination and interrogation attempt.
• Fear and loyalty: Anthony’s fear does not lead him to flee; instead, he gradually submits to Chen Cheng’s leadership.
• Political misinformation: The rumors surrounding the Ascendant are revealed to be deliberate propaganda or intelligence-gathering tactics, indicating a larger political game.
• Divinity and authority: Chen Cheng considers how being identified as the True God could reinforce his imperial power, linking religious belief with political legitimacy.
• Scientific reasoning in a magical world: Chen Cheng applies knowledge of alcohol, drugs, and neural effects to understand a magical medicine, highlighting his practical and analytical mindset.

Important Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Anthony: Chen Cheng teases and challenges Anthony’s fear of death, then commands him to retrieve the spy and continue eating rather than panic. Their relationship remains unequal but increasingly cooperative.
• Chen Cheng and the Shadow Guard: Their encounter is a battle of intelligence and nerve. Chen Cheng exposes the spy’s identity and coerces him into revealing his employer and mission.
• Anthony and the spy: Anthony physically drags the injured agent into the room, but ultimately leaves the interrogation to Chen Cheng.
• Chen Cheng and the political world: Through the spy’s confession, Chen Cheng confirms that Como is deliberately circulating information about the Ascendant, deepening the chapter’s political mystery.

Chapter Summary: “Subduing the Dragon”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng remains suspicious of the Kingdom of Como’s public announcement concerning the ascender, wondering why the kingdom would provoke a possible True God unless it possessed a way to defend itself.
• The next morning, Chen Cheng and Anthony leave the inn. After they depart, the innkeeper and waiter reveal themselves as members of an intelligence network. Although they consider eliminating the pair because the station has been exposed, they decide against it and instead order other stations to monitor them.
• Chen Cheng and Anthony reach the enormous Skywater River. Rather than crossing by land, Chen Cheng deliberately stirs up the riverbed, muddying the water and provoking the Crocodile Dragon Beast Emperor who lives beneath it.
• The beast emperor emerges and attacks Chen Cheng. Chen Cheng uses his water-based abilities, the Dragon Horn Sword, and his Set Armor—strengthened with Tribulation Divine Thunder—to withstand the attacks.
• The Crocodile Dragon Emperor attempts to restrain Chen Cheng with water and strike him with his tail, but the Set Armor shocks him. Chen Cheng then pierces the emperor’s tail and overwhelms him in close combat.
• As the battle devastates the river and terrifies the emperor’s aquatic followers, Chen Cheng repeatedly punches the beast until its skull is exposed. Realizing that resistance is futile, the Crocodile Dragon Emperor surrenders and begs for mercy.
• Chen Cheng’s intention is revealed to be subduing the powerful beast as a mount rather than killing it.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates calculated boldness: he intentionally provokes the Crocodile Dragon Emperor instead of taking a safer route across the river. Although he acts arrogantly, he remains highly alert and prepares his armor and sword before the battle.
• Chen Cheng’s combat ability is shown to be far beyond Anthony’s expectations. His strength, defenses, and mastery of divine abilities lead Anthony to suspect that Chen Cheng may himself be a Legendary Rank expert rather than merely someone serving one.
• Anthony shifts from following Chen Cheng with confidence to recognizing the enormous gap between their abilities. He spends most of the battle retreating to avoid the destructive aftermath.
• The Crocodile Dragon Emperor changes from a proud ruler offended by an intruder to a terrified combatant forced into submission. His recognition that Chen Cheng’s power may be Legendary Rank convinces him that surrender is his only chance to survive.
• The innkeeper and waiter are established as covert operatives who value maintaining their intelligence network over immediately eliminating possible threats.

Significant Themes

• Hidden power and uncertain identities: Anthony begins questioning Chen Cheng’s true status, while the chapter emphasizes that appearances and claimed ranks may conceal far greater strength.
• Calculated provocation: Chen Cheng deliberately creates a disturbance to force the beast emperor into revealing himself, turning an obstacle into an opportunity.
• Power and submission: The Crocodile Dragon Emperor’s pride collapses under overwhelming force, illustrating the chapter’s central movement from dominance to subjugation.
• Surveillance and secrecy: The inn scene introduces a broader network of spies and suggests that Chen Cheng and Anthony are being watched as they travel.
• Strength backed by preparation: Chen Cheng’s victory depends not only on raw power but also on his armor, divine abilities, swordsmanship, and tactical awareness.

Character Interactions

• The innkeeper and waiter privately discuss whether to kill Chen Cheng and Anthony, revealing their covert affiliation and cautious cooperation.
• Chen Cheng orders Anthony to prepare for the river crossing and uses a thread of his domain to keep him from being swept away.
• Chen Cheng warns Anthony to stay clear once the beast appears, treating him as someone who must be protected from the battle’s aftermath.
• The Crocodile Dragon Emperor confronts Chen Cheng with arrogance, but after being wounded and repeatedly beaten, he begs for mercy.
• Anthony observes the entire confrontation and gains a new, more fearful respect for Chen Cheng’s true strength.

Chapter Summary: “Dragon-Subduing Tale”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng defeats the Alligator Dragon Emperor by smashing through his skull and exposing the Origin Magic Crystal in his brain.
• Rather than killing him, Chen Cheng uses his own blood essence and a divine contract to force the emperor into a life-and-death master-servant bond.
• The emperor resists, but his soul is dragged into Chen Cheng’s terrifying Divine Kingdom, where he witnesses divine beasts, tormented ghosts, and an overwhelming figure whose gaze nearly destroys him. Chen Cheng uses healing laws to save him.
• After awakening in his water palace, the weakened Alligator Dragon Emperor realizes the experience was real and submits completely to Chen Cheng.
• Chen Cheng loots the water palace treasury, taking treasures gathered from the Skywater River and possessions stolen from travelers.
• He renames the emperor “Clown” and questions him about recent travelers and possible intelligence regarding powerful figures.
• Clown reveals information about another aquatic creature, Ahong, who captures travelers, implants eggs in them, and feeds their bodies to her offspring. Outraged, Chen Cheng decides to eliminate her as well.
• Before leaving, Chen Cheng destroys Clown’s water palace and kills the aquatic subordinates who had terrorized travelers. Clown leads him upstream toward Ahong’s territory.
• After their departure, corpses of the aquatic monsters float downstream. Local residents celebrate, while the Shadow Guards spread a false but useful story claiming that the mysterious God Ascender personally entered the river and subdued the Alligator Dragon Emperor.
• The disappearance of the Alligator Dragon Emperor, combined with the destruction of his forces and palace, attracts even more God Seekers searching for clues.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates overwhelming strength, ruthlessness, and strategic control. He chooses enslavement over immediate execution so he can extract information and use the emperor’s resources.
• He also shows a strong sense of moral disgust toward the aquatic creatures’ treatment of humans, particularly Ahong’s grotesque breeding practices.
• The Alligator Dragon Emperor changes from a feared river tyrant into a terrified and submissive servant. His near-death experience inside Chen Cheng’s Divine Kingdom permanently breaks his resistance.
• Renamed Clown, he becomes cautious, obedient, and eager to prove his usefulness, even volunteering information about Ahong.
• The Shadow Guards show their ability to manipulate public opinion by attributing the victory to the unseen God Ascender, strengthening his reputation and drawing more followers and investigators.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming power and submission: Chen Cheng’s strength is so great that even a powerful dragon emperor can only survive by accepting servitude.
• Justice and retribution: The death of the aquatic monsters brings relief and celebration to the communities they terrorized.
• Moral corruption and monstrosity: The aquatic creatures’ treatment of humans is portrayed as cruel and grotesque, making Chen Cheng’s violence appear as a form of punishment.
• Mythmaking and misinformation: The Shadow Guards deliberately reshape events into a heroic legend, demonstrating how rumors can influence public belief and political power.
• Fear as control: Chen Cheng’s terrifying Divine Kingdom and near-fatal gaze force Clown into obedience more effectively than physical defeat alone.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng forcibly binds the Alligator Dragon Emperor through a divine contract, then stabilizes his collapsing soul when the contract’s power overwhelms him.
• After Clown wakes, he formally addresses Chen Cheng as “Master,” while Chen Cheng mocks him, renames him, and warns him to atone for his past crimes.
• Clown provides information about travelers and directs Chen Cheng toward Ahong, though his casual description of her behavior disgusts Chen Cheng.
• Chen Cheng repeatedly kicks Clown for speaking crudely and for describing Ahong’s atrocities, reinforcing their unequal master-servant relationship.
• Chen Cheng destroys Clown’s water palace as a final warning, and Clown obediently guides him upstream toward the next target.

Chapter Summary: “Absolute Magic Array”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Clown, formerly the Alligator Dragon Emperor, leads Chen Cheng and Anthony north along the river into the Scarlet Fish Emperor’s territory.
• The region is unnaturally silent. When Clown calls for the Scarlet Fish Emperor, countless tiny fish suddenly swarm the group, forming an overwhelming living net.
• Clown and Chen Cheng attack the fish, but their numbers are seemingly endless. When Clown attempts to activate his domain, it collapses almost immediately.
• Chen Cheng realizes that the Scarlet Fish Emperor has activated an Absolute Magic Array, also known as a Magic-Ban Formation, turning the area into a Magic-Exclusion Land.
• The formation violently disrupts surrounding magic energy, preventing mages, warriors, and even Demigod-level beings from drawing on external power. It is an ancient Imperial technology once used to suppress powerful enemies.
• Chen Cheng’s Divine Domain is heavily weakened: its healing formation fails, and nearly eighty percent of its auxiliary abilities become ineffective. Nevertheless, its basic ability to perceive and extend vision remains functional.
• Using this limited perception, Chen Cheng locates the Scarlet Fish Emperor hiding dozens of li away among large aquatic creatures.
• Chen Cheng orders Clown to attack in that direction. Clown obeys and begins cutting through the mass of fish, carrying Chen Cheng and Anthony toward the Scarlet Fish Emperor.
• The Scarlet Fish Emperor realizes that Chen Cheng can track her despite the formation. She attempts to relocate, but Clown continually adjusts his course and follows her.
• Believing that Clown has discovered her location through spies, she kills several aquatic creatures that flee to her for protection.
• The Scarlet Fish Emperor remains confident that Clown has already been weakened by the battle and that her numerous aquatic allies can eventually exhaust him. She also dismisses the supposed strength of Chen Cheng, unaware of his true capabilities.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates composure and strategic intelligence under extreme pressure. Although the Absolute Magic Array suppresses most of his Divine Domain, he identifies its limitations and uses its remaining perception ability to locate the hidden enemy.
• Clown proves highly destructive and obedient. He fights through the endless fish swarm with his body and jaws, but the prolonged battle begins draining his strength.
• Anthony is shown to understand the danger of the Magic-Exclusion Land and reacts with fear, emphasizing the seriousness of the formation.
• The Scarlet Fish Emperor reveals herself as cautious, deceptive, and willing to sacrifice lesser creatures. However, her confidence causes her to underestimate Chen Cheng and misinterpret how he is tracking her.

Significant Themes

• Ancient technological power: The Absolute Magic Array illustrates the extraordinary magical achievements of the fallen Empire and shows that technology, rather than divine power, can even hinder gods.
• Strategy over brute force: The Scarlet Fish Emperor relies on attrition and deception, while Chen Cheng counters her by exploiting the surviving functions of his Divine Domain.
• Overconfidence and miscalculation: The Scarlet Fish Emperor assumes that Clown is fighting alone and that Chen Cheng is insignificant, setting up a likely reversal.
• Power under restriction: The chapter explores how powerful beings respond when their normal abilities are suppressed and emphasizes adaptability as a form of strength.
• Betrayal and expendability: The Scarlet Fish Emperor treats the surrounding aquatic creatures and fish as disposable tools, even killing potential allies when she suspects them of revealing her position.

Character Interactions

• Clown addresses the hidden Scarlet Fish Emperor familiarly, but Chen Cheng reacts with irritation at his reckless behavior.
• Chen Cheng reassures Clown and Anthony when the formation traps them, taking command of the situation.
• Chen Cheng directs Clown toward the Scarlet Fish Emperor’s position; because Clown is Chen Cheng’s beast slave, he obeys without question.
• The Scarlet Fish Emperor attempts to evade Clown and uses the fish swarm and aquatic creatures to exhaust him, while Chen Cheng’s tracking ability steadily undermines her plan.

Chapter Summary: “The Fish Emperor Descends from Within the Belly”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Scarlet Fish Emperor orders the aquatic tribes to attack Clown, promising them everything except the Origin Magic Crystal. Since the Absolute Magic Array suppresses magic, she believes Clown will be overwhelmed by numbers.
• A smaller crocodile rushes toward Clown, hoping to devour his flesh and use its power to ascend to the Beast Emperor realm. Clown kills him instantly by biting him in half.
• The aquatic creatures regain their courage when a giant black carp urges them to attack together. However, Clown unexpectedly turns and flees, luring the horde away from the Scarlet Fish Emperor.
• After the others leave, the Scarlet Fish Emperor swallows part of the dead crocodile’s body. She then begins suffering severe pain in her abdomen and rushes back to her underwater palace, where the Absolute Magic Array’s control core is located.
• Before she can deactivate the array, her belly tears open from within. Chen Cheng emerges, accompanied by Anthony and half of a crocodile’s body. He reveals that he and his companions hid beneath the Fish Array by subtly influencing the perceptions of its low-level fish through his Divine Domain.
• Chen Cheng gives Anthony the Dragon Horn Sword and orders him to guard the Scarlet Fish Emperor while he examines the array.
• Anthony briefly considers betraying Chen Cheng and killing him for revenge and personal gain. The Scarlet Fish Emperor attempts to exploit his greed and influence him into attacking.
• Chen Cheng detects the scheme immediately and strikes the Scarlet Fish Emperor, warning Anthony to use the sword if she makes another move. Anthony is shaken into obedience.
• Chen Cheng studies the Absolute Magic Array and tries to manipulate its core, but the array behaves like a magic-energy black hole, devouring and tearing apart the energy he gathers. A powerful magic-energy storm forms, making his task far more difficult.

Character Developments

• Clown demonstrates his physical dominance and tactical intelligence. Rather than fight the entire aquatic horde directly, he kills one attacker to establish his strength, then retreats to draw the enemies away and create an opening for Chen Cheng.
• The Scarlet Fish Emperor shifts from confident aggressor to desperate victim. Her pride and hunger lead her to swallow the bait—literally—and she becomes vulnerable to Chen Cheng’s ambush. Her attempt to manipulate Anthony also fails.
• Chen Cheng displays ingenuity, confidence, and exceptional awareness. He uses his Divine Domain to infiltrate the Fish Array, emerges from inside the Fish Emperor, detects her manipulation, and immediately understands the array’s weaknesses.
• Anthony experiences a dangerous moral and emotional crisis. Grief, greed, and envy tempt him to betray Chen Cheng, but Chen Cheng’s warning exposes his thoughts and forces him back into submission.
• The aquatic tribes are portrayed as opportunistic and easily manipulated, motivated primarily by the chance to consume a Beast Emperor and gain power.

Significant Themes

• Greed and predation: The aquatic creatures’ desire to consume Clown leads them into danger, while the Fish Emperor’s own indiscriminate hunger causes her downfall.
• Intelligence over brute strength: Clown and Chen Cheng succeed through deception, timing, and manipulation rather than relying only on force.
• Betrayal and temptation: Anthony’s near-betrayal shows how power and revenge can corrupt loyalty, while the Fish Emperor attempts to turn his weaknesses against him.
• The danger of arrogance: The Fish Emperor assumes her array makes her untouchable, but Chen Cheng exploits its limitations and turns her own power structure against her.
• Power and control: The Absolute Magic Array suppresses magic yet contains hidden flaws, emphasizing that even seemingly absolute systems can be studied and overcome.

Important Character Interactions

• The Scarlet Fish Emperor commands the aquatic tribes to attack Clown, treating them as expendable weapons.
• Clown confronts and kills the ambitious crocodile, then manipulates the pursuing horde by fleeing.
• Chen Cheng emerges from the Fish Emperor’s body and mocks her for swallowing him and his companions.
• Chen Cheng entrusts Anthony with the Dragon Horn Sword and the task of guarding their defeated enemy.
• The Scarlet Fish Emperor tries to influence Anthony into killing Chen Cheng, but Chen Cheng notices and stops the attempt with a powerful palm strike.
• Anthony’s moment of betrayal creates tension between him and Chen Cheng, though Anthony ultimately submits and watches the Fish Emperor as ordered.

Summary

Plot points and events

Chen Cheng studies the Absolute Magic Array and realizes it interferes directly with magic energy, much like electromagnetic warfare disrupts electronic systems. He tests his theory by manipulating the array’s chaotic energy without using formal magic runes, successfully creating flames, lightning, ice, and water. However, the process injures his hands because the magic energy alters his flesh directly. He also discovers that the array can suppress Divine Power, despite Divine Power being fundamentally different and normally superior to magic energy. Chen Cheng speculates that studying this phenomenon might eventually lead to a God-level civilization, but he puts those ambitions aside to deal with the Scarlet Fish Emperor and continue his plans to reach the Como Royal Capital, contact Samlet and the Adventurer’s Guild, and rescue She Li and the others.

Confrontation with the Scarlet Fish Emperor

When the Scarlet Fish Emperor attempts to escape, Anthony pins her down with his sword. Chen Cheng condemns her for capturing and torturing humans, forcing them to incubate her offspring before using them as nourishment. She attempts to save herself by blaming the Alligator Dragon Emperor, offering to become Chen Cheng’s beast slave, and transforming into human form to seduce him. Because her body is severely wounded, the transformation only makes her appear grotesque, and Chen Cheng mocks and kicks her rather than being persuaded. He recognizes that her power and background likely connect her to the Kingdom of Como and possibly a powerful figure known as the Dragon Venerable.

Character developments

Chen Cheng demonstrates his intelligence, adaptability, and willingness to experiment under dangerous conditions. His discoveries deepen his understanding of the distinction between magic energy and magic runes and hint at future advances in his research. At the same time, his attitude toward the Scarlet Fish Emperor becomes intensely vengeful, reflecting his anger at her treatment of humans. The Scarlet Fish Emperor is shown to be ruthless but cowardly when threatened, abandoning pride and resorting to betrayal, pleading, and seduction to survive. Anthony remains vigilant and obedient, immediately stopping her escape.

Themes and character interactions

The chapter emphasizes scientific curiosity, experimentation, and the possibility of transcending existing magical knowledge. It also explores the relationship between magic, matter, Divine Power, and technological-style interference. A major contrasting theme is justice versus self-preservation: the Scarlet Fish Emperor treats victims as expendable resources, while Chen Cheng forces her to experience the fear and helplessness she inflicted on others. Their interaction is marked by Chen Cheng’s contempt and deliberate psychological intimidation. When she finally invokes the Dragon Venerable’s protection, she inadvertently reveals political connections that may become important later. Chen Cheng ultimately attacks her with the Dragon Horn Sword, impaling her head; her enormous body continues thrashing and breaks through the hall wall as the chapter ends.

Chapter Summary: “Mithril Cube”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the Scarlet Fish Emperor flees, Chen Cheng stops Anthony from pursuing her and instead focuses on removing the enormous Mithril foundation beneath the underwater Royal Palace.
• Chen Cheng discovers that the foundation is a massive block of Mithril containing the core of an intact Absolute Magic Array. He realizes the array was likely left in place because removing its core would disable the rest of the formation.
• Chen Cheng initially tries to move the Mithril himself but cannot shift it. Clown soon returns with the captured Scarlet Fish Emperor, who is still struggling.
• Chen Cheng removes the Dragon Horn Sword from her head, extracts her Origin Magic Crystal, and takes the Blue Fish Stone from her throat. He gives the remainder of her body to Clown, since every part of a Beast Emperor is valuable as food or crafting material.
• Chen Cheng orders Clown to help remove the Mithril. Clown first attempts to carry it but discovers that the block is far too large and deeply buried.
• The object is revealed to be a gigantic Mithril cube approximately 120 meters in every dimension. Chen Cheng changes his plan and has Clown pry up one corner so the cube can be stored in his spatial ring.
• Clown expands into his enormous true form and lifts the cube, causing the palace ruins and the surrounding Royal Capital to shake violently.
• Removing the Mithril core destroys the Absolute Magic Array and destabilizes the river’s magical energy. Chen Cheng quickly stores the cube, then escapes with Anthony on Clown’s back.
• The river section erupts behind them, and the resulting waves badly injure Clown as he struggles to carry them to safety.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates his opportunism and strategic thinking. He recognizes the value of both the Mithril and the Absolute Magic Array, but adapts quickly when the cube proves impossible to lift directly.
• Anthony remains largely supportive, assisting Chen Cheng and withdrawing when the dangerous extraction begins.
• Clown shows both immense power and comic reluctance. Although he is capable of expanding to several thousand meters, he is alarmed by the demand that he carry the impossibly heavy Mithril cube. His fear of Chen Cheng’s displeasure ultimately forces him to comply.
• The Scarlet Fish Emperor is defeated, captured, and stripped of her most valuable possessions. Her remains become resources for Chen Cheng and Clown rather than a continuing threat.

Significant Themes

• Greed and resource exploitation: The Mithril foundation, the Absolute Magic Array, and the Beast Emperor’s body are all treated as extraordinary treasures to be claimed and repurposed.
• Power and practicality: Even immense strength is insufficient against the cube’s weight, requiring Chen Cheng and Clown to use ingenuity rather than brute force alone.
• The danger of disrupting ancient power: Removing the array’s core unleashes chaotic magical energy and destroys the underwater ruins, emphasizing the risks of tampering with powerful relics.
• Master-servant dynamics and dark humor: Chen Cheng casually assigns an absurdly dangerous task to Clown, while Clown’s exaggerated reluctance provides comic relief amid the destruction.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng prevents Anthony from chasing the Scarlet Fish Emperor, prioritizing the Mithril foundation.
• Clown returns with the defeated emperor and is praised for capturing her, but Chen Cheng immediately assigns him another difficult task.
• Chen Cheng rewards Clown with the emperor’s body, then abruptly orders him to move the Mithril cube, causing Clown’s excitement to turn into dread.
• Clown obeys after Chen Cheng intimidates him, and the three cooperate during the extraction and escape.
• Their escape highlights the group’s dependence on Clown’s enormous physical power, despite the severe injuries he suffers while protecting them.

Chapter Summary: “Pursuit from Behind”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Clown escapes the explosion with Chen Cheng and Anthony, traveling over a thousand li before stopping because his wounds begin reopening.
• Chen Cheng uses his healing divine ability to treat Clown, restoring both his physical injuries and the damaged innate bloodline magic caused by the explosion.
• Concerned that the explosion will attract forces from the Kingdom of Como, Chen Cheng orders Clown to resume their journey toward the central province.
• A thirty-six-member squad of Epic Rank experts arrives at the explosion site, intending to kill the Alligator Dragon Emperor and recover the Mithril cube containing the Absolute Magic Array.
• The pursuers discover that Clown’s wounds were healed and use specialized divine abilities to track his movements through the Skywater River.
• Unable to catch Clown in the water, the pursuers decide to intercept the group at the Jin Water entrance, where the river leads into the central province. Eleven members split off to establish the interception.
• Meanwhile, Clown carries Chen Cheng and Anthony more than ten thousand li upstream in only two days, far faster than ordinary travel.
• Anthony assumes they may soon be safe, but Chen Cheng warns him not to relax. He realizes that the Absolute Magic Array must have been secretly guarded by powerful experts, likely including at least one Legendary Rank figure.
• Chen Cheng concludes that the guards were delayed by the Magic-Ban Formation, explaining why they did not immediately intervene or pursue the group.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates compassion and responsibility by spending his limited Divine Power to heal Clown, despite having already lost his qualification and needing to conserve his remaining strength.
• He also shows increasing strategic awareness. After reflecting during the two-day journey, he correctly infers that the Kingdom of Como must have secretly stationed powerful guards near the Absolute Magic Array.
• Clown proves his loyalty and usefulness by carrying the others at tremendous speed, enduring serious injuries, and immediately resuming his duty once healed.
• Anthony remains anxious and passive, hoping that accompanying Chen Cheng will prevent Chen Cheng from seeking revenge against his lord after Anthony’s eventual death. His relief at nearing the central province reveals how fearful and dependent he has become.
• The pursuing experts are shown to be highly coordinated and equipped with unusual tracking abilities, making them a serious threat despite being unable to match Clown’s speed in the river.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and mutual obligation: Clown risks himself to save Chen Cheng, and Chen Cheng repays that loyalty by using his scarce healing power to restore him.
• Strategic thinking and foresight: Chen Cheng’s understanding of the hidden guards and the likely response of the Kingdom of Como highlights the importance of anticipating an enemy’s preparations.
• Pursuit and escape: The chapter shifts from immediate survival after the explosion to a larger chase, with the pursuers adapting their strategy by attempting to intercept rather than directly follow.
• Hidden power structures: The Absolute Magic Array is too important to be entrusted solely to the Scarlet Fish Emperor, revealing the Kingdom of Como’s distrust and extensive secret precautions.
• Limited resources: Chen Cheng’s dwindling Divine Power forces him to balance compassion with conservation, adding urgency to every use of his abilities.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng gives Clown instructions, heals him, and encourages him to continue the journey, establishing their master-servant relationship as cooperative and trusting.
• Clown repeatedly thanks Chen Cheng and willingly resumes carrying him and Anthony, reinforcing his devotion.
• Anthony’s visible relief is noticed by Chen Cheng, who responds with a warning rather than reassurance, emphasizing Chen Cheng’s caution.
• Within the pursuing squad, the nose-sensitive tracker identifies the area where Clown stopped, while the hemp-stalk man uses golden vision to locate his trail. The bearded pursuer pushes the group toward a practical interception strategy.
• The pursuit team’s cooperation contrasts with Chen Cheng’s group, who remain unaware of the danger behind them as they race toward the central province.

Summary: “Ambush at Jin River Mouth”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng predicts an ambush at the Jin River Mouth while traveling with Anthony on the Clown.
• An enemy force of twelve men, led by a bearded formation master, hides in the void and prepares a combined divine attack.
• Chen Cheng orders the Clown to keep moving and tells him to ignore the attackers, intending to handle the ambush himself.
• The attackers combine their abilities into enormous manifested arms and strike the travelers. The Clown and Anthony are overwhelmed by fear, but Chen Cheng confronts the attack directly.
• Chen Cheng merges with his True God Avatar and blocks the strike with a punch. The clash creates a massive shockwave that disrupts the river for a hundred li.
• He realizes the enemies are using Divine Power through a formation. Individually they are only around Epic Rank, but together they can produce an attack comparable to a weaker Legendary Rank expert.
• Knowing they have limited uses of Divine Power and that reinforcements are approaching, Chen Cheng quickly targets the bearded man, who is controlling the formation.
• He uses his Tiger Form Heaven-Rending Claw, strengthened by his True God Avatar and Domain, to seize and tear apart the manifested divine arms.
• Chen Cheng then suppresses the formation’s Divine Power and defeats the bearded man and his companions, who suffer severe backlash.
• When twenty-four more pursuers led by a lanky man arrive, Chen Cheng discovers that his Divine Kingdom can absorb the severed Divine Power. He eagerly attacks the new group to replenish his strength.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng becomes increasingly furious over the dangers faced by his family and companions, recognizing that their suffering is caused by selfish political ambition rather than merely his ancestors’ failures.
• His anger also strengthens his determination to confront those responsible and protect his allies.
• Chen Cheng demonstrates growing confidence in his combat abilities, using the ambush to test his Tiger Form Heaven-Rending Claw and study Divine Power.
• Anthony remains deeply loyal to Count Siskek, even while traveling with Chen Cheng. He fears that revealing his identity as Siskek’s knight captain could bring harm to his lord.
• Anthony is also shown to be nearly paralyzed by the enemies’ overwhelming attack, emphasizing the gap between ordinary fighters and Divine Power users.
• The Clown is frightened by the ambush but is able to continue moving because Chen Cheng’s True God Will protects his consciousness. He begins to understand why Chen Cheng ordered him to flee rather than fight.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty versus political injustice: Anthony’s devotion to Siskek contrasts with Chen Cheng’s condemnation of a feudal system in which ordinary subjects have little power to oppose unjust rulers.
• Rage transformed into purpose: Chen Cheng’s concern for his missing companions turns his former detachment into fierce resolve and vengeance.
• Power through cooperation: The enemy formation allows relatively weak individuals to combine their strength into a Legendary-level attack.
• Adaptation and experimentation: Chen Cheng treats the battle as an opportunity to test new techniques and understand Divine Power.
• Predation and survival: By absorbing the enemies’ Divine Power, Chen Cheng turns the ambush against his pursuers and adopts an increasingly ruthless, villain-like attitude.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng mocks Anthony for worrying about Siskek even during a life-threatening crisis, while Anthony silently acknowledges the truth in Chen Cheng’s criticism.
• Chen Cheng orders and protects the Clown, relying on him to escape the battle’s destructive aftershocks.
• The bearded leader and his twelve-man formation launch a coordinated attack against Chen Cheng’s group, but Chen Cheng identifies and targets the leader as the formation’s key weakness.
• After defeating the first group, Chen Cheng confronts the approaching twenty-four pursuers with a predatory confidence, intending to use their Divine Power to restore his own strength.

Chapter Summary: “Apprehension”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng confronts the skinny man and his allies, who combine their divine abilities into an armless human-rod avatar. Despite lacking arms, the avatar’s snort powerfully attacks Chen Cheng’s Divine Soul.
• Chen Cheng counters with a version of the Heng-Ha Twin Energies, shouting “Heng! Ha!” His cry devastates the surrounding aquatic life and severely rattles the enemies’ Divine Souls.
• The group enlarges its avatar and attempts to crush Chen Cheng, but Chen Cheng expands his own avatar, punches through its foot, and drives the entire construct into the Skywater River.
• The skinny man and several allies are thrown into the river, where their injuries leave them unable to survive. Chen Cheng then pulls out and consumes the enemy avatar, further crippling or killing its creators.
• Chen Cheng withdraws his avatar and pursues Clown. Instead of the expected experts from the Kingdom of Como, Blaze, the Church’s Eastern Divine Envoy, arrives at the battlefield.
• Blaze examines the aftermath, collects a strand of sound waves, restores calm to the river, and investigates the dead men’s remaining Divine Power. He traces it toward the Royal Capital, but the connection is suddenly severed.
• Furious, Blaze destroys the corpses and moves toward the location indicated by the residual power.
• Elsewhere, Shadow Guard Commander Smog receives visions of his subordinates’ deaths. His mask cracks and shatters, revealing another faceless mask beneath it that reshapes itself into an expression of fury.
• Smog is summoned by the king. After he leaves, Mekas attempts to recover the mask fragments, but Holmes intercepts her, warns her to avoid certain matters, and takes the fragments for himself.

2. Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates major growth in spiritual and divine combat. By adapting the Heng-Ha Twin Energies Breathing Method, he can directly attack and nearly scatter his enemies’ Divine Souls.
• His confidence and playfulness become more evident: he jokes about being “a nail” and treats the enemy avatar like a ginseng root before swallowing it.
• Blaze is shown to be highly perceptive and powerful. He can manipulate sound waves, erase the signs of battle, extract Divine Power, and trace its source, but his frustration reveals that someone is deliberately concealing information.
• Smog suffers a serious setback. The loss of the Divine Power invested in his subordinates and the destruction of his mask provoke intense anger, suggesting he may seek retaliation.
• Mekas displays curiosity and possible ulterior motives by trying to obtain the shattered mask fragments, though she hides her intentions when questioned.
• Holmes acts cautiously but decisively, taking control of the fragments and warning Mekas not to interfere in dangerous affairs.

3. Significant Themes

• Spiritual power and vulnerability: The battle emphasizes that Divine Souls can be attacked directly, making spiritual resistance as important as physical strength.
• Escalation and adaptation: Both sides enlarge and transform their avatars, but Chen Cheng’s ability to adapt traditional techniques gives him the decisive advantage.
• Hidden conspiracies and investigation: Blaze’s tracing of the residual Divine Power, the severed connection, and the damaged masks suggest deeper political or religious manipulation.
• Power and destruction: The battle annihilates both combatants and the surrounding ecosystem, illustrating the overwhelming consequences of divine conflict.
• Masks and concealed identities: Smog’s broken mask and the faceless mask beneath it reinforce the chapter’s focus on hidden selves, secret organizations, and concealed motives.

4. Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng directly clashes with the skinny man’s group, overpowering their combined avatar and killing or crippling them.
• Blaze investigates the same battlefield after Chen Cheng leaves, indirectly following the traces of his power and linking the incident to the Royal Capital.
• Smog receives the deaths of his subordinates through a supernatural vision and is summoned by the king, connecting the battle to the wider political structure.
• Mekas and Holmes argue over the shattered mask fragments. Mekas tries to keep them, while Holmes takes them and warns her to remain uninvolved, creating tension and suspicion between them.

Chapter Summary: “Brothers”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Holmes leaves Mekas, both reflect on the mysterious mask fragment. Holmes suspects Captain Smog may already be investigating Mekas, while Mekas dismisses Holmes as meddlesome. Holmes destroys the living fragment, hoping to eliminate the evil connected to it.
• Smog reports to the ruler of the great hall, who initially appears to be indulging in extravagant pleasures. The illusion disappears, revealing a young man who closely resembles Chen Cheng.
• The young ruler reveals that Chen Cheng is his elder brother and warns Smog that Chen Cheng intends to settle old scores. He recalls that Smog previously colluded with the Church and caused Chen Cheng to lose an important qualification.
• After Smog leaves, the young ruler coughs up golden blood and begins calculating through strange data-like visions. He concludes that the “second-stage cleansing plan” must begin, suggesting a larger hidden scheme.
• As the Grand Council approaches, Como’s capital becomes crowded with foreign delegations and trade exhibitions. The event generates enormous wealth for the Kingdom of Como and strengthens its political importance.
• The Hazy Kingdom, a strategically located trade and transportation hub, is placed in a precarious position after rumors spread that Chen Cheng impersonated one of its people and caused the fall of the Northern Frontier.
• Seeking forgiveness from the five great kingdoms, the Hazy King and Crown Prince Sean personally lead a delegation to the Grand Council. Their journey is made humiliating by repeated inspections along Jin Water.
• Chen Cheng secretly boards the Hazy Kingdom’s fleet. When Sean prepares to confront another checkpoint, Chen Cheng ambushes him, seizes him by the throat, and drags him into a cabin without being detected.

Character Developments

• Holmes becomes increasingly wary of Mekas and the supernatural mask fragment. His destruction of it shows both caution and hostility toward the evil it represents.
• Mekas remains cold, dismissive, and secretive, reacting angrily to Holmes’s investigation.
• Smog is shown to be cautious and submissive before the young ruler, but he becomes visibly angry after being reminded of his past conflict with Chen Cheng.
• The younger ruler resembling Chen Cheng emerges as a powerful, calculating figure. Though he presents himself casually, his control over illusions, ability to conceal his injuries, and mysterious “cleansing plan” reveal a dangerous agenda.
• Chen Cheng acts decisively and covertly. His infiltration of the Hazy fleet and capture of Crown Prince Sean demonstrate his continued willingness to exploit political turmoil and confront those connected to his past.
• Sean is portrayed as frustrated by the Hazy Kingdom’s humiliation, but he is quickly overwhelmed by Chen Cheng before he can act.

Significant Themes

• Family and rivalry: The relationship between Chen Cheng and his younger brother is central. Their resemblance suggests a deep connection, but the brothers appear to be pursuing separate and possibly conflicting agendas.
• Political manipulation: Kingdoms and factions use rumors, apologies, trade, and fear to protect their interests, while powerful individuals operate behind official institutions.
• Illusion versus reality: The ruler’s false scene of pleasure, the living mask fragment, and hidden identities emphasize how difficult it is to distinguish truth from deception.
• Power and vulnerability: Even rulers and powerful organizations are exposed when confronted by stronger forces. The Hazy Kingdom’s diplomatic status cannot protect Sean from Chen Cheng’s sudden attack.
• Cleansing and hidden plans: The younger ruler’s reference to a second-stage cleansing implies an expanding threat and suggests that the political events surrounding the Grand Council may be part of a much larger operation.

Character Interactions

• Holmes and Mekas interact indirectly through suspicion and the mask fragment, with neither trusting the other.
• Smog’s audience with Chen Cheng’s younger brother reveals an antagonistic relationship rooted in past betrayal and political conflict.
• The younger brother taunts Smog by predicting Chen Cheng’s revenge, placing pressure on him and his allies.
• Chen Cheng’s encounter with Sean is entirely one-sided: he silently captures the Crown Prince, turning the Hazy Kingdom’s diplomatic mission into a potential hostage crisis.

Chapter Summary: “Heartbeat”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng infiltrates the Hazy Kingdom’s tower ship, intending to steal an identity so he can enter the city unnoticed.
• He abducts Crown Prince Sean, whose appearance and build closely resemble his own, intending to impersonate him.
• When Sean’s father, the King of the Hazy Kingdom, comes to check on him, Chen Cheng knocks out both royals.
• Chen Cheng carries them underwater and hands them over to Clown, instructing him to keep them alive.
• Chen Cheng recruits Anthony to impersonate the king while he takes Sean’s identity. Anthony is forced to participate because he is already aboard the pirate ship and cannot escape.
• Using his Face-Changing Technique, Chen Cheng reshapes Anthony’s face to perfectly match the Hazy King’s appearance.
• Chen Cheng then restores and alters his own face until he becomes indistinguishable from Sean.
• The disguises are tested when guards notice the unusual formality between the supposed king and crown prince. Chen Cheng quickly improvises an explanation, and Anthony supports the performance with convincing fatherly behavior.
• After returning to the ship, Anthony decides to claim illness and exhaustion so that future matters will be handled primarily by the “crown prince,” reducing the pressure on him to maintain the king’s identity.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Demonstrates his skill at infiltration, disguise, improvisation, and psychological manipulation. His Face-Changing Technique is revealed to be physically transformative rather than an illusion. It is also disclosed that he is actually His Imperial Majesty, whose identity has been concealed through repeated appearance changes.
• Anthony: Initially terrified by the danger of impersonating a king, he gradually adapts and shows practical intelligence. He successfully plays the role when questioned by the guards and cleverly uses illness as an excuse to avoid future scrutiny.
• Sean and his father: They are reduced to unconscious captives, serving as the identities Chen Cheng and Anthony will imitate.
• Clown: Receives responsibility for guarding the kidnapped royals, though he is confused by the sudden arrival of two important prisoners.

Significant Themes

• Identity and deception: The chapter centers on the fragile boundary between a person’s true identity and the appearance others recognize. Chen Cheng can literally reshape his face, making identity a tool for infiltration.
• Improvisation under pressure: Small mistakes in speech, body language, and family behavior could expose the disguises, forcing Chen Cheng and Anthony to react quickly.
• Power and danger: Impersonating royalty is treated as an unforgivable crime, emphasizing the risks of the plan.
• Trust and coercion: Anthony does not willingly accept the role but is forced into cooperation, revealing the unequal power dynamic between him and Chen Cheng.
• Hidden identity: The revelation that Chen Cheng is actually His Imperial Majesty adds greater significance to his disguise and suggests that his past concealment is part of a larger political strategy.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng threatens and interrogates Sean while trying to obtain enough information to imitate him.
• Chen Cheng forcibly recruits Anthony and transforms his face, while Anthony reacts with fear and suspicion about Chen Cheng’s true appearance.
• Chen Cheng and Anthony rehearse their supposed father-son relationship before the guards, briefly overacting with excessive formality.
• Chen Cheng repairs the mistake by pretending to reassure an angry father, while Anthony responds with a convincing paternal gesture.
• Afterward, Anthony privately acknowledges the danger of the deception and takes control of his situation by arranging to “fall ill,” leaving Chen Cheng’s impersonated crown prince to manage future affairs.

Summary of “City Entry Trifles”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng orders everyone in his party to behave normally while traveling and instructs them to claim that the Hazy Kingdom’s king is ill if visitors request an audience. Once in the Como Royal Capital, Chen plans to seek the Como prince’s help in mediating the kingdom’s crisis.
• The Hazy Kingdom continues to face inspections and suspicion despite having done nothing wrong. Their status as a kingdom prevents officials from conducting outright searches, allowing the journey to proceed relatively smoothly.
• Anthony, whose illness was originally fabricated as part of their plan, becomes genuinely sick from fear and pressure. Chen Cheng visits him but stops interfering, viewing his illness as a consequence of being forced into the scheme.
• After reaching Jinshui Ferry, the party travels by carriage toward the Como Royal Capital. Numerous royal delegations from other kingdoms arrive along the same road in highly advanced, luxurious vehicles.
• The Hazy Kingdom’s carriage, equipped with superior technology and Cloud-Cleaving Horses, unintentionally sparks a carriage race among the visiting kingdoms. Although their coachman could likely win, Chen orders him to slow down to avoid drawing unwanted attention.
• The Moye Kingdom’s Crown Prince wins the race and offers Chen Cheng medical assistance for the allegedly ill king. Chen politely refuses and congratulates him.
• The Moye Crown Prince discreetly warns Chen Cheng that a man named Sam has recently become prominent in the Como capital and is closely associated with Como’s Sixth Prince.
• The delegations enter the enormous Como Royal Capital, with the winning Moye carriage leading the procession. At the official inn, the Sixth Prince personally receives the visiting representatives.
• Because Anthony continues to claim illness, Chen Cheng handles the formal greetings and conversations himself, working until midnight. During this time, he gathers information about Sam and concludes that Sam is actually Samlet, who has boldly been using his real name while gaining fame and advancing rapidly in cultivation.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng remains calm, strategic, and adaptable. He manages the political crisis carefully, balancing the need to protect the Hazy Kingdom with the danger of attracting attention. He also adjusts to his luxurious treatment and uses social interactions to collect intelligence.
• Anthony becomes increasingly overwhelmed by fear and guilt. His feigned illness turns real, showing how intensely the political situation and Chen Cheng’s plans have strained him.
• The Moye Crown Prince is presented as courteous, sportsmanlike, and sympathetic. He congratulates others after winning the race and offers Chen Cheng a useful warning without exploiting the Hazy Kingdom’s difficulties.
• Samlet/Sam is revealed to be acting boldly under his real name. His growing reputation and closeness to Como’s Sixth Prince suggest that he has established significant influence in the capital.
• The Hazy Kingdom’s coachman and entourage demonstrate loyalty and pride in their kingdom’s technology, though they ultimately obey Chen Cheng’s more cautious political strategy.

Significant Themes

• Political suspicion and scapegoating: The Hazy Kingdom is forced to apologize and seek mediation despite being innocent, illustrating the injustice of being blamed for a larger conflict.
• Diplomacy and strategic restraint: Chen Cheng repeatedly suppresses displays of strength—such as deliberately losing the carriage race—to avoid worsening the kingdom’s precarious position.
• Appearance versus reality: Anthony’s false illness becomes genuine, the king’s condition is used as a political disguise, and Samlet conceals his identity in plain sight by openly using his real name.
• Technological and national pride: The carriage race serves as both entertainment and an indirect competition between kingdoms, showcasing each nation’s inventions, wealth, and prestige.
• Information as power: Chen Cheng treats casual conversations and official ceremonies as opportunities to investigate Sam and understand the political landscape of the Como capital.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng instructs his attendants and entourage on how to maintain the appearance of normal travel and conceal the king’s condition.
• He visits Anthony after hearing of his illness, but their relationship remains shaped by Chen’s coercion and Anthony’s anxiety.
• During the carriage race, Chen argues with the coachman over whether to pursue victory, ultimately prioritizing political caution over prestige.
• Chen exchanges polite words with the Moye Crown Prince, who offers medical help and then privately provides valuable information about Sam.
• At the Como official inn, Chen represents the Hazy Kingdom in formal meetings with other kingdoms and the Sixth Prince, using the exhausting social event to gather intelligence.