Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “An Ordinary Yet Extraordinary Sword”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng enters the arena in formal attire and announces that he will personally participate in the duel, surprising Rommel and the other observers.
• The Grand Duchy’s king, angered that a marquisate’s crown prince has challenged his faction, orders Fan Miu’er to fight without restraint.
• Fan Miu’er introduces himself coldly and attacks with a rapier, using his powerful sword technique, “Unavoidable.”
• His thrust is imbued with immense Battle Aura and is designed to kill the opponent even if it only grazes the skin.
• Chen Cheng counters by using Finger Severance, a technique capable of breaking bladed weapons. He shatters Fan Miu’er’s sword with his fingers, then uses the broken blade to reproduce Fan Miu’er’s own attack.
• Fan Miu’er is killed instantly, his body reduced to a limp, mud-like shell after Chen Cheng’s attack destroys him internally.
• Spectators initially believe the duel was staged because neither fighter visibly used Battle Aura or a domain. Lokasky explains that both had fused their powers into their ordinary-looking sword techniques, displaying strength approaching the Legendary Rank.
• Chen Cheng remains in the arena and challenges the next fighter, treating the duel as an opportunity to refine his martial arts.
• Heize of the Sacred Imperial Knights accepts the challenge. After introducing himself, he activates “Divine Descent,” transforming into a massive, metallic-looking powerhouse.
• The chapter ends as Heize accelerates beyond the speed of sound and charges Chen Cheng.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates overwhelming technical mastery rather than relying on brute force or visible energy. His knowledge of the martial arts of the hundred schools allows him to analyze, counter, and replicate Fan Miu’er’s sword path.
• He is shown to be calm, confident, and somewhat irreverent. Even after killing Fan Miu’er brutally, he casually jokes about preventing the corpse from “spraying everywhere.”
• Chen Cheng also reveals a desire to improve himself. He views the duel not merely as a political confrontation but as a rare chance to test and polish his martial path against a suitably strong opponent.
• Fan Miu’er is established as a powerful and highly skilled swordsman whose signature technique is nearly impossible to evade. However, his specialized swordsmanship is decisively countered by Chen Cheng’s broader martial knowledge.
• Heize is introduced as a physically overwhelming warrior of the Sacred Imperial Knights. His transformation suggests that the next battle will focus on speed, strength, and direct combat.
• Lokasky serves as an insightful observer, recognizing the true level of the duel and explaining it to the confused spectators.

Significant Themes

• Technique versus specialization: Fan Miu’er possesses a refined, deadly sword technique, but Chen Cheng’s diverse martial knowledge gives him more ways to respond.
• Hidden power beneath simplicity: The duel appears ordinary because neither fighter displays obvious Battle Aura or a domain, yet their attacks contain power approaching the Legendary Rank.
• Adaptation and mastery: Chen Cheng does not simply overpower his opponent; he turns Fan Miu’er’s own technique against him, demonstrating superior understanding.
• Combat as self-improvement: Chen Cheng uses real battles to identify weaknesses and refine his martial path.
• Political honor and intimidation: The duel is also an insult between rival powers, with the Grand Duchy responding to the marquisate’s challenge as a matter of prestige.
• Contrasting attitudes toward death: Fan Miu’er fights with deadly seriousness, while Chen Cheng treats his victory—and even the gruesome aftermath—with unsettling casualness.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng reassures Rommel and the others but asks them to watch rather than interfere.
• The Grand Duchy’s king commands Fan Miu’er to use his full strength, turning the duel into a serious confrontation rather than a political performance.
• Fan Miu’er’s cold introduction contrasts with Chen Cheng’s casual behavior and lack of concern for formalities.
• Chen Cheng and Fan Miu’er effectively mirror each other’s sword techniques, with Chen Cheng returning the attack in a more refined and lethal form.
• Lokasky explains the duel’s hidden significance to the guild personnel, correcting their misunderstanding.
• After defeating Fan Miu’er, Chen Cheng openly challenges the remaining fighters, prompting Heize to step forward.
• Heize’s transformation and explosive charge establish an immediate contrast with Chen Cheng’s precise, technique-based fighting style.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng continues his duel with Heize, carefully reading his opponent’s movements and anticipating his attacks.
• When Heize launches an extraordinarily fast punch, Chen Cheng uses Tai Chi principles—grabbing, pulling, and redirecting the force rather than opposing it directly.
• Heize counters by detonating the Battle Aura surrounding his fist. Chen Cheng responds by wrapping and reversing the explosive force, sending it back toward Heize.
• The spectators are astonished by Chen Cheng’s elegant, highly technical fighting style. Unlike most warriors, who rely on overwhelming Battle Aura and physical strength, Chen Cheng demonstrates a refined martial path based on redirection, control, and technique.
• Chen Cheng identifies a weakness in Heize’s seemingly invulnerable body and launches his own attack. Using Dragon-Wandering Step, Coiling Silk Hand, and Tendon-Separating Bone-Dislocating Hand, he redirects Heize’s blows and attacks the joints and connective points between his massive muscles.
• Rather than injuring Heize directly, Chen Cheng dislocates his muscles and joints until Heize is twisted into an immobile “human-shaped muscle pretzel.” Heize’s Divine Descent grants powerful defense and recovery, but it cannot restore his body’s alignment.
• Chen Cheng asks whether he has won or should kill Heize. The referee immediately declares him the victor, prompting enthusiastic applause from the audience.
• The victory humiliates the grand duke who had previously demanded Chen Cheng’s death. He realizes that his defeat has strengthened the reputation of the Kingdom of Como at the expense of his own Hazy Kingdom.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Demonstrates increasing mastery of martial technique and exceptional combat intelligence. He relies on physics, anatomy, timing, and redirection rather than brute force, revealing a distinct and potentially revolutionary path for warriors.
• Heize: Initially confident in his speed, strength, defense, and Divine Descent, he becomes increasingly desperate when Chen Cheng’s techniques bypass his advantages. His frantic attacks show that his overwhelming power is ineffective against superior technique.
• The spectators and experts: Their view of warrior cultivation changes as they recognize Chen Cheng’s methods as a sophisticated discipline comparable to high-level magical abilities.
• The grand duke: Suffers a political and personal loss, realizing that Heize’s defeat has made his kingdom appear inferior and may turn it into a public stepping stone for Como.

Significant Themes

• Technique versus brute force: Chen Cheng proves that precision and skill can overcome overwhelming strength, speed, and defensive power.
• Innovation in cultivation: His martial methods suggest a new path for warriors, especially beyond Epic Rank, where technique may become more important than simply accumulating Battle Aura.
• Adaptability and intelligent combat: Chen Cheng wins by understanding Heize’s abilities and exploiting biological weaknesses rather than trying to overpower him.
• The limits of absolute power: Divine Descent offers defense and regeneration, but it cannot solve every problem—particularly structural dislocation and loss of bodily control.
• Public victory and political consequences: The fight is not merely personal. Chen Cheng’s performance changes how warriors are perceived and damages the standing of the kingdom that supported Heize.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Heize engage in a direct contest between Heize’s explosive, forceful attacks and Chen Cheng’s flowing Tai Chi-based counters.
• Chen Cheng repeatedly guides Heize’s attacks away from their intended targets, then turns Heize’s own momentum and strength against him.
• After defeating Heize, Chen Cheng addresses the referee with casual confidence, forcing the official to acknowledge the clear result.
• The audience responds with admiration, while the grand duke watches resentfully, recognizing the broader political humiliation caused by Heize’s defeat.

Chapter Summary: “Vane”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The king orders Vane to enter the tournament and kill Crown Prince Sean, allowing him to freely attack the other competitors afterward.
• Vane appears as a refined, cheerful gentleman carrying a cane and wearing a top hat, but his polished appearance conceals a terrifying nature.
• Chen Cheng immediately senses that Vane is extraordinarily dangerous and suspects he may be a Legendary Rank expert. Vane dismisses this, calling himself merely an “ordinary magic apprentice.”
• The Church’s Supreme Elder recognizes Vane as a “devil’s child” and angrily condemns the Grand Duke King for cultivating and concealing him. The Grand Duke King accepts that conflict with the Church may follow, while King Como is shocked that Vane had been hidden from him.
• When the match begins, Vane uses his top hat to teleport or shift positions, avoiding Chen Cheng’s initial Dragon Claw Hand attack.
• Chen Cheng employs his Dragon-Wandering Step, Heavenly Dipper Step, and I Ching Bagua movement technique to create the illusion of seven separate bodies.
• Vane counters by transforming his tailcoat into a dark Demon Swallow, spreading a shadow-like power that consumes the arena and extinguishes the light. This dispels Chen Cheng’s movement-created illusions.
• Vane then transforms into a black grim reaper and attacks with his technique, “Shadow Kill.” Chen Cheng’s domain proves ineffective because Vane’s darkness is not a normal domain but an empty void that nullifies power.
• Chen Cheng’s physical attack passes harmlessly through Vane’s shadow form. Vane’s scythe strike then reaches Chen Cheng from behind, forcing him into the Black Domain despite his Golden Bell Shield.
• The chapter ends with Chen Cheng trapped inside Vane’s darkness and badly shaken, placing him in an extremely dangerous position.

Character Developments

• Vane: Revealed to be far more than a harmless-looking gentleman. He is a sinister, highly skilled fighter capable of teleportation, shadow manipulation, power nullification, and transformation. His calm smile and courteous behavior contrast sharply with his lethal abilities.
• Chen Cheng: Demonstrates exceptional adaptability, combining ancient martial arts, deceptive footwork, Battle Aura, and defensive techniques. However, he realizes that Vane’s abilities operate on a level beyond his previous opponents and that his usual techniques may not work.
• The Grand Duke King: Shows that he has deliberately concealed Vane as a secret weapon and is willing to risk conflict with the Church to use him.
• King Como: Is visibly disturbed because he was unaware of Vane’s existence and understands that the Grand Duke King has been pursuing hidden interests.
• Church Supreme Elder: Becomes openly hostile toward Vane, identifying him as a forbidden “devil’s child” and treating his presence as a serious threat.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: Vane’s elegant, gentlemanly appearance masks a monstrous and deadly power.
• Hidden weapons and political manipulation: The Grand Duke King has secretly cultivated Vane as a trump card, revealing the political tension beneath the tournament.
• Limits of conventional power: Chen Cheng’s martial arts, illusions, and domain techniques are ineffective against Vane’s void-like darkness.
• Light versus darkness: Chen Cheng’s deceptive techniques depend on light, while Vane’s power erases light and turns the battlefield into a realm he controls.
• Institutional conflict: The Church’s condemnation of Vane suggests a larger struggle between accepted magical authority and forbidden experimentation or demonic power.

Character Interactions

• The attendant relays the king’s order to Vane, who responds with eager anticipation rather than fear.
• Vane and Chen Cheng exchange formal courtesies, but both recognize the danger of the other.
• Chen Cheng directly questions Vane’s rank, showing his unusual level of caution.
• The Church confronts the Grand Duke King indirectly through the Supreme Elder’s public denunciation, while King Como reacts with suspicion and alarm.
• During the battle, Chen Cheng relies on martial skill and tactical deception, while Vane calmly dismantles each strategy and ultimately traps him in the Black Domain.

Chapter Summary

• Chen Cheng enters Vane’s Black Domain: During the arena battle, Vane traps Chen Cheng inside an impenetrable darkness known as the Absolute Black Domain. The spectators assume Chen Cheng is in grave danger, while Samlet recognizes the technique and becomes deeply alarmed because he once helped create the monsters connected to it.
• Vane reveals his origin: Vane explains that he is neither a normal human nor a true Shadow Demon, but a hybrid born from a human and a Shadow Demon. His mother was created by Samlet, and his existence resulted from an experiment intended to recreate divine power. The Shadow Demon consumed Vane’s father, producing Vane, who was then imprisoned and treated like livestock while researchers attempted to obtain a god-powered weapon.
• The Black Domain is exposed: Vane believes Chen Cheng is merely stalling and prepares to kill him with dark tentacles and a blade-like hand. However, Chen Cheng has been using the conversation to confirm whether the darkness is genuinely impenetrable. Once he gets the information he needs, he breaks through the situation. The Black Domain is revealed to be Vane’s swallow-tailed suit, which retracts into his body as Chen Cheng seizes him by the throat.
• Vane’s defeat and revenge: Chen Cheng badly disables Vane, leaving one of his arms limp. The Grand Duchy’s king, realizing that Vane is his kingdom’s greatest weapon, begs Chen Cheng to spare him and offers to negotiate. Before Chen Cheng can respond, Vane takes his own life. He dies smiling while staring at the old king, satisfied that he has achieved revenge. The king faints from the shock.
• The experiment’s disturbing implications: After Vane’s death, his clothing disappears, revealing that his equipment was actually formed from his Shadow Demon mother. The Shadow Demon also vanishes. Chen Cheng covers Vane’s body with his own torn shirt, recognizing that the experiment’s subject was probably connected to the royal family—possibly one of the king’s princes—making the incident part of a larger tragedy involving royal cruelty, family betrayal, and unethical experimentation.
• The Grand Duchy concedes: Having lost Vane, the Grand Duchy’s remaining participants voluntarily withdraw rather than sacrifice more of their talented fighters. They also imply that the conflict with the Hazy Kingdom was not truly their own cause and that they had been made to bear responsibility for someone else’s scheme. The Engela Kingdom remains silent and does not intervene as the Hazy Kingdom’s officials had feared.
• Chen Cheng’s identity is recognized: After returning from the arena, Chen Cheng is approached by Rommel, who bows deeply. Although neither says it openly, Chen Cheng understands that Rommel has realized his true identity and strength. By defeating three Grand Duchy geniuses in succession, Chen Cheng has demonstrated abilities far beyond what outsiders expected from him.

Character Development and Interactions

• Chen Cheng displays strategic patience and emotional restraint. Rather than immediately revealing his full strength, he questions Vane to determine the nature of the Black Domain, then turns the situation around decisively. He also shows respect for Vane in death by covering his body.
• Vane shifts from a confident executioner into a tragic figure seeking revenge against the royal family that exploited him. His suicide demonstrates both his determination and his refusal to let the king reclaim or rescue him.
• The old King is exposed as frightened and dependent on Vane, treating him as an indispensable weapon. His collapse after Vane’s death suggests guilt, shock, or the devastating loss of the kingdom’s greatest asset.
• Samlet is indirectly implicated in Vane’s existence because he created the original Shadow Demon beings. His recognition of the Black Domain connects the current conflict to older atrocities and experiments.
• Rommel and the Hazy Kingdom’s geniuses gain a clearer understanding of Chen Cheng’s true capabilities and identity.

Significant Themes

• Unethical experimentation and dehumanization: Vane was created, imprisoned, and exploited as an experimental subject rather than treated as a person.
• Revenge and familial betrayal: Vane’s final act is aimed at the royal family responsible for his suffering, particularly the old king.
• The consequences of pursuing divine power: The attempt to obtain godlike abilities produces monstrous beings, political disaster, and moral corruption.
• Hidden identity and revealed strength: Chen Cheng’s performance exposes his true power to those capable of recognizing it.
• Dignity amid brutality: Despite the violence surrounding Vane’s life and death, Chen Cheng’s decision to cover his body provides a final gesture of respect.

Chapter Summary: “Discovered”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng returns to his seat after defeating Vane, disguised as Crown Prince Sean of the Hazy Kingdom. Although he suspects the Church and others may have realized his true identity, he believes they will temporarily keep silent because Sean’s whereabouts remain unknown and his victory has benefited the Hazy Kingdom.
• The rulers present admire Chen Cheng for defeating a prodigy from a Grand Duchy, viewing his victory as a major honor for a Marquisate. Chen Cheng, however, is focused on escaping the Grand Council before the Church can investigate him.
• The Church’s Supreme Elder, Muse, receives the autopsy results on Vane. The corpse contains traces of power from an Outer God, confirming that Vane’s death involved forces far beyond ordinary magic.
• Muse recognizes that only someone at a Legendary or equivalent level could have defeated Vane so effortlessly within the Black Domain. He orders Law Venerable to investigate the entire history of Crown Prince Sean and prepare to subject him to Divine Judgment.
• Chen Cheng realizes that Muse’s polite smile conceals intense killing intent. He looks toward the guild, believing it may be his only possible source of protection or escape.
• Wisdom Shield recognizes Chen Cheng immediately through his use of Tai Chi, which Chen Cheng had taught him in the past. He understands that Chen Cheng is impersonating Sean and that the Church’s investigation could expose him.
• Wisdom Shield also understands the danger because of his own connection to Shadow Demon research. Like Vane, he possesses power derived from experiments involving Shadow Demons, though his abilities are much weaker. He realizes that the Church will naturally target anyone capable of killing Vane.
• To divert attention from Chen Cheng, Wisdom Shield decides to make an even more dramatic political move. He publicly renounces his status as Crown Prince of Moss and challenges the Church at the Grand Council.
• His declaration shocks the assembly, especially the smaller Earldoms and states that have suffered under the Church’s influence. His stance immediately attracts their interest and potentially creates a broader anti-Church alliance.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Becomes increasingly aware that his disguise is in danger. Despite remaining outwardly calm, he is strategically searching for allies and an escape route. His effortless victory over Vane establishes him as someone potentially operating at Legendary strength.
• Supreme Elder Muse: Shifts from observation to active pursuit. His investigation into Sean shows that he considers Chen Cheng—or the person posing as Sean—a serious threat connected to forbidden divine powers.
• Wisdom Shield: Demonstrates loyalty and sharp political judgment. After recognizing Chen Cheng, he risks his own position to protect him, transforming his personal resentment toward the Church into a public political challenge.
• Vane: Though dead, his connection to Outer Gods and Shadow Demon experiments continues to shape the Church’s suspicions and the political consequences of the battle.
• The Church: Is portrayed as powerful, ruthless, and deeply feared, with a history of persecuting people connected to dangerous or unusual powers.

Significant Themes

• Exposure and identity: Chen Cheng’s disguise is increasingly fragile, and the chapter focuses on the danger of hidden identities being uncovered.
• Political strategy and sacrifice: Wisdom Shield uses his own status and reputation as a distraction, showing how political spectacle can protect an ally.
• Institutional persecution: The Church’s treatment of Wisdom Shield and its investigation into Sean highlight the abuse of religious authority and the fear it inspires among smaller nations.
• Power concealed beneath appearances: Chen Cheng appears to be a prince of a Marquisate, yet his abilities suggest a far higher level of strength. Wisdom Shield likewise hides the significance of his rare Chaos-element talent.
• Alliance against oppression: The reactions of the smaller states suggest that shared resentment toward the Church may unite otherwise weak or divided powers.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Muse: They exchange polite smiles, but both understand that the encounter is hostile. Muse’s apparent warmth masks a desire to expose and eliminate Chen Cheng.
• Chen Cheng and the guild: Chen Cheng silently seeks the guild’s assistance, recognizing it as a potential refuge from the Church.
• Chen Cheng and Wisdom Shield: Wisdom Shield recognizes Chen Cheng from his Tai Chi techniques and decides to protect him without openly revealing their connection.
• Wisdom Shield and the Grand Council: He openly confronts King Como and the assembled rulers, turning his personal persecution into a public challenge against the Church.
• Wisdom Shield and the smaller states: His declaration resonates with Earldoms and minor nations that have suffered under Church control, potentially drawing them to his side.

Chapter Summary: “A Question That Touched the Soul”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Muse reflects on Wisdom Shield’s history, including his grandfather’s forbidden experiments, his illicit birth, and the Church’s long-standing surveillance of him. Because Wisdom Shield became the first apostate divine envoy, both he and the Kingdom of Moss have been targets of the Church.
• At the Grand Council, Wisdom Shield openly challenges the Church to a duel, provoking Muse and accusing the Church of hiding behind claims of “God’s will.” He specifically reminds Muse that the Church once attempted to assassinate him while invoking divine authority.
• Wisdom Shield’s insults push Muse beyond endurance. Muse attacks him in front of the assembled kings, but Guildmaster Lokasky blocks the strike, while the Kingdom of Como’s attendant warns that killing someone at the Grand Council would violate political and legal norms.
• It becomes clear that Wisdom Shield deliberately provoked the Church to divert attention from Chen Cheng. Chen realizes that Wisdom Shield is now taking on the danger and scrutiny that Chen previously endured while helping Moss develop.
• Because Muse has already attacked and Wisdom Shield’s words can be treated as blasphemy, the Church is politically compelled to accept the duel. Muse sends Kurks, a talented Church prodigy, to fight.
• Wisdom Shield recognizes Kurks as Chen Cheng’s former opponent from the Western Territory Academy Grand Competition. Kurks has since developed a powerful light-based attack, “Light Particle,” based partly on Chen’s earlier guidance.
• Kurks fires the attack, forcing Wisdom Shield to use instant Space Magic to evade. Although Wisdom Shield avoids a direct hit, his sleeve is pierced. Kurks then launches another razor-thin light attack, narrowly cutting off a lock of Wisdom Shield’s hair and demonstrating that the duel will be extremely dangerous.

Character Developments

• Wisdom Shield displays exceptional courage, political awareness, and loyalty. His challenge is not merely personal defiance; he knowingly places himself in danger to shield Chen Cheng and protect Moss from immediate Church scrutiny.
• Muse is shown as controlled and politically calculating until Wisdom Shield’s accusations become a direct insult to his faith and authority. His loss of composure reveals the depth of his devotion to the Church and God.
• Chen Cheng recognizes Wisdom Shield’s sacrifice and their unspoken understanding. He is enraged because he understands exactly why Wisdom Shield is provoking the Church.
• Lokasky demonstrates his willingness to defend Wisdom Shield, partly because his daughter remains in Moss and is connected to Wisdom Shield. His intervention also shows his political awareness, as he carefully explains his motives to avoid suspicion.
• Kurks has grown considerably since his earlier appearance. He has transformed Chen’s basic ideas about light into a lethal, precise technique and now fights as a committed representative of the Church.
• Wisdom Shield and Chen Cheng are portrayed as sharing a deep, almost intuitive bond, with each taking turns bearing danger for the other.

Significant Themes

• Faith versus hypocrisy: Wisdom Shield attacks the Church’s habit of invoking God’s will to justify political violence, questioning whether its religious language masks self-interest.
• Political power and public legitimacy: The Church cannot simply kill Wisdom Shield because the Grand Council, existing laws, and the assembled kingdoms impose limits on its authority.
• Sacrifice and mutual loyalty: Wisdom Shield deliberately draws danger away from Chen, continuing the reciprocal protection that has supported Moss’s rise.
• Knowledge and progress: Kurks’s light attack demonstrates how ideas can be transformed into new forms of power, even when the original insight came from an opponent.
• The danger of provoking authority: Wisdom Shield’s boldness gives him a political advantage but immediately places him in a life-threatening duel.

Important Character Interactions

• Wisdom Shield and Muse: Their exchange escalates from formal warning to open religious and personal confrontation, ending with Muse’s attack.
• Lokasky and Muse: Lokasky physically blocks Muse and reminds him that the Grand Council is not a place where the Church can act without consequences.
• Wisdom Shield and Chen Cheng: Without directly discussing their plan, they understand one another’s intentions. Wisdom Shield signals that he is now taking Chen’s place as the target of attention.
• Wisdom Shield and Kurks: Their meeting connects the current conflict to Chen’s past. Kurks acknowledges Chen’s influence, while Wisdom Shield realizes how far Kurks has advanced.
• Kurks and the Church: Kurks acts as the Church’s chosen instrument, tasked with delivering judgment against Wisdom Shield through the duel.

Chapter Summary: Forbidden Spell

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wisdom Shield detects the damage caused by Kurks’s silent attack and creates a dust storm using Earth and Wind Magic. The dust reveals nearly invisible strands of laser light surrounding Kurks.
• Kurks explains that he combined magic with scientific knowledge—much of it learned from Wisdom Shield—to create lethal laser-cutting attacks.
• Kurks fires lasers in every direction, claiming that nothing can stop light. Wisdom Shield initially weakens the beams by filling the storm with water vapor, scattering and refracting the light.
• Because Kurks can continually replenish the lasers with magical energy, the attack remains overwhelming. Wisdom Shield ultimately counters it with a specially made ice mirror designed to absorb and reflect the lasers’ specific wavelength.
• The audience considers the exchange unimpressive, but the Church elders recognize that Kurks’s light could defeat nearly all conventional magic and Battle Aura techniques. Wisdom Shield’s ability to block it is even considered blasphemy because light represents the God of Light.
• Kurks then begins casting Light Energy Convergence, drawing countless motes of light into himself until he becomes a glowing figure. The spell is recognized as a complete, Forbidden Spell-level technique—one that is effectively impossible to counter.
• Chen Cheng prepares to reveal himself and intervene, but Wisdom Shield produces a Mithril disc and begins casting his own Forbidden Spell. Five-element runes form a giant plum-blossom structure around him as magical energy gathers.
• Both combatants are now preparing devastating Forbidden Spells. King Como reminds everyone that the tournament’s rules make the battle a fight to the death, while forbidding retaliation against the victor afterward.

Character Developments

• Wisdom Shield demonstrates exceptional scientific knowledge, composure, and adaptability. Rather than relying only on magic, he analyzes Kurks’s laser wavelength and constructs a precise physical countermeasure.
• Kurks proves himself capable of combining advanced science with magic to produce nearly unstoppable attacks. He is confident, inventive, and prepared for Wisdom Shield’s defenses.
• Chen Cheng becomes increasingly concerned for Wisdom Shield and is willing to expose his identity to save him, revealing the seriousness of their connection.
• King Como asserts the authority of the tournament and attempts to prevent the conflict from triggering wider revenge or political violence.

Significant Themes

• Science and magic as complementary forces: Both fighters use scientific principles to enhance their magic, turning the duel into a contest of physics as much as magical power.
• Knowledge as a weapon: Wisdom Shield’s own teachings have been used against him, while his scientific understanding allows him to survive Kurks’s attacks.
• Faith versus reason: Kurks’s light is treated by the Church as both a physical weapon and a divine manifestation, making Wisdom Shield’s defense a form of religious blasphemy.
• The terrifying nature of absolute power: Forbidden Spells are defined not only by destructive strength but by their lack of any reliable counter.
• Political and religious consequences: Even survival may leave Wisdom Shield hunted by the Church, while the tournament’s rules attempt to contain the aftermath.

Character Interactions

• Kurks taunts Wisdom Shield by using principles Wisdom Shield taught him, particularly the idea that light cannot be stopped.
• Wisdom Shield answers Kurks’s technological assault with superior optical knowledge and a specialized mirror, turning Kurks’s own scientific method against him.
• Their exchange reflects mutual respect and rivalry: Kurks expects Wisdom Shield to have a counter, while Wisdom Shield remains calm and analytical under extreme danger.
• Chen Cheng watches from the audience and considers intervening, but Wisdom Shield’s own Forbidden Spell prevents him from acting immediately.
• King Como directly addresses the spectators and competitors, reinforcing that the duel’s outcome must be accepted without revenge.

Chapter Summary: “Giants and Magic Cannons”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Kurks unleashes his ultimate technique by using Divine Power to absorb and bind a massive amount of light energy.
• His body expands into a colossal “Giant of Light,” astonishing the audience. Although spectators initially mistake this for the Legendary Rank’s Gods-and-Devils Body, Grand Mage Fisher Doge identifies it as an imitation created through Divine Power.
• Kurks launches his forbidden spell, Judgment of Light, firing enormous X-shaped beams at Wisdom Shield.
• Wisdom Shield simultaneously completes and fires his Super Magic Particle Cannon, created through Chaos Magic and Five-Element Aggregation.
• The two attacks collide, producing an explosion so powerful that it destroys the arena’s defensive magic array.
• Fisher Doge protects the spectators by creating a massive sphere of magical vines around the arena, containing the destructive shockwaves.
• Muse tries to order Fisher Doge to reveal what is happening inside the barrier, but Fisher Doge firmly refuses, asserting his dignity and authority despite Muse’s superior status.
• After roughly fifteen minutes, the King of Como asks Fisher Doge to remove the barrier. The ruined arena and the exhausted combatants are revealed.
• Both Kurks and Wisdom Shield have returned to their normal forms. Wisdom Shield’s Mithril disc is badly damaged, while Kurks appears to have exhausted his strength.
• Wisdom Shield reveals a hidden trump card: a chest pin transforms into a magic wand, allowing him to cast one final Chaos Magic spell. Kurks attempts to defend himself but no longer has the energy to do so.

Character Developments

• Kurks: Demonstrates overwhelming power by transforming into a Giant of Light and using Judgment of Light. However, the form is only temporary and drains his strength completely, leaving him vulnerable after the attack.
• Wisdom Shield: Shows strategic preparation and resilience. Even after overloading and damaging his Mithril disc, he retains a concealed magic wand and enough stored energy to launch a decisive final attack.
• Fisher Doge: Establishes himself as a calm, highly capable Legendary Rank mage. He effortlessly contains the battlefield’s aftershock and boldly stands up to Muse when ordered around.
• Muse: Remains confident in Kurks’s superiority, believing only a true Legendary Rank opponent could stop him. His arrogance is challenged when Fisher Doge refuses to obey him.
• King of Como: Uses Fisher Doge’s intervention to enhance the Kingdom of Como’s prestige, recognizing the political value of displaying a Legendary Rank mage’s power.
• Chen Cheng: Provides humorous commentary by comparing Kurks’s transformation to a giant superhero from another genre, emphasizing how absurdly dramatic the transformation appears.

Significant Themes

• Power versus limitations: Kurks reaches extraordinary strength but cannot sustain it indefinitely, while Wisdom Shield survives through preparation and concealed resources.
• Strategy over spectacle: Kurks’s immense transformation and destructive attack are countered by Wisdom Shield’s hidden reserve and tactical planning.
• The gap between true and artificial power: Kurks’s Giant of Light resembles the Legendary Gods-and-Devils Body but is only a temporary imitation, highlighting the importance of realm and fundamental laws.
• Authority and independence: Fisher Doge’s refusal to submit to Muse demonstrates that power and institutional authority do not guarantee unquestioned obedience.
• Political prestige: The battle is not merely a duel; the rulers observe it as a display of national strength, especially the Kingdom of Como’s association with Fisher Doge.

Character Interactions

• Kurks and Wisdom Shield engage in a climactic exchange of ultimate attacks, with Kurks using Judgment of Light against Wisdom Shield’s Super Magic Particle Cannon.
• Muse dismisses Wisdom Shield’s chances and later attempts to command Fisher Doge, but Fisher Doge sharply rebukes him.
• Fisher Doge’s defense impresses the assembled rulers and strengthens the reputation of the Kingdom of Como.
• The King of Como treats Fisher Doge with respect and requests that he lower the barrier, prompting the battle’s conclusion to be revealed.
• Wisdom Shield’s final hidden spell places Kurks in immediate danger, setting up the outcome of the duel.

Summary: “Contempt and Humiliation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Just as Wisdom Shield is about to defeat Kurks, Muse suddenly enters the arena and blocks the attack, then attempts to kill Wisdom Shield.
• Fisher Doge intervenes, but Lokasky arrives first and counters Muse’s strike, protecting Wisdom Shield and forcing Muse back.
• Fisher Doge attacks Muse with magical vines, enraged by the assault on Wisdom Shield. Muse transfers Kurks to the Church’s seating area, leaving only himself and Fisher Doge on the arena.
• Although Fisher Doge initially gains the advantage, Muse’s superior realm and greater combat ability gradually overwhelm him.
• Samlet finally enters the battle, using the conflict between Muse and Fisher Doge as a legitimate excuse to intervene without revealing his true identity.
• Samlet uses the ancient warrior technique Shadowless to approach Muse undetected and knocks him unconscious with a single punch. Because Samlet is concealing his true power, he limits himself to peak Epic Rank strength rather than killing Muse.
• Muse quickly recovers and identifies Samlet’s technique as Shadowless. Lokasky explains that the technique allows a warrior to merge his domain with an opponent’s, making him impossible to detect, though it is extremely difficult and painful to master.
• Fisher Doge challenges Muse to fight him instead of Samlet, while the Sixth Prince considers intervening to protect Samlet. The Como King stops him, partly because he wants to observe Samlet’s true capabilities.
• Samlet openly declares that he and Fisher Doge will teach Muse a lesson for violating the assembly’s rules. His statement, made by an Epic Rank warrior to a Legendary Rank opponent, shocks the entire audience and is viewed as deliberate contempt and humiliation.

Character Developments

• Muse shifts from confident aggressor to enraged and embarrassed opponent after his attack is blocked and he is knocked unconscious by Samlet.
• Fisher Doge demonstrates his loyalty and protectiveness toward Wisdom Shield, but his limited combat ability and slightly lower realm leave him unable to defeat Muse alone.
• Lokasky proves capable of neutralizing Muse’s attack and protecting Wisdom Shield. He also recognizes and explains Samlet’s exceptional mastery of Shadowless, admitting that Samlet’s dedication surpasses his own.
• Samlet reveals extraordinary combat control and tactical intelligence. Though forced to suppress his true strength, he still overwhelms Muse through technique and timing. His open defiance marks a significant escalation in his public confidence.
• Wisdom Shield appears physically weakened but remains central to the conflict, with both Fisher Doge and Lokasky acting to protect him.
• The Sixth Prince shows concern for Samlet, viewing him as a valuable future ally, while the Como King takes a more measured, observant approach.

Significant Themes

• Contempt and humiliation: Muse’s defeat by a supposedly weaker opponent damages his dignity and authority, while Samlet’s final declaration directly challenges the hierarchy between Epic and Legendary ranks.
• Power restrained by circumstance: Samlet’s true strength remains hidden, yet even his self-imposed limitations are enough to threaten Muse.
• Rules versus arrogance: Muse violates the assembly’s rules by attacking Wisdom Shield, prompting Samlet and Fisher Doge to justify their retaliation as enforcement of order.
• Mastery through discipline: Shadowless represents extreme control, sacrifice, and self-discipline rather than raw power.
• Political calculation: Several characters must balance personal loyalties, public appearances, and the danger of revealing their true abilities.

Character Interactions

• Muse attacks Wisdom Shield, prompting Fisher Doge and Lokasky to defend him.
• Lokasky escorts the injured Wisdom Shield away from the arena and later explains Samlet’s technique to him and the audience.
• Fisher Doge confronts Muse directly and insists that Muse fight him rather than target Samlet.
• Samlet refers to Fisher Doge as his master and joins him against Muse, reinforcing their public master-disciple relationship.
• The Sixth Prince wants to protect Samlet, but the Como King restrains him to preserve the political situation and observe the battle.
• Samlet’s final challenge to Muse transforms the confrontation from a defensive intervention into a public declaration of superiority and defiance.

Chapter Summary: “Confrontation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Samlet launches a surprise attack on Muse before the Church representative can finish proclaiming his “Divine Punishment.”
• Samlet’s Sky-Dominating Strike clashes with Muse’s shield, while Muse retaliates with the devastating point-blank spell Holy Radiance.
• Fisher Doge protects Samlet with a magical shield, allowing Samlet to complete his attack. His Infinite Sky-Dominating Fist shatters the surrounding space and breaks through Muse’s defenses.
• Samlet follows up with the same mysterious finger technique he previously used to destroy part of a blade of grass. Muse attempts to counter with Starlight, but the beam bends away from Samlet’s finger and is blocked by Holmes before it can hit the spectators.
• Samlet’s finger touches Muse’s, causing cracks to spread across Muse’s body despite Muse’s use of his Gods-and-Devils Body. Fisher Doge pulls Samlet away just before Muse transforms into a gigantic divine form.
• The transformation violates the tournament rules and threatens to destroy the venue. The five great kingdoms’ kings intervene, openly challenging the Church and threatening to strip it of its political standing.
• King Como summons seven Legendary Rank experts, joining Fisher Doge to form a force of eight Legendary Rank combatants against Muse. Combined with Como’s authority over the national seal, the Church appears to face overwhelming opposition.
• Before a major battle begins, Blaze, the Church’s Eastern Divine Envoy, arrives and orders Muse to withdraw his divine body. Muse obeys, and Blaze heals his injuries.
• Blaze presents the Church as a protector of the faithful while warning the kings to restrain themselves. His remarks indirectly unsettle the Duke Kingdoms because of their secret, morally abhorrent experiments.

Character Developments

• Samlet demonstrates extraordinary combat power, apparently exceeding the limits expected of someone below Legendary Rank. His attacks can break space and penetrate Muse’s defenses.
• Muse shifts from arrogant confidence to fear and desperation when Samlet breaches his shield and wounds him. His transformation into the Gods-and-Devils Body shows both his power and his willingness to violate the tournament’s rules.
• Fisher Doge proves to be a reliable protector, shielding Samlet, restraining Muse, and removing Samlet from danger at a crucial moment.
• Holmes acts quickly to protect the spectators when Muse’s deflected attack threatens the Duke Kingdoms’ seating area.
• King Como openly confronts the Church and reveals that the kingdoms are prepared to use force against it.
• Blaze emerges as a powerful and politically confident Church leader. His arrival prevents the confrontation from escalating into a battle between multiple Legendary Rank forces.

Significant Themes

• The limits of mortal power: Samlet’s attacks challenge the assumption that only Legendary Rank experts can damage space or threaten divine beings.
• Political rivalry and shifting power: The kingdoms and the Church are revealed to be competing factions seeking control of the continent after the Empire’s decline.
• Religious authority versus political independence: The Church claims to serve divine will, while the great kingdoms resist its growing influence and territorial control.
• Public morality versus hypocrisy: Blaze condemns “darkness” while the Duke Kingdoms feel guilt over their own unethical experiments, exposing the moral compromises of all major powers.
• Restraint beneath overwhelming strength: Despite the presence of numerous powerful combatants, the battle ends through political intervention rather than total destruction.

Character Interactions

• Samlet and Muse engage in a direct clash of martial power and divine magic, with Samlet gaining the upper hand.
• Fisher Doge repeatedly supports Samlet, while Muse attempts to overpower him and counter his techniques.
• Holmes intervenes to stop Muse’s attack from injuring the spectators.
• The five kings collectively challenge Muse, exposing their hostility toward the Church.
• King Como particularly confronts Muse with overwhelming military pressure.
• Blaze commands Muse to stand down and then warns the kings against provoking the Church, establishing a tense standoff between religious and royal authority.

Summary of “Samlet’s Decision”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the battle, Blaze uses holy power to completely restore the damaged arena and departs with the severely injured Church elder, Kurks.
• King Como condemns the Church for Muse’s violation of the tournament rules, removing the Church’s authority over the event. However, the punishment is largely symbolic and does not seriously harm the Church.
• Attention shifts to Samlet, who shocked everyone by injuring Muse—a Legendary Rank expert—with a single finger strike while appearing to possess only Epic Rank strength.
• Samlet’s feat is viewed as unprecedented, surpassing even the legendary examples of Epic or Legendary Rank power from history. His achievement inspires other Epic Rank practitioners to believe they might also challenge higher realms.
• Bulos summons Samlet, expresses great concern for his injuries, and offers him rare healing treasures, including a Stem Lotus. He urges Samlet to rest and promises to provide anything he needs.
• Samlet accepts the medicine and thanks Bulos, allowing Bulos to mistakenly believe that his efforts to recruit Samlet are succeeding.
• After Samlet leaves, Bulos begins reconsidering his plans involving Samlet and Qianxi, believing Qianxi should not be married to someone he views as a mere puppet.
• Samlet privately weighs the consequences of revealing his strength. His display has attracted more attention and may expose inconsistencies surrounding his identity, particularly the fact that he is not truly “Sam.”
• Despite the risks, Samlet recognizes the strategic value of remaining in enemy territory. He can act as a hidden weapon and potentially strike a decisive blow at the most crucial moment.
• Samlet gives Chen Cheng a reassuring glance, confirming that he has chosen to stay behind and infiltrate the enemy’s heart.
• The conference continues for three days. The proposal targeting the Kingdom of Moss is withdrawn, partly because Samlet’s performance and Wisdom Shield’s display of Chaos-element magic have intimidated the other kingdoms.
• Once the political conference ends, the Kingdom Grand Tournament is set to begin. Its results will determine which kingdoms appear strong or weak over the next decade, with lower-ranked kingdoms facing a greater risk of invasion or annexation.

Character Developments

• Samlet: Reveals extraordinary combat ability while preserving the appearance of an Epic Rank fighter. He deliberately chooses to remain among his enemies, accepting increased danger in exchange for the opportunity to undermine them from within.
• Bulos: Becomes deeply impressed by Samlet and shifts from viewing him as a promising youth to treating him as a major strategic talent. His attempts to recruit Samlet also lead him to reconsider his arrangements for Qianxi.
• Chen Cheng: Learns that Samlet is far more powerful than he realized and experiences shock, admiration, and conflicted emotions over Samlet’s decision to remain behind.
• Blaze: Establishes overwhelming authority by restoring the arena and resolving the Church’s crisis with only a brief warning.
• King Como: Publicly punishes the Church but ultimately imposes only a mild consequence, prioritizing the continuation and stability of the tournament.
• Muse and the Church: Lose their official authority in the tournament after Muse’s rule violation, though the Church itself suffers little lasting damage.
• Wisdom Shield: Gains influence and notoriety by demonstrating the frightening power of Chaos-element magic.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and strategic deception: Samlet’s greatest weapon is not merely his power but his ability to conceal his true identity and intentions.
• Political manipulation: Both Bulos and Samlet attempt to use one another, with Bulos seeking to recruit Samlet while Samlet plans to exploit his position.
• The birth of a legend: Samlet’s feat challenges accepted limits between cultivation ranks and inspires others to pursue similar breakthroughs.
• Power and deterrence: Displays of strength influence political decisions, including the withdrawal of the proposal against Moss.
• Kingdom survival: The upcoming tournament is presented as a measure of national strength, with poor performance potentially leading to future conquest.

Character Interactions

• Blaze warns the authorities, repairs the arena, and leaves with Kurks, while Como reacts with resentment but submits to Blaze’s authority.
• Bulos questions Samlet about his condition and offers him healing resources and support, attempting to win his loyalty.
• Samlet politely accepts Bulos’s aid while concealing that they are enemies.
• Samlet and Chen Cheng exchange a silent but meaningful glance, confirming Samlet’s decision to remain undercover.
• The wider kingdoms react to Samlet’s performance with awe, ambition, and fear, while Wisdom Shield’s power further discourages them from confronting Moss.

Chapter Summary: “A Dazzling Entrance”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Grand Council’s main attraction begins: the All-Kingdoms Martial Exhibition, presented as a traditional imperial inspection of the kingdoms’ military strength.
• The King of Como opens the event with a speech that subtly rewrites recent history. He claims that:
  • The previous Emperor was punished by Heaven for violating ancestral teachings.
  • A new Emperor was born sixteen years earlier bearing the Mandate of Heaven.
  • Como supposedly discovered him in Quwo and had Felsher Doug, an attendant of the former imperial bloodline, authenticate him.
  • This “Emperor” has now resumed his rightful position and restored stability.
• The speech reveals the Five Kingdoms’ apparent plan: use the martial exhibition and the ensuing spectacle to legitimize an impostor as the true Emperor.
• As Como finishes speaking, an enormous display of purple qi spreads more than thirty thousand miles from the Purple Sun Mountains toward the capital.
• The phenomenon causes plants to bloom, spirit beasts to cry out, illnesses to vanish, disabilities to heal, and people to become invigorated.
• The spectacle impresses nearly everyone, including powerful Legendary Rank experts, though some recognize that it is artificially produced.
• The purple qi then gathers above the venue and reveals the impostor, who resembles Chen Cheng exactly. He descends in imperial robes and is seated upon a throne formed from condensed purple qi.
• His grand entrance intimidates the gathered rulers. Several smaller kingdoms immediately kneel and kowtow, while the more powerful earldoms and marquisates hesitate, uncertain whether to submit.

Character Developments

• Como the Thirteenth moves from host and political figurehead to active propagandist, publicly presenting the impostor as the legitimate Emperor. His sorrowful, regretful performance is part of a carefully prepared political narrative.
• The impostor is elevated from a hidden political tool into a public claimant to imperial authority. His resemblance to Chen Cheng and his spectacular entrance are designed to make his legitimacy appear undeniable.
• Chen Cheng is startled and unsettled by the scale of the fabricated miracle. Having personally created world-shaking phenomena, he realizes that even he could not produce such an immense display of life force.
• The unaffiliated Legendary Rank experts become uncertain. Though they can tell the purple qi and related signs are fabricated, the scale of the effect makes them suspect that a God Ascender—or even a legendary god—may be involved.
• The traveling elves are the only group to identify the true horror of the spectacle: the apparent life force has been stolen from living beings. Their expertise gives them insight that other observers lack.
• Smaller kingdom rulers quickly submit to the impostor, while the rulers of stronger kingdoms hesitate, revealing the political stakes of the performance.

Significant Themes

• Propaganda and manufactured legitimacy: The ceremony uses tradition, staged miracles, and emotional rhetoric to transform a false claimant into an apparently divinely sanctioned Emperor.
• Power over truth: Public perception matters more than factual legitimacy; those who know the spectacle is fake may still be unable to challenge it.
• Political manipulation: The martial exhibition is ostensibly a cultural tradition but is really being used to consolidate imperial authority and pressure the kingdoms into submission.
• The cost of spectacle: The miraculous display is not harmless. Its life force appears to have been extracted from countless living beings, suggesting that political grandeur is being purchased through mass suffering.
• Religion versus secular power: The event blurs divine signs, imperial tradition, and political theater, exploiting the belief that Heaven has chosen the new ruler.
• Fear and hierarchy: The entrance immediately tests which rulers will kneel, which will resist, and how powerfully the illusion of authority can control behavior.

Important Character Interactions

• Como and the gathered rulers: Como addresses them collectively, presenting the impostor’s rise as an accomplished fact and forcing them to react publicly.
• Como and the impostor: Although they do not directly converse, Como’s speech prepares the audience for the impostor’s staged arrival, showing their coordinated political strategy.
• Chen Cheng and the impostor: The impostor’s identical appearance creates an implicit confrontation. Even before any direct encounter, the false Emperor’s existence challenges Chen Cheng’s identity and position.
• The elves and the spectacle: The elves’ perception contradicts the general admiration of the crowd, exposing the hidden exploitation behind the miracle.
• Small and powerful kingdoms: Their differing reactions—immediate submission versus hesitation—establish the coming political conflict over whether to recognize the impostor.

Chapter Summary: “Worship”

Key Plot Points and Events

• King Chamo/Como openly challenges the Emperor’s apparent authority, accusing him of overstepping and questioning whether the Empire truly belongs to his family.
• He summons three Legendary Rank Attendants to expose the Emperor as a fraud. However, the Emperor’s forces immediately reveal additional Attendants, who move to suppress them.
• Kings of the other great kingdoms—Engla and Jirujiva—also summon hidden Legendary Rank Attendants, causing more than ten powerful figures to confront one another.
• Fearing the coming battle, the lesser kingdom rulers attempt to leave, but the Imperial Royal Guard, led by Hisslaj, seals the venue. The guards violently prevent anyone from escaping.
• The three kingdoms opposing the Emperor expect the King of Sfield to join them, but Sfield instead claims that the figure on the throne may genuinely be the Emperor. He then reveals two Attendants, tipping the balance against the opposing kingdoms.
• The supposed Emperor is revealed to possess an appearance identical to Chen Cheng. Chen Cheng is horrified and confused because he has no memory of ever creating or encountering this double.
• Lokasky is also shaken, wondering whether the figure on the throne might be the real Chen Cheng. Wisdom Shield, however, recognizes that the Emperor is not the Chen Cheng he knows.
• When the Legendary Rank Attendants prepare to clash, the false—or possibly genuine—Emperor releases overwhelming heavenly power. He transports the Attendants back to the Empire’s era and forces them to kneel.
• His display of the Empire’s unique authority convinces the Attendants that he possesses the true Emperor’s power. He then sits upon the dragon throne and demands to know whether anyone intends to rebel.
• The Marquis Kingdoms kneel immediately. King Chamo/Como hesitates after sensing that the imperial figure has activated the fortune within his royal seal, but ultimately bows first. King Sfield follows, forcing the remaining opposing kings to submit as well.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Becomes deeply unsettled by the existence of someone physically identical to him. His confusion intensifies because the double appears completely natural and possesses powers associated with the true Emperor.
• The Emperor/“Chen Cheng Two”: Establishes absolute dominance through a single display of heavenly might. Whether genuine or counterfeit, he successfully convinces the assembled rulers and Attendants that he possesses legitimate imperial authority.
• King Chamo/Como: Shifts from open defiance to wary submission. His royal seal’s reaction causes him to question whether he has been deceived by Brown and whether the Emperor may truly be authentic.
• King of Sfield: Presents himself as loyal and principled by refusing to join the rebellion, though his sudden deployment of two Attendants also reveals calculated political opportunism.
• Lokasky: Is thrown into doubt by the double’s identical appearance, briefly questioning the authenticity of the Chen Cheng he previously knew.
• Wisdom Shield: Remains more perceptive and confidently recognizes that the figure on the throne is not the Chen Cheng familiar to him.
• Hisslaj and the Royal Guard: Demonstrate unwavering loyalty to the imperial authority by sealing the venue and suppressing attempts to escape.

Significant Themes

• Authority versus appearance: Physical resemblance and outward identity become unreliable, while supernatural authority and imperial power are treated as proof of legitimacy.
• Political submission and survival: The rulers abandon principles and rebellion once they realize they are trapped and outmatched.
• Manipulation and uncertainty: The chapter deliberately keeps the Emperor’s identity ambiguous, creating doubt even in those closest to Chen Cheng.
• The overwhelming power of imperial legitimacy: The Emperor’s ability to command heavenly might and influence royal seals transforms resistance into worship.
• Fear and coercion: The kneeling of the rulers is not purely loyalty; it is a response to overwhelming force and the impossibility of escape.

Character Interactions

• King Chamo/Como confronts the Emperor and attempts to rally the other kingdoms against him.
• The kings of Engla, Jirujiva, and Sfield weigh their positions through their Attendants, turning the gathering into a tense political and military standoff.
• The opposing kingdoms rely on their hidden Attendants to challenge the Imperial forces, but Sfield’s betrayal—or strategic submission—undermines their plan.
• Chen Cheng, Lokasky, and Wisdom Shield react differently to the Emperor’s resemblance to Chen Cheng, highlighting their differing knowledge and trust.
• The Emperor silences every faction through his heavenly pressure, after which King Chamo/Como’s bow compels the other kingdoms to kneel.

Chapter Summary: “The Truth Behind the Transmigration”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng Two appears before the assembly with an overwhelming imperial presence, convincing the gathered kingdoms to treat him as the long-lost emperor. Chen Cheng, watching from below, is unsettled by seeing someone with his own face and identity behaving like a supreme ruler.
• The assembly resumes its martial demonstrations, but the presence of an emperor changes the proceedings. Kingdoms must now present themselves before him and answer questions about governance, military affairs, culture, and economics.
• Como XIII uses Chen Cheng Two’s presence to strengthen Como’s political position and establish authority over the other kingdoms. However, the rulers of Chamo, Engla, and other nations recognize the deception and warn Como not to abuse his newly acquired “righteousness.”
• The kingdoms remain temporarily united by their shared secret: they helped create or support the fake emperor and fear that Como may exploit the situation. They still intend to eliminate the real Chen Cheng of the Northern Frontier before deciding who will rule the coming Imperial Age.
• During the demonstrations, Chen Cheng Two behaves so convincingly as an emperor that even Como XIII feels as though the old Empire has truly returned. He also prevents serious casualties and settles disputes between nations.
• When the Hazy Kingdom’s turn arrives, Chen Cheng Two summons its Crown Prince—who is actually Chen Cheng in disguise—to speak privately. Using a Phase Shifter, Chen Cheng Two ensures that outsiders see only what they expect and cannot hear or perceive the truth.
• The two versions of Chen Cheng finally confront one another. Chen Cheng confirms that Chen Cheng Two has monitored his life and asks whether his rebirth was transmigration or a virtual reality experiment.
• Chen Cheng Two explains that neither description is fully accurate. The particles and waves that formed Chen Cheng’s consciousness were transferred into his current body, but the precise control governing his present existence is far more complicated.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Moves from suspicion and anxiety to partial reassurance after learning that the apparent “emperor” understands his true identity and has protected their conversation. He remains practical and self-aware, joking about the discomfort of looking directly at his own face. His questions show that he is actively seeking the truth behind his reincarnation and connection to the Ancient Civilization.
• Chen Cheng Two: Fully embraces the role of emperor, displaying authority, intelligence, restraint, and political skill. Beneath his imperial performance, however, he reveals jealousy and helplessness. He believes Chen Cheng has more control over his fate, while he is merely being dragged along by predetermined commands.
• Como XIII: Gains confidence from possessing the apparent emperor’s authority and tries to use the situation to dominate the other kingdoms. His anger reveals that he wants recognition and power, but the other rulers’ warnings remind him that his position remains dependent on the larger political struggle.
• Other Kings: Although they initially react with fear, they quickly return to political maneuvering. Their cooperation is pragmatic rather than sincere, and they remain focused on eliminating the real Chen Cheng and competing for future supremacy.

Significant Themes

• Identity and duplication: The meeting between Chen Cheng and Chen Cheng Two raises questions about which version is authentic and what defines a person—their body, memories, consciousness, or fate.
• Fate versus free will: Chen Cheng Two feels controlled by destiny, while Chen Cheng appears to possess greater agency. The chapter suggests that both may be subject to hidden forces.
• Political legitimacy and performance: Chen Cheng Two’s authority depends on appearance, ritual, and the willingness of others to accept him as emperor. Yet his convincing behavior gives the performance real political power.
• Truth versus perception: The Phase Shifter literally causes people to see what they expect, reinforcing the idea that political and personal realities are shaped by perception.
• The mystery of transmigration: Chen Cheng’s rebirth is revealed to involve the transfer of the physical basis of consciousness rather than a simple soul migration or simulated existence, though the exact mechanism remains unexplained.

Important Character Interactions

• The rulers of Chamo, Engla, and other kingdoms confront Como XIII, warning him not to misuse the fake emperor or pretend to be genuinely loyal.
• Chen Cheng Two questions the participating rulers and settles disputes, establishing himself as a capable and benevolent sovereign.
• Chen Cheng and Chen Cheng Two meet privately on the platform. Their conversation shifts from cautious recognition to an intimate discussion of identity, surveillance, reincarnation, and the forces controlling their lives.
• Chen Cheng Two’s envy of Chen Cheng introduces emotional tension between the two identical figures, even though neither openly treats the other as an enemy.

Chapter Summary: “Joke”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng Two explains that Chen Cheng’s experiences are not occurring in a virtual or digital simulation. This reassures Chen Cheng, who had feared that his memories, relationships, and emotions were artificial.
• Chen Cheng questions Chen Cheng Two’s identity, since he has no memory of having a brother who looks exactly like him.
• Chen Cheng Two reveals that the Ancient Civilization has already disappeared and that he is merely a special archive containing some of its remnants or knowledge.
• He compares the Ancient Civilization’s experiment to Schrödinger’s cat, explaining that they supposedly expanded the thought experiment to a macroscopic scale encompassing a universe 93 billion light-years across.
• Chen Cheng rejects this explanation as absurd. He argues that preventing decoherence on such a scale would require impossible amounts of energy and violate the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
• Chen Cheng Two then connects the experiment to the Big Bang, claiming that the quantum vacuum itself supplied the necessary energy through a fluctuation that created something from nothing.
• Chen Cheng sees this as an outrageous and deliberately mocking explanation rather than a genuine answer. Feeling betrayed and desperate for the truth, he grabs Chen Cheng Two by the collar and threatens to kill him unless he explains what really happened.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Initially relieved that his world is real, he quickly becomes suspicious and increasingly distressed. His need for a rational explanation is tied to the overwhelming memories of his previous life and repeated reincarnations. When Chen Cheng Two offers what he considers an insulting explanation, Chen Cheng loses control and resorts to violence and a death threat.
• Chen Cheng Two: Presents himself as a sorrowful remnant of the Ancient Civilization rather than a malicious impostor. He claims not to know whether his memories are complete and explains the civilization’s history through analogies involving quantum mechanics and the Big Bang. His calm, seemingly cryptic explanations deepen Chen Cheng’s frustration.

Significant Themes

• Reality versus simulation: Chen Cheng’s greatest relief comes from learning that his experiences are not digitally fabricated, emphasizing his fear that his entire existence might be artificial.
• The limits of human understanding: The chapter contrasts Chen Cheng’s scientific knowledge with phenomena so vast and strange that conventional physics seems inadequate.
• The burden of memory and identity: Chen Cheng’s accumulated memories from past lives threaten his sanity, making the need for an explanation psychologically essential.
• Civilizational decline and loss: Despite the Ancient Civilization’s godlike technology, it has vanished, leaving only incomplete archives and unanswered questions.
• Mockery and despair: The title reflects Chen Cheng’s belief that the Ancient Civilization’s explanation is a cruel joke, particularly because it trivializes the enormous mysteries and suffering surrounding his existence.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Chen Cheng Two engage in a tense philosophical and scientific discussion about the Ancient Civilization, quantum superposition, the Big Bang, and the origin of energy.
• Chen Cheng begins by questioning Chen Cheng Two as an equal, but their interaction becomes increasingly adversarial as Chen Cheng dismisses his explanations as lies.
• The conversation ends with Chen Cheng physically seizing Chen Cheng Two and threatening him, marking a sharp escalation from intellectual debate to open desperation and confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “Pocket Universe”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng confronts Chen Cheng Two, threatening to kill him. Instead of being frightened, Chen Cheng Two breaks down laughing and reveals that he has developed a profound desire to die.
• Chen Cheng Two explains that his despair comes from the discoveries and conclusions reached by the ancient civilization. He warns Chen Cheng particularly about the Attendants from the Kingdom of Como.
• Their conversation is cut short because the Phase Box/Phase Converter is nearly out of energy. Chen Cheng asks whether the ancient civilization truly carried out the terrible events they are associated with, or merely understood them. Chen Cheng Two cryptically replies that Chen Cheng already knows the answer.
• The platform reconnects with reality, making it seem as though nothing unusual has happened. Chen Cheng Two resumes sitting on the dragon throne, while Sean—still disguised as Chen Cheng—appears to be receiving a reprimand.
• The martial exhibition concludes. The Hazy Kingdom wins the individual competition eight to six and sweeps all three team matches.
• Chen Cheng returns to his seat deeply shaken, unable to focus on the Grand Council. He realizes that the terrifying implication of Chen Cheng Two’s words may be that their entire universe is a “pocket universe”—a contained experiment created by a vastly superior civilization.
• The council concludes quickly over the next two days. The Kingdom of Moss improves its ranking through strong team performances, while Fini becomes one of the event’s most impressive young talents after defeating an Epic Rank mage with her inherited Forbidden Spell.
• After Chen Cheng Two sees Chen Cheng’s emotional reaction and Fini’s continued attachment to him, he decides to accelerate his plan, believing that doing so may bring release to himself and everyone else.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng shifts from confusion and suspicion to existential terror. The idea that his universe may be an experiment—and that entire civilizations could be insignificant specimens within it—fundamentally threatens his understanding of reality.
• Chen Cheng Two is revealed to be emotionally broken and actively seeking death. Although he provides Chen Cheng with crucial information, he remains cryptic and appears determined to continue a dangerous plan.
• Fini has matured significantly during the nearly five years since Chen Cheng last saw her. She has become more formidable, disciplined, and emotionally restrained, but still clearly cares about Chen Cheng.
• The King of the Marquis Kingdom shows concern for Chen Cheng, mistakenly assuming that his poor condition resulted from the King of Hazy Kingdom’s reprimand. Their conversation also reflects the political anxieties of lesser kingdoms facing the emergence of an Emperor.
• Chen Cheng Two recognizes the emotional tragedy between Chen Cheng and Fini and feels regret that they cannot reunite openly.

Significant Themes

• Existential insignificance: The pocket-universe revelation suggests that entire civilizations may be no more than objects in an experiment, making ordinary political struggles seem microscopic.
• Despair and the desire for release: Chen Cheng Two’s death wish reflects the psychological burden of knowledge that cannot be escaped or undone.
• Reality versus appearance: The Phase Converter makes the encounter seem dreamlike, yet Chen Cheng’s physical and emotional reaction confirms that it truly occurred.
• Knowledge and responsibility: Learning the truth does not immediately empower Chen Cheng; instead, it leaves him horrified and uncertain about what action remains possible.
• Separation and concealed relationships: Chen Cheng and Fini still care about each other, but disguises, political circumstances, and Chen Cheng Two’s identity prevent them from openly reconnecting.
• The limits of power: Even powerful beings and civilizations may be insignificant when viewed from the perspective of a higher-order civilization.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Chen Cheng Two engage in a tense, emotionally charged confrontation, with Chen Cheng seeking answers and Chen Cheng Two offering warnings and cryptic revelations.
• Chen Cheng and the King of the Marquis Kingdom share a brief supportive exchange, though Chen Cheng conceals the real source of his distress.
• Fini’s performance draws Chen Cheng’s intense attention, and her glance toward Chen Cheng Two reveals that she still longs for Chen Cheng.
• Chen Cheng Two watches Fini and reflects sadly on the doomed or obstructed relationship between her and Chen Cheng.
• The martial exhibition demonstrates strong cooperation among the Moss Kingdom’s team competitors, particularly the A Da brothers and the Mei Family Five Brothers.

Chapter Summary: “A Petition to Go to War”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Como XIII publicly interrupts the martial display to present “urgent military intelligence” before all the assembled rulers.
• Chen Chengtwo, recognizing the move as prearranged, maintains the appearance of respect and cooperation by praising Como XIII and allowing him to speak.
• Como XIII delivers a lengthy memorial accusing the Great Wall Army and its false emperor in the north of:
  • Colluding with the Orcs
  • Slaughtering one million soldiers from the five great kingdoms
  • Seizing the entire Northern Frontier
• The five great kingdoms formally accept responsibility for their defeat, then petition Chen Chengtwo to mobilize the nations, punish the rebels, reclaim the Northern Frontier, and eliminate the northern false emperor.
• Their request is part of a larger political plan: they intend to use the war to weaken or remove Chen Chengtwo once the Northern Frontier has been dealt with.
• A punitive coalition begins to form. The five great kingdoms exclude weaker nations from sending armies, requiring them instead to contribute Epic Rank experts, supplies, and logistical support. This allows the great kingdoms to retain future military and territorial advantages.
• Chen Chengtwo approves the coalition’s arrangements, though he privately worries about the enormous number of Legendary Rank experts possessed by the five kingdoms and whether the Great Wall Army can withstand their attack.
• After the conference, the smaller kingdoms leave bitter and anxious, knowing the coming war will drain their wealth despite having little power to resist.
• Elsewhere, Bourne and Dolong exploit Mo Nan’s absence to carry out a coup in Fildor. They remove Grand Duke Russoff and take control of Northern Wasteland Province.
• Russoff is later assassinated in a border military camp by killers arranged by Mondy, while Dolong becomes a trusted official of Fildor’s king. Chen Cheng’s western political strategy proceeds successfully.

Character Developments

• Como XIII reveals himself as a calculating political operator. He uses the public conference to remind everyone—including Chen Chengtwo—that the five great kingdoms still hold the real power.
• Chen Chengtwo continues acting deferential toward Como XIII, despite distrusting and despising him. He understands that openly confronting the old minister before securing victory would be dangerous.
• Chen Cheng becomes increasingly concerned about the military threat posed by the five great kingdoms. His previous confidence in the Great Wall is shaken by the coalition’s large number of Legendary Rank experts.
• Dolong rises politically, transforming from an operative into a trusted minister within Fildor.
• Grand Duke Russoff loses both his province and army, then is eliminated to prevent any future resistance.

Significant Themes

• Political manipulation and false appearances: The conference is presented as a loyal petition to the emperor, but it is actually a carefully designed attempt to control or eventually overthrow him.
• Power behind legitimacy: Though Chen Chengtwo sits on the imperial platform, Como XIII emphasizes that real authority still belongs to the five great kingdoms and their allies.
• War as political strategy: The proposed campaign is not solely about recovering lost territory. It is also meant to redistribute power, secure military merit, and preserve the kingdoms’ claims to future conquest.
• The burden placed on weaker nations: Small kingdoms are compelled to fund the war while being denied meaningful influence, showing how great powers exploit subordinate states.
• Survival under uncertainty: Chen Cheng reflects on the “cat in a box” metaphor, recognizing that the Northern Frontier’s civilization is racing to develop before its fate is decided.
• Calculated violence and control: Assassination, coups, and military threats are treated as normal tools of statecraft.

Character Interactions

• Como XIII and Chen Chengtwo: Their exchange is outwardly respectful but internally hostile. Como XIII uses formal loyalty to assert dominance, while Chen Chengtwo cooperates publicly to conceal his resistance.
• The five great kingdoms and Como XIII: They unite behind Como XIII’s petition, temporarily setting aside their usual infighting to pursue war against the Northern Frontier.
• The coalition and weaker nations: The great kingdoms pressure smaller states into providing experts and supplies while sparing them from direct combat, maintaining control without provoking rebellion.
• Chen Cheng and the Great Wall Army: Chen Cheng worries whether Ye Rong and the other defenders can survive the impending invasion, highlighting the growing pressure on the northern side.
• Bourne, Dolong, and Fildor: They use prearranged political contacts and intelligence operations to replace Russoff and install Dolong as a trusted figure in the kingdom.

Chapter Summary: “The Return”

Key Plot Points and Events

• News of the Grand Council’s events spreads rapidly through Como. The Administrative Council announces a year-long exemption from national land taxes, reducing taxes and corvée labor for ordinary people.
• The populace celebrates the Emperor’s supposed return and praises Chen Chengtwo and Como XIII, believing the Empire has been restored.
• Chen Cheng returns to the official inn, checks on Anthony—who has been forced to impersonate the King of Hazy—and changes back into his original appearance.
• Rommel confronts Chen Cheng and demands the return of the Hazy Kingdom’s King and Crown Prince. Chen Cheng agrees, explaining that Anthony was coerced and asking Rommel to show him mercy.
• Chen Cheng praises Rommel’s abilities and suggests that the Hazy Kingdom may still have hope under his leadership before mysteriously vanishing.
• The real King and Crown Prince suddenly appear unconscious at the inn’s entrance. Rommel realizes that Chen Cheng has fulfilled his promise with terrifying speed.
• To conceal the deception, Rommel claims that the man inside is merely the King’s double and threatens anyone who reveals the truth. Anthony remains unaware that Chen Cheng has effectively abandoned him to the Hazy Kingdom’s judgment.
• Chen Cheng explains that he did not kill the King and Crown Prince because he had already harmed them sufficiently. He uses Lokasky to frighten them into silence, since they could potentially identify him.
• After leaving the inn, Chen Cheng disguises himself again and visits the Adventurer’s Guild, where many Godseekers and representatives of secluded Legendary Rank experts have gathered.
• The gathered experts are disturbed by the apparent return of the Emperor. They fear the restoration of the Empire because Legendary Rank beings would once again be forced into dangerous missions and obligations under the Demigod Temple.
• Without realizing it, the Godseekers begin accepting Chen Chengtwo’s legitimacy. Their belief serves Como XIII’s political strategy: if the secluded Legendary Rank experts acknowledge the “Emperor,” Como XIII’s faction gains decisive influence within the existing power structure.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng remains calculating and controlled. He fulfills his promises but manipulates every situation to his advantage, sparing the Hazy King and Crown Prince while using Lokasky to suppress their knowledge of his identity.
• Rommel demonstrates loyalty and pragmatism. Although he cannot comprehend Chen Cheng’s power, he quickly adapts by concealing the existence of the fake King and protecting the stability of his kingdom.
• Anthony is left in a vulnerable position after being forced to impersonate the King. Chen Cheng considers his promise fulfilled but does not rescue him from possible punishment.
• Como XIII emerges as a skilled political strategist. His staged miracle and exploitation of public belief allow him to gain the support of powerful Legendary Rank figures without openly confronting them.
• The Godseekers and Legendary Rank experts are shown to fear the loss of their independence. Their emotional reaction to the Emperor’s return makes them susceptible to Como XIII’s manipulation.

Significant Themes

• Political power through belief: The public’s acceptance of the Emperor’s return becomes more important than whether the return is genuine. Perception is treated as a political weapon.
• Manipulation and indirect control: Como XIII and Chen Cheng influence events through deception, appearances, and carefully managed information rather than direct force.
• Freedom versus obligation: Legendary Rank experts resent the Empire because its authority turns their power into compulsory service, making imperial restoration a threat to their independence.
• The burden of authority: The return of an Emperor affects not only commoners and kingdoms but also the strongest beings in the world, forcing them to reconsider their status and responsibilities.
• Mercy mixed with pragmatism: Chen Cheng chooses not to kill the Hazy King and Crown Prince, but his mercy is still strategic, designed to protect his identity and limit future resistance.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Rommel have a tense but respectful exchange. Rommel demands the royal family’s return, while Chen Cheng sets the terms and advises him to spare Anthony.
• Chen Cheng indirectly interacts with the Hazy King and Crown Prince through Lokasky, returning them while ensuring they are intimidated into silence.
• Chen Cheng’s treatment of Anthony reveals the limits of his compassion: he acknowledges Anthony’s coercion but leaves his fate to Rommel and the Hazy Kingdom.
• Como XIII does not appear directly but exerts influence over the entire city and the Adventurer’s Guild through the fabricated imperial return, turning the beliefs of the Godseekers into political support.

Summary

Chen Cheng enters the guild hall and realizes why Como XIII publicized the God Ascender’s appearance: the older powers have been manipulating events through layered schemes. The appearance of Chen Cheng Two confirms that the Ancient Civilization behind the Civilization Salvation Plan has begun acting openly. Chen Cheng acknowledges that he cannot resist beings capable of copying and iterating his memories and consciousness, and he remains uncertain whether his own identity and memories are genuine. Since the powerful planners apparently do not want the “cat” to die, he decides to stop overthinking their schemes and act more freely.
Using Lokasky’s token, Chen Cheng meets him privately. Lokasky admits that Chen Cheng Two made him question whether he had been deceived, especially since the duplicate resembles Chen Cheng and may even be more serious and emperor-like. Chen Cheng conceals the truth about the duplicate, fearing that revealing their world’s artificial nature could cause chaos or lead to the destruction and reset of everyone involved.
Their conversation shifts to recent events. Chen Cheng thanks Lokasky for helping him deal with Hun Mo, while Lokasky says Chen Cheng’s willingness to avoid unnecessary killing proves that his favorable opinion of him was justified. Lokasky then offers Chen Cheng an excuse to leave before the Church interferes further: an expedition to the Sea Clan Ruins, which Lokasky claims to have genuine information about after subduing a Tuo Dragon.
Chen Cheng tries to persuade Lokasky by emphasizing the ruins’ possible treasure, particularly the Sea Clan royal battle armor. He points out that the armor could protect Mei Luo, Lokasky’s daughter, who is only at Epic Rank and remains isolated in the Kingdom of Moss despite her strained relationship with her father. Lokasky recognizes the emotional pressure but accepts the proposal, demanding a set of royal armor—or an equivalent reward—in exchange for his participation. Chen Cheng considers the demand excessive but agrees inwardly, planning to recover the cost later through Akasto and the Dojo.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Chen Cheng: Becomes more carefree and reckless after realizing he cannot control the Ancient Civilization’s plans. He remains secretive about Chen Cheng Two and cleverly manipulates Lokasky by invoking concern for Mei Luo.
• Lokasky: Grows suspicious of Chen Cheng because of the duplicate but still trusts his character and judgment. His concern for Mei Luo reveals a hidden paternal attachment beneath his pragmatic, bargaining personality.
• Chen Cheng Two: Though absent, he continues to influence events as a seemingly superior or more authoritative duplicate of Chen Cheng.
• Mei Luo: Does not appear directly, but her vulnerability and troubled relationship with Lokasky become central to Chen Cheng’s persuasion.
• Chen Cheng and Lokasky: Their exchange mixes suspicion, teasing, mutual respect, and negotiation. Chen Cheng seeks cooperation without revealing the truth, while Lokasky agrees only after securing a valuable reward.

Significant Themes

• Identity and authenticity: Chen Cheng questions whether he is truly himself or a manufactured reincarnation.
• Manipulation and hidden plans: The chapter emphasizes that powerful civilizations and political factions operate through elaborate schemes.
• Freedom versus control: Unable to oppose the Ancient Civilization directly, Chen Cheng chooses to act according to his own desires.
• Family and emotional leverage: Mei Luo’s safety becomes both a genuine concern and a tool Chen Cheng uses to influence Lokasky.
• Trust amid uncertainty: Despite deception and suspicion, Chen Cheng and Lokasky continue cooperating because of shared history and mutual respect.

Chapter Summary: “Sold It All”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng and Lokasky discuss the impending opening of the ruins and the political consequences surrounding it. Chen Cheng warns Lokasky not to become entangled with the people outside the guild, whom he views as cowardly opportunists and former-dynasty holdouts.
• Lokasky argues that these former retainers are Chen Cheng’s responsibility, but Chen Cheng rejects them, insisting that their refusal to fight for the realm makes them effectively disloyal.
• Before Chen Cheng leaves, Lokasky gives him identification papers that will allow him to meet Samlet openly. Lokasky then secretly orders his subordinate to deal with the troublemakers outside.
• The guild’s silence causes several perceptive figures, including Black Tiger Venerable and A Bei, to realize that Lokasky plans to sacrifice the agitators for his own advantage.
• Hisslaj and the knight order soon surround the guild. Everyone involved in slandering the “Emperor” is arrested and has their powers sealed. Because many prisoners are backed by Legendary Rank forces, the Kingdom gains leverage over powerful factions.
• Black Tiger Venerable is shocked by Lokasky’s ruthlessness and concludes that the Kingdom of Como is becoming dangerous. He agrees to leave with his group but first decides to track down and defeat the person who badly injured Black Bear.
• Chen Cheng travels to the bamboo grove at the Royal Academy, where Fisher Doge is guarding Samlet. After secretly revealing his bloodline aura, Chen Cheng is admitted under the false identity of “Mino.”
• Fisher Doge seals the courtyard, while Samlet adds further protective restrictions. Samlet reassures Chen Cheng that the new emperor is unquestionably an impostor, since the former emperor and empress had only one child: Chen Cheng.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Shows uncompromising revolutionary ideals. He rejects half-hearted loyalty and refuses to accept responsibility for former retainers who failed to support the struggle. He also proceeds cautiously, disguising himself while seeking confirmation and support from Samlet.
• Lokasky: Reveals himself to be highly pragmatic and ruthless. Rather than defend the guild’s troublemakers, he sacrifices them to strengthen his own position and gain political leverage for the Kingdom.
• Black Tiger Venerable: Demonstrates strong loyalty to his companions, especially Black Bear. Though alarmed by the political situation, he prioritizes avenging his injured brother before departing.
• A Bei: Displays political insight, quickly recognizing Lokasky’s scheme and advising the group to leave Como before civil conflict erupts.
• Samlet: Remains firmly loyal to Chen Cheng and the former imperial line. He anticipates Chen Cheng’s doubts and immediately confirms that the rival emperor is false.
• Fisher Doge: Continues acting as Samlet’s protector, balancing an outward appearance of hostility with secret loyalty to Chen Cheng.

Significant Themes

• Absolute loyalty versus betrayal: The chapter emphasizes Chen Cheng’s belief that revolution allows no middle ground. Those who fail to actively support the cause are treated as disloyal.
• Political opportunism: Lokasky’s actions show how powerful leaders exploit crises, abandoning allies when doing so increases their influence.
• Power through arrests and leverage: The Kingdom’s suppression of the guild’s members is not merely punishment; it gives the regime indirect control over the Legendary Rank figures behind them.
• Loyalty and brotherhood: Black Tiger’s willingness to risk himself for Black Bear contrasts with the guild’s opportunism and highlights genuine personal loyalty.
• Identity and legitimacy: The dispute over the true emperor remains central. Samlet’s statement reinforces Chen Cheng’s rightful claim and frames the other ruler as a fabricated puppet.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Lokasky exchange hostile but strategic remarks, each warning the other not to shift blame or involve unwanted allies.
• Black Tiger and A Bei analyze Lokasky’s betrayal, with A Bei interpreting events more clearly and Black Tiger reacting emotionally.
• Black Tiger reassures Black Bear by promising revenge, strengthening their bond as brothers.
• Chen Cheng secretly reconnects with Fisher Doge, who recognizes him through his aura despite the disguise.
• Chen Cheng and Samlet meet privately, and Samlet reaffirms his loyalty and confirms Chen Cheng’s unique imperial lineage.