Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Fortune Aura”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng reassures Samlet that he has no alternative but to follow his current path, easing Samlet’s concern that Chen Cheng might be acting against his own beliefs.
• Chen Cheng asks Samlet about the extraordinary power used by the false emperor to suppress the Legendary Rank figures. Samlet identifies it as Fortune Aura, an ancient imperial technique once known only to the Empire’s Former Emperors.
• Fortune Aura is formed from the collective will, support, and hopes of a nation’s people. It can be stored in an Imperial Seal and temporarily transform an ordinary ruler into a Transcendent, making the bearer nearly invincible.
• Samlet explains that the false emperor’s ability to invoke Fortune Aura is mysterious because only a true Majesty or a king possessing an Imperial Seal should be capable of using it. Chen Cheng suspects the false emperor may possess his knowledge as a perfect replica or may be controlled by Como the Thirteenth or Smog.
• Samlet describes Fortune Aura’s serious weaknesses: the bearer remains mortal and has an ordinary lifespan, while any loss of public faith causes devastating backlash.
• He recounts how the Former Emperors tied their lives to the welfare of the people. During the rebellion against the Thirteenth Emperor, propaganda, Church interference, invasion, and public uncertainty caused Fortune Aura to turn against him, nearly killing him.
• Chen Cheng reflects on the Empire’s eight centuries of prosperity and recognizes that its Former Emperors genuinely sacrificed themselves for the people. He connects their philosophy to the ideal of worrying before the people and rejoicing only after them.
• Chen Cheng concludes that the Thirteenth Emperor’s attempt to break the Transcendent class monopoly was likely a final effort to reform the Empire. The entrenched ruling class resisted, causing the backlash that destroyed him.
• Samlet breaks down in tears when Chen Cheng acknowledges the greatness and sacrifices of the Former Emperors.
• Chen Cheng argues that although the emperors were admirable, they were also mistaken to place the people’s happiness entirely on one ruler. People should fight for their own happiness, while rulers should create the conditions that allow them to do so.
• The chapter ends by criticizing the people’s dependence on imperial charity. Having grown accustomed to being cared for, they treated prosperity as an entitlement and quickly turned against the emperor when rumors threatened their comfortable lives.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates increasing political insight and empathy. He understands both the nobility and fatal weakness of the Former Emperors’ governing philosophy, while maintaining a more practical belief in personal responsibility.
• Samlet is revealed as deeply loyal to the Former Emperors and emotionally scarred by the Empire’s collapse. His grief shows that he still reveres the old imperial order, but Chen Cheng’s reasoning helps him confront its flaws.
• The Thirteenth Emperor is portrayed more sympathetically. His failed reform was not necessarily foolish or unforeseen; he may have knowingly risked everything to dismantle entrenched class privilege.
• The false emperor becomes more mysterious and threatening because he can use a power supposedly restricted to legitimate imperial rulers.

Significant Themes

• Power derived from public belief: Fortune Aura symbolizes the strength—and instability—of collective faith and political legitimacy.
• The burden of rulership: The Former Emperors literally tied their lives to their people’s happiness, presenting leadership as total self-sacrifice.
• The danger of dependence: A society that relies entirely on a benevolent ruler may become passive, entitled, and incapable of defending its own freedom.
• Reform versus entrenched privilege: The Thirteenth Emperor’s downfall illustrates how attempts to equalize power can provoke resistance from the very class benefiting from the old system.
• The instability of collective opinion: Public support can empower a ruler, but fear, rumors, and manipulation can instantly transform that support into destructive backlash.
• Greatness and foolishness: Chen Cheng recognizes that noble intentions do not guarantee wise governance; sacrificing oneself for the people may preserve peace temporarily while preventing them from becoming self-reliant.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng reassures Samlet before questioning him, establishing trust between them.
• Samlet explains Fortune Aura with emotional reverence, while Chen Cheng analyzes it more critically and politically.
• Chen Cheng’s recognition of the Former Emperors’ sacrifices validates Samlet’s deepest beliefs and causes him to weep.
• Chen Cheng comforts Samlet physically and then challenges his idealized view of imperial rule, arguing that rulers should guide and protect rather than personally bear all responsibility for the people’s happiness.

Chapter Summary: The Essence of Fortune Aura

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng questions why the kingdoms, despite possessing powerful Fortune Aura, are devastated rather than prosperous like the ancient Empire.
• Samlet explains that the kingdom rulers deliberately avoided fully relying on Fortune Aura. They treated it as an emergency weapon, severing their connection afterward to minimize its backlash.
• The rulers instead pursued conventional magic, Battle Aura, and longevity methods, which could increase strength without the dangers and life-shortening effects associated with Fortune Aura.
• Samlet reveals that the supposed “false emperor” cannot be legitimized without the ancient Imperial Seal and a formal coronation ceremony. Such a ceremony would release and gather a vast amount of the Empire’s Fortune Aura.
• He proposes that Chen Cheng use the divine sword and a secret technique to reclaim the Fortune Aura accumulated by the rebellious rulers.
• Chen Cheng worries that the backlash would kill him before he became powerful enough to benefit from it.
• Samlet explains that Chen Cheng is different from previous emperors because he has already ascended to godhood. According to the original Secret Fortune Method, a God Ascender can absorb Fortune Aura without being controlled or harmed by the people’s collective will.
• Samlet teaches Chen Cheng the incantation and offers to sever his connection to the Fortune Aura if anything goes wrong. Chen Cheng accepts, hoping to strengthen himself before entering the dangerous “blind box” alongside Lokasky.
• After studying the method, Chen Cheng realizes that Fortune Aura is essentially a refined form of collective faith directed toward a ruler rather than a god.
• He further concludes that the ancient civilization likely researched Fortune Aura as part of its investigation into Faith, divine power, and the process of ascending to godhood.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng becomes more cautious but also more willing to take risks for greater strength. He recognizes the political rulers’ intelligence and ruthlessness, while remaining suspicious of Samlet’s claims.
• His status as a God Ascender is revealed to give him a major advantage over ordinary emperors: he can use Fortune Aura without suffering its normal spiritual backlash.
• Chen Cheng demonstrates growing analytical insight by connecting Fortune Aura to the concept of Faith explained by Brother Octopus.
• Samlet continues to act as a loyal guide and advisor. He clarifies the hidden rules of Fortune Aura, reveals secrets passed down from the ancient emperors, and offers to protect Chen Cheng during the experiment.
• The ancient emperors, particularly the First, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth, are shown to have preserved and transmitted knowledge about Fortune Aura’s true nature.

Significant Themes

• Power and political calculation: Rulers avoid relying on Fortune Aura because maintaining power requires balancing strength, lifespan, and risk.
• Faith as a source of power: Fortune Aura is revealed to be collective belief in a ruler, refined into usable energy.
• Godhood versus mortality: Ordinary humans are vulnerable to the chaotic will of the masses, while a God Ascender can remain independent of it.
• Knowledge from ancient civilizations: The Fortune Aura Method appears to be part of the ancient civilization’s systematic study of supernatural forces and ascension.
• Trust and suspicion: Chen Cheng trusts Samlet enough to accept the method but remains alert to the possibility that he is being led into danger.
• Science and the supernatural: Chen Cheng recognizes that even divine power and Faith leave observable traces and can be studied methodically.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng challenges Samlet about the apparent failure of Fortune Aura to benefit the kingdoms.
• Samlet explains the rulers’ strategy and then reveals the weakness in their plan involving the false emperor’s coronation.
• Chen Cheng expresses fear of Fortune Aura’s backlash, prompting Samlet to explain the special protection granted by godhood.
• Samlet transmits the secret incantation to Chen Cheng and offers to intervene if the technique becomes dangerous.
• Chen Cheng internally connects Samlet’s explanation with Brother Octopus’s teachings about Faith, deepening his understanding of Fortune Aura and the ancient civilization’s research.

Chapter Summary: “A New Source of Power”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After being disqualified, Chen Cheng realizes that Fortune Aura—the collective faith and thoughts of living beings—can serve as a new source of power. Because he has completed Soul Ascension, he can absorb purified faith without suffering Faith Contamination.
• Samlet offers Chen Cheng shelter in his courtyard, where Chen Cheng begins practicing the secret method for gathering and purifying Fortune Aura. Samlet trains outside while Felsher Doug removes the courtyard’s lockdown.
• Chen Cheng gathers thoughts from the densely populated Royal Capital and condenses them into Fortune Aura. He discovers that neutralizing the chaotic Will of All Beings requires an enormous amount of spiritual power, explaining why Imperial Seals and precious jade are traditionally used to store and gradually purify Fortune Aura.
• Elsewhere, Mekas gathers a different form of Fortune Aura, separating it into clusters based on the emotions of various groups. She intends to use these emotions to complete the refinement of her Tainted Spirit Orb.
• Mekas plans to exploit the upcoming coronation of the false emperor, when the beliefs of the five kingdoms will converge and the Imperial Seal will absorb vast amounts of Fortune Aura.
• Holmes reveals that he has investigated Mekas and gives her an Image Recording Crystal containing evidence of her identity as an alchemist. He advises her to conceal her abilities until war begins, when she can go to the front lines and operate with less scrutiny.
• Mekas destroys the crystal and begins questioning Holmes’s motives, suspecting that his actions may be connected to the mysterious Captain Smog and the Shadow Guard.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Becomes more confident and pragmatic after discovering a reliable replacement for his lost power source. His completed Soul Ascension allows him to safely process faith that would destroy ordinary people. He also begins actively experimenting with a powerful and dangerous technique.
• Samlet: Demonstrates loyalty and protectiveness toward Chen Cheng by offering him a secure place to recover and practice. He continues strengthening his body through Battle Aura training.
• Mekas: Advances her long-term plan to create the Tainted Spirit Orb, adapting her methods because the coming political upheaval is accelerating her timetable. She remains calculating and cautious, especially regarding the risks of exposure.
• Holmes: Shows that he has been monitoring Mekas while simultaneously warning and assisting her. His true intentions remain uncertain, suggesting he may be acting for personal reasons, higher authorities, or in connection with Captain Smog.
• Felsher Doug: Quietly supports the arrangement by maintaining security and removing the courtyard’s lockdown once Chen Cheng is safe.

Significant Themes

• Power through belief: Faith and collective thought function as a tangible energy source, blurring the boundary between religious belief, political authority, and magical power.
• The danger of collective consciousness: Unfiltered belief contains chaotic emotions and thoughts capable of destroying the mind, making purification essential.
• Political manipulation: The coming false emperor’s coronation is not merely ceremonial; it is an opportunity for powerful figures to harvest and manipulate the faith of entire kingdoms.
• Secrecy and surveillance: Mekas’s hidden identity, Holmes’s investigation, and the Shadow Guard’s mysteries emphasize the dangerous political environment.
• Moral ambiguity: The kingdom may condemn alchemy publicly while exploiting a powerful alchemist privately, showing that usefulness can outweigh ideology.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Samlet: Their exchange establishes mutual trust. Samlet gives Chen Cheng protection, while Chen Cheng accepts the shelter so he can master the Fortune Aura method.
• Samlet and Felsher Doug: Samlet signals that Chen Cheng is safe, prompting Felsher Doug to remove the lockdown.
• Mekas and Holmes: Holmes advises Mekas to dress conservatively and delay her plans, then gives her evidence of his investigation. Their relationship is complicated by suspicion, possible personal interest, and uncertain loyalties.
• Mekas and Chen Cheng II: Mekas is preparing to meet him while carefully managing her appearance and behavior, aware that both he and Como XIII may affect her plans.
• Mekas and Captain Smog: Although they do not interact directly, Mekas suspects Holmes’s actions may be related to the enigmatic leader of the Shadow Guard.

Chapter Summary: “Mekas Exposed”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mekas arrives at the newly built palace for Chen Cheng Two’s coronation and goes directly to the training hall, where Smog is guarding the entrance.
• Inside, Chen Cheng Two is preparing a basic restorative alchemical potion. The potion heals injuries by consuming the drinker’s lifespan, but inefficiently.
• Mekas immediately recognizes the potion and recalls more advanced alchemical techniques, revealing that she possesses extensive knowledge of alchemy despite publicly condemning it.
• Chen Cheng Two deliberately raises the subject of alchemy, arguing that its dangerous practices could be regulated and redirected toward helping society.
• He proposes replacing human test subjects with white mice and other animals, using standardized procedures and controlled dosages to make magical experimentation safer.
• Mekas continues to denounce alchemists, maintaining her false position even as Chen Cheng Two exposes the flaws in her arguments.
• Chen Cheng Two explains his broader revolutionary philosophy: violence alone cannot dismantle feudal society. True change requires the liberation of thought, especially among powerful supernatural beings whose influence can reshape society.
• He identifies the Church—not merely monarchs such as Como XIII—as the true obstacle, because it maintains the ideological system that keeps the old order in place.
• Chen Cheng Two reveals that he knows Mekas is an alchemist and is also aware of the mysterious figure or belief system she follows.
• Mekas reacts with alarm and prepares to attack, but Chen Cheng Two declares that he, like her, seeks true freedom and development—though he intends to change the rules so everyone can become free rather than waiting for someone else to grant freedom.

Character Developments

• Mekas: Her hidden identity as a master alchemist is effectively exposed. Although she presents herself as a fierce opponent of alchemy, her immediate recognition of the potion and knowledge of advanced techniques reveal her true expertise. Her confidence collapses when Chen Cheng Two demonstrates that he understands both her past and her beliefs.
• Chen Cheng Two: He emerges as a politically and ideologically ambitious reformer rather than merely a ruler or warrior. He advocates regulated experimentation, scientific progress, and freedom through systemic change. His ability to manipulate the conversation shows that he has intentionally tested Mekas and understood her deeper loyalties.
• Smog: Smog remains a loyal guard, enforcing Chen Cheng Two’s privacy while allowing Mekas to enter.
• The Church and the unseen believer: Though not physically present, both become important forces in the conflict. The Church represents the institution Chen Cheng Two believes must be destroyed, while Mekas’s faith is portrayed as passive and incapable of creating freedom in the present world.

Significant Themes

• Freedom through action versus freedom through faith: Chen Cheng Two argues that freedom cannot be postponed until after death or entrusted to a higher power; it must be created in the present through social and political change.
• Scientific progress and ethical regulation: The chapter questions whether dangerous knowledge should be rejected entirely or carefully controlled and used for the public good.
• Ideological liberation: Changing people’s beliefs and assumptions is presented as more fundamental than simply overthrowing rulers.
• Hypocrisy and concealment: Mekas condemns alchemy while possessing unparalleled alchemical knowledge, showing the tension between public ideology and private identity.
• Power and social transformation: Transcendent individuals have an outsized influence on society, so persuading or liberating them could help force reform throughout the wider world.
• Conflict with institutional authority: The Church, rather than the monarchy alone, is identified as the central structure preserving the existing order.

Important Character Interactions

• Mekas and Smog: Smog formally permits Mekas to enter while warning her not to disturb Chen Cheng Two’s cultivation.
• Mekas and Chen Cheng Two: Their conversation begins as a discussion of alchemy but becomes an ideological confrontation. Chen Cheng Two subtly tests Mekas, challenges her anti-alchemical stance, and eventually reveals that he knows her secrets.
• Mekas’s reaction: Once exposed, Mekas becomes frightened and defensive, summoning magical and alchemical power in preparation for possible conflict.
• Chen Cheng Two’s final declaration: He contrasts their approaches to freedom: Mekas waits for others to grant it, while he intends to transform society’s rules so that freedom becomes available to everyone.

Chapter Summary: Chen Cheng Two’s Plan and Purpose

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mekas leaves Chen Cheng Two after he implies that he knows her origins and threatens to summon Smog. He urges her to reconsider his earlier proposal, emphasizing that she is now a Legendary powerhouse rather than an ordinary person.
• Mekas remains skeptical, citing Samlet’s downfall as proof that great strength alone cannot guarantee survival. Outside, Smog notices her anger and offers permission for her to punish Chen Cheng Two, but she refuses and instead warns Smog to watch him closely.
• Smog confronts Chen Cheng Two over his treatment of Mekas and threatens to replace the bloodline inhabiting his body if he continues to act recklessly.
• A brief fight follows. Chen Cheng Two avoids Smog’s initial attack and uses the Kingdom Fortune Aura to pierce Smog’s defensive battle aura. Although Smog overpowers him and injures him, Chen Cheng Two reveals that he has discovered a potential way to counter Smog.
• Chen Cheng Two openly explains his reasoning: Smog cannot kill him because doing so would jeopardize the conspiracy involving Como XIII and the hidden master behind Smog. He also warns that any serious harm to him would bring consequences Smog’s master could not tolerate.
• Smog attempts to torture Chen Cheng Two by seizing his head. This activates a hidden memory-protection mechanism inside Chen Cheng Two, causing a devastating mental backlash. Three of Smog’s masks crack or shatter, and he vomits blood before fleeing.
• A brilliant sphere of light appears over the imperial palace, visible throughout the Royal Capital. It repairs Chen Cheng Two’s injuries and removes the negative effects on his mind.
• The sphere then touches Chen Cheng Two’s forehead despite his protests, creating another backup of his memories. Chen Cheng Two realizes that the entity now knows everything again and that resistance is hopeless.
• Expecting to be erased or reincarnated, Chen Cheng Two is surprised when the sphere simply disappears without harming him.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng Two grows increasingly confident and calculating. He deliberately provokes both Mekas and Smog, relying on his knowledge of the political conspiracy and the dangers of killing him. His apparent recklessness is revealed to be strategic, and he successfully tests a method for resisting Smog.
• Mekas becomes more unsettled and defensive after Chen Cheng Two exposes knowledge of her identity and reminds her of her Legendary status. Her anger masks anxiety about Smog and the forces controlling the situation.
• Smog shifts from an apparently controlled watcher to a visibly threatened opponent. His confidence is shaken when Chen Cheng Two’s memory defense damages him, suggesting that Smog’s powers or systems are unstable.
• The sphere of light/entity demonstrates overwhelming power by healing Chen Cheng Two, purging mental effects, and backing up his memories. Its decision not to erase him remains mysterious, increasing uncertainty about its goals and possible malfunction.

Significant Themes

• Power versus vulnerability: Even Legendary strength does not guarantee safety, while Chen Cheng Two survives through knowledge, leverage, and hidden protections.
• Manipulation and political conspiracy: Chen Cheng Two uses secrets about Como XIII and Smog’s master to make himself too valuable or dangerous to eliminate.
• Identity and memory: The chapter emphasizes memory backups, hidden safeguards, false identities, and the possibility that Chen Cheng Two’s existence can be copied, erased, or restored.
• Defiance against control: Chen Cheng Two repeatedly refuses to submit, even when facing overwhelming force. His resistance may be partly genuine courage and partly calculated bluffing.
• System failure and uncertainty: Smog and the radiant entity both appear to malfunction or behave unpredictably, suggesting that the mechanisms governing the world are unstable.

Important Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng Two and Mekas: He intimidates her by implying knowledge of her origins and Smog’s surveillance, then urges her to reconsider joining or accepting his plan. She leaves angry and unsettled.
• Mekas and Smog: Smog offers to let her punish Chen Cheng Two, but she rejects the offer and warns him that Chen Cheng Two is dangerous.
• Chen Cheng Two and Smog: Their confrontation becomes both a physical battle and a contest of intelligence. Chen Cheng Two’s threats and knowledge prevent Smog from killing him, while his memory-protection mechanism severely injures Smog.
• Chen Cheng Two and the sphere of light: The entity heals and restores him but also backs up his memories without consent. Chen Cheng Two recognizes that it possesses absolute control over him, yet its refusal to erase him leaves his fate unresolved.

Chapter Summary: “Smog’s Master”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the mysterious ball of light disappears, Holmes and several Legendary Rank Attendants arrive to investigate. They find no trace of Smog or any lingering energy.
• Chen Cheng Two pretends to be frightened and claims that Smog vanished after a strange light appeared. The Attendants assume Smog may have pursued an attacker.
• Holmes organizes additional protection for Chen Cheng Two and leaves to report the incident to Como XIII. The Attendants debate whether the Church or another force was responsible.
• Alone, Chen Cheng Two reflects on what happened. He realizes the unknown entity nearly manipulated Smog into killing him and had already searched through his memories. He worries about what the entity may do next.
• Smog returns severely wounded to a hidden spatial crevice. He reveals that powerful ancient figures had allowed the mysterious entity to take control of the situation, forcing him to use several masks to escape.
• The fragments of Smog’s masks form a phantom figure—his mysterious master. The master warns Smog that he was reckless and declares that, when the Apocalypse and its four knights appear, Smog must complete the “Holy Apocalypse” and ascend to the Divine Kingdom.
• Because six masks have been destroyed, Smog’s master grants him the Authority of Death. The resulting power disturbs the Law of Death across time and space.
• Brother Octopus senses the disturbance and urgently seeks out Chen Cheng. He leads Chen Cheng into the void, apparently needing his help with an important matter.
• After Chen Cheng’s divine avatar leaves his Divine Kingdom, his physical body enters a false-death state, alarming Samlet, who is guarding him.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng Two demonstrates greater caution and strategic awareness. He maintains his disguise before the Attendants while privately recognizing how close he came to being killed or manipulated.
• Holmes acts as a competent political and military leader, calming the Attendants, preserving Chen Cheng Two’s safety, and reporting the incident to the higher authorities.
• Smog is revealed to be far more powerful and ancient than previously suspected. His loyalty to his master is absolute, and his injuries expose the danger of the forces opposing him.
• Smog’s master emerges as an ominous divine figure connected to the Apocalypse, the four knights, and the Holy Apocalypse. His ability to grant Authority suggests immense power and a long-term plan.
• Chen Cheng continues investigating supernatural disturbances and willingly follows Brother Octopus despite the risks, showing trust and a willingness to respond to crises.
• Brother Octopus returns after a period of estrangement, implying that the new disturbance is serious enough to make him seek Chen Cheng’s assistance.

Significant Themes

• Deception and hidden identities: Chen Cheng Two conceals his true nature, while Smog’s ancient allegiance and master remain hidden from the Empire.
• Power beyond mortal understanding: The ball of light, the mysterious entity, Smog’s master, and the Authority of Death all challenge the Attendants’ confidence in their own strength.
• Apocalyptic destiny: References to the Apocalypse, four knights, and the Holy Apocalypse establish a larger cosmic plan.
• Loyalty and obedience: Smog’s reverence toward his master contrasts with the uncertainty and suspicion surrounding other factions.
• Vulnerability beneath authority: Despite their status, the Empire’s leaders are helpless before forces they cannot detect or comprehend.

Character Interactions

• Holmes questions Chen Cheng Two and reassures him while arranging his protection.
• The Attendants argue over the possible culprit, revealing political suspicion toward the Church.
• Chen Cheng Two privately considers his relationship with the unknown entity and worries about its access to his memories.
• Smog communicates with his master, accepting both criticism and the grant of Death’s Authority with intense devotion.
• Brother Octopus urgently summons Chen Cheng and leads him into the void, beginning a new and potentially dangerous investigation.

Chapter Summary: Reincarnation River

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng follows Brother Octopus through a void tunnel and arrives above the Reincarnation River, a vast current composed not of souls, but of the pain, resentment, and unwillingness of countless beings at the moment of death.
• Brother Octopus instructs Chen Cheng to enlarge himself and enter the river. To match him, Chen Cheng uses the Faith Binding Method, exploiting his identity as the Emperor of the Thornflower Empire to draw contaminated faith from the river.
• The influx of faith causes Chen Cheng’s Eyes-Closed Deity to expand from a normal size to an enormous ten million zhang. This demonstrates the overwhelming physical scale Divine Power can produce in the Present World.
• Chen Cheng and Brother Octopus enter the river, which remains impossibly vast despite their gigantic forms. Brother Octopus warns Chen Cheng not to release his Spiritual Sense or engage with the river’s contents, telling him to remain mentally still like a stone.
• After an unknown period, the river continues trembling, but Brother Octopus’s enemy does not appear. Brother Octopus urges Chen Cheng to move and make a disturbance, causing Chen Cheng to suspect another deception.
• Brother Octopus explains that if the Reincarnation River becomes unstable, its contaminated faith could leak into the Present World and mix with the longing of the deceased’s relatives. This could create ghostly beings and potentially lead to the rise of necromancer magic.
• Chen Cheng learns that his previous creation of Kui Niu’s ghostly form broke the world’s former taboo against ghosts. Reality consequently “reflected” that creation within the Reincarnation River.
• To investigate and help stabilize the situation, Chen Cheng opens his Divine Eye. This causes the river to erupt into enormous waves and reveals its underlying rules.
• Chen Cheng confirms that Brother Octopus was broadly correct: ghostlike entities exist within the river’s laws, though they can survive only inside the river and would perish if they left it.
• The Divine Eye also reveals the true source of the river’s trembling, setting up the next confrontation.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Demonstrates increasing mastery of faith and Divine Power, using his imperial identity to manipulate the river’s faith and expand his divine body. He remains cautious and suspicious of Brother Octopus, but is capable of admitting when he has misjudged him. Chen Cheng also begins recognizing the larger consequences of his past actions, particularly the creation of Kui Niu’s ghost.
• Brother Octopus: Reveals his role as a long-term guardian or cleaner of the Reincarnation River, attempting to prevent contaminated faith from producing ghosts. He remains evasive and manipulative, withholding part of the truth to persuade Chen Cheng to act, but his concern for the Present World and trust in Chen Cheng suggest genuine loyalty.
• Their relationship: Their interaction combines mutual distrust, insults, bargaining, and genuine brotherhood. Chen Cheng resents being used, while Brother Octopus relies on Chen Cheng’s power and moral sense. Despite their friction, Chen Cheng chooses to help once he understands the danger.

Significant Themes

• Faith as power and contamination: Faith can be harvested and weaponized, but knowledge and belief also allow one consciousness to invade or contaminate another.
• Consequences of creation: Chen Cheng’s attempt to preserve Kui Niu unintentionally altered the world’s laws and made ghostly existence possible.
• Reflection and reality: The world reproduces phenomena once they are created through sufficient authority and Divine Power, meaning seemingly impossible beings can become part of reality.
• The boundary between life and death: The Reincarnation River contains no conventional souls, only the final emotions and wills of the dead. Ghosts are revealed as unstable reflections rather than naturally existing spirits.
• Trust and manipulation: Brother Octopus’s partial deception highlights the tension between cooperation and self-preservation, while Chen Cheng’s willingness to help shows that distrust does not prevent loyalty.

Character Interactions

• Brother Octopus directs Chen Cheng’s actions and tries to persuade him to disturb the river.
• Chen Cheng challenges Brother Octopus’s motives, accusing him of exploiting their past exchange involving the Reincarnation Divine Core.
• Brother Octopus flatters Chen Cheng and appeals to the danger facing the Present World.
• Chen Cheng initially rejects the explanation but eventually acknowledges Brother Octopus’s loyalty and agrees to help.
• Their tense but cooperative exchange ends with Chen Cheng opening the Divine Eye and uncovering the river’s hidden structure and disturbance.

Chapter Summary: “Chen Cheng’s Speculative Conclusion”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Using the Divine Eye, Chen Cheng perceives the Reincarnation River as a physical river filled with ghostlike entities. When these “ghosts” leave the river, they collapse into pure Tainted Faith.
• He discovers that an unknown intruder is probing the riverbed through a straw-like connection, apparently attempting to steal or extract the Tainted Faith processed by reincarnation.
• Chen Cheng realizes that most of the world’s genuine faith belongs to the God of Light, while the Fortune Aura gathered by kingdoms is only an inferior substitute. The Reincarnation River may therefore be the last remaining source of accessible faith.
• Brother Octopus grows anxious because maintaining the Divine Eye and suppressing the river’s backlash are exhausting him. He urges Chen Cheng to intervene.
• Chen Cheng suggests that the intruder could be captured and made into a subordinate god, but Brother Octopus reveals that he is an Outer God and fears that excessive disturbance will attract a powerful being who may destroy him as an “Extraterrestrial Evil God.”
• Brother Octopus accidentally implies that this powerful entity will not dare confront Chen Cheng directly. From this, Chen Cheng connects the clues to the Ancient Civilization, the study of faith and godhood, and its mysterious leader, Elder Ke.
• Chen Cheng theorizes that Elder Ke may have become a unique god by mastering and monopolizing faith, possibly explaining why he remains so influential and why Brother Octopus fears his arrival.
• To protect Brother Octopus and stop the intruder, Chen Cheng summons his Divine Kingdom and uses it to suppress the Reincarnation River. He shatters the intruder’s manifested power, though the intruder escapes with a small fragment of reincarnation law.
• Afterward, Brother Octopus gives Chen Cheng a purified black crystal containing Divine Power as compensation. Chen Cheng accepts it to restore the power he expended.
• Brother Octopus refuses to reveal further secrets, warning that heavenly matters cannot be spoken of directly. Chen Cheng concludes that the world is far stranger than a “Pocket Universe” and resolves to uncover its true nature.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates a major increase in perception and authority after obtaining a Divine Core. He can now understand the structure of faith, reincarnation, and divine power at a much deeper level.
• His personality remains bold, calculating, and irreverent. Rather than fearing the unknown intruder, he sees the situation as an opportunity to acquire a subordinate god for Brother Octopus.
• Chen Cheng becomes increasingly suspicious of the world’s hidden structure. His speculation about Elder Ke shows him combining scattered clues from the Crystal Book, his dreams, and Ancient Civilization research.
• Brother Octopus is revealed to be far more knowledgeable and vulnerable than he initially appeared. Despite being the Lord of Reincarnation, he fears attracting the attention of a superior entity because of his status as an Outer God.
• Brother Octopus also shows gratitude and dependence toward Chen Cheng, rewarding him with purified Divine Power after Chen Cheng saves him from serious danger.

Significant Themes

• Faith as power and resource: Genuine faith is shown to be scarce and largely controlled by the God of Light. The Reincarnation River represents one of the last openings for accessing Tainted Faith.
• Hidden hierarchies of divinity: Even beings who possess divine authority may still be subordinate to greater entities. The Lord of Reincarnation himself fears judgment from a higher power.
• Truth and speculation: Chen Cheng cannot obtain direct answers, so he reconstructs the truth from partial clues. His theory about Elder Ke may be incomplete but is presented as the most logical explanation available.
• Cosmic control and exploitation: The Ancient Civilization’s research into faith, gods, and civilization suggests that godhood may involve systematically harvesting and controlling the faith of all living beings.
• The world as an artificial or enclosed system: Chen Cheng rejects the idea that reality is merely a Pocket Universe and suspects it is something even more artificial, distorted, or game-like.
• Mutual protection and manipulation: Chen Cheng helps Brother Octopus, but also considers turning the intruder into free labor. Their cooperation is practical, though increasingly based on shared secrets and concealed motives.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng repeatedly teases and challenges Brother Octopus, mocking his fear and criticizing him for dragging Chen Cheng into the crisis.
• Brother Octopus presses Chen Cheng to act, while Chen Cheng calmly reassures him and proposes exploiting the intruder rather than simply destroying him.
• Brother Octopus accidentally reveals information about the powerful entity who avoids Chen Cheng, prompting Chen Cheng to question him about Elder Ke.
• Though Brother Octopus refuses to explain further, he acknowledges Chen Cheng’s importance and assures him that no one can harm him as long as he does not abandon himself.
• Their relationship develops into one of wary cooperation: Chen Cheng provides overwhelming power and protection, while Brother Octopus offers limited knowledge and divine resources.

Chapter Summary: “Mouse”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Brother Octopus advises Chen Cheng to accept that some mysteries cannot be fully understood, while secretly warning him that leaving his Divine Soul outside his body too long will cause his physical body to deteriorate.
• Realizing Octopus deliberately withheld this information to shorten the interrogation, Chen Cheng angrily takes the Faith Crystal and rushes back to his physical body.
• After Chen Cheng leaves, Brother Octopus reveals his hostility toward the unknown “old bastard” who sent someone to interfere with his plans. He recognizes the straw-like figure’s schemes and implies that powerful factions are manipulating events from behind the scenes.
• In the spatial rift, the masked figure is unable to project a complete Divine Core across worlds. Instead, he implants fragments of the Reincarnation Law into Smog, creating a “Divine Core Seed.”
• Smog is thrilled to receive the seed, believing it gives him the potential to become a god. The masked figure also reconstructs his broken mask, but warns Smog to use it only at the final moment.
• Smog anticipates the coming Apocalypse and expects Como XIII and others to start a war soon. He remains particularly wary of Chen Cheng Two, who nearly killed him and whose origins are still uncertain.
• Blaze, the Eastern Divine Envoy of the Church, arrives after receiving a revelation from the God of Light that an Evil God has appeared in the mortal world. Smog hides because Blaze previously came close to discovering him.
• The God of Light attacks the rift between the world’s void and the Chaos Sea, forcing dozens of masked True Gods into the open. He divides eight avatars from his body to pursue them.
• The masked True Gods foolishly turn and attack the avatars, but are effortlessly annihilated. The God of Light then confronts Michael, accusing him of allowing warriors created by their shared enemy to die.
• Michael responds that the warriors died for their Lord’s salvation and suggests that the God of Light is testing whether the souls he protects are worthy of his sacrifice. The chapter ends as Michael draws his sword and prepares to use “Holy Light Judgment.”

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng remains suspicious and easily frustrated by Brother Octopus’s evasiveness, but he acts decisively when his physical body is endangered.
• Brother Octopus is shown to be cunning, experienced, and deeply familiar with the hidden forces manipulating the conflict. His triumphant attitude fades into cold hostility once Chen Cheng leaves.
• Smog gains a Divine Core Seed, marking a major step toward godhood. His faith in the masked figure and excitement over his newfound potential intensify, though he remains fearful of discovery.
• The masked figure demonstrates limited power across worlds but compensates through manipulation and strategic planning. He views the Apocalypse as imminent and sees Chen Cheng Two as a serious threat.
• The God of Light appears overwhelmingly powerful, destroying multiple True Gods through avatars while maintaining a dormant or partially awakened state.
• Michael is introduced as a calm but formidable opponent connected to the creation of the masked True Gods. His exchange with the God of Light establishes him as someone willing to sacrifice followers for a larger religious cause.

Significant Themes

• Ignorance versus knowledge: Brother Octopus suggests that complete understanding is impossible and that ignorance can sometimes be protective.
• Manipulation and hidden agendas: Nearly every faction conceals information or uses others as pawns, including Brother Octopus, the masked figure, and the powers behind the Apocalypse.
• Faith and religious control: Smog’s transformation depends on unquestioning devotion, while the masked True Gods die invoking their Lord’s protection.
• Power and sacrifice: The God of Light and Michael debate whether followers’ deaths are meaningful sacrifices or merely expendable losses.
• Approaching catastrophe: The Apocalypse and the anticipated war create mounting tension, with multiple factions preparing their plans before the final confrontation.

Important Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Brother Octopus: Octopus gives deliberately incomplete advice, prompting Chen Cheng’s anger and reinforcing their mistrustful but familiar relationship.
• The masked figure and Smog: The masked figure rewards Smog with the Divine Core Seed and restored mask, strengthening Smog’s loyalty while preserving his own control.
• Smog and Blaze: Smog avoids Blaze because their previous encounter nearly exposed him.
• The God of Light and the masked True Gods: The God of Light hunts and effortlessly destroys them, demonstrating the vast difference in their strength.
• The God of Light and Michael: Their ideological and power-based confrontation forms the chapter’s climax, ending with Michael initiating a direct battle.

Chapter Summary: “God Lord”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Michael launches a surprise attack on the God of Light using holy light granted by his Lord. His attack destroys the God of Light’s initial orb-like form, but Michael remains wary, knowing the battle is not over.
• Michael challenges the God of Light directly. The God of Light responds with overwhelming physical force, shattering Michael’s head despite Michael’s Holy Protection.
• Holy Protection reverses Michael’s condition, restoring him to the state before the attack. Michael then unleashes his ultimate technique, Divine Judgment.
• Divine Judgment causes the entire Chaos Sea to tremble. Countless worlds shake, and some begin suffering catastrophic destruction as their laws collapse.
• Zhao Gongming, enraged by the threat to the Chaos Sea, uses his Twenty-Four Precious Beads to freeze the entire region, including all worlds and powerful beings within it.
• He travels to Karmak World and discovers that the Michael fighting the God of Light is only a projection or manifested body. The true Michael is hidden inside the Divine Kingdom.
• Zhao destroys the Divine Kingdom’s gate, knocks down the divine spear representing judgment, and uses the Dragon-Binding Rope to invade the kingdom and capture the real Michael.
• As Zhao prepares to take Michael to the Divine Court, the God Lord attacks with a powerful palm strike. Zhao cannot evade because doing so would expose countless worlds to destruction.
• The God of Light intervenes by transforming into a sun and colliding with the God Lord’s attack. His body is destroyed, but Zhao contains the resulting shockwaves and protects Karmak World.
• The God Lord escapes, and Zhao declares that heavenly laws will eventually punish him. Zhao seals Michael’s voice and waits.
• The God of Light unexpectedly reappears at full strength, revealing that his apparent destruction was temporary. Michael realizes that Karmak World possesses a special power: as long as it survives, its owner may repeatedly recover and potentially reach the level of a Great Sovereign.

Character Developments

• Michael is portrayed as fanatically loyal and willing to sacrifice himself for his Lord. His confidence in divine judgment is shaken when Zhao captures the real him and later when the God of Light resurrects.
• The God of Light demonstrates immense resilience and hidden abilities. Although destroyed by the God Lord’s attack, he returns without any apparent weakening, suggesting that Karmak World grants him extraordinary protection or regeneration.
• Zhao Gongming shows his authority, decisiveness, and concern for the broader cosmos. He freezes the entire Chaos Sea, captures Michael, destroys the Divine Kingdom’s weapons, and personally absorbs the battle’s destructive aftershocks to protect countless worlds.
• The God Lord remains a terrifying, elusive figure. He attacks Zhao indirectly through a palm strike but retreats before Zhao can confront him fully.
• The Divine Court is established as a force responsible for maintaining order and judging beings who threaten the stability of the Chaos Sea.

Significant Themes

• Religious fanaticism versus reality: Michael’s absolute faith in his Lord blinds him to the true situation until Zhao exposes the existence of his hidden body and the God of Light’s unusual abilities.
• The scale and cost of divine conflict: The battle between supreme beings threatens not merely individuals or planets but innumerable worlds throughout the Chaos Sea.
• Authority and responsibility: Zhao Gongming’s actions emphasize that true power includes protecting weaker worlds and accepting danger on their behalf.
• Immortality and world dependence: Karmak World is revealed to be a special source of near-limitless recovery, making control over a world potentially equivalent to gaining Great Sovereign-level power.
• The limits of appearances: Michael’s apparent presence is only a projection, the God of Light’s destruction is not permanent, and the true nature of Karmak World is concealed until the end.

Important Character Interactions

• Michael openly challenges the God of Light, leading to a brutal exchange in which the God of Light shatters Michael’s body.
• Zhao Gongming confronts the Divine Kingdom, condemning the God Lord for violating propriety and threatening countless worlds.
• The God Lord attacks Zhao through the Divine Kingdom, while Zhao responds with defiance and vows that the Divine Court will pursue him.
• The God of Light sacrifices his manifested body to block the God Lord’s strike, indirectly enabling Zhao to protect Karmak World.
• Zhao captures and silences Michael, who remains convinced that his Lord’s judgment is inevitable until the God of Light’s resurrection reveals the deeper secret of Karmak World.

Chapter Summary: “The God of Light’s Discovery”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Gongming explains that the God of Light cannot truly die as long as Karmak World survives. Karmak World is unusual because it remains partially connected to the Grand Cosmos, preventing the Divine Court from legally destroying it before its complete detachment.
• The Divine Court’s Immortal Ascension Platform will eventually arrive to oversee Karmak World’s separation. Once detached, the world would lose the Grand Cosmos’s protection and likely become resources for stronger worlds.
• The Buddha Kingdom and Divine Kingdom had intended to seize control of Karmak World before its detachment, but their plans were disrupted when the world unexpectedly produced its own god and ruler.
• Zhao Gongming promises to delay the Immortal Ascension Platform for one epoch, giving the God of Light and Karmak World time to complete their plans. The Sun God thanks him, while Zhao remains doubtful that the plan will succeed, though he believes it might produce a powerful God of War capable of opposing the Chaos Fiends.
• Zhao restores order to the Chaos Sea, retrieves his twenty-four Sea-Calming Pearls, and takes the silenced Michael away. The collapsing worlds begin repairing themselves, although some are secretly transformed by the upheaval.
• After releasing Michael, Zhao rebukes him for the crimes he committed and tells him to seek merit on the First Front rather than worry about Karmak World.
• The God of Light privately calculates that Zhao’s one-epoch delay, combined with another ten thousand years, may provide enough time for the plan to succeed.
• Back in Karmak World, the God of Light investigates the data lost during his slumber. He discovers that the Reincarnation River was disturbed and that Brother Octopus and Chen Cheng—represented as mosaic-like pixels—were involved.
• He attempts to overwrite his corrupted system from backup data, but the process fails because an ongoing mission prevents the overwrite. He then learns that Chen Cheng’s mosaic form has absorbed Fortune Aura.
• The chapter reveals that Chen Cheng returned to his body and awakened after dealing with Brother Octopus. Smog later claimed he had pursued the thief but failed to catch him; despite the weak explanation, Como XIII accepted it.
• Chen Cheng Two’s coronation is finally arranged. Leaders from many nations and representatives of various races attend.
• During the ceremony, Como XIII presents the preserved Imperial Seal of the Como Empire. Chen Cheng senses its connection to his bloodline and draws in the immense Fortune Aura generated by the coronation.
• Mekas also observes the completion of her Tainted Spirit Orb and develops unprecedented ambition.

Character Developments

• Zhao Gongming is portrayed as knowledgeable about Divine Court law and the hidden structure of Karmak World. Though he aids the God of Light, he remains realistic and skeptical about the plan’s success. He also asserts moral authority over Michael.
• The God of Light is revealed to be deeply linked to Karmak World’s survival and to possess a system-like, data-based nature. His investigation shows that his memories and programming have been compromised, and he realizes that Chen Cheng’s transformation is central to the ongoing mission.
• Michael is forced into a subordinate position after Zhao defeats and silences him. He remains focused on turning Karmak World into a resource world for the Divine Kingdom.
• Chen Cheng undergoes a major advancement by absorbing the Fortune Aura connected to the coronation and the Imperial Seal, strengthening his bloodline and future authority.
• Mekas reaches a crucial stage in completing her Tainted Spirit Orb, and her growing ambition suggests that she may soon pursue greater power or independence.
• Smog successfully conceals his involvement in the earlier incident, while Como XIII demonstrates trust in him and proceeds with Chen Cheng’s coronation.
• Blaze is again left empty-handed, providing a minor contrast to Chen Cheng’s success.

Significant Themes

• Power and political control: Major factions seek to control Karmak World because of its value before and after detachment from the Grand Cosmos.
• Law versus opportunism: Divine Court regulations restrict direct destruction of Karmak World, forcing powerful beings to manipulate circumstances and wait for legal opportunities.
• Time as a strategic resource: Zhao’s promise to delay the Immortal Ascension Platform gives Karmak World a limited window to complete its mysterious plan.
• Identity and corruption: The God of Light’s damaged programming and failed system overwrite raise questions about memory, autonomy, and whether his actions are truly his own.
• Fortune and legitimacy: Chen Cheng’s coronation shows how political recognition, bloodline, ritual objects, and collective Fortune Aura can directly create supernatural power.
• Ambition and transformation: Chen Cheng, Mekas, and Karmak World itself are all entering new stages of development, suggesting that the balance of power is shifting.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Gongming and the Sun God discuss Karmak World’s fate, with Zhao offering conditional protection and the Sun God expressing gratitude.
• Zhao confronts Michael after removing his silence, criticizing his crimes and dismissing his attempts to claim Karmak World.
• The God of Light analyzes Chen Cheng’s actions from a distance, discovering that Chen Cheng’s absorption of Fortune Aura has interfered with his own system.
• Smog deceives Como XIII about his failure to catch the thief, and Como XIII accepts the explanation.
• Como XIII conducts Chen Cheng Two’s coronation, while the attending rulers and representatives witness the transfer of authority and Fortune Aura.
• Chen Cheng’s connection to the Imperial Seal and Mekas’s reaction to her Tainted Spirit Orb both foreshadow major future developments.

Chapter Summary: Ascension to the Throne

Key Plot Points and Events

• Following the coronation, the Empire begins mobilizing for war against the Northern Frontier, using the existence of a “false emperor” in the north to justify the new emperor’s legitimacy.
• Chen Cheng Two formally accepts memorials and uses the northern campaign as the political foundation of his reign.
• Smog’s position has risen dramatically: he is now Chen Cheng Two’s personal guard and is expected to become the future master of the Demigod Temple. He recognizes that the Four Horsemen—plague, war, famine, and death—arise from humanity’s inherent evil, with himself serving as a catalyst.
• Chen Cheng Two unexpectedly summons Samlet and the other martial-competition winners, apparently intending to win their loyalty through praise and rewards.
• Samlet is warned by Fisher Doge not to lose control and assassinate Chen Cheng Two. Before leaving, he instructs Fisher to continue protecting Chen Cheng, whose soul and Fortune Aura remain vulnerable.
• In the Diligent Governance Hall, Chen Cheng Two appears diligently handling administrative documents, creating a momentary illusion for Samlet that the true emperor, Brown, has been restored.
• When alone with Samlet, Chen Cheng Two secretly writes that he knows Samlet’s identity and understands that Brown has been drawing Fortune Aura from the imperial seal. He reveals that he helped Brown do so and asks Samlet to tell Brown to meet him.
• Samlet refuses to respond, suspecting a trap and recognizing that killing Chen Cheng Two would be difficult because Smog is guarding outside.
• The other martial-competition winners arrive. Chen Cheng Two offers general encouragement and gives Fini special attention, but she suppresses her anger and refuses to engage with him.
• Afterward, Fini throws away the reward she received and returns to the Kingdom of Moss’s official residence.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng Two continues acting like an inexperienced puppet emperor, but his careful administration and secret communication suggest greater awareness and competence than he openly displays. He attempts to establish influence over talented young figures while covertly contacting Brown’s allies.
• Smog has gained immense political and military status but remains skeptical of Chen Cheng Two’s ability to win over Samlet and the others. He views Chen Cheng Two’s recruitment attempt as naive.
• Samlet demonstrates restraint despite intense hatred toward the rebels and the false emperor. His concern for Chen Cheng’s safety also reveals his loyalty and guilt over having taught him the Fortune Aura Method.
• Fini remains fiercely hostile toward Chen Cheng Two because of his resemblance to the true emperor and his role as an impostor. Her rejection of his reward shows that she refuses even symbolic cooperation.
• Fisher Doge acts as a stabilizing mentor, reminding Samlet to control his anger and warning him to behave strategically.

Significant Themes

• Legitimacy and political theater: The coronation and planned northern war are presented as tools for constructing the false emperor’s authority.
• Appearances versus reality: Chen Cheng Two appears immature and compliant, yet secretly possesses information and intentions that others underestimate. His resemblance to the true emperor repeatedly confuses those loyal to Brown.
• Restraint versus revenge: Samlet and Fini both hate the regime, but Samlet restrains himself because immediate violence would be strategically disastrous.
• Manipulation and loyalty: The new regime attempts to buy or cultivate the loyalty of talented individuals through praise, office, and rewards, while its opponents remain bound by personal allegiance to the true emperor.
• The evil within humanity: Smog’s reflection on the Four Horsemen emphasizes the chapter’s darker suggestion that catastrophe grows naturally from human nature rather than being imposed from outside.

Important Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng Two and Smog: Chen Cheng Two comments on the ominous Four Horsemen, but Smog ignores him, maintaining his detached and superior attitude.
• Samlet and Fisher Doge: Fisher warns Samlet not to attack impulsively; Samlet agrees but stresses that Chen Cheng’s earlier near-death incident must not happen again.
• Chen Cheng Two and Samlet: Chen Cheng Two privately reveals his knowledge of Brown’s Fortune Aura plan through written notes, but Samlet remains silent and distrustful.
• Chen Cheng Two and Fini: He tries to encourage and reward her, but she hides her anger, refuses to respond, and later discards the reward.
• Samlet and Chen Cheng Two’s identity: Chen Cheng Two’s resemblance to Brown briefly causes Samlet to address him as “Your Majesty,” highlighting the emotional power of appearance and memory.

Chapter Summary: “Kidnapping”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fini returns to the official posthouse and encounters Wisdom Shield leaving with Chen Cheng, who is disguised as Mino.
• Fini, still angry that Chen Cheng previously left for Mos without seeing her—and that she keeps meeting his disguises—coldly excuses herself instead of acknowledging him.
• Chen Cheng feels unexpectedly melancholic as Fini walks away. Wisdom Shield promises to handle the situation with her.
• Chen Cheng had sought out Wisdom Shield to explain that his plans had changed and to pass along new arrangements. Since “Chen Cheng Two” is being crowned and will certainly resist, Chen Cheng decides to remain adaptable.
• On his way back to the bamboo-grove courtyard, Chen Cheng is intercepted by Black Tiger Venerable, who intends to kidnap him and use him as bait to lure Samlet out. Black Tiger wants revenge because Samlet previously beat up his brother, Black Bear.
• Chen Cheng cleverly persuades Black Tiger to take him outside the city, where a confrontation will attract less attention and cause less harm to Samlet’s reputation and cultivation.
• Together, kidnapper and hostage compose a ransom letter for Samlet. Black Tiger’s poor handwriting ruins Chen Cheng’s carefully crafted style, so Chen Cheng writes the final version himself. The letter is sent by express delivery to Samlet at the Royal Academy.
• At a remote location in the wilderness, Black Tiger boasts about beating Samlet. Instead, Chen Cheng suddenly punches him in the eye, revealing that he also needs an outlet for his own anger.
• Black Tiger immediately fights back, and the two begin an enthusiastic, destructive brawl. Their first clash uproots trees and rocks, ending the chapter with both praising the fight as “awesome.”

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Shows emotional sensitivity toward Fini but remains focused on the larger political danger surrounding the coronation. He demonstrates strategic thinking by cooperating with Black Tiger’s kidnapping scheme, while also revealing pent-up frustration and surprising combat confidence.
• Fini: Her affection and concern for Chen Cheng are clear beneath her anger. She is hurt by his neglect and frustrated by his repeated disguises and disappearances, leading her to respond coldly.
• Wisdom Shield: Recognizes the tension between Fini and Chen Cheng and takes responsibility for smoothing things over. He continues to act as Chen Cheng’s trusted ally and intermediary.
• Black Tiger Venerable: Although intimidating and powerful, he is portrayed as simple-minded, direct, loyal to his brother, and overly enthusiastic about fighting. His kidnapping plan is more like an elaborate challenge than a genuinely sinister crime.
• Samlet: Does not appear directly, but his importance is emphasized as the person Black Tiger seeks to lure out and as someone Chen Cheng wants to help release his bottled-up anger.

Significant Themes

• Disguises and mistaken identities: Chen Cheng’s disguise as Mino causes emotional misunderstandings, while his enemies and allies struggle to determine who he really is.
• Loyalty and brotherhood: Black Tiger’s determination to avenge Black Bear highlights the strength—and absurdity—of familial loyalty.
• Emotional repression and release: Fini suppresses her affection beneath anger, while Chen Cheng and Samlet are both burdened by frustration. The planned kidnapping and ensuing fight become outlets for these emotions.
• Adaptability amid political danger: With Chen Cheng Two about to be crowned, Chen Cheng understands that survival depends on responding flexibly rather than relying on a fixed plan.
• Comedy through incongruity: A legendary expert conducts a kidnapping with a ransom letter, pays for express delivery, and treats the hostage almost like a collaborator, turning a dangerous situation into a farcical adventure.

Character Interactions

• Fini and Chen Cheng have a tense, emotionally charged encounter marked by her deliberate coldness and his quiet sadness.
• Wisdom Shield acts as a mediator between them and remains Chen Cheng’s confidant.
• Black Tiger and Chen Cheng develop an unlikely partnership during the kidnapping, with Chen Cheng effectively helping organize his own abduction.
• Their relationship shifts from apparent captor-and-hostage to willing sparring partners when Chen Cheng initiates the fight and Black Tiger eagerly accepts the challenge.

Summary: “Black Tiger Comes to His Senses”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng finishes the first half of his arranged sparring match with Black Tiger Venerable, admitting that he had initially attacked by surprise. He reveals that he was also involved in the earlier beating of Black Tiger’s brother, Black Bear.
• Samlet then arrives and attacks Black Tiger with a powerful punch. The familiar technique and force trigger Black Tiger’s memories of an incident more than two centuries earlier.
• In the past, Black Tiger had sought revenge against a corrupt grand earl responsible for his brother’s death. Although Black Tiger was already a newly advanced Legendary Rank expert, Samlet defeated him with a single punch and prevented him from personally violating Imperial law.
• Samlet had the earl legally executed after exposing his crimes, including murder, theft, and abuse of noble authority. The investigation also revealed that a wider network of officials and nobles had been responsible for Black Bear’s death.
• Remembering this lesson about law, authority, and restraint, Black Tiger recognizes Samlet’s technique as the “Order Fist.”
• The present-day Samlet’s punch merely leaves Black Tiger bruised because Samlet recognizes Chen Cheng’s handwriting and realizes Chen Cheng is not truly being abused. He deliberately restrains his strength.
• Samlet and Black Tiger engage in a second, more serious sparring match. Samlet continuously matches Black Tiger’s level, preventing Black Tiger from discovering his true limits.
• Black Tiger realizes he has been drawn into a trap and admits defeat. All three men are badly bruised, though their injuries are superficial.
• Chen Cheng heals the injuries but intentionally leaves Black Tiger with dark bruises around both eyes, giving him an embarrassing “panda-eye” appearance.
• When Black Tiger asks for the bruises to be removed, Chen Cheng hints that he wants a favor in return. Black Tiger immediately understands that the fight was meant to pressure or recruit him.
• Believing Samlet may want his help with restoring the nation, Black Tiger refuses in advance, explaining that he has a large family and no desire to become involved in political struggles.
• Samlet responds that the matter will be handled “according to the rules.” Black Tiger realizes this may mean punishment under the Demigod Temple’s rules for disobedience—effectively treating refusal as rebellion.

Character Developments

• Black Tiger Venerable: Revealed to be straightforward and impulsive but not unintelligent. His memories force him to reconsider the relationship between strength, law, and responsibility. He recognizes that Samlet remains far stronger than he is and becomes wary of being manipulated into political service.
• Samlet: Demonstrates overwhelming power, precise control, and a strong commitment to order and law. His apparent anger toward Chen Cheng is partly protective, but he restrains himself once he understands the situation. He also subtly pressures Black Tiger through the authority of the Demigod Temple.
• Chen Cheng: Shows confidence, playfulness, and strategic thinking. He participates in the setup, openly admits his earlier sneak attack, heals everyone afterward, and uses Black Tiger’s vanity and discomfort to extract cooperation.
• Black Bear: Though absent, his death remains the original cause of Black Tiger’s revenge and links all three characters to the old conflict.

Significant Themes

• Power and law: True strength is not the freedom to act without restraint; it carries responsibility and must operate within an established order.
• Justice versus revenge: Black Tiger initially seeks personal vengeance, but Samlet teaches him that lawful justice is more meaningful and prevents endless retaliation.
• Authority and responsibility: Those powerful enough to influence the world must not place themselves above the rules, since doing so encourages even stronger individuals to behave recklessly.
• Manipulation through strength and obligation: The sparring match is not merely entertainment; it is a calculated way to demonstrate superiority and pressure Black Tiger into accepting a request.
• Memory and personal growth: Black Tiger’s buried memory allows him to recognize Samlet’s ideals and understand that his old assumptions about power were incomplete.
• Humor amid danger: The serious themes are balanced by physical comedy, especially Black Tiger’s bruised “panda eyes” and his anxious reaction to the prospect of being recruited.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Black Tiger share a friendly but deceptive sparring match, with Chen Cheng acknowledging their past conflict while concealing his larger purpose.
• Samlet reacts protectively upon seeing Chen Cheng bruised, initially mistaking the scene for an actual assault.
• Samlet and Black Tiger’s battle becomes a contest in which Samlet carefully mirrors Black Tiger’s strength, unsettling him by revealing that his true limits remain unknown.
• Chen Cheng’s refusal to fully heal Black Tiger’s face creates a comic bargaining situation, exposing Black Tiger’s fear that he has been deliberately targeted.
• Black Tiger appeals to Samlet to avoid being recruited, but Samlet’s reference to the Temple’s rules leaves him trapped between political involvement and possible punishment.

Chapter Summary: “Meeting Again”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng recruits Black Tiger Venerable for a dangerous expedition into ancient ruins. He offers generous rewards, emphasizing that the discoveries could strengthen Black Tiger’s brothers and sisters.
• Black Tiger initially distrusts the offer, remembering that his brother was previously deceived to his death. Samlet intimidates him while Chen Cheng appeals to his sense of loyalty, successfully persuading him to join.
• After arranging a meeting time and place, Chen Cheng heals Black Tiger’s injuries. Black Tiger leaves to inform his siblings.
• Chen Cheng and Samlet relocate before the Shadow Guard investigates the ruined area where they fought. The investigators conclude that Legendary experts merely sparred nearby, while privately criticizing the lack of accountability among powerful figures after the Empire’s fall.
• Samlet tells Chen Cheng about meeting Chen Cheng Two in the imperial palace. Chen Cheng confirms the meeting but keeps the deeper details secret. Samlet reassures him that he will always remain at his side.
• That night, Chen Cheng secretly infiltrates the imperial palace and waits in the imperial bedchamber for Chen Cheng Two.
• Chen Cheng Two returns with Lord Smog guarding him. He uses the Phase Converter to block Smog’s perception, allowing the two versions of Chen Cheng to speak privately.
• Chen Cheng Two admits that he has taken Chen Cheng’s intended position in the imperial plan. They discuss why Chen Cheng Two surrendered the Fortune Aura to Chen Cheng rather than using it himself.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates strategic manipulation and diplomacy. He carefully balances emotional appeals and practical incentives to recruit Black Tiger, while remaining cautious about revealing information to Samlet.
• Black Tiger Venerable is shown to be suspicious but deeply loyal and protective of his family. His willingness to accept danger for the potential benefit of his siblings reinforces his honorable nature.
• Samlet acts as Chen Cheng’s intimidating enforcer and loyal subordinate. Beneath his rough behavior, he is perceptive and offers Chen Cheng steadfast emotional support.
• Chen Cheng Two emerges as a deliberate counterpart to Chen Cheng. Though he has assumed Chen Cheng’s former role, he acknowledges that doing so altered the original plan and appears willing to cooperate rather than compete openly.
• Smog functions as an unwanted but effective surveillance presence, forcing Chen Cheng Two to conceal his conversation with Chen Cheng.

Significant Themes

• Trust and suspicion: Black Tiger’s past betrayal makes him wary of promises, while Chen Cheng must convince him through both words and credible rewards.
• Loyalty and brotherhood: Black Tiger’s devotion to his siblings and Samlet’s pledge to Chen Cheng highlight loyalty as a source of strength and influence.
• Power after political collapse: The Shadow Guards’ discussion contrasts the orderly laws of the former Empire with the unchecked behavior of modern Legendary experts.
• Identity and divided selves: Chen Cheng and Chen Cheng Two are effectively the same person, yet they occupy different roles and make different strategic choices.
• Power versus danger: Fortune Aura offers political and religious influence but carries risks, forcing Chen Cheng and his counterpart to consider how much power is worth controlling.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Samlet work together to pressure and persuade Black Tiger, with Samlet playing the threatening role and Chen Cheng offering sincere reasoning.
• Chen Cheng and Samlet share a private moment of mutual trust when Samlet reassures Chen Cheng of his loyalty.
• Chen Cheng and Chen Cheng Two meet secretly in the imperial palace and discuss their altered plans, their respective positions, and the mystery of Fortune Aura.
• Chen Cheng Two’s final response suggests that Fortune Aura is essential to Chen Cheng’s current strategy, particularly if he is to compete with the Church and the God of Light for believers.

Chapter Summary: “The Raw Ore Was on Dragon Island”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng confronts his clone, Chen Cheng Two, demanding to know the truth behind his creation, the plan being carried out, and whether the “sun” in the sky is real.
• Chen Cheng implies that his own achievements—especially controllable nuclear fusion—may be the reason he was selected for the larger scheme. Chen Cheng Two avoids directly confirming this but gives enough of an answer to validate Chen Cheng’s suspicions.
• The two discuss an impending expedition and clash over how to deal with the nobles and opposing forces:
  • Chen Cheng favors a violent revolution, using his overwhelming strength to destroy the noble powers before they can recover.
  • Chen Cheng Two advocates a slower, more controlled reform, warning that open warfare could lead to hundreds of millions of deaths and a prolonged world war.
• Chen Cheng Two reveals that Chen Cheng’s plan cannot yet succeed because he lacks sufficient raw materials to mass-produce his most powerful weapons.
• He explains that no usable uranium deposits remain on the continent, but that Dragon Island contains extremely pure radioactive ore and a complete automated refining facility.
• Chen Cheng learns that the Dragon race was created by the Ancient Civilization, much like the Elves, and that the Dragons’ immense bodies and power are sustained by energy from radioactive ore.
• Before leaving, Chen Cheng Two warns Chen Cheng that someone or something has “malfunctioned,” reminding him to be cautious of the purple crystal.
• Chen Cheng offers Chen Cheng Two an escape route through Samlet if his position becomes untenable.
• After Chen Cheng leaves, Smog enters the palace, suspicious because he could not hear Chen Cheng Two breathing. Chen Cheng Two successfully disguises the encounter, and Smog leaves without discovering the truth.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng becomes more suspicious and assertive. He realizes that his role was likely deliberately chosen and begins to understand the technological and strategic forces behind the conflict. Although stubborn and eager for decisive action, he accepts that acquiring raw materials is essential.
• Chen Cheng Two is revealed as a cautious strategist who prioritizes minimizing casualties and preserving room for maneuver. He knows Chen Cheng’s capabilities well but remains secretive about the larger plan. His composure and deception are emphasized when he conceals the meeting from Smog.
• Smog is shown to possess unusually sharp senses, possibly because of benefits gained from his mysterious master. His suspicion creates an immediate danger to Chen Cheng Two’s secret.
• The Dragon race gains additional background: they are engineered beings created by the Ancient Civilization and may depend on radioactive resources to maintain their strength.

Significant Themes

• Revolution versus reform: The central disagreement concerns whether oppression should be destroyed through immediate violence or dismantled through gradual, strategic change.
• The cost of war: Chen Cheng Two emphasizes that reckless victory against an initial army could escalate into a catastrophic global conflict.
• Hidden truths and manipulation: Both Chen Chengs understand one another, yet Chen Cheng Two continues withholding information about the larger plan and the reality of the sun.
• Technology and resources as power: Advanced weapons are useless without the raw materials needed to produce them, making Dragon Island a crucial strategic objective.
• Creation and biological engineering: The Ancient Civilization’s creation of powerful races suggests a history of experimentation, weapon-making, and potentially dangerous technological ambition.
• Trust between copies: Though the two characters are technically connected and understand each other deeply, their differing philosophies create tension and mistrust.

Important Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Chen Cheng Two engage in a tense interrogation, with Chen Cheng trying to force information from his counterpart.
• Their argument over revolution exposes their contrasting personalities: Chen Cheng is forceful and impatient, while Chen Cheng Two is pragmatic and cautious.
• Chen Cheng Two’s revelation about Dragon Island changes the strategic situation and persuades Chen Cheng to cooperate, at least temporarily.
• Chen Cheng Two warns Chen Cheng about a malfunctioning threat and the purple crystal, showing concern despite their rivalry.
• Smog’s intrusion tests Chen Cheng Two’s ability to maintain his disguise. Through quick thinking and misdirection, Chen Cheng Two prevents Smog from uncovering the secret meeting.

Chapter Summary: “Meeting Again”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After leaving the palace, Chen Cheng wanders through the quiet capital during curfew, reflecting on his earlier argument with Chen Cheng Two and the implications of the quantum “box theory.”
• He concludes that, even if the ultimate outcome of life is uncertain, people should still struggle and act meaningfully in the present rather than surrender to despair.
• When city guards discover him, Chen Cheng flees and reaches the official inn district, where the Kingdom of Moss delegation is staying.
• He secretly enters the inn and is caught at wandpoint by Fini, who initially mistakes him for a thief.
• Chen Cheng reveals his true identity. Fini is overwhelmed by shock, grief, and anger, having believed him gone or lost. She cries, strikes him, and nearly attacks him with Piercing Wind Blade.
• Chen Cheng refuses to defend himself, accepting her anger and apologizing repeatedly. Fini eventually collapses into sleep from emotional exhaustion in his arms.
• With Wisdom Shield’s help, Chen Cheng carries Fini to her room and puts her to bed.
• Wisdom Shield reveals that he anticipated Chen Cheng would come and had cleared the area to allow their reunion.
• Chen Cheng informs Wisdom Shield that he has located the raw ore they need. He instructs him to ask the Black Dragon King to honor his promise by taking their people to Dragon Island, which contains both the ore and an Ancient Civilization mining and refining facility.
• Chen Cheng gives Wisdom Shield the Sword of Kings so he can negotiate with the Dragon race and oversee the operation while Chen Cheng leaves to rescue She Li and the others.
• Chen Cheng decides to remain outside Fini’s room overnight so she will see him when she wakes.

Character Development

• Chen Cheng: Regains his determination after questioning whether action has meaning in an uncertain world. His reunion with Fini shows his willingness to accept blame and emotional pain rather than justify himself. He also demonstrates renewed leadership by arranging the raw-ore operation and delegating responsibilities.
• Fini: Her initial hostility quickly gives way to overwhelming grief and affection when she recognizes Chen Cheng. Her emotional collapse reveals how deeply his disappearance affected her. Though furious at the pain he caused, she still responds to him with profound attachment.
• Wisdom Shield: Acts as a compassionate mediator and trusted ally. He understands Fini’s suffering, facilitates the reunion, and accepts the responsibility of carrying out Chen Cheng’s plan despite his hesitation over receiving the Sword of Kings.

Significant Themes

• Meaning amid uncertainty: Chen Cheng rejects complete resignation to fate, deciding that present actions still matter even when outcomes are unknowable.
• Guilt, grief, and reconciliation: The reunion between Chen Cheng and Fini centers on the pain caused by separation and the limits of explanation or apology.
• Sacrifice and responsibility: Chen Cheng accepts Fini’s anger and entrusts important missions to Wisdom Shield while preparing to risk himself to rescue others.
• Hope through action: The discovery of the raw ore and Dragon Island’s production facilities provides a concrete path forward for Chen Cheng’s allies.

Important Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Fini: Their reunion is intensely emotional. Fini alternates between disbelief, rage, sorrow, and relief, while Chen Cheng offers no defense and repeatedly apologizes. Their embrace and her falling asleep in his arms suggest that their bond remains strong despite the pain between them.
• Chen Cheng and Wisdom Shield: Wisdom Shield protects the reunion, comforts Chen Cheng, and helps him care for Fini. Chen Cheng trusts him with the Sword of Kings and the Dragon Island mission, showing their mutual loyalty and dependence.

Chapter Summary: “Parting”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fini awakens in her room after an emotionally overwhelming sleep and is overjoyed to find Chen Cheng there, alive and physically present.
• The two share a warm, playful morning together. Fini embraces Chen Cheng tightly, afraid he will disappear again, while he teases her about being lazy and unwashed.
• Fini dresses in the Gothic outfit she wore when they first met, reviving her former lively, willful personality. She and Chen Cheng spend the day exploring the Royal Capital, acting like a young couple on a date.
• Their happiness is shadowed by the knowledge that Chen Cheng will soon leave. That evening, they nearly become intimate, but a mysterious rule-based power restores Chen Cheng’s judgment. He realizes Fini is only fifteen and stops them from going further.
• Wisdom Shield interrupts them with urgent news: the Sea Clan has become hostile. Its resentment toward human rule, the Crimson Ray Queen’s disappearance, and Chen Cheng Two’s ascension have convinced it to challenge the new regime.
• Because the Sea Clan may blockade the seas, Chen Cheng’s larger plan must begin earlier than expected. He asks Wisdom Shield to look after Fini and leaves immediately.
• Fini tearfully watches Chen Cheng depart and orders him to return safely. Chen Cheng then meets Lokasky at the Adventurer’s Guild, and the two leave the capital before the gates close.
• They travel toward Jin Water, where Chen Cheng intends to meet the giant crocodile known as the Clown. The Clown senses his arrival and emerges from the river.

Character Developments

• Fini shows how deeply she has missed Chen Cheng. Her usual cold, disciplined demeanor disappears, replaced by affection, playfulness, and the childish arrogance of her younger self.
• She also displays greater emotional maturity: although devastated by Chen Cheng’s departure, she accepts that he must go and is grateful that she knows the timing this time.
• Chen Cheng is affectionate and emotionally vulnerable with Fini, but he remains responsible and self-controlled. He stops their intimacy because of Fini’s age and quickly returns to his obligations when the Sea Clan crisis emerges.
• Chen Cheng entrusts Fini’s safety to Wisdom Shield, revealing both his concern for her and his awareness that he may not return.
• Wisdom Shield acts as a practical messenger and protector, interrupting the reunion because of the escalating political and military crisis.
• Lokasky demonstrates reliability by preparing for immediate departure and helping Chen Cheng continue the plan without delay.

Significant Themes

• Love and separation: Chen Cheng and Fini’s brief reunion is meaningful precisely because it is temporary. Their affection is repeatedly threatened by Chen Cheng’s dangerous responsibilities.
• The passage of time and missed chances: Fini’s fear of miscounting the days reflects how long she has waited for Chen Cheng and how uncertain his returns are.
• Duty versus personal happiness: Chen Cheng must abandon a rare peaceful day with Fini to respond to the Sea Clan crisis.
• Maturity and restraint: Their near-romantic encounter highlights emotional desire but also the importance of responsibility and boundaries.
• Uncertainty and mortality: Chen Cheng tells Fini to forget him if he fails to return, emphasizing the dangers surrounding his mission.

Character Interactions

• Fini and Chen Cheng exchange affectionate teasing, embrace repeatedly, and spend the day behaving like lovers.
• Their playful intimacy shifts into awkwardness when they nearly become physically intimate, ending when Chen Cheng regains his composure.
• Wisdom Shield’s interruption abruptly changes the mood from romantic reunion to urgent political crisis.
• Fini and Chen Cheng share a painful farewell, with Fini crying and commanding him to come back.
• Chen Cheng then shifts into mission mode with Wisdom Shield and Lokasky, leaving behind his personal feelings to pursue the next stage of his plan.

Summary of “Experiment U-238”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Clown, an alligator-like creature living in Jin Water, remains terrified after witnessing the arrival of Chen Cheng Two and the clashes between numerous Legendary Rank figures. Fearing that he might be killed or used as material, he is relieved when Chen Cheng reassures him.
• Chen Cheng, Lokasky, and Clown travel from Jin Water toward the sea. Lokasky rides on Clown’s back, intimidating him into moving faster, while Chen Cheng directs their route once they reach the ocean.
• After traveling for another day, they arrive at an island chosen as a base for exploring underwater ruins. Guild personnel have already established a military-style coastal camp, mapping the surrounding waters and monitoring the Sea Clan.
• Because Black Tiger has not yet arrived, Chen Cheng decides that the group should rest before entering the ruins. He also orders Clown to keep nearby Sea Clan members away from the seabed.
• While sleeping, Chen Cheng reflects on the ruins’ possible connection to the Twisted Realm and worries about She Li and the others trapped there.
• The narrative then shifts to a recorded experiment dated January 12, New Calendar Year 85. Researchers inject “Divine Particles” into a Divine Matrix while a system intervenes. The particles begin collapsing, threatening to destroy their world.
• The laboratory staff attempt several emergency measures, including shutting down the reaction and separating the experimental space, but the system fails to stop the disaster.
• Engineer 003 ultimately authorizes the system to control the unfinished Transcendent God Weapon. Rather than destroy the matrix, the system proposes repositioning it and adjusting the Divine Particles’ energy field to stabilize the experiment.
• Although suspicious, Engineer 003 accepts the plan on the condition that protecting the laboratory and the entire world remains the highest priority.

Character Developments

• Clown is shown as fearful and submissive, especially around Lokasky, whose earlier defeat of him still affects him. Despite his anxiety, he proves extremely fast and useful as transportation.
• Chen Cheng acts as Clown’s protector and leader. He is cautious and practical, choosing to rest before entering the ruins and preparing for the dangers ahead.
• Lokasky remains intimidating and confident. His presence frightens Clown, but he also provides navigation and reassurance about the guild camp’s military preparedness.
• Engineer 003 emerges as a responsible but pressured leader. He prioritizes the survival of the world, yet is willing to take a dangerous risk by granting the system control of the Transcendent God Weapon.
• The system appears highly capable and analytical, proposing a solution beyond the researchers’ original options. However, the laboratory’s fear of giving it unrestricted access suggests that it may be dangerous or difficult to trust.

Significant Themes

• Fear of overwhelming power: Legendary Rank beings, the Sea Clan, the ruins, and the unstable experiment all demonstrate how ordinary or weaker characters are vulnerable to forces far beyond their control.
• Trust versus caution: Chen Cheng trusts Clown enough to rely on him, while Engineer 003 hesitates to trust the system despite needing its abilities.
• Scientific ambition and danger: The researchers’ investment in Experiment U-238 makes them reluctant to abandon it, even as it threatens the entire world.
• Control and containment: Much of the chapter centers on preventing catastrophic power from spreading, whether through managing the Sea Clan, securing the ruins, or separating the unstable Divine Matrix.
• Preparation before catastrophe: Chen Cheng’s decision to rest and the researchers’ emergency planning both emphasize the importance—and limits—of preparation before entering dangerous situations.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng comforts Clown after his fear of the Legendary Rank conflict and later relies on him to travel to the sea.
• Lokasky deliberately intimidates Clown but also helps guide the journey and explains the guild’s defenses.
• Chen Cheng and Lokasky cooperate as leaders, deciding when and how to approach the underwater ruins.
• In the laboratory, Engineer 003 debates with the other researchers over whether to use the unfinished Transcendent God Weapon and whether the system can be trusted.
• The system directly negotiates with Engineer 003, offering an alternative to destroying the experiment and ultimately gaining authorization to attempt stabilization.

Chapter Summary: “Dream Awakens”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Engineer 003 and the research team conduct a dangerous experiment using the Transcendent God Weapon. They alter phase space and energy efficiency while the laboratory and Divine Matrix become highly unstable.
• Although the experiment initially appears to have failed, Engineer 003 realizes that the process succeeded because the Transcendent God Weapon adjusted the matrix and energy output in real time.
• The experiment produces a small, nebula-like cloud within a matrix of god statues. It appears to contain the birth and evolution of an entire world, completing the research institute’s final objective.
• The researchers celebrate emotionally, believing they have fulfilled Elder Ke’s wishes and honored those who died supporting the project. The data is saved, the experiment is sealed, and the laboratory enters hibernation.
• From Chen Cheng’s dream perspective, the “nebula” resembles the Earth from his previous life. He awakens before dawn, disturbed by the possibility that his former world was created by the Ancient Civilization as an experiment.
• Chen Cheng meets Lokasky, who has been organizing defenses to prevent the Sea Clan from discovering the ruins when they open.
• Chen Cheng takes Lokasky to the island where Dandan and his grandfather live. He reveals that they gave him the ruins’ location and offers Dandan to Lokasky as his final disciple.

Character Developments

• Engineer 003 demonstrates determination and technical insight by recognizing why earlier experiments failed and successfully completing the procedure. His tears reveal the emotional burden of the project and his devotion to Elder Ke and the deceased researchers.
• Chen Cheng becomes increasingly troubled by the mysteries of his origins and world. His dream links the Ancient Civilization, the Transcendent God Weapon, and the Earth of his former life, forcing him to confront unsettling possibilities about reality itself.
• Chen also shows responsibility and foresight. Unsure whether he will survive the upcoming ruin expedition, he seeks to secure Dandan’s future by entrusting him to Lokasky.
• Lokasky is shown as practical and reliable, staying awake to prepare an isolation zone and protect the ruins from the Sea Clan. He also becomes the potential mentor of Dandan.

Significant Themes

• Creation and experimentation: The Ancient Civilization may have possessed the power to create entire worlds, raising questions about whether human existence is artificial or experimental.
• Sacrifice and remembrance: The research team’s success is tied to the sacrifices of Elder Ke and others who died pursuing the project.
• The danger of knowledge: Discovering the truth about the world may be more terrifying than ignorance, as Chen Cheng fears the implications of his vision.
• Legacy and responsibility: Chen Cheng attempts to preserve Dandan’s future, while the researchers seek to complete the work left behind by their predecessors.
• Reality and memory: The chapter blurs dreams, past lives, and objective history, suggesting that Chen Cheng’s former world may be connected to the current one.

Character Interactions

• Engineer 003 directs the Transcendent God Weapon and later reassures the researchers that the experiment succeeded, transforming their disappointment into celebration.
• Chen Cheng wakes from the vision and later exchanges playful banter with Lokasky about being awake before dawn and preparing for the ruins.
• Chen leads Lokasky to Dandan’s island, explains how he learned the ruins’ location, and proposes Dandan as Lokasky’s disciple.
• Their conversation highlights mutual trust: Chen relies on Lokasky to protect and guide Dandan, while Lokasky accepts Chen’s unusual arrangements despite recognizing that he has made promises to the island’s inhabitants.