Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Who Was the Smart One”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Snake God, enraged with Zhao Ritian, orders the Strategist to help kill him and supplies him with Black Tortoise True Qi.
• Empowered by the qi, the Strategist’s strength and physical condition improve dramatically. He becomes arrogant, praises Snake God, and declares his intention to become Snake God’s most loyal follower and strongest human representative.
• Zhao Ritian and the Strategist trade insults. Zhao condemns the Strategist for relying on manipulation, flattery, and borrowed power, arguing that such gains cannot overcome destiny or the laws of Heaven.
• The battle begins. Zhao Ritian uses the Emperor Fire Seed and Ren Zha Shegui qi, while the Strategist relies on Snake God’s Black Tortoise True Qi and his twin blades.
• The Strategist initially gains the advantage, repeatedly knocking Zhao Ritian back. However, he secretly covets Zhao’s Fire Seed and believes killing him will allow him to seize it.
• Snake God watches the fight while pretending to be indifferent. The Ape and Dragon Statues recognize that Zhao is powerful and intelligent in his own straightforward way, despite lacking a weapon.
• After being injured and thrown aside, Zhao notices that ordinary stones and objects in the ancient location have lost their spiritual energy, whereas the Ape and Dragon Statues remain intact because they contain War God True Qi.
• Realizing this may offer him a solution to his disadvantage, Zhao grabs one of the Ape Statue’s arms and asks to borrow it.

Character Developments

• Zhao Ritian: Demonstrates moral certainty, faith in Heaven and all living things, and confidence in his own unconventional strength. Though physically disadvantaged and injured, he remains defiant and quickly recognizes a potential way to obtain a weapon.
• The Strategist: Becomes increasingly arrogant and fanatical after receiving Snake God’s power. His admiration turns into worship, revealing his ambition to rise through dependence on a stronger figure. He also remains calculating, already planning to steal Zhao’s Fire Seed.
• Snake God: Acts vindictive and childish toward Zhao, trading insults with him. Despite claiming to want Zhao dead, he appears to test and evaluate him, secretly approving of Zhao’s character and resilience.
• Ape Statue and Dragon Statue: Offer detached but insightful observations. They identify Zhao as pure-hearted rather than unintelligent and suggest that his honesty resembles the Tiger War God.
• The Ape Statue: Is startled and suspicious when Zhao suddenly grabs its arm, setting up the chapter’s cliffhanger.

Significant Themes

• True intelligence versus petty cleverness: The chapter contrasts Zhao’s practical, sincere intelligence with the Strategist’s scheming and manipulation. Zhao may seem foolish because he ignores worldly tricks, but the statues recognize that he directs his intelligence toward meaningful goals.
• Borrowed power and dependence: The Strategist’s strength comes from Snake God, causing him to mistake temporary assistance for personal superiority. His worship exposes his insecurity and ambition.
• Sincerity versus manipulation: Zhao values Heaven, Earth, life, and collective strength, while the Strategist relies on flattery, lies, and opportunism.
• Adversity as a test: Snake God deliberately allows Zhao to face a stronger, armed opponent. His survival and ability to adapt will determine whether he is worthy of trust.
• Hidden strength in purity: Zhao’s simple, honest nature is presented not as stupidity but as a different kind of wisdom—one that may ultimately surpass scheming.

Character Interactions

• Snake God commands the Strategist to kill Zhao and mocks Zhao during the battle.
• Zhao and the Strategist exchange increasingly hostile insults, each accusing the other of stupidity.
• The Strategist praises and pledges loyalty to Snake God, while Zhao openly insults him, further angering the deity.
• Snake God, the Ape Statue, and the Dragon Statue discuss Zhao’s character and potential, revealing that Snake God may respect him despite their antagonism.
• After realizing the statues contain enduring War God True Qi, Zhao turns to the Ape Statue and asks to borrow its arm, ending the chapter on a humorous and suspenseful cliffhanger.

Chapter Summary: “Learning from Heaven and Earth”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Ritian attempts to “borrow” the Ape Statue’s arm as a weapon, initially trying—and failing—to break it off by brute force.
• Using the Dragon Statue’s tail and arm as a makeshift lever, Zhao Ritian cleverly forces the Dragon Statue to help snap off the Ape Statue’s stone arm.
• He picks up the arm and immediately uses it against the Strategist, dismissing concerns about disrespecting the divine statues.
• The weapon dramatically changes the battle. Zhao Ritian’s strength, defensive ability, and familiarity with heavy weapons allow him to neutralize the Strategist’s fast twin-blade attacks.
• The Strategist expands his attack range and employs feints, attacks from multiple angles, and attempts to overwhelm Zhao Ritian’s defenses.
• Zhao Ritian adapts rapidly, using the stone arm to block attacks and anticipating the Strategist’s movements. He eventually sees through not only the Strategist’s attacks but also his feints and attempts to predict Zhao Ritian’s reactions.
• The Strategist launches a final, all-out attack using the Black Tortoise True Qi, creating two black slashes that appear to tear through space.
• Zhao Ritian activates his Dark-Gold Tyrant Body and calmly prepares to counter, declaring, “No.”

Character Developments

• Zhao Ritian reveals unexpected ingenuity beneath his seemingly reckless and foolish behavior. His lever trick demonstrates practical intelligence and creativity.
• His combat talent becomes increasingly apparent. Rather than relying on formal instruction, he learns directly through battle, observation, and adaptation.
• Zhao Ritian’s confidence grows as he gains control of the fight. He progresses from improvising with the stone arm to completely understanding the Strategist’s combat patterns.
• The Strategist begins the battle with confidence after obtaining the Black Tortoise True Qi, but becomes frustrated and increasingly desperate when Zhao Ritian’s new weapon invalidates his speed-based strategy.
• The Strategist eventually realizes that Zhao Ritian has surpassed him in reading the battle, predicting even his feints and counter-predictions.
• Snake God, Ape Statue, and Dragon Statue reassess Zhao Ritian. They recognize that his talent is genuine, unusually pure, and fundamentally different from Long Aotian’s.
• The Ape Statue identifies Zhao Ritian’s talent as similar to his own: he does not primarily need a teacher, but opportunities through which he can learn from the world and from himself.

Significant Themes

• Learning through experience: Zhao Ritian improves by directly observing and responding to his opponent rather than following a formal method.
• Unexpected intelligence: The chapter contrasts appearance with ability. Zhao Ritian seems foolish and reckless, yet his unconventional thinking produces brilliant solutions.
• Adaptation and improvisation: His use of a broken divine arm as a weapon symbolizes his ability to turn any circumstance into an advantage.
• Individual paths to mastery: The gods distinguish between different kinds of talent. Some people thrive through guidance, while others grow by treating heaven, earth, combat, and themselves as teachers.
• Confidence versus perception: The Strategist underestimates Zhao Ritian because of his behavior, only to discover that Zhao Ritian has understood him completely.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Ritian’s absurd attempt to break the Ape Statue’s arm provokes ridicule from the Ape and Dragon Statues, but his successful lever trick leaves all three gods stunned.
• The Strategist and Zhao Ritian engage in an increasingly strategic battle: the Strategist relies on speed, feints, and complex attacks, while Zhao Ritian relies on overwhelming defense, prediction, and the stone arm’s reach and weight.
• Zhao Ritian taunts the Strategist after countering his attacks, stating that he has already figured out the Strategist’s routine.
• The gods discuss Zhao Ritian’s potential, comparing him with Long Aotian and concluding that his talent is difficult to teach but capable of immense growth through opportunity.
• The chapter ends with Zhao Ritian facing the Strategist’s strongest attack in his transformed Dark-Gold Tyrant Body, suggesting that the decisive counterattack is about to begin.

Chapter Summary: “Stubborn Dragon Eighteen Palms”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Ritian defeats the Strategist by abandoning the expected strategy of relying on Ape God’s stone arm. Instead, he throws the arm away as a feint, allowing him to evade the Strategist’s blades and unleash the Courage Art’s “Fierce Tiger Crashing Fist.”
• The attack shatters the Strategist’s Black Tortoise True Qi defense, breaks his breastbone, and destroys his heart through a second-stage burst of Ren Zha Shegui True Qi.
• The Strategist is left helpless and upside down on the stone platform. Though Zhao initially appears majestic and merciful, he proceeds to repeatedly smash the stone arm between the Strategist’s legs, humiliating rather than simply killing him.
• Snake God intervenes and takes the stone arm away. Zhao angrily accuses the immortals of manipulating him and questions Snake God’s intelligence and motives.
• Snake God reveals that Zhao has passed his trial and explains that Lu Chengwen and “Poop-Spraying Dragon” are present in the parallel trial spaces, though Zhao cannot see them.
• The narrative shifts to the simultaneous trial of Long Aotian against Dragon Head. Long Aotian mocks Dragon Head and Snake God’s manipulation, while Dragon Head challenges his arrogance.
• Dragon Head launches the powerful “Stubborn Dragon Eighteen Palms.” Long Aotian narrowly dodges the first attack, but Dragon Head quickly follows up, knocks away his sword, and strikes him in the chest, sending him flying.

Character Developments

• Zhao Ritian demonstrates cleverness beneath his seemingly foolish behavior. His unexpected feint defeats the Strategist and proves that he can adapt under pressure. However, his triumph also reveals his crude, impulsive, and destructive personality, undermining the dignified image the immortals briefly admire.
• The Strategist is completely broken both physically and psychologically. His elaborate schemes fail because he misjudges Zhao, and he is reduced to begging for mercy.
• Snake God continues to act as a manipulative but amused mentor. He is pleased by Zhao’s strength and independence but becomes exasperated by Zhao’s lack of discipline and insults.
• Ape God and Dragon God admire Zhao’s battlefield presence and briefly mistake his intimidating appearance for true dignity. Their admiration quickly turns to embarrassment when he begins his vulgar attack.
• Long Aotian remains arrogant, fearless, and verbally aggressive even when facing Dragon Head. He recognizes the immortals’ manipulative nature and refuses to show submission.
• Dragon Head is revealed to possess considerable remaining power. His confidence and martial strength allow him to overwhelm Long Aotian despite the latter’s contemptuous attitude.

Significant Themes

• Cleverness versus brute force: Zhao wins by deceiving an opponent who assumes he will follow the obvious strategy, showing that unpredictability can overcome careful planning.
• Appearance versus reality: Zhao briefly appears like a righteous war god, but his subsequent behavior exposes a vulgar and immature side. Likewise, the immortals’ lofty roles conceal their playful and manipulative personalities.
• Humiliation and power: The Strategist’s defeat is not merely physical; Zhao deliberately humiliates him, reversing their earlier power dynamic.
• Defiance of authority: Both Zhao and Long Aotian challenge the immortals’ control, refusing to behave according to their expectations.
• Trials as manipulation: The immortals observe and influence multiple battles at once, treating the contestants partly as warriors and partly as entertainment or experiments.
• Arrogance and consequences: Long Aotian’s confidence remains unshaken, but the chapter ends with him suffering a direct blow, suggesting that his arrogance may be tested by Dragon Head’s superior technique.

Character Interactions

• Zhao and the Strategist embody a reversal of expectations: the Strategist’s calculated tactics are defeated by Zhao’s improvised deception.
• The three immortals praise Zhao’s imposing presence, only to be shocked and disappointed by his crude behavior.
• Zhao openly clashes with Snake God, accusing him of being untrustworthy and unintelligent; Snake God responds with irritation but continues treating him like a promising subordinate.
• Dragon Head rejects Zhao’s request for assistance, while Snake God humorously approves of Dragon Head’s backbone.
• Long Aotian and Dragon Head exchange insults and ideological challenges before their confrontation turns physical. Long Aotian attacks Dragon Head’s legitimacy, while Dragon Head responds by asserting authority and overwhelming him with martial power.

Chapter Summary: “Who Is the Trash?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dragon Head completely overpowers Long Aotian, arguing that true qi, weapons, armor, inherited powers, and pills are only tools; a warrior’s own ability is what truly determines strength.
• He humiliates Long Aotian by stomping on him, kicking him across the ground, and smashing his head into a stone pillar. He also mocks Long Aotian’s reliance on the supposedly supreme King’s Aura and the weapon Gentleman’s Snow.
• Dragon Head boasts about obtaining the Snake God’s power and looks forward to defeating Long Aotian’s junior brothers and their allies.
• Despite his injuries, Long Aotian rises and challenges Dragon Head’s hypocrisy: Dragon Head claims external powers are unimportant while eagerly coveting the Snake God’s possessions.
• Long Aotian launches a desperate counterattack using Dragon-Slaying Slash, but Dragon Head effortlessly evades him and repeatedly kicks him aside.
• Dragon Head explains that entering the Gateless Realm is merely the beginning of true cultivation, not proof that someone is already the strongest under heaven.
• Long Aotian activates Dragon Domain, temporarily matching Dragon Head in combat. He combines swordsmanship with silver needles controlled by true qi, forcing Dragon Head to defend seriously.
• Using the needles as a distraction, Long Aotian tricks Dragon Head into exposing himself and lands Overlord Slash, cutting a deep wound across his chest.
• The chapter ends with Long Aotian reaffirming his refusal to surrender and declaring that his courage and indomitable will—not merely King’s Aura or talent—have carried him this far. He calls Dragon Head “trash.”

Character Developments

• Long Aotian: Though battered and nearly defeated, he demonstrates extraordinary endurance, pride, courage, and tactical intelligence. He refuses to fear a stronger opponent and adapts his fighting style, moving from direct attacks to deception and combination techniques. His injury and defiance reveal that his greatest strength is his refusal to retreat.
• Dragon Head: Initially calm, arrogant, and completely dominant, he sees himself as superior to Long Aotian. However, Long Aotian’s counterattack wounds him and disrupts his composure, exposing Dragon Head’s anger and suggesting that his confidence may depend partly on external power—especially the Snake God’s abilities.

Significant Themes

• Inner strength versus external power: The chapter questions whether strength comes from talent and powerful tools or from the individual’s will, courage, and skill.
• Perseverance and refusal to surrender: Long Aotian’s repeated recoveries emphasize that endurance and determination can allow someone weaker to challenge a superior opponent.
• Hypocrisy: Dragon Head dismisses reliance on weapons and powers while coveting the Snake God’s strength, allowing Long Aotian to expose the contradiction in his philosophy.
• The limits of achievement: Reaching the Gateless Realm does not make someone invincible; true martial competition begins only beyond it.
• Pride and dignity: Both men frame the battle as a judgment of who truly deserves respect, with Long Aotian defending his identity and the Long surname through courage rather than victory alone.

Character Interactions

• Dragon Head repeatedly taunts and physically humiliates Long Aotian, emphasizing the enormous difference in their abilities.
• Long Aotian answers Dragon Head’s insults with defiance, challenging his dependence on Snake God’s power and rejecting the idea that superior strength automatically makes someone honorable.
• Their battle shifts from one-sided domination to a more balanced exchange after Long Aotian activates Dragon Domain.
• Dragon Head’s growing irritation contrasts with Long Aotian’s increasing confidence, culminating in Long Aotian’s successful deception and decisive wound.

Chapter Summary: Long Aotian’s Psychological Warfare

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• After Long Aotian manages to injure Dragon Head with a slash, Dragon Head activates his powerful White Dragon Form, creating a massive white true-energy dragon.
• Long Aotian counters with White Emperor: Cold Flame Dragon, summoning an ice dragon. The two constructs clash, with Dragon Head’s white dragon gradually overpowering the ice dragon.
• Long Aotian uses Windbreak, sending crystalline scales at Dragon Head, but the attack fails to stop him. Dragon Head eventually shatters the ice dragon and lands successive attacks, severely injuring Long Aotian and sending him flying.
• Although Long Aotian appears helpless, Dragon Head suffers intense chest pain from the earlier exchange and hesitates to approach for the killing blow.
• Long Aotian exploits this hesitation, repeatedly taunting Dragon Head and provoking him into an increasingly emotional argument.
• During the exchange, Dragon Head reveals his name: Long Buzhen. Long Aotian mocks him as a “fake dragon,” further undermining his confidence.
• Long Aotian then reveals his central theory: Snake God and the ancient statues never intended Dragon Head to inherit the divine legacy. Dragon Head was merely used as an opponent to help Long Aotian train.
• Dragon Head recalls that Dragon Statue and Ape Statue only told him that inheritance depended on “fate,” which Long Aotian interprets as deliberate deception rather than a genuine promise.
• Long Aotian argues that the ancient beings would never have allowed Dragon Head to kill him and could have intervened if Long Aotian were truly defeated. The chapter ends with Dragon Head panicking as he begins to question whether he has been manipulated all along.

2. Character Developments

• Long Aotian is physically beaten and badly wounded, but remains mentally sharp, confident, and verbally aggressive. He transforms his apparent defeat into a psychological advantage by identifying Dragon Head’s fear and exploiting it.
• His mockery evolves into a calculated interrogation, allowing him to uncover Dragon Head’s name and expose his dependence on Snake God’s approval.
• Dragon Head/Long Buzhen initially appears dominant and confident after overwhelming Long Aotian’s techniques. However, his hesitation, pain, and anger reveal insecurity beneath his arrogance.
• Dragon Head becomes increasingly emotional and defensive, especially when Long Aotian attacks his identity, intelligence, and belief in the promised inheritance.
• By the end, Dragon Head’s certainty collapses into panic, suggesting that Long Aotian’s psychological attack may be more damaging than his physical techniques.

3. Significant Themes

• Psychological warfare versus physical strength: Even while incapacitated, Long Aotian gains control of the encounter through taunts, deception, and observation.
• Arrogance and insecurity: Dragon Head’s boastful confidence proves fragile when Long Aotian challenges his legitimacy and intelligence.
• Manipulation and false promises: The possibility that Snake God and the ancient statues have deceived Dragon Head highlights how powerful figures can use ambition to control others.
• Identity and legitimacy: The repeated “real dragon” versus “fake dragon” insults attack Dragon Head’s sense of self and status.
• Survival through wit: Long Aotian’s ability to remain humorous and analytical while badly injured demonstrates that intelligence and composure can compensate for physical disadvantage.
• The ambiguity of immortality and morality: Long Aotian rejects the idea that ancient, immortal beings are inherently wise or honorable, portraying them instead as experienced manipulators.

4. Character Interactions

• Long Aotian and Dragon Head engage in a mixture of martial combat and sarcastic verbal sparring. Their banter escalates from mocking each other’s vocabulary to questioning each other’s courage and identity.
• Long Aotian deliberately dares Dragon Head to approach, recognizing that Dragon Head’s chest pain and fear prevent him from doing so.
• The discussion of Dragon Head’s name leads to jokes about whether he is a “real” member of the Long lineage, humiliating him and provoking an angry defense.
• Long Aotian directly challenges Dragon Head’s relationship with Snake God, Dragon Statue, and Ape Statue, reframing Dragon Head from favored successor to disposable tool.
• The distant Dragon Statue and Ape Statue remain silent observers, making their silence seem suspicious and reinforcing Long Aotian’s argument that Dragon Head has been tested or manipulated rather than genuinely chosen.

Chapter Summary: “His Heart Was in Chaos”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Dragon Head becomes deeply shaken by Long Aotian’s suggestion that Snake God may be manipulating him. Long Aotian argues that Dragon Head could be trapped in the secret realm forever, deceived about inheriting Snake God’s power, and ultimately reduced to an eternal servant.
• Long Aotian contrasts the stone statues’ vague response to Dragon Head—“It depends on fate”—with their supposedly much warmer and more encouraging treatment of him, implying that he is the true inheritor.
• Dragon Head loses his temper and attacks, but Long Aotian tricks him by pretending Snake God has appeared. He then slashes Dragon Head, openly exploiting the lack of rules in the realm.
• Long Aotian intensifies the psychological attack, theatrically claiming that killing Dragon Head would allow him to inherit Snake God’s legacy and become virtually unstoppable.
• He further terrifies Dragon Head by describing the possibility of his soul being imprisoned in the secret realm forever. Enraged and panicked, Dragon Head charges.
• Long Aotian uses another distraction—the collapse of a stone statue—to ambush Dragon Head again. He mocks Dragon Head for being fooled repeatedly and points out that he has already been cut several times.
• Long Aotian declares that Dragon Head’s real weakness is not physical strength but his unstable mentality. He criticizes Dragon Head for mistaking brute force and dominance over weaker people for genuine power.
• The two finally engage in a direct martial-arts clash. Although Dragon Head is powerful, his fear and confusion prevent him from maintaining control. The chapter ends as both unleash increasingly powerful dragon-based techniques against one another.

2. Character Developments

• Dragon Head: His confidence collapses as Long Aotian’s words awaken his fear of betrayal, death, and eternal imprisonment. He shifts from anger to panic, becoming impulsive and easily manipulated. His dependence on Snake God’s approval reveals that his apparent strength is built on insecurity.
• Long Aotian: He displays exceptional psychological insight, cunning, and ruthlessness. He deliberately adopts the persona of a villain to frighten Dragon Head, combining deception, mockery, and physical ambushes. He remains confident even while injured and demonstrates that his greatest advantage is his ability to control the opponent’s state of mind.
• Snake God and the statues: Though they do not directly intervene, their mysterious presence and ambiguous intentions drive the conflict. Dragon Head’s faith in Snake God is contrasted with Long Aotian’s suspicion and opportunism.

3. Significant Themes

• Psychological warfare: Long Aotian attacks Dragon Head’s convictions rather than merely fighting him physically.
• Strength versus mental resilience: The chapter suggests that true power requires composure, adaptability, and determination—not simply superior force.
• Faith and manipulation: Dragon Head’s unquestioning trust in Snake God leaves him vulnerable when that trust is challenged.
• Fear as weakness: Once Dragon Head begins imagining betrayal and eternal imprisonment, his fear disrupts his judgment and diminishes his effectiveness.
• Appearance versus reality: Long Aotian acts like a “villain” to manipulate Dragon Head, while Dragon Head’s intimidating reputation hides a fragile and dependent spirit.

4. Character Interactions

• Long Aotian repeatedly provokes Dragon Head through sarcasm, false claims, and exaggerated villainous behavior.
• Dragon Head responds with outrage and threats, but his emotional reactions repeatedly expose him to ambushes.
• Long Aotian compares Dragon Head unfavorably with Zhao Ritian and Lu Chengwen, portraying them as mentally stronger because they would resist intimidation and continue searching for solutions.
• Their verbal confrontation develops into a fierce martial-arts duel, with both countering each other’s named dragon techniques. The battle remains unresolved at the chapter’s end.

Chapter Summary: “Died of Rage”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Long Aotian defeats Dragon Head through a combination of intimidation, psychological warfare, and strategic manipulation rather than a straightforward physical battle.
• He declares himself the only true “Overlord Divine Dragon Warrior” and boasts that he will kill every dragon he encounters.
• Snake God criticizes Long Aotian for “cheating,” arguing that the trial was meant to test combat ability through fists, true energy, and tactics—not through destroying Dragon Head’s confidence.
• Long Aotian defends his methods, insisting that his fists, words, intelligence, and deception are all part of his own strength. He argues that warfare requires cunning and survival instincts.
• While Snake God and Long Aotian argue, Dragon Head lies near death and repeatedly begs Snake God to grant him the promised inheritance power.
• Humiliated and enraged, Dragon Head attempts to self-destruct. Snake God prevents him by stomping on his chest and trapping the energy needed for the explosion.
• Snake God eventually acknowledges that Long Aotian has barely passed the trial, though Long Aotian objects to the word “barely.”
• Dragon Statue and Ape Statue intervene to stop the argument, but the constant humiliation and helplessness prove too much for Dragon Head. He dies from sheer rage before the others even finish arguing.

Character Developments

• Long Aotian is shown to be highly intelligent, arrogant, ruthless, and unapologetically pragmatic. He views psychological manipulation as a legitimate form of combat and refuses to accept traditional notions of honorable fighting.
• Snake God appears powerful but increasingly frustrated and childish. He wanted to enjoy testing the candidates, but Long Aotian’s methods ruined the entertainment and exposed the weaknesses of the trial.
• Dragon Head shifts from a supposedly promising candidate to a helpless victim. His repeated pleas for help and inheritance reveal his dependence on Snake God, while his attempted self-destruction shows the depth of his humiliation and despair.
• Dragon Statue and Ape Statue function as amused observers and reluctant mediators. They recognize the absurdity of Long Aotian’s behavior and compare him unfavorably—even to his already notorious relatives or companions.

Significant Themes

• Cunning versus brute strength: The chapter argues that strategy, deception, and psychological warfare can be just as powerful as physical force.
• The meaning of strength: Long Aotian insists that intellect and verbal manipulation are valid personal abilities, challenging Snake God’s narrow definition of martial skill.
• Humiliation and loss of dignity: Dragon Head is treated as an object or toy rather than a person, and his inability even to die on his own terms becomes the final indignity.
• Absurdity of immortals and trials: The supposedly grand inheritance trial degenerates into petty arguing, insults, and chaotic behavior, undermining the dignity expected from powerful ancient beings.
• Family resemblance and inherited ruthlessness: Ape Statue and Dragon Statue suggest that Long Aotian’s viciousness reflects a broader pattern among the powerful figures connected to him.

Character Interactions

• Ape Statue and Dragon Statue mock Long Aotian’s cruelty and argue over whether it exceeds Dragon Statue’s past wickedness.
• Long Aotian and Snake God engage in a prolonged verbal battle over whether Long Aotian’s victory was legitimate.
• Dragon Head repeatedly begs Snake God for rescue and inheritance power, but Snake God keeps ignoring him to continue arguing with Long Aotian.
• Snake God prevents Dragon Head’s suicide attempt, partly to preserve the trial’s outcome and partly because he refuses to let the situation end on Dragon Head’s terms.
• Dragon Statue and Ape Statue attempt to mediate between Long Aotian and Snake God, but their efforts come too late: Dragon Head is ultimately “killed” by rage and humiliation.

Chapter Summary: “You’re Going a Bit Too Far”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chengwen finds himself alone in a huge, unsettling hall filled with gray stones and statues. Though frightened, he feels relieved when the Branch Master appears, since another living person makes the situation less terrifying.
• The Branch Master reveals that Snake God’s “enlightenment” has radically changed his worldview. He now believes he is the chosen embodiment of justice and the destined savior of the world.
• Convinced that fate has guided his entire life—including his past crimes and membership in Sky Net—the Branch Master imagines himself inheriting the ancient gods’ legacy and ruling the world as its benevolent protector.
• He declares Lu Chengwen an irredeemable villain who must die, framing the confrontation as an inevitable battle between justice and evil.
• Lu Chengwen is baffled by the Branch Master’s delusions and mocks his melodramatic speech. Instead of waiting for the Branch Master to finish, he suddenly attacks him with an iron staff.
• Lu repeatedly beats the Branch Master, who survives the assault but continues insisting that destiny has already determined the outcome: Lu, as the villain, is destined to be defeated.
• Lu sarcastically accepts the Branch Master’s fantasy, pretending to praise his moral superiority and promising to continue down his “evil path.”
• When Lu launches yet another attack during this performance, the Branch Master finally loses his composure and angrily shouts that Lu has gone too far.

Character Developments

• Lu Chengwen: Despite feeling like an ordinary and vulnerable person, Lu relies on humor, sarcasm, and opportunistic violence to handle danger. He recognizes the Branch Master’s self-deception and deliberately exploits it, turning the supposed heroic confrontation into a farcical beating.
• The Branch Master: He has become completely consumed by Snake God’s influence and his own messianic delusions. He believes himself to be the “chosen one,” the world’s future god and protector, even interpreting Lu’s attacks as events ordained by fate. However, his calm, righteous persona eventually cracks under Lu’s relentless provocation.

Significant Themes

• Self-deception and fanaticism: The Branch Master has “fooled himself” into believing that his evil past was part of a divine plan. His supposed enlightenment is actually an extreme form of delusion.
• Fate versus free will: The Branch Master repeatedly claims that everything—including his confrontation with Lu—has been predetermined. His belief in fate allows him to rationalize both his past and present suffering.
• The absurdity of moral labels: The chapter humorously reverses the traditional hero-villain dynamic. The Branch Master calls himself righteous while Lu embraces the role of villain, even as Lu is the more perceptive and grounded of the two.
• Mockery of grandiose hero narratives: The Branch Master’s dramatic speeches about loneliness, destiny, and saving the world are undercut by Lu’s interruptions and physical attacks.

Character Interactions

• The Branch Master confronts Lu with pity and moral condemnation, while Lu responds with fake friendliness and disbelief.
• Lu repeatedly mocks the Branch Master’s claims of divine destiny, then attacks him while he is delivering heroic speeches.
• The Branch Master interprets Lu’s ambushes as natural trials on the chosen one’s path rather than reacting normally.
• Lu pretends to accept his role as the destined villain, further encouraging the Branch Master’s delusions—until another attempted attack finally provokes the Branch Master into breaking character.

Chapter Summary: “Villain Little Lu”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Branch Master attacks Lu Chengwen after Lu launches three surprise attacks, determined to uphold justice and defeat the “villain.”
• Lu and the Branch Master engage in a prolonged battle of over a hundred exchanges. Although Lu is in the Gateless Realm, his strength is unstable, and he begins losing ground against the Branch Master.
• Snake God, Ape Statue, and Dragon Statue watch from the sidelines rather than intervening. They observe that Lu becomes stronger against serious opponents but loses motivation when fighting someone he does not truly consider evil.
• Lu repeatedly uses Ape Statue and Dragon Statue as shields, taunting the Branch Master and refusing to fight him directly.
• When the Branch Master kneels respectfully before the two statues, Lu exploits the distraction to ambush him, striking him with his staff, kneeing him in the face, and insulting him for trying to become a righteous hero.
• After the statues disappear, Lu resorts to further dirty tricks, throwing grit into the Branch Master’s eyes and attacking him while he is blinded. The Branch Master retaliates with the powerful Four-Sided Thunder Split, forcing Lu to flee.
• Lu then pretends to be remorseful and suicidal, luring the Branch Master close by asking for a final wish. Instead, he kicks the Iron Staff into the Branch Master’s crotch and resumes beating him while mockingly demanding that he call Lu “Daddy” or “The Father.”
• Finally driven beyond endurance, the Branch Master abandons his righteous restraint and activates his forbidden or hidden technique, Dark Domain, vowing to kill Lu. Lu is delighted that the Branch Master has finally become serious.

Character Developments

• Lu Chengwen: Fully embraces the role of a shameless villain, relying on ambushes, deception, taunts, and improvised tricks rather than honorable combat. His combat ability remains unstable, but his creativity and adaptability make him dangerous. He is also shown to enjoy the performance of villainy, treating the battle almost like a game.
• The Branch Master: Begins as a sincere, idealistic champion of justice who wants to defeat Lu and become a righteous hero. Lu’s constant cheating and humiliation gradually destroy his composure, pushing him into rage and eventually compelling him to use the dark power he had kept hidden.
• Snake God: Watches the fight with detached amusement and seems to be testing or training Lu rather than taking the conflict seriously. He is surprised by Lu’s many tricks.
• Ape Statue and Dragon Statue: Act as amused spectators and commentators. They recognize Lu’s tendency to become passionate only when facing truly formidable or genuinely evil opponents, while mocking his cowardice and lack of backbone in this fight.

Significant Themes

• Justice versus villainy: The chapter comically reverses the usual heroic dynamic. The Branch Master sincerely wants to be righteous, while Lu deliberately performs the role of a villain.
• The limits of moral restraint: The Branch Master’s commitment to justice prevents him from initially fighting with full force, but Lu’s provocations gradually push him to abandon that restraint.
• Strength and motivation: Lu’s unstable power reflects his emotional state. He struggles against opponents he cannot genuinely hate, suggesting that his fighting spirit depends on moral conviction and personal intensity.
• Deception over honor: Lu’s victories come through surprise attacks, distractions, psychological manipulation, and dirty tactics, emphasizing his resourcefulness rather than straightforward strength.
• Comedy amid danger: Despite the apparent life-and-death stakes, the battle becomes slapstick entertainment, with the statues treating it as a show and Lu turning combat into villain role-play.

Character Interactions

• Lu constantly provokes the Branch Master by mocking his righteous ideals and hiding behind the statues.
• The Branch Master tries to maintain dignity and respect toward Ape Statue and Dragon Statue, but Lu repeatedly exploits his courtesy.
• Ape Statue and Dragon Statue criticize both fighters: they tease Lu for being cowardly and condemn the Branch Master for allowing himself to be manipulated.
• Snake God and the statues discuss Lu’s personality, identifying his tendency to become excited only when confronting truly powerful or genuinely evil enemies.
• Lu’s final taunt successfully pushes the Branch Master from righteous restraint into murderous anger, setting up a more serious confrontation through the activation of Dark Domain.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chengwen exploits the Branch Master’s rigid sense of righteousness, repeatedly deceiving him with feints, tricks, and evasive tactics rather than fighting directly.
• Frustrated, the Branch Master abandons his “righteous” approach and unleashes his forbidden technique, the Dark Domain, filling the area with poisonous black mist.
• Inside the domain, Lu Chengwen is weakened by the mist and repeatedly struck by the Branch Master’s silver needles, which cause paralysis, dizziness, hallucinations, and the resurfacing of traumatic memories.
• The Branch Master boasts that the technique broke another powerful opponent after only a few needles, but Lu Chengwen endures seven needles without collapsing, alarming him.
• Lu Chengwen appears to break down while calling for his mother, prompting the Branch Master to approach for another attack.
• At the crucial moment, Lu Chengwen catches the Branch Master’s wrist. A mysterious green flame—the Flame of Death—appears around him, transforming his presence into something terrifying.
• Observers known as the Dragon Statue, Ape Statue, and Snake God recognize the phenomenon and are shocked, claiming Lu Chengwen should not possess the memories or experience necessary to manifest it.
• Overwhelmed by fear, the Branch Master kneels and begs for mercy. Lu Chengwen reveals that the hallucinated loss of his mother has caused him to relive unbearable pain.
• Lu Chengwen begins forcing the Branch Master to experience and understand pain, reversing the psychological torture against him.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Chengwen: Demonstrates that his apparent shamelessness and evasiveness are deliberate survival strategies. Although badly weakened, he shows extraordinary mental resilience, enduring far more needles than expected. His apparent breakdown conceals a deeper transformation, as his grief and trauma awaken the terrifying Flame of Death.
• The Branch Master: Begins confident and self-righteous but becomes increasingly hypocritical, using poisonous mist and sneak attacks after condemning Lu Chengwen’s methods. His pride turns to confusion and terror when Lu Chengwen withstands his technique and seizes control.
• Snake God, Dragon Statue, and Ape Statue: Shift from amused observers to stunned witnesses. Their reactions suggest that Lu Chengwen’s abilities and hidden memories are connected to secrets they do not understand.
• The Branch Master’s “protagonist” identity: His self-image is undermined when Lu Chengwen repeatedly outsmarts him, exposing the contradiction between his supposed righteousness and his willingness to use cruel methods.

3. Significant Themes

• Survival versus moral idealism: Lu Chengwen’s willingness to deceive contrasts with the Branch Master’s rigid morality, showing that strict righteousness can become a weakness in a brutal world.
• Hypocrisy and role reversal: The Branch Master claims to be righteous while using poison, needles, deception, and psychological torture. Lu Chengwen, labeled the villain, proves more adaptable and ultimately turns the same cruelty back on him.
• Trauma as both weakness and strength: The Dark Domain is designed to exploit painful memories, but Lu Chengwen’s profound grief does not destroy him. Instead, it awakens a terrifying power.
• Hidden identity and suppressed memories: The Flame of Death suggests that Lu Chengwen possesses unknown experiences, abilities, or memories, raising questions about his true nature.
• Pain and understanding: The chapter ends with Lu Chengwen forcing the Branch Master to confront pain, transforming the battle from physical combat into psychological and spiritual punishment.

4. Character Interactions

• Lu Chengwen constantly manipulates the Branch Master’s expectations, baiting him into repeated attacks and mocking his supposed righteousness.
• The Branch Master taunts Lu Chengwen while administering silver needles, treating him as a test subject and boasting about his technique.
• Lu Chengwen’s cries for his mother provoke the Branch Master into lowering his guard and moving within reach.
• Once Lu Chengwen captures him, their dynamic completely reverses: the confident torturer becomes terrified and submissive, while the supposedly defeated Lu Chengwen becomes an almost deathlike figure.
• The Snake God, Dragon Statue, and Ape Statue silently observe the confrontation, but their shocked discussion reveals that Lu Chengwen’s transformation is unprecedented even to them.

Key plot points and events

• Lu Chengwen’s anger erupts after the Branch Master’s taunt. He overwhelms the man, breaks through his defense, and beats him nearly to death. Asked what he had endured, Lu dismisses it as “nothing much,” checks whether the Branch Master has allies, then kills him.
• The three parallel spaces merge, revealing that the trial is already over. The Three Brothers and Bu Ersun have all passed, though Bu Ersun is bewildered and insists it has not even begun.
• Snake God announces that only one Black Tortoise Shield is available, so the candidates must decide who will inherit it. He displays the enormous, powerful shield, and all four competitors admire it and argue that they deserve it.
• Snake God recalls his glory as one of the Twelve War Gods, claiming the shield made him invincible. Zhao Ritian repeatedly punctures the story by asking whether the Ape God’s staff once broke it. The chapter ends with Snake God losing patience and demanding a one-on-one challenge against Zhao.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Chengwen shows that emotional provocation can intensify rather than weaken him: his rage awakens the Flame of Death and lets him decisively defeat the Branch Master. He remains composed afterward and diplomatically covers for Snake God when Zhao’s questions embarrass him.
• Zhao Ritian is confident and outspoken, convinced the shield should be his. His blunt questions expose gaps in Snake God’s boastful reminiscences, prompting Long Aotian and Lu Chengwen to pull him back or smooth things over.
• Long Aotian argues that his intelligence and strength merit the shield, while also trying to manage Zhao and protect Snake God from further embarrassment.
• Bu Ersun remains comically confused about the trial’s outcome, even after everyone tells him it is over.
• Snake God shifts from solemnly awarding the prize to reminiscing about his past and defending his reputation. His frustration with Zhao finally turns into a direct challenge.
• The Ape and Dragon Statues comment on the fighters’ odd behavior and react to Zhao’s disrespect; the Ape Statue is especially angered by his claims about fighting bare-handed.

Significant themes

• Pain turned into strength: Lu’s buried rage becomes a source of power rather than a weakness.
• Pride and reputation: The candidates boast about their qualifications, while Snake God clings to his legendary image.
• Comedy through misunderstanding and bluntness: Bu Ersun’s confusion and Zhao’s tactless questions undercut the chapter’s grand claims.
• Ability versus the tool: Long Aotian argues that a weapon’s worth depends on its wielder, as the group debates who truly deserves the shield.

Chapter Summary: Snake God’s Black Tortoise Shield

Key Plot Points and Events

• While Zhao Ritian and Long Aotian argue, Bu Ersun secretly attempts to seize the Black Tortoise Shield by using his true qi to absorb and refine it.
• The shield reacts violently, draining Bu Ersun’s energy while flooding his body with sinister Black Tortoise True Qi. He loses control of his body, begs for help, and eventually wets himself before Snake God intervenes.
• Zhao Ritian tries next, followed by Long Aotian. Both become trapped by the shield, though their abilities—Ren Zha Shegui and King’s Aura—allow them to resist its corrupting influence.
• Lu Chengwen joins them, and the three begin refining the shield together. Their cooperation gradually accelerates the process, impressing the Ape and Dragon Statues.
• Bu Ersun interrupts at the crucial moment, attempting to steal the shield after the others have weakened themselves. His interference destabilizes the joint refinement.
• All four men are thrown backward when the shield vanishes. Moments later, Zhao Ritian rises and summons a completely crimson shield, declaring it the Red Emperor Black Tortoise Shield.
• The immortals realize that Zhao Ritian has somehow fused the Emperor Fire Seed with Snake God’s Black Tortoise Shield, leaving them stunned.

Character Developments

• Bu Ersun is shown to be arrogant, opportunistic, and overconfident in his inherited orthodox true qi. His failed attempt humiliates him and reveals that lineage alone cannot control the sinister divine artifact.
• Zhao Ritian, Long Aotian, and Lu Chengwen temporarily overcome their usual rivalry and cooperate sincerely. Their teamwork allows them to make progress where each individual failed.
• Zhao Ritian emerges as the unexpected victor, demonstrating that his Emperor Fire Seed gives him a unique compatibility with the shield.
• Long Aotian and Lu Chengwen contribute despite their frustration with Bu Ersun, showing their ability to prioritize a shared goal.
• Snake God emphasizes that the shield cannot be inherited through strength alone; wielding it requires both talent and fate.
• The Ape and Dragon Statues reflect on their own past and express hope that the younger generation will survive the coming Heavenly Tribulation.

Significant Themes

• Fate and compatibility: Divine artifacts choose their inheritors based on more than power or orthodox credentials.
• Teamwork amid rivalry: The three protagonists can cooperate when circumstances demand it, even though they usually quarrel.
• Arrogance and consequences: Bu Ersun’s attempt to profit without contributing leads to humiliation and disrupts everyone’s progress.
• Orthodoxy versus sinister power: Bu Ersun’s orthodox true qi cannot withstand the Black Tortoise Shield’s evil nature, while Zhao Ritian’s unusual power succeeds.
• Unexpected transformation: The shield is not merely inherited but transformed through its fusion with the Emperor Fire Seed.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Ritian and Long Aotian bicker constantly, with the Ape and Dragon Statues attempting to restrain them.
• The group ignores Bu Ersun’s pleas while he is being consumed by the shield, only noticing him after he wets himself.
• Snake God rescues Bu Ersun but mocks the group, warning that his shield is exceptionally difficult to inherit.
• Zhao Ritian, Long Aotian, and Lu Chengwen work together physically and spiritually to refine the artifact.
• Bu Ersun’s sudden interference provokes all three, who curse him while struggling to maintain control.
• The chapter ends with the immortals reacting in disbelief to Zhao Ritian’s creation of the Red Emperor Black Tortoise Shield.

Chapter Summary: “Fickle Shield”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Black Tortoise Shield reveals that it can transform according to its wielder. The Snake God and the statues are astonished by its flexibility and power.
• Long Aotian activates the shield with his King’s Aura, causing it to leave Zhao Ritian and transform into the elegant Overlord Black Tortoise Shield in his hands. This reveals that the artifact can recognize multiple inheritors rather than belonging exclusively to one person.
• Lu Chengwen successfully summons his own version, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven Shield. His egg-shaped shield combines fire and ice and can split into two separate shields, which he humorously names “Great Sage” and “Equaling Heaven.”
• Zhao Ritian reclaims the fiery shield, now called the Crimson Emperor Burns the Heavens Shield, and proudly insists that it looks most imposing in his hands.
• Bu Ersun attempts repeatedly to summon a shield but fails. His frustration grows as he realizes that the other three have all gained access to the artifact while he has not.
• Long Aotian formally thanks the Snake God on behalf of the Yan Zhao Sect. Zhao Ritian, despite his possessiveness, agrees to let the others summon the shield when needed, showing a reluctant sense of brotherhood.
• The Dragon and Ape Statues conclude that all three brothers have been recognized by the Black Tortoise’s power.
• The Snake God prepares to disappear into reincarnation, believing his final wish has been fulfilled. However, he and the statues realize that the current era is already being affected by the Heavenly Tribulation.
• They identify Lu Chengwen, Long Aotian, and Zhao Ritian as crucial “variables” capable of changing the fate of a world otherwise trapped in stillness and destruction.
• The three brothers and Bu Ersun cannot hear this revelation. When they awaken, they find themselves stranded on a deserted island with no sense of how much time has passed.
• While waiting for rescue after Huo Wenting’s plane is expected to land, they relax by making fruit drinks—until the enemy known as Rat Head suddenly appears.

Character Developments

• Long Aotian demonstrates leadership, confidence, and respect by formally acknowledging the Snake God’s gift. His refined shield reflects his noble and controlled personality.
• Lu Chengwen displays creativity and eccentricity. His shield’s dual fire-and-ice nature mirrors his unpredictable and complicated character, while his playful naming emphasizes his comedic side.
• Zhao Ritian remains boastful and competitive, but he also reveals genuine trust and affection for his senior brothers by allowing them to use his shield.
• Bu Ersun becomes increasingly resentful and insecure after failing to summon the shield. His inability contrasts sharply with the three brothers’ success and fuels his sense of exclusion.
• The Snake God moves from mockery and surprise to acceptance of the younger generation. He entrusts the future to them and recognizes their role in opposing the Heavenly Tribulation.

Significant Themes

• Power shaped by personality: The shield changes form, appearance, and abilities according to its wielder, suggesting that divine artifacts are influenced by character and temperament.
• Brotherhood and shared inheritance: Although the brothers initially compete over treasures, they ultimately recognize the shield as a shared resource and strengthen their familial bond.
• Jealousy and exclusion: Bu Ersun’s failure highlights the emotional consequences of being left out, even when one has technically contributed to the artifact’s creation.
• Generational succession: The ancient gods and heroes acknowledge that their unfinished mission must be passed to the younger generation.
• Fate and free will: Lu Chengwen, Long Aotian, and Zhao Ritian are described as variables in a collapsing world, implying that their choices may determine whether reality survives.
• Comedy amid cosmic danger: The absurd shield names, teasing, and fruit drinks contrast with the grave revelation about the Heavenly Tribulation and the world’s frozen state.

Character Interactions

• The Snake God, Dragon Statue, and Ape Statue debate the unusual nature of the shield and react with surprise to its multiple forms.
• Long Aotian and Zhao Ritian argue humorously over ownership, with Long Aotian insisting the shield cannot simply be stolen.
• Lu Chengwen and Zhao Ritian joke together, while Long Aotian adopts a protective, almost maternal attitude toward Zhao Ritian.
• Zhao Ritian’s willingness to share the shield marks a rare moment of cooperation among the three brothers.
• Bu Ersun’s failed attempts provoke teasing from Zhao Ritian and sympathy mixed with superiority from the others.
• The ancient figures discuss the younger characters’ importance, but the Three Brothers and Bu Ersun remain unaware of this conversation.
• The chapter ends by setting up a confrontation between the stranded group and Rat Head.

Plot points

• Rat Head survives his fall and confronts Lu Chengwen, Long Aotian, and Zhao Ritian on the island. He dismisses their threat and tries to kill Zhao first.
• The three brothers fight together, rotating attacks with staff, sword, and shield. Though Rat Head is a formidable opponent, his earlier injuries and depleted inner force leave him vulnerable to their pressure.
• Zhao Ritian’s divine shield blocks Rat Head’s cane with a powerful backlash. Lu Chengwen and Long Aotian then reveal similarly extraordinary shields, repeatedly frustrating Rat Head’s attempts to land decisive blows.
• Rat Head nearly gains the advantage several times, but the brothers keep interrupting him. Long Aotian proves especially capable in a close sword duel, while Zhao’s aggressive charges and Lu’s staff strikes prevent Rat Head from recovering.
• Enraged and pressed by all three, Rat Head unleashes Great Square Circle Repulsion, blasting the brothers away.

Character developments and interactions

• Rat Head is furious and humiliated by his earlier defeat, but his injuries and exhaustion undermine his confidence and strength. His frustration grows as the brothers’ unexpected shields thwart him.
• Zhao Ritian remains brash and provocative, taunting Rat Head even while serving as the group’s chief target and repeatedly charging back into danger.
• Lu Chengwen confidently rejects their former agreement and fights to protect his companions, revealing a powerful defensive shield of his own.
• Long Aotian acts as a skilled, steady combatant. His sword technique allows him to hold Rat Head off, and he protects Lu when Rat Head threatens a follow-up attack.
• The brothers coordinate through mutual support rather than fighting separately: each takes advantage of openings created by the others, while Rat Head struggles to focus on one target.

Significant themes

• Teamwork against superior strength: The brothers’ coordinated attacks exploit Rat Head’s weakened condition.
• Hidden abilities and reversals: The three unexpected shields turn what should be a one-sided fight into a contest.
• Pride and provocation: Insults and taunts fuel Rat Head’s rage, while the brothers’ confidence helps sustain their resistance.

Chapter Summary: “Trash Hostage”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The injured Rat Head faces Lu Chengwen, Long Aotian, and Zhao Ritian in a tense standoff on the deserted island. Although still powerful, Rat Head is weakened from previous battles and struggles against the Three Brothers’ coordinated attacks.
• A rescue helicopter sent by the Huo Corporation approaches, creating a time limit for both sides.
• The cave suddenly explodes open, and Dragon Head, the Branch Master, the Strategist, and Bu Ersun emerge alive. They reveal that explosives triggered a massive underground chain reaction, supposedly killing everyone below—including Lu Chengwen.
• Lu Chengwen, Long Aotian, and Zhao Ritian reveal that they escaped through the shaft entrance after surviving Snake God’s mysterious trial involving time-space manipulation and hypnosis. The event leaves several mysteries unresolved.
• Dragon Head and the others are too badly injured to continue fighting. Rat Head realizes that neither side has enough strength to secure a decisive victory and prepares to withdraw while threatening the Three Brothers.
• Zhao Ritian refuses to back down, proposing that the group fight to the death if necessary. Long Aotian offers to face Rat Head instead, recognizing that Rat Head’s blade techniques counter Zhao Ritian’s style.
• Lu Chengwen demands that Bu Ersun be left behind. When Rat Head refuses, Lu Chengwen activates his Archaic Ape God state and prepares to seize Bu Ersun by force.
• Rat Head grabs Bu Ersun by the throat and threatens to kill him if the Three Brothers attack. Unexpectedly, all three brothers firmly tell him to do it, leaving Rat Head stunned.

Character Developments

• Lu Chengwen demonstrates increased confidence and tactical control. He uses the approaching rescue helicopter and Rat Head’s weakened condition to negotiate from a position of strength, then decisively transforms when negotiations fail.
• Long Aotian remains analytical and combat-focused, identifying the matchup between Rat Head and Zhao Ritian and volunteering to fight in Zhao’s place.
• Zhao Ritian continues to be impulsive, aggressive, and fearless. He openly challenges Rat Head despite the danger and is willing to risk himself rather than submit to threats.
• Rat Head shifts from confidence to frustration and uncertainty. His injuries and the collapse of his plans make him recognize that he can no longer guarantee victory.
• Dragon Head, the Branch Master, and the Strategist survive the underground disaster but are physically and mentally exhausted, making them unable to meaningfully assist Rat Head.
• Bu Ersun appears traumatized and helpless after the ordeal. Lu Chengwen’s demand to take him suggests that Bu Ersun has become important as either a captive, source of information, or object of retaliation.

Significant Themes

• Strength through cooperation: The Three Brothers’ teamwork allows them to challenge Rat Head despite their individual exhaustion.
• Reversal of power: Rat Head initially controls the situation, but accumulated injuries, failed schemes, and the helicopter’s arrival steadily strip away his advantage.
• Unresolved mystery: Snake God’s trial and the impossible survival of the characters hint at deeper forces and secrets connected to the underground realm.
• Defiance and psychological warfare: Both sides use threats and bravado, but the Three Brothers’ willingness to sacrifice Bu Ersun undermines Rat Head’s attempt to use him as a hostage.
• Survival amid chaos: The characters repeatedly endure explosions, supernatural trials, and overwhelming battles, emphasizing their resilience and unpredictability.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chengwen, Long Aotian, and Zhao Ritian taunt Rat Head while coordinating their attack.
• Dragon Head’s claim that Lu Chengwen died underground creates confusion, which Lu Chengwen and the others immediately overturn.
• Rat Head tries to command Dragon Head and use him to block the Three Brothers, but Long Aotian exposes Dragon Head’s inability to fight.
• Lu Chengwen and Long Aotian challenge Rat Head’s claim that he is “letting them go,” arguing that he is retreating because he lacks the power to win.
• Rat Head attempts to control the confrontation by taking Bu Ersun hostage, but the Three Brothers’ unanimous indifference to Bu Ersun’s fate reverses the threat and leaves Rat Head uncertain.

Chapter Summary: “I Knew You Didn’t Have the Guts”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Rat Head holds Bu Ersun hostage, demanding payment before releasing him.
• Lu Chengwen tries to negotiate, warning that Bu Ersun must be left behind if the others are to escape. Zhao Ritian repeatedly provokes Rat Head, insisting that he lacks the courage to kill Bu Ersun.
• Rat Head loses control and tightens his grip, nearly strangling Bu Ersun. Despite Zhao Ritian’s continued taunts, Bu Ersun is visibly close to death.
• The Strategist intervenes by giving Bu Ersun a poison pill and striking his back. Rat Head releases him, allowing the pill to take effect and revive him. Furious and humiliated, Rat Head retreats with his group.
• At the seaside villa, the Three Brothers remain hidden. Zhao Ritian trains and studies the Black Tortoise Shield, while Long Aotian meditates and absorbs spiritual energy.
• Lu Chengwen continues investigating the mysterious silence surrounding events back home. Although he contacts the Jiang Family, they claim everything is peaceful. Lu and Long Aotian both realize that the major families are concealing a significant event.
• Huo Wenting informs Lu that Eric’s proposed deal with Tianzhu has collapsed because Tianzhu demanded extensive technology transfers, local manufacturing, procurement information, and other excessive concessions.
• Roger then proposes restarting negotiations, offering only thirty percent payment upfront while requesting delivery and having Lu’s side cover shipping costs. Lu accepts the arrangement, suggesting he has found a way to avoid waiting decades for the remaining payment.

Character Developments

• Lu Chengwen remains calm and strategic during the hostage crisis, using Bu Ersun’s situation to pressure Rat Head. He later continues piecing together the hidden political and family developments back home.
• Zhao Ritian appears fearless and recklessly provocative. His taunts push Rat Head toward actually killing Bu Ersun, revealing both Zhao’s confidence and his disregard for danger.
• Bu Ersun is portrayed as terrified and physically helpless, desperately begging the others to stop provoking Rat Head. His survival depends on the Strategist’s quick intervention.
• Rat Head loses his composure under Zhao Ritian’s insults. His anger causes him to nearly kill Bu Ersun, but he ultimately backs down and retreats.
• The Strategist demonstrates practical judgment by saving Bu Ersun with the poison pill, preventing the confrontation from becoming fatal.
• Long Aotian remains detached and ruthless, showing little concern for Bu Ersun while continuing his cultivation in seclusion.
• Huo Wenting acts as a capable business partner and adviser, filtering information carefully and negotiating on Lu Chengwen’s behalf.

Significant Themes

• Courage versus fear: Zhao Ritian weaponizes insults to challenge Rat Head’s pride, while Bu Ersun’s terror contrasts sharply with Zhao’s apparent fearlessness.
• Manipulation and psychological warfare: The hostage standoff is won less through physical force than through provocation, bluffing, and exploiting Rat Head’s insecurities.
• Strategic thinking: Lu Chengwen approaches both the confrontation and the business negotiations as problems of leverage and timing.
• Hidden conspiracies and uncertainty: The silence from the major families suggests a large-scale event is being concealed, creating an atmosphere of suspense.
• Business as power: The negotiations with Tianzhu and Roger emphasize control over payment, technology, supply chains, and initiative.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chengwen and Rat Head: Lu gives Rat Head a stark ultimatum—leave Bu Ersun behind or face a final confrontation.
• Zhao Ritian and Rat Head: Zhao relentlessly mocks Rat Head’s courage, provoking him into tightening his grip on Bu Ersun.
• Bu Ersun and the group: Bu Ersun begs everyone to stop provoking Rat Head, but the others treat his danger almost casually.
• The Strategist and Bu Ersun: The Strategist rescues Bu Ersun by administering the poison pill and helping him recover.
• Lu Chengwen and Huo Wenting: They discuss the failed Tianzhu deal and Roger’s revised proposal. Their exchange highlights their business cooperation and Lu’s confidence that the new arrangement can be exploited to his advantage.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Roger and Eric remain deadlocked over an order for 200,000 electric vehicles.
• Lu Chengwen unexpectedly enters the conference room, shocking Eric, who had believed he was dead. Lu confidently announces that the “balance of offense and defense” has shifted.
• Lu presents Roger with a streamlined, formal sales contract. It offers a low price and requires only a 30% upfront deposit, but it does not include Roger’s desired technology transfer, factory relocation, or transfer of the manufacturing industry to Tianzhu.
• When Roger begins to raise objections and suggest changes, Lu immediately withdraws the contract and pretends to abandon the deal, insisting that he will not negotiate further.
• Roger, enjoying his position as the buyer, becomes anxious when Lu appears willing to walk away. He tries to stop him.
• Eric attempts to undermine Lu by revealing that Huo Group has over 200,000 vehicles in inventory and may be desperate to sell them before they become outdated stock. He argues that Huo Wenting’s position could suffer if the deal fails.
• Huo Wenting counters that domestic demand is extremely strong: the company sold 120,000 vehicles the previous month and more than 93,000 in the current month so far. She claims the cars can easily be sold domestically if necessary.
• Eric raises a recent vehicle fire as a reputational weakness. Huo explains that the incident was deliberate arson, supported by surveillance footage and a third-party inspection report, and that the culprits have been arrested.
• Lu and Huo then act as though they are abandoning the negotiations entirely, planning to return to Huaxia, celebrate their strong sales, and temporarily rest the factory workers.
• Realizing that Lu and Huo are not truly dependent on the Tianzhu deal, Roger panics and abruptly agrees to sign the contract.

Character Developments

• Lu Chengwen returns with renewed confidence and uses psychological pressure rather than prolonged negotiation. His apparent willingness to walk away gives him control of the discussion.
• Huo Wenting demonstrates composure, business confidence, and detailed knowledge of her company’s market performance. She successfully reframes the inventory problem as evidence of overwhelming demand.
• Roger shifts from arrogant buyer to anxious negotiator. He initially believes both sellers must satisfy all his demands, but Lu’s refusal to bargain exposes his fear of losing access to Huo Group’s popular vehicles.
• Eric remains antagonistic and tries to exploit Huo Group’s inventory and public-relations vulnerabilities. However, his strategy fails when Huo disproves his leverage and Lu refuses to be provoked.

Significant Themes

• Negotiation and psychological leverage: Lu wins by acting as though the deal is unimportant and refusing to entertain demands, forcing Roger to pursue him.
• Supply, demand, and perceived power: Roger assumes the sellers need him, but Huo’s strong domestic sales prove that Tianzhu is not Huo Group’s only market.
• Confidence versus desperation: Eric and Roger interpret Huo’s inventory as weakness, while Lu and Huo present it as manageable and temporary.
• Reputation and misinformation: The vehicle-fire accusation is used to damage Huo Group’s credibility, but evidence reveals the incident was staged.
• Strategic deception: Lu’s exaggerated readiness to abandon the deal and celebrate instead allows him to pressure Roger into accepting unfavorable terms.

Character Interactions

• Lu openly taunts Eric after appearing alive, reviving their rivalry.
• Lu and Roger clash over the contract, with Lu refusing to discuss Roger’s desired concessions.
• Eric attempts to turn Lu and Huo against their own business interests by exposing the inventory issue.
• Huo calmly challenges Eric’s claims and asserts Huo Group’s strength.
• Lu and Huo cooperate closely, reinforcing each other’s confidence and pretending to leave together.
• Roger ultimately breaks down under the pressure and calls them back, agreeing to sign.

Chapter Summary: “The Antidote Is Here!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chengwen and Huo Wenting successfully finalize the contract for 200,000 new-energy vehicles with Roger, securing a major international deal for Huaxia and Huo Group.
• Lu reveals that Huaxia has already prepared for shipment: twenty cargo ships will begin loading immediately, with delivery expected to take just over ten days.
• Eric congratulates them sarcastically and warns that Tianzhu may delay or manipulate the remaining seventy percent payment after the thirty-percent deposit. He cites a previous company that waited years and was eventually paid in nearly worthless Tianzhu currency.
• Lu and Huo recognize Eric’s mockery but respond humorously, strengthening their friendly rapport.
• At the seaside villa, Bu Ersun remains seriously ill after being poisoned by Sky Net. He complains that Rat Head, Drunken Elder’s disciple, defeated Lu, Huo Wenting, and their allies with overwhelming ease and demanded twenty billion or the surrender of Lu or Huo as the price for the antidote.
• Bu suggests handing over Huo Wenting, prompting Lu to angrily defend her importance and condemn Bu’s arrogance.
• Earthly Fiend suddenly enters through the window, claiming to have infiltrated a Sky Net branch and stolen a possible antidote. However, he admits he does not know whether any of the bottles are genuine, leaving Bu horrified and uncertain.

Character Developments

• Lu Chengwen demonstrates confidence and strategic preparation in closing the vehicle deal. He also shows loyalty toward Huo Wenting, refusing to consider sacrificing her to save Bu.
• Huo Wenting becomes more openly affectionate and comfortable with Lu, linking arms with him and playfully calling him “Brother Chengwen.” Their relationship appears increasingly close.
• Roger shifts from negotiation to cooperation, admiring Lu and Huo as formidable business partners and calling them friends.
• Eric reveals himself as a hostile or envious observer. His warning may be genuine, but his mocking tone suggests he takes pleasure in the possibility of their failure.
• Bu Ersun remains proud and ambitious despite his condition. His confidence in becoming a leader of the martial world clashes with his physical weakness and dependence on others.
• Earthly Fiend attempts to redeem himself after contributing to Bu’s predicament, but his uncertain “antidote” collection emphasizes his reckless and unreliable nature.

Significant Themes

• Trust and partnership: Lu and Huo’s successful cooperation turns a difficult negotiation into a major victory.
• Commercial risk and exploitation: The contract highlights the dangers of international trade, payment delays, currency manipulation, and unequal business practices.
• Loyalty versus self-preservation: Lu refuses to sacrifice Huo, showing that personal loyalty and respect outweigh Bu’s demand for pragmatic rescue.
• Pride and vulnerability: Bu’s grand ambitions contrast sharply with his helpless condition, exposing the limits of status and martial strength.
• Uncertainty and deception: Eric’s warning and Earthly Fiend’s questionable bottles both create doubt about who can be trusted and whether apparent solutions are genuine.

Character Interactions

• Lu and Huo exchange playful, intimate remarks, signaling growing mutual affection.
• Roger and Lu move from adversaries to business allies after the contract is signed.
• Eric taunts Lu and Huo about their potentially disastrous deal, while they answer with composure and humor.
• Bu argues with Lu over the antidote and insults Huo, leading Lu to firmly defend her.
• Earthly Fiend’s arrival gives Bu hope, but his admission that the bottles may not be real immediately turns that hope into anxiety.

Chapter Summary: “Talking to an Idiot”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ming Disha leaves abruptly after Lu Chengwen dismisses his medicinal bottles and jars as worthless. Offended, Ming vows to restore his reputation and find a way to cure Bu Ersun’s poison.
• Ming orders Lu Chengwen to protect Bu Ersun until he returns, emphasizing that Bu is his disciple and that he intends to save both the young man’s life and dignity.
• Lu reassures Bu Ersun that he will help him, partly because Bu’s grandfather is his friend and because they now share the same martial lineage.
• Lu summons Caiyun and Zhuiyue, supposedly to assign them duties. Instead, he suggests taking them out for food so Bu will not constantly trouble them while recovering.
• Caiyun suspects Lu is attempting to bribe or manipulate them with money and firmly declares their loyalty to Bu Ersun. Zhuiyue is less certain but ultimately follows Caiyun’s lead. Lu accepts their distrust and leaves to check on President Huo.
• While Bu is alone, Rat Head secretly enters his room and silences him with overwhelming martial power. Rat Head insults Bu as useless without the protection and status of his grandfather, Song Sheng Chaoying.
• Rat Head questions Bu about his ambitions. Bu confidently describes an unrealistic plan to rise rapidly through the Elder Council, eventually seize control of it, and dominate the martial world.
• Rat Head explains that Bu’s path to leadership will be difficult because the Elder Council contains capable and powerful figures whom his grandfather cannot simply eliminate.
• Rat Head points out that Bu also underestimates major figures such as Lu Chengwen, Long Aotian, and Zhao Ritian, all of whom are protected or backed by formidable masters.
• Bu remains arrogant, insisting that he will force these people to submit. Exasperated, Rat Head concludes that speaking with him is like talking to an idiot.

Character Developments

• Lu Chengwen presents himself as protective and benevolent toward Bu, while also attempting to win over Caiyun and Zhuiyue through kindness and personal attention. His motives remain ambiguous to them.
• Ming Disha reveals strong loyalty and affection toward Bu Ersun. His wounded pride motivates him to seek a cure and prove his competence.
• Bu Ersun remains physically weakened but mentally arrogant. His grand ambitions show that he lacks realistic awareness of his own limitations and political obstacles.
• Caiyun becomes openly suspicious of Lu Chengwen and reinforces her unwavering loyalty to Bu.
• Zhuiyue appears more timid and conflicted, but she ultimately defers to Caiyun and remains loyal to Bu.
• Rat Head is shown as calculating, intimidating, and brutally honest. He recognizes Bu’s political weakness and attempts to make him confront reality, though Bu is incapable of accepting the warning.

Significant Themes

• Arrogance versus reality: Bu’s fantasies of ruling the martial world sharply contrast with Rat Head’s assessment of his weakness and dependence on his grandfather.
• Loyalty and manipulation: Lu’s kindness may be genuine, strategic, or both, while Caiyun and Zhuiyue struggle to distinguish concern from attempted corruption.
• Power and inherited status: Bu’s influence comes largely from his grandfather’s reputation rather than his own abilities.
• Political succession: Control of the Elder Council depends on alliances, powerful protectors, and the survival of existing factions—not merely ambition.
• Humor through contrast: Bu’s extravagant self-confidence is repeatedly undercut by the reactions of Lu and Rat Head, especially Rat Head’s final remark.

Character Interactions

• Ming Disha and Lu Chengwen argue indirectly over Bu’s protection, with Ming imposing responsibility on Lu despite Lu’s reluctance.
• Lu tries to build trust with Caiyun and Zhuiyue, but Caiyun interprets his generosity as an attempt to corrupt them.
• Rat Head dominates Bu physically and verbally, forcing him to listen while exposing the flaws in his ambitions.
• Bu’s refusal to recognize reality frustrates Rat Head, ending their conversation with open contempt for Bu’s foolishness.

Chapter Summary: “Sky Net Is Everywhere”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Rat Head confronts Bu Ersun about the Elder Council’s declining authority, citing the Jiang Family’s successful resistance as evidence that the Council can no longer control the martial world.
• Rat Head predicts that Lu Chengwen will become the world’s next dominant power, shocking and initially amusing Bu Ersun.
• He argues that Lu Chengwen is being secretly supported and trained by the Old Man Wu, while Bu Ersun has little genuine backing beyond his grandfather, Song Sheng Chaoying.
• Rat Head emphasizes Lu Chengwen’s growing influence: he controls immense wealth, has powerful allies, commands extensive business and personal networks, and has even brought the once-proud Jiang Family under his influence.
• Rat Head warns that Lu Chengwen could become the Elder Council’s “God of Wealth,” using money, promotions, and political favors to build a loyal faction. Within a few years, he might control the Council without needing superior martial strength.
• Rat Head proposes that Bu Ersun lure Lu Chengwen to a designated location, where Rat Head’s people will capture him. In exchange, Bu Ersun will receive the antidote and potentially gain control of the Elder Council.
• Bu Ersun initially refuses, defending his dignity and claiming loyalty to the Council, but Rat Head’s manipulation gradually exposes his insecurity and fear of being rendered powerless.
• Rat Head reveals that “Sky Net” has agents within the Elder Council, the Five Great Families, the Iron Red Army, and the Huo Corporation Group. He claims they can install Bu Ersun as dean if he cooperates.
• The chapter ends with Bu Ersun demanding the antidote first, implying that he is seriously considering betraying Lu Chengwen and the Elder Council.

Character Developments

• Bu Ersun: His confidence deteriorates as Rat Head attacks his competence, influence, and prospects. He is portrayed as dependent on his grandfather’s reputation and increasingly afraid that Lu Chengwen will permanently overshadow him. Though he protests loyalty and dignity, his demand for the antidote reveals his vulnerability and willingness to consider treachery.
• Rat Head: He demonstrates himself to be a skilled psychological manipulator. Rather than threatening Bu Ersun directly, he exploits Bu Ersun’s ambition, insecurity, and fear of losing power. He presents Lu Chengwen as an unstoppable political and economic force while offering Bu Ersun a path to survival and authority.
• Lu Chengwen: Although absent, he becomes the central figure of the chapter. He is depicted as a rapidly rising leader whose wealth, intelligence, alliances, and influence may surpass traditional martial power.
• Lin Jiangxian and the Elder Council elders: They are presented as people who may publicly oppose Lu Chengwen but privately respect or fear his potential.

Significant Themes

• The shift from martial power to economic and political power: Rat Head argues that money, organization, and influence may become more important than personal strength.
• Fear of obsolescence: Bu Ersun’s crisis reflects the anxiety of an old power structure being displaced by a younger, more capable figure.
• Manipulation and betrayal: Rat Head turns Bu Ersun’s loyalty into a weakness, encouraging him to betray his own side for personal advancement.
• Hidden networks and conspiracy: The “Sky Net” represents a broad, deeply embedded organization capable of influencing major institutions from within.
• Leadership and legitimacy: The chapter questions whether authority comes from inherited status, martial strength, or the ability to reward, organize, and command loyalty.

Character Interactions

• Rat Head dominates the conversation, repeatedly insulting Bu Ersun while forcing him to confront uncomfortable truths.
• Bu Ersun alternates between laughter, denial, anger, and fear as Rat Head undermines his confidence.
• Rat Head contrasts Bu Ersun’s lack of independent influence with Lu Chengwen’s growing network of allies and followers.
• The exchange ends in an uneasy negotiation: Rat Head offers power and an antidote, while Bu Ersun appears ready to consider helping capture Lu Chengwen, provided he is given proof of the promised reward.