Ch. 1601Frenzied Ant Ancestor!

Chapter Summary: “Frenzied Ant Ancestor!”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lei Liuchi and E Youwei, two powerful demons, discuss a young Human cultivator who bears the Qiongqi Ancestor emblem.
  • E Youwei explains that both of them descend from demon kingdoms once ruled by Qiongqi, one of the Nine Primordial Fiends. In ancient times, all beings under Qiongqi’s command were required to obey anyone carrying his genuine emblem and power.
  • Although Qiongqi’s protection once made these demon kingdoms effectively untouchable, the ancient fiend has disappeared after suffering severe injuries in a past battle. His current fate is unknown, and many believe he has died.
  • Neither demon wishes to resume serving Qiongqi’s possible successor. They agree to treat the youth respectfully but maintain their distance, pretending not to recognize his identity.
  • Their discussion is interrupted when a blood-armored demon soldier reports that someone is stealing the Hesitant Heavenly Thunder Saint Fruit, a legendary medicine guarded by Lei Liuchi’s Thunderfowl Fiendlands.
  • Lei Liuchi initially dismisses the report, confident that his formations, three thousand thunder Dao soldiers, and the fruit’s own deadly power will destroy any thief.
  • The soldier clarifies that this intruder is extraordinarily dangerous: he has already defeated dozens of demons, including several powerful King Demons, and claims to be the Six Paths Demon Ancestor.
  • The intruder is now blocking the entrance, loudly threatening to slaughter all of Lei Liuchi’s offspring, causing Lei Liuchi to finally take the situation seriously.

Character Developments

  • E Youwei is cautious and deeply fearful of Qiongqi’s lingering influence. Although he no longer wants to submit to Qiongqi’s successor, he remains respectful and warns Lei Liuchi not to speak irreverently about the ancient fiend.
  • Lei Liuchi is proud, pragmatic, and openly resistant to restoring the old hierarchy. He believes their current status as powerful Demon Lords makes them independent of Qiongqi. However, his confidence and composure are shaken when the intruder threatens his children.
  • The Six Paths Demon Ancestor is established as a violent, fearless, and immensely powerful figure. His ability to defeat numerous defenders and issue direct threats suggests that he may be a major force in the coming confrontation.
  • The blood-armored soldier acts as the messenger who reveals the seriousness of the intrusion. His fear contrasts with Lei Liuchi’s initial arrogance.

Significant Themes

  • The decline of ancient power: Qiongqi’s former dominance still commands fear, but the passage of time has weakened his influence and caused former subjects to question their obligations.
  • Bloodline and inherited loyalty: The Qiongqi emblem carries ancestral authority, showing how ancient traditions and obligations remain embedded in demonic bloodlines.
  • Fear versus independence: E Youwei and Lei Liuchi struggle between reverence for their former master and their desire to preserve their present power and dignity.
  • Overconfidence and hidden danger: Lei Liuchi assumes the intruder will be destroyed like previous thieves, but the soldier’s report reveals that this enemy is fundamentally different.
  • Family and vulnerability: Despite Lei Liuchi’s formidable status, the threat against his children exposes his deepest emotional weakness.

Character Interactions

  • Lei Liuchi questions E Youwei about whether he acknowledged the bearer of Qiongqi’s emblem.
  • E Youwei admits that he did not, arguing that Qiongqi’s age has passed and that the youth made no demands of them.
  • The two demons agree to avoid serving or confronting the youth, choosing passive neutrality instead.
  • E Youwei admonishes Lei Liuchi for disrespecting Qiongqi, warning that the ancient fiend might still perceive such insults.
  • Their private discussion is interrupted by the soldier’s urgent report, shifting the scene from cautious political discussion to an imminent crisis.
  • Lei Liuchi’s irritation at the interruption turns into anger when he learns that the intruder has threatened his offspring.

Ch. 1602Struck by Lightning While Picking the Fruit!

Chapter Summary: “Picking the Fruit, Struck by Lightning!”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lei Liuchi learns that an arrogant ant demon has appeared in the Heavenly Thunder Wasteland, possibly connected to the white-robed youth Xiao Chen. Angered and suspicious, he goes to investigate with E Youwei.
  • Within Lei Liuchi’s tree hall, the servants and guards—mostly abducted humans along with demons—remain terrified as his fury spreads through the hall.
  • Elsewhere, Lao Six deliberately storms into the enemy formation, insulting Lei Liuchi and provoking the demons. Although he appears fearless, he is secretly panicking because hundreds of demon soldiers have surrounded him.
  • Lao Six informs Xiao Chen, Ke Hei, and Ye Hongmei that he has successfully drawn the demons’ attention away from the Nether Azure Tree.
  • Xiao Chen and his companions approach the legendary Hesitant Heavenly Thunder Saint Fruit, which grows alone atop the ancient tree and is coveted by countless cultivators.
  • Ke Hei and Ye Hongmei stop near the demon army, while Xiao Chen uses the mysterious Skywind Dao and Wind Concealment Art to pass through the guards undetected.
  • Xiao Chen reaches the sacred tree and grabs the golden fruit. However, the fruit releases terrifying lightning that nearly kills him and forces him to remain physically connected to it.
  • Xiao Chen realizes that picking the fruit itself is a deadly trial. Lei Liuchi never needed to guard it heavily because the fruit’s lightning naturally prevents almost anyone from taking it.
  • Trapped between enduring the lightning or dying, Xiao Chen orders Ke Hei and Ye Hongmei to retreat and warns Lao Six as well. The chapter ends as mysterious light shines from Xiao Chen’s glabella, hinting at a possible intervention or transformation.

Character Developments

  • Xiao Chen: Demonstrates remarkable stealth and confidence by reaching the sacred fruit alone. His excitement at the possibility of breaking through to the Fifth Heaven and forging another King Armament quickly gives way to a life-or-death crisis. He remains calm enough to warn his companions despite being trapped by the lightning.
  • Lao Six: Acts as the team’s decoy, boldly provoking the entire demon force. His outward arrogance contrasts with his inner fear, revealing both his loyalty and his awareness of the danger he has accepted.
  • Ke Hei: Continues to admire Xiao Chen’s extraordinary abilities, recognizing that his Skywind Dao is far beyond ordinary wind techniques. He becomes anxious when Xiao Chen reports the danger.
  • Ye Hongmei: Remains mostly silent but is deeply impressed by Xiao Chen’s repeated displays of power and concealment.
  • Lei Liuchi: Is established as a powerful and suspicious ruler who reacts fiercely to intruders and takes the ant demon’s arrogance seriously.
  • E Youwei: Notices the possible connection between the ant demon and Xiao Chen, showing alertness and growing concern.

Significant Themes

  • Sacrifice and teamwork: Lao Six risks being surrounded so the others can reach the fruit, emphasizing the group’s willingness to divide danger among themselves.
  • Greed versus danger: The Saint Fruit promises immense power, but its value is matched by the lethal trial required to obtain it.
  • Hidden strength and deception: Xiao Chen’s success depends on concealment, while Lao Six’s apparent recklessness serves as a deliberate distraction.
  • Nature as its own defense: The sacred fruit needs no guards because the lightning within it forms an almost impassable natural barrier.
  • Courage under pressure: Both Lao Six and Xiao Chen maintain defiant appearances despite privately confronting fear and possible death.

Character Interactions

  • Lei Liuchi and E Youwei discuss the identity and significance of the ant demon before moving to investigate.
  • Lao Six taunts Lei Liuchi and the surrounding demons while secretly communicating with Xiao Chen through their linked minds.
  • Xiao Chen offers Lao Six only brief sympathy before leaving him to continue the diversion, creating a humorous contrast between Lao Six’s heroic appearance and his desperation.
  • Ke Hei and Ye Hongmei support Xiao Chen’s infiltration but remain behind because they cannot match his ability to move invisibly as wind.
  • After Xiao Chen becomes trapped by the lightning, he urgently orders both companions to retreat, showing his concern for their safety even as he faces the fruit’s deadly test.

Ch. 1603Bowing in Welcome!

Chapter Summary: “Bowing in Welcome!”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

  • During the lightning trial for the Hesitant Heavenly Thunder Saint Fruit, Xiao Chen is nearly destroyed by golden heavenly lightning.
  • At the critical moment, the Heavenly Tribulation Rune on his brow activates. Its overwhelming power frightens away the lightning and saves his life.
  • Xiao Chen reassures Ke Hei that he is safe, astonishing Ke Hei and Ye Hongmei because the crisis is resolved almost instantly.
  • Xiao Chen successfully plucks the golden divine fruit, but before the group can escape, Lei Liuchi arrives with another Half-Emperor, the red-haired elder E Youwei.
  • Furious over Lao Six’s earlier threat to kill his “chick,” Lei Liuchi attacks him with devastating lightning. Lao Six’s defensive shield is shattered, leaving him on the verge of death.
  • Ke Hei and Ye Hongmei attempt to rescue Lao Six, but Lei Liuchi effortlessly destroys their attacks. Xiao Chen also rushes to help, though he is too far away to intervene in time.
  • E Youwei unexpectedly steps in and burns away Lei Liuchi’s lightning, saving Lao Six.
  • Xiao Chen, Lao Six, Ke Hei, and Ye Hongmei regroup and prepare for a desperate battle, confused by E Youwei’s intervention.
  • E Youwei reveals that Xiao Chen is the extraordinary human connected to their ancient ancestors and strongly implies that he is protected by Qiongqi.
  • Lei Liuchi recognizes the Qiongqi Crest on Xiao Chen’s chest and experiences instinctive terror from his bloodline. Realizing Xiao Chen is Qiongqi’s inheritor, he abandons his hostility.
  • Lei Liuchi apologizes for attacking Lao Six and bows deeply to Xiao Chen, addressing him as “Young Master.”

2. Character Developments

  • Xiao Chen: Demonstrates extraordinary resilience by surviving the heavenly lightning and successfully claiming the divine fruit. His hidden connection to Qiongqi becomes decisive, elevating his status from a hunted human to someone even Half-Emperors must respect.
  • Lao Six: His arrogance collapses when faced with Lei Liuchi’s overwhelming strength. His newly awakened bloodline is shown to be powerful but still immature, leaving him unable to resist the Six-Winged Thunder Chicken. His survival also deepens his gratitude toward E Youwei.
  • Ke Hei and Ye Hongmei: Their concern for Lao Six prompts them to reveal themselves and fight despite knowing they are outmatched. Their helplessness before Lei Liuchi highlights the gap between ordinary strength and Half-Emperor power.
  • Lei Liuchi: Initially furious and aggressive, he changes completely after recognizing the Qiongqi Crest. His inherited fear of one of the Nine Fiends overwhelms his anger, leading him to apologize and submit to Xiao Chen.
  • E Youwei: Reveals himself as cautious and politically pragmatic. Although he does not wish to serve Qiongqi’s inheritor, he knows that offending Xiao Chen could bring catastrophic consequences, so he protects Lao Six and guides Lei Liuchi toward submission.
  • Qiongqi: Though absent, his influence dominates the chapter. His crest and reputation are powerful enough to terrify ancient demons and force their obedience.

3. Significant Themes

  • Hidden power revealed at the moment of crisis: Xiao Chen’s Heavenly Tribulation Rune, previously dormant, activates when he is closest to death.
  • The limits of individual strength: Ke Hei, Ye Hongmei, and Lao Six’s efforts are rendered useless against Lei Liuchi, emphasizing the enormous divide between cultivation realms.
  • Bloodline and inherited authority: Qiongqi’s legacy carries both immense power and fear. Xiao Chen’s identity as its inheritor changes the entire balance of the confrontation.
  • Submission before overwhelming power: Lei Liuchi’s sudden shift from attacker to subordinate shows how reputation, ancestry, and fear can matter more than immediate personal conflict.
  • Loyalty and protection: The group risks themselves to save Lao Six, while E Youwei protects him for strategic reasons connected to Qiongqi.

4. Character Interactions

  • Xiao Chen and Ke Hei: Ke Hei panics when Xiao Chen is struck by lightning, while Xiao Chen calmly reassures him after surviving.
  • Lei Liuchi and Lao Six: Lei Liuchi attacks Lao Six for threatening his offspring, exposing Lao Six’s inability to withstand a true Half-Emperor.
  • Ke Hei and Ye Hongmei with Lei Liuchi: They intervene together to save Lao Six, but Lei Liuchi dismisses their attacks as insignificant.
  • Xiao Chen and Lao Six: Xiao Chen immediately risks himself to rescue Lao Six, demonstrating strong camaraderie and loyalty.
  • E Youwei and Lao Six: E Youwei saves Lao Six from certain death, earning his gratitude while leaving the group suspicious of his motives.
  • E Youwei and Lei Liuchi: E Youwei explains Xiao Chen’s identity, prompting Lei Liuchi to recognize the danger of opposing him.
  • Lei Liuchi and Xiao Chen: Their relationship reverses dramatically: Lei Liuchi begins as an enraged executioner but ends by bowing and apologizing to Xiao Chen as his “Young Master.”

Ch. 1604A Smooth Success!

Chapter Summary: “A Smooth Success!”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xiao Chen successfully plucks the Heavenly Thunder Saint Fruit from the dangerous Heavenly Thunder Wasteland.
  • Although Lei Liuchi initially intends to destroy Xiao Chen and his companions for trespassing and stealing the fruit, his attitude changes instantly after E Youwei hints that Xiao Chen has a connection to a powerful figure.
  • The demons speculate wildly about Xiao Chen’s identity, assuming he must be related by blood to Lei Liuchi or E Youwei. In reality, Xiao Chen realizes that Lei Liuchi is likely acting out of fear of Qiongqi, whose emblem and legacy are connected to him.
  • Xiao Chen avoids lingering in the wasteland and leaves with Ke Hei, Ye Hongmei, and Lao Six.
  • Before departing, he asks Lei Liuchi to release the innocent beings enslaved in the wasteland. Lei Liuchi agrees.
  • After Xiao Chen leaves, Lei Liuchi explodes in rage over the humiliation but ultimately suppresses his desire for revenge. E Youwei reminds him that Xiao Chen is the inheritor of Qiongqi, an ancient and terrifying Ancestral God. Fearing Qiongqi’s remaining power, Lei Liuchi orders the release of all human slaves.
  • Xiao Chen’s group relocates to a filthy abandoned demon residence to avoid pursuit.
  • Xiao Chen prepares to use the Saint Fruit to break through to the Fifth Heaven and condense his third King Armament, which he believes will give him a strong chance against Qin Qiankun in their final battle three days later.
  • His companions question how he obtained the fruit and why Lei Liuchi treated him so respectfully. Xiao Chen gives partial explanations, mentioning the protection of an old acquaintance and revealing that he possesses a Heavenly Tribulation Mark.

Character Developments

  • Xiao Chen demonstrates calm judgment and restraint. Rather than provoking two powerful Demon Lord Half-Emperors, he takes the opportunity to leave safely after achieving his goal. He also uses his temporary advantage to demand freedom for the enslaved humans, showing moral conviction and courage.
  • Lei Liuchi shifts from a murderous, domineering ruler to a humiliated and cautious one. Though furious at Xiao Chen’s actions, he recognizes that Qiongqi’s legacy makes retaliation too dangerous and reluctantly compromises by freeing the slaves.
  • E Youwei acts as the key intermediary. His brief remark prevents a battle, and he understands the danger posed by Xiao Chen’s connection to Qiongqi. He also sympathizes with Lei Liuchi while recognizing that both of them may be vulnerable to Qiongqi’s inheritor.
  • Ke Hei, Ye Hongmei, and Lao Six become increasingly aware that Xiao Chen possesses extraordinary origins, powers, and hidden connections. Their shock and curiosity reinforce how mysterious and powerful he appears to his companions.

Significant Themes

  • Power backed by reputation and legacy: Xiao Chen survives not through direct strength but through the immense deterrent of Qiongqi’s name and influence.
  • Restraint and strategic retreat: Xiao Chen understands that obtaining the fruit is enough; remaining to challenge powerful enemies would be reckless.
  • Humiliation versus survival: Lei Liuchi’s pride is badly wounded, but he chooses survival and submission over revenge.
  • Moral responsibility: Despite being focused on his own upcoming battle, Xiao Chen uses his leverage to end Lei Liuchi’s enslavement of innocent beings.
  • Hidden identity and misunderstanding: The demons’ absurd theories about Xiao Chen’s ancestry emphasize how little they understand about his true background.
  • Preparation for a decisive confrontation: The Saint Fruit provides renewed hope for Xiao Chen’s battle against Qin Qiankun and may significantly change the balance of power.

Character Interactions

  • Xiao Chen and Lei Liuchi: Their encounter begins as a potential life-or-death conflict but becomes unexpectedly respectful because of Qiongqi’s influence. Xiao Chen then presses Lei Liuchi to free the slaves.
  • Xiao Chen and E Youwei: E Youwei’s casual intervention saves Xiao Chen’s group. Both understand that their connection to Qiongqi is the true reason for Lei Liuchi’s restraint.
  • Lei Liuchi and E Youwei: E Youwei warns Lei Liuchi against underestimating Qiongqi. Their exchange reveals that both belong to the Qiongqi Demon Kingdom and fear the consequences of opposing its legendary ancestor.
  • Xiao Chen and his companions: Ke Hei, Ye Hongmei, and Lao Six repeatedly question Xiao Chen’s mysterious abilities and connections. Xiao Chen remains guarded but reveals enough about his Heavenly Tribulation Mark to deepen their astonishment.
  • Lei Liuchi and his soldiers: The soldiers are terrified by Lei Liuchi’s anger but confused by his submission. His final order to release the slaves demonstrates the practical limits imposed on him by Qiongqi’s legacy.

Ch. 1605Breaking through! Returning to the King Armament Sea!

Chapter Summary: Breaking Through! Returning to the King Armament Sea!

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xiao Chen completes the refinement of the Hesitant Heavenly Thunder Saint Fruit, a treasure formed from the Dao and power of Zhao Chouchu, the Hesitant Heavenly Thunder Dao Immortal.
  • The fruit releases vast quantities of Heavenly Thunder Liquid, a supreme heavenly treasure containing immense spiritual energy and thunder Dao power.
  • As Xiao Chen absorbs the liquid, his body becomes surrounded by overwhelming lightning, and his Heavenly Tribulation mark grows increasingly powerful.
  • The Fifth Heavenly Gate cracks and eventually shatters on its own, without Xiao Chen needing to attack it directly. This demonstrates the extraordinary potency of the Saint Fruit and Xiao Chen’s unusually strong foundation.
  • During the refinement, Xiao Chen receives a vision of Zhao Chouchu, a blue-robed figure who appears across time and space to explain the principles of the thunder Dao. Zhao teaches that Heavenly Might can be controlled by humans so long as their hearts remain steadfast.
  • The Hesitant True Meaning gradually condenses through repeated cycles of formation and dispersal. Each failure strengthens it until it finally takes complete shape.
  • Xiao Chen officially breaks through to the Fifth Heaven of the King Realm. His physical body, King Source Energy, Dao aura, and overall foundation all improve dramatically.
  • After fully absorbing the Saint Fruit, Xiao Chen returns to the King Armament Sea, described as a brilliant sea of stars.

Character Development

  • Xiao Chen: His cultivation and mastery of the thunder Dao advance significantly. He gains greater control over Heavenly Might and becomes confident that he could now defeat Zhou Buyu without relying on the True Demon. His breakthrough further establishes him as an exceptionally gifted cultivator capable of triggering a Heavenly Tribulation.
  • Ke Hei, Lao Six, and Ye Hongmei: The three become increasingly stunned by Xiao Chen’s abnormal cultivation speed and terrifying thunder aura. Their reactions emphasize how far beyond ordinary King Realm cultivators Xiao Chen’s talents and achievements are.
  • Zhao Chouchu: Though absent in person, his legacy remains active through the Saint Fruit and his Dao manifestation. He guides Xiao Chen by imparting the deeper principles of the thunder Dao and the Hesitant True Meaning.

Significant Themes

  • Heavenly tribulation as both trial and blessing: The chapter presents divine lightning as Heaven’s punishment but also as a supreme gift reserved for beings with extraordinary talent.
  • Extraordinary talent and destiny: Xiao Chen’s effortless breakthrough highlights his monstrous foundation and suggests that he belongs among the rarest geniuses of Azure Spirit.
  • Persistence through hesitation: The Hesitant True Meaning gains strength through repeated failure and renewed attempts, suggesting that hesitation can conceal accumulated power rather than simple weakness.
  • Inheritance and transcendence: Zhao Chouchu’s Dao survives through the Saint Fruit, allowing Xiao Chen to inherit and develop knowledge from a predecessor across time and space.
  • Human mastery over Heavenly Might: The thunder Dao is portrayed not merely as destructive power but as something that can be grasped and commanded by a steadfast cultivator.

Character Interactions

  • Xiao Chen remains focused inwardly while refining the Saint Fruit, whereas Ke Hei, Lao Six, and Ye Hongmei watch from a distance and guard him.
  • The trio collectively recognizes the sound of the Heavenly Gate shattering, sharing astonishment at Xiao Chen’s unprecedented breakthrough.
  • Xiao Chen alone sees Zhao Chouchu’s manifestation and receives his teachings, creating a private spiritual encounter inaccessible to the others.
  • The observers’ shocked reactions—especially Ke Hei’s disbelief and Lao Six’s horror—reinforce the extraordinary nature of Xiao Chen’s cultivation progress.

Ch. 1606The Third King Armament! Condense!

Chapter Summary: “The Third King Armament!”

  • Key events: Xiao Chen enters his vast Sea of King Armaments to resonate with and condense his third King Armament. His sea, formed from billions of stars and containing exceptionally powerful weapons, far surpasses that of ordinary King Realm cultivators.
  • He scans the available weapons across the Ten Heaven Realms and resonates with four possibilities: the Golden Crow Immortal-Slaying Lance, the Black Demon Heaven-Radiant Spear, the Heavenly Thunder Mountain-Splitting Bow, and the Myriad-Thunder Thorn Armor. The weapons’ rankings vary, with the Second and First Heaven Realms containing rarer and more powerful armaments, including the legendary Kunpeng Sun-Radiant Sword.
  • Xiao Chen initially appears likely to obtain the Golden Crow Lance, despite having refined a Thunder Dao Sacred Fruit and hoping for a lightning-based weapon. At the last moment, the resonance shifts to the Heavenly Thunder Mountain-Splitting Bow, which successfully manifests in his hand.
  • The bow is only a resonance phantom rather than the original Divine Artifact, but it still possesses tremendous lightning power, long-range offensive ability, and strong effects against evil spirits and Yin Spirits.
  • Xiao Chen believes the bow will greatly improve his chances against Qin Qiankun, whose Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise powers originate only from remnants of ancient sacred souls. He then sets a goal of obtaining a fourth King Armament from the summit of the Second Heaven Realm.
  • Ke Hei witnesses the successful manifestation of the bow and reacts with shock and excitement.

Character developments and interactions

  • Xiao Chen demonstrates his overwhelming foundation, extraordinary luck, and ambition. Though briefly frustrated when the resonance favors the Golden Crow Lance, he remains composed and ultimately gains a weapon suited to his Thunder Dao cultivation and future battle.
  • His confidence increases after obtaining the bow, especially regarding his confrontation with Qin Qiankun. His ambition also grows as he immediately targets even stronger weapons.
  • Ke Hei’s admiration and astonishment deepen when he sees Xiao Chen successfully condense his third King Armament.
  • Xiao Chen’s earlier and future conflict with Qin Qiankun is emphasized: the new bow’s lightning and anti-spirit properties directly counter Qin’s sacred-soul-based powers.

Significant themes

  • Innate talent and foundation: Xiao Chen’s Martial God Physique gives him a King Armament Sea vastly superior to those of ordinary cultivators.
  • Luck versus preparation: Refining treasures and possessing a strong foundation improve one’s chances, but the final weapon still depends on fate and resonance.
  • Escalating power and ambition: Even after gaining a peerless weapon, Xiao Chen immediately pursues an even higher goal.
  • Specialized strength and strategic advantage: The chapter highlights how the right weapon—especially one that counters an opponent’s abilities—can decisively influence an upcoming battle.
  • Heavenly and divine authority: Lightning is portrayed as a force feared by all beings, capable of suppressing evil and spirits.

Ch. 1607Li Jinchán's Trail!

Chapter Summary: “Li Jinchán’s Trail!”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xiao Chen completes a breakthrough to the Fifth Heaven in less than half a day and condenses his third King Armament, astonishing Ye Hongmei, Ke Hei, and Lao Six.
  • Ye Hongmei compares Xiao Chen’s breakthrough speed with Qin Qiankun’s and concludes that Xiao Chen has surpassed him in this particular aspect, though the group still believes Qin Qiankun has superior overall combat strength due to his foundation, body, vitality, and Divine Abilities.
  • Xiao Chen tests his newly formed Heavenly Thunder Mountain-Splitting Bow by firing a lightning arrow at a distant mountain. The attack blasts a hundred-zhang-wide hole through it, terrifying the surrounding demons and birds, who mistake the strike for divine punishment.
  • The power of the attack leaves Ke Hei deeply shaken. Accustomed to being regarded as a supreme genius, he begins to feel inferior to Xiao Chen.
  • Xiao Chen reflects on his new strength and his goal of condensing a fourth King Armament before reaching the Emperor Realm. Three King Armaments are already considered the Mortal World’s limit, while four would place him alongside legendary figures.
  • The chapter explains Xiao Chen’s extraordinary potential: he possesses the Kunpeng, Dao-Extinguishing Dual Core, Ten-Colored Dao Fire, and Martial God Physique. However, his Martial God Physique is still undeveloped and can only progress further through future trials in the Myriad Dynasty War and the Spirit Treasury World.
  • Lao Six reports that Li Jinchán has been sighted near Netherflame Land, searching frantically for something. This immediately darkens the mood, as Xiao Chen expects Li Jinchán to seek revenge.

Character Development

  • Xiao Chen: Grows dramatically stronger after his breakthrough and gains confidence in the destructive power of his third King Armament. Despite his immense talent, he recognizes that future breakthroughs will be increasingly difficult and that developing his Martial God Physique remains a major challenge.
  • Ye Hongmei: Becomes more impressed by Xiao Chen but maintains a rational assessment of his abilities, distinguishing breakthrough speed from total combat strength.
  • Ke Hei: Experiences a blow to his pride. For the first time since Qin Qiankun, he feels clearly inferior to another genius.
  • Lao Six: Remains passionately devoted to Xiao Chen, celebrating his master’s success and providing important intelligence.
  • Li Jinchán: Though he does not appear directly, his approaching presence establishes him as an imminent threat driven by his old grudge against Xiao Chen.

Significant Themes

  • Extraordinary talent versus overall strength: Rapid cultivation is impressive but does not alone determine victory; foundation, physique, vitality, techniques, and accumulated power are equally important.
  • The burden of genius: Xiao Chen’s gifts place him among the greatest talents in the Mortal World, yet each higher breakthrough becomes more difficult and demanding.
  • Pride and comparison: Ke Hei’s shaken confidence illustrates how the arrival of a truly exceptional rival can undermine a former prodigy’s self-image.
  • Power and deception: Xiao Chen previously survived Li Jinchán not through overwhelming force, but by bluffing with the Wind Lord Sword and exploiting Li Jinchán’s caution.
  • Imminent danger: Xiao Chen’s spectacular breakthrough is quickly overshadowed by the return of an enemy who knows his past deception.

Character Interactions

  • Ye Hongmei, Ke Hei, and Lao Six observe and discuss Xiao Chen’s breakthrough, comparing him with Qin Qiankun.
  • Lao Six openly praises Xiao Chen, while Ke Hei silently struggles with feelings of inferiority.
  • Xiao Chen demonstrates his new bow before the group, and their stunned reaction emphasizes the weapon’s frightening power.
  • Lao Six later informs Xiao Chen about Li Jinchán’s movements, prompting Xiao Chen to recall their past conflict and worry that Li Jinchán has come for revenge.
  • The chapter ends with Xiao Chen questioning why Gui Lao has not yet sent any news, suggesting another unresolved concern alongside Li Jinchán’s arrival.

Ch. 1608The Battle's Final Hour!

Chapter Summary: “The Battle’s Final Hour!”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xiao Chen’s decisive battle with Qin Qiankun is scheduled to begin in less than an hour. Xiao Chen had previously requested reinforcements from Gui Zhengqi, who agreed but was delayed by inspections in the Heartland Demon Lands.
  • The battlefield has been relocated to the area outside the ancient vicious forest in the Netherflame Land, where Xiao Chen and Qin Qiankun first clashed.
  • News of the battle draws countless spectators from across the Azure Spirit Battle Domain. The crowd arrives days in advance, creating an opportunity for demon fiends to extort money by selling “tickets” and forcibly controlling prime viewing locations.
  • A powerful Cat Clan Demon Lord attacks a black-robed King Realm cultivator who refuses to pay for a viewing spot. The youth is defeated, bloodied, and dragged into the demon forest. The spectators, including many powerful humans, ignore the injustice.
  • The Cat Demon later sells the victim’s former position to a wealthy young King Realm cultivator, demonstrating the brutality and lawlessness of the Netherflame Land.
  • Spectators discuss whether Xiao Chen will appear. Many believe Qin Qiankun’s overwhelming reputation and killing power will force Xiao Chen to flee.
  • Qin Qiankun arrives with the powerful Qiankun Battle Group, surrounded by azure radiance and immense dragon might. His followers mock Xiao Chen’s absence and call him a coward.
  • Qin Qiankun remains outwardly calm but deeply arrogant, confident that Xiao Chen is destined to die whether or not he appears.
  • As the battle’s starting time approaches and the spectators grow tense, a sword cry suddenly pierces the silence, signaling Xiao Chen’s likely arrival.

2. Character Developments

  • Xiao Chen: Though he has not yet appeared, his reputation is emphasized. He is viewed as a dangerous and exceptionally talented rival whose influence and opposition to the Demon Race have made him a major target. His possible arrival creates intense suspense.
  • Qin Qiankun: He is portrayed as an extraordinarily powerful and arrogant True Dragon, feared throughout the Azure Spirit Domain. He exudes absolute confidence and treats the coming battle as a foregone conclusion.
  • Gui Zhengqi: He remains committed to helping Xiao Chen but is delayed by external restrictions, leaving Xiao Chen without confirmed reinforcement.
  • Qin Qiankun’s followers: The Qiankun Stars display hostility and contempt toward Xiao Chen, referring to him as lowborn and cowardly. Their resentment stems from his rise in status and his challenge to their bloodline’s supremacy.
  • The black-robed youth: His defeat illustrates the danger faced by weaker cultivators in the Netherflame Land and the inability—or unwillingness—of others to intervene.
  • The Cat Demon: He represents the predatory, opportunistic nature of the demon territory, exploiting the battle to gain wealth and power.

3. Significant Themes

  • Brutality and lawlessness: The viewing-area extortion and murder reveal a world where strength determines justice and the vulnerable are easily preyed upon.
  • Indifference to suffering: Powerful spectators ignore the black-robed youth’s abuse because it does not affect them, highlighting selfishness and the lack of unity among the Human Race.
  • Pride and hierarchy: Qin Qiankun and his followers believe their bloodline and status place them above Xiao Chen, whose rise threatens their established superiority.
  • Reputation and fear: Qin Qiankun’s reputation as a relentless killer weighs heavily on the younger generation, while Xiao Chen’s refusal to submit has made him both admired and hated.
  • Anticipation and defiance: The chapter builds suspense around whether Xiao Chen will appear, framing his arrival as an act of courage against overwhelming odds.

4. Character Interactions

  • Xiao Chen and Gui Zhengqi: Xiao Chen requests aid, and Gui Zhengqi promises to come, though circumstances prevent his timely arrival.
  • The Cat Demon and the black-robed youth: Their confrontation exposes the exploitative ticket scheme. The youth protests the extortion, but the Cat Demon defeats him through superior strength and numbers.
  • The Cat Demon and the wealthy young cultivator: The demon sells the bloodstained viewing spot to the newcomer, who pays to avoid further conflict and relies on an older King Realm protector.
  • Spectators discussing Xiao Chen and Qin Qiankun: Their conversation reflects widespread fear of Qin Qiankun and uncertainty over Xiao Chen’s courage.
  • Qin Qiankun and the Qiankun Stars: His followers openly insult Xiao Chen, while Qin Qiankun maintains a composed, superior attitude and assures them there is still time.
  • The crowd and Xiao Chen: The spectators’ rising anxiety culminates in the piercing sword cry, suggesting that Xiao Chen has finally arrived and is prepared to face Qin Qiankun.

Ch. 1609Fight! Fight! Fight!

Chapter Summary: “War! War! War!”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xiao Chen arrives at the battlefield riding a blood-eyed Azure Serpent, while Qin Qiankun appears atop a colossal azure dragon. Their arrival draws countless spectators, who view the confrontation as a legendary clash between two peerless youths.
  • Qin Qiankun and Xiao Chen enter a specially constructed hundred-zhang battlefield created by Qin Wuji. The formation prevents anyone within a hundred li from flying away and traps the combatants until one dies or admits defeat.
  • Qin Qiankun taunts Xiao Chen for arriving late and declares that he will erase him from the world. Xiao Chen responds confidently, determined to settle the hatred and grievances that have tormented him—especially those connected to A Chun’s death.
  • In a shocking display of arrogance, Qin Qiankun suppresses his cultivation to the King Realm Fourth Layer and seals his Black Tortoise Sacred Power, claiming that this is sufficient to defeat Xiao Chen fairly.
  • Rather than accept the advantage, Xiao Chen demands that Qin Qiankun use his full strength. His declaration astonishes the spectators, many of whom believe he is recklessly challenging an opponent far above his level.
  • Qin Qiankun begins preparing to attack, pointing one finger toward Xiao Chen as strange dragon-tiger-like energy and a terrifying roar fill the battlefield. The chapter ends just as the battle is about to begin.

Character Developments

  • Xiao Chen demonstrates greatly increased confidence after his breakthrough. His calmness and refusal to be intimidated contrast sharply with the spectators’ doubts. His anger reveals that the battle is deeply personal, fueled by long-standing hatred and memories of A Chun.
  • Qin Qiankun is portrayed as supremely powerful, proud, and dismissive. His decision to suppress his realm and seal his Sacred Power shows both immense confidence and contempt for Xiao Chen, though he does not understand the depth of Xiao Chen’s fury.
  • Wu You is emotionally affected by Xiao Chen’s challenge. He has long dreamed of fighting Qin Qiankun but lacked the courage to do so, making Xiao Chen’s defiance especially inspiring.
  • Zhao Wu and Xu Mang, along with several other spectators, admire Xiao Chen’s extraordinary bearing, while others dismiss him as arrogant and doomed.
  • The gathered cultivators and demons reinforce Qin Qiankun’s reputation as Azure Spirit’s unrivaled prodigy, while Xiao Chen’s appearance begins to challenge that established hierarchy.

Significant Themes

  • Defiance against overwhelming power: Xiao Chen refuses to accept Qin Qiankun’s supposed superiority or the handicap Qin offers him.
  • Pride and arrogance: Qin Qiankun’s confidence is supported by a history of overwhelming victories, but his contempt may cause him to underestimate Xiao Chen.
  • Revenge and unresolved grief: Xiao Chen’s determination is rooted not only in ambition but also in deeply buried pain and a need to avenge A Chun.
  • Challenging established legends: Qin Qiankun represents the unreachable pinnacle of the younger generation, while Xiao Chen symbolizes an outsider attempting to break through that oppressive reputation.
  • Expectation and spectacle: The spectators’ divided reactions—scorn, excitement, fear, and hope—emphasize the battle’s importance to the wider cultivation world.

Character Interactions

  • Qin Qiankun and Xiao Chen exchange hostile remarks, with Qin treating Xiao Chen as an insignificant opponent and Xiao Chen answering with controlled but growing fury.
  • Qin Qiankun attempts to define the terms of the fight by weakening himself, but Xiao Chen rejects the implied humiliation and demands a genuine battle.
  • The spectators interpret the exchange differently: some see Xiao Chen as delusional, while others believe his confidence suggests a hidden strength capable of producing a miracle.
  • Wu You’s silent emotional reaction highlights Xiao Chen’s role as the challenger who dares to do what even Qin Qiankun’s established rivals have feared to attempt.

Ch. 1610What Will You Do About It? Arrogant Beyond Measure!

Chapter Summary: “What Will You Do About It? Arrogant Beyond Measure!”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Qin Qiankun unleashes the Azure Dragon Soul-Extinguishing Curse through the Ancient Azure Dragon Talisman. The attack manifests as a gigantic, dragon-script character filled with overwhelming Demonic Might and bloodline suppression.
  • Spectators, especially the demons, are horrified by the technique’s power. Even Ke Hei realizes that Qin Qiankun’s previous attack against Xiao Chen had only been a test and that Qin Qiankun has yet to reveal his true strength.
  • Despite the terrifying attack, Xiao Chen remains completely calm and unmoved.
  • Xiao Chen counters with Pure Qi Transforms Yin-Yang, forming a massive black-and-white yin-yang palm empowered by four-colored Dao light.
  • The yin-yang palm collides with the Azure Dragon character and destroys it completely. Qin Qiankun’s supposedly unstoppable curse is crushed, leaving the entire battlefield in stunned silence.
  • The spectators struggle to believe that Xiao Chen, whom many had dismissed as a grassroots cultivator, has defeated such a powerful attack with a single palm.
  • Xiao Chen openly challenges Qin Qiankun to unseal his cultivation and fight at full strength, declaring that he fears no opponent of the same realm.
  • Qin Qiankun remains confident and dismisses Xiao Chen’s achievement as merely enough to make him “warm up.” He refuses to acknowledge defeat or consider unsealing his realm.
  • The confrontation shifts from a martial contest to a clash over social status and justice. Xiao Chen condemns the Qiankun Dynasty’s arrogance, tyranny, and treatment of commoners.
  • Qin Qiankun unapologetically states that because Xiao Chen is merely a commoner from a Lower Dynasty, the Qiankun Dynasty has the right to bully him.
  • His words anger the humble-born spectators throughout Azure Spirit, while Xiao Chen’s fury intensifies in response.

Character Developments

  • Xiao Chen: Demonstrates a major improvement in his mastery of Yin-Yang Force compared with their previous battle. His calmness, confidence, and ability to destroy Qin Qiankun’s strongest displayed attack establish him as a genuine peer rather than an underdog. His motives also become clearer: he seeks not only personal victory but justice for A Chun, the Blade and Sword Brotherhood, Black Cloud City, and all oppressed commoners.
  • Qin Qiankun: Reveals greater strength than he showed previously, yet remains overwhelmingly arrogant. Even after his attack is destroyed, he refuses to acknowledge Xiao Chen as an equal and continues to believe in the absolute superiority of the Qiankun Dynasty and the strong-over-weak hierarchy.
  • Ke Hei: Becomes even more impressed by Xiao Chen, recognizing that Xiao Chen’s power exceeds his expectations. His loyalty and admiration for Xiao Chen deepen.
  • Lao Six and Ye Hongmei: Are left shocked by Xiao Chen’s victory, showing how unexpected and extraordinary the counterattack was.
  • The spectators: Shift from fear and disbelief to astonishment and indignation, particularly those from humble backgrounds who feel personally insulted by Qin Qiankun’s words.

Significant Themes

  • Commoners versus the ruling elite: The battle symbolizes the conflict between those born with power and status and those forced to struggle without it.
  • Dignity and resistance: Xiao Chen rejects the idea that ordinary people exist merely to be dominated by ancient clans and powerful dynasties.
  • Arrogance and hierarchy: Qin Qiankun embodies the belief that strength justifies oppression, while Xiao Chen challenges that worldview directly.
  • Hidden potential and underestimated strength: Xiao Chen’s victory reveals that a supposedly insignificant cultivator can surpass the expectations of elite observers.
  • Justice and vengeance: Xiao Chen fights not only for himself but also for the victims of the Qiankun Dynasty’s past violence and abuse.
  • Power versus conviction: Although Qin Qiankun possesses immense power, Xiao Chen’s determination is fueled by a broader moral purpose.

Character Interactions

  • Xiao Chen and Qin Qiankun: Their exchange evolves from a contest of techniques into a direct ideological confrontation. Xiao Chen demands that Qin Qiankun fight seriously, while Qin Qiankun responds with contempt and insists that social status gives him the right to oppress Xiao Chen.
  • Ke Hei and Qin Qiankun: Ke Hei’s reaction highlights the enormous gap between Qin Qiankun and other True Dragons, while also showing his growing recognition of Xiao Chen’s comparable strength.
  • Xiao Chen and the spectators: Xiao Chen’s stand against Qin Qiankun resonates with ordinary-born cultivators, who see their own dignity represented in his defiance.
  • The broader factions: The Ancient God Faction is stunned by Xiao Chen’s improved power, while the Qian Kun Faction is shocked that Qin Qiankun’s attack failed to instantly defeat him.
    The chapter ends with Xiao Chen silently repeating Qin Qiankun’s insult—“If we bully you, what will you do about it?”—as his restrained anger rises toward an inevitable escalation.

Ch. 1611Ten colors born of the Dao! Invincible!

Chapter Summary: “Dao Gives Birth to Ten Colors! Invincible!”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Qin Qiankun reveals his contempt for Xiao Chen, believing that an ordinary cultivator from a remote domain can be bullied or killed at will by the Qiankun Dynasty.
  • He launches the attack first, using the Jia Wood inscription to drain the essence of countless ancient trees and form a massive assault.
  • Xiao Chen counters with the Jia Wood World-Suppressing Scripture, astonishing the spectators because the technique is a secret art of the Qiankun Dynasty’s imperial family and should not have been available to him.
  • The crowd realizes that Xiao Chen may have obtained the scripture only after killing Chang Long roughly twelve days earlier, yet has already mastered it beyond Chang Long’s level.
  • Qin Qiankun uses a powerful eye technique to destroy Xiao Chen’s Jia Wood manifestation and sever its source, but Xiao Chen successfully completes the Jia Wood Heaven Shatter.
  • The enormous Divine Wood descends like a collapsing pillar of heaven, breaking space and overwhelming the surroundings. Qin Qiankun’s eye technique fails to stop it, forcing him nearly to retreat.
  • Angered, Qin Qiankun unleashes multiple ancient techniques at once, including the Azure Dragon Secret Power, Dragon-Scale Heavenly Rain, and Annihilation Blade.
  • Qin Qiankun also reveals an unprecedented eight-colored Dao Fire, believed to surpass the known limit of seven colors. He declares that this level of talent is a realm Xiao Chen can never reach.
  • Xiao Chen immediately disproves him by igniting Ten-Colored Dao Fire. He combines more than a dozen Divine Abilities into a devastating punch that destroys Qin Qiankun’s manifested phantom and Heavenly Blade.
  • The spectators, including both demons and humans, are left speechless. Qin Qiankun’s former arrogance disappears, replaced by a visibly dark and grim expression.

Character Developments

  • Xiao Chen demonstrates extraordinary comprehension and adaptability. Despite lacking a wood-element spirit body, he masters a supreme Jia Wood art in only a dozen days and surpasses its original inheritor, Chang Long.
  • Xiao Chen’s true potential is revealed to be even more astonishing than previously believed. His Ten-Colored Dao Fire places him beyond the limits of ordinary cultivation talent and even above Qin Qiankun’s unprecedented Eight-Colored Dao Fire.
  • Qin Qiankun is established as exceptionally powerful, possessing numerous perfected Divine Abilities and a rare, supposedly impossible eight-colored Dao Fire.
  • However, Qin Qiankun’s confidence is shaken for the first time when Xiao Chen withstands his eye technique and then reveals a superior Dao Fire. His superiority complex begins to fracture.
  • The spectators’ view of Xiao Chen changes dramatically. Those who considered him merely a talented cultivator from a backward region now recognize him as an unprecedented monster.

Significant Themes

  • Arrogance versus true ability: Qin Qiankun assumes status and lineage guarantee his dominance, but Xiao Chen’s achievements expose the limits of that arrogance.
  • Innate talent versus acquired opportunity: Xiao Chen’s lack of a wood spirit body and his brief period of study make his mastery of Jia Wood even more astonishing.
  • Breaking established limits: Qin Qiankun’s eight-colored Dao Fire overturns the accepted seven-color limit, only for Xiao Chen to shatter that new standard with ten colors.
  • Hidden greatness: Xiao Chen appears to come from an insignificant, remote region, yet possesses abilities that surpass those of elite figures from powerful ancient clans.
  • Escalation and revelation: Each combatant unveils increasingly powerful techniques, transforming the battle from a confrontation between prodigies into an unprecedented clash of supreme talents.

Character Interactions

  • Qin Qiankun openly belittles Xiao Chen and moves directly to kill him rather than negotiate.
  • Xiao Chen responds to Qin Qiankun’s provocation with action, matching and then overpowering his techniques.
  • Qin Qiankun attempts to break Xiao Chen’s Jia Wood manifestation with his eye technique, but Xiao Chen completes the attack and forces Qin Qiankun to react defensively.
  • Qin Qiankun then boasts that his eight-colored Dao Fire represents a level Xiao Chen can never reach.
  • Xiao Chen answers without words by revealing ten-colored Dao Fire and destroying Qin Qiankun’s combined attacks.
  • The battle’s spectators function as witnesses to the reversal: their shock emphasizes Xiao Chen’s rise and Qin Qiankun’s sudden loss of dominance.

Ch. 1612Divine Sun Insect, Primal Chaos Divine Mountain—Are They So Strong?

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Qin Qiankun, long regarded as the most gifted cultivator of the Azure Ancient Domain, is shaken after Xiao Chen—an ordinary youth from the minor Great Xia dynasty—proves superior to him.
  • Although others suggest Xiao Chen’s strength comes from a fortuitous opportunity, Qin Qiankun refuses to make excuses. He accepts that he has been outmatched because he deliberately suppressed his strength, but remains determined to kill Xiao Chen and eliminate any future trouble.
  • Xiao Chen, having gained the upper hand, recognizes that Qin Qiankun is still hiding his true power. Rather than becoming arrogant, he challenges Qin Qiankun to fight seriously.
  • Qin Qiankun activates his Dual Martial Cores:
    • The Divine Sun Insect, a terrifying fire-based ancient beast said to have once rivaled the Golden Crow.
    • The Primordial Chaos Divine Mountain, an indestructible sacred mountain formed from chaotic energy and later transformed into a peerless fiendish god.
  • The spectators are stunned. Qin Qiankun’s ability to resonate with these two beings, in addition to the Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise, confirms the extraordinary nature of his foundation.
  • The Ancient Clan spectators become confident that Qin Qiankun will win. Their hostility toward Xiao Chen reflects not only personal dislike but also resentment toward a commoner threatening the superiority of their class.
  • Some observers recall that Xiao Chen’s own Core Souls—a mysterious beast and a sword—may be no weaker than Qin Qiankun’s manifestations. However, the Ancient Clan prodigies dismiss this possibility out of faith in Qin Qiankun.
  • Qin Qiankun declares that victory is assured, but Xiao Chen mocks the supposed supremacy of the Divine Sun Insect and Primordial Chaos Divine Mountain.
  • Xiao Chen then opens his own Dual Cores, unleashing golden and purple light along with an overwhelming demonic aura. The chapter ends as his terrifying power crushes the surrounding void, setting up the next clash.

Character Developments

  • Qin Qiankun: His arrogance is tempered by Xiao Chen’s strength. He becomes more serious and acknowledges that Xiao Chen is the strongest opponent of his generation. Nevertheless, revealing his Dual Cores restores his confidence and causes his pride to return.
  • Xiao Chen: He remains calm, confident, and pragmatic. He does not underestimate Qin Qiankun and deliberately provokes him into revealing his full strength. His response demonstrates that he has been concealing equally terrifying abilities.
  • The Ancient Clan descendants: Their admiration for Qin Qiankun is mixed with class prejudice. They view Xiao Chen as an inferior commoner and interpret the battle as a confrontation between the aristocratic Ancient Clans and the lower dynasties.
  • The spectators: They are fascinated and terrified by the revelation of Qin Qiankun’s Martial Cores, while some begin questioning whether Xiao Chen’s unknown Core Souls may possess even greater origins.

Significant Themes

  • Talent versus class and birth: Xiao Chen’s rise challenges the belief that superior cultivation belongs exclusively to Ancient Clan descendants.
  • Hidden strength and incomplete judgment: Both rivals have concealed major abilities, showing that appearances and early exchanges do not reveal their true limits.
  • Pride and acknowledgment: Qin Qiankun is forced to respect an opponent he once considered beneath him, though his pride prevents him from accepting defeat.
  • Foundations of power: Martial Cores represent the source and foundation of a cultivator’s strength. Their origins and manifestations determine how others perceive a warrior’s potential.
  • Rivalry between elites: The battle has expanded beyond a personal duel, becoming symbolic of the conflict between established aristocratic power and an emerging commoner genius.

Character Interactions

  • Xiao Chen repeatedly urges Qin Qiankun to stop delaying and use his full strength, displaying confidence and impatience with his opponent’s grandstanding.
  • Qin Qiankun responds more seriously than before, admitting through his actions that Xiao Chen deserves recognition.
  • The spectators debate the relative strength of the two fighters’ Martial Cores, with the Ancient Clan members defending Qin Qiankun and others privately wondering whether Xiao Chen’s beast and sword are even more terrifying.
  • The confrontation culminates with Qin Qiankun proclaiming Xiao Chen’s destruction, only for Xiao Chen to answer by unveiling his own Dual Cores and overwhelming demonic power.

Ch. 1613Legend of a Comeback!

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xiao Chen summons his concealed first Core Soul Dharma manifestation: a colossal ancient beast surrounded by golden-black divine radiance and an immense sea of demons. He hides its true appearance with the Void Illusion Technique to prevent others from discovering the full extent of his power.
  • The manifestation’s overwhelming demonic might terrifies the gathered cultivators, who immediately compare it to Qin Qiankun’s famed Divine Sun Insect and Primal Chaos Divine Mountain.
  • The ancient beast clashes with the Divine Sun Insect and destroys it with a single roar. Xiao Chen then releases an ancient purple sword that effortlessly severs the supposedly indestructible Primal Chaos Divine Mountain.
  • The battle ends almost instantly, leaving the spectators stunned. Xiao Chen wins with overwhelming superiority despite fighting Qin Qiankun within the same realm.
  • Qin Qiankun suffers severe backlash from the destruction of his Core Soul manifestations. Realizing he cannot defeat Xiao Chen while restricting himself to same-realm combat, he prepares to remove his seal and reveal his true strength.
  • Xiao Chen demands that Qin Qiankun undo the seal immediately. He is impatient because he senses that Li Jinchán may be observing from the darkness and could attack once the battle concludes.
  • Qin Qiankun argues that cultivation level is an essential measure of strength, pointing out that Xiao Chen is nearly nineteen yet only at the Fourth Heaven of the King Realm. He claims Xiao Chen cannot overcome the Heavenly Gate.
  • The spectators debate whether Xiao Chen’s same-realm victory matters against Qin Qiankun’s higher cultivation and hidden foundation. New rumors also spread that Xiao Chen’s dantian was once shattered and that he returned to cultivation only slightly more than half a year earlier.
  • The chapter ends as Qin Qiankun finally begins unleashing his true power, standing atop a True Dragon and radiating immense azure, dragon, and solar energy.

Character Developments

  • Xiao Chen: Demonstrates an extraordinary and previously concealed Core Soul manifestation, proving that his strength is far beyond what the spectators expected. His confidence becomes even more pronounced, and he shows impatience with Qin Qiankun’s excuses and concern about the hidden threat posed by Li Jinchán. His history of recovering from a destroyed dantian further reinforces his miraculous, ruin-to-glory trajectory.
  • Qin Qiankun: Experiences his first major defeat against someone of the same realm. His shock and humiliation force him to acknowledge Xiao Chen as a genuine peerless prodigy rather than an insignificant opponent. However, he preserves his pride by shifting the argument from same-realm combat to cultivation level and prepares to fight without restraint.
  • Li Jinchán: Though he does not appear directly, his unseen presence creates tension. Xiao Chen believes he is watching the battle and may exploit the moment after it ends to attack.
  • The spectators and Azure Spirit cultivators: Their confidence in Qin Qiankun is shattered. They move from expecting Xiao Chen to be defeated to recognizing him as an overwhelmingly powerful figure, while many remain jealous or skeptical of his rapid rise.

Significant Themes

  • Hidden strength and strategic concealment: Xiao Chen deliberately conceals his Core Soul to avoid attracting dangerous attention, emphasizing that survival requires keeping one’s true foundations secret.
  • Defying conventional cultivation limits: The chapter challenges the belief that higher cultivation automatically guarantees victory. Xiao Chen’s same-realm power overwhelms Qin Qiankun’s legendary manifestations.
  • Rise from ruin: Xiao Chen’s recovery from a shattered dantian symbolizes resilience and miraculous rebirth, making his accomplishments appear almost impossible to ordinary cultivators.
  • Pride versus reality: Qin Qiankun refuses to fully accept defeat, relying on cultivation hierarchy to preserve his superiority, while Xiao Chen insists that actual combat results matter more than status or realm.
  • Growing danger beneath victory: Even after Xiao Chen wins, the threat of Li Jinchán and the coming battle against Qin Qiankun’s true strength prevent the victory from feeling secure.

Character Interactions

  • Xiao Chen and Qin Qiankun: Their confrontation shifts from a supposedly equal contest to a humiliation for Qin Qiankun. Xiao Chen bluntly commands him to remove his seal, while Qin Qiankun responds with criticism of Xiao Chen’s age and cultivation level.
  • Xiao Chen and the observing crowd: Xiao Chen’s hidden manifestation overturns everyone’s expectations and forces the crowd to reevaluate his identity and power.
  • Qin Qiankun and the spectators: Qin’s loss causes widespread debate. Some defend him by emphasizing realm differences, while others interpret his unwillingness to continue under the original conditions as an indirect admission of defeat.
  • Xiao Chen and Li Jinchán: Their interaction is indirect but important: Xiao Chen’s awareness of Li’s surveillance makes him eager to end the confrontation before the hidden enemy can exploit his vulnerability.

Ch. 1614Bestow glory upon me? Behold my Heavenly Thunder Sacred Art!

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Qin Qiankun completely breaks the seal restricting his power and unleashes the full might of his Ancient Beast Sacred Soul.
  • The true forms of the Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise manifest behind him, enormous enough to overshadow mountains and reach into the clouds.
  • His released aura produces overwhelming sacred-demoniac pressure, distorting space and even seemingly freezing time. The power indiscriminately suppresses both Demon Lords and Human Martial Kings present.
  • The observers realize that Qin Qiankun’s strength has risen far beyond his previous level. His earlier disadvantage against Xiao Chen existed only because he had sealed his own arms.
  • Xiao Chen’s companions, including Lao Six and Ke Hei, become deeply concerned for him. Lao Six suggests a sneak attack, but the barrier surrounding the battlefield makes interference impossible.
  • Qin Qiankun declares that Xiao Chen must revere him like a god and claims peerless superiority among his generation.
  • Xiao Chen remains calm and counters that he has already defeated a true divine beast master, implying that Qin Qiankun—who possesses only the sacred soul rather than complete divine beasts—is still inferior to that level.
  • His claim shocks the spectators, who debate the rarity and terrifying strength of divine beast masters. Qin Qiankun dismisses Xiao Chen’s statement as an obvious lie, while Xiao Chen identifies the Blue Moon Clan as the divine beast lineage he once fought.
  • Qin Qiankun attacks with the Azure Dragon Immortal-Slaying Spear. The spear tears through the void, creates black holes, shakes mountains and rivers, and terrifies nearly everyone watching.
  • Xiao Chen responds by invoking the Heavenly Thunder Sacred Art. He summons an ancient divine bow, draws a thunder-infused arrow, and prepares to meet Qin Qiankun’s attack.

Character Developments

  • Qin Qiankun: Reveals his true peak power after breaking the seal. His confidence becomes outright arrogance, and he views himself as a godlike, invincible figure. His Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise bloodline powers demonstrate that he has reached a level capable of suppressing nearly all beings nearby.
  • Xiao Chen: Despite recognizing the enormous pressure Qin Qiankun now exerts, Xiao Chen remains composed and defiant. He refuses to be intimidated, relying on his past victory over a divine beast master and preparing to answer Qin’s ultimate attack with his own sacred art.
  • Lao Six and Ke Hei: Their concern for Xiao Chen becomes evident. Lao Six’s impulsive suggestion of a sneak attack shows how severely Qin Qiankun’s transformation has altered the situation, while Ke Hei points out the practical impossibility of intervening.
  • The spectators: Human and Demon experts alike are forced to reassess Qin Qiankun’s strength. Even veteran Martial Kings and Demon Lords are visibly shaken by his attack.

Significant Themes

  • Power unleashed and restraint removed: The chapter contrasts Qin Qiankun’s earlier self-imposed limitations with his terrifying true strength.
  • Bloodline hierarchy and suppression: The ancient Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise bloodlines exert natural dominance over other demons, while Qin Qiankun’s overwhelming cultivation suppresses even powerful humans.
  • Pride versus composure: Qin Qiankun’s godlike arrogance contrasts with Xiao Chen’s calm confidence and refusal to submit.
  • Reputation and extraordinary achievements: Xiao Chen’s claim of defeating a divine beast master challenges the audience’s understanding of his past and raises doubts about how far his power truly extends.
  • The clash of ultimate techniques: The battle escalates from a confrontation between prodigies into a contest between the Azure Dragon Immortal-Slaying Spear and Xiao Chen’s Heavenly Thunder Sacred Art.

Character Interactions

  • Qin Qiankun openly belittles Xiao Chen and demands worship, while Xiao Chen answers with a sharp reminder of his own accomplishments.
  • The spectators debate Xiao Chen’s claim and explain the near-invincible status of divine beast masters.
  • Lao Six and Ke Hei argue over whether they can assist Xiao Chen, revealing the group’s anxiety but also the battlefield’s protective restrictions.
  • The chapter ends with Qin Qiankun launching his decisive spear attack and Xiao Chen drawing his thunder bow, setting up their next major exchange.

Ch. 1615The Fifth Realm After All!

Chapter Summary: “Five Realm All Along?!”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Qin Qiankun unleashes the Azure Dragon Immortal-Slaying Spear, combining the powers of the Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise Sacred Arts.
  • Xiao Chen counters with a devastating Heavenly Thunder Sacred Art, transforming thunder into a divine arrow capable of destroying heaven and severing karma.
  • Their attacks collide in a catastrophic explosion that shakes the battlefield. Despite Qin Qiankun’s superior cultivation and full-power attack, neither fighter gains the advantage.
  • Qin Qiankun suffers a scorched lock of hair, while Xiao Chen receives only a shallow wound that quickly heals through his Golden Body.
  • The spectators are stunned that a Fourth Heaven King Realm cultivator can match Qin Qiankun, a Sun King, after he has unsealed his full strength.
  • Enraged, Qin Qiankun vows to use the complete Azure Dragon Black Tortoise Sacred Power to destroy Xiao Chen.
  • Xiao Chen reveals that he has been holding back. He breaks through publicly from the Fourth Layer to the Fifth Layer of the King Realm, causing his aura and power to surge dramatically.
  • His breakthrough manifests the Yin-Yang Divine Bridge, the Yellow Springs, and imagery associated with the cycle of life and death.
  • The chapter ends with Qin Qiankun acknowledging Xiao Chen’s hidden cultivation but remaining confident that his own status as the Sun King will prevail.

Character Developments

  • Xiao Chen demonstrates extraordinary combat ability, matching an opponent several levels above him while using only the power of the Fourth Heaven. His confidence grows as he realizes he can use Qin Qiankun to temper his abilities.
  • Xiao Chen is revealed to be even more calculating than the Ancient Clan elites believed. Whether he deliberately concealed his breakthrough or advanced during the recent battles remains uncertain, but his hidden strength overturns everyone’s assumptions.
  • Qin Qiankun’s invincible confidence is shaken. Although he remains proud and defiant, Xiao Chen’s ability to draw against him—and then reveal a higher cultivation realm—provokes genuine anger.
  • Ye Hongmei’s feelings toward Xiao Chen deepen. His strength, composure, and near-perfect performance cause him to leave an indelible impression on her previously unmoved heart.
  • Ke Hei, Lao Six, and Xiao Chen’s allies react with excitement and pride, while the Ancient Clan elites become embarrassed and unwilling to accept Qin Qiankun’s apparent disadvantage.

Significant Themes

  • Hidden strength and deceptive appearances: Xiao Chen’s apparent weakness is exposed as a carefully misunderstood or concealed power.
  • Cultivation realm versus true combat ability: The chapter questions whether a higher realm guarantees victory, showing Xiao Chen overcoming what should be an overwhelming cultivation gap.
  • Pride and invincibility: Qin Qiankun’s identity as a naturally invincible genius is challenged by someone he considers a lower-level opponent.
  • Breaking expectations: Xiao Chen’s breakthrough overturns the spectators’ judgments and reveals that the so-called “grassroot” cultivator may belong among the highest level of geniuses.
  • Battle as self-tempering: Xiao Chen does not merely seek victory; he treats Qin Qiankun as a means to test and sharpen his own abilities.

Important Character Interactions

  • Xiao Chen and Qin Qiankun: Their clash is both physical and ideological. Qin relies on superior cultivation and inherited sacred power, while Xiao Chen relies on overwhelming technique, hidden reserves, and confidence in his own foundation.
  • Xiao Chen and the spectators: His performance forces the crowd—especially the Ancient Clan elites—to reconsider their contempt for him.
  • Xiao Chen and his allies: Lao Six celebrates his apparent draw, while Ke Hei and the others are overwhelmed by pride and excitement.
  • Xiao Chen and Ye Hongmei: Though they exchange no direct words, his display profoundly affects her, causing her admiration to become emotionally significant.
  • Qin Qiankun and the crowd: Qin’s failure to decisively defeat Xiao Chen damages the image of absolute Ancient Clan superiority, intensifying his anger and determination.

Ch. 1616I'll Give You a Chance! Unleash Your Full Power!

Chapter Summary: “A Chance for You! Let Loose!”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xiao Chen reveals that he has broken through during battle and has advanced far beyond what Qin Qiankun expected. Although Qin assumed Xiao Chen had deliberately hidden his cultivation, the truth is even more astonishing: Xiao Chen genuinely resumed cultivation only recently and achieved rapid breakthroughs through combat.
  • The Qiankun Dynasty’s intelligence network had dismissed reports that Xiao Chen had once fallen into an abyss and only recently recovered, considering them absurd propaganda. This mistake caused Qin Qiankun to underestimate Xiao Chen’s true potential.
  • The battle resumes with Qin Qiankun unleashing his powerful Netherworld Hell Spear, an ancient technique already perfected to the Metamorphic Realm. His attacks summon terrifying images of corpses, blood seas, the Netherworld, dragons, and Black Tortoises.
  • Xiao Chen and Qin Qiankun exchange more than a hundred attacks in moments. Their clash destroys the surrounding clouds and distorts the void. Both fighters suffer Dao wounds, and their clothing becomes stained with blood.
  • Because Qin Qiankun possesses a higher realm and an exceptionally deep foundation, Xiao Chen struggles to fight across the gap. He is forced to summon the Heaven-Severing Buyu Sword and unleash his full combat power.
  • Qin Qiankun is enraged and humiliated that Xiao Chen has managed to injure him. In response, he activates his strongest technique: Azure Dragon Black Tortoise Sacred Power.
  • The Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise Dharma Forms merge into Qin Qiankun’s body, fully awakening the ancient divine-beast power within his Treasure Physique. His aura rises dramatically, and he becomes enveloped in overwhelming divine flames.
  • The spectators realize that Xiao Chen has forced Qin Qiankun to reveal a power that almost no one in the younger generation had ever been capable of drawing out.
  • Qin Qiankun then challenges Xiao Chen to unleash his True Demon, demanding that he fight without restraint.

Character Developments

  • Xiao Chen: His hidden potential becomes undeniable. He demonstrates that his rapid rise is not based on deception but on genuine breakthroughs achieved through battle. Despite being at a lower realm, he wounds Qin Qiankun and earns recognition as Azure Spirit’s second-ranked heavenly prodigy.
  • Qin Qiankun: His confidence and sense of superiority are shaken. Accustomed to crushing every opponent, he feels humiliated by Xiao Chen’s resistance and injury. His anger drives him to reveal his strongest divine-beast power.
  • Gu You: He is forced to reassess his own position. Having long believed himself to be Azure Spirit’s second heavenly prodigy and secretly trained to challenge Qin Qiankun, he admits that Xiao Chen has surpassed him. His previous confidence now seems laughable.
  • Zhao Wu and Xu Mang: They recognize how dramatically Xiao Chen has grown since they first met him. Their earlier belief that they could protect him has become obsolete, showing Xiao Chen’s rapid rise in status and strength.

Significant Themes

  • Hidden potential and underestimated talent: Xiao Chen’s growth reveals that apparent weakness can conceal extraordinary resilience and ability.
  • Power proven through battle: Xiao Chen’s breakthroughs come from actual combat rather than long preparation, emphasizing battle as a catalyst for transformation.
  • Pride and humiliation: Qin Qiankun’s inability to dominate Xiao Chen damages his pride and forces him to escalate.
  • Reversal of hierarchy: A youth from a minor dynasty challenges the established prodigies and overturns the assumed rankings of the younger generation.
  • Recognition through adversity: Xiao Chen gains respect not through reputation or lineage, but by forcing the strongest figures present to acknowledge him directly.

Character Interactions

  • Xiao Chen and Qin Qiankun: Their fight shifts from Qin Qiankun’s expected domination to a genuine, high-level contest. Xiao Chen’s injuries to Qin provoke Qin’s anger, while Qin’s activation of his divine-beast power raises the battle to a new level.
  • Gu You and Xiao Chen: Gu You’s earlier confidence in his own superiority is replaced by reluctant admiration and self-recognition of Xiao Chen’s advancement.
  • Zhao Wu and Xu Mang with Xiao Chen: Their reflections show the reversal of their former protective relationship; Xiao Chen has grown from someone they thought needed support into someone far beyond their reach.
  • The spectators and the combatants: The audience becomes increasingly excited and reckless, calling for a more intense battle even as the battlefield itself is being devastated. Their reactions emphasize the scale and spectacle of the confrontation.

Ch. 1617Watch Me Slay the Dragon!

Chapter Summary: Watch Me Slay the Dragon!

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Qin Qiankun activates Azure Dragon Black Tortoise Sacred Power, bringing his offensive and defensive abilities to their peak. He believes himself invincible and intends to force Xiao Chen into using True Demon Possession before defeating him.
  • Xiao Chen’s True Demon ability is still on cooldown, leaving him without one of his strongest sources of power. Nevertheless, he refuses to retreat and decides to rely on his Dragon-Slaying Power and swordsmanship.
  • Spectators assume the battle is nearly over. Qin Qiankun’s overwhelming aura convinces most observers that Xiao Chen has lost his final chance of victory.
  • The Ancient Clan faction largely celebrates the prospect of Xiao Chen’s defeat, unwilling to see an outsider from a minor dynasty rise to prominence. A few Ancient Clan prodigies, however, admire Xiao Chen and regret that he may die.
  • Lao Six continues to place complete faith in Xiao Chen, defending him against the pessimistic crowd. Ke Hei attempts to prevent Lao Six from provoking the hostile Ancient Clan members.
  • Xiao Chen replaces the Heaven-Severing Buyu Sword with a seemingly dull, ancient black sword called Beastbane. Its unimpressive appearance causes many spectators to believe he has abandoned his divine weapon.
  • The Ancient God Champion Wu You reveals that Beastbane is an ancient weapon of slaughter that once slew every vicious beast in the Mortal World. His endorsement immediately changes the spectators’ opinions and makes them suspect the sword is a powerful Mystic Armament.
  • Qin Qiankun unleashes his full Azure Dragon Black Tortoise True Power, creating a massive divine-beast domain filled with clouds, emerald waves, demonic radiance, and colossal manifestations of the Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise.
  • The divine beasts’ pressure terrifies both the demonic and human camps, making even powerful beings feel insignificant before their overwhelming might.
  • Qin Qiankun declares that he will cleanse the world of Xiao Chen, but Xiao Chen counters that Qin Qiankun is the true sinner.
  • Xiao Chen activates Dragon Slayer Revival through Beastbane. Blood-red light bursts from the sword, shining like a sinister sun and even overpowering the radiance of the divine beasts, setting the stage for the decisive clash.

Character Developments

  • Xiao Chen demonstrates resolve and confidence despite losing access to True Demon Possession. Rather than relying on his strongest transformation, he chooses to confront Qin Qiankun with Beastbane and Dragon-Slaying Power.
  • Qin Qiankun reaches the height of his power and becomes increasingly arrogant, convinced that no one in the Azure Spirit War Zone can challenge him. His confidence is reinforced by the crowd’s belief that Xiao Chen has already lost.
  • Lao Six completes his shift from doubting Xiao Chen to becoming an unwavering supporter. He is willing to defend Xiao Chen even when nearly everyone else considers victory impossible.
  • Ke Hei remains cautious and practical, sympathizing with Xiao Chen but recognizing that Lao Six’s outspoken defense will attract dangerous hostility.
  • Wu You establishes his authority and knowledge by identifying Beastbane. His brief intervention demonstrates that he recognizes the sword’s true significance, unlike the arrogant Ancient Clan prodigies.

Significant Themes

  • Conviction against overwhelming odds: Xiao Chen refuses to surrender even when his strongest ability is unavailable and the entire audience expects his defeat.
  • Appearances versus true power: Beastbane looks crude and inferior compared with the Heaven-Severing Buyu Sword, yet Wu You’s words suggest that its real strength lies beneath its unremarkable exterior.
  • Pride and prejudice: Many Ancient Clan members resent Xiao Chen because of his humble origins, revealing their fear that an outsider could surpass their privileged descendants.
  • Faith and loyalty: Lao Six’s unwavering trust in Xiao Chen contrasts sharply with the crowd’s changing opinions and demonstrates the importance of loyalty when victory seems impossible.
  • Divine power versus human will: Qin Qiankun embodies the overwhelming authority of the divine beasts, while Xiao Chen represents the determination to challenge supposedly invincible forces.

Character Interactions

  • Qin Qiankun taunts Xiao Chen over True Demon Possession being unavailable, while Xiao Chen dismisses the need for it and vows to defeat him without demonic transformation.
  • The spectators debate whether Xiao Chen has any hope left, with most declaring Qin Qiankun’s victory inevitable.
  • Lao Six argues that Xiao Chen has defeated powerful divine-beast opponents before, provoking ridicule from the Ancient Clan prodigies.
  • Ke Hei tries to restrain Lao Six from further confrontation, aware that the Ancient Clan faction will attack him verbally or physically.
  • When Wu You identifies Beastbane, an Ancient Clan prodigy mocks the sword but immediately apologizes after realizing who made the comment. Xu Mang and Zhao Wu reinforce Wu You’s authority by threatening the offender.
  • The chapter ends with Xiao Chen’s Dragon Slayer Revival answering Qin Qiankun’s divine-beast domain, transforming the battle from an apparent execution into a potentially even confrontation.

Ch. 1618The Might of Dragon Slayer!

Chapter Summary: “The Might of Dragon Slayer!”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xiao Chen unleashes a sword strike against Qin Qiankun’s Azure Dragon Sacred Soul while concealing the sword’s true identity with the Void Illusion Technique.
  • The Azure Dragon initially attacks rather than retreating, but Xiao Chen’s Dragon Slayer Sword—designed to counter dragonkind—severs its enormous claw in one blow.
  • The injured dragon claw dissolves, and its blood evaporates into soul power. The Azure Dragon Sacred Soul is left shocked and frightened, realizing that the seemingly weak Xiao Chen possesses a weapon capable of seriously harming it.
  • The spectators are stunned by the sword’s power. They debate its origins, calling it “Beastbane” based on Wu You’s earlier description, though no one recognizes such a weapon among known Fierce Armaments.
  • Those who had doubted Lao Six now reconsider his judgment, while Ke Hei wrongly assumes Lao Six had known the sword’s secret all along.
  • Qin Qiankun withdraws the wounded Azure Dragon Sacred Soul to prevent it from suffering further damage. He suspects Xiao Chen’s sword may actually be the legendary Dragon Slayer Sword, though he dismisses the possibility as unlikely.
  • Qin Qiankun then summons the Black Tortoise’s defensive power and activates the Black Tortoise Heaven-Shielding Divine Armor.
  • Xiao Chen attacks again, aiming to behead Qin Qiankun. However, the defensive art creates layers of tortoise-shell runes that block the Dragon Slayer Sword several inches from Qin Qiankun’s body.

Character Developments

  • Xiao Chen: Demonstrates that his apparent weakness is deceptive. His mastery of the Dragon Slayer Sword allows him to inflict severe damage on a True Dragon soul, but the technique consumes enormous spiritual energy. He remains confident and openly mocks Qin Qiankun’s earlier arrogance.
  • Qin Qiankun: Suffers a major blow to his confidence after witnessing the Azure Dragon’s claw being severed. He becomes cautious and recognizes that Xiao Chen’s sword may possess a terrifying anti-dragon power. He shifts from offense to defense by relying on the Black Tortoise.
  • Azure Dragon Sacred Soul: Its pride and confidence are shaken. Despite being a True Dragon, it experiences instinctive fear toward the sword and is wounded at its very origin.
  • Lao Six: Gains credibility because his earlier belief in Xiao Chen’s strength proves correct, although he had not actually known the sword’s hidden power.
  • Spectators and allies: Their attitude toward Xiao Chen changes from doubt and contempt to shock, respect, and apprehension.

Significant Themes

  • Hidden strength and mistaken judgment: Xiao Chen’s ordinary appearance causes others to underestimate him, but his true power is revealed through the Dragon Slayer Sword.
  • The supremacy of legendary weapons: The sword’s anti-dragon nature allows Xiao Chen to overcome a vastly more powerful opponent, emphasizing the importance of compatibility and inherited power.
  • Pride versus fear: The Azure Dragon embodies the pride of True Dragons, yet even its instinctive terror cannot be ignored when faced with its natural nemesis.
  • Offense versus defense: Xiao Chen’s devastating sword attacks are countered by Qin Qiankun’s nearly impenetrable Black Tortoise armor, setting up a clash between unstoppable force and supreme defense.
  • Power with limitations: Although the Dragon Slayer Sword is extraordinarily dangerous, its power drains Xiao Chen’s spiritual energy, remains damaged, and may not yet be fully controllable.

Character Interactions

  • Xiao Chen verbally taunts Qin Qiankun, accusing him of claiming control over life and death before being forced onto the defensive.
  • Qin Qiankun rejects Xiao Chen’s arrogance, insisting that the battle is not yet decided.
  • Ke Hei angrily questions Lao Six for supposedly hiding the truth about Xiao Chen’s sword, while Lao Six is confused because he had only trusted Xiao Chen rather than possessing prior knowledge.
  • The spectators collectively reassess Xiao Chen, Lao Six, and the mysterious sword after witnessing the Azure Dragon’s defeat.
  • The chapter ends with Xiao Chen’s sword colliding with Qin Qiankun’s Black Tortoise armor, leaving the outcome of their battle unresolved.

Ch. 1619Control, Instant Kill!

Chapter Summary: “Control, Instant Kill!”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xiao Chen battles Qin Qiankun, who uses the Black Tortoise’s true power and defensive armor. The Black Tortoise’s defenses initially withstand Xiao Chen’s attacks, forcing him backward.
  • Xiao Chen counters with the Heavenly Thunder Mountain-Splitting Bow. His Heaven-Thunder Divine Arrows repeatedly strike the same weak point in the Black Tortoise Heaven-Shielding Divine Armor, gradually creating cracks and nearly breaking through its defenses.
  • Qin Qiankun unleashes his trump card, Black Tortoise Slays Heaven. The Black Tortoise transforms into a gigantic, blood-red demonic beast and attempts to devour the sky, shocking the spectators.
  • Xiao Chen responds by revealing the Heaven-Prison of Ten Thousand Demons, one of his supreme King Armaments, along with Yin-Yang Soul Severing.
  • The Heaven-Prison temporarily traps the Crimson Black Tortoise with chains, preventing it from attacking or using its full defensive power.
  • Xiao Chen then summons the Yin Spirit Scythe, which severs more than half of the Black Tortoise’s neck and gravely injures its soul.
  • Because Qin Qiankun’s soul is fused with the Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise, the divine beast’s destruction causes severe backlash. The Black Tortoise dissipates, while Qin Qiankun vomits nether-azure soul-blood and is thrown through the air.

Character Developments

  • Xiao Chen demonstrates exceptional combat intelligence and precision. Rather than relying solely on overwhelming power, he combines the thunder bow, the Heaven-Prison’s restraints, and the soul-severing scythe in a carefully planned sequence.
  • He is revealed to possess at least two extraordinary King Armaments despite being only at the Fifth Heaven of the King Realm, marking him as a talent far beyond ordinary standards.
  • Qin Qiankun, previously regarded as an unrivaled genius who had dominated Azure Spirit for years, becomes increasingly enraged and desperate as Xiao Chen withstands and counters his strongest techniques.
  • Qin Qiankun’s pride is badly shaken. He cannot accept that someone from Azure Spirit—not an ancient and superior realm—has surpassed him and wounded the legendary beasts tied to his power.

Significant Themes

  • Strategy overcoming brute force: Xiao Chen defeats the Black Tortoise not by directly overpowering its defenses, but by restraining it first and then targeting its soul.
  • Hidden and extraordinary potential: Xiao Chen’s two supreme King Armaments reveal talent that greatly exceeds what should be possible at his cultivation level.
  • The danger of pride: Qin Qiankun’s arrogance prevents him from recognizing Xiao Chen’s true threat until his trump card has already been neutralized.
  • The vulnerability of divine power: Even legendary sacred beasts can be defeated when their weaknesses—especially the soul—are exploited.
  • Reversal of established hierarchy: Qin Qiankun’s long-held belief that no one from Azure Spirit could surpass him is shattered.

Character Interactions

  • Xiao Chen and Qin Qiankun exchange threats as both insist that only one of them will survive.
  • Qin Qiankun dismisses the Heaven-Prison of Ten Thousand Demons as ineffective against a sacred beast, while Xiao Chen calmly proves him wrong by trapping the Black Tortoise.
  • The spectators react with astonishment and fear, recognizing both the terrifying nature of the Black Tortoise’s demonic transformation and the legendary reputation of Xiao Chen’s Heaven-Prison.
  • The chapter ends with Qin Qiankun suffering a devastating defeat and struggling to comprehend how Xiao Chen, a youth from Azure Spirit, could injure powers he believed to be invincible.

Ch. 1620Bullying Others with Power!

Chapter Summary: “Bullying Others with Power!”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xiao Chen decisively defeats Qin Qiankun, Azure Spirit’s foremost True Dragon, in a battle that most spectators had expected Qin Qiankun to win easily.
  • Qin’s defeat shocks the entire viewing area because Xiao Chen is only a Moon King Realm cultivator from the remote Great Xia, yet he overcomes Qin across a major cultivation gap.
  • Xiao Chen reveals the terrifying power of his third King Armament: a black-and-white scythe that embodies yin-yang, life and death, and can directly cleave the soul.
  • Several ancient Kings speculate that the scythe may be the legendary Yin Spirit Scythe, a peerless Fierce Armament whose existence is uncertain and which ordinary cultivators could never hope to master.
  • After the battle, Xiao Chen confronts the defeated Qin and questions whether he still believes himself capable of controlling the fates of others.
  • Rather than accept defeat, Qin threatens Xiao Chen, Great Xia, and Xiao Chen’s entire family, declaring that the Qiankun Dynasty will annihilate them.
  • Qin Qiankun’s faction then tries to intervene, demanding that Xiao Chen kneel and apologize and using the power of the ancient dynasty to intimidate him.
  • Members of the Ancient God Faction, including Zhao Wu, Xu Mang, and Wu You, openly oppose the Qiankun faction and defend Xiao Chen.
  • Wu You directly declares that he will protect Xiao Chen, even if doing so leads to war between the dynasties.
  • The chapter ends with the entire Azure Spirit cultivator community stunned by Wu You’s declaration.

2. Character Developments

  • Xiao Chen proves himself to be an extraordinary prodigy. His ability to wield three King Armaments while still in the Moon King Realm places him at the pinnacle of pre-Emperor cultivators.
  • Xiao Chen’s victory confirms that he is not merely talented but possesses strength capable of challenging legendary figures across cultivation realms.
  • He remains composed and dominant after the battle, confronting Qin rather than showing fear of the Qiankun Dynasty’s political power.
  • Qin Qiankun suffers a complete psychological collapse after losing. His arrogance, dignity, and calm disappear, replaced by rage, venom, and desperate threats.
  • Qin reveals the oppressive nature of his upbringing and dynasty by immediately relying on family power instead of honoring the terms of the duel.
  • Wu You undergoes an important shift in his relationship with Xiao Chen. Although he previously regarded Xiao Chen as a rival and tried to seize his ranking, he now steps forward to defend him.
  • Wu You’s willingness to risk war shows loyalty, courage, and a growing respect for Xiao Chen.
  • Zhao Wu and Xu Mang openly celebrate Xiao Chen’s triumph and angrily condemn Qin’s behavior, while the Ancient God Faction collectively takes a stand against the Qiankun Dynasty.

3. Significant Themes

  • Power versus status: Xiao Chen’s strength overturns the assumption that lineage, reputation, and dynastic backing determine victory.
  • Talent and destiny: His third King Armament, especially the possible Yin Spirit Scythe, suggests extraordinary fortune and a destiny far beyond that of ordinary cultivators.
  • The corruption of arrogance: Qin’s noble status and reputation as an undefeated True Dragon mean nothing once he is defeated; his true character is exposed through threats and abuse of power.
  • Justice versus tyranny: The spectators debate whether justice has any meaning when powerful dynasties can threaten entire nations. The chapter emphasizes the harsh reality that justice often depends on whether one has enough strength to enforce it.
  • Friendship and unexpected loyalty: Wu You’s defense of Xiao Chen shows that rivalry can coexist with respect and that true character is revealed during crises.
  • Resistance to oppression: The Ancient God Faction’s refusal to yield demonstrates that the Qiankun Dynasty does not possess absolute authority over Azure Spirit.

4. Character Interactions

  • Xiao Chen and Qin Qiankun: After defeating Qin, Xiao Chen challenges his belief in his own supremacy. Qin responds with threats against Great Xia, escalating their personal conflict into a potential national war.
  • Qin Qiankun and the Qiankun Stars: Qin’s faction supports his refusal to accept defeat, attempting to pressure Xiao Chen into submission through dynastic authority.
  • Xiao Chen and Wu You: Their former rivalry becomes more complicated when Wu You publicly protects Xiao Chen. Xiao Chen is surprised and emotionally conflicted by this unexpected support.
  • Wu You and the Qiankun Faction: Wu You directly confronts Qin’s supporters and declares that he will defend Xiao Chen even at the cost of war.
  • Ancient God Faction and the Qiankun Dynasty: Zhao Wu, Xu Mang, and the other Ancient God Stars join Wu You in opposing the Qiankun faction, transforming a personal duel into a confrontation between major powers.
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