Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Paquiao, a Transcendent Rank Horde Chosen One, arrives to challenge Tang Qian.
• Tang Qian's Ancestral Founders possess him, revealing themselves as Sacrificial Masters.
• Paquiao struggles against Tang Qian's possessed state, unable to gain the upper hand.
• Lu Feng, in the Dragon Mountain Armor, crashes into the battlefield, killing a Heart Pivot Chosen One and preserving his corpse.

Character Developments

• Paquiao: Struggles against Tang Qian's possessed state, reveals fear of Sacrificial Masters.
• Tang Qian: Possessed by Ancestral Founders, gains immense power but loses control.
• Lu Feng: Shows strategic thinking and brutal efficiency in taking down a Chosen One.

Significant Themes

• The power and danger of Sacrificial Masters.
• The disparity between ranks and the struggle against overwhelming odds.
• The importance of strategy and adaptability in battle.

Character Interactions

• Paquiao vs. Tang Qian: A brutal and unequal fight, with Tang Qian gaining the upper hand due to his Ancestral Founders.
• Lu Feng vs. Heart Pivot Chosen One: A swift and decisive victory, showcasing Lu Feng's strategic prowess and brutal efficiency.
• Ancestral Founders vs. Paquiao: The Old Woman and Fourth Grand Uncle mock Paquiao and Tang Qian, revealing their disdain for the current state of the Horde.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Paquiao's team quickly captures and prepares the Heart Pivot Chosen One, almost undetected.
• Paquiao realizes there's a mole and turns to confront Lu Feng, but Lu Feng's armor deflects his attack.
• Pan Ying, Tang Qian, and Lu Feng team up to farm Paquiao, while the Prosperity cargo ship transforms into a Steel Giant and blocks the Water Ghosts' retreat.
• Vichaya's ship is destroyed, and the Water Ghosts are trapped in the Long River.
• Coast Industry displays the corpses of Paquiao's Chosen Ones, revealing their failed sabotage plan.

Character Developments

• Paquiao: Becomes increasingly enraged and desperate as his plans fail and his team is picked off.
• Lu Feng: Shows improved skills and teamwork, successfully defending against Paquiao's attacks.
• Tang Qian: Returns to the battlefield with the Ancestral Founders, demonstrating resilience and determination.
• Vichaya: Dies when his ship is destroyed, highlighting the Water Ghosts' vulnerability.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal and Trust: The presence of a mole in Paquiao's team undermines his plans and trust in his allies.
• Teamwork vs. Individual Strength: Lu Feng, Tang Qian, and Pan Ying work together to counter Paquiao's powerful attacks, showing the importance of teamwork.
• Adaptation and Resourcefulness: The Prosperity cargo ship's transformation into a Steel Giant demonstrates the Water Ghosts' ability to adapt and use their environment to their advantage.

Character Interactions

• Paquiao vs. Lu Feng, Tang Qian, and Pan Ying: The trio works together to wear down Paquiao, highlighting their teamwork and coordination.
• Paquiao vs. Coast Industry: The display of Paquiao's Chosen Ones' corpses reveals Coast Industry's successful countermeasure against Paquiao's sabotage plan.
• Vichaya's Team vs. Paquiao: Vichaya's team's failure to destroy the dam and their subsequent deaths demonstrate the Water Ghosts' vulnerability and Paquiao's overconfidence.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Jue, the main antagonist, is revealed to be manipulating the battle from afar, using mechanical constructs and Deus Ex Machina to control the situation.
• Paquiao, the Fiend-bearer, finally unleashes his full power, revealing his true form and the extent of his Sin Corruption. He uses his Realm of Encirclement to overwhelm the Homecoming Knights and other defenders.
• Ji Jue's plan is nearly successful, but he underestimates the presence of an "Old Six," a hidden figure who intervenes at the last moment, saving Ji Jue from Paquiao's deadly attack.

Character Developments

• Ji Jue: He remains calm and calculating, even in the face of Paquiao's overwhelming power. He believes in thorough preparation and minimizing risks, viewing Paquiao as a test subject.
• Paquiao: His true power and form are revealed. He is driven by the desire to kill and dominate, viewing all life as equal in death. He is a chosen one of Mad Slaughter, a genuine Fiend-bearer.
• Old Six: A mysterious figure is hinted at, who appears to be a skilled fighter and is familiar with Ji Jue. They intervene at the crucial moment, saving Ji Jue from Paquiao's attack.

Significant Themes

• Power and Control: Ji Jue seeks to control the situation and test his limits, while Paquiao seeks to dominate and kill all who oppose him.
• Manipulation vs. Direct Confrontation: Ji Jue prefers to manipulate events from afar, while Paquiao prefers direct, brutal conflict.
• The True Nature of Evil: Paquiao's true form and power are revealed, highlighting the destructive and corrupting nature of Sin Corruption.

Character Interactions

• Ji Jue and Paquiao: Their interaction is one of cat and mouse, with Ji Jue manipulating the situation and Paquiao reacting to Ji Jue's provocations.
• Ji Jue and Old Six: Their interaction is brief but significant. Old Six's intervention suggests a history between them and a level of skill that rivals Paquiao's.

Key Plot Points and Events

+ Paquiao, a water ghost kingpin, attempts to ambush Ji Jue and his team in New Spring.
+ Ji Jue's team includes Yellow Beard, a Transcendent Rank Ember and supervising Great Craftsman of the Northern Frontier's workshop, and three Seed of Heroes giants.
+ Paquiao activates his escape plan, but Ji Jue's team has already destroyed his backup plans and reinforcements.
+ The Dragon Bone Fleet, led by Frederick's teacher, attacks and destroys Paquiao's base, Harlot Town.

Character Developments

+ Ji Jue demonstrates his strategic prowess and ability to make use of others' strengths.
+ Paquiao shows his ruthlessness and willingness to sacrifice others for his own gain.
+ Yellow Beard reveals his disdain for Ji Jue's shamelessness but considers taking him as a student.
+ Frederick shows his gratitude and loyalty to Ji Jue.

Significant Themes

+ Betrayal and backstabbing in the pursuit of power and wealth.
+ The importance of strategic planning and adaptability.
+ The consequences of underestimating one's enemies.

Character Interactions

+ Ji Jue and Yellow Beard have a tense but respectful interaction, with Yellow Beard considering taking Ji Jue as a student.
+ Ji Jue and Frederick have a mutually beneficial relationship, with Ji Jue providing opportunities and Frederick showing loyalty.
+ Paquiao and Ji Jue have a hostile relationship, with Paquiao attempting to ambush Ji Jue and Ji Jue orchestrating Paquiao's downfall.
+ The Dragon Bone Fleet and Ji Jue's team have a cooperative relationship, working together to take down Paquiao.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The battle between Paquiao (Lord of Scars) and the three Seeds of Heroes (Simir, Fabuti, and Surtr) reaches a critical point. Paquiao is overwhelmed and cannot run, win, or outlast his opponents.
• Paquiao's chances of victory dwindle as his opponents steadily apply pressure, intending to drag out the battle.
• Lu Feng, a Tianjun, awakens in the Dragon Mountain Armor and is confused and disoriented, having lost half of his body and soul.
• Lord of Heavenly Slaughter, the other half of Lu Feng, takes control of the body and slaps away Tang Qian and the Old Woman, who were trying to stop him.

Character Developments

• Paquiao: Becomes desperate as his chances of victory decrease. He realizes he is being outmatched by the two Ember Preparers (Yellow Beard and Ji Jue).
• Lu Feng/Lord of Heavenly Slaughter: Awakens and takes control of the body, revealing his aggressive and dominant nature. He is shocked to find himself in this state and is determined to take action.
• Tang Qian and the Old Woman: Attempt to stop Lord of Heavenly Slaughter but are easily overpowered, showing their lack of power compared to him.

Significant Themes

• The battle between Paquiao and the Seeds of Heroes highlights the theme of attrition and the importance of strategic planning and resource management in prolonged combat.
• The awakening of Lu Feng/Lord of Heavenly Slaughter raises questions about identity, control, and the consequences of splitting a soul and tool into two parts.

Character Interactions

• Paquiao vs. the Seeds of Heroes: Paquiao is outmatched and overwhelmed by the three Seeds of Heroes, who work together to pin him down and defeat him.
• Lu Feng/Lord of Heavenly Slaughter vs. Tang Qian and the Old Woman: Lord of Heavenly Slaughter takes control of the body and easily overpowers Tang Qian and the Old Woman, showing his dominance and aggression.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lord of Heavenly Slaughter (Tang Qian) regains consciousness and recognizes Pan Ying, his old sword.
• He uses an unknown technique to temporarily complete Pan Ying's tempering, naming it 'Victory Over Evil'.
• Tang Qian fights Paquiao, a Giant, using Victory Over Evil, defeating him easily.
• He tortures Paquiao, cutting off his limbs and fingers, while Paquiao's soul and power regress.
• Paquiao's true form is revealed as a devilspawn, and Lord of Scars blesses him, marking him with three intertwined scars on Pan Ying.

Character Developments

• Tang Qian (Lord of Heavenly Slaughter): Regains consciousness and his memories, including his past with Pan Ying. He displays immense power and cruelty in battle, enjoying the torture of his enemy.
• Paquiao: Revealed to be a devilspawn, Paquiao's power and soul regress under Tang Qian's attacks. He is marked with the three intertwined scars, indicating a connection to Lord of Scars.

Significant Themes

• Power and Cruelty: Tang Qian's immense power and his enjoyment of torture highlight the theme of power and its corrupting influence.
• The Past and Present: The meeting of Pan Ying and Tang Qian brings up the theme of the past catching up with the present, with consequences that are both fortunate and unfortunate.

Character Interactions

• Tang Qian and Paquiao: Their interaction is one of power dynamics, with Tang Qian dominating and torturing Paquiao, who is reduced to begging for mercy.
• Tang Qian and Ji Jue: Although not physically present, Ji Jue's internal monologue reveals his shock and fear at Tang Qian's sudden power-up and his realization that Ji Jue had been guarding against him.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

1. Lord of Heavenly Slaughter arrives and easily defeats Paquiao, leaving him for dead.
2. Ji Jue and Yellow Beard discuss dividing the spoils from Paquiao's corpse.
3. Ji Jue decides to spare Paquiao's life after a call from Lu Feng, who offers him to the Seven Cities Navy in exchange for military merit.
4. Ji Jue and Yellow Beard renegotiate the price for Paquiao's corpse, with Ji Jue demanding a higher share due to the changed circumstances.

Character Developments

1. Lord of Heavenly Slaughter: Disappointed with the weak opposition, he leaves without finishing Paquiao off.
2. Paquiao: Broken and defeated, he is left for dead but later offered to the Seven Cities Navy for military merit.
3. Ji Jue: Pragmatic and opportunistic, he renegotiates the deal for Paquiao's corpse to maximize his gains.
4. Yellow Beard: Initially impatient, he becomes more cooperative after learning about the potential military merit from Paquiao's capture.

Significant Themes

1. Pragmatism and opportunism: Ji Jue and Yellow Beard prioritize their own gains over Paquiao's life, renegotiating the deal as circumstances change.
2. The value of life: Paquiao's life is seen as expendable and only valuable for the military merit it can bring.
3. The cycle of violence: Despite Paquiao's defeat, the cycle of violence continues as Ji Jue and Yellow Beard prepare to dissect his corpse.

Character Interactions

1. Ji Jue and Yellow Beard: They haggle over the division of Paquiao's corpse, with Ji Jue initially getting the better of the deal but later renegotiating for a higher share.
2. Ji Jue and Lu Feng: Lu Feng calls Ji Jue to inform him about the potential military merit from Paquiao's capture, leading Ji Jue to renegotiate the deal.
3. Ji Jue and Paquiao: Ji Jue shows no mercy towards Paquiao, intending to dissect his corpse for materials.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Jue and Yellow Beard successfully negotiate with Paquiao's remnants, securing more materials and resources.
• Ji Jue exploits the captured Water Ghosts, turning them into laborers in his factory, further expanding his power and influence.
• Chen Xingzhou plans to expand his trade into maritime shipping and the Thousand Isles.
• An Neng returns with a mangled arm of a fiend, a creature Ji Jue is unfamiliar with.

Character Developments

• Ji Jue continues to demonstrate his ruthless and exploitative nature, further cementing his status as a cunning and ambitious character.
• An Neng shows a more playful and mysterious side, hinting at a deeper connection between Ji Jue and the fiend's limb.

Significant Themes

• Exploitation and Power Dynamics: Ji Jue's treatment of the Water Ghosts highlights the theme of exploitation and power dynamics, showing how the powerful can take advantage of the weak.
• Ambition and Expansion: Both Ji Jue and Chen Xingzhou display ambitious plans for expansion, reflecting the theme of ambition and its consequences.

Character Interactions

• Ji Jue and Yellow Beard continue their partnership, showcasing their mutual respect and understanding.
• Ji Jue and An Neng's interaction reveals a deeper connection between them, hinting at a shared history or secret.
• Ji Jue and Lü Yingyue maintain their professional relationship, with Lü Yingyue checking in on Ji Jue's progress.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Jue attends the funeral of the deceased, paying double compensation and benefits to the families.
• The Accountant, a Mycelium Priest, gives Ji Jue a broken iron badge, a mark of his new status.
• Ji Jue meets with Old Tang, who demands more payment. Ji Jue tries to negotiate but fails.
• Tang Qian's ancestor, Lord of Heavenly Slaughter, communicates through Tang Qian, mentioning the Six Heavens Old Ghost seals needed for Victory Over Evil's completion.

Character Developments

• Ji Jue feels guilty and sad about the deaths but remains determined to make the same choices in the future.
• The Accountant sees Ji Jue as someone who will likely cause more harm than good.
• Tang Qian is greedy and manipulative, trying to extract more money from Ji Jue while avoiding answering his questions.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of Ji Jue's actions and the guilt he feels.
• The power dynamics between Ji Jue and his associates, such as Old Tang and the Accountant.
• The importance of the Six Heavens Old Ghost seals for Ji Jue's goals.

Character Interactions

• Ji Jue interacts with the families of the deceased, showing respect and compensation.
• Ji Jue meets with the Accountant, who gives him the Mycelium Priest badge and warns him about its implications.
• Ji Jue argues with Old Tang over payment, with Tang Qian trying to avoid answering Ji Jue's questions about his ancestor.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lü Yingyue sends a message to Ji Jue, asking him to cooperate with someone who will arrive in New Spring.
• Chen Haiqiu, an envoy from Lü Yingyue, arrives in New Spring and meets with Ji Jue.
• Chen Haiqiu brings valuable materials and a Blessing for Ji Jue in exchange for a severed limb and asks Ji Jue to play a DVD disc daily in New Spring.
• Ji Jue agrees to help, and Chen Haiqiu requests a tour of Quancheng before leaving.

Character Developments

• Ji Jue shows his ability to lie and maintain a thick skin, impressing Chen Haiqiu.
• Chen Haiqiu demonstrates his polite and professional demeanor, but also shows wariness and caution.
• Lü Yingyue is shown to be resourceful and well-connected, able to obtain valuable items and send envoys to New Spring.

Significant Themes

• The theme of exchange and reciprocity is highlighted, with Chen Haiqiu bringing valuable items in exchange for the severed limb and Ji Jue's cooperation.
• The theme of trust and cooperation is also emphasized, with Ji Jue agreeing to help Chen Haiqiu despite his wariness.

Character Interactions

• Ji Jue and Chen Haiqiu interact professionally, with Ji Jue showing his ability to lie and Chen Haiqiu showing his polite and cautious demeanor.
• Ji Jue and Isis communicate via message, with Ji Jue asking Isis to secure the underground factory before Chen Haiqiu's tour.

Chapter Summary: “Afterglow”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Jue realizes that Lü Yingyue’s earlier message about someone going to “Quancheng” referred not to his settlement of New Spring, but to the ruined city beside it.
• He connects several suspicious events—including Paquiao’s behavior, An Neng’s hints, and Chen Haiqiu’s arrival—and concludes that the real target is Quancheng, not New Spring.
• Ji Jue and Chen Haiqiu travel through the rain and damaged roads to Quancheng. Beneath the ruins, they uncover a concealed area protected by two Secret Rites: the Mirage Lost City and a no-man’s-land created by the Heart Pivot.
• Chen reveals that Quancheng contains hidden Security Bureau equipment designed to absorb lingering Fiendification Pollution. Beneath one site is an even more secret facility.
• Chen opens an Eternal Gate into a small Rift World attached to Quancheng. Inside is a strange, Rainbow-Light fissure—the scar left in the Present World by Lu Changsheng.
• Ji Jue learns that Paquiao and the Fiendified forces were likely seeking the remnants of an Abyss Seed, possibly hoping to revive the Vortex or create another catastrophe.
• Chen explains that Tao Gong’s suppression destroyed the Abyss Seed’s vitality, making revival impossible. The remaining fissure is also gradually disappearing and should vanish completely within two years.
• Ji Jue is assigned responsibility for watching over the hidden site and maintaining the pollution-absorbing equipment around Quancheng. He is instructed to report any Fiendified Ones, especially those associated with sulfur or burned Embers, rather than confront them recklessly.
• Before leaving, Ji Jue sees the fissure’s final dim flicker go out, suggesting that the last remnant of the past disaster has finally died.
• Back in New Spring, Ji Jue must calm his frightened employees and invent a mundane explanation for the dramatic opening of the gate.
• Chen later reports to his superiors that the Abyss Seed is completely destroyed and that Ji Jue showed no reaction to it, proving he is not a latent Sin Demon. The organization decides to observe him rather than recruit him immediately.
• Meanwhile, the coastal Mermaid invasion has ended. Tong Shan and Wen Wen celebrate the extermination of the final invading Mermaid tribe.
• Tong Shan is preparing to take charge in Central Earth, while Wen Wen moves into a secondary role. They discuss the strange Mermaid attack, which was officially attributed to volcanic activity and abnormal seawater temperatures.
• Tong Shan observes that the Mermaids seemed less like enraged attackers and more like creatures fleeing for their lives, hinting at a larger unexplained crisis.

Character Developments

• Ji Jue: Demonstrates sharp deductive ability by piecing together the clues surrounding Quancheng. He is increasingly drawn into Security Bureau affairs and accepts responsibility for protecting the area despite his reluctance to be praised or treated as a hero. His status as a potentially important “Wedge” is confirmed, while his dangerous combat history makes Chen question who would actually be at risk in a confrontation.
• Chen Haiqiu: Moves from secrecy to open cooperation with Ji Jue, showing trust and admiration for him. He formally involves Ji Jue in monitoring Quancheng and personally verifies that Ji Jue is not connected to the Abyss Seed or the Sin Demons.
• Lü Yingyue: Although absent, her judgment is repeatedly praised. Her guarantee of Ji Jue is shown to carry considerable weight within the Security Bureau.
• Tao Gong: His sacrifice and role as the Wedge that suppressed the Abyss Seed are emphasized. His actions eliminated the possibility of the catastrophe returning.
• Tong Shan: Exhausted after the Mermaid battle, he prepares reluctantly for a difficult leadership post in Central Earth. His suspicion that the Mermaids were fleeing rather than attacking reveals his perceptiveness.
• Wen Wen: Remains sarcastic and irreverent, using humor and banter to cope with exhaustion and grim circumstances. Her exchange with Tong Shan highlights their familiarity and camaraderie.

Significant Themes

• The persistence of past disasters: Even after a catastrophe ends, remnants such as pollution, Rift Worlds, and Abyss Seeds can continue threatening the present.
• Burden and responsibility: Ji Jue’s development of New Spring forces him to inherit responsibility for dangers buried beneath the land he has chosen to build upon.
• Trust and recognition: Chen and the Security Bureau gradually acknowledge Ji Jue’s reliability, while Ji Jue responds more readily to sincere trust than to exaggerated praise.
• The end of an era: The dying fissure and extinguished flame symbolize the final fading of Tao Gong’s catastrophe and its lingering influence.
• Hidden threats and incomplete explanations: The official explanations for both Quancheng and the Mermaid invasion conceal deeper events. The Mermaid behavior especially suggests that a larger force or disaster may be approaching.
• Human life growing amid ruins: New Spring’s development and the eventual restoration of Quancheng’s land reflect the possibility of rebuilding civilization over the remains of destruction.

Character Interactions

• Ji Jue and Chen Haiqiu develop a tacit understanding based on shared deduction and mutual trust. Their conversation shifts from guarded investigation to practical cooperation.
• Chen teases Ji Jue by calling him the “local landlord” responsible for Quancheng, while Ji Jue resists being framed as a heroic successor to Tao Gong.
• Chen’s private report confirms that he views Ji Jue as both trustworthy and potentially exceptional, though the organization intends to monitor him carefully.
• Tong Shan and Wen Wen exchange sarcastic remarks about their personal failures, drinking, smoking, and marriage prospects, revealing their close friendship beneath their exhaustion.
• Their conversation ends on an ominous note when Tong Shan questions why the Mermaids appeared to be fleeing, foreshadowing a coming storm and a larger threat.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A storm hits Haizhou, and Ji Jue stays indoors, studying and waiting for lunch.
• Coast Industry's forces, led by Lu Feng, launch a full-scale assault on Coiled Mountain Stronghold, wiping out the remnants of the Water Ghosts and their allies.
• The operation is swift and brutal, with the use of advanced technology and tactics provided by Deus Ex Machina.
• The leader of the Water Ghosts, a Jackal, is captured and brought to Ji Jue.

Character Developments

• Ji Jue remains indifferent to the ongoing conflict, focusing on his studies and waiting for lunch.
• Lu Feng, initially bored by the easy victory, becomes exhilarated by the challenge posed by the Jackal.
• The Jackal, despite his formidable strength, is ultimately captured and broken by Coast Industry's forces.

Significant Themes

• Power and Control: Ji Jue's influence and control over Haizhou continue to grow, as he uses Coast Industry's forces to exact revenge on those who wronged New Spring.
• Revenge: Ji Jue's actions are driven by a desire for revenge, targeting those who have harmed New Spring and its people.
• Technology and Warfare: The use of advanced technology and tactics by Coast Industry's forces highlights the advantages of modern warfare and the potential consequences of unchecked technological advancement.

Character Interactions

• Ji Jue interacts with Isis, his Workshop Spirit, who expresses her frustration with his lack of concern for the ongoing conflict.
• Lu Feng and the Jackal have a brief, intense confrontation before the Jackal is captured.
• Ji Jue receives the captured Jackal from Lu Feng, expressing confusion over the contents of the box.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Jue receives the Blessing [See Simplicity Embrace Purity] from the Tong Family.
• Coast Industry launches Courier Logistics, offering delivery services across Haizhou.
• Ji Jue learns about the Calamity of the Scribe from an ancient record.
• Ji Jue rushes to Tide Sound to consult Ye Xian about his recent experiences.

Character Developments

• Ji Jue: Realizes he has unknowingly wasted materials and decides to examine himself thrice daily using his new Blessing. He becomes more self-aware and introspective.
• Ye Xian: After completing her work, she is surprised and exasperated by the extent of Ji Jue's recent activities.

Significant Themes

• The power of Blessings and their limitations.
• The importance of self-reflection and introspection.
• The consequences of unchecked ambition and greed.

Character Interactions

• Ji Jue and Ye Xian: Ji Jue seeks Ye Xian's guidance, and she is exasperated by his actions.
• Ji Jue and the Tong Family: Ji Jue exchanges the Blessing for [See Simplicity Embrace Purity] and discusses business opportunities with them.
• Ji Jue and the Lou Family: They invest in Courier Logistics, showing their support for Ji Jue's initiatives.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Jue's actions in New Spring have caused a stir, including colluding with various parties, fighting against Water Ghosts, and becoming a military supplier.
• Ye Xian reveals that the Ye Clan's swordsmith inheritance, the Nine Forms, is incomplete and divided among different branches.
• Ye Xian shares crucial secrets about the Nine Types with Ji Jue, including their hidden aspects and dangers.
• Ye Xian warns Ji Jue about the remnants of the Eternal Empire and their potential targeting of him due to the Nine Types inheritance.
• Ye Xian examines the discs Ji Jue brought and assures him they're safe, hinting at the existence of secret departments within the Federation.

Character Developments

• Ji Jue demonstrates his ambition and determination to learn the Nine Types, despite the risks involved.
• Ye Xian shows her willingness to teach Ji Jue everything she knows about the Nine Types, but also expresses her desire to keep him away from the Ye Family's karmic burden.
• Ye Xian reveals her disdain for the remnants of the Eternal Empire and her willingness to confront them if necessary.

Significant Themes

• The dangers and consequences of pursuing power and knowledge.
• The burden of family inheritance and the struggle between personal ambition and family duty.
• The tension between the remnants of the past and the present, and the potential for conflict between them.

Character Interactions

• Ye Xian and Ji Jue's teacher-student relationship is tested as Ye Xian shares crucial secrets with Ji Jue and warns him about the potential dangers.
• Ye Xian's concern for Ji Jue's safety is evident in her willingness to teach him but also in her desire to protect him from the Ye Family's karmic burden.
• Ji Jue's ambition and determination are met with Ye Xian's skepticism and concern, leading to a tense exchange between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Jue and Ye Xian discuss the Barrier of Knowledge and Perception, which hides the existence of Superior Virtue and Great Evils from ordinary people.
• Ji Jue learns that the barrier's purpose is to maintain stability and prevent ordinary people from being influenced by Superior Virtue and Great Evils.
• Ji Jue accidentally triggers a reaction by mentioning the 'Lock,' causing the hourglass to crack and its sand to dissipate.

Character Developments

• Ji Jue: Realizes his arrogance and lack of understanding about the world. He becomes more humble and determined to learn more.
• Ye Xian: Shows her concern and care for Ji Jue's growth, as well as her frustration with the old bastard from the Heavenly Furnace.

Significant Themes

• The power of knowledge and perception, and the dangers of unchecked influence.
• The importance of understanding and experiencing the world to gain wisdom.
• The consequences of ambition and arrogance.

Character Interactions

• Ji Jue and Ye Xian: They have a mentor-mentee relationship, with Ye Xian guiding Ji Jue's understanding and growth. Their interaction is filled with mutual respect and care.
• Ji Jue and the old bastard from the Heavenly Furnace: Although not present, the old bastard's actions and Ji Jue's reaction to them show a complex relationship, with Ji Jue feeling both gratitude and annoyance towards him.

Chapter Summary: “Kong and the Wedge”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Xian warns Ji Jue to stay away from Heavenly Furnace, blaming the old master for manipulating him and secretly arranging dangerous matters related to the “lock.”
• She instructs Ji Jue not to discuss or investigate the lock until he becomes a Master, emphasizing that the subject is far beyond his current level and could attract deadly consequences.
• Ye Xian explains the nature of Sin Demons: beings compatible with the Great Evil who receive its Essence of Evil Folly and act as its agents in the Present World. Their existence damages the lock, Kong.
• In contrast, Chosen Ones favored by Superior Virtue can become Wedges, beings capable of supporting the Vortex and strengthening the Present World’s lock. Ye Xian makes clear that Ji Jue is nowhere near such a position and that she does not want him following the dangerous path Heavenly Furnace envisioned.
• When the Silence Hourglass expires, its protective effect ends and the artifact is effectively consumed. Ye Xian gives it to Ji Jue, who disintegrates it and feeds its energy into Deus Ex Machina, gaining only a tiny increase in progress.
• Ji Jue realizes that the Axis of Domination may have incorporated Coast Industry and the New Spring Settlements into his network of creations. This has caused Embers to recognize his broader organizational achievements as part of a potential Masterwork.
• Ye Xian explains that for Embers to recognize such a large-scale achievement, Ji Jue would need to turn Coast Industry into a major industrial power or develop New Spring into a major city—goals far beyond his current reach.
• Ji Jue therefore refocuses on his original path: forging the artifact Chun Jun into a genuine Masterwork. With all materials, Blessings, and preparations complete, Ye Xian orders him to begin after a week of fasting, meditation, and spiritual preparation.
• Ji Jue asks Ye Xian to supervise the forging, but she refuses, insisting that as an Artisan he must learn to follow his own path and accept responsibility for failure.
• To motivate him, Ye Xian compares him to Jianyuan and implies that Ji Jue must achieve a Masterwork if he hopes to compete with him. Ji Jue enthusiastically accepts the challenge and leaves to begin preparations.
• Ye Chun is surprised that Ji Jue leaves without boasting to her, while Ye Xian privately reveals that Ji Jue has misunderstood history: the nineteen-year-old who forged a Masterwork was not Jianyuan, but his rival and senior brother, Heavenly Furnace. She looks forward to Heavenly Furnace’s reaction when he learns of Ji Jue’s attempt.

Character Developments

• Ji Jue becomes more cautious about the lock, Sin Demons, and the Great Evil, recognizing that reckless investigation could lead to disaster. At the same time, he remains ambitious and eager to advance as an Artisan.
• He shows insecurity about forging his first Masterwork, worrying that failure could waste his resources and effort. However, Ye Xian’s refusal to guide him forces him to accept greater independence.
• His pride and competitive spirit quickly overcome his anxiety once Ye Xian invokes Jianyuan and Heavenly Furnace. He leaves determined to prove that he can accomplish what his rivals achieved.
• Ye Xian acts as both protector and harsh mentor. She deliberately frightens Ji Jue away from forbidden knowledge, refuses to let him become another burdened successor like Heavenly Furnace, and pushes him toward self-reliance.
• Her hostility toward Heavenly Furnace is mixed with concern for Ji Jue and resentment toward the older generation’s tendency to impose dangerous legacies on their successors.
• Ye Chun remains comic relief, expecting another confrontation with Ji Jue and being baffled when he leaves without showing off.
• Heavenly Furnace never appears directly, but his influence dominates the chapter. His past achievements, schemes, and rivalry with Ye Xian and Jianyuan motivate Ji Jue’s next major undertaking.

Significant Themes

• Dangerous inheritance: The chapter questions whether the younger generation should inherit the burdens and ambitions of their predecessors, particularly the path Heavenly Furnace has attempted to pass down.
• Good and evil as opposing forces: Superior Virtue’s Chosen Ones and the Great Evil’s Sin Demons represent opposing powers whose agents affect the stability of the world’s lock.
• Growth through independence: Ye Xian believes Ji Jue must stop relying on her protection and guidance. True mastery requires making decisions, accepting failure, and developing one’s own path.
• Ambition and rivalry: Ji Jue’s competitive pride becomes a source of motivation, pushing him toward the difficult goal of forging Chun Jun into a Masterwork.
• Scale of achievement: Personal craftsmanship is contrasted with large-scale industrial and societal construction. Ji Jue’s organizations have potential, but he recognizes that he is not yet capable of achieving the enormous accomplishments required for Embers’ recognition.
• Historical misunderstanding and legacy: Ji Jue’s mistaken understanding of Jianyuan’s past highlights how reputations and achievements can be distorted over time, while Ye Xian privately considers how Ji Jue’s actions may affect old rivalries.

Character Interactions

• Ye Xian and Ji Jue: Their exchange combines warnings, sarcasm, mentorship, and emotional restraint. Ye Xian protects Ji Jue by limiting his knowledge but challenges him by refusing direct assistance.
• Ye Xian and Heavenly Furnace: Though Heavenly Furnace is absent, Ye Xian’s bitter insults and concern about his plans reveal a long-standing conflict and her determination to prevent Ji Jue from repeating his path.
• Ji Jue and Jianyuan: Jianyuan serves as an indirect rival and benchmark. Ji Jue is inspired by the belief that he must match or surpass him, though he misunderstands Jianyuan’s actual history.
• Ji Jue and Ye Chun: Their relationship is played for comedy. Ye Chun expects a boastful confrontation, but Ji Jue’s sudden seriousness leaves her confused.
• Ye Xian and Ye Chun: Ye Chun asks what motivated Ji Jue, but Ye Xian says nothing and quietly enjoys the prospect of Heavenly Furnace learning about Ji Jue’s upcoming Masterwork attempt.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Jue has a vivid dream about flames and a voice telling him he belongs there, but he denies it.
• He prepares for the forging of Chun Jun by fasting, bathing, burning incense, and meditating for seven days.
• Ji Jue begins the forging process, and Chun Jun's spirit essence, spirituality, and Blessings merge and manifest.
• The five Blessings of Chun Jun are revealed: Transcendent Vision, Sudden Inspiration, Ascension to Truth, See Simplicity Embrace Purity, and Dragon Strides Leopard Changes.
• Despite completing the forging, Ji Jue feels unsatisfied and strikes Chun Jun's blade with the forging hammer again, causing a crack to appear.

Character Developments

• Ji Jue's obsession with forging Chun Jun grows stronger, leading him to push himself to the brink of exhaustion.
• His dream suggests a connection to the flames and the voice, but he rejects it, indicating a deeper mystery about his past.
• Ji Jue's determination and focus during the forging process highlight his dedication and single-mindedness.

Significant Themes

• The power of obsession and single-minded focus in achieving one's goals.
• The connection between Ji Jue and Chun Jun, suggesting a symbiotic relationship between creator and creation.
• The exploration of Ji Jue's past and the mysteries surrounding his origins.

Character Interactions

• There are no direct interactions with other characters in this chapter, as Ji Jue is isolated during the forging process.
• However, Ye Xian and other characters in the workshop notice Chun Jun's sword cry, indicating their awareness of Ji Jue's progress.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Jue completes the creation of Chunjun, but it shatters and reforms as a formless, intangible sword.
• Ji Jue experiences a spiritual connection with Chunjun, seeing his past and understanding its true nature.
• A Heavenly Furnace Manifestation occurs, signaling the birth of a Masterwork, and Ji Jue loses consciousness.
• Ji Jue's soul manifests and travels to the deepest part of the ocean, where he encounters a Flame Tide and countless souls in torment.

Character Developments

• Ji Jue completes his Masterwork, but it's not a physical sword. He understands the true nature of Chunjun and its connection to him.
• Ji Jue experiences a revelation about his past and the source of his nightmares.
• Ji Jue decides to help the tormented souls he encounters in the ocean.

Significant Themes

• The connection between a swordsmith and their creation.
• The nature of Masterworks and their manifestation.
• The struggle against one's past and the desire for release.

Character Interactions

• Ji Jue interacts with Isis, his AI assistant, who remains confused about Chunjun's formlessness.
• Ji Jue's actions and the Heavenly Furnace Manifestation cause a stir among the Chosen Ones in Hai Zhou, including Wen Wen, Tong Shan, and Lao Zhang.
• Ji Jue's journey to the ocean and his encounter with the tormented souls are not witnessed by any other characters, but his actions are felt by the Chosen Ones.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Jue, separated from his body, enters the Flame Tide Disaster using Chun Jun's power.
• He encounters souls trapped in the flames, begging for mercy, but he responds that he has none.
• Ji Jue begins killing the trapped souls, using Chun Jun's power to destroy them.
• The Flame Tide Disaster begins to break free from its seal, causing a massive breach.
• On a nearby ship, the Worry-Free Duke and his subordinates panic as the Flame Tide loses control.
• They decide to increase living sacrifices to maintain the control of the Flame Tide and open the sacrificial shrine.

Character Developments

• Ji Jue: He becomes more ruthless and determined, showing no mercy to the trapped souls. His power with Chun Jun grows, manifesting multiple spirit essence blades.
• Worry-Free Duke: He grows impatient and angry as the situation spirals out of control. He becomes more willing to sacrifice living beings to achieve his goals.

Significant Themes

• Ruthlessness and mercy: Ji Jue's lack of mercy contrasts with the pleas of the trapped souls, raising questions about the value of life and the consequences of unyielding determination.
• Power and control: The struggle to control the Flame Tide Disaster highlights the theme of power and the consequences of losing control over it.
• Sacrifice: The decision to increase living sacrifices raises questions about the value of individual lives in the pursuit of greater goals.

Character Interactions

• Ji Jue interacts with the trapped souls, showing no mercy as he kills them.
• Worry-Free Duke interacts with his subordinates, growing angry and impatient as they fail to maintain control over the Flame Tide. He also interacts with Xie Heli, Lord Sower's envoy, discussing their plans and motives.

Summary of "I Don't Believe It!"

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Jue, under Worry-Free Duke's command, enters the Flame Tide's spirit realm.
• Ji Jue begins to absorb Sin Corruption, growing stronger and controlling more of the Flame Tide.
• Ji Jue's soul and Chunjun's spirit merge, creating a shadow that can sense and react independently.
• Ji Jue encounters and destroys grotesque mud giants, feeling a growing rage and desire to destroy.
• Worry-Free Duke struggles to control the Flame Tide, which is rapidly contracting. He decides to use the Abyss Seed to gain control.

Character Developments

• Ji Jue's soul grows stronger and more violent as he absorbs Sin Corruption. He develops a shadow that can sense and react independently.
• Worry-Free Duke becomes desperate and decides to use the Abyss Seed to control the Flame Tide.

Significant Themes

• The struggle for control over the Flame Tide between Ji Jue and Worry-Free Duke.
• Ji Jue's growing rage and desire for destruction.
• The consequences of absorbing Sin Corruption.

Character Interactions

• Ji Jue interacts with the remnants and mud giants in the Flame Tide, destroying them and growing stronger.
• Worry-Free Duke interacts with the Flame Tide, struggling to control it and deciding to use the Abyss Seed.