Ch. 401Earth-Bound Spirit
Key Plot Points and Events
- The chapter begins with Thomas, a foreigner, admiring and securing an Agarwood Maitreya statue and a porcelain bottle in his hotel room.
- Yako, Thomas's translator, is revealed to be an Onmyoji (a type of sorcerer in Japanese folklore) who plans to steal the Agarwood Maitreya statue, which she believes is a Magic Tool.
- Yako summons an Earth-Bound Spirit as her Shikigami to help her steal the statue.
- An old Daoist, Guo Jing, attempts to steal the statue but is interrupted by Thomas, who is possessed by the Earth-Bound Spirit.
- Fang Yuan, a cultivator, intervenes, expels the Earth-Bound Spirit from Thomas, and later confronts Guo Jing.
Character Developments
- Thomas: He is introduced as a foreigner interested in the magical aspects of Hua Country. He is later possessed by the Earth-Bound Spirit.
- Yako Hirahara: She is revealed to be an Onmyoji with a noble bloodline. She is cunning, ambitious, and willing to use dark magic to achieve her goals. She is eventually defeated and captured by Fang Yuan.
- Guo Jing: He is an old Daoist with cultivation abilities. He is rash and impulsive, acting without fully understanding the situation. He is later embarrassed to learn that Fang Yuan is the one who sold the Agarwood Maitreya statue.
- Fang Yuan: He is a cultivator with advanced skills in exorcism and combat. He is calm, collected, and resourceful, able to handle multiple threats simultaneously.
Significant Themes
- The theme of cultural exchange and the clash of civilizations is evident in the interactions between the foreigner Thomas and the locals Yako and Guo Jing.
- The theme of greed and ambition is shown through Yako's desire for the Agarwood Maitreya statue and Guo Jing's impulsive actions.
- The theme of the power of cultivation is demonstrated through the abilities of Yako, Guo Jing, and Fang Yuan.
Character Interactions
- Thomas and Yako: Their relationship is one of employer and employee, but Yako harbors secret ambitions against Thomas.
- Yako and Guo Jing: They are adversaries, with Yako summoning an Earth-Bound Spirit to steal the Agarwood Maitreya statue that Guo Jing is trying to retrieve.
- Guo Jing and Fang Yuan: They are initially adversaries, but Guo Jing is embarrassed to learn that Fang Yuan is the one who sold the Agarwood Maitreya statue. They part ways amicably after Guo Jing apologizes.
- Fang Yuan and Yako: Fang Yuan defeats Yako and takes her notes, showing his superior cultivation and intelligence.