Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Twelve Savage Tribes”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mo Ling’er realizes Zhao Rui deliberately tricked her and pursues him using her phoenix hairpin, demanding to know how he broke her secret witchcraft.
• She explains that the paired phoenix hairpins and their formulas can control a “beloved.” Women learn the complete technique, while men learn only the lower formula, making them vulnerable to control by the upper formula.
• Zhao Rui demonstrates that he has not only resisted the technique but also mastered control of Mo Ling’er’s phoenix hairpin. He takes the hairpin from her and insists that their previous conflict be forgotten.
• Zhao Rui leaves Mo Ling’er behind and explores the enormous, savage island. Although she is offended, she follows him from a distance, expecting him eventually to need her help.
• The island is filled with gigantic beasts, unfamiliar plants, and no signs of civilization. Zhao Rui kills several smaller creatures while searching for inhabitants or a route back to Blue Star.
• He discovers that the island’s fruits may be edible but are visually repulsive, and he becomes increasingly concerned about surviving in the wilderness.
• When a sudden rainstorm begins, Zhao Rui carves a shelter into a giant tree using Sword Qi. Mo Ling’er builds a neighboring shelter and even constructs a loft above his.
• The pair hide from a massive creature called a Belly Viper, which Mo Ling’er identifies as a beast whose hide can be made into armor.
• After the storm, Zhao Rui studies the unusually dense spiritual energy and reflects on the relationship between witchcraft, martial arts, soul power, and the greater Dao.
• Mo Ling’er uses witchcraft to locate them and learns that they are on Deer Spirit Island, near the territory of the Twelve Savage Tribes. These tribes are primitive, hostile inhabitants who eat raw meat, drink blood, and attack outsiders.
• As Mo Ling’er worries about crossing the tribes’ blockade, Zhao Rui suddenly begins cultivating the phoenix-hairpin technique. His progress triggers the technique’s hidden influence over her, causing her to feel compelled to kneel and react involuntarily. She panics and surrenders, regretting that she ever used the technique against him.

Character Developments

• Zhao Rui becomes more independent and cautious. He refuses to rely on Mo Ling’er because he distrusts her schemes, yet the harsh environment gradually makes him recognize the practical value of having her nearby.
• He demonstrates rapid comprehension and adaptation by mastering Mo Ling’er’s witchcraft and turning her own control technique against her.
• Zhao Rui also begins integrating witchcraft principles with martial arts, recognizing that different cultivation paths may ultimately lead to the same goal.
• Mo Ling’er shifts from confident manipulator to frustrated and embarrassed victim of her own scheme. Her pride prevents her from openly asking for cooperation, so she follows Zhao Rui while pretending to wait for his failure.
• Her knowledge of the wilderness is limited despite her confidence, but she does possess valuable mystical knowledge, such as identifying the Belly Viper and locating their position.
• Her emotional attitude toward Zhao Rui remains conflicted: she is angry at his mockery and resistance, yet increasingly dependent on him and affected by his strength.

Significant Themes

• Reversal of control: Mo Ling’er’s attempt to dominate Zhao Rui backfires, establishing a recurring power struggle between them.
• Adaptation and survival: Zhao Rui must adjust from civilized life to an unknown wilderness filled with powerful beasts and limited resources.
• Distrust versus cooperation: Zhao Rui prefers independence, but the dangers of Ruins Return make cooperation with Mo Ling’er increasingly necessary.
• Unity of cultivation paths: Zhao Rui sees witchcraft and martial arts as different expressions of the same underlying principles, suggesting that all paths may converge in the Great Dao.
• Civilization and primitiveness: The Twelve Savage Tribes and the island’s environment represent a world untouched by civilization, contrasting sharply with Zhao Rui’s former life.
• Uncertainty of Ruins Return: The strange light, unknown source of spiritual energy, and lack of a visible sun deepen the mystery of whether Ruins Return is another planet, dimension, or spiritual realm.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Rui repeatedly mocks and frustrates Mo Ling’er by refusing to trust her or accept her offers of help.
• Mo Ling’er tries to regain authority by showing off her knowledge of the island, but Zhao Rui only gives restrained acknowledgment.
• Their rivalry is mixed with reluctant dependence: she follows him and builds shelter beside him, while he gradually recognizes that her knowledge could be useful.
• The chapter ends with the power dynamic decisively shifting in Zhao Rui’s favor when his cultivation activates the phoenix-hairpin technique’s hidden effect and forces Mo Ling’er to surrender.

Chapter Summary: “Bald Gull, the Hero”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Rui practices witchcraft near Mo Ling’er’s tree hollow, but his movements and her frightened gasps create a humiliating misunderstanding. Believing he intends to assault her, Mo Ling’er prepares to fight back and vows to kill him if necessary.
• After waiting for nearly an hour with no attack, Mo Ling’er angrily confronts Zhao Rui. She tears open her clothing in an attempt to provoke him, but Zhao Rui is startled and immediately flees instead.
• Enraged and embarrassed, Mo Ling’er chases him using her black phoenix Dharma Appearance, freezing vegetation and smaller creatures along the way. Their pursuit attracts powerful beasts, forcing Zhao Rui to seize Mo Ling’er with his Great Sumeru Buddha Hand and hide with her inside a cramped tree hollow.
• Several giant birds carrying massive, humanoid Barbaric Tribesmen arrive. The tribesmen kill subdued strange beasts and load them onto the birds. Zhao Rui observes them carefully, wondering whether they are an alien or native race and reflecting on the mixed origins of the inhabitants of Ruins Return.
• A gigantic fish-bodied monster with a human face appears and frightens the tribesmen away. After it returns to the sea, Zhao Rui leaves the island, while Mo Ling’er initially flies away in anger but eventually turns back to follow him.
• Zhao Rui captures a huge bald seabird and uses it as a mount, naming it “Bald Gull.” The bird helps him travel safely across the sea and obtain food. After many days, Bald Gull carries him to a large continent.
• Zhao Rui releases Bald Gull and travels inland for ten days and nights, surviving on spring water, small animals, and fruit. He eventually discovers artificial stone steps and follows them to a primitive tribal settlement.
• The settlement is attacked by another giant bird carrying a three-meter-tall Barbaric Warrior. The warrior easily scatters the defenders, then produces a bone conch and begins sounding it, leaving the chapter on a cliffhanger.

Character Developments

• Zhao Rui remains cautious, resourceful, and morally defensive about the misunderstanding with Mo Ling’er. He avoids unnecessary conflict, quickly adapts to danger, and uses ingenuity to escape the island and cross the sea.
• He also displays curiosity about the world’s races and origins, speculating about whether the Savage Tribes are native inhabitants while ordinary Ruins Return residents may be outsiders.
• Mo Ling’er shifts between fear, hatred, embarrassment, aggression, and reluctant attachment. Her attempt to intimidate Zhao Rui backfires when he runs away, leaving her insulted and confused. Though she insists she does not care about him, she ultimately turns back to pursue him.
• Bald Gull becomes an unexpectedly useful companion and mount. Zhao Rui grows fond of the bird and imagines taking it back with him, though he eventually allows it to depart freely.

Significant Themes

• Miscommunication and comedic reversal: Mo Ling’er’s fear of assault leads to a dramatic confrontation, only for Zhao Rui to flee from her apparent provocation.
• Survival and adaptability: Zhao Rui repeatedly uses martial abilities, stealth, captured creatures, and available resources to survive unfamiliar environments.
• The danger of the unknown: Strange beasts, Savage Tribesmen, and unfamiliar races emphasize how little Zhao Rui understands about Ruins Return.
• Civilization versus primitiveness: The tribal settlements use bone weapons, tents, and primitive customs, yet possess powerful creatures and supernatural abilities.
• Freedom and companionship: Zhao Rui forms a temporary bond with Bald Gull but releases it rather than forcing it to remain with him.
• Uncertain origins and racial identity: Zhao Rui questions who the true natives of Ruins Return are and whether its peoples came from other eras, worlds, or dimensions.

Important Character Interactions

• Zhao Rui and Mo Ling’er’s relationship remains antagonistic and emotionally charged, combining threats, physical teasing, embarrassment, and reluctant cooperation.
• Zhao Rui protects and restrains Mo Ling’er when the giant birds approach, while she warns him about the Savage Tribesmen and secretly reacts to his closeness.
• Zhao Rui observes the Barbaric Tribesmen without revealing himself, gaining information about their strength and behavior.
• Zhao Rui and Bald Gull develop a practical partnership during the sea journey, with the bird serving as both transport and an early warning system.
• At the end, the attacking Savage Warrior confronts the smaller tribe, establishing a new threat and setting up the next chapter.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Rui encounters a group of small, primitive outsiders and saves them from a giant bird.
• He learns they are part of a larger tribe and accompanies them back, where he stays for about eight days.
• He learns about the evolution and elimination of these primitive tribes and decides to leave, carrying a mysterious stone egg.
• He encounters a beast tide and a powerful enemy, a Savage Warrior, who attacks him without warning.
• Zhao Rui is pursued by these warriors, and after a day-long chase, he faces them in a battle.
• The Savage Warriors transform into giants, and Zhao Rui engages in close combat.
• Mo Ling'er appears, helping Zhao Rui by attacking the Savage Warriors with a phoenix shadow.
• The Savage Warriors attack the phoenixes, and after a brief battle, the phoenix shadow disappears, and Zhao Rui and Mo Ling'er vanish.

Character Developments

• Zhao Rui learns the primitive language and gains a better understanding of the Savage tribes' history and culture.
• He demonstrates his combat prowess against the Savage Warriors, showcasing his powerful True Qi and physical strength.
• Mo Ling'er reappears, assisting Zhao Rui in battle, indicating she has been following him.

Significant Themes

• Evolution and survival of the fittest among the Savage tribes.
• The law of the jungle and the struggle for resources and dominance.
• The power of spiritual energy and its influence on abilities and transformations.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Rui interacts with the small primitive outsiders, learning from them and helping them.
• He encounters and battles against the Savage Warriors, showcasing his combat skills and determination.
• Mo Ling'er reappears, aiding Zhao Rui in battle, indicating a potential alliance or partnership.

Chapter Summary: “Venerable of the Yun Mansion”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After escaping their pursuers, Zhao Rui and Mo Ling’er hide in the treetops and discuss their next destination: Ruins Return, a dangerous territory controlled by their enemies.
• Mo Ling’er explains the political and historical divisions of Ruins Return. The region is dominated by the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Savage Wilderness People, remnants of the Yin Shang faction—to which she belongs—and displaced Central Plains martial artists.
• Zhao Rui agrees to cooperate with Mo Ling’er because they must find her tribal companions in order to return to Blue Star.
• To avoid attracting attention, Mo Ling’er obtains local clothing made from singing-deer hide. She and Zhao Rui disguise themselves with traditional Ruins Return garments and apply tribal totems to their foreheads.
• They reach a massive Great Zhou city built beside mountains and water. Its enormous walls, gates, buildings, beasts, and streets astonish Zhao Rui.
• Mo Ling’er uses her status as a Venerable, marked by a beast totem, to pass through the city gates without proper identification. The guards immediately submit to her authority and provide a Cloud Beast carriage.
• Inside the city, Zhao Rui observes a rigid social hierarchy: nobles ride strange beasts, while commoners walk, and slaves are barely clothed. Mo Ling’er casually reveals that resistant Stan people are enslaved.
• They witness a merchant being publicly killed for allegedly using counterfeit Li Stones. The killer, apparently related to the City Lord, faces no consequences, demonstrating the city’s brutal law of power.
• Mo Ling’er leads Zhao Rui to the heavily fortified Yun Estate, claiming that it belongs to her tribe’s Venerable position. At the gate, she is announced as “your estate’s Venerable,” setting up their entry into the Yun Mansion.

Character Developments

• Zhao Rui remains alert and skeptical, constantly analyzing Ruins Return’s political system, magical practices, and social structure. Although he distrusts Mo Ling’er, he agrees to cooperate and allows her to mark him with a dragon totem.
• He displays growing confidence in their partnership, telling Mo Ling’er that he will not doubt her as long as they cooperate honestly. However, his private thoughts show that he still suspects she is hiding important information.
• Zhao Rui is disturbed by the enslavement of Stan people and the city’s arbitrary violence, reinforcing his moral opposition to the ruling powers of Ruins Return.
• Mo Ling’er becomes less domineering and more dependent on Zhao Rui. She admits that the Phoenix Hairpin bond has made her trust him completely and that she feels safer with him than alone.
• She uses humor, teasing, and mock commands—calling Zhao Rui her “little slave”—to maintain control of the situation, but her behavior also reveals loneliness and emotional reliance.
• Mo Ling’er’s panic when Zhao Rui asks whether her tribe can survive without its Venerable suggests that she is concealing a serious secret about her role and the tribe’s dependence on her.
• Her status as a Venerable is revealed to carry considerable authority, allowing her to intimidate soldiers and gain immediate obedience.

Significant Themes

• Trust and mutual dependence: Although Zhao Rui and Mo Ling’er are reluctant allies, their magical bond and shared need to return to Blue Star force them to rely on each other.
• Power and hierarchy: Ruins Return is governed by status, bloodline, and strength. Nobles, Venerables, city rulers, soldiers, commoners, and slaves occupy sharply divided positions.
• Cultural displacement and world-building: Zhao Rui’s modern perspective contrasts with Ruins Return’s ancient cities, tribal customs, spiritual totems, beasts, and sacrificial institutions.
• Moral conflict: Zhao Rui is increasingly uncomfortable with slavery, arbitrary executions, and the belief that the powerful are above the law.
• Hidden responsibility and vulnerability: Mo Ling’er’s Venerable status gives her authority but may also make her indispensable to—and responsible for—the survival of her tribe.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Rui teases Mo Ling’er about becoming prettier and mocks her use of modern slang, while she responds defensively and proudly.
• Their playful arguments about the Phoenix Hairpin bond reveal both their mistrust and their growing familiarity.
• Mo Ling’er insists Zhao Rui follow her instructions, especially while entering the city, while Zhao Rui quietly evaluates whether she is telling him the truth.
• She orders him to act as the carriage driver, reinforcing their humorous “master and slave” dynamic.
• Zhao Rui questions Mo Ling’er about the role of a Shaman Venerable, unintentionally exposing a subject that clearly troubles her.
• At the Yun Estate, Mo Ling’er relies on her title and Zhao Rui’s cooperation to pass themselves off as legitimate members of the Yun faction.

Chapter Summary: Witch Dao Technique Replication

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Rui and Mo Ling’er arrive at the Yun Estate, where Mo Ling’er pretends to be the estate’s beloved “Seventh Miss.”
• The estate’s Old Ancestor warmly welcomes Mo Ling’er, revealing that she has a prestigious identity and is deeply loved by the family.
• Zhao Rui realizes that Mo Ling’er has been deceiving him and may be connected to both sides of the conflict in Ruins Return. Fearing an ambush, he uses the Innocent Woman Formless Heavenly Demon Great Law to create six phantom bodies and escapes.
• Mo Ling’er asks the Old Ancestor to capture Zhao Rui but insists that he not be harmed. The Old Ancestor uses a rain-based tracking technique to locate him and sends several powerful women after him.
• Zhao Rui hides in a poor civilian district and witnesses a soldier abusing an elderly woman and her child over a Snow Lotus Flower. A noblewoman intervenes, but then attempts to kill the old woman for making noise. Zhao Rui exposes himself and saves her.
• The noblewoman, a powerful middle-aged woman from the estate, attempts to force Zhao Rui back to the Yun Estate. Zhao Rui attacks her with soul techniques and experimental sonic arts.
• Her beast-shaped forehead mark blocks his soul attacks, but Zhao Rui alters the frequency of his sonic technique and successfully cracks the protective pattern.
• Zhao Rui and the woman begin a prolonged pursuit and battle across the city. During the fight, Zhao Rui’s replication ability identifies several techniques, including:

Soaring Dragon Body Technique

Heavenly Heart Beast Taming Art

Great Luo Heavenly Venerable

Witchcraft Secret Technique: Yin Tiangong

• The woman manifests a powerful divine beast, combining its attacks with her own and forcing Zhao Rui onto the defensive.
• After fighting for several days, Zhao Rui copies two secret techniques. Using the newly acquired witchcraft ability, he detects a flaw in the woman’s movements and lands a precise palm strike on her back. The chapter ends as she turns to receive the blow.

2. Character Developments

• Zhao Rui: Becomes increasingly distrustful and cautious, immediately recognizing the danger of Mo Ling’er’s deception. His scientific understanding of resonance allows him to improve traditional sonic techniques, demonstrating his ability to innovate rather than merely copy. Despite his opportunism, he retains a basic sense of compassion, saving the elderly woman when her life is threatened.
• Mo Ling’er: Reveals a contradictory nature. She is capable of cruelty and manipulation, yet acts affectionately toward her family and specifically asks that Zhao Rui not be harmed. Her relationship with Zhao Rui remains emotionally charged, marked by frustration over his constant mistrust.
• Old Ancestor: Appears loving and indulgent toward Mo Ling’er, but is also immensely powerful and politically influential. Her calm confidence suggests that she regards Zhao Rui’s capture as inevitable.
• Middle-aged noblewoman: Emerges as Zhao Rui’s main pursuer and combatant. She is highly skilled, proud, and initially dismissive of him, but becomes visibly surprised when he breaks through her defenses and later gains the upper hand through copied techniques.
• The elderly woman and child: Represent the powerless civilian class in Ruins Return. Their brief interaction highlights the harsh social order in which slaves and commoners struggle merely to survive.

3. Significant Themes

• Distrust and deception: Zhao Rui’s suspicion of Mo Ling’er is validated by her double identity and the estate’s attempt to capture him.
• Power and social hierarchy: The contrast between the noble estate, military officers, and impoverished civilians reveals a rigid society where the weak are easily abused.
• Compassion amid survival: Zhao Rui is primarily focused on escape and acquiring techniques, but still intervenes when witnessing needless cruelty, suggesting that his humanity remains intact.
• Adaptation and innovation: Zhao Rui combines copied martial arts with modern scientific concepts, particularly resonance and frequency manipulation, creating techniques that traditional practitioners do not expect.
• Knowledge as power: His replication ability allows him to turn prolonged pursuit into an opportunity, gaining new skills even while under pressure.
• Predator and prey reversal: Although Zhao Rui is initially hunted, he gradually studies, copies, and exploits the pursuer’s abilities, shifting the balance of the confrontation.

4. Character Interactions

• Zhao Rui and Mo Ling’er: Their interaction is defined by mutual distrust, teasing, and frustration. Mo Ling’er wants Zhao Rui brought back but also protects him from harm, while Zhao Rui assumes she intends to trap him.
• Mo Ling’er and the Old Ancestor: Their affectionate reunion reveals Mo Ling’er’s privileged status and the Old Ancestor’s deep attachment to her.
• Zhao Rui and the middle-aged woman: Their relationship develops from pursuer and fugitive into a prolonged contest of martial skill. Their battle becomes an exchange of testing, adaptation, and technique replication.
• The noblewoman and the civilians: Her contemptuous treatment of the poor illustrates the brutal divide between the ruling class and ordinary people.
• The elderly woman and her child: Their protective and hopeful exchange contrasts with the oppressive world around them, especially the child’s admiration for Zhao Rui and belief that he might one day become powerful.
  The chapter ends on a cliffhanger, with Zhao Rui finally exploiting a weakness in the middle-aged woman’s technique and striking her with a decisive palm.

Chapter Summary: “Spring Wind and Rain Technique”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Rui fights a middle-aged woman from the Yun Residence. After his surprise palm strike fails to injure her, she recognizes his exceptional talent and invites him to meet the Old Ancestor. Zhao Rui refuses because of his hostile history with Mo Ling’er and escapes using Step on the Big Dipper and sword intent.
• While fleeing through Weishui City, Zhao Rui discovers through his system that the technique tracking him is the Spring Wind and Rain Technique, a Witchcraft innate ability that merges the caster’s soul with wind and rain to sense everything within its range.
• Zhao Rui spends two days and two nights hiding and fleeing while copying the technique. His exhaustion and anger toward Mo Ling’er intensify, especially as he worries about the safety of Blue Star and his family and friends.
• The Yun Residence’s Old Ancestor becomes furious at the failure to capture him. She orders three powerful women—including the original middle-aged pursuer—to hunt Zhao Rui. Mo Ling’er tries to defend him, but the Old Ancestor treats the matter as a question of the Yun Residence’s reputation.
• Zhao Rui is discovered while resting in a cave and is pursued through the city. He uses the Zifu Yuanzun Dharma Body to grow into a hundred-meter giant, breaking through a magical net before shrinking back to normal and continuing his escape.
• The chase attracts the attention of powerful figures throughout Weishui City. At the critical moment, Zhao Rui’s system completes its copying of the Spring Wind and Rain Technique, granting him the technique and an advancement point.
• Zhao Rui immediately masters the technique and merges into the rain, completely vanishing from the pursuers’ senses. The three women are shocked because he has escaped even the Old Ancestor’s tracking ability.
• Back at the Yun Residence, the Old Ancestor realizes that Zhao Rui has learned to evade her signature technique. She becomes genuinely interested in his origins and ability. She suspects he may be connected to the Central Plains, Great Shang, or the Huaxia region.
• Mo Ling’er admits only that Zhao Rui is not an enemy, but privately regrets provoking him and realizes he likely hates her.
• Zhao Rui leaves Weishui City, still furious with Mo Ling’er and unaware of the full extent of her identities: she is connected to both the Yun Residence of Great Zhou and the Witch Venerable of Great Shang.
• The Old Ancestor personally appears before Zhao Rui and uses the Spring Wind and Rain Technique to summon rain. Zhao Rui counters it effortlessly with the same technique, dispersing the clouds and revealing that he has copied it.
• The Old Ancestor transforms from an elderly woman into a youthful middle-aged woman, startling Zhao Rui. She then attacks him with wind blades and vortices.
• Zhao Rui counters with similar wind techniques, leading to a fierce battle. He combines his Ice Palm Force and Blazing Fire Palm Force, but the Old Ancestor calmly disrupts the merged attack with a focused beam of energy. The chapter ends with their confrontation unresolved.

Character Developments

• Zhao Rui: Demonstrates exceptional adaptability, endurance, combat skill, and reliance on his system. He evolves from merely evading the Spring Wind and Rain Technique to mastering and using it against its original owner. His anger toward Mo Ling’er hardens into a desire for revenge, though his concern for Blue Star and his loved ones remains a major motivation.
• Mo Ling’er: Her playful attempt to have Zhao Rui captured becomes much more serious than intended. She begins to regret her actions and realizes that Zhao Rui’s strength and resentment may have surpassed her control. Her defense of him suggests lingering concern or affection.
• The Yun Residence Old Ancestor: Initially treats Zhao Rui as a troublesome target threatening the family’s prestige, but his repeated escapes spark her curiosity and respect. She shifts from delegating the hunt to personally confronting him.
• The three pursuing women: Their confidence turns to shock and uncertainty after Zhao Rui masters the tracking technique and disappears before them.
• Zhao Rui and the Old Ancestor: Their relationship shifts from pursuit and capture to direct recognition as powerful opponents. The Old Ancestor now views Zhao Rui as an extraordinary martial prodigy rather than an ordinary fugitive.

Significant Themes

• Adaptation and learning through adversity: Zhao Rui turns the enemy’s greatest advantage—the Spring Wind and Rain Technique—into his own weapon.
• Freedom versus control: The Yun Residence repeatedly tries to capture and control Zhao Rui, while he refuses submission and fights to preserve his independence.
• Hidden identities and political complexity: Mo Ling’er’s connection to multiple major powers makes the conflict more complicated than a personal misunderstanding.
• Pride and reputation: The Old Ancestor escalates the hunt largely because the Yun Residence’s inability to capture Zhao Rui threatens its prestige.
• Unintended consequences: Mo Ling’er’s attempt to toy with Zhao Rui spirals into a city-wide pursuit and a confrontation involving the Old Ancestor.
• Power recognition: Zhao Rui’s performance forces the Yun Residence to acknowledge him as an extraordinary figure whose abilities may rival or challenge their own.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Rui rejects the middle-aged woman’s invitation to meet the Old Ancestor, emphasizing his distrust of the Yun Residence.
• The Old Ancestor reprimands the women of the Yun Residence for failing to capture Zhao Rui and teases Mo Ling’er about him being her lover.
• Mo Ling’er protests the teasing and later insists that Zhao Rui is not an enemy, but her defense comes too late to prevent escalation.
• Zhao Rui repeatedly clashes with the Yun Residence pursuers, using speed, transformation, and deception to evade them.
• After mastering the Spring Wind and Rain Technique, Zhao Rui turns the Old Ancestor’s own method against her.
• In their final confrontation, the Old Ancestor challenges Zhao Rui over his secret use of Yun Residence techniques, while Zhao Rui mocks her explanation with a joking reference to a “weather forecast.” Their exchange becomes a direct battle of wind-based abilities, ending with the Old Ancestor breaking apart his combined ice-and-fire attack.

Chapter Summary: “Ice Block”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Rui battles Old Ancestor Yunfu, realizing that she is far stronger and more experienced than he is. His copied Spring Wind and Rain Technique allows him to resist her power, but not overcome her.
• He spends his accumulated advancement points on cultivation and acupoint development. His acupoints greatly increase the speed and volume of spiritual energy entering his body, strengthening his Dharma Aspect Realm foundation.
• Zhao Rui activates his Zifu Yuanzun Dharma Body and forms a Spring Wind and Rain defensive boundary to counter Yunfu’s technique.
• Yunfu summons a gigantic cloud-treading beast, forcing Zhao Rui to abandon his Dharma Body and use the Innocent Woman Formless Heavenly Demon Great Law and sword-light transformation to create multiple escape images.
• Yunfu identifies the real Zhao Rui and freezes him with Ice True Intent. Though his dense Ice True Qi prevents immediate death, he is injured and rendered helpless.
• While Zhao Rui is being subdued, the system detects Yunfu’s Nine Nether Profound Nether True Water Scripture, an extremely powerful technique combining freezing effects, Domain Power, and corrosive yin energy. Zhao Rui immediately copies it.
• Yunfu captures Zhao Rui and takes him to the Yun Residence in Weishui City. There, the women of the residence mock and tease him while he lies immobilized.
• Mo Ling’er arrives and claims Zhao Rui is her friend, though she blames him for fleeing and injuring her relatives while concealing that she originally deceived him. Yunfu freezes Zhao Rui into an ice sculpture and orders him imprisoned.
• In the cold cellar prison, Zhao Rui discovers many prisoners have also been frozen. He begins secretly resisting the Nine Nether technique’s erosion while waiting for its copying process to finish.
• The chapter shifts to Blue Star, where a massive undersea passage has appeared near Eastern Japan. The passage is expanding and has already released enormous creatures, including one that swallowed a cruise ship.
• In Central Asia, a family realizes that a missing woman may have entered the Ruins Return passage and possibly encountered the “Savage People,” ending the chapter on an ominous note.

Character Developments

• Zhao Rui: Demonstrates greater confidence and tactical flexibility against a superior opponent. He relies on his system, cultivation reserves, acupoint strengthening, and rapid copying ability to survive. Even when captured, he remains focused on acquiring Yunfu’s technique and begins studying it from inside the prison.
• Old Ancestor Yunfu: Revealed as an overwhelmingly powerful and authoritative elder. She acknowledges Zhao Rui’s unusual cultivation and Ice True Qi but easily defeats him through superior technique and experience. Her actions also show that she is protective and controlling toward Mo Ling’er.
• Mo Ling’er: Displays mixed feelings toward Zhao Rui. She teases and blames him, but also admits he is a friend and seems troubled by Yunfu’s decision to imprison him. Her final thought suggests she may want to keep him with her permanently if she cannot return home.
• The prison inmates: The talkative young man provides comic relief and optimism, while the middle-aged man and the burly “Brother Viper” are more cynical and hostile. Their interactions establish the prison as a place containing powerful captives and possible future allies or threats.

Significant Themes

• Power disparity and survival: Zhao Rui’s cleverness and adaptability let him resist Yunfu, but the battle emphasizes the gulf between emerging experts and ancient, established masters.
• Knowledge as a weapon: Zhao Rui treats copying powerful martial arts as essential, even while facing death. His ability to acquire and analyze techniques may eventually compensate for his inferior realm and experience.
• Control versus freedom: Yunfu treats Zhao Rui as a dangerous but manageable captive, while Mo Ling’er’s attachment hints at possessiveness. Zhao Rui’s imprisonment reinforces his constant struggle against being controlled by stronger forces.
• Cultivation and transformation: The opening of acupoints and acquisition of new techniques suggest that Zhao Rui’s body and abilities are continually evolving beyond ordinary cultivation limits.
• Expanding supernatural danger: The new undersea passage, the Ruins Return, spiritual-energy changes, and giant creatures show that both worlds are entering an increasingly unstable and dangerous era.

Important Character Interactions

• Zhao Rui and Yunfu clash through competing ice- and water-based techniques, with Yunfu ultimately overpowering him.
• Yunfu recognizes Zhao Rui’s connection to the Song people and admires the unusual path represented by his martial arts, though she still dismisses him as insufficiently strong.
• The women of the Yun Residence ridicule and physically tease Zhao Rui after his capture.
• Mo Ling’er confronts Zhao Rui, accusing him of fleeing and injuring her aunts while ignoring her own role in deceiving him.
• Yunfu and Mo Ling’er interact as a powerful elder and subdued younger relative: Yunfu claims to act for Mo Ling’er’s benefit, while Mo Ling’er is unable to challenge her authority.
• In prison, the optimistic young man repeatedly attempts to befriend or converse with the gruff middle-aged man and Brother Viper, creating a contrast between hope and resignation.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• A young man from the Mo family worries that his talented younger sister lacks experience, but a stern middle-aged authority figure insists that she must undergo hardship for the “greater good.” Afterward, he reflects anxiously on the coming merger of the Guixu Secret Realm with the present world and wonders about the escape route promised by the Heavenly Machine Saint Venerable.
• In the Yunfu Manor prison, Zhao Rui breaks free from his ice imprisonment. He Wenhua and his martial nephew, Tao Yuansheng—Quanzhen Sect disciples—notice the change and fear drawing attention to themselves.
• Zhao Rui releases the pair from their restraints and offers them a chance to escape. They accept despite the danger, and Zhao Rui carries them out using his techniques. His Six Yao Charm Immortal Art causes the prison guards to overlook their departure.
• Outside Weishui City, Zhao Rui uses the Spring Wind and Rain Technique to extend his domain over the surrounding area, sensing and controlling everything within it. He then escapes the city on sword-light.
• Yunfu Manor discovers the prison break. Old Ancestor Yunfu suspects Zhao Rui may have learned or replicated her Nine Nether Profound Nether True Water Scripture. She orders her forces to monitor Song territory and declares that Zhao Rui must be killed if he cannot be controlled.
• Mo Ling’er arrives too late to stop Zhao Rui. She feels conflicted: relieved that he escaped, but regretful because her teasing may have permanently alienated him. Old Ancestor Yunfu coldly tells her to kill Zhao Rui if he has no feelings for her.
• After flying a thousand li, Zhao Rui releases He Wenhua and Tao Yuansheng and asks for the location of the Qingcheng Sect. They invite him to rest at the Quanzhen Sect first, and Zhao Rui agrees, hoping to reconnect with the orthodox sects and eventually return to Blue Star.
• While traveling through the war-torn territories of Ruins Return, He Wenhua explains the political situation: Great Zhou is dominant, Great Shang is declining but remains powerful, and the Central Plains forces are resisting both external threats and Great Shang’s attempts to invade Blue Star.
• Zhao Rui and the Quanzhen disciples encounter three Central Plains martial artists fighting several hundred Great Shang soldiers. Although the women are Grandmasters, they are heavily outnumbered by stronger Innate-level troops.
• Zhao Rui intervenes covertly, using his Spring Wind and Rain domain to seize and rescue the three women. He then escapes with them and the Quanzhen disciples, carrying the women nearly one hundred li away.
• Once released, the women form a defensive formation but soon recognize that Zhao Rui saved them from a fate potentially worse than death at the hands of Savage Warriors. Their round-faced leader thanks him and begins explaining how they became involved in the conflict.

Character Developments

• Zhao Rui demonstrates greatly increased strength and confidence. He effortlessly escapes Yunfu Manor, controls a wide domain, suppresses his pursuers, and rescues the three women without revealing himself to the enemy.
• He Wenhua appears cautious, experienced, and pragmatic. He restrains Tao Yuansheng from rushing into an unknown conflict and quickly recognizes Zhao Rui as someone worth following.
• Tao Yuansheng remains impulsive and talkative, but he is loyal and brave. His initial fear gives way to trust after Zhao Rui saves him and his uncle.
• Old Ancestor Yunfu becomes openly threatened by Zhao Rui’s escape. Her reaction reveals both her desire to control him and her fear that he may have mastered one of her strongest techniques.
• Mo Ling’er shows emotional attachment to Zhao Rui. Her regret suggests that her earlier behavior was intended playfully or affectionately, but she realizes it may have destroyed his trust.
• The three rescued women shift from fear and suspicion to gratitude once they understand that Zhao Rui is protecting rather than abducting them.

Significant Themes

• Freedom versus control: Zhao Rui’s escape represents a direct rejection of Yunfu Manor’s imprisonment and Old Ancestor Yunfu’s attempts to dominate him.
• Growth through hardship: The Mo family discussion emphasizes the belief that true strength requires dangerous tempering, even at the cost of personal suffering.
• Political and military instability: Ruins Return is portrayed as a vast, divided world where dynasties and martial factions constantly struggle for territory and influence.
• The danger of misunderstanding: Mo Ling’er’s playful intentions have produced serious consequences, while the rescued women initially mistake Zhao Rui’s intervention for another form of capture.
• Strength and responsibility: Zhao Rui uses his overwhelming power not merely to escape but to protect others, suggesting a developing sense of purpose and moral authority.
• Connection between worlds: Zhao Rui’s search for Qingcheng and Quanzhen reflects the continuing link between Ruins Return and Blue Star, as well as the broader conflict over who will control that connection.

Important Character Interactions

• The Mo family elder dismisses the young man’s concern and prioritizes the family’s larger plans.
• Zhao Rui intimidates He Wenhua and Tao Yuansheng into accepting a dangerous escape, then earns their gratitude and cooperation.
• Old Ancestor Yunfu responds to Zhao Rui’s escape with anger and orders his surveillance and eventual elimination.
• Mo Ling’er expresses regret over her conflict with Zhao Rui, while Old Ancestor Yunfu advises her to kill him if he does not reciprocate her feelings.
• He Wenhua and Tao Yuansheng become Zhao Rui’s guides toward the Quanzhen Sect and explain the political landscape of Ruins Return.
• Zhao Rui rescues the three Central Plains heroines, who initially fear him but soon thank him after recognizing his protective intentions.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Rui escorts three women from the Mount Taihua lineage—senior sister Zhou Moshu and junior sisters Luo Yunxi and Cao Yingcai—back toward Song territory after rescuing them from Great Shang soldiers.
• They travel with Quanzhen Sect disciples He Wenhua and Tao Yuansheng, avoiding cities and military positions while crossing Great Shang territory.
• Zhou Moshu carefully questions He Wenhua about Zhao Rui, revealing that the group remains wary of his unknown origins and overwhelming strength. Zhao Rui secretly overhears their sound transmissions.
• During a nighttime rest, a former fellow disciple, Su Wanyun, appears. Now a Dharma Aspect Realm demonic cultivator, she mocks the three women and attacks Luo Yunxi with a vicious demonic technique.
• Su Wanyun seals the women’s acupoints, threatens to strip and humiliate them, and attempts to manipulate the male travelers with her seductive demonic voice. He Wenhua resists, but Tao Yuansheng falls under its influence.
• When Su Wanyun turns her attention toward Zhao Rui, he remains completely unaffected and fights her. He copies her Nine Nether Ghost Claw technique while concealing the true extent of his power.
• He Wenhua and Tao Yuansheng try to carry the immobilized women away, hoping to escape the conflict, but Su Wanyun attempts to stop them.
• Zhao Rui ends the fight decisively, using a massive Great Sumeru Buddha Hand and the Heavenly Demonic Illusory Sound Great Law to overwhelm Su Wanyun.
• Realizing the immense gap between them, He Wenhua apologizes and submits. Zhao Rui releases the three women, then withdraws his demonic sound technique from Su Wanyun, leaving her shaken and frightened.

2. Character Developments

• Zhao Rui is shown to be vastly stronger than everyone around him. He remains calm, detached, and confident, treating the others’ schemes and fears as insignificant. He also demonstrates his ability to copy powerful martial techniques.
• Zhou Moshu proves tactful and perceptive. She tries to maintain a useful relationship with Zhao Rui while protecting her junior sisters and quickly recognizes the danger posed by Su Wanyun.
• Luo Yunxi is emotionally reactive and openly hostile toward Su Wanyun, suggesting a painful history between them. Her impulsive insult provokes Su Wanyun’s attack.
• Cao Yingcai remains quieter but shares her sisters’ loyalty and fear, immediately preparing to die rather than endure humiliation.
• He Wenhua initially acts honorably, attempting to intervene when Su Wanyun threatens the women, but later considers escape. Once Zhao Rui displays his true power, he quickly admits fault and submits.
• Tao Yuansheng is inexperienced and vulnerable to Su Wanyun’s seductive demonic arts. His decision to carry Luo Yunxi away shows both courage and desperation.
• Su Wanyun is established as a powerful but cruel and arrogant former senior sister. Her confidence collapses once she realizes Zhao Rui has been holding back and is capable of overwhelming her effortlessly.

3. Significant Themes

• Absolute power and submission: The characters’ plans and moral posturing become meaningless before Zhao Rui’s overwhelming strength.
• Betrayal and fractured bonds: Su Wanyun’s history with the three women reveals corruption or betrayal within their former sect lineage.
• Manipulation versus self-control: Su Wanyun relies on seduction, fear, and demonic sound techniques, while Zhao Rui remains mentally unmoved and ultimately turns similar methods against her.
• Survival and pragmatism: He Wenhua, Zhou Moshu, and the others repeatedly adjust their behavior according to the changing balance of power.
• Humiliation and personal dignity: The women fear not death but being stripped, controlled, and defiled, making their confrontation with Su Wanyun deeply personal.
• Hidden strength: Zhao Rui deliberately conceals his true abilities, allowing others to underestimate him before revealing overwhelming power.

4. Character Interactions

• Zhao Rui and Zhou Moshu: She serves and speaks to him cautiously, while he appreciates her practical and tactful nature but remains emotionally detached.
• Zhou Moshu and He Wenhua: They exchange information through secret sound transmission, each assessing Zhao Rui and the circumstances of their journey.
• The three Mount Taihua women and Su Wanyun: Their hostile encounter exposes former sect conflict. Su Wanyun torments them while they resist her psychologically and physically.
• Su Wanyun and He Wenhua/Tao Yuansheng: She attempts to tempt and control them through seductive speech and demonic sound. He Wenhua resists, while Tao Yuansheng is briefly compromised.
• Zhao Rui and Su Wanyun: Their battle shifts from Su Wanyun’s arrogant domination to complete defeat. Zhao Rui copies her technique, neutralizes her attacks, breaks her defenses with demonic sound, and leaves her visibly terrified.
• Zhao Rui and the entire group: The others initially consider escaping his protection, but after witnessing his power, they acknowledge their dependence on him and submit to his authority.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Wanyun attacks Zhao Rui with the Nine Nether Ghost Claw, then immediately tries to flee.
• Zhao Rui traps her within his Spring Wind and Rain domain, using rain infused with Nine Nether Profound Nether True Water to suppress her demonic technique and inflict unbearable spiritual pain.
• Su Wanyun attempts to invoke the Six Desires Demon Lord, risking demonic corruption, but Zhao Rui easily destroys the summoned demonic cloud.
• Defeated and terrified, Su Wanyun begs for mercy and subsequently follows Zhao Rui obediently.
• Zhao Rui reunites with He Wenhua, Zhou Moshu, and Cao Yingcai. They are shocked to see Su Wanyun subdued and accompanying him.
• Su Wanyun begins acting submissively toward Zhao Rui, even offering to massage him. Zhou Moshu, worried about Su’s intentions, intervenes and ends up massaging Zhao Rui’s arm herself.
• Tao Yuansheng and Luo Yunxi, who had previously fled, return in despair. Zhao Rui reveals that he captured them and states that he will not allow anyone traveling with him to escape.
• The group resumes its journey toward Great Song territory, expanding into a seven-person party. Zhao Rui assigns no formal commands, but the others naturally take on guard, scouting, and guiding duties.
• While traveling, the group discusses the forbidden Two Realms Passage, the Shaolin sects’ control over it, and the difficulty of returning to their homeland.
• Zhao Rui detects a battle and conceals the group in a tree using his technique.
• They witness six Great Song martial artists—the Six Demons of Cloud Cave—attacking a powerful Great Shang martial artist. The Great Shang expert kills all six within moments using Beast Soul Smoke.
• Although he appears to leave, the Great Shang expert returns, revealing that a handsome man in black from the Sacred Lotus Sect had been hiding nearby.
• The two powerful experts begin a destructive aerial battle. Zhao Rui moves his companions to safety and instructs them to carefully observe the duel.

2. Character Developments

• Zhao Rui demonstrates overwhelming strength, complete control of his techniques, and exceptional awareness. He defeats Su Wanyun effortlessly, tracks down the fleeing Tao Yuansheng and Luo Yunxi, and detects hidden enemies before they can surprise him.
• Su Wanyun shifts rapidly from defiant Dharma Aspect expert to fearful subordinate. Her failed attempt at demonic corruption shows her desperation, while her later flattery and willingness to serve Zhao Rui reveal her pragmatism and desire for protection under a stronger master.
• Zhou Moshu remains wary and protective, warning Zhao Rui about Su Wanyun’s danger. However, she also becomes competitive with Su Wanyun and imitates her by offering Zhao Rui personal service.
• He Wenhua, Cao Yingcai, and the others become increasingly obedient and dependent on Zhao Rui. Their terror at his power prevents resistance, but they gradually function more effectively as a traveling group.
• Tao Yuansheng and Luo Yunxi learn that fleeing Zhao Rui is useless, reinforcing his control over the entire party.
• The unnamed Great Shang martial artist is established as exceptionally dangerous, capable of annihilating six powerful opponents and detecting concealed observers.
• The man in black is introduced as another formidable expert, apparently connected to the Sacred Lotus Sect and hostile toward Great Shang.

3. Significant Themes

• Overwhelming power and submission: Zhao Rui’s absolute superiority forces former enemies and unwilling companions alike into obedience.
• Pragmatism over pride: Su Wanyun abandons resistance once she recognizes the gap between their abilities, choosing survival and protection over dignity.
• Captivity disguised as cooperation: Although Zhao Rui calls them traveling companions and promises not to abandon anyone, his actions make clear that the group is effectively under his control.
• Moral ambiguity: The Six Demons are enemies of Great Song but also murderous villains, making it difficult to decide whom justice should favor. Zhao Rui avoids intervening and lets the conflict resolve itself.
• The dangerous balance between Great Song and Great Shang: The chapter emphasizes political hostility, restricted movement between realms, and the presence of powerful factions such as Shaolin and the Sacred Lotus Sect.
• Learning through observation: Zhao Rui encourages his companions to study the battle between elite experts, presenting danger as an opportunity for growth.

4. Character Interactions

• Zhao Rui and Su Wanyun’s relationship changes from battle to domination: she attacks him, fails completely, and then becomes openly submissive.
• Su Wanyun provokes Zhou Moshu by mocking her, but Zhao Rui immediately disciplines Su when she goes too far, reinforcing his authority over both women.
• He Wenhua and the others treat Zhao Rui with fear and respect, relying on him for protection while understanding that they cannot oppose him.
• Tao Yuansheng and Luo Yunxi’s return confirms Zhao Rui’s claim that no one can leave the group without his permission.
• During the journey, the companions discuss their homeland, sect politics, and their resentment toward the factions controlling the Two Realms Passage.
• The final confrontation between the Great Shang expert and the Sacred Lotus Sect swordsman introduces a broader conflict beyond Zhao Rui’s group and ends the chapter on a tense cliffhanger.

Chapter Summary: Arrival at the Song Border Pass

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Rui and his group observe a fierce battle between a Great Shang martial artist and a Holy Cult expert. Unable to determine the victor, Zhao Rui conceals the group and follows the fighters.
• When the battle reaches its climax, Zhao Rui intervenes, easily overpowering both men with his Great Sumeru Buddha Hands and his strange combination of orthodox, demonic, and shamanic techniques.
• During the fight, Zhao Rui’s system detects and copies eight powerful martial arts, including the Rakshasa Three Bodies Technique, Spirit Rhinoceros Duoluo Finger, and the Holy Cult’s Innocent Woman Formless Heavenly Demon Great Law.
• Zhao Rui defeats both combatants after a two-hour battle, sealing their acupoints and true qi. Su Wanyun and the other women search them for valuables and secret manuals.
• Zhou Moyun discovers a hidden Holy Cult relic concealed in the Five Dragon Envoy’s hair. It contains a mysterious map depicting a mountain surrounded by glaciers, lava, and a marked location where ice and fire meet.
• Zhao Rui gives the map to Su Wanyun, sparking a brief fight between her and the other women. He stops the conflict and orders the group to continue.
• Zhao Rui places a Soul Chasing Seal on the Great Shang martial artist and forces him to guide them toward Song territory. The man agrees, recognizing that Zhao Rui is powerful enough to travel alone through dangerous territory.
• After a full day of travel, they reach Liangjie Pass, a massive fortified border city separating Great Shang and Song. A battle is about to begin between Song defenders and the Thunder Department’s vanguard camp.
• Zhao Rui decides to remain near the pass to investigate the Thunder Department and potentially copy lightning-based martial arts. He initially attempts to dismiss the others, but they all choose to remain with him.
• Zhao Rui releases the Great Zhou martial artist, who immediately flees. The others worry that Zhao Rui has allowed a dangerous enemy to escape.

Character Developments

• Zhao Rui displays overwhelming martial superiority, defeating two elite experts simultaneously while treating the battle as an opportunity to acquire new techniques. His unpredictable methods and lack of conventional morality become increasingly clear.
• He also shows growing interest in the Great Shang army’s elemental divisions, particularly the Thunder Department, because of his fascination with lightning techniques and their potential to counter demonic arts.
• Su Wanyun continues to behave boldly and flirtatiously toward Zhao Rui, while proving herself more capable and composed than the other women. She obtains the mysterious map and volunteers to accompany Zhao Rui.
• Zhou Moyun and the other women become increasingly cautious of Zhao Rui, realizing that he is not the benevolent senior master they initially imagined. Nevertheless, fear and dependence lead them to remain near him.
• Zhou Moyun demonstrates resourcefulness by discovering the hidden relic, though her competitiveness with Su Wanyun leads to conflict.
• The Great Shang martial artist shifts from enemy combatant to reluctant guide. He regains his confidence after Zhao Rui allows him to live and recognizes that Zhao Rui is operating independently.
• The Five Dragon Envoy is humiliated, searched, and knocked unconscious after attempting to invoke his Holy Cult affiliation for protection.

Significant Themes

• Power and dominance: Zhao Rui’s ability to defeat two formidable experts shows the vast gap between him and the other characters.
• Moral ambiguity: Rather than acting as a righteous hero, Zhao Rui exploits battles to copy techniques, searches prisoners, and treats enemies and allies according to convenience.
• Fear and submission: The group’s decision to remain with Zhao Rui is driven less by loyalty than by fear, dependence, and uncertainty about his true intentions.
• Martial knowledge as power: Combat serves not only to determine victory but also to let Zhao Rui acquire and assimilate new techniques.
• Mystery and exploration: The hidden map, the ice-and-fire location, and the approaching battle at Liangjie Pass introduce future dangers and possible treasures.
• Elemental warfare: The Thunder Department suggests that Great Shang’s military and cultivation systems may be organized around elemental divine powers, especially wind and thunder.

Character Interactions

• The women tease and criticize Su Wanyun for flirting with Zhao Rui, while Zhao Rui maintains an outwardly stern “senior” persona.
• Su Wanyun deliberately provokes the others and competes with Zhou Moyun, particularly over the hidden map.
• Zhao Rui instructs Su Wanyun during the battle, suggesting that despite his harshness, he is willing to guide those who can benefit him.
• The Great Shang martial artist and Five Dragon Envoy both attempt to negotiate with Zhao Rui by invoking their affiliations, but he remains neutral and demands that they continue fighting.
• After reaching Liangjie Pass, the group insists on staying with Zhao Rui rather than separating, revealing their growing reliance on him.
• The chapter ends with Zhao Rui releasing the Great Zhou martial artist, prompting concern from the others that he may have unnecessarily spared a future threat.

Thunder Domain — Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Rui and his companions remain near Liangjie Pass while the Five Dragon Envoy chooses to stay with them, hoping to exploit the chaos surrounding the battlefield. Zhao Rui instructs everyone to contact the pass, defend themselves if necessary, and retreat inside if they cannot resist.
• Zhao Rui pursues the departing Great Shang martial artists and locates their military camp. There, the Thunder Department commander orders an assault on Liangjie Pass, promising major promotions to the first officers who breach the walls.
• Great Shang launches a massive attack using countless soldiers, exotic beasts, and four shamanic experts. At Liangjie Pass, Song forces struggle to hold their position while buying time for civilians and rear armies to escape through a passage toward Blue Star.
• The chapter explains the political and historical situation: Song territory is weak and sparsely populated compared with Great Shang, while the Central Plains Martial Arts World has already arranged evacuation routes to Blue Star. Song’s tens of millions of inhabitants cannot be moved so easily, leaving the defenders aware that the battle may ultimately be hopeless.
• The four shamans summon enormous beast Dharma Forms and attack the pass. A monk and Daoist at Liangjie Pass manifest their own Dharma Aspect bodies to oppose them.
• Zhao Rui suddenly attacks the Great Shang camp, seizes the Thunder Department commander, and hurls him into a distant mountain despite the protection of his Chaos Bead. He then disables nearby soldiers with demonic sound and kills five attacking generals.
• Zhao Rui joins the aerial battle, using the Qingcheng Sect’s Threefold Dharma Body to overpower one of the shamanic beasts. The monk and Daoist cooperate with him, each restraining another beast while helping contain the remaining one.
• During the battle, Zhao Rui copies the Spirit Gathering Myriad Beasts Scroll through his system.
• The four shamans withdraw their beast Dharma Forms and combine their strength to create a Lightning Domain, a technique normally associated with the Domain Realm despite their individual Dharma Aspect cultivation.
• Zhao Rui counters with his own Spring Wind and Rain domain. The system allows him to copy another technique, the Eight Desolations Beast-Controlling Evil-Slaying Thunder Prison.
• Zhao Rui’s domain neutralizes the lightning, and his rain eventually reveals itself as the Yun Estate’s powerful Nine Nether Profound Nether True Water, overwhelming the shamans’ Lightning Domain.
• As the shamans are about to be defeated, one sacrifices his shamanic blood and calls upon the Heavenly Shaman’s power. The resulting lightning strike destroys Zhao Rui’s domain, allowing all four shamans to escape.

Character Developments

• Zhao Rui continues to behave boldly and unpredictably, treating the enormous military threat as an opportunity to test himself and collect techniques. His willingness to attack an entire army and confront four shamans demonstrates his overwhelming confidence and strength.
• His actions also reveal a clear moral and political alignment: although Great Shang, Great Zhou, and Great Song share common ancestry, Zhao Rui sides with Song and Blue Star because Great Shang has been conducting massacres along the border.
• The Five Dragon Envoy becomes temporarily aligned with Zhao Rui, choosing cooperation because he suspects Zhao Rui may be a hidden ancient demon capable of profiting from the sect’s turmoil.
• Su Wanyun continues to tease and intimidate the three women, implying that Zhao Rui is young as well as powerful and suggesting that associating with him could greatly improve their futures. Her remarks make the women reconsider what they know about Zhao Rui.
• Luo Yunxi, Zhou Moshu, and the other women remain nervous and dependent on Zhao Rui’s protection. They recognize that survival requires following his instructions, even when they cannot understand his plans.
• The monk and Daoist initially mistake Zhao Rui for a senior Qingcheng Sect expert because of his techniques. They quickly accept him as an ally and fight alongside him against the shamans.
• The Song general and defenders are portrayed as resolute but pessimistic, fighting not for political power but to protect civilians and delay Great Shang long enough for an evacuation.

Significant Themes

• Survival amid political collapse: Song territory is caught between larger powers and faces annihilation despite its defenders’ efforts.
• The burden of civilians: The war is not merely a conflict between armies; the inability to evacuate millions of ordinary people makes defeat especially tragic.
• Strength and moral alignment: Zhao Rui’s intervention shows that overwhelming power can determine who survives, but his choice to aid Song is guided by practical judgment and sympathy for the oppressed.
• Unorthodox cultivation and adaptation: Zhao Rui’s ability to copy techniques allows him to turn enemy abilities into future resources, blending combat, opportunism, and rapid growth.
• Cooperation overcoming cultivation limits: Four Dharma Aspect shamans temporarily create Domain Power by combining forces, showing that coordinated strength can challenge higher realms.
• The danger of warfare: The battlefield’s killing intent becomes a physical threat, and both the ground battle and aerial struggle are depicted as destructive environments with no safe refuge.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Rui gives the Five Dragon Envoy and his companions direct survival orders, establishing himself as their unquestioned leader.
• Su Wanyun provokes Luo Yunxi and the other women by implying that Zhao Rui is young and that they might seek his favor. The women resent her but avoid openly challenging her.
• Great Shang’s commander coordinates the attack with the four shamans, relying on their combined power to break Liangjie Pass.
• The Song general consults the monk and Daoist about the worsening battle and the uncertain evacuation route, highlighting their shared concern for the population.
• Zhao Rui and the monk and Daoist quickly form an effective fighting alliance, combining his overwhelming physical and domain power with their sword and Buddhist techniques.
• The four shamans cooperate closely, ultimately merging their powers and sacrificing one member’s vitality to escape Zhao Rui’s superior domain.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group arrives at the Qingcheng Sect after a journey through the passes.
• They encounter the Chi Mei Twin Monsters, who harass the women. The Five Dragon Envoy and the others fight back but are no match.
• Zhao Rui intervenes, using his immense power to subdue and kill the twin monsters.
• The group continues towards the Qingcheng Sect.

Character Developments

• Zhao Rui: Demonstrates his incredible power and saves the group from the twin monsters.
• Su Wanyun: Shows her loyalty to Zhao Rui and punishes Luo Yunxi for her disrespect.
• Luo Yunxi: Suffers from Su Wanyun's punishment and is humiliated.
• Zhou Moshu, He Wenhua, and Tao Yuansheng: Witness Zhao Rui's power and are awestruck.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and the protection of the weak.
• Loyalty and its rewards (Su Wanyun's treatment vs. Luo Yunxi's).
• The dangers of underestimating opponents (the twin monsters' hubris).

Character Interactions

• Zhao Rui and Su Wanyun: Their dynamic shows Su Wanyun's loyalty and Zhao Rui's power and indifference.
• Luo Yunxi and Su Wanyun: Their interaction highlights the power imbalance and Luo Yunxi's humiliation.
• Zhao Rui and the group: Zhao Rui's intervention saves the group, solidifying his position as their protector.

Chapter Summary: Tianyi Taixu Abyss

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Rui and his companions arrive at Qingcheng Mountain in Guixu Continent, which the Qingcheng Sect renamed after occupying the area.
• Qingcheng’s elders are shocked to learn that Zhao Rui survived being swallowed by a colossal beast and returned stronger than ever. Some consider killing him to prevent the Sword Sect from eventually dominating Qingcheng, but others argue against internal conflict.
• True Person Weiyan decides to welcome Zhao Rui personally, prioritizing cooperation between the Qingcheng Dao Sect and Qingcheng Sword Sect.
• Zhao Rui explains that he wishes to return to Blue Star. Qingcheng lacks a direct passage, but Weiyan reveals that rare treasures are needed to activate a passage through the realm fissures.
• Although Qingcheng’s supplies are nearly depleted, Weiyan promises to provide enough treasures to send Zhao Rui back. The elders reluctantly agree to use valuable resources, hoping to establish a favorable relationship with him.
• Weiyan escorts Zhao Rui and his group to Emei Sect, which possesses the passage to Blue Star.
• Emei’s leaders welcome Zhao Rui warmly. Zen Master Puyuan, Emei’s chief seat and apparently the strongest cultivator Zhao Rui has encountered, agrees to let him use the passage without demanding payment for the activation treasures.
• However, Puyuan asks Zhao Rui to enter the secret realm known as the Tianyi Taixu Abyss and help Emei’s disciples obtain its rare treasures, several of which are guarded by powerful beasts.
• Rather than immediately accepting, Zhao Rui politely delays, saying he will first consult his own sect after returning to the Central Plains.

Character Developments

• Zhao Rui is revealed to have advanced dramatically, reaching a level that even Qingcheng and Emei’s highest experts cannot easily assess. Despite his power, he remains courteous and practical, seeking to return to Blue Star because of his attachment to his family, friends, and former life.
• He also demonstrates cunning and independence. Although he recognizes Emei’s request as a condition disguised as generosity, he avoids committing himself and skillfully leaves the decision open.
• True Person Weiyan initially considers eliminating Zhao Rui as a future political threat, but ultimately chooses diplomacy. His willingness to spend Qingcheng’s scarce resources shows both strategic foresight and a desire to preserve unity.
• Daoists Weizhen and Weiye, representing a more flexible younger faction, oppose sectarian violence and argue that Qingcheng must cooperate during the coming age of upheaval.
• Su Wanyun and the others remain exhausted and cautious after their dangerous journey. Their reliance on Zhao Rui is evident.
• Luo Yunxi remains curious and somewhat careless in her judgments, questioning Zhao Rui’s protection of Su Wanyun, while Zhou Moshu warns her to observe rather than speak recklessly.
• Zen Master Puyuan appears outwardly humble but possesses profound, nearly imperceptible cultivation. His inability to see through Zhao Rui confirms how greatly Zhao Rui has grown.

Significant Themes

• Sectarian rivalry versus cooperation: Qingcheng’s elders debate whether Zhao Rui should be treated as an enemy or ally, reflecting tensions between the Dao Sect and Sword Sect.
• Power and political calculation: Both Qingcheng and Emei offer help while considering the strategic benefits of winning Zhao Rui’s favor.
• Scarcity and sacrifice: The resources required to cross between worlds are extremely rare, forcing sects to spend centuries of accumulated treasures and weigh every alliance carefully.
• Home and belonging: Despite Guixu’s wonders, Zhao Rui longs to return to Blue Star because of his personal ties there.
• Hidden strength and changing status: Zhao Rui’s survival and rapid advancement have transformed him from a missing junior into an expert powerful enough to concern entire sects.
• Politeness as negotiation: Formal courtesy, flattery, and indirect promises conceal political maneuvering. Zhao Rui uses the same social tactics to avoid being pressured into Emei’s dangerous request.

Important Character Interactions

• Weiyan and the Qingcheng elders debate whether to ambush Zhao Rui, but the more moderate elders persuade them to welcome him.
• Weiyan and Zhao Rui exchange respectful greetings and discuss the difficulty of reopening a passage to Blue Star.
• Weiyan secretly commits Qingcheng’s remaining treasures to help Zhao Rui, accepting the cost in exchange for his goodwill.
• Luo Yunxi questions Zhou Moshu about Zhao Rui’s relationship with Su Wanyun, but Zhou Moshu tells her not to pry.
• Emei’s monks praise Zhao Rui’s reputation and acknowledge his connection to their former disciples Zhishan and Zhisheng.
• Puyuan and Zhao Rui carefully assess each other’s strength. Puyuan offers passage access, then proposes the Tianyi Taixu Abyss mission as an implied condition.
• Zhao Rui responds with polite evasiveness, refusing to promise immediate participation and preserving his freedom to decide later.

Chapter Summary: “Returning to the Mountain”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zen Master Puyuan asks Zhao Rui to help investigate or enter a hidden Emei location, but Zhao Rui firmly refuses, wary of the dangers of Ruins Return.
• Puyuan accepts the refusal without resentment and assigns Master Zhiyuan to escort Zhao Rui and the others to the Two Realms Passage.
• Zhao Rui asks the seven martial artists accompanying him whether they will remain in Ruins Return or follow him to Blue Star:
  • Su Wanyun and Five Dragon Envoy immediately choose to follow him.
  • Luo Yunxi and Tao Yuansheng remain behind because of their sect and family ties.
  • Zhou Moshu and Cao Yingcai decide to follow Zhao Rui, motivated partly by their declining sect and their master’s wishes.
  • He Wenhua also chooses to leave despite having ties to his sect in the Central Plains.
• Emei activates the Two Realms Passage using objects that gather the spiritual energies of earth, fire, water, and wind. Zhao Rui and his followers travel through the dark, turbulent passage aboard a sword transformed into a boat.
• They arrive safely on Blue Star, where Emei monks, nuns, and sword disciples receive them. Zhao Rui meets Abbess Liaojing, who is astonished by how much he has grown in power and status.
• Zhao Rui reunites with Daoist Yun Hao and Qingcheng Sect representatives. Yun Hao is overjoyed because Zhao Rui had been presumed dead after disappearing into the passage.
• Zhao Rui leads his new followers back to Qingcheng Mountain. He establishes rules for them, warning that they must remain loyal. He jokingly instructs them to call him “Boss Zhao” or “President Zhao.”
• The newcomers are bewildered by modern technology, especially cars, traffic lights, buildings, and contemporary clothing. They had assumed Blue Star would resemble their own world.
• At Qingcheng Mountain, Zhao Rui reunites with Sect Leader Yu Zheng’nan and Elder Weiyun, who are visibly relieved and encouraged by his return.
• Zhao Rui learns that the passage between Blue Star and Ruins Return has expanded rather than closed. Powerful monster beasts have emerged, causing devastation in Eastern Japan and threatening the seas near Huaxia.
• Military forces are largely ineffective against the beasts, while the Sacred Lotus Sect eventually withdraws and allows Eastern Japan to become a monster-infested wilderness.
• Zhao Rui also hears that other foreign races may have opened additional passages across the Pacific, possibly involving nuclear weapons and the Barbaric Tribe.
• After confirming that Eastern Qi is adequately defended, Zhao Rui returns to his residence and sleeps peacefully for the first time in a long while.

Character Developments

• Zhao Rui demonstrates caution, decisiveness, and growing authority. He refuses Puyuan’s request without hesitation, carefully chooses whom to bring with him, and establishes a clear hierarchy with his new followers.
• He remains generous toward those who submit to him but makes it clear that betrayal will not be tolerated.
• Su Wanyun and Five Dragon Envoy openly commit themselves to Zhao Rui and accept subordinate roles in exchange for his protection and leadership.
• Zhou Moshu and Cao Yingcai make a major choice by abandoning their current circumstances to follow Zhao Rui, hoping to fulfill their master’s wishes and improve their declining sect’s prospects.
• Luo Yunxi and Tao Yuansheng choose security and loyalty to their own sects over following Zhao Rui.
• Abbess Liaojing is forced to reconsider her former low opinion of Zhao Rui. His survival and immense improvement in cultivation leave her impressed and conflicted, especially because one of his followers is a demonic practitioner.
• Yun Hao reveals how deeply he values Zhao Rui’s survival, having been prepared to mourn him. His relief reflects Zhao Rui’s importance to the Qingcheng Sword Sect.
• Yu Zheng’nan regains confidence and dignity upon Zhao Rui’s return, recognizing that the sect is far stronger with him present.
• The Guixu visitors experience culture shock as they encounter modern Blue Star society and technology for the first time.

Significant Themes

• Return and homecoming: Zhao Rui’s return to Blue Star is both a literal journey home and a restoration of his place within the Qingcheng Sword Sect.
• Loyalty and allegiance: The chapter emphasizes the consequences of choosing whom to follow. Zhao Rui offers protection and fair treatment but demands complete loyalty.
• Power and status: Zhao Rui’s transformation is highlighted through the reactions of Puyuan, Liaojing, Yun Hao, and the Qingcheng leadership. He is no longer an underestimated junior but a powerful figure worthy of formal reception.
• The unknown connection between worlds: The expanding passage suggests that Blue Star and Ruins Return are linked by forces far larger than either side understands.
• Modernity versus tradition: The Guixu characters’ amazement at cars, traffic signals, and urban life emphasizes the contrast between ancient martial society and modern civilization.
• Temporary peace and looming danger: Zhao Rui expects rest after surviving Ruins Return, only to discover that new inter-realm threats and monster invasions have already destabilized Blue Star.

Important Character Interactions

• Puyuan responds calmly to Zhao Rui’s refusal, demonstrating mutual courtesy despite their differing positions.
• Zhao Rui individually questions his companions and allows them to choose their own paths, though he later sets strict expectations for those who follow him.
• Liaojing exchanges polite greetings with Zhao Rui while internally marveling at his advancement and scrutinizing Five Dragon Envoy.
• Yun Hao’s emotional reunion with Zhao Rui underscores their brotherly bond and the importance of Zhao Rui to Qingcheng.
• Zhao Rui humorously clashes with Yun Hao over his preferred title of “Boss Zhao,” adding levity after the tense return.
• Yu Zheng’nan and Weiyun warmly welcome Zhao Rui back, treating his return as a major triumph for the sect.
• Zhao Rui’s discussions with Qingcheng leaders reveal the rapidly worsening situation on Blue Star and foreshadow broader interworld conflict.

Chapter Summary: “The Times Have Changed”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Rui leaves Qingcheng Mountain and returns toward Dongqi Province with Zhou Moyun and two other women. He sends He Wenhua to report to the Quanzhen Sect and dispatches the Five Dragon Envoy to infiltrate the Sacred Lotus Sect in Jiangsu.
• The Five Dragon Envoy reveals that the Sacred Lotus leader in Eastern Japan is only the Left Sacred Venerable, a splinter figure who fled to Blue Star. The true Sacred Lotus Sect is in Ruins Return, attacking Great Shang and destabilizing Great Song.
• After flying to Jizhou City, Zhao Rui leaves his companions at a hotel and returns alone to Dongqi University, particularly Mingchan Courtyard.
• At the courtyard, former student Luo Min—now a powerful member of the Demonic/Sacred Lotus Sect—is attacking Wang Dalong and Cai Zhengyang. She overwhelms them despite their combined efforts.
• Luo Min also attacks Qin Rui and mocks Zhao Rui, insisting that he died after being swallowed by an exotic beast in Ruins Return. A masked man, later revealed to be Zhang Kui, prevents her from going too far.
• Zhao Rui suddenly appears, proving that he survived Ruins Return. The students and team members are overjoyed, while Luo Min and Zhang Kui are shocked.
• Zhao Rui immediately kills Luo Min with a single strike, demonstrating how greatly his power and temperament have changed. Zhang Kui retrieves Luo Min’s body and leaves, agreeing to meet Zhao Rui another time.
• Qin Rui embraces Zhao Rui and breaks down crying. Later, Zhao Rui explains Ruins Return to Qin Rui, Li Xinran, and the others, warning that exotic beasts, Ruins Return forces, and the Sacred Lotus Sect will cause widespread chaos.

Character Developments

• Zhao Rui: Returns stronger, more authoritative, and far more ruthless. His calm execution of Luo Min marks a major change from his earlier self and reflects the harsher world he has returned to.
• Qin Rui: Maintains her faith that Zhao Rui is alive despite widespread rumors of his death. Her emotional reunion with him shows her deep attachment and relief.
• Luo Min: Has become twisted and aggressive through demonic cultivation. Her jealousy and resentment toward Zhao Rui drive her cruelty, but her confidence collapses when he reappears. She is killed by Zhao Rui.
• Zhang Kui: Reveals himself as the masked man and appears conflicted. Though aligned with Luo Min’s faction, he restrains her excesses and seems to retain some friendship with Zhao Rui. He is disturbed by Zhao Rui’s transformation but relieved to see him alive.
• Wang Dalong and Cai Zhengyang: Despite improving through Zhao Rui’s guidance, they are still badly outmatched by Luo Min, emphasizing the growing power gap between ordinary martial artists and demonic experts.
• Li Xinran and the others: Learn that the crisis surrounding Ruins Return is much larger than expected and begin to understand that normal social order may not survive.

Significant Themes

• The world entering a new era: The chapter’s central idea is that “the times have changed.” Ruins Return, exotic beasts, and demonic sects are transforming the balance of power and threatening Blue Star’s established order.
• Survival and transformation: Zhao Rui’s return shows that survival in the new age requires strength, decisiveness, and a willingness to abandon former limitations.
• The death of innocence: The students are shaken by Zhao Rui’s public killing of Luo Min, realizing that violence and death have become unavoidable realities.
• Rumor versus truth: Zhao Rui’s supposed death becomes widely accepted and even used to reshape his reputation, but his return overturns the false narrative.
• Loyalty and betrayal: Qin Rui remains loyal to Zhao Rui, while Luo Min’s former connection to Dongqi University has turned into hostility. Zhang Kui occupies an ambiguous position between friendship and allegiance to the Sacred Lotus Sect.

Important Character Interactions

• Zhao Rui organizes his allies before returning home, assigning He Wenhua and the Five Dragon Envoy important missions.
• Luo Min clashes with Wang Dalong, Cai Zhengyang, and Qin Rui, humiliating them and threatening Qin Rui personally.
• Zhang Kui intervenes to stop Luo Min from abusing Qin Rui, leading to a tense exchange over authority and loyalty.
• Zhao Rui confronts Luo Min and Zhang Kui. He kills Luo Min despite Zhang Kui’s presence, while Zhang Kui accepts the body and postpones their own conversation.
• Qin Rui’s tearful reunion with Zhao Rui provides the chapter’s most emotional moment.
• Zhao Rui later warns the group that the invasion from Ruins Return is inevitable and that society will descend into chaos as strength becomes the dominant force.

Chapter Summary: “A Slight Show of Skill”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Rui, Li Xinran, and Cao Guannan reaffirm their willingness to follow and support Zhao Rui as social order begins to deteriorate.
• Zhao Rui tests their martial progress by suddenly attacking them. He criticizes their weak Returning Origin Art and ineffective palm technique, then promises to teach them stronger methods.
• He teaches the trio a witchcraft-based cultivation method and a Qingcheng Sword Sect technique so they can better defend themselves in the coming turmoil.
• Meanwhile, Su Wanyun, Zhou Moshu, and Cao Yingcai spend three days learning about the modern world from a college student hired by Zhao Rui. They study history, technology, culture, and modern social customs.
• Su Wanyun demonstrates her martial skill by cutting flowers with finger force, frightening the college student but also establishing the women’s superiority in strength.
• Zhao Rui assigns the three women separate duties:
  • Cao Yingcai will protect his younger brother at school.
  • Zhou Moshu will protect his parents in Lincheng.
  • Su Wanyun will remain with Zhao Rui and help recruit useful people.
• He teaches all three the powerful “human-control” technique, despite its dangerous drawback that practitioners may themselves become controllable.
• Three days later, Zhao Rui places Cao Yingcai at his brother’s school and travels with Zhou Moshu to Lincheng to check on his parents.
• He observes that Lincheng is under heavy military and police patrol because strange beasts and refugees are causing growing instability.
• Zhao Rui reunites with his parents at Wanda Plaza and introduces Zhou Moshu as their bodyguard. His mother immediately takes a liking to her.
• An air-raid siren announces that a flying strange beast driven out of Ri City is approaching. Zhao Rui orders Zhou Moshu to protect his parents and flies into the sky.
• Zhao Rui quickly defeats the enormous beast. He returns calmly, announces that the alarm has been lifted, and leaves the authorities to handle the aftermath. The crowd praises him as a young Dharma Aspect/Form Grandmaster.

2. Character Developments

• Zhao Rui becomes increasingly responsible and strategic. Although he does not seek to rule or compete for supremacy, he begins preparing for future chaos by training allies, assigning protectors, and recruiting capable subordinates.
• He shows a protective side toward his friends, teaching them advanced techniques because he fears they will otherwise be unable to survive the coming crises.
• His attitude toward his parents remains cautious: he conceals the true extent of his activities while ensuring they receive protection.
• Qin Rui, Li Xinran, and Cao Guannan remain loyal to Zhao Rui but are shown to be far weaker and less disciplined than he expects. Their embarrassment after the surprise attack motivates them to train seriously.
• Su Wanyun, Zhou Moshu, and Cao Yingcai adapt rapidly to the modern world due to their exceptional comprehension and memory. They also accept Zhao Rui’s authority despite the risks of the human-control technique.
• Zhou Moshu begins transitioning from an ancient martial figure into a modern “bodyguard” role and shows respect toward Zhao Rui’s parents.
• Zhao Rui’s parents, especially Xue Wenhui, are portrayed as ordinary and somewhat uninformed about the supernatural events surrounding their son. Their pride and surprise at his abilities grow after witnessing him fly and defeat the beast.
• The college student develops from a hired tutor into someone treated with genuine respect by the ancient women, who view her as their teacher.

3. Significant Themes

• Preparation amid approaching chaos: Zhao Rui recognizes that society has not yet collapsed, but the widening impact of strange beasts signals that major upheaval is coming.
• Strength and survival: The chapter emphasizes that people need strength, influence, wealth, or intelligence to stand securely in troubled times.
• Responsibility and protection: Zhao Rui uses his power not merely for personal advancement but to protect friends, family, and trusted allies.
• Cultural transition: The ancient women’s lessons highlight the contrast between traditional martial society and modern technology, education, freedom, and social customs.
• Trust and hierarchy: Zhao Rui’s allies willingly follow his leadership, even when his methods are harsh or potentially dangerous.
• Public perception of power: Zhao Rui’s effortless defeat of the beast transforms him into a public symbol of security, while his parents suddenly receive admiration because of his status.

4. Character Interactions

• Qin Rui, Li Xinran, and Cao Guannan openly declare their support for Zhao Rui, while he responds by criticizing and physically testing them before teaching them stronger techniques.
• Li Xinran jokingly complains about being beaten, but Zhao Rui makes clear that his harshness is motivated by concern for their survival.
• The college student repeatedly questions the ancient women about their origins and customs. Zhou Moshu answers patiently, while the women become protective and respectful toward their young teacher.
• Zhao Rui rewards the student for her work, prompting a brief reflection on how martial strength, status, and wealth determine one’s position in society.
• Zhao Rui assigns duties to Su Wanyun, Zhou Moshu, and Cao Yingcai, establishing a more organized support network around himself.
• Zhou Moshu’s respectful greeting to Zhao Rui’s parents initially makes them uncomfortable, but Xue Wenhui quickly treats her warmly and affectionately.
• Zhao Rui’s parents react with shock and pride when they realize their son can fly, while the surrounding public immediately venerates him after witnessing his victory over the strange beast.

Chapter Summary: “A Chaotic Situation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Rui makes a dramatic public return, displaying enough power to appear almost saintlike as he flies above the crowd. His high-profile appearance confirms that rumors of his disappearance were false and establishes his strength.
• On the way home, Zhao Rui’s parents learn that he is now powerful enough to rank among the strongest martial artists in the province. They express pride but remind him to remain humble and never abuse his power.
• Zhao Rui explains the danger surrounding Ri City and the spread of exotic beasts. He has already arranged for his relatives to be gathered and urges his family to relocate inland, preferably to Qingcheng Mountain or, as a second choice, Jizhou.
• More than twenty relatives arrive at Zhao Rui’s home. After hearing about the worsening crisis and the dangers posed by exotic beasts, they agree to leave their homeland and temporarily relocate near Qingcheng Mountain.
• Zhao Rui’s family accepts Zhou Moshu into their household. Xue Wenhui treats her like a daughter, easing the tension and making Zhou feel accepted.
• Martial representatives from several Dongqi sects visit Zhao Rui, including True Masters Cang, Qingyang, Changkong, and other elders. They discuss the growing invasion of exotic beasts and the collapse of Eastern Wa.
• The visitors reveal that something unknown may have changed deep within Ruins Return, potentially causing the beast riots and the conflict between Great Shang and Great Zhou. This suggests a hidden threat beyond the visible beast invasion.
• Before the meeting ends, a beast tide involving at least five powerful beasts breaks out. The martial artists immediately leave to respond, traveling through the air because ordinary vehicles would be too slow.

Character Developments

• Zhao Rui is shown to have become exceptionally powerful and influential. He deliberately abandons excessive secrecy, believing that openly demonstrating strength will better protect his family and give him greater authority during the crisis.
• He also displays maturity and responsibility by planning for the safety of his extended family rather than focusing only on himself. His willingness to accept personal burdens highlights his growing humanity and leadership.
• Zhao Rui’s parents transition from seeing him as an ordinary son to recognizing him as a major martial expert. Despite their fear, they remain trusting and provide simple moral guidance.
• Zhou Moshu becomes increasingly integrated into Zhao Rui’s family. Initially awkward about being treated as a “guard,” she relaxes when Zhao Rui approves of her new place in the household.
• Third Uncle Zhao Jinze takes on a protective, authoritative role. He uses his Internal Energy to quiet the chaotic relatives and firmly warns them not to cause trouble for Zhao Rui.
• The visiting martial leaders treat Zhao Rui as an equal or even an elder, calling him “True Master Zhao” despite his youth and student status. This demonstrates how dramatically his reputation has risen.

Significant Themes

• Family responsibility in times of crisis: Zhao Rui believes that strength carries an obligation to protect relatives and friends, not merely oneself.
• The loss of homeland and forced migration: The relatives struggle emotionally with leaving their homes, showing how difficult survival decisions become when familiar places are no longer safe.
• Power and responsibility: Zhao Rui’s parents emphasize humility and restraint, while Zhao Rui recognizes that greater strength also grants greater influence and protective ability.
• Humanity amid chaos: The chapter contrasts dangerous beasts and impending war with ordinary family warmth. Zhao Rui’s decision to save his relatives reflects the idea that compassion is what preserves one’s humanity.
• Visible threats versus hidden dangers: The exotic beasts are an immediate, recognizable enemy, but the unexplained disturbance deep in Ruins Return represents a more frightening and uncertain danger.
• Social upheaval: Martial artists, military forces, refugees, and sects are all being drawn into a rapidly changing world where former social structures are beginning to collapse.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Rui’s parents affectionately question him about his strength and advise him to stay humble.
• Zhou Moshu privately doubts whether Zhao Rui has truly avoided bullying weaker people, creating a humorous contrast with his self-description.
• Xue Wenhui warmly adopts Zhou Moshu into the family, while Zhou looks to Zhao Rui for reassurance.
• The extended family bombards Zhao Rui with questions until Zhao Jinze imposes order through his authority.
• Zhao Rui explains the relocation options and allows the relatives to choose, while Zhao Jinze pressures them to take the danger seriously.
• Zhao Rui and the visiting sect leaders exchange respectful but cautious information about Ruins Return, the exotic beasts, and the worsening regional crisis.
• The meeting ends abruptly when the sect leaders receive news of the beast tide, forcing them to leave their discussion and return to battle.

Chapter Summary: “Beasts Were Also Divided into High and Low Ranks”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the Dharma Aspect True Persons leave to handle the beast crisis in Sun City, Zhao Rui orders his Third Uncle, Zhao Jinze, to evacuate the Zhao family from Lin City. He believes the growing chaos in Sun City will soon endanger nearby areas.
• Despite having just returned from Ruins Return and needing rest, Zhao Rui decides to help because Lin City is his homeland and contains his family, friends, teachers, and memories.
• Zhao Rui catches up with True Master Qingyang and three other Dharma Aspect experts at Sun City’s coast, claiming that he only wants to inspect the situation because he cannot remain at ease about his homeland.
• Five powerful beasts are approaching or attacking the coast: two sea beasts and three flying beasts. The military has deployed soldiers, radar, electromagnetic cannons, missiles, and even nuclear weapons, but the soldiers are vastly outmatched.
• The military withdraws ten kilometers while the Dharma Aspect True Persons engage the beasts individually, trying to prevent them from reaching land and causing widespread destruction.
• Zhao Rui targets a horned flying beast resembling the Gu Diao from the Classic of Mountains and Seas. Surprisingly, it immediately flees rather than fight. Zhao Rui pursues it briefly before returning to aid the others.
• True Master Cang and True Master Qingyang struggle against two coordinated flying beasts. One beast spits out a poisonous black liquid that forms a massive net, while another attempts a sneak attack on True Master Cang.
• Zhao Rui arrives in time to save True Master Cang by stabbing the attacking beast with Sword Qi. He then freezes and destroys the poisonous net using seawater and Ice Palm Force.
• Zhao Rui uses his Thunderclap Sword Art and the Eight Desolations Beast-Controlling Evil-Slaying Thunder Prison to strike down the fleeing horned bird, demonstrating overwhelming speed and power.
• He then assists the Mount Lao Sect’s True Master Shaowu against a sea beast, breaking through its water-based attacks and creating an opening for Shaowu to severely wound it.
• With Zhao Rui’s help, the beasts are defeated rapidly. One sea beast escapes, while three others are killed or incapacitated.
• The surviving carcasses are too large to leave on shore. True Master Cang throws them into the deep sea, where they can be consumed by marine life. True Master Qingyang explains that some beasts contain valuable materials, but these particular beasts are ordinary and not worth harvesting.
• The military celebrates the victory and later identifies Zhao Rui as the likely mysterious expert who intervened. His past as a retired soldier and former army head instructor gives the commander hope that he may remain nearby to protect the troops.
• At a hotel afterward, the Dharma Aspect experts discuss the battle. They reveal that the beasts are classified into ranks and that the ones they fought were merely ordinary beasts, foreshadowing more dangerous creatures.

Character Developments

• Zhao Rui: Shows strong loyalty to his homeland and emotional attachment to his former life. Although he has recently endured great hardship, he willingly risks himself to protect civilians and his old acquaintances. His combat ability is shown to be dramatically superior to that of the other Dharma Aspect experts, particularly through his sword techniques, ice abilities, and thunder arts.
• True Master Qingyang: Acts as the battle’s field commander and displays calm leadership. He coordinates the experts, protects the battlefield, and works closely with True Master Cang through long-established teamwork.
• True Master Cang: Initially struggles with the flying beast and nearly suffers a sneak attack, but remains aggressive and courageous. His close cooperation with Qingyang is emphasized.
• True Master Shaowu: Demonstrates considerable strength by taking advantage of Zhao Rui’s assistance and driving his sword into the sea beast.
• The military commander: Begins overwhelmed by the crisis but gains confidence once the Dharma Aspect experts arrive. He develops admiration for Zhao Rui and hopes the former soldier will continue helping defend humanity.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility toward one’s homeland: Zhao Rui acts not out of obligation to a sect or organization, but because his family, friends, memories, and emotional roots are in Lin City.
• The gap between ordinary humans and supernatural forces: The soldiers’ advanced weapons are nearly useless against the beasts, emphasizing how powerless conventional military strength has become after spiritual energy’s recovery.
• Cooperation among powerful figures: Although the Dharma Aspect experts are individually formidable, they rely on coordination, mutual support, and battlefield experience to handle the beasts.
• Humanity’s changing understanding of the world: Creatures once believed to be mythical may be real beings from Ruins Return, suggesting that ancient legends such as those in the Classic of Mountains and Seas may have recorded actual events.
• Hierarchy within the supernatural world: The closing revelation that beasts possess different ranks establishes that the defeated creatures were only low-level threats, hinting at far greater dangers ahead.
• The value of life and natural balance: The discussion about disposing of the beasts in the sea reflects the enormous ecological and practical consequences of supernatural creatures entering the human world.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Rui contacts Zhao Jinze to ensure that his relatives evacuate safely.
• He joins Qingyang and the other Dharma Aspect experts without openly suggesting that they need his help, preserving their dignity while still contributing.
• Qingyang gives the order for each expert to engage one beast and later coordinates with Cang to divide the pressure between them.
• Cang thanks Zhao Rui after Zhao Rui saves him from the attacking beast and poisonous net.
• Zhao Rui and Shaowu cooperate against the water beast: Zhao Rui draws its attacks while Shaowu lands the decisive sword strike.
• Qingyang explains the distinction between ordinary beasts and spirit beasts, leaving Zhao Rui—and the reader—with the impression that stronger and more valuable creatures exist beyond those encountered in this battle.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• True Master Qingyang explains the hierarchy of exotic beasts in the Ruins Return:
  • Ordinary exotic beasts are enhanced animals.
  • Monster Beasts possess limited innate abilities.
  • Strange Monsters have stronger elemental powers or innate divine abilities.
  • Spiritual Objects, including powerful spiritual beasts and dragon species, possess profound supernatural qualities.
• Zhao Rui concludes that the Ruins Return and Blue Star were likely connected in ancient times and may soon merge again. He fears this would bring enormous numbers of powerful beasts and foreign races to Blue Star.
• While the other masters hesitate over the coming crisis, Zhao Rui urges them to act rather than surrender to fear. He travels alone toward Eastern Japan’s Exotic Beast Island.
• Inspired by Zhao Rui’s resolve, True Master Cang gains insight into his cultivation and approaches a major breakthrough toward the Qingcheng Sect’s strongest Dharma Aspect True Body.
• During his journey across the East Sea, Zhao Rui observes increasing numbers of exotic beasts and encounters Huaxia military aircraft heading toward the Arctic Circle.
• At Exotic Beast Island, he finds Eastern Japan devastated and overrun by beasts, with human remains scattered across the ruins. However, the neighboring Japanese islands remain orderly and industrialized, protected by mysterious gray towers that repel or conceal them from exotic beasts.
• When Zhao Rui approaches, the towers attack him with powerful purple beams, forcing him to retreat. He becomes suspicious of Eastern Japan’s advanced defenses and rapid wartime mobilization.
• Zhao Rui later discovers that a Huaxia fighter has been shot down. After rescuing pilot Feng, he learns that Eastern Japanese aircraft attacked the Huaxia formation.
• He pursues the attackers and protects a Huaxia transport plane carrying five elderly researchers. Using ice techniques, his Dharma Aspect, and the Dragon Subduing Palm, Zhao Rui destroys two enemy aircraft and drives off another.
• Zhao Rui returns the survivors to Rishi Airport, where military personnel receive the injured pilot and researchers. The nature of the researchers’ mission remains undisclosed.
• The following morning, members of Special Operations Team One question Zhao Rui about the incident, his destination, and his possible conflict with Eastern Japan. Their aggressive, interrogative attitude irritates him, and the chapter ends as Zhao Rui prepares to forcibly remove them from the room.

Character Developments

• Zhao Rui demonstrates courage, decisiveness, and a strong sense of responsibility. Rather than waiting passively for disaster, he investigates Exotic Beast Island and intervenes when Huaxia forces are attacked.
• His combat abilities are emphasized: he can reflect lasers with mysterious ice, manifest a massive Dharma Aspect True Body, survive heavy attacks, and destroy advanced aircraft with martial techniques.
• Zhao Rui also becomes more suspicious of Eastern Japan, recognizing that its technology, defenses, and military activity may conceal a larger plan.
• True Master Cang is spiritually encouraged by Zhao Rui’s speech. His cultivation advances toward a breakthrough into the Zifu Yuanzun Dharma Body.
• True Master Qingyang and the other masters shift from fear and hesitation toward determination, though they remain deeply concerned about the coming merger and exotic beast crisis.
• The military personnel view Zhao Rui as a powerful but potentially important independent actor. The investigators from Special Operations Team One, however, treat him more like a suspect than an ally, creating immediate tension.

Significant Themes

• Courage in the face of catastrophe: Zhao Rui argues that survival requires action and struggle, not resignation.
• Fortune and disaster: The possible merging of Blue Star and the Ruins Return could strengthen humanity while simultaneously exposing it to overwhelming threats.
• Humanity’s vulnerability: Blue Star appears small and fragile compared with the vast Ruins Return and its powerful creatures.
• Hidden military and technological agendas: Eastern Japan’s protected territory, industrial mobilization, strange towers, and advanced aircraft suggest preparations for an undisclosed objective.
• Tradition versus technology: Ancient cultivation and Dharma Aspect techniques clash with modern weapons, lasers, aircraft, and military systems.
• Miscommunication and mistrust: Zhao Rui helps Huaxia forces, yet government investigators immediately scrutinize him, indicating political tension even amid the larger supernatural crisis.

Important Character Interactions

• Zhao Rui’s challenge to the gathered masters shakes True Master Cang out of his hesitation and directly contributes to Cang’s cultivation insight.
• Zhao Rui rescues Pilot Feng, learns about the Eastern Japanese attack, and uses that information to intervene in the aerial battle.
• He protects the Huaxia transport plane and its five researchers, who thank him before being taken for medical treatment.
• Zhao Rui speaks with Captain Lu, the military commander at Rishi Airport, and cooperates with the military despite withholding unnecessary details.
• His final exchange with the two Special Operations investigators becomes confrontational when they question his motives and imply he may harbor hostility toward Eastern Japan.