Ch. 501Unleashing a Spiritual Treasure: Duel with the Mother Empress of All Things!
Plot points and events
- Main Body Gu Chen faces the Mother Empress of All Things, an Emperor-class powerhouse, while Lulos prepares to attack from the side. Gu Chen knocks Lulos back with a punch, making clear he can already hold his own against him.
- The Mother Empress’s black, all-consuming field makes her seem like a miniature black hole. Her power gives Gu Chen a rare sense of danger, so he summons his Spiritual Treasure, the blade Thousand Tribulations.
- The blade’s immense deathly aura alarms observers from several factions, who recall that Gu Chen used it to defeat the Starfall Royal Family Ancestor’s Starshine Holy Sword.
- The Mother Empress comments on the weapon, and Gu Chen praises her unusual strength while eagerly challenging her.
- She attacks with black ripples that disintegrate nearby space debris. Gu Chen counters with a slash of Thousand Tribulations; their forces collide, sending out shockwaves and cracking space.
Character developments
- Gu Chen is exhilarated by the prospect of a difficult fight. Though confident enough to face two Emperor-class opponents, he recognizes the Mother Empress as a genuinely dangerous and exceptional foe.
- The Mother Empress is established as more powerful and mysterious than Lulos. Her calm opening attack demonstrates the extraordinary reach and destructive force of her abilities.
- Lulos is briefly driven back, showing that Gu Chen can prevent him from exploiting an opening.
Character interactions
- Gu Chen openly invites both opponents to attack together and treats the encounter as a chance to test himself.
- The Mother Empress acknowledges Thousand Tribulations’ fearsome reputation; Gu Chen responds by focusing his interest on her power rather than his earlier duel.
- Distant observers debate the weapon’s identity and what it means for the coming battle, heightening the sense of spectacle and danger.
Significant themes
- The thrill of challenge: Gu Chen welcomes an unfair, chaotic fight because ordinary rules would make it dull.
- Power and reputation: The blade’s past victory shapes how observers and the Mother Empress assess Gu Chen.
- The unknown as a source of danger: The Mother Empress’s obscured form and impenetrable aura make her more unsettling than familiar opponents.
- Escalating spectacle: The duel’s first exchange damages space itself, signaling that the conflict is operating on a vast, destructive scale.