Ch. 161Assassination? One Slap per Heavenly Demon Puppet!
Key plot points and events
- Xiao Hongchen loses a Soul Fighting match to Chu Qingtian, whose speed and agility let him evade Xiao’s Soul Tool attacks. Aoyao suspects Xiao held back to avoid revealing his full abilities before the Continental Soul Master Elite Tournament.
- Meng Hongchen feels briefly guilty for spending less time training than her brother, but reassures herself that her Soul Power has advanced rapidly with Aoyao’s help.
- Aoyao invites Xu Jiujiu to dinner in Shrek City. She declines because she must oversee Star Luo Royal Academy’s competitors, which improves Meng Hongchen’s opinion of her.
- On the way to dinner, Aoyao senses murderous intent and suspects Xu Sanshi and Bei Bei may be behind it. He calmly leads his companions away from the academy, expecting the attackers to reveal themselves.
- Eight assailants—five Soul Kings and three Soul Emperors—ambush the group. Aoyao summons his Heavenly Demon Puppet, which he describes as roughly equal to an Ultimate Douluo. The threat appears trivial beside its overwhelming power.
Character developments and interactions
- Xiao Hongchen leaves the arena dejected after losing, while his disciplined training contrasts with Meng’s more relaxed routine.
- Meng Hongchen moves from guilt to self-confidence, and her hostility toward Xu Jiujiu eases when Xu chooses her duties over joining Aoyao.
- Aoyao remains unruffled by the apparent assassination attempt, relying on his confidence and the puppet’s strength.
- Wu Feng instinctively shields Ning Tian when the attackers appear. The women relax once Aoyao reveals his bodyguard.
- Aoyao says he may give the puppet to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan after ascending to godhood, so it can protect the clan indefinitely.
Significant themes
- Preparation versus restraint: Xiao’s loss highlights the tension between honing combat skills and concealing one’s strongest abilities.
- Different paths to growth: Meng’s cultivation is unconventional, but her progress challenges her initial belief that she is neglecting training.
- Protection and power: Aoyao’s puppet makes even a large group of capable Soul Masters seem insignificant, and he imagines using that power to safeguard others in the future.