Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Jiang, You Actually Became One?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Qingxuan escapes the node world and encounters Jiang Yan, initially assuming that the True Dragon or another Human Supreme rescued them.
• Jiang Yan explains that the True Dragon has already gone to serve the Tianxin Crown Prince, while revealing the other Human cultivators who were trapped inside.
• The rescued cultivators rejoice, having believed they were destined to die within the node world.
• Ji Jinghan recognizes that Jiang Yan himself is the mysterious savior. Unable to sense any cultivation from Jiang Yan—an indication of an extremely profound realm—he boldly kneels and addresses him as a Supreme.
• Su Qingxuan struggles to accept the truth because he remembers Jiang Yan as merely a powerful Great Dao Lord and believes the time required to reach the Supreme Realm should be immeasurably long.
• Jiang Yan confirms that he has indeed become a Human Supreme, saying that fate favored him and allowed him to advance several days earlier.
• Jiang Yan releases his Supreme-level Vital Energy. Its overwhelming power spreads through the surrounding space and Great Daos, cleansing the cultivators’ injuries and burning away the Aberrant Power accumulated in their bodies.
• The rescued cultivators recover completely and collectively thank Jiang Yan.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yan: Revealed to have made an astonishing breakthrough into the Human Supreme Realm. His calm attitude, refusal to accept repayment, and effortless healing demonstrate both his immense power and his magnanimity.
• Su Qingxuan: Experiences shock and disbelief at Jiang Yan’s rapid advancement. His inability to sense Jiang Yan’s cultivation forces him to recognize the vast gap between himself and a Supreme.
• Ji Jinghan: Shows exceptional perception by identifying Jiang Yan’s true realm before Su Qingxuan does. He also demonstrates humility and gratitude, offering repayment despite having lost all his possessions.
• The rescued cultivators: Shift from despair to joy and reverence after being saved, viewing Jiang Yan as a life-giving Supreme figure.

Significant Themes

• Unpredictable advancement and fate: Jiang Yan’s breakthrough illustrates how talent, opportunity, fortune, timing, and destiny can combine to produce an almost miraculous rise.
• The gulf between cultivation realms: The chapter emphasizes that a Supreme can conceal his power so completely that he appears ordinary, while his true strength is incomprehensible to lower realms.
• Recognition versus familiarity: Su Qingxuan’s personal knowledge of Jiang Yan prevents him from immediately accepting Jiang Yan’s transformation, while Ji Jinghan’s objective observation allows him to see the truth.
• Gratitude and humility: Ji Jinghan wishes to repay Jiang Yan, but Jiang Yan refuses to take advantage of the younger cultivators’ opportunities or treasures.
• Rescue and restoration: Jiang Yan’s power does more than save the cultivators from danger; it restores them to their peak condition, symbolizing the overwhelming life-giving nature of his new realm.

Character Interactions

• Su Qingxuan questions Jiang Yan about the rescuer and assumes the True Dragon was responsible.
• Ji Jinghan kneels before Jiang Yan, correctly recognizing him as a Supreme and thanking him for saving everyone.
• Jiang Yan praises Ji Jinghan’s talent, predicting that he may become a Half-step Supreme within five thousand years.
• Ji Jinghan awkwardly offers a verbal promise of repayment because he has lost all his possessions.
• Jiang Yan dismisses the need for repayment and reassures him that he does not covet the younger cultivators’ fortunes.
• Su Qingxuan finally confronts Jiang Yan directly, asking whether he has truly entered the Supreme Realm. Jiang Yan confirms it and publicly demonstrates his power, earning the gratitude of all the rescued cultivators.

Summary: “Return to Yu Long Sect”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yan arrives after extracting and suppressing Duanxian Cliff, eliminating the area’s forbidden-land status and freeing the trapped Human Race cultivators.
• Su Qingxuan recognizes Jiang Yan’s true identity as a Human Supreme and respectfully apologizes for failing to recognize him earlier. Jiang Yan dismisses the need for excessive formalities.
• Jiang tells the assembled cultivators to return to their sects and report his appearance, while asking Ji Jinghan to remain behind.
• Jiang invites Ji Jinghan to join Yu Long Sect, emphasizing the sect’s rising power and its future status as a three-Supreme sect alongside Jiang Yan, the True Dragon Supreme, and Li Dragon Son.
• Ji Jinghan immediately accepts, becoming a disciple of Yu Long Sect. Jiang Yan is pleased that his journey has resulted in both rescuing Su Qingxuan and recruiting an exceptional prodigy.
• Jiang teleports Ji Jinghan and Su Qingxuan back to the vicinity of Yu Long Sect.
• Rather than conceal his power, Jiang releases his aura, creating a vast sea of fire and attracting the attention of nearby sects and powerful cultivators.
• Jiang publicly announces that he attained the Human Supreme Realm a month earlier and comprehended the Fire Ultimate Realm, naming it “Liao.” This declaration grants a profound Dao insight to those who hear it, especially Fire Dao cultivators and formation masters.
• Yu Long Sect emerges from its sealed state. Using a bridge formed from Fate Power, the entire sect—including its leader, elders, disciples, servants, spirit beasts, and even mortals—travels to greet Jiang.
• Li Dragon Son leads the sect in a formal congratulation ceremony. Jiang responds by saying that their celebration is also a celebration for the sect and orders everyone to rise.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yan: Fully establishes himself as a Human Supreme and a major force within the Human Race. He demonstrates humility toward fellow cultivators but also openly asserts his status, strengthens Yu Long Sect’s prestige, and actively recruits promising talent.
• Ji Jinghan: Moves from being a wandering rogue cultivator to becoming a disciple of Yu Long Sect. His decision shows both gratitude toward Jiang Yan and recognition of the extraordinary opportunity the sect represents. His hidden caution also reveals that he is wary of the darker motives of powerful cultivators.
• Su Qingxuan: Shows deep respect and gratitude toward Jiang Yan, acknowledging the difference between their former acquaintance and Jiang Yan’s current supreme status.
• Li Dragon Son: Acts as a loyal sect leader, organizing the entire Yu Long Sect to honor Jiang Yan. His position as a future Supreme further reinforces the sect’s growing strength.
• Yu Long Sect: Transitions from a ruined, secluded organization into a resurgent and increasingly influential sect publicly backed by multiple Supremes.

Significant Themes

• Power and status: Jiang Yan’s transformation into a Supreme changes how former acquaintances and surrounding sects perceive him.
• Sect restoration and growth: The chapter emphasizes rebuilding Yu Long Sect and expanding its influence through powerful allies and talented recruits.
• Gratitude and obligation: Ji Jinghan joins the sect partly to repay Jiang Yan’s life-saving favor, showing how personal debts influence cultivation-world alliances.
• Public recognition: Jiang Yan’s declaration of his breakthrough turns his cultivation achievement into a blessing for others while simultaneously announcing Yu Long Sect’s rise.
• Fate and destiny: Ji Jinghan’s resonance with the Dao of Destiny and the Fate Power bridge suggest that fate is guiding both his recruitment and the sect’s resurgence.
• Unity of the Human Race: Jiang presents his actions as a duty to fellow Human Race cultivators, promoting cooperation over sectarian division.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Yan and Su Qingxuan: Su Qingxuan offers a formal bow and apology, while Jiang Yan responds graciously and reassures him that such ceremony is unnecessary.
• Jiang Yan and Ji Jinghan: Jiang recognizes Ji’s rare talent and personally invites him to join Yu Long Sect. Ji accepts immediately out of gratitude, ambition, and caution.
• Jiang Yan and the rescued cultivators: He frees them from Duanxian Cliff and encourages them to return home and spread news of his appearance.
• Jiang Yan and Li Dragon Son: Li leads the entire sect in honoring Jiang’s breakthrough, reflecting their alliance and Jiang’s elevated role within the sect.
• Jiang Yan and Yu Long Sect: The sect collectively acknowledges him as one of its supreme protectors, while Jiang publicly strengthens its reputation by announcing his cultivation achievement.

Chapter Summary: “True Dragon Chamber”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yan returns to the True Dragon Secret Realm having already attained the Human Supreme Realm, shocking Li Longzi, who had expected to surpass him because of his True Dragon inheritance, mastery of the Dao of Destiny, and favor from fate.
• Li Longzi acknowledges that Jiang Yan must have encountered an extraordinary opportunity during his travels. He also realizes that Jiang Yan’s former difficulty has likely been resolved.
• Jiang Yan explains that he plans to travel to the Human Imperial Court and pursue a new Great Dao. By contrast, Li Longzi is likely to remain tied to the Yu Long Sect, since his inheritance obliges him to protect the sect until another Supreme can be nurtured.
• Li Longzi abandons his desire to compete with Jiang Yan and proposes holding a grand ceremony to announce Jiang Yan’s breakthrough. The celebration would honor Jiang Yan, strengthen the Yu Long Sect’s reputation, and serve as a warning to rival powers after the sect’s recent crisis.
• Jiang Yan asks to inspect the True Dragon’s most valuable ancient records, hoping to find information about the path beyond the Supreme Realm. He intends to use the knowledge, together with his Cultivation Technique Modifier, to deduce a path suited to himself.
• Li Longzi gives Jiang Yan an icy-blue dragon scale, the key to the hidden True Dragon Chamber. The key allows him to sense the chamber’s location and prevents him from accidentally triggering its defensive self-destruction mechanisms.
• Jiang Yan immediately departs for the chamber rather than returning to Blazing Sun Peak or engaging in further conversation.
• Li Longzi is impressed by Jiang Yan’s single-minded pursuit of the Dao and reflects on whether his own cultivation has become too complacent.
• Jiang Yan locates the ancient stone structure known as the True Dragon Pavilion or Chamber. He expresses gratitude to the surviving True Dragon and vows to seek a way to extend its lifespan if possible.
• The chapter ends as Jiang Yan opens the chamber’s ancient stone door, setting up the discovery of its hidden knowledge.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yan: His rise to the Supreme Realm establishes him as an exceptionally powerful and ambitious cultivator. He remains humble about his success but is intensely focused on advancing beyond the current realm. His willingness to leave immediately for the chamber emphasizes his decisiveness and dedication to cultivation.
• Li Longzi: He experiences brief disappointment and self-doubt after being surpassed, but quickly regains composure. He accepts Jiang Yan’s superiority without resentment, demonstrates loyalty to the Yu Long Sect, and gains renewed motivation to examine and improve his own cultivation.
• The True Dragon: Though absent, its legacy remains central. Its inheritance, chamber, and ancient records continue to shape both Li Longzi’s responsibilities and Jiang Yan’s future path.

Significant Themes

• Destiny versus individual achievement: Li Longzi is favored by destiny and possesses an idealized path, yet Jiang Yan surpasses him through opportunity, effort, and adaptability.
• Pursuit of the Dao: Jiang Yan’s urgency contrasts with Li Longzi’s more settled role as sect guardian. The chapter portrays true cultivation as requiring relentless focus and a willingness to keep moving forward.
• Duty versus freedom: Li Longzi’s inheritance binds him to the sect, limiting his opportunities, while Jiang Yan is free to seek new realms and experiences.
• Legacy and gratitude: Jiang Yan respects the True Dragon’s contributions and intends to repay its aid, showing that power and ambition do not erase loyalty.
• Sect protection and political strength: Jiang Yan’s advancement benefits not only himself but also the Yu Long Sect, restoring its prestige after it nearly faced destruction.

Important Character Interactions

• Jiang Yan and Li Longzi: Their conversation combines friendly rivalry, mutual respect, and differing paths. Li Longzi admits Jiang Yan has surpassed him, while Jiang Yan recognizes that Li Longzi’s sect responsibilities may prevent further competition.
• Li Longzi and the Yu Long Sect: Li Longzi acts as both inheritor and protector, planning to use Jiang Yan’s breakthrough to strengthen the sect’s standing.
• Jiang Yan and the True Dragon: Although they do not meet directly in the chapter, Jiang Yan’s request to study its records and promise to extend its life show a relationship based on respect, gratitude, and inherited opportunity.

Chapter Summary: Chaos Origin Embryo

Key Plot Points and Events

• After witnessing Jiang Yan’s rapid advancement, Li Longzi feels pressured to improve himself. Although he has inherited the True Dragon’s will, partially restored his True Dragon body, and reached the Supreme Realm, he realizes Jiang Yan has surpassed him.
• Li Longzi returns to his modest residence and prepares to enter seclusion. He uses the Destiny River to form layers of protective formations around the courtyard, intending to remain secluded until he breaks through into the Human Supreme Realm.
• Before the formations can seal the courtyard, Lu Qingya arrives and requests an audience.
• Lu Qingya presents Li Longzi with a Chaos Origin Embryo, an extremely rare innate treasure born at the beginning of heaven and earth.
• The embryo resembles a beating heart and instinctively absorbs surrounding Vital Energy and even the cultivators’ power. Its influence is so strong that Li Longzi’s heartbeat begins synchronizing with it.
• Li Longzi recognizes that the treasure can help break through bottlenecks and ignore the barriers between realms. He realizes it could allow him to enter the Human Supreme Realm in a short time.
• Suspecting that Lu Qingya expects something in return, Li Longzi asks him to state his demands.
• Lu Qingya requests two things:
  1. The chance to become the Yu Long Sect’s Saint Son by defeating Su Qingxuan.
  2. Permission to observe Li Longzi’s breakthrough and use it to gain insight into reaching the Supreme Realm himself.
• Li Longzi readily agrees to the first request, while carefully considering the danger of the second. After contemplating it for fifteen minutes, he accepts that as well, recognizing that the immense value of the Chaos Origin Embryo makes its karma difficult to repay.

Character Developments

• Li Longzi: Despite already being extraordinarily talented and having advanced rapidly through the True Dragon inheritance, he reveals a strong competitive pride. Jiang Yan’s progress motivates him to intensify his cultivation. His acceptance of the Chaos Origin Embryo shows both his ambition and his willingness to assume the risks and karmic obligations attached to such a treasure.
• Lu Qingya: Lu Qingya demonstrates unusual confidence, strategic thinking, and ambition. His recent cultivation breakthrough has elevated him among the core disciples, and he now boldly seeks the Saint Son position. By offering the Chaos Origin Embryo, he secures Li Longzi’s support while positioning himself to observe a Supreme-level breakthrough.
• Jiang Yan: Though absent from the main events, Jiang Yan’s rapid rise drives the chapter. His achievement becomes the standard Li Longzi feels compelled to match.
• Su Qingxuan: Su Qingxuan is established as Lu Qingya’s primary rival for the Saint Son position. Lu Qingya intends to defeat him openly to claim the title.

Significant Themes

• Competition among prodigies: Jiang Yan’s advancement creates pressure even for someone as gifted as Li Longzi, emphasizing the relentless competition within cultivation.
• Ambition and advancement: Both Li Longzi and Lu Qingya seek greater power and status, though through different methods—Li Longzi through secluded cultivation and Lu Qingya through calculated alliances.
• Karma and exchange: The chapter stresses that treasures of immense value cannot be accepted without consequences. Li Longzi understands that accepting Lu Qingya’s gift creates an obligation.
• Trust and risk: Allowing Lu Qingya to observe his breakthrough could be dangerous, since breakthroughs are vulnerable moments. Li Longzi nevertheless accepts the risk because the treasure’s value is too great to ignore.
• Inherited power versus personal striving: Li Longzi has benefited from the True Dragon’s inheritance, yet still must continue cultivating to keep pace with Jiang Yan. The chapter suggests that inherited advantages do not eliminate the need for effort.

Character Interactions

• Li Longzi and Jiang Yan: Jiang Yan’s accomplishments indirectly motivate Li Longzi, creating a mixture of admiration, competitiveness, and urgency.
• Li Longzi and Lu Qingya: Their interaction is a negotiation disguised as a gift exchange. Lu Qingya offers the Chaos Origin Embryo to gain political advancement and access to Li Longzi’s breakthrough, while Li Longzi accepts but explicitly frames the arrangement as repayment of karma.
• Lu Qingya and Su Qingxuan: Although Su Qingxuan does not appear, Lu Qingya identifies him as the opponent he must defeat to become Saint Son, establishing an impending rivalry.

Chapter Summary: The Three Realms of Supremacy

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Qingya thanks Li Longzi for granting him permission to leave, promising to protect Li Longzi when he eventually attempts his breakthrough.
• Instead of allowing Lu Qingya to depart, Li Longzi invites him to remain and guard his cultivation immediately. Using the Destiny River, Li Longzi seals and protects his residence with powerful formations.
• Li Longzi begins his breakthrough into the Supreme Realm, declaring that his path encompasses the Dao of Heaven, Destiny, Ice, and the Human Race. His proclamation and the resulting surge of heaven-and-earth energy alert the entire Yu Long Sect.
• Sect members gather to witness and bless their leader’s breakthrough. However, Lu Qingya secretly reveals his true intentions: he is a body-snatching strange creature planning to seize Li Longzi’s body at the most vulnerable moment of his advancement.
• Meanwhile, Jiang Yan enters the True Dragon’s enormous secret chamber, a ninety-nine-level Mustard Seed Space filled with ancient texts, techniques, and treasures.
• He ignores the other resources and finds a book titled Great Dao, which explains the structure of the Supreme Realm and its relationship to the Origin Realm.
• Jiang Yan learns that the Supreme, or Divine, Realm consists of three stages:
  1. Condensation — forming a Concept Seed, Divine Ability Seed, and Great Dao Seed.
  2. Knocking — discovering and striking open the inner Gate of the Divine.
  3. Divine — merging completely with the Divine Ability Seed.
• He realizes that the True Dragon has already reached the Knocking stage and is close to opening the Gate of the Divine.
• Jiang Yan manifests his own Great Dao Seed as the character “Liao,” formed from his five gathered Innate Flames. He believes that collecting sixteen flames and fully igniting the character will allow him to reach the Origin Realm.

Character Developments

• Li Longzi demonstrates confidence and decisiveness by beginning his breakthrough immediately after receiving the Chaos Origin Embryo. His cultivation is shown to be central to the sect’s future.
• Lu Qingya shifts from appearing loyal and respectful to revealing himself as a dangerous infiltrator. His courtesy masks greed and predatory ambition, as he intends to possess Li Longzi’s body.
• Jiang Yan deepens his understanding of the cultivation system. His confidence grows as he recognizes that his progress is unusual and that the Cultivation Technique Modifier may allow him to advance toward the Origin Realm without relying on conventional opportunities or external treasures.
• The True Dragon’s status is clarified: it is not merely a powerful Supreme, but an existence already standing at the threshold of the Knocking stage.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal beneath loyalty: Lu Qingya’s respectful behavior conceals an attempt to murder and replace his own sect leader.
• Breakthrough as both glory and danger: Li Longzi’s advancement inspires the entire sect, yet the vulnerable moment also makes him a target.
• Different paths to power: The chapter contrasts conventional cultivation—dependent on talent, fortune, fate, and opportunity—with Jiang Yan’s systematic progress through the Cultivation Technique Modifier.
• The limits of cultivation: The Supreme Realm represents near-perfect immortality, while the Origin Realm is mysterious and cannot be reached through ordinary cultivation alone.
• Knowledge as power: Jiang Yan’s study of the Great Dao gives him a clearer map of the realms and confirms how close he is to the next stage.

Character Interactions

• Li Longzi and Lu Qingya: Li Longzi treats Lu Qingya as a trusted disciple or ally, inviting him to guard the breakthrough. Lu Qingya outwardly accepts gratefully but privately plans to usurp him.
• Li Longzi and the Yu Long Sect: His breakthrough proclamation draws the sect together, with the disciples offering blessings and hoping their leader will strengthen the entire organization.
• Jiang Yan and the True Dragon’s legacy: Though the True Dragon is absent, its secret chamber and writings allow Jiang Yan to measure his own cultivation against the Dragon’s achievements.
• Jiang Yan and his own power: By manifesting the “Liao” Divine Ability Seed, Jiang Yan confirms that his cultivation has reached the peak of Condensation and establishes a concrete goal—gathering sixteen Innate Flames to enter the Origin Realm.

Summary of “Tianxin Crown Prince”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Qing returns to the Human Imperial Court after a lengthy journey through the Southern Region, carrying the rewards and gains she acquired.
• She requests an audience with Tianxin Crown Prince, but a palace guard initially tells her that the Crown Prince is in seclusion and advises her to leave.
• Before she departs, Tianxin emerges from seclusion and summons her into the palace through a magnificent seven-colored rainbow bridge.
• Tianxin praises Xiao Qing’s accomplishments and recognizes that, because she bears the Demon Race’s fortune, her future potential may rival his own. He suggests that she leave his service, establish her own lineage, and pursue the path to becoming a Human Supreme.
• Xiao Qing refuses, insisting that she wishes to remain his maidservant for life. She submits the spoils from her mission and returns the pure white sword he had given her, explaining that it is no longer necessary now that she has reached the safety of the Imperial Court.
• Tianxin approves of her performance, allows her to claim her reward, and grants her ten days of leave.
• Before leaving, Xiao Qing recommends Jiang Yan, a recently ascended Human Supreme from the Yu Long Sect, as a talented individual worthy of joining Tianxin’s faction.
• Tianxin agrees to invite Jiang Yan and summons Xiao Xuance to handle the matter, implying that a meaningful offer will be made rather than relying on words alone.

Character Developments

• Xiao Qing demonstrates increased power, maturity, and independence after her journey. Her accumulated fortune is extraordinary, symbolized by the immense azure qi surrounding her.
• Despite her growing potential, Xiao Qing remains deeply loyal and emotionally attached to Tianxin, rejecting his suggestion that she leave and establish herself independently.
• She also shows generosity and loyalty toward others by recommending Jiang Yan instead of keeping her gains and connections to herself.
• Tianxin Crown Prince appears benevolent, perceptive, and confident. He recognizes Xiao Qing’s extraordinary destiny and sincerely encourages her advancement, even though he values her service.
• Tianxin’s authority is emphasized by the wonders accompanying his emergence from seclusion, the respect shown by the palace guard, and his ability to recruit powerful figures.
• Jiang Yan, though absent from the scene, is established as a brilliant new Human Supreme whose talent and fortune have impressed Xiao Qing.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty versus independence: Tianxin encourages Xiao Qing to forge her own path, but she chooses continued service out of devotion.
• Recognition of talent: Tianxin actively seeks capable individuals from different races and backgrounds, suggesting a broad, merit-based approach to building his faction.
• Fortune and destiny: Xiao Qing’s extraordinary azure qi and Jiang Yan’s exceptional opportunities highlight the importance of fate, luck, and innate potential in cultivation.
• Mentorship and patronage: Tianxin supports Xiao Qing’s growth while also recruiting promising experts, presenting himself as both mentor and political leader.
• Power and hierarchy: The strict rules of the Imperial Court, the Crown Prince’s overwhelming presence, and the promise of rewards demonstrate the importance of rank and authority.

Character Interactions

• The palace guard respectfully but firmly prevents Xiao Qing from repeatedly calling for Tianxin, reminding her that even favored servants must obey court protocol.
• Tianxin and Xiao Qing share a relationship built on mutual trust: he worries that serving him limits her potential, while she insists that serving him is her chosen path.
• Xiao Qing reports her mission and presents its spoils, reinforcing her reliability and devotion.
• Xiao Qing advocates for Jiang Yan, acting as a bridge between her friend and Tianxin.
• Tianxin accepts her recommendation and prepares to send Xiao Xuance to recruit Jiang Yan, setting up the next stage of the story.

Chapter Summary: “Life-Seizing!!!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yan returns to Blazing Sun Peak after leaving the True Dragon Secret Realm and attaining the position of Supreme.
• Yu Qingjue, Bing Han’er, and the disciples of Blazing Sun Peak welcome and congratulate him.
• To reward the sect, Jiang Yan distributes strands of light containing fragments of his Great Dao insights. These gifts can help the disciples improve their cultivation and may also serve as powerful protective trump cards.
• Jiang Yan announces that he plans to leave for the Human Imperial Court to pursue a new path and further his cultivation. He offers Yu Qingjue and Bing Han’er the choice of staying at Yu Long Sect or accompanying him.
• Both women immediately choose to follow him, viewing the Human Imperial Court as the sacred center of the Human Race and a tremendous opportunity.
• Jiang Yan begins arranging their departure, though the exact timing remains uncertain.
• He then detects an unusual and immensely powerful presence hidden within Li Longzi’s residence. The entity appears to be a strange being nearing the true Supreme Realm and seems to be plotting something significant.
• Jiang Yan sends his divine soul into the area and watches from the shadows.
• Li Longzi’s seclusion undergoes a dramatic transformation as vast amounts of energy gather around him. His body becomes transparent, revealing a growing heart at his chest.
• His heartbeats spread mysterious information and alter the surrounding reality. His Fate Dao ability changes his dwelling into a strange, cartoon-like house, demonstrating his power to distort destiny and assign things a different future.
• Lu Qingya, who has been quietly observing Li Longzi, recognizes that the moment has arrived. Driven by greed, he approaches Li Longzi and prepares to seize everything from him, apparently through a deceptive embrace.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yan has fully established himself as a Supreme and now acts with the confidence and generosity of a powerful sect master. He rewards his followers, makes provisions for their future, and begins pursuing a higher path in the Human Imperial Court. His ability to detect the hidden entity also highlights his extraordinary perception.
• Yu Qingjue and Bing Han’er demonstrate their loyalty and ambition by choosing to follow Jiang Yan into the dangerous but prestigious Human Imperial Court. Their decision shows their trust in him and their desire to pursue greater opportunities.
• Li Longzi appears to be undergoing an important breakthrough or transformation. His Fate Dao is manifesting with immense power, allowing him to alter the destiny and appearance of surrounding objects.
• Lu Qingya reveals his true intentions. His outward calm conceals intense greed, and he intends to exploit Li Longzi’s vulnerable moment and take his power or accomplishments for himself.
• Jiang Yan and Lu Qingya are indirectly connected through Jiang Yan’s secret observation. Jiang Yan understands the danger but chooses to watch rather than intervene immediately.

Significant Themes

• Sharing power and fortune: Jiang Yan’s rewards reflect the idea that a leader’s success should benefit those who supported him.
• Loyalty and opportunity: Yu Qingjue and Bing Han’er must choose between the security of Yu Long Sect and the greater risks and possibilities of the Human Imperial Court.
• Ambition and danger: The Human Imperial Court is portrayed as both humanity’s greatest sacred land and a place likely filled with hidden rivalries and peril.
• Fate and transformation: Li Longzi’s breakthrough demonstrates the power to rewrite destiny, changing objects and circumstances by altering their predetermined future.
• Betrayal and exploitation: Lu Qingya’s attempt to seize Li Longzi’s achievements introduces the chapter’s central threat and gives the title “Life-Seizing” its immediate significance.
• Observation versus intervention: Jiang Yan knowingly watches the unfolding confrontation, suggesting curiosity, confidence, or a desire to understand the hidden entity’s plan before acting.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Yan warmly acknowledges the work Yu Qingjue and Bing Han’er have done while managing Blazing Sun Peak.
• He offers them both protection, resources, and the chance to accompany him to the Human Imperial Court; they accept without hesitation.
• Jiang Yan discovers the hidden presence near Li Longzi and silently observes the developing situation.
• Lu Qingya approaches Li Longzi during his powerful Fate Dao transformation, intending to embrace him while secretly planning to steal his gains.

Chapter Summary: “Fishing in the Water”

Plot and key events

Lu Qingya reveals himself to be a strange creature that has devoured the real Lu Qingya and infiltrated the Yu Long Sect. He attempts to seize Li Longzi’s fate and identity through the technique Life Seizure, hoping to steal Li Longzi’s destiny of becoming a Human Supreme. The creature has already taken control of Li Longzi’s apparent body, but Li Longzi reveals that this figure is only a projection drawn from the Fate River, not his true body. As a result, the fate exchange fails, and the creature’s ascension is interrupted.

Li Longzi’s preparations and counterattack

The creature tries to flee by transforming into black threads, but Li Longzi’s prearranged formations activate and seal the courtyard. Li Longzi explains that he recognized the impostor because it did not understand human nature: the real Lu Qingya would never surrender the Chaos Origin Embryo, his greatest chance to reach the Supreme Realm, merely to help someone else.

Revelation about the former Sect Leader Supreme

The creature changes its appearance into that of Li Longzi’s former master, the previous Sect Leader Supreme. This briefly unsettles Li Longzi, who realizes that his master may have been partially corrupted or manipulated rather than intentionally betraying him when he expelled him from the sect. Li Longzi gains emotional closure over this past grievance.

The creature’s explanation and escape attempt

Li Longzi questions how such a weak creature could influence a genuine Supreme. The creature explains that even powerful beings have weaknesses; in his master’s case, the crucial weakness was his desire for a longer lifespan rather than greater cultivation. The creature deliberately reveals this information to disturb Li Longzi’s emotions and create ripples in the Fate River. Using the resulting fluctuation and a fragment of stolen “freedom,” it slips into the river, intending to escape through the complexity of fate.

Ending

The escape fails. Instead of finding the chaotic currents of the Fate River, the creature encounters an enormous hand that plunges into the river and scoops it out “like a fish.” The chapter ends with the creature trapped and Li Longzi apparently fully in control.

Character development and interactions

• Li Longzi: Demonstrates foresight, emotional restraint, and a deeper understanding of human behavior. He has prepared both a false projection and layered formations to expose and contain the creature. He also resolves some of his resentment toward his former master.
• The strange creature: Revealed as a manipulator and identity thief that survives by seizing others’ fates and exploiting their weaknesses. Though intelligent and skilled at psychological warfare, it fundamentally misunderstands human motivations and overestimates its ability to manipulate Li Longzi.
• Li Longzi and the creature: Their confrontation is both physical and psychological. Li Longzi defeats the creature’s disguise by appealing to human desire and self-interest, while the creature attempts to provoke him emotionally in order to escape.
• Li Longzi and his former master: The creature’s imitation of the former Sect Leader Supreme forces Li Longzi to reinterpret his past expulsion, replacing anger with understanding and closure.

Significant themes

• Human nature versus imitation: The creature can copy faces, identities, and fragments of fate, but cannot fully reproduce genuine human motivations.
• Fate and identity: The chapter explores fate as something that can be stolen, exchanged, projected, or manipulated, while suggesting that true identity is more than appearance or destiny.
• Weakness within strength: Even Supremes can be controlled through personal vulnerabilities, particularly fear of death and the desire for longevity.
• Emotional mastery: Li Longzi’s ability to remain composed is central to his victory, while the creature depends on provoking emotional fluctuations.
• Closure and reinterpretation: Li Longzi’s encounter with his master’s image allows him to let go of an old grievance before confronting the larger threat.

Chapter Summary: “Mutual Gifts of Divine Abilities”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yan unexpectedly emerges from the True Dragon Chamber just as a disguised weird creature attempts to possess Li Longzi and escape Yu Long Sect.
• He captures the creature effortlessly within a sealed Small World, thwarting its plan.
• Li Longzi has just broken through to the Supreme Realm. Though he possesses the True Dragon Frost Dao inheritance, he ultimately chooses the Fate Dao as the foundation of his cultivation.
• Jiang Yan questions why Li Longzi nearly allowed the creature to escape despite his new Supreme strength.
• Li Longzi explains that the creature’s actions revealed hidden conspiracies and helped him understand the humiliation and betrayal he had endured within the sect.
• With Jiang Yan’s permission, Li Longzi examines the captured creature. Using his Fate-based ability, he strips away its disguises and reduces its power, exposing it as a golden-robed man connected to the sect’s past.
• Li Longzi absorbs the man’s remaining fate fragment and learns the truth behind his former master’s downfall: like all beings, the sect master feared the end of his lifespan and was tempted to defy heaven and alter his fate.
• Having gained the answers he needed, Li Longzi returns the weakened creature to Jiang Yan.

Character Developments

• Li Longzi officially becomes a Supreme expert and gains a deeper connection to the Fate River. His breakthrough confirms that the Fate Dao, rather than the Frost Dao, is his true path.
• His confrontation with the weird creature allows him to resolve long-standing doubts about his master and past suffering. He moves from confusion and resentment toward understanding.
• Li Longzi demonstrates greater control over fate, stripping away disguises, weakening the creature, and extracting hidden memories or fate fragments.
• Jiang Yan proves both perceptive and overwhelmingly powerful, capturing the creature before it can escape and recognizing the rarity of its Fate Power.
• Jiang Yan also shows respect for Li Longzi’s breakthrough and accepts their relationship as one between fellow Supreme-level cultivators.

Mutual Gifts and Abilities

• Li Longzi gives Jiang Yan a Dao talisman containing his own Fate and Change Dao principles, as well as remnants of his former master’s insights. It allows Jiang Yan to temporarily influence and alter the fate of others, though its effect diminishes against stronger opponents.
• Jiang Yan reciprocates by giving Li Longzi a five-colored flame ring formed from Innate Flame. It can alter the nature of objects so that they become burnable, and Jiang Yan suggests that it will combine effectively with Li Longzi’s fate abilities.
• Their exchange symbolizes mutual recognition, trust, and the sharing of Supreme-level divine techniques.

Significant Themes

• Fate versus choice: Although fate encompasses all things, unexpected “miracles” and individual actions can still create change.
• The fear of mortality: Even powerful beings may succumb to temptation when confronted with the limits of their lifespan.
• Truth through power: Li Longzi uses his mastery of fate to uncover the hidden causes of past betrayals and suffering.
• Mutual cultivation and reciprocity: Jiang Yan and Li Longzi strengthen one another by exchanging complementary abilities.
• The danger of disguise and ambition: The weird creature’s manipulation and the former sect master’s desire to defy heaven reveal how ambition can lead to betrayal.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Yan captures and questions the weird creature while congratulating Li Longzi on his advancement.
• Li Longzi asks Jiang Yan to let him investigate the creature, and Jiang Yan willingly grants him temporary control.
• After discovering the truth, Li Longzi thanks Jiang Yan and offers him the Fate Dao talisman.
• Jiang Yan returns the gesture with the flame ring, creating a partnership based on complementary powers.
• Once back at Blazing Sun Peak, Jiang Yan destroys the creature and gains a large amount of Weird Value through the Cultivation Technique Modifier.

Chapter Summary: Nine-Turn Reincarnation Flame

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yan spends the Weird Value he has accumulated to activate the Cultivation Technique Modifier and forcibly condense a new Innate Flame.
• He witnesses the terrifying Nine-Turn Reincarnation Disc, a Great Dao artifact that governs life, death, karma, and reincarnation. From it, he obtains the Nine-Turn Reincarnation Flame, a flame specifically capable of breaking reincarnation techniques and severing reincarnation-based arts.
• Jiang Yan now possesses six Innate Flames. By merging them, he causes his aura to surge dramatically, drawing space-time and the surrounding Great Dao toward himself.
• He senses the existence of the Gate of the Divine, an enormous barrier representing the next stage of cultivation—the Knocking Realm, the second realm of the Supreme Realm. However, six Innate Flames are insufficient to manifest it fully; he concludes that one more flame will allow him to break through.
• Jiang Yan decides that, after handling the sect’s affairs, he should travel to the Human Imperial Court and use its passage to enter the true Weird World. There, he hopes to hunt powerful Weird entities, obtain Weird Value, and search for additional Innate Flames.
• Before leaving, Jiang Yan visits Fellow Daoist Li in the True Dragon Secret Realm to test his newly strengthened abilities. In particular, he wants to see how the Nine-Turn Reincarnation Flame compares against Li’s Destiny Dao. Their intense sparring lasts for some time and alarms the sect’s disciples.
• Six months later, the Yu Long Sect opens its gates to hold a grand celebration for two Supremes attaining the Dao. With many nearby Supreme figures absent because of the Tianxin Crown Prince, Yu Long Sect’s influence has become especially dominant.
• Numerous powerful cultivators attend, hoping not only to honor the new Supremes but also to benefit from their expected Dao exposition.
• The ceremony is interrupted—or formally preceded—by the arrival of Divine Official Xiao Xuance, who announces that he has come under the command of the Tianxin Crown Prince to visit Jiang Yan.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yan grows substantially stronger by acquiring the Nine-Turn Reincarnation Flame and consolidating six Innate Flames in total.
• His confidence increases as he recognizes that only one additional Innate Flame is needed to enter the Knocking Realm.
• He becomes more proactive and strategic. Rather than remaining isolated and cultivating slowly, he chooses to investigate the Human Imperial Court and the Weird World, accepting the risks of entering a new and potentially dangerous environment.
• Jiang Yan also seeks to test his abilities against powerful peers, particularly Fellow Daoist Li, showing greater willingness to engage in direct combat and experimentation.
• His position within the Yu Long Sect appears increasingly central, as the sect’s grand celebration and the arrival of a representative of the Tianxin Crown Prince specifically focus on him and the other newly advanced Supremes.

Significant Themes

• Power through cultivation and external advantage: The Cultivation Technique Modifier allows Jiang Yan to bypass the dangerous, conventional search for Innate Flames, though he still recognizes the value of obtaining them naturally.
• Reincarnation, destiny, and cosmic law: The Nine-Turn Reincarnation Disc embodies the Great Dao’s control over life and death, while Jiang Yan’s new flame gives him a weapon against reincarnation techniques. His planned contest with Fellow Daoist Li also highlights the rivalry between reincarnation and destiny.
• Risk versus security: Jiang Yan considers remaining in familiar territory and cultivating gradually, but rejects excessive passivity. He believes that hiding indefinitely may waste time and leave him vulnerable to unforeseen developments.
• Progress toward transcendence: The Gate of the Divine symbolizes the next major transformation in Jiang Yan’s cultivation and the emergence of a stronger self.
• Political influence and hierarchy: Yu Long Sect’s celebration demonstrates how Supreme-level breakthroughs reshape the balance of power, while Xiao Xuance’s arrival shows the growing pressure and attention from the Tianxin Crown Prince.

Important Character Interactions

• Jiang Yan and the Nine-Turn Reincarnation Disc: The Disc recognizes Jiang Yan and sends him the Nine-Turn Reincarnation Flame, creating a direct connection between him and a fundamental force of the Great Dao.
• Jiang Yan and Fellow Daoist Li: They engage in a powerful sparring match so Jiang Yan can test whether his new reincarnation-based ability can counter Li’s Destiny Dao.
• Jiang Yan and the Yu Long Sect: Jiang Yan’s advancement contributes to the sect’s rise as a dominant force, and the sect organizes a large celebration honoring its newly advanced Supremes.
• Jiang Yan and the Tianxin Crown Prince’s faction: The arrival of Divine Official Xiao Xuance signals that the Crown Prince is taking a direct interest in Jiang Yan, potentially setting up a political confrontation or negotiation.

Summary

Key plot points and events

• Xiao Xuance, a Supreme-level cultivator and retainer of Tianxin Crown Prince, arrives at the Yu Long Sect to congratulate Jiang Yan on becoming a Supreme.
• His arrival creates an overwhelming spectacle, drawing the attention of every cultivator in the sect and greatly elevating the sect’s prestige.
• Jiang Yan welcomes Xiao Xuance courteously, having already considered joining Tianxin Crown Prince’s faction to gain resources and enter the Weird World.
• Xiao Xuance explains that the Crown Prince is recruiting capable allies and has sent him both to congratulate Jiang Yan and assess his strength.
• While pretending to converse casually, Xiao Xuance secretly probes Jiang Yan with his divine soul. Jiang Yan’s presence transforms into an immense primordial fireball containing six devastating flames, forcing Xiao Xuance’s probing soul power to retreat.
• Xiao Xuance concludes that Jiang Yan’s abilities are almost purely destructive and that he is among the strongest Supreme figures, confirming Xiao Qing’s praise of him.
• Xiao Xuance proposes a contest to see who can return to the True Dragon Secret Realm first. Jiang Yan agrees and lets his guest move first.
• Xiao Xuance enters a spatial Small World, where he encounters Jiang Yan’s Six-Colored Divine Light. Jiang Yan then appears coughing up black insects that dissolve into liquid, revealing that Xiao Xuance has secretly used curse-based divine abilities.

Character developments

• Jiang Yan: Demonstrates calm courtesy, confidence, and political awareness. Though he recognizes Xiao Xuance’s probing, he allows it because the investigation is restrained and because he has similarly evaluated others. His terrifying six-flame power establishes him as an exceptionally destructive Supreme.
• Xiao Xuance: Appears friendly and respectful but is revealed to be highly calculating. He assesses Jiang Yan’s strength through both divine-soul probing and a direct spatial contest, while concealing the true nature of his abilities.
• Tianxin Crown Prince: Although absent, his influence is emphasized. His name alone commands respect, and his recruitment efforts may significantly affect Jiang Yan and the Yu Long Sect.
• Xiao Qing: Her high opinion of Jiang Yan is validated; Xiao Xuance initially doubts her judgment but changes his mind after witnessing Jiang Yan’s power.

Significant themes

• Power and prestige: The arrival of a Crown Prince’s representative shows how status and association can transform a sect’s reputation.
• Political alliances: Jiang Yan’s hospitality is not merely personal courtesy; it reflects his interest in joining Tianxin Crown Prince’s faction and gaining access to greater opportunities.
• Hidden intentions: Both men maintain polite appearances while secretly testing each other, showing that interactions among powerful cultivators are governed by caution and strategy.
• Destructive strength: Jiang Yan’s cultivation is characterized by overwhelming, undiluted destructive power, distinguishing him from Supreme cultivators with more balanced abilities.
• Appearance versus reality: Xiao Xuance looks like a gentle, friendly elder but is actually a manipulative expert in curse techniques.

Character interactions

• Jiang Yan and Xiao Xuance exchange formal congratulations and hospitality, establishing a superficially cordial relationship.
• Xiao Xuance praises Jiang Yan while covertly examining him, and Jiang Yan knowingly permits the test.
• Their friendly conversation develops into a contest that becomes another layer of mutual probing.
• The chapter ends with Jiang Yan exposing Xiao Xuance’s concealed curse techniques, shifting their interaction from polite diplomacy to a potentially dangerous confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “Two Overbearing Figures”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yan approaches Xiao Xuance while coughing violently under the effects of Xiao’s Curse Dao. As he draws closer, however, his condition improves, showing that he is gradually breaking free from the curse’s influence.
• The two discuss the nature of cultivation and morality. Xiao explains that he specializes in the Curse Dao because his talents lie there, arguing that the Dao itself is neither good nor evil—only its practitioners are.
• Jiang Yan displays his newly created Six-Colored Divine Light. Xiao deliberately touches it to test its power, but the attack instantly spreads through his body, destroying his flesh, organs, divine soul, and power source.
• Xiao’s body collapses and is reduced to fragments and ash, but as a Supreme-level cultivator, he regenerates from the remains. He praises the Six-Colored Divine Light as an extremely destructive ability, recognizing that a full-strength attack could have caused permanent, source-level injuries.
• Jiang Yan jokingly offers to teach Xiao the technique, but Xiao declines, admitting that his own cultivation and power system cannot support such an overbearing divine ability.
• The two arrive at the depths of the True Dragon Secret Realm, where Xiao meets Li Longzi, the Supreme-level Sect Leader of the Yu Long Sect.
• Xiao immediately recognizes that Li Longzi cultivates the rare and powerful Destiny Dao. Impressed by the presence of two Supreme-level figures in one sect, he invites Li Longzi to join the Human Imperial Court and meet the Tianxin Crown Prince.
• Li Longzi politely refuses, explaining that he must remain with the Yu Long Sect until he nurtures a successor capable of inheriting his Supreme position and carries out his responsibility to protect the sect and surrounding region.
• Xiao accepts the refusal and finally turns back to Jiang Yan, revealing that his visit was prompted by Xiao Qing’s praise and that he has come specifically to recruit Jiang Yan on behalf of the Tianxin Crown Prince.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yan demonstrates remarkable resistance to Xiao Xuance’s Curse Dao and reveals that his Six-Colored Divine Light has reached an extraordinarily destructive level. His confidence and playful attitude suggest that he is not intimidated by Xiao.
• Xiao Xuance is established as a powerful but cautious Supreme-level cultivator. He is willing to test Jiang Yan personally, yet quickly recognizes the danger of Jiang’s ability and treats him with increased respect.
• Li Longzi is revealed to be far stronger than expected after mastering the Destiny Dao. His power appears to draw upon the fate of all living beings, and even Xiao Xuance cannot fully assess his limits. His refusal to leave the sect highlights his sense of duty and responsibility.
• Xiao Xuance’s attitude shifts from evaluating Jiang Yan to seriously considering both Jiang and Li Longzi as exceptional talents worthy of the Human Imperial Court’s attention.

Significant Themes

• Power beyond appearances: Both Jiang Yan and Li Longzi possess abilities far more formidable than Xiao initially expects, emphasizing that true strength cannot be judged solely by reputation or outward appearance.
• The neutrality of the Dao: Xiao argues that cultivation paths are not inherently righteous or evil; morality depends on the individual using them.
• Responsibility versus ambition: Li Longzi rejects the opportunity for greater influence because he is bound by his obligation to safeguard the Yu Long Sect and prepare a successor.
• Recruitment and political influence: The Human Imperial Court seeks to attract powerful Supreme-level cultivators, showing the growing importance of Jiang Yan and Li Longzi in the wider power structure.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Yan and Xiao Xuance engage in a respectful but competitive exchange, each testing the other’s abilities while maintaining a cordial tone.
• Xiao’s deliberate contact with the Six-Colored Divine Light serves as both a challenge and an evaluation of Jiang Yan’s strength.
• Xiao Xuance treats Li Longzi with immediate interest and respect, offering him a direct path to the Tianxin Crown Prince.
• Li Longzi responds courteously but firmly, prioritizing his sect over external advancement.
• The chapter ends with Xiao Xuance directly addressing Jiang Yan about the true purpose of his visit: recruitment into the Human Imperial Court.

Chapter Summary: Primordial Chaos Origin Flame

Key Plot Points

• Xiao Xuance reveals that before coming to the Yu Long Sect, he visited Xiao Qing, who spoke highly of Jiang Yan and described him as a “taboo figure.” Her recommendation helped convince Tianxin Crown Prince to recruit him.
• Xiao Xuance formally invites Jiang Yan to join the Human Imperial Court and serve Tianxin Crown Prince. He emphasizes the Crown Prince’s imperial bloodline, immense power, accumulated fortune, and vast treasury of divine arts, treasures, medicines, and ancient secrets.
• Jiang Yan questions why Tianxin Crown Prince has been recruiting so many powerful experts despite the immense cost. Xiao Xuance explains that the Crown Prince faces powerful internal opponents within the Human Imperial Court, especially Taishi Divine Lord, the former foremost war general of the Human Race Emperor.
• After the Emperor’s ascension, only a strand of his Divine Sense remains to suppress the Imperial Court, allowing old factions and hidden conflicts to become more active. Tianxin Crown Prince is therefore building his own faction to defend his position.
• Jiang Yan decides that his true reason for going to the Human Imperial Court is to find the path to the Weird World, not to support any particular faction. Nevertheless, he is willing to accept the Crown Prince’s invitation.
• As a condition for joining, Jiang Yan asks whether the Crown Prince possesses a flame created at the beginning of Heaven and Earth—something necessary for his cultivation.
• Xiao Xuance confirms that the Crown Prince’s treasury contains the famed Primordial Chaos Origin Flame, formed from a strand of Primordial Chaos qi during the world’s creation.
• Xiao Xuance promises that Tianxin Crown Prince will grant Jiang Yan the flame if he accompanies him to the Imperial Court. The chapter ends with Xiao Xuance confident that he can make this agreement on the Crown Prince’s behalf.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yan is shown to be powerful, pragmatic, and unwilling to accept vague promises. He treats recruitment as an exchange requiring concrete benefits and uses the Primordial Chaos Origin Flame as his signing condition.
• Jiang remains politically detached. His loyalty is directed toward his own cultivation goals—especially reaching the Weird World—rather than toward Tianxin Crown Prince or any faction.
• Xiao Xuance acts as an enthusiastic representative of Tianxin Crown Prince. He sincerely admires Jiang Yan’s talent and views serving the Crown Prince as honorable rather than degrading.
• Xiao Xuance also reveals his awareness of the Imperial Court’s factional struggles and his fear of Taishi Divine Lord’s influence.
• Xiao Qing’s reputation as a perceptive judge of talent is reinforced through her earlier recommendation of Jiang Yan.
• Tianxin Crown Prince is presented indirectly as a powerful but politically threatened figure who must gather elite cultivators to resist rival factions.

Significant Themes

• Power and political factionalism: Even the Human Imperial Court is governed by alliances, rivalries, and hidden struggles.
• Recruitment and loyalty: Service to a powerful ruler is portrayed as a mutual transaction involving resources, fortune, and political protection.
• Pragmatism in cultivation: Jiang Yan refuses to rely on promises or status; he demands a rare treasure that directly advances his path.
• Legacy and inheritance: The Emperor’s bloodline, fortune, followers, and old comrades continue to shape the Human Race after his ascension.
• Scarcity of primordial treasures: Innate objects from the creation of Heaven and Earth have largely disappeared, been consumed, or fallen into the hands of powerful beings, making the Primordial Chaos Origin Flame exceptionally valuable.
• Personal ambition versus political allegiance: Jiang Yan is willing to cooperate with the Crown Prince, but only because the alliance serves his own greater objective.

Important Character Interactions

• Xiao Xuance praises Jiang Yan and conveys Xiao Qing’s high opinion of him.
• Xiao Xuance attempts to persuade Jiang Yan by describing the Crown Prince’s status, resources, and the benefits of inheriting Human Race fortune.
• Jiang Yan challenges Xiao Xuance about the Crown Prince’s aggressive recruitment strategy, prompting an explanation of the Imperial Court’s internal conflict.
• Jiang Yan negotiates directly by asking for the Primordial Chaos Origin Flame, while Xiao Xuance accepts the demand and offers to secure the Crown Prince’s agreement.

Summary: “Human Imperial Court”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yan and Xiao Xuance arrive at the Boundary River, the defensive formation surrounding the Human Imperial Court.
• Xiao Xuance warns Jiang Yan that entering without authorization would trigger a curse or cause him to be sealed beneath the river.
• He explains that the Boundary River was created by the Human Emperor and strengthened over countless years. Though it protects the Imperial Court from external enemies, its deeper purpose is to imprison powerful beings from the terrifying Weird World.
• Xiao Xuance uses a secret technique to gain the Boundary River’s recognition and summons a boat. The two cross safely, passing through distorted layers of space, time, and the Great Dao.
• Upon reaching the Imperial Court, Jiang Yan sees the immense, semi-transparent Dharma Form of the Human Emperor. He recognizes the Emperor as someone he previously encountered while visiting the Demon Race.
• Jiang Yan privately wonders whether the Emperor is secretly traveling through the human world, or whether the figure he saw was merely a clone or contingency. He chooses not to reveal this suspicion.
• Xiao Xuance takes Jiang Yan to territory controlled by the Tianxin Crown Prince and explains that Jiang Yan, having entered the Crown Prince’s service, may establish his own lineage there.
• Jiang Yan chooses an unclaimed region near a massive abyss, which he suspects is a passage to the Weird World. He hopes to gain an advantage by settling close to it.
• Xiao Xuance accepts his choice and asks Jiang Yan to name the new lineage.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yan: Demonstrates caution by respecting the Boundary River’s danger, while also displaying ambition and strategic thinking in choosing a residence near the possible Weird World passage. His prior knowledge of the Human Emperor gives him a unique perspective that he deliberately keeps secret.
• Xiao Xuance: Acts as Jiang Yan’s guide and protector. He explains the Imperial Court’s defenses, secures passage through the Boundary River, and helps Jiang Yan obtain a place within the Crown Prince’s territory. He also shows respect for Jiang Yan’s privacy and choices.
• The Human Emperor: Though absent in person, his immense influence dominates the setting. His Dharma Form symbolizes his status as the founder and supreme pillar of the Human Race.
• Tianxin Crown Prince: Does not appear directly, but his power and authority are emphasized through the vast, highly developed territory under his command.

Significant Themes

• Protection and imprisonment: The Boundary River embodies both defense against outside enemies and containment of dangerous beings within the human world.
• The Emperor’s mystery: The Emperor’s apparent appearances across different places raise questions about his true whereabouts, hidden plans, and possible avatars.
• Ambition and opportunity: Jiang Yan seeks to turn his new position into an advantage by establishing himself near the suspected passage to the Weird World.
• Trust and secrecy: Jiang Yan withholds what he knows about the Emperor, while Xiao Xuance respects his right to keep personal motives and secrets.
• Legacy and authority: The Imperial Court, the Emperor’s Dharma Form, and the Crown Prince’s territory all reinforce the Human Race’s long history, power, and hierarchy.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Xuance repeatedly warns Jiang Yan against approaching the Boundary River recklessly and guides him across it safely.
• He explains the River’s history and purpose, giving Jiang Yan a deeper understanding of the Human Imperial Court.
• Jiang Yan reacts internally to the Human Emperor’s Dharma Form but conceals his prior encounter and suspicions from Xiao Xuance.
• Xiao Xuance offers Jiang Yan land within the Crown Prince’s domain and allows him to select its location and name, marking Jiang Yan’s formal integration into the Crown Prince’s faction.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yan formally names his Dao Tradition “Blazing Sun,” reflecting his mastery of the Fire Dao and its righteous, destructive power.
• Xiao Xuance uses the map scroll to create Blazing Sun Mountain, an enormous mountain range within the Human Imperial Court’s Blessed Land. Jiang Yan is granted authority over the territory and receives a token allowing him to command it.
• By accepting the territory, Jiang Yan officially joins the faction of Tianxin Crown Prince and gains the ability to recruit disciples and develop his own influence.
• Xiao Xuance warns Jiang Yan that the passage to the Weird World lies nearby. The area is protected by powerful formations connected to the Boundary River, and approaching it without Imperial Court authorization could result in severe injury.
• Jiang Yan conceals his disappointment at being unable to investigate the passage immediately, pretending that he will wait until he receives proper authorization.
• Xiao Xuance leaves to report to Tianxin Crown Prince, expecting the Crown Prince to summon Jiang Yan soon.
• During the report, Xiao Xuance praises Jiang Yan’s combat potential, claiming that Jiang Yan’s path of annihilation and slaughter could eventually surpass even Xiao Xuance himself.
• Tianxin Crown Prince learns that Jiang Yan’s true request is a wisp of Primordial Chaos Origin Flame from the Crown Prince’s treasury. Xiao Xuance has already promised it to Jiang Yan.
• The Crown Prince reveals that the same flame is desired by another powerful figure—someone associated with the phrase “All laws studied together, all Daos made compatible.” The chapter ends with Xiao Xuance identifying this person as Lin Xuanzhao.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yan secures a major political position and a personal territory, strengthening his status within the Human Imperial Court. He remains outwardly cooperative but continues to pursue his own hidden objectives, especially regarding the Weird World and the Primordial Chaos Origin Flame.
• Xiao Xuance acts as Jiang Yan’s sponsor and intermediary. He is impressed by Jiang Yan’s destructive potential and believes Jiang Yan may one day surpass him.
• Tianxin Crown Prince is portrayed as powerful, generous, calculating, and politically astute. He rewards talented allies but is also aware that Jiang Yan must have ulterior motives for joining him.
• Lin Xuanzhao is introduced as a rival claimant to the Primordial Chaos Origin Flame and presumably a cultivator who pursues the simultaneous study and integration of all laws and Daos.

Significant Themes

• Political alliance and strategic loyalty: Jiang Yan joins the Crown Prince’s faction not out of genuine devotion, but to obtain resources and opportunities.
• Power and patronage: The Crown Prince’s gift of an entire mountain range demonstrates how powerful figures attract allies through wealth and authority.
• Hidden motives and mutual calculation: Both Jiang Yan and Tianxin Crown Prince understand that their relationship is transactional and that each party is concealing deeper intentions.
• Dangerous curiosity: The Weird World represents forbidden knowledge and extreme risk, tempting Jiang Yan despite the Imperial Court’s warnings.
• Competing cultivation paths: Jiang Yan’s focused Fire Dao and destructive path are contrasted with Lin Xuanzhao’s seemingly all-encompassing approach of cultivating and harmonizing every law.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Yan and Xiao Xuance negotiate Jiang Yan’s entry into the Crown Prince’s faction, with Xiao presenting the territory and warning him about the Weird World.
• Xiao Xuance reports to Tianxin Crown Prince, emphasizing Jiang Yan’s strength and potential while explaining his demands.
• Tianxin Crown Prince questions Jiang Yan’s motives and reacts cautiously to Xiao Xuance’s promise of the Primordial Chaos Origin Flame.
• The final exchange establishes a looming conflict between Jiang Yan and Lin Xuanzhao over the valuable Innate Flame.

Chapter Summary: “A Proposal”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Tianxin Crown Prince is caught between two powerful figures seeking the Primordial Chaos Origin Flame:
  • Lin Xuanzhao, the Human Race’s second-greatest younger-generation genius and possessor of the Myriad Laws Dao Body.
  • Jiang Yan, a newly advanced Supreme known for his pure Fire Dao and overwhelming offensive strength.
• Although the Crown Prince privately favors Lin Xuanzhao, he cannot openly show partiality. He therefore delegates the matter to his spiritual official, Xiao Xuance.
• Xiao Xuance proposes creating a secret realm where Jiang Yan and Lin Xuanzhao will compete in a Dao battle. The winner will receive the Origin Flame, while the loser will receive compensation to preserve his dignity.
• The arrangement appears fair publicly, but Xiao Xuance knows Lin Xuanzhao is overwhelmingly more likely to win because of his age, reputation, and mastery of countless laws.
• After leaving the Imperial Court, Jiang Yan arrives at the newly awarded Blazing Sun Mountain Range, a vast and resource-rich Dao Tradition belonging to the Human Race’s Ancestral Land.
• Jiang Yan is astonished by the generosity of the Tianxin Crown Prince. He suspects the Crown Prince is pursuing a much larger scheme and may be treating everyone involved as pieces on a vast chessboard.
• Jiang Yan examines the world passage leading toward the Weird World. His secret art reveals that the passage is sealed by the Divine Sense of the Human Emperor, making any attempt at covert entry impossible.
• Jiang Yan orders the cultivators accompanying him to begin developing the Blazing Sun Dao Tradition: constructing defensive formations, residences, and other infrastructure while searching for treasures within the mountain range.

Character Developments

• Tianxin Crown Prince: Reveals himself as politically calculating and strategically generous. He favors Lin Xuanzhao but avoids openly compromising fairness, using Xiao Xuance to manage the conflict.
• Xiao Xuance: Demonstrates political intelligence and loyalty. He understands the Crown Prince’s preference and devises a competition that effectively benefits Lin Xuanzhao while offering Jiang Yan compensation.
• Lin Xuanzhao: Is established as an extraordinary, almost taboo-level genius. His Myriad Laws Dao Body allows him to cultivate ten thousand Daos, making him the presumed victor of the upcoming contest.
• Jiang Yan: Gains a powerful new territory but remains suspicious of the Crown Prince’s motives. He continues prioritizing his investigation of the Weird World and the pursuit of ultimate strength. His confidence is tempered by recognizing that even he cannot bypass the Human Emperor’s seal.
• The Human Emperor: His appearance as the force sealing the passage emphasizes his immense authority and strength within the Human Race.

Significant Themes

• Political maneuvering and hidden agendas: The Crown Prince’s generous gifts may conceal a broader plan, while Xiao Xuance uses diplomacy to disguise favoritism.
• Competition as a tool for fairness: The proposed Dao battle allows the authorities to resolve a conflict publicly without directly choosing one claimant.
• Power and hierarchy: Lin Xuanzhao’s reputation and the Human Emperor’s seal demonstrate the enormous gaps between ordinary Supremes, peerless geniuses, and the Human Race’s supreme rulers.
• Trust and vigilance: Jiang Yan appreciates the Crown Prince’s reward but refuses to accept it without suspicion, recognizing that extraordinary generosity often carries hidden motives.
• The pursuit of the Great Dao: Lin Xuanzhao’s single-minded devotion and Jiang Yan’s desire to enter the Weird World both reflect the central importance of cultivation and ultimate strength.

Character Interactions

• The Tianxin Crown Prince pressures Xiao Xuance to resolve the conflict between Jiang Yan and Lin Xuanzhao without damaging either side.
• Xiao Xuance responds by proposing the secret-realm competition, balancing the Crown Prince’s political interests with the need to protect Jiang Yan’s dignity.
• Jiang Yan does not yet interact directly with Lin Xuanzhao or the Crown Prince, but he becomes central to their plans because of his claim to the Origin Flame and his connection to Xiao Xuance.
• Jiang Yan later directs his followers to establish the Blazing Sun Dao Tradition, beginning the practical development of his new domain.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Qing visits Jiang Yan at his newly established orthodoxy in the Blazing Sun Mountain Range.
• She is surprised and concerned by his choice of location, which is remote, near the world passageway, and adjacent to the territory of the Taishi Divine Lord. She believes Jiang Yan chose poorly and worries about the dangers and lack of resources.
• Jiang Yan refuses to justify his decision, instead calmly complimenting Xiao Qing and serving her tea. His relaxed attitude frustrates her, but she ultimately accepts that the decision has already been made.
• Xiao Qing gives Jiang Yan an ancient, extremely durable object resembling a farmer’s hoe. Though it appears ordinary, Jiang Yan suspects its unusual sturdiness may conceal a secret and accepts it for later investigation.
• Xiao Qing proposes exploring the region together to search for treasures and suggests they divide their discoveries equally. Jiang Yan agrees in principle but postpones the expedition because Xiao Xuance has arrived.
• Xiao Xuance visits to congratulate Jiang Yan and presents him with a talisman containing sealed Nine Heavens Divine Thunder.
• Xiao Xuance then reveals that something unexpected has happened concerning the Primordial Chaos Origin Flame Jiang Yan had requested.
• Jiang Yan reacts with intense pressure and anger, warning Xiao Xuance not to treat him as someone who can be manipulated simply because he followed Xiao Xuance to the Human Race’s Ancestral Land.

2. Character Developments

• Jiang Yan: Demonstrates composure, confidence, and independence. He remains unmoved by criticism of his chosen territory and seems to possess hidden reasons for selecting it. His acceptance of the mysterious hoe shows his ability to recognize potential opportunities, while his final reaction reveals that his patience has clear limits.
• Xiao Qing: Shows genuine concern for Jiang Yan and becomes more assertive when questioning Xiao Xuance about the poor location of Jiang Yan’s orthodoxy. She remains lively, optimistic, and confident in her luck, especially regarding treasure hunting. Her relationship with Jiang Yan is friendly and increasingly familiar.
• Xiao Xuance: Acts politely by offering Jiang Yan a valuable gift, but his failure to explain or defend the choice of territory suggests he may have been careless or withholding information. His announcement about the Primordial Chaos Origin Flame creates immediate tension and raises doubts about whether Jiang Yan has been misled.

3. Significant Themes

• Independence and resistance to control: Jiang Yan refuses to let others dictate his choices or assume that accompanying them makes him subordinate.
• Hidden value beneath appearances: The seemingly ordinary hoe may be an extraordinary artifact, reinforcing the idea that appearances can be deceptive.
• Trust and manipulation: Jiang Yan’s anger suggests he suspects Xiao Xuance may be attempting to alter the original agreement regarding the Primordial Chaos Origin Flame.
• Friendship and loyalty: Xiao Qing’s concern, gift, and desire to explore with Jiang Yan contrast with the more politically complicated relationship between Jiang Yan and Xiao Xuance.
• Strategic uncertainty: The unusual location of Jiang Yan’s orthodoxy may be a deliberate choice rather than poor judgment, though the chapter leaves his true intentions unexplained.

4. Character Interactions

• Xiao Qing criticizes Jiang Yan’s choice of territory but is disarmed by his calm compliments and hospitality.
• Jiang Yan and Xiao Qing establish a friendly partnership, agreeing to explore the region and share future treasures.
• Xiao Qing confronts Xiao Xuance for failing to advise Jiang Yan properly, emphasizing that Jiang Yan is her friend.
• Xiao Xuance exchanges formal gifts with Jiang Yan but avoids answering Xiao Qing’s accusations.
• The relationship between Jiang Yan and Xiao Xuance shifts sharply from cordial to confrontational when Xiao Xuance mentions complications surrounding the Primordial Chaos Origin Flame.

Summary of “Pay More!”

Key plot points and events

Xiao Xuance informs Jiang Yan that Tianxin Crown Prince can no longer give him the Primordial Chaos Origin Flame because another powerful figure has claimed it. Jiang Yan reacts coldly, reminding Xiao Xuance that the original promise represented Tianxin Crown Prince’s word and should not be altered. Xiao Qing supports Jiang Yan, criticizing the change of terms. Xiao Xuance proposes that Jiang Yan fight the other claimant, with the winner receiving the flame. Jiang Yan initially threatens to remember the insult but then reveals that he is mainly trying to negotiate better compensation. He agrees to give up the flame if Xiao Xuance grants him two opportunities to enter the Weird World. Xiao Xuance compromises by agreeing to open the passage once, preventing the dispute from turning hostile. Jiang Yan then asks about his prospective opponent, whom Xiao Xuance describes cryptically as someone who “comprehends all laws together, embracing every Dao.”

Character developments

• Jiang Yan displays controlled aggression, political awareness, and skillful bargaining. Though he appears offended and ready to sever ties with Tianxin Crown Prince, he is actually using the conflict to raise the price of his cooperation. His priority is revealed to be entering the Weird World rather than obtaining the divine flame.
• Xiao Xuance is shown to be honest, cautious, and burdened by the conflicting promises of Tianxin Crown Prince. He recognizes his mistake, apologizes sincerely, and compromises to preserve Jiang Yan’s allegiance.
• Xiao Qing demonstrates fairness and loyalty by openly defending Jiang Yan and criticizing Xiao Xuance’s handling of the promise.
• Tianxin Crown Prince, though absent, is portrayed as immensely powerful and politically influential, but also as someone whose decisions create difficult obligations for his representatives.

Significant themes

• Promises and political credibility: A promise made in the name of a supreme figure carries great weight, and changing it risks damaging trust and alliances.
• Negotiation and leverage: Jiang Yan turns a broken promise into an opportunity to secure something more valuable to him.
• Power and allegiance: Jiang Yan is not committed exclusively to Tianxin Crown Prince and is willing to change sides if another faction offers better opportunities.
• Risk versus protection: His desire to enter the dangerous Weird World reflects his confidence and refusal to accept the protective restrictions imposed on newly advanced Supremes.
• Conflict without hostility: Both sides avoid open enmity by compromising rather than immediately resorting to violence.

Character interactions

Jiang Yan confronts Xiao Xuance over the altered agreement, while Xiao Qing reinforces his position. Xiao Xuance initially suggests a duel for the flame, but Jiang Yan challenges the fairness of the arrangement and hints at future retaliation. He then reframes the dispute, accepting the duel in principle but demanding access to the Weird World as compensation. Xiao Xuance agrees to one passage opening and seeks to preserve the relationship. The chapter ends with Jiang Yan asking about his opponent, only to be confused by Xiao Xuance’s cryptic description of the rival’s extraordinary mastery.

Chapter Summary: “The Victor Has Virtue”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Xuance informs Jiang Yan that his opponent for the Primordial Chaos Origin Flame will be Lin Xuanzhao, known as Second Under Heaven, one of the Human Race’s greatest young prodigies.
• Lin Xuanzhao possesses the Myriad Forms Body, is naturally close to the Great Dao, and is said to comprehend and accommodate countless laws and cultivation paths.
• Xiao Xuance warns Jiang Yan that Lin Xuanzhao is extraordinarily powerful and offers to secure him greater compensation if he withdraws from the contest.
• Rather than retreat, Jiang Yan becomes even more eager. Having nearly reached the peak of the Condensation Realm after acquiring the Nine-Turn Reincarnation Flame, he wants to test his strength against a truly exceptional opponent.
• Jiang Yan accepts the duel, declaring that if he loses, Lin Xuanzhao deserves the Primordial Chaos Origin Flame.
• Because Lin Xuanzhao has not yet reached the Human Imperial Court, Jiang Yan asks Xiao Xuance to arrange his entry into the Weird World while he waits.
• Meanwhile, on Venus’s Myriad Manifestations Mountain Range, Lin Xuanzhao is introduced while drinking in a massive wine pool. His attendant, a small white fox, tells him that he has gained another opponent because both he and someone else seek the Primordial Chaos Origin Flame.
• Lin Xuanzhao agrees to the arranged contest and jokingly claims that, under the principle that “the victor has virtue,” he will become the most virtuous member of the Human Race’s younger generation.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yan: Displays confidence, fearlessness, and a strong desire to test his recently increased power. He values rare opportunities for combat more than guaranteed compensation or safety.
• Xiao Xuance: Demonstrates fairness and responsibility by acknowledging that he and the Tianxin Crown Prince caused the dispute. He respects Jiang Yan’s courage but remains doubtful that Jiang Yan can defeat Lin Xuanzhao.
• Lin Xuanzhao: Is revealed to be both outwardly refined and inwardly arrogant and violent. Though he appears gentle, he actively seeks powerful opponents to test himself and absorb their laws and techniques.
• The white fox attendant: Serves as Lin Xuanzhao’s messenger and companion. Its attempt to drink Lin Xuanzhao’s powerful spirit wine highlights the dangers surrounding his cultivation resources.

Significant Themes

• Courage versus prudence: Jiang Yan rejects the safe choice of compensation and willingly challenges an overwhelmingly famous opponent.
• Strength as self-discovery: The duel represents Jiang Yan’s opportunity to measure his progress after obtaining the Nine-Turn Reincarnation Flame.
• Reputation and genius: Lin Xuanzhao’s title of “Second Under Heaven” reflects the Human Race’s hierarchy of prodigies and the immense expectations placed upon them.
• Virtue and victory: The title’s phrase is used humorously to frame the contest: whoever wins the duel is considered the rightful owner of the Primordial Chaos Origin Flame.
• Contrasting personalities: Jiang Yan is direct and eager for battle, while Lin Xuanzhao combines a polished exterior with a domineering, combative nature.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Yan and Xiao Xuance discuss Lin Xuanzhao’s reputation and the risks of the duel. Xiao Xuance tries to protect Jiang Yan’s interests, but Jiang Yan insists on fighting.
• Xiao Xuance’s respect for Jiang Yan grows after witnessing his willingness to challenge a superior-ranked prodigy.
• Lin Xuanzhao and the white fox interact casually, revealing his playful but arrogant personality and his concern for the fox’s safety.
• The upcoming confrontation is established as a clash between two powerful cultivators, though Lin Xuanzhao has not yet met Jiang Yan.

Chapter Summary: The Beginning of Exploring the Weird World

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Xuance reports to Tianxin Crown Prince that Jiang Yan has agreed to fight Lin Xuanzhao, warning that Jiang is likely to lose.
• Concerned that Jiang Yan might demand excessive compensation, Xiao Xuance suggests imposing limits or abandoning him if necessary.
• Tianxin Crown Prince rejects this idea and declares that Jiang should be given whatever he requests, revealing that he values Jiang Yan extremely highly.
• The Crown Prince approves Jiang Yan’s wish to enter the Weird World, despite dismissing it as a dangerous, cursed land with little benefit.
• Half a month later, Jiang Yan arrives at the sealed passage guarded by the Human Race. He presents the Evil-Repelling Token and receives permission to enter.
• The golden-armored guardian warns him that the nearby regions have already been explored and emptied, while deeper areas are far more dangerous.
• Jiang Yan enters by merging with a magically formed boat and transforming into river water within the Boundary River.
• As he travels through the distorted space-time of the passage, he loses awareness and eventually awakens trapped in the coils of a gigantic black serpent.

Character Developments

• Tianxin Crown Prince: Displays unusual generosity and confidence in Jiang Yan, suggesting he has recognized hidden potential or value in him. His willingness to grant Jiang anything marks Jiang as more important than ordinary recruited cultivators.
• Xiao Xuance: Remains loyal and protective toward the Crown Prince, but his guarded attitude toward Jiang Yan is emphasized. His future treatment of Jiang will depend on why the Crown Prince values him so highly.
• Jiang Yan: Shows determination and curiosity by deliberately entering the Weird World despite its reputation as a deadly, corrupting realm. He acts cautiously and respectfully by following the entry procedures and accepting the guardian’s warnings.
• Golden-armored guardian: Appears stern and impersonal but provides Jiang Yan with valuable information before allowing him to pass.

Significant Themes

• Trust and hidden potential: Tianxin Crown Prince’s faith in Jiang Yan contrasts with Xiao Xuance’s suspicion, implying that Jiang possesses qualities not yet fully revealed.
• The danger of forbidden exploration: The Weird World is portrayed as a cursed land filled with corruption, body-seizing entities, distorted space-time, and hostile outsiders.
• Power and destiny: The Crown Prince observes immense destiny gathering around the Blazing Sun Dao Tradition, suggesting that Jiang Yan’s path is connected to larger forces and future upheavals.
• Curiosity versus survival: Jiang Yan’s desire to explore the unknown leads him into a realm where even powerful cultivators can be easily overwhelmed.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Xuance advises Tianxin Crown Prince to restrain Jiang Yan’s possible demands, but the Crown Prince firmly refuses and orders that Jiang be treated generously.
• The golden-armored guardian verifies Jiang Yan’s token, grants him passage, and warns him about the Weird World’s dangers.
• The chapter ends with Jiang Yan’s first direct encounter in the Weird World: he awakens helplessly wrapped around by a massive black serpent, immediately establishing the realm’s hostility and unpredictability.