Ch. 461The Nine Provinces Drew Near, the Three Thousand Worlds Dharma Assembly Began—A Great Wind Rose!
Chapter Summary
Key Plot Points and Events
- Li Beichen fully analyzes the power and limitations of the restored Jade Pool Golden Ark. Its void-transit ability and Primordial Magnetism Star-Destruction Cannon require the removal of deep seals and consume vast amounts of Sumeru Primordial Magnetism.
- Once its stored energy is depleted, the Golden Ark will become dormant and require replenishment with Star Sea Primordial Magnetism and spatial Dao power.
- Li Beichen realizes the resources gathered by the dead spirits in the Nether World are perfectly suited to restoring the Golden Ark. He plans to secretly transport them through Nine Provinces frontier officials and use his Golden Light of Earth-Crossing technique to supply the Ark’s spatial-energy needs.
- He decides not to test the Golden Ark within Jade Pool, fearing that its aura and destructive power could expose his secrets or attract enemies. Instead, he plans to leave secretly, retrieve the Nether World’s resources, and test the Ark in an isolated region of the Star Sea.
- Li Beichen contacts Liu Binghu, learning that Nine Provinces is traveling through the Star Sea at unprecedented speed using ten Grotto-Heaven Engines. The world is expected to reach its destination near the Ethereal World in about three months.
- He arranges for his senior brother Shen Sanlian to deliver a communication artifact to Wenren Zhong, a Nine Provinces Venerable stationed at the frontier. Wenren Zhong agrees to secretly transport Star Sea Primordial Magnetism back to Li Beichen through official channels.
- With these preparations complete, Li Beichen returns to cultivating the Supreme Clarity Golden Palace Scripture of Wonderful Seeking.
- Meanwhile, the Heavenly Court announces that the Three Thousand Worlds Prefectural Assembly, held every three hundred years, will begin in three years. The assembly will determine prestige, fortune, and resource distribution among the participating worlds.
- At the Floating Sword Sect, Superior Floating completes the transformation of his Dharma Soul into a powerful Geng Metal Sword Soul, greatly increasing his offensive strength.
- Believing this breakthrough makes him superior to Jade Pool’s aging Superior Sankong, Superior Floating and his disciples decide that the Floating Sword Sect should replace Jade Pool as the Ethereal World’s representative at the upcoming assembly.
- The Floating Sword Sect begins planning to pressure Jade Pool into surrendering its traditional leadership role and openly discusses claiming Jade Pool’s remaining assets and inheritance after Sankong’s eventual death.
Character Developments
- Li Beichen becomes increasingly cautious and politically calculating. Although Jade Pool has treated him well, he refuses to reveal the Golden Ark or his other major secrets until he better understands the Upper Realm’s dangers.
- He demonstrates growing leadership over Nine Provinces by coordinating frontier officials, maintaining communication networks, and arranging the covert movement of valuable resources.
- Liu Binghu continues serving as a loyal protector and commander, overseeing Nine Provinces’ dangerous high-speed journey.
- Wenren Zhong is established as a dependable subordinate who willingly accepts the risk of secretly transporting resources for Li Beichen.
- Superior Sankong reacts quietly and heavily to the assembly announcement, suggesting that the event carries painful historical significance and may threaten Jade Pool’s position.
- Superior Floating gains a major increase in strength after forging his Geng Metal Sword Soul. His confidence and ambition rise with it, and he begins viewing himself as the natural leader of the Ethereal World.
- The Floating Sword Sect’s Venerables reveal their opportunistic and dismissive attitude toward Jade Pool, treating the sect’s decline and Sankong’s approaching death as an opportunity to seize its authority and resources.
Significant Themes
- Caution and concealment: Li Beichen understands that possessing powerful treasures is dangerous if others discover them. His survival depends on keeping his greatest advantages hidden.
- Decline and succession: Jade Pool’s weakening position contrasts with the Floating Sword Sect’s rising strength. The chapter emphasizes that Dao lineages rise and fall over time.
- Political rivalry: The upcoming assembly is not merely a contest of combat but a struggle over representation, influence, resources, and the future of entire worlds.
- Preparation and long-term planning: Li Beichen quietly builds logistical networks while the Floating Sword Sect prepares a political challenge. Both sides recognize that future victory depends on preparations made before the major conflict begins.
- Power and inheritance: The Golden Ark, Jade Pool’s starships, and the sect’s lost treasures symbolize the value of inherited resources and the consequences of decline.
- Fate and timing: Superior Floating interprets his breakthrough before the assembly as proof that heaven favors his sect, reinforcing his confidence and ambition.
Character Interactions
- Li Beichen and Liu Binghu exchange updates about Nine Provinces’ journey. Their conversation reflects mutual trust and concern, with Liu Binghu asking about Li Beichen’s progress in Jade Pool.
- Li Beichen and Shen Sanlian coordinate the delivery of a communication artifact to Wenren Zhong. Shen Sanlian shows goodwill toward Li Beichen and promises to look after his fellow townsman.
- Li Beichen and Wenren Zhong establish a covert supply arrangement. Li Beichen entrusts him with transporting Star Sea Primordial Magnetism, and Wenren Zhong pledges absolute loyalty and caution.
- Superior Floating and his disciples discuss replacing Jade Pool as the Ethereal World’s representative. His disciples flatter him, denigrate Sankong, and encourage him to seize Jade Pool’s authority.
- One more level-headed Floating Sword Sect Venerable warns that precedent requires an internal selection process before Jade Pool can be displaced, leading the sect to plan a formal challenge rather than an outright assumption of power.
- Superior Floating ultimately endorses the plan, declaring that the responsibility for leading the Ethereal World should pass from declining Jade Pool to the ascendant Floating Sword Sect.