Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Mo uses his Destined Spirit Swords to swiftly eliminate over twenty Witch Tribe geniuses, each with Martial Emperor Realm strength.
• The Immortal Phoenix joins the fight, decimating more Witch Tribe geniuses.
• Wu Tianyu employs a secret technique, temporarily boosting his power, and attacks Su Mo with countless spear shadows.
• Su Mo uses the Great Three Treasures Art to enhance his strength and engages Wu Tianyu in a fierce battle, their attacks causing massive destruction.

Character Developments

• Su Mo demonstrates improved control over his Destined Spirit Swords, allowing him to multitask and attack from a distance.
• Wu Tianyu reveals a powerful secret technique, temporarily boosting his strength.
• Su Mo's use of the Great Three Treasures Art indicates his growing understanding and control over his powers.

Significant Themes

• The theme of power and its growth is evident as Su Mo's abilities evolve and he gains the upper hand in the battle.
• The theme of adaptability is shown as Su Mo adjusts his strategies to counter Wu Tianyu's secret technique.

Character Interactions

• Su Mo and Wu Tianyu engage in a intense, back-and-forth battle, showcasing their strength and skill.
• The Immortal Phoenix aids the Azure Divine Palace, working together to defeat the Witch Tribe geniuses.
• The remaining Witch Tribe geniuses struggle against the combined forces of the Azure Divine Palace and Su Mo's Destined Spirit Swords.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A massive explosion occurs, pushing Su Mo back and causing Wu Tianyu to order a retreat.
• The Witch Tribe geniuses flee, with Wu Tianyu leading them.
• Su Mo decides not to pursue, acknowledging Wu Tianyu's strength.
• Su Mo and Qin Budai discuss their next moves, with Qin Budai agreeing to track the Witch Tribe geniuses.
• Su Mo decides to enter closed-door cultivation to attempt breaking through to the Ninth Layer Martial Emperor Realm.
• Su Mo, the Bald Big Man, and the Middle-Aged Man in Black return to the Savage Sacred Mountain to wait for Qin Budai's return.

Character Developments

• Su Mo: Demonstrates strategic thinking and confidence in his abilities, planning to break through his cultivation realm to face the Witch Tribe threat.
• Qin Budai: Shows understanding and support for Su Mo's plans, agreeing to track the Witch Tribe geniuses.
• Wu Tianyu: Retreats with the Witch Tribe geniuses, acknowledging Su Mo's strength as a threat.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics: The strength of the Witch Tribe and Su Mo's Azure Divine Palace is a central theme, with both sides acknowledging each other's power.
• Strategic planning: Su Mo's decision-making and planning are crucial to the story's progression, highlighting the importance of strategy and foresight.
• Cultivation and growth: Su Mo's plan to break through his cultivation realm emphasizes the importance of personal growth and improvement in the story.

Character Interactions

• Su Mo and Qin Budai: They discuss their next moves, with Qin Budai showing support for Su Mo's plans.
• Su Mo and the Savage Three Demons: They decide to return to the Savage Sacred Mountain together to wait for Qin Budai's return.
• Wu Tianyu and the Witch Tribe geniuses: Wu Tianyu leads the retreat, showing his role as a leader and protector of the Witch Tribe.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Mo discovers a vast fortune (over four hundred billion top-grade Spirit Stones) and spiritual herbs in Qin Budai's Storage Rings.
• He finds an extraordinary crystal, surpassing top-grade Spirit Stones.
• In the Divine Diagram Space, millions of Azure Divine Palace disciples celebrate their victory.
• Su Mo interrogates Wu Xian about the guards at the Azure World's exit, learning there are two Venerable-level Witch Tribe experts.
• Su Mo takes Wu Xian's Venerable-grade Martial Arts Jade Slips and Divine Cores, preparing to break through his cultivation.

Character Developments

• Su Mo demonstrates his strategic thinking and ruthlessness by not killing Wu Xian immediately but using her to gain information.
• Wu Xian reveals her pride and determination to exact revenge on Su Mo once she's free.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics: The strength of Venerables is emphasized as insurmountable, highlighting the vast power gap between realms.
• Greed and ambition: Wu Xian's desire for revenge and Su Mo's pursuit of power drive their actions.

Character Interactions

• Su Mo and Wu Xian: Their interaction is tense, with Wu Xian trying to negotiate her release while Su Mo remains unmoved.
• Su Mo and Azure Divine Palace disciples: They show respect and excitement towards Su Mo, acknowledging him as their Palace Master.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Mo, at the peak of the Eighth Layer Martial Emperor Realm, uses over thirty Divine Cores and countless top-grade Spirit Stones to break through to the peak of the Ninth Layer Martial Emperor Realm.
• He learns that all remaining Witch Tribe trialists (about 700) have gathered on a small island in the West Sea, intending to hide until the trial ends.
• Su Mo, Qin Budai, and two other companions travel to the island to eliminate the Witch Tribe trialists.

Character Developments

• Su Mo's cultivation advances significantly, reaching the peak of the Ninth Layer Martial Emperor Realm.
• Qin Budai demonstrates his unique tracking skill using his Undying Bird lineage.

Significant Themes

• Power and Strength: Su Mo's cultivation breakthrough represents his growing power and ability to face the Witch Tribe trialists.
• Determination: Su Mo's resolve to annihilate the Witch Tribe trialists is unwavering.

Character Interactions

• Su Mo, Qin Budai, and the two companions work together to confront the Witch Tribe trialists, with Su Mo taking the lead in the assault.
• Qin Budai shares the information about the trialists' location with Su Mo, demonstrating their alliance and trust in each other.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Witch Tribe trialists, led by Wu Tianyu, are stranded on a desolate island after suffering heavy losses against Su Mo.
• Wu Tianyu decides to wait out the trial period and have the clan's Venerables handle the Azure World natives after their return.
• Su Mo, having advanced to the Martial Emperor Realm Ninth Level Peak, attacks the Witch Tribe trialists with a powerful three-colored sword qi, killing and injuring many.
• Wu Tianyu, unable to withstand Su Mo's onslaught, orders a retreat, and the remaining Witch Tribe trialists flee.

Character Developments

• Wu Tianyu: Realizes the Azure World's strength is beyond what he expected, feels helpless and frustrated, but maintains his composure and prioritizes his clan members' safety.
• Su Mo: Advances to a higher cultivation level, demonstrating increased strength and confidence in his abilities.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: The shift in power between Su Mo and Wu Tianyu is evident, with Su Mo now posing a significant threat to the Witch Tribe.
• Desperation and Retreat: The Witch Tribe trialists, once confident and arrogant, are now desperate and willing to retreat, highlighting their changed circumstances.

Character Interactions

• Wu Tianyu and the Witch Tribe Trialists: Wu Tianyu's frustration with his clan members' lack of skill and their pleas for revenge lead to a tense interaction, with Wu Tianyu ultimately prioritizing their safety.
• Su Mo and Wu Tianyu: Their battle showcases Su Mo's growth and Wu Tianyu's desperation to escape, with Wu Tianyu unable to effectively counter Su Mo's attacks.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Mo pursues and attacks the fleeing Witch Tribe geniuses, killing many with his sword and Spirit Swords.
• Wu Tianyu, the main target, flees, and Su Mo pursues him.
• Su Mo launches a powerful attack, which Wu Tianyu barely dodges.
• Wu Tianyu uses a life-saving item, a black sphere containing Earth Fiend Qi, to counter Su Mo's attack.
• The Earth Fiend Qi's power is so immense that it threatens to destroy the entire West Sea and annihilate all existence.
• Su Mo retreats into the Illusory Realm Divine Diagram to avoid the Earth Fiend Qi.

Character Developments

• Su Mo demonstrates his immense power and speed, easily overwhelming the Witch Tribe geniuses.
• Wu Tianyu shows his desperation and resourcefulness, using a powerful life-saving item to escape Su Mo's attack.
• Su Mo shows concern for the lives of the Azure Divine Palace members, focusing on protecting them within the Illusory Realm Divine Diagram.

Significant Themes

• The power of Earth Fiend Qi is emphasized, showing its ability to destroy and annihilate.
• The theme of life and death is highlighted, with characters facing life-threatening situations and using desperate measures to survive.

Character Interactions

• Su Mo and Wu Tianyu engage in a high-speed chase and battle, showcasing their respective powers and techniques.
• Su Mo's actions indirectly put the lives of the Azure Divine Palace members at risk, highlighting his responsibility towards them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A powerful Earth Fiend Qi attack threatens the Illusory Realm Divine Diagram, causing widespread panic.
• Su Mo barely manages to save the Divine Diagram, but the surrounding area is devastated.
• Su Mo decides to wait at the space passage to ambush Wu Tianyu and the Witch Tribe geniuses upon their return.
• Su Mo learns from Qin Budai that he has captured Wu Sen, the Sect Master of the Yellow Springs Demonic Sect and Wu Tianyu's father.

Character Developments

• Su Mo demonstrates his determination and resourcefulness in protecting the Illusory Realm Divine Diagram and his loved ones.
• Qin Budai shows his strategic thinking by capturing Witch Tribe members, including Wu Sen.
• Wu Sen, captured and helpless, faces the consequences of his actions.

Significant Themes

• The power of determination and resourcefulness in the face of adversity (Su Mo's resolve to protect the Divine Diagram).
• The consequences of one's actions (Wu Sen's capture and impending fate).

Character Interactions

• Su Mo and Qin Budai work together, with Qin Budai providing valuable information about Wu Sen's capture.
• Su Mo's interaction with Wu Sen is marked by tension and impending danger, as Wu Sen fears for his life.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Mo captures Wu Sen, who offers to serve him to save his life.
• Wu Sen reveals that Wu Shan, Huangfu Qing, and others are trapped in a spatial treasure, a space jade bracelet.
• Su Mo kills Wu Sen, extracts his Divine Core, and uses the Billion Demonic Sword to absorb his blood.
• Wu Sen's Battle Soul, the Hell Three-Headed Wolf, tries to escape but is captured and devoured by Su Mo's Devouring Martial Soul.

Character Developments

• Su Mo: Shows ruthlessness and cunning in dealing with Wu Sen, demonstrating the power of his Devouring Martial Soul to devour Battle Souls.
• Wu Sen: Desperately tries to save his life, first by offering servitude, then by revealing the location of the captives. Ultimately, he meets his end, both physically and in his Battle Soul.

Significant Themes

• Power and survival: Characters use their power to ensure their survival, with Wu Sen attempting to save himself by offering servitude and revealing secrets, while Su Mo uses his strength to eliminate threats.
• Devouring power: The theme of devouring is emphasized, with Su Mo's Martial Soul capable of consuming other Martial Souls and Battle Souls, highlighting his unique and formidable ability.

Character Interactions

• Su Mo and Wu Sen: Their interaction is one of power dynamics, with Wu Sen trying to manipulate Su Mo into sparing him, while Su Mo uses Wu Sen to gain information and ultimately eliminates him.
• Su Mo and Qin Budai: Though brief, their interaction shows Qin Budai's acknowledgment of Su Mo's power, as he confirms that Wu Sen's Battle Soul was sealed within his body.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Mo refines Wu Sen's space jade bracelet, gaining control over it and discovering a space containing over a hundred thousand Martial Artists, including Wu Shan, Huangfu Qing, and other key figures.
• Su Mo releases Wu Shan from the bracelet's space and captures him.
• Su Mo destroys Wu Shan's divine soul, allowing Li Feng's divine soul to take control of Wu Shan's body and awaken.

Character Developments

• Su Mo demonstrates his growing power and control over space, refining Wu Sen's artifact and defeating Wu Shan.
• Li Feng, previously possessed by Wu Shan, awakens and regains control of her body.

Significant Themes

• The struggle for power and control, as seen in Su Mo's refinement of the space jade bracelet and his subsequent actions against Wu Shan.
• The consequences of one's actions, as Wu Shan's past deeds catch up to him, leading to his demise.

Character Interactions

• Su Mo and Wu Shan: Their confrontation leads to Wu Shan's defeat and eventual death.
• Su Mo and Li Feng: Although not directly interacting in this chapter, their relationship is implied to be one of rescue and liberation, as Li Feng regains control of her body after Su Mo destroys Wu Shan's divine soul.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Feng wakes up after years, and Su Mo explains the events that transpired.
• Su Mo, Li Feng, Qin Budai, and two others travel to the Southern Continent to wait for the spatial passage.
• Su Mo and Qin Budai prepare for the imminent threat from the Witch Tribe Venerable.

Character Developments

• Li Feng: Reunites with Su Mo after years, decides to follow him, and is filled in on the past events.
• Su Mo: Struggles with the challenge of evolving his Martial Soul into a Battle Soul within a short time frame.
• Qin Budai: Reveals he has a feather that can resurrect him, showing his extraordinary background and power.

Significant Themes

• Friendship and loyalty: Li Feng's decision to follow Su Mo highlights their strong bond.
• Power and threat: The impending danger from the Witch Tribe Venerable emphasizes the characters' vulnerability despite their strength.
• Preparation and adaptability: Su Mo and Qin Budai's strategic planning and precautions show their determination and resourcefulness.

Character Interactions

• Su Mo and Li Feng: Their reunion is filled with emotion, and Li Feng decides to follow Su Mo without hesitation.
• Su Mo and Qin Budai: They work together, sharing resources and strategies, and both leave a wisp of Xuan energy within their 'hostages' for added security.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Mo kills scattered Witch Tribe trialists over three days, deterring others from approaching.
• More than 200 trialists gather secretly, planning to force their way out.
• The space passage opens after four hours, and Su Mo and Qin Budai rush to guard it.

Character Developments

• Su Mo's ruthlessness towards the trialists grows, driven by their mistreatment of Azure World inhabitants.
• Qin Budai remains neutral, following Su Mo's lead but feeling helpless about his ruthlessness.

Significant Themes

• The struggle for survival and escape from the Azure World.
• The power dynamics between the Azure World inhabitants and the Witch Tribe trialists.

Character Interactions

• Su Mo and Qin Budai stand together, guarding the space passage.
• Witch Tribe trialists gather secretly, planning to force their way out, showing determination to escape despite fear.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Mo and Qin Budai wait at the space passage's entrance for Witch Tribe trialists, who aim to leave after Su Mo and Qin Budai enter.
• After waiting for about half an hour, over four hundred Witch Tribe trialists, led by Wu Tianyu, attack Su Mo and Qin Budai.
• Su Mo evades their attacks and counters with his Destined Spirit Swords, killing many trialists.
• Wu Tianyu and about fifty trialists manage to enter the space passage before it closes.

Character Developments

• Su Mo demonstrates patience and strategic thinking, understanding the Witch Tribe's plan and waiting them out.
• Wu Tianyu shows exceptional combat prowess and determination, using his comrades' lives to buy time for his escape.
• Qin Budai reveals anxiety about the closing space passage, showing his eagerness to leave.

Significant Themes

• Patience and strategic thinking vs. impulsiveness and recklessness (Su Mo vs. Witch Tribe trialists)
• Sacrifice for personal gain (Wu Tianyu using his comrades to escape)
• The consequences of underestimating opponents (Su Mo's regret at not focusing on Wu Tianyu)

Character Interactions

• Su Mo and Qin Budai work together to enter the space passage, with Qin Budai following Su Mo's lead.
• Su Mo and Wu Tianyu engage in a battle of wits and strength, with Wu Tianyu ultimately escaping.
• The Witch Tribe trialists attack Su Mo and Qin Budai en masse, leading to their deaths or escape into the space passage.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Mo and Qin Budai traverse a long, dangerous space passage.
• They capture Wu Xian and other Witch Tribe trialists as hostages.
• Qin Budai gives Su Mo his Spatial Treasure Artifact containing his brothers.
• They exit the passage onto a desolate planet, facing over fifty Witch Tribe trialists and two powerful Venerables.

Character Developments

• Su Mo demonstrates strategic thinking and decisiveness in capturing hostages.
• Qin Budai shows selflessness and concern for Su Mo's safety.
• Wu Xian maintains her composure despite being captured.
• The Witch Tribe trialists show fear and desperation.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: The vast difference in power between the Venerables and the others is evident.
• Loyalty and Sacrifice: Qin Budai's willingness to sacrifice himself for Su Mo highlights their bond.
• Hatred and Revenge: The Witch Tribe trialists' intense hatred for Su Mo drives their desire for vengeance.

Character Interactions

• Su Mo and Qin Budai work together, showing mutual respect and trust.
• The Witch Tribe trialists unite in their hatred for Su Mo and Qin Budai.
• The two Venerables, Venerable Fan and Venerable Yin, display a united front in their intent to kill Su Mo and Qin Budai.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wu Fan, a Venerable, demands the release of hostages (Wu Xian and others) held by Su Mo and Qin Budai.
• Su Mo and Qin Budai are injured by Wu Fan's aura.
• Su Mo kills a hostage to show resolve, enraging Wu Fan.
• Wu Fan and Wu Yin (another Venerable) approach, causing Su Mo and Qin Budai to retreat.
• Wu Yin appears behind Su Mo and Qin Budai, blocking their escape.
• Wu Fan offers to let them go if they release the remaining hostages, but Su Mo and Qin Budai are skeptical.

Character Developments

• Su Mo shows ruthlessness and determination by killing a hostage.
• Wu Fan and Wu Yin display their power and status as Venerables.
• Wu Xian shows concern for her clansmen but fears for her own life.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics: The Venerables' strength contrasts with Su Mo and Qin Budai's desperation.
• Ruthlessness vs. mercy: Su Mo's willingness to kill hostages vs. Wu Fan's initial restraint due to Wu Xian's safety.
• Trust and deception: Su Mo and Qin Budai's skepticism towards Wu Fan's offer.

Character Interactions

• Tension between Su Mo, Qin Budai, Wu Fan, and Wu Yin.
• Wu Xian's fear and intermittent speech while being held hostage.
• Non-verbal communication between Su Mo and Qin Budai, showing unity and understanding.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Mo and Qin Budai are surrounded by Venerable Fan, Venerable Yin, Wu Tianyu, and fifty-plus Witch Tribe geniuses.
• Su Mo decides to use Wu Xian as a hostage to force the Venerables to let them go, threatening to kill her if they don't comply.
• Venerable Fan uses sonic waves to attack Su Mo and Qin Budai, but Su Mo remains unfazed due to his powerful Spiritual Power.
• Su Mo wounds Wu Xian, threatening to kill her if Venerable Fan doesn't remove the energy shield.
• Venerable Fan removes the energy shield, allowing Su Mo and Qin Budai to escape, but not before threatening them about the safety of the hostages.

Character Developments

• Su Mo: Demonstrates quick thinking, ruthlessness, and strong Spiritual Power, enabling him to outmaneuver the Venerables.
• Venerable Fan: Shows anger and frustration at being repeatedly threatened by Su Mo, but ultimately prioritizes the safety of the hostages.
• Wu Xian: Initially arrogant and dismissive of Su Mo, she becomes fearful for her life when Su Mo threatens to kill her.

Significant Themes

• Ruthlessness and Cunning: Su Mo's willingness to use Wu Xian as a hostage and threaten her life showcases his ruthlessness and cunning.
• Power Dynamics: The situation highlights the power dynamics between the Witch Tribe and the natives, with Su Mo and Qin Budai exploiting the Venerables' concern for the hostages to escape.

Character Interactions

• Su Mo and Qin Budai: They work together, with Su Mo making strategic decisions and Qin Budai providing support and hostages.
• Su Mo and Wu Xian: Their interaction is tense and threatening, with Wu Xian initially dismissive and later frightened.
• Venerable Fan and Venerable Yin: They communicate non-verbally, with Venerable Yin nodding to indicate they should let Su Mo and Qin Budai go.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Mo and Qin Budai escape from the barren, desolate planet, pursued by Venerables Wu Fan and Wu Yin.
• Su Mo creates a massive Xuan energy shield for defense against potential ambushes.
• They drift through the endless starry sky, losing track of time and direction, for over a month.
• Wu Xian reveals that the starry sky is the Heavenly Desolate Star Domain, which is vast and boundless, even a Venerable can't fly out of it in their lifetime.

Character Developments

• Su Mo demonstrates his intelligence and meticulousness in maintaining a defensive shield and considering the consequences of killing their hostages.
• Qin Budai shows concern for their situation and the need for a destination.
• Wu Xian, despite being a captive, provides valuable information about the Heavenly Desolate Star Domain.

Significant Themes

• The vastness and boundlessness of the starry sky, emphasizing the characters' insignificance and the challenges they face.
• The importance of strategy and planning, as seen in Su Mo's defensive shield and his consideration of the consequences of their actions.
• The theme of survival and escape, as the characters strive to evade their pursuers and find a way out of their predicament.

Character Interactions

• Su Mo and Qin Budai work together, with Su Mo taking the lead in decision-making and Qin Budai supporting him.
• Wu Xian, despite being a captive, interacts with Su Mo, providing information and showing a change in attitude towards him.
• The two Witch Tribe youths held by Qin Budai show fear and desperation, pleading for their lives.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Mo and Qin Budai travel through the starry sky, aiming for the closest star, a pale green one.
• After three months of flight, they reach the green star, which is vast and covered in continuous mountain ranges.
• They enter the star's Nine Heavens Gale Layer, which is equivalent to an ordinary Martial Emperor First Layer cultivator's attack.
• Upon entering the star, they notice that the Nine Heavens Gale Layer becomes turbulent, indicating that Wu Fan and Wu Yin have entered.
• Su Mo and Qin Budai land on a boundless plain and spot an ancient city in the distance.

Character Developments

• Su Mo remains calm and strategic, constantly assessing their situation and planning their next moves.
• Qin Budai remains loyal and determined, following Su Mo's lead without question.
• Wu Xian, though not present, is mentioned as having calmed down and hoping for rescue from Wu Fan and Wu Yin.

Significant Themes

• The vastness and danger of the starry sky, contrasting with the familiarity of their home world.
• The resourcefulness and adaptability of Su Mo and Qin Budai in the face of uncertainty.
• The theme of pursuit and being pursued, with Wu Fan and Wu Yin tracking Su Mo and Qin Budai.

Character Interactions

• Su Mo and Qin Budai work together, with Su Mo leading and Qin Budai following, showing a strong bond of trust.
• Wu Xian's mention highlights the potential conflict between her and Su Mo, as well as her hope for rescue from Wu Fan and Wu Yin.
• The potential inhabitants of the green star are mentioned, raising the question of how Su Mo and Qin Budai will interact with them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Mo and Qin Budai enter a bustling city, observing its massive scale and diverse inhabitants.
• They notice the high number of powerful Martial Artists, realizing the city's strength far surpasses the Azure World.
• Su Mo and Qin Budai enter the Artifact Refiner Guild, a tall building with the words "Artifact Refiner" inscribed on it.
• Meanwhile, the Witch Tribe Venerables Wu Fan and Wu Yin follow them secretly, waiting for an opportunity to rescue Wu Xian and the other two geniuses.

Character Developments

• Su Mo: Shows caution and vigilance, aware of the Witch Tribe Venerables' presence. He seeks a safe haven in the Artifact Refiner Guild.
• Qin Budai: Follows Su Mo's lead, understanding the need for caution and the importance of finding a safe place.
• Wu Xian: Remains calm and composed, aware of her captors' intentions but doesn't try to escape, likely trusting in her tribe's Venerables.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: The city's strength and the presence of powerful Martial Artists highlight the power dynamics in the outside world, contrasting with the Azure World.
• Caution and Vigilance: Su Mo's constant vigilance emphasizes the importance of caution in the face of unknown threats.
• Trust and Dependence: Wu Xian's trust in her tribe's Venerables and Su Mo's dependence on finding a safe haven are key aspects of their characters.

Character Interactions

• Su Mo and Qin Budai: They work together, communicating silently and sharing a common goal of finding safety.
• Wu Xian and the Witch Tribe Venerables: Wu Xian trusts in her tribe's Venerables to rescue her, while the Venerables are apprehensive about acting due to Wu Xian's potential sacrifice.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Mo and Qin Budai enter the Artifact Refiner Guild, finding it to be a vast hall selling high-grade weapons, including Venerable-grade ones.
• Su Mo inquires about joining the guild, discovering it recruits Artifact Refiners year-round but only Emperor-grade or higher can become official Artifact Refiners, while lower grades become apprentices.
• Su Mo bribes a tall, thin Artifact Refiner apprentice with a profound Artifact Refining skill to help him join as an apprentice.

Character Developments

• Su Mo: Shows determination to join the Artifact Refiner Guild for protection, resorting to bribery to achieve his goal.
• Qin Budai: Accompanies Su Mo but doesn't show interest in joining the Artifact Refiner Guild.

Significant Themes

• Protection and security: Su Mo seeks to join the Artifact Refiner Guild for its presumed strength and protection.
• Bribery: Su Mo uses a profound Artifact Refining skill to bribe an Artifact Refiner apprentice, highlighting the importance of connections and favor exchange.

Character Interactions

• Su Mo and the tall, thin Artifact Refiner apprentice: Su Mo bribes the apprentice to help him join the guild, showcasing his desperation and resourcefulness.
• Su Mo and Qin Budai: They explore the guild together, with Qin Budai showing no interest in joining.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Mo offers a Jade Slip containing valuable artifact refining techniques to a tall, thin Artifact Refiner in exchange for information about the Artifact Refiner Guild.
• The Artifact Refiner reveals that the Guild is not accepting apprentices and that only Emperor-grade Artifact Refiners or above can join as Guild Artifact Refiners.
• Su Mo expresses his desire to become a Guild Artifact Refiner, despite the Artifact Refiner's disbelief and mockery.
• The Artifact Refiner agrees to introduce Su Mo to the Guild's steward but warns that Su Mo will likely be rejected.

Character Developments

• The tall, thin Artifact Refiner: Initially helpful and talkative, he becomes dismissive and mocking when Su Mo expresses his desire to become a Guild Artifact Refiner. He believes Su Mo is too young and inexperienced to have Emperor-grade artifact refining skills.
• Su Mo: Remains calm and determined despite the Artifact Refiner's mockery. He is desperate to join the Guild for safety and is willing to take the risk of being rejected.

Significant Themes

• Desperation and Determination: Su Mo's desperation to find a safe haven drives him to attempt the impossible, showcasing his determination.
• Age and Experience: The Artifact Refiner's disbelief in Su Mo's abilities highlights the theme of age and experience being crucial in the outside world.

Character Interactions

• Su Mo and the tall, thin Artifact Refiner: Their interaction starts cordially but turns dismissive and mocking on the Artifact Refiner's part when Su Mo expresses his ambition.
• Su Mo and Qin Budai: Qin Budai shows concern for Su Mo's decision, but Su Mo remains resolute.