Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Chen An visits the Immortal Dream Pavilion to exchange several Sumera Bags of treasures, insisting on payment in Dao Crystals.
• Pavilion Master Feng Xiu worries that the branch may not have enough Dao Crystals to cover the value of Chen An’s goods.
• Xiao Yunshu arrives and authorizes Feng Xiu to draw on her warrant if needed. Feng leaves with the bags to assess the transaction.
• Xiao Yunshu introduces herself and praises Chen An for defeating Ling Cang of the Silver Wolf Tribe and forcing Elder Leng Shuo to back down.
• She explains that Ling Cang attacked Chen An because he resembles Sikong Haoyue, whom Ling Cang resents.
• When Chen An says he does not know Sikong Haoyue, Xiao Yunshu admits that she has met him and dislikes his arrogant, vindictive behavior. Chen An then pointedly asks whether she has a personal grudge against him.

Character developments

• Chen An remains composed and businesslike, using his knowledge of Qi Hanfeng’s memories to choose a powerful trading house capable of supplying Dao Crystals. He grows suspicious that the Immortal Dream Pavilion is backed by the Xiao Ancient Clan, especially after sensing a hidden Saint Realm protector near Xiao Yunshu.
• Xiao Yunshu presents herself as poised and courteous, but reveals strong antipathy toward Sikong Haoyue and bluntly criticizes his conduct.
• Feng Xiu is initially anxious about the limited Dao Crystal supply, then relieved when Xiao Yunshu guarantees the pavilion’s ability to meet Chen An’s request.

Significant themes

• Power and status: Chen An’s Saint Realm strength shapes how others treat him, while Xiao Yunshu’s authority lets her resolve the pavilion’s resource problem.
• Reputation and mistaken identity: Chen An’s resemblance to Sikong Haoyue draws hostility from Ling Cang, even though Chen An claims not to know him.
• Politeness versus private judgment: Xiao Yunshu maintains flawless courtesy while privately criticizing Chen An’s “self-defense” claim and openly condemning Sikong Haoyue.

Character interactions

• Chen An and Feng Xiu negotiate respectfully, though Feng’s concern about the payment briefly complicates the deal.
• Xiao Yunshu reassures Feng, then treats Chen An with deference while praising his strength.
• Their conversation shifts from Chen An’s recent fight to Sikong Haoyue, ending on Chen An’s probing question about Xiao Yunshu’s hostility toward him.

Plot points

• Xiao Yunshu tries to use Sikong Haoyue as a way to probe Chen An’s identity and enlist his help, but Chen sees through her plan and refuses to discuss it.
• Xiao Yanli, a powerful clan elder who had been secretly guarding Xiao Yunshu, arrives and makes her apologize. She leaves to check on the trade inventory.
• While waiting, Chen and Xiao Yanli exchange polite conversation. Xiao Yanli studies Chen but avoids asking about his origins.
• Feng Xiu returns with an itemized valuation of Chen’s treasures. Chen reviews the offers: 2,600 jin of Dao Crystals for the saint-grade Netherdark Scripture, 1,100 for the high-grade Saint Weapon Obsidian Spear, and under 500 combined for the remaining goods. He considers the prices fair and checks the figures carefully.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen An remains focused on business, calmly shutting down Xiao Yunshu’s attempt to involve him in her affairs. His reputation as an exceptional new Saint—one who has defeated formidable opponents—makes even Xiao Yanli wary.
• Xiao Yunshu is embarrassed when her scheme is exposed and obeys her uncle’s instructions.
• Xiao Yanli balances protecting his niece with respecting Chen’s strength. Though curious about Chen’s background and connection to Sikong Haoyue, he keeps his questions to himself.
• Feng Xiu approaches Chen with deference and some nervousness, presenting the completed valuation.

Significant themes

• Prudence and boundaries: Chen refuses to be drawn into another person’s personal conflict.
• Power and restraint: Chen’s strength shifts the balance of the encounter, even as both men maintain formal courtesy.
• Practicality in wealth: Chen treats treasures as assets to trade, not possessions to hoard unused, and judges the offers against realistic market values.

Key plot points and events

• Chen An sells the Netherdark Scripture, the Obsidian Spear, and other spoils at the Immortal Dream Pavilion. The agreed total is 4,170 jin of Dao Crystals.
• Pavilion Master Feng Xiu explains that the branch had to gather the funds from nearby branches. He gives Chen An 4,200 jin, adding thirty jin as a goodwill gesture.
• Xiao Yanli is astonished—and briefly envious—at the value of Chen An’s treasures, recognizing them as likely spoils from Qi Hanfeng. Remembering Chen An’s strength, he quickly abandons any thoughts of greed.
• Xiao invites Chen An to stay for a meal, but Chen An politely declines and returns to his courtyard.
• In the city, people recognize Chen An and compare his appearance to Sikong Haoyue. They also discuss his recent victory over Qi Hanfeng and Sikong’s ambition to build a rare nine-tier Immortal Platform.
• Back home, Chen An uses the system to begin deriving a Saint-grade formation art from mortal-grade formation techniques. The process costs over 6.2 billion system balance and is still underway at the chapter’s end.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen An remains composed and courteous throughout the transaction, then turns immediately to pursuing a new technique.
• Feng Xiu is anxious about handling such a large deal but wins Chen An’s approval by acting respectfully and adding extra crystals.
• Xiao Yanli balances envy with caution and strategic goodwill, recognizing the value of maintaining a relationship with a powerful Saint Realm expert.
• The city’s residents respond to Chen An with awe and caution, contrasting his Saint Realm power with Sikong Haoyue’s still-limited cultivation.

Significant themes

• Power and reputation: Chen An’s victory has quickly become public knowledge, shaping how others treat and discuss him.
• Prudent self-interest: Xiao Yanli and Feng Xiu use courtesy and generosity to preserve goodwill with someone far stronger than themselves.
• Ambition and limits: The discussion of Sikong Haoyue’s nine-tier Immortal Platform highlights the gap between extraordinary aspirations and the immense difficulty of achieving them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen An upgrades his deduction function, allowing him to quickly deduce the Purple Sky Thunder Emperor Scripture to the Saint grade.
• He sets up the Seven-Star Heaven-Sealing Formation, a Saint-grade formation that can withstand a full-force strike from a late-stage Saint Realm cultivator.
• Chen An converts 4,200 jin of Dao Crystals into Source Points for his cultivation.
• He uses 1,200 Source Points to comprehend the Thunder Dao Laws.

Character Developments

• Chen An demonstrates his growth and prowess by quickly deducing a Saint-grade scripture and setting up a powerful formation.
• Murong Qingyan shows her determination and loyalty to her brother, Hao Yue, by vowing to confront the impersonator despite the danger.

Significant Themes

• Power and Growth: Chen An's advancements in cultivation and formation mastery highlight his growing power and capabilities.
• Loyalty and Protectiveness: Murong Qingyan's reaction to the impersonator emphasizes her loyalty to her brother and her protective nature.

Character Interactions

• Chen An interacts with the system, upgrading his deduction function and converting Dao Crystals into Source Points.
• Murong Qingyan and Murong Lingyun interact, with Qingyan expressing her anger and determination to confront the impersonator, and Lingyun trying to caution her.

Key plot points and events

• Murong Qingyan wants to confront Li Xiaoyao because he looks exactly like her fiancé, Sikong Haoyue, and she suspects he may be impersonating him.
• Her brother, Murong Lingyun, restrains her and warns that Li Xiaoyao is a Saint Realm powerhouse who survived a formidable tribulation and defeated the Dao imprint of the Dragon-Subduing Great Emperor. Qingyan agrees to proceed cautiously, though she still wants answers.
• The siblings follow a servant to the quiet courtyard where Li Xiaoyao is staying.
• When the servant approaches the gate, an invisible barrier overwhelms him. Murong Lingyun tests it with divine energy, only for golden Dao patterns to erase the attack.
• Murong Lingyun’s protector, the Twelfth Elder, identifies the barrier as a Saint-Tier Formation. Qingyan abandons her plan to break through, and Lingyun respectfully announces their presence.
• Before he can finish, the formation reveals itself and unleashes immense pressure toward them.

Character developments and interactions

• Qingyan is impulsive and fiercely protective of her feelings for Haoyue, but she can be persuaded to restrain herself when confronted with the danger. Her determination to learn the truth remains.
• Lingyun acts as a cautious, protective older brother. He balances Qingyan’s curiosity against the risks of provoking a powerful stranger, and his confidence gives way to shock when he discovers the formation.
• The siblings argue over how to approach Li Xiaoyao; Lingyun sets strict limits, while Qingyan agrees to follow them.
• The Twelfth Elder communicates through Lingyun’s mind and serves as an authoritative source on the formation’s danger.

Significant themes

• Restraint in the face of power: Personal suspicions must give way to caution when confronting someone far stronger.
• Appearance versus identity: Li Xiaoyao’s resemblance to Haoyue raises questions about whether the two are connected or whether the likeness is misleading.
• Hidden greatness: The humble courtyard contrasts sharply with its extraordinary Saint-Tier defenses, suggesting its resident’s immense status and ability.
• Escalating suspense: The formation’s sudden activation ends the chapter on an immediate threat.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen An successfully reaches the Late Saint Realm after a cultivation breakthrough.
• He sets up the Seven-Star Heaven-Sealing Formation to contain the power surge.
• Murong Yunxing, a Saint Realm expert from the Murong Family, arrives with his entourage to meet Chen An, mistaking him for Sikong Haoyue.

Character Developments

• Chen An: Shows calm and control during his breakthrough, demonstrating his understanding of the Great Dao laws and the power of the Saint Realm.
• Murong Yunxing: Shows surprise and caution upon meeting Chen An, realizing the power discrepancy between them.

Significant Themes

• The power and danger of the Saint Realm cultivation, with Chen An's breakthrough nearly destroying the surrounding area.
• The theme of mistaken identity, as Murong Yunxing mistakes Chen An for Sikong Haoyue.

Character Interactions

• Chen An and Murong Yunxing: Their interaction is tense yet respectful, with Murong Yunxing showing deference to Chen An's power.
• Murong Yunxing and his entourage: They show surprise and fear upon seeing Chen An, highlighting the power imbalance between them.

Chapter Summary

Plot and key events

• Sikong Haoyue arrives at the Murong family courtyard, accusing Chen An of impersonating him.
• Chen An mocks Haoyue’s Immortal Platform cultivation and releases overwhelming Saint Realm pressure. Haoyue is badly injured, while Murong Yunxing protects the Murong family with a barrier.
• Haoyue summons the Sikong family’s high-grade Saint Weapon, the Star-Suppressing Saber. Its power terrifies Dream Immortal City’s residents, forcing many to flee.
• Chen An remains unfazed. He meets the saber’s attack with a lightning-forged hand and catches the weapon in his palm, leaving Haoyue—and those watching—in disbelief.

Character developments

• Chen An displays confidence in his newly attained late-stage Saint Realm strength, treating both Haoyue and the powerful weapon as beneath him.
• Sikong Haoyue goes from indignant challenger to desperate combatant, escalating to his family’s Saint Weapon when Chen An’s pressure overwhelms him.
• Murong Qingyan reveals her affection and concern for Haoyue, pleading with her brother and elder to save him.
• Murong Yunxing acts protectively toward the Murong family and grows wary of Chen An’s immense power.

Character interactions

• Haoyue directly challenges Chen An over the accusation of impersonation.
• Qingyan tries to rush to Haoyue but is restrained by Murong Lingyun, then begs the family elders for help.
• Yunxing shields the family while watching Chen An carefully; Chen An, in turn, answers Haoyue’s challenge with force and contempt.

Significant themes

• Power and hierarchy: The gulf between Immortal Platform cultivators and true Saints is made stark.
• Weapons versus mastery: Haoyue’s formidable Saint Weapon cannot overcome the difference in the wielders’ strength.
• Confidence and humiliation: Chen An’s effortless dominance turns Haoyue’s bold challenge into a public defeat.

Key Plot Points & Events

• Sikong Haoyue, a Saint Realm cultivator, is held at bay by Chen An, who is revealed to be a powerful Saint Realm expert himself.
• Sikong Yan, the Sikong Family's protector and a formidable Saint Realm cultivator, arrives to defend his family's honor and confront Chen An.
• Chen An reveals he is not impersonating anyone and dismisses Sikong Haoyue's prowess, angering Sikong Yan.

Character Developments

• Sikong Haoyue is shown to be arrogant and overconfident, leading to his defeat and humiliation.
• Sikong Yan displays his power and loyalty to his family, intervening to protect Sikong Haoyue.
• Chen An reveals his true strength and disdain for Sikong Haoyue, further cementing his status as a formidable opponent.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and the consequences of underestimating opponents (Sikong Haoyue vs. Chen An).
• Loyalty and family honor (Sikong Yan's intervention).
• Disrespect and the consequences of speaking recklessly (Chen An's provocation of Sikong Yan).

Character Interactions

• Sikong Haoyue and Chen An: The initial conflict and power struggle between them sets the stage for the chapter.
• Sikong Yan and Chen An: Their interaction reveals the depth of Sikong Yan's loyalty and Chen An's disdain.
• Murong Family members: They react with shock and fear to the events unfolding, highlighting the power gap between them and the Saint Realm cultivators.

Key plot points and events

• Sikong Yan launches a powerful blade strike at Chen An, but Chen counters it with a lightning-charged punch. Their collision tears open space and sends Sikong Yan reeling.
• Chen notices the damaged Imperial Formation protecting Dream Immortal City. Worried that their battle could destroy the formation, the Emperor Ruins, and the city’s inhabitants, he challenges Sikong Yan to fight beyond the world.
• Both men leave for the starry sky. The formation shields the city from the lingering force of their clash, leaving its residents shaken by how powerless ordinary people are before saints.
• Murong Yunxing and several other Saint Realm guardians pursue the fighters to watch, leaving their younger companions behind. Murong Lingyun is eager to go too, but Yunxing orders him to stay and protect his sister.
• An apparently frail old man agrees to take a child named Feng’er to watch the battle; they vanish unnoticed.
• In the stars, Sikong Yan begins to offer Chen a chance to yield, but Chen angrily interrupts him and attacks.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen An shows both overwhelming confidence and concern for bystanders: he deliberately moves the fight away from Dream Immortal City to protect its people and the Emperor Ruins. He also reveals his anger at Sikong Yan for secretly watching while Chen dealt with Sikong Haoyue.
• Sikong Yan remains arrogant and composed, relying on his blade mastery and late-Saint-Realm power. After being forced back, he follows Chen into the stars and tries to dictate terms.
• Murong Yunxing acts protectively toward Murong Lingyun, refusing to let him risk joining a battle where he would need safeguarding.
• Murong Lingyun, along with other young onlookers, is eager to witness the rare clash between saints and learn from it.
• Feng’er is excited to see the battle, while his mysterious great-grandfather readily indulges him.

Significant themes

• The gulf between saints and ordinary people: The city’s residents experience firsthand how even the aura of a saintly battle could kill them.
• Power carries responsibility: Chen recognizes that his fight could endanger millions and takes it away from the city.
• Pride and provocation: Sikong Yan’s condescending offer and Chen’s defiant reply set up a clash driven as much by personal hostility as by power.
• The fascination of great power: Guardians and young cultivators alike are drawn to the rare chance to witness a battle between Saint Realm opponents.

Chapter Summary:

Sikong Family’s Imperial Weapon

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen An, appearing under the name Li Xiaoyao, immediately attacks Sikong Yan after accusing him of secretly observing the battle. His punch is empowered by purple-gold thunder and creates massive destruction across the starry sky.
• Sikong Yan, a late-stage Saint Realm cultivator and elder of the ancient Sikong Family, is enraged by Chen An’s disrespect. He counters by condensing his saber-domain into an enormous silver-white saber and unleashing a powerful slash.
• Their first collision shakes the surrounding star domain. Although both are thrown back, Chen An catches Sikong Yan’s full-strength attack with his bare hand, astonishing the watching Saint Realm experts.
• Sikong Yan’s saber manages to wound Chen An’s fist, revealing that Chen An’s physical body, while technically only a ninth-grade Mortal Physique, is extraordinarily powerful—comparable to an ordinary Saint Weapon.
• Chen An activates the Heaven-Mending Resurrection Art, instantly healing his injury and fully restoring his Saint power. This regeneration further shocks Sikong Yan.
• Chen An refuses to slow down and repeatedly challenges Sikong Yan, leading to a prolonged battle involving tens of thousands of exchanges. Their attacks destroy meteorites, comets, and even stars, while the surrounding void collapses under the force of their combat.
• After the lengthy clash, both combatants are injured. Sikong Yan has blood at the corner of his mouth and realizes that Chen An’s strength has not weakened as he expected.
• Fearing humiliation before the watching Saint Realm experts and recognizing that ordinary combat may not defeat Chen An, Sikong Yan decides to use a powerful trump card from the Sikong Family: an Imperial Weapon.
• The chapter ends as Sikong Yan summons the weapon with the command: “Shocking Saber, appear!”

Character Developments

• Chen An/Li Xiaoyao: Demonstrates immense confidence, aggression, and fearlessness. His physical body, thunder-based cultivation, and healing technique allow him to fight far above the level expected of someone who has only recently entered the Saint Realm. He becomes increasingly dominant and refuses to give Sikong Yan time to recover or rely on seniority.
• Sikong Yan: Begins the fight arrogant and eager to use his status to suppress Chen An, but quickly becomes shocked and frustrated by Chen An’s strength. His pride and concern for the Sikong Family’s reputation push him to abandon restraint and reveal a much more powerful weapon.
• Watching Saint Realm cultivators: Initially skeptical of Chen An’s cultivation level, they become alarmed and impressed after witnessing him block Sikong Yan’s saber barehanded. Their reactions establish Chen An as an extraordinary and potentially unprecedented talent.

Significant Themes

• Strength transcending cultivation level: Chen An’s actual combat ability far exceeds what his apparent realm and physique would suggest.
• Physical power and endurance: The battle emphasizes the terrifying durability of Chen An’s body, which can rival Saint Weapons despite not possessing a recognized Saint Physique.
• Pride and reputation: Sikong Yan’s decision to reveal the Imperial Weapon is motivated not only by the need to win, but also by his fear of losing face and damaging the prestige of the ancient Sikong Family.
• Hidden abilities and trump cards: Both fighters conceal extraordinary techniques. Chen An’s healing art and body refinement surprise Sikong Yan, while Sikong Yan ultimately reveals that the family possesses an even greater weapon.
• Defiance of established hierarchy: Chen An openly challenges an older, stronger-ranked cultivator, rejecting the traditional authority associated with age, status, and family background.

Character Interactions

• Chen An and Sikong Yan engage in a hostile verbal exchange before the battle, with Chen An exposing Sikong Yan’s covert observation and provoking him.
• Sikong Yan attempts to intimidate Chen An through seniority and cultivation, but Chen An responds with direct attacks and repeated taunts.
• During the battle, Chen An’s resilience and regeneration undermine Sikong Yan’s strategy of waiting for his supposed forbidden technique to wear off.
• The watching Saints serve as an observing audience whose growing shock intensifies Sikong Yan’s humiliation and motivates him to summon the Sikong Family’s Imperial Weapon.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sikong Yan reveals an imitation of the ultimate imperial weapon, the Shocking Saber, causing alarm among watching Saint Realm experts.
• Chen An, alias Li Xiaoyao, recognizes the weapon's power and decides to engage it head-on.
• Chen An uses a forbidden art to temporarily boost his cultivation to the peak Saint Realm.
• Sikong Yan unleashes a powerful strike with the imitation Shocking Saber, which Chen An counters with his most powerful punch.
• The clash results in Chen An's severe injuries, including the destruction of his arm and the spilling of his Saint blood across the starry sky.

Character Developments

• Sikong Yan: Shows ruthlessness and determination, willing to use an imitation ultimate imperial weapon to defeat Chen An.
• Chen An/Li Xiaoyao: Demonstrates courage and strategic thinking, choosing to face Sikong Yan's powerful attack head-on after boosting his cultivation.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics: The use of an imitation ultimate imperial weapon highlights the power disparity between Sikong Yan and Chen An.
• Courage and determination: Chen An's decision to face Sikong Yan's attack head-on showcases his courage and unwillingness to back down.

Character Interactions

• Sikong Yan vs. Chen An: The two engage in a fierce battle, with Sikong Yan using the imitation Shocking Saber and Chen An boosting his cultivation to counter it.
• Saint Realm experts: Watching from afar, they express surprise, doubt, and alarm at the events unfolding between Sikong Yan and Chen An.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen An, a Saint Realm cultivator, faces Sikong Yan, an expert from an ancient family, who uses a replica Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon.
• Chen An is severely injured but activates the Heaven-Mending Resurrection Art, healing rapidly and surprising the onlookers.
• Chen An then uses the Reverse Dragon Essence Burst Art, momentarily reaching a power level comparable to the Saint King Realm.
• He uses the God-Burning Escape Art to dodge Sikong Yan's attacks and counterattacks, heavily injuring him and damaging his weapon.

Character Developments

• Chen An demonstrates incredible resilience and powerful secret arts, shocking the onlookers and proving his strength.
• Sikong Yan shows his arrogance and underestimation of Chen An, leading to his defeat.

Significant Themes

• The power of secret arts and their potential to defy cultivation realm limitations.
• The arrogance and underestimation of opponents leading to downfall.
• The awe and fear of ancient families and their power.

Character Interactions

• Chen An and Sikong Yan's duel showcases their power and determination.
• The sickly old man and Feng'er watch the battle, with the old man showing interest in Chen An's abilities.
• The watching Saint Realm experts express their shock, disbelief, and greed at Chen An's secret arts.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen An, using the Reverse Dragon Essence Burst Art, temporarily boosts his cultivation to a level comparable to the Saint King Realm.
• He engages in a fierce battle with Sikong Yan, a late-stage Saint Realm expert wielding an imitation supreme Emperor weapon.
• Chen An severely injures Sikong Yan, causing him to detonate his weapon to escape.
• Sikong Yan vows revenge, and Chen An realizes the threat posed by the ancient aristocratic family behind Sikong Yan, the Sikong Family.

Character Developments

• Chen An demonstrates exceptional combat skills, decisiveness, and lightning law comprehension, impressing even the Saints watching.
• Sikong Yan shows desperation and ruthlessness, willing to self-destruct his weapon to escape.
• The Saints from ancient aristocratic families and holy lands express shock and dread at Chen An's abilities, hinting at their hidden strength.

Significant Themes

• The power of ancient aristocratic families and their supreme Emperor weapons.
• The importance of cultivation and strength in the face of powerful enemies.
• The consequences of underestimating one's opponent.

Character Interactions

• Chen An and Sikong Yan's intense battle showcases their skills and desperation.
• The Saints watching react with shock, horror, and greed to Chen An's abilities.
• Feng'er and the sickly old man discuss Chen An's prowess, hinting at their interest in him.

Plot points and events

• Li Xiaoyao defeats Sikong Yan after abruptly raising his cultivation to the Saint King Realm. He uses three powerful secret techniques, apparently connected to the legendary Nine Mysteries, and forces Sikong Yan to detonate his imitation Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon before fleeing.
• The watching experts recognize that Li Xiaoyao’s strength could affect the balance of power across the Heavenly Court Ancient Star. Some covet his possible Nine Mysteries arts, but hesitate to approach him.
• Li Xiaoyao appears to weaken, coughing up blood as his aura falls from Saint King to near-below Saint. Some observers consider attacking, but others remember that he previously appeared injured only to kill Old Freak Qi. They suspect this is another trap and hold back.
• Sacred Lord Qingxuan, who witnessed the earlier incident, is especially wary and retreats, convinced Li Xiaoyao may be feigning weakness again.
• A mysterious sickly old man and a child depart after watching the battle. Yun Changfeng then offers Li Xiaoyao a bottle of Saint-grade healing medicine; Xiao Yanli follows with pills from the Xiao Clan. Other onlookers soon offer their own medicines.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Xiaoyao establishes himself as a formidable and possibly unpredictable powerhouse. His apparent collapse makes others fear that he may be baiting them, not merely recovering from the fight.
• Sikong Yan is badly defeated and forced to sacrifice the Sikong Family’s imitation weapon to escape.
• Sacred Lord Qingxuan reveals lasting fear and caution after seeing Li Xiaoyao survive—and triumph despite seeming gravely wounded.
• Yun Changfeng and Xiao Yanli approach Li Xiaoyao respectfully and offer aid, signaling their desire to build goodwill. Their example prompts other experts to do the same.
• The observers’ interactions shift from silent suspicion and concealed greed to cautious, competitive gestures of friendship.

Significant themes

• Appearances and deception: Li Xiaoyao’s apparent injuries make others question whether they are witnessing genuine weakness or a calculated lure.
• Power and political influence: His victory makes him a force capable of changing the region’s balance, prompting both fear and opportunism.
• Trust and self-interest: The healing gifts may be acts of courtesy, but they also reflect the observers’ desire to secure favor with someone powerful.
• Legendary knowledge and ambition: The possibility that Li Xiaoyao possesses the Nine Mysteries stirs awe and greed, even among those afraid to challenge him.

Key plot points

• After defeating Sikong Yan, Chen An accepts healing medicines from the gathered Saint Realm experts, then offers to sell the three secret arts he used.
• He clarifies that the arts—the Heaven-Mending Resurrection Art, Reverse Dragon Essence Burst Art, and God-Burning Escape Art—are not the true Nine Mysteries, but were derived from the Nine Secrets Fragment Scrolls.
• Chen An provides the experts with written descriptions and sets a price of one thousand jin of Dao Crystals per art. He insists that buyers must purchase all three together.
• Several experts express interest but need to gather the Dao Crystals. Chen An says he will remain in Dream Immortal City for a few days, and some leave to prepare.
• As Xiao Yanli is about to depart, Chen An calls him back, suggesting he has something further to discuss.

Character developments

• Chen An turns his victory into a business opportunity. Though he claims to be poor and in need of a Saint Weapon, he is deliberately pricing the arts to encourage numerous sales.
• He knows the arts’ true potential through his system, but also knows they carry drawbacks for other users, making him comfortable selling them.
• The gathered saints shift from suspicion and disappointment at learning the arts are not the Nine Mysteries to interest once they see the arts’ power and learn the price.

Significant themes

• Opportunity and pragmatism: Chen An converts the attention generated by his duel into a chance to acquire resources.
• Knowledge as power and property: Secret arts can strengthen entire lineages, making them valuable beyond their immediate use.
• Deception and unequal knowledge: Chen An knows far more about the arts’ potential—and risks—than his prospective buyers.

Character interactions

• The saints offer Chen An medicine out of respect and concern after his apparent injuries.
• Chen An tests their interest by asking whether they want to learn the arts, then explains their origins and terms openly enough to secure buyers.
• Several saints arrange to return with payment, while Chen An’s call to Xiao Yanli sets up another exchange.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen An meets Xiao Yanli, a Saint Realm expert, and offers to trade secret arts for Yuan Crystals, knowing the system can still use Yuan Crystals.
• Chen An deduces three secret arts from the Nine Secrets Fragment Scrolls using the system, consuming 300 billion Yuan Crystals each.
• Chen An discovers a connection with Sikong Haoyue, who is revealed to be his half-brother, sharing the same father (Lu Qingxuan/Chen Yan).

Character Developments

• Chen An: Shows adaptability and resourcefulness in exploiting the system's loopholes to deduce secret arts using Yuan Crystals. He also demonstrates his ability to sense and verify his connection with Sikong Haoyue.
• Xiao Yanli: Shows gratitude and eagerness to trade Yuan Crystals for secret arts, highlighting his desperation for cultivation resources.
• Sikong Haoyue: Implicitly shown to be Chen An's half-brother, sharing the same father. His absence and the mystery surrounding his father's identity are hinted at.

Significant Themes

• Resourcefulness and adaptability in the face of system limitations.
• The value and scarcity of cultivation resources, particularly Dao Crystals and Yuan Crystals.
• Bloodline connections and family secrets, hinting at a larger mystery surrounding their shared father.

Character Interactions

• Chen An and Xiao Yanli: They interact as equals, with Chen An taking advantage of Xiao Yanli's desperation for resources, while Xiao Yanli is grateful for the opportunity.
• Chen An and Sikong Haoyue: Though not directly interacting, their connection is revealed, hinting at a complex family dynamic and potential future interactions.

Chapter Summary: “Sikong Shaking the Heavens!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sikong Yan, the Sikong Family’s Second Elder, returns through the family’s domain gate gravely injured after escorting the Dao Child, Sikong Haoyue. His lower body has been destroyed, his Saint cultivation is nearly exhausted, and Thunder Dao Laws continue to damage his origin.
• The Sikong Family’s elders immediately treat him with rare divine medicines. Their Great Elder orders an investigation, vowing revenge against whoever attacked their Dao Child and elder.
• In Immortal Dream City, news spreads that the mysterious early-Saint cultivator Li Xiaoyao defeated Sikong Yan, despite Sikong Yan’s late-Saint cultivation and possession of a weapon modeled after an Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon.
• People begin investigating Li Xiaoyao’s origins, linking him only to the small Astonishing Swan Sect in the Northern Region’s Chong Kingdom. Rumors claim he may belong to a hidden lineage, possess a Great Emperor’s inheritance, or come from beyond the domain.
• A more sensational rumor reveals that Li Xiaoyao is selling three powerful secret arts derived from the Nine Secrets Fragment Scrolls. Each costs one thousand jin of Dao Crystals, but all three must be purchased together for three thousand jin.
• The three arts are believed to include techniques based on the True Dragon, Phoenix, and Peng inheritances: one boosts cultivation, one enhances speed, and one heals the body and Primordial Spirit. Their value is proven by Li Xiaoyao’s victory over Sikong Yan.
• Because these inheritances require a perfected cultivator to expend immense Primordial Spirit energy in transmitting them, they cannot easily be copied or exchanged. This makes them extremely rare and drives many forces to gather Dao Crystals.
• Chen An, secretly living as Li Xiaoyao, remains unconcerned with the surrounding commotion and waits at home for buyers.
• Xiao Yanli and Xiao Yunshu arrive as his first apparent customers. Chen An welcomes them politely, recognizing them as wealthy patrons.

Character Developments

• Sikong Yan: His defeat demonstrates the enormous gap between Li Xiaoyao’s apparent cultivation and actual combat strength. His near-death condition also exposes the vulnerability of even powerful Saint experts.
• The Sikong Family: The family reacts with anger and humiliation. Their determination to investigate and retaliate establishes them as a looming threat.
• Li Xiaoyao/Chen An: Chen An’s reputation rapidly grows from an unknown newly ascended Saint into a figure possessing priceless secret arts. He remains calm, pragmatic, and commercially minded, treating his abilities as commodities rather than sacred treasures.
• Xiao Yanli: By personally visiting Chen An, he shows that he considers the secret arts valuable enough to pursue directly and may be acting on behalf of a powerful organization.
• Xiao Yunshu: Her presence suggests personal interest or strategic importance, while her respectful behavior indicates that she recognizes Chen An’s status and power.

Significant Themes

• Power versus cultivation realm: Li Xiaoyao’s victory over a stronger and better-equipped opponent emphasizes that secret techniques and combat ability can overcome conventional differences in cultivation.
• The value of knowledge: The secret arts are treated as more precious than ordinary treasures because they can directly improve survival, speed, healing, and combat potential.
• Rumor and reputation: With almost no information about Li Xiaoyao, the cultivation world fills the gap with speculation, rapidly transforming him into a mysterious and legendary figure.
• Hidden identity and calculated behavior: Chen An conceals his true identity while exploiting his public persona to gain wealth and influence.
• Retaliation and rising conflict: The Sikong Family’s vow of revenge foreshadows future confrontations between them and Chen An.

Character Interactions

• The Sikong Family elders gather around and treat the severely wounded Sikong Yan, while the Great Elder commands an investigation and promises retaliation.
• Cultivators across Immortal Dream City debate Li Xiaoyao’s origins and seek ways to purchase his secret arts.
• Chen An receives Xiao Yanli and Xiao Yunshu at his courtyard, exchanging formal greetings and inviting them inside, setting the stage for negotiations over the three secret arts.

• The secret-art trade: Chen An welcomes Xiao Yanli and Xiao Yunshu into his courtyard, where Xiao Yanli recognizes the danger and sophistication of Chen An’s formation. Xiao Yanli pays the agreed 350 billion Yuan Crystals for Chen An’s three secret arts. Chen An accepts the payment and hands over the jade slips; Xiao Yanli examines them before storing them.
• Warning and alliance proposal: Xiao Yanli cautions that the Sikong Family is likely to retaliate for Chen An’s defeat of Sikong Yan. The clan’s true Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon, the Shocking Saber, is far more dangerous than the imitation weapon Sikong Yan used. Xiao Yunshu reinforces the warning, clearly concerned for Chen An’s safety.
• Marriage offer rejected: Xiao Yanli reveals that the Xiao Family hopes to recruit Chen An as a guest elder, offering protection through the clan and its Swallowing Heaven Tower. He also proposes that Chen An marry Xiao Yunshu and become her Dao partner. Chen An politely declines both offers, saying he has no desire to join another faction or enter a partnership under those terms.
• Character developments and interactions: Chen An remains composed and self-assured, unmoved by the enormous payment or the threat of the Sikong Family. Xiao Yanli acts cautiously and strategically, combining a warning with an attempt to secure a powerful ally. Xiao Yunshu begins with admiration and concern, but Chen An’s refusal wounds her pride; she turns resentful and prepares to leave. Just as she rises, Chen An calls out to stop her, leaving his next move unresolved.
• Themes: The chapter contrasts power and security: the Xiao Family offers protection and status, but Chen An values independence. It also explores pride and rejection, as Xiao Yunshu’s confidence falters when Chen An refuses her, and foreshadows conflict with the Sikong Family.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen An refuses to marry Xiao Yunshu, insulting her instead.
• Xiao Yunshu and Xiao Yanli leave, with Chen An letting them go.
• Chen An decides to raise his cultivation and derive a new scripture.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yunshu: Shows her arrogance and desperation, but ultimately leaves without causing further conflict.
• Chen An: Demonstrates his pride and confidence, refusing to be pressured into a marriage alliance. He also shows consideration for his future and decides to improve his cultivation.

Significant Themes

• Pride and Arrogance: Xiao Yunshu's arrogance leads her to underestimate Chen An, while Chen An's pride leads him to refuse a marriage alliance.
• Power and Cultivation: Chen An's decision to improve his cultivation highlights the importance of power and strength in his world.

Character Interactions

• Chen An and Xiao Yunshu: Their interaction is tense and confrontational, with Xiao Yunshu trying to pressure Chen An into a marriage alliance and Chen An refusing.
• Chen An and Xiao Yanli: Though not directly interacting, Xiao Yanli's presence is noted, and he shows deference to Chen An's power.

Chapter Summary: “The Money I Earned Feels So Good!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen An discovers that upgrading his cultivation technique to the Quasi-Emperor Realm requires 236 billion Crystal Points, equivalent to 2,360 catties of Dao Crystals.
• Although he had originally planned to stop at the Saint King Realm and perhaps deduce one of the Nine Mysteries, Chen An decides that strengthening his cultivation is more important than acquiring additional secret arts.
• He begins the system deduction, combining the Purple Sky Thunder Emperor Scripture, Netherdark Scripture, and a Quasi-Emperor-level cultivation scripture. The system starts dismantling and reconstructing the underlying laws of the techniques.
• While waiting for the deduction, Chen An continues engraving the three secret-art inheritances onto jade slips.
• The Murong Family arrives to purchase the secret arts. Murong Yunxing and Murong Lingyun pay 3,000 catties of Dao Crystals, completing the transaction smoothly.
• Chen An is delighted by the sudden influx of wealth and estimates that he will soon be able to prepare for another breakthrough.
• Five additional groups visit that night to buy the secret arts. All transactions proceed peacefully, with no bargaining, threats, or recruitment attempts.
• By the end of the chapter, the cultivation-technique deduction has reached only 14%, suggesting it will not finish until the following day.

Character Developments

• Chen An: Becomes more focused on strengthening his cultivation rather than relying solely on secret arts. His recent battle with Sikong Yan reinforces his belief that a higher realm is the true foundation of power. He also displays a practical, business-minded side, becoming especially enthusiastic whenever customers arrive with Dao Crystals.
• Murong Yunxing and Murong Lingyun: Approach Chen An respectfully and purchase the secret arts without conflict. Their willingness to trade, despite their connection to Sikong Haoyue, distinguishes them from more openly hostile factions.
• The various ancient clans and sacred grounds: Continue to underestimate Chen An. They acknowledge his ability to challenge Saint King experts through secret arts but still regard him as insignificant before an ancient clan possessing an Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon.

Significant Themes

• Cultivation as the foundation of strength: Chen An concludes that secret arts cannot replace a powerful cultivation realm. Greater cultivation would allow him to defeat enemies like Sikong Yan without exhausting special techniques.
• The threat of powerful institutions: The Sikong Family’s possession of the genuine Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon, the Shocking Saber, makes Chen An aware that his current strength may still be insufficient for true security.
• Power and perception: Although Chen An has demonstrated extraordinary combat ability, established forces dismiss him as a temporary phenomenon because he lacks the deep foundations and Imperial Weapons of ancient clans.
• Wealth and opportunity: Dao Crystals are both a measure of Chen An’s success and the means by which he can rapidly improve. The chapter highlights his satisfaction at earning large sums through the sale of secret arts.

Character Interactions

• Chen An reflects on his earlier battle with Sikong Yan and evaluates how cultivation and secret arts contributed to his victory.
• He receives the Murong Family courteously, shifting from indifference to enthusiasm once he learns they have come to buy secret arts.
• The transaction with Murong Yunxing and Murong Lingyun is respectful and efficient, contrasting with the hostility Chen An expects from the Sikong Family.
• Five other groups also interact with Chen An as customers, completing straightforward purchases before leaving satisfied.
• The broader forces remain observers rather than allies: they are willing to buy Chen An’s techniques but do not consider him worthy of recruitment or capable of challenging the ancient clans in the long term.