Ch. 181A Colossal Mix-Up, the Western Lands Receive Compensation
Chapter Summary: A Colossal Mix-Up, the Western Lands Receive Compensation
Key Plot Points and Events
- Di Jun achieves a breakthrough in his control of the Celestial Star Formation during the battle against the Western Lands’ Saints, Zhun Ti and Jie Yin.
- With Taiyi and over a thousand Quasi-Sages supplying mana, Di Jun unleashes the formation’s ultimate technique, “All Laws Return to One.”
- The resulting stellar beam pierces through the formation and shatters the Twelve-Petal Golden Lotus of Merit’s defensive barrier.
- Zhun Ti and Jie Yin are severely injured, vomit Saint blood, and fall from the sky. The Celestial Star Formation also collapses after releasing its maximum power.
- The surrounding Quasi-Sages move to surround and potentially kill the weakened Saints.
- To prove their innocence, Zhun Ti swears a Heavenly Dao Oath claiming that he and Jie Yin stole only the Numinous Treasures belonging to Tianji Daoist and several others—not those of the remaining Quasi-Sages.
- The oath is confirmed by the Heavenly Dao, and Zhun Ti returns the treasures he had taken.
- Everyone realizes that the conflict resulted from a misunderstanding: the earlier oaths only established that Zhun Ti had stolen the treasures of certain individuals, not all the missing treasures.
- The Quasi-Sages recognize that they have collectively attacked two Saints without properly investigating the truth and attempt to flee before the Saints recover.
- Zhun Ti and Jie Yin rapidly heal more than half their injuries using the Heavenly Dao’s power and block the group’s escape.
- Furious at being attacked and nearly having the Western Lands destroyed, the Saints demand compensation.
- Fearing retaliation, the Quasi-Sages offer spiritual treasures, spiritual roots, and other valuable resources as apologies and reparations.
Character Developments
- Di Jun demonstrates a major advancement in his mastery of the Celestial Star Formation, allowing him to unleash its most devastating technique.
- Taiyi and the Quasi-Sages cooperate fully with Di Jun, contributing their mana to achieve a decisive attack.
- Zhun Ti and Jie Yin are shown to be both vulnerable and politically shrewd. After suffering serious injuries, they use a Heavenly Dao Oath to clarify the truth, then exploit the Quasi-Sages’ guilt and fear to obtain compensation.
- The Quasi-Sages shift from righteous attackers to embarrassed and anxious participants in a massive misunderstanding. Though ashamed, they acknowledge that paying compensation is safer than provoking the recovering Saints further.
Significant Themes
- Misunderstanding and false assumptions: The central conflict arises because everyone interprets separate, technically accurate oaths as proof of a much broader accusation.
- The danger of acting without investigation: The Quasi-Sages’ haste leads them to injure two Saints and nearly devastate the Western Lands.
- Power and leverage: Once the Saints recover, their status allows them to demand reparations from the very people who had defeated them moments earlier.
- Face and reputation: Zhun Ti and Jie Yin are deeply humiliated by their injuries, while the Quasi-Sages fear the consequences of having publicly attacked Saints.
- Legal and supernatural truth: The Heavenly Dao Oath serves as an unquestionable mechanism for establishing facts, though its limited wording reveals how technically true statements can still produce confusion.
Character Interactions
- Di Jun coordinates with Taiyi and the Quasi-Sages to launch the formation’s final attack against Zhun Ti and Jie Yin.
- Zhun Ti and Jie Yin support each other defensively, relying on the Golden Lotus of Merit when the stellar beam traps them.
- After being surrounded, Jie Yin urges restraint while Zhun Ti swears the oath and returns the stolen treasures.
- The Quasi-Sages initially prepare to kill the weakened Saints, then try to escape once they realize their mistake.
- Zhun Ti and Jie Yin intercept them, condemn their reckless assault, and demand compensation.
- The Quasi-Sages reluctantly offer treasures and resources, effectively compensating the Western Lands for the damage and humiliation caused by the conflict.