Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• The Crescent Moon Sect Master uses the Crescent Moon Secret Art, drawing Blood Essence from disciples whose limbs repeatedly regenerate and burst apart. The technique briefly restores his body and raises his cultivation from Minor to Great Completion of the Inner God Realm.
• Jiang Chi recognizes the secret technique. The Sect Master recognizes Jiang Chi in turn and reveals that he once sacrificed his own nephew as a test subject for the Mad Blood Mystic Technique.
• Qin An calls for the people hiding nearby. Three Deer Demons from Mount Lu appear, exposing the Crescent Moon Sect’s alliance with demons. They identify Qin An as the man who destroyed Mount Xiaoyao and threaten him over the death of the Fox Consort.
• The Sect Master reveals that Gao Huang has joined their side, making the enemy group five against the four investigators. Gao admits he betrayed the Evil Extermination Division for security, power, and the chance to become a lord’s disciple.
• Qin An attacks Gao, but the Sect Master intercepts him. The fight splits into separate matchups: Lin Feng and Dai Lin each engage a Deer Demon, while Jiang Chi faces Gao and another Deer Demon.
• The other three Silver Generals are held at bay. Jiang Chi uses the Heart War Technique, coordinating different movements with each hand to compensate for his blindness and keep both opponents occupied.
• Qin An fights the Sect Master. He uses his Two Forms Dharma for defense, then unleashes Three-Blade Fusion. The Sect Master survives the powerful strike by releasing another burst of Secret Art–driven power. Qin An remains unharmed, and the chapter ends as renewed screams come from the disciples below.

Character developments

• Qin An remains composed in the face of the ambush and treats Gao’s betrayal as a familiar pattern. His resolve to kill those who side with demons is unmistakable; he also proves capable of matching the Sect Master’s extraordinary power.
• Jiang Chi is revealed to be the Sect Master’s old enemy through his late nephew’s grudge. Despite his blindness, he demonstrates significant skill and resilience with the Heart War Technique.
• The Sect Master is exposed as ruthless: he sacrificed his nephew for experimentation and is willing to drain his disciples to restore his body and strength.
• Gao Huang openly embraces treachery, framing self-interest as a pursuit of safety and future success. His desire to kill Qin An is also personal and opportunistic.
• Dai Lin and Lin Feng demonstrate distinct combat strengths: Dai Lin’s explosive claw techniques inflict serious wounds, while Lin Feng uses close-quarters swordsmanship to gain an advantage without quickly finishing his opponent.

Significant themes

• Betrayal disguised as pragmatism: Gao presents his alliance with demons as a sensible way to secure his future, echoing a recurring pattern Qin An says he has encountered elsewhere.
• Power bought through sacrifice: The Sect Master’s restored body depends on draining his own disciples, while his past experiments show how readily he treats relatives as expendable.
• Resilience and adaptation: Jiang Chi compensates for blindness through specialized technique, and the investigators continue fighting despite being outnumbered and divided.
• Loyalty and vengeance: The Deer Demons’ grudge against Qin An turns a mission into a personal confrontation, while Qin An’s response reflects his uncompromising opposition to demon collaborators.

Character interactions

• Jiang Chi and the Sect Master confront their shared history, culminating in the revelation of the nephew’s death.
• Qin An’s challenge draws out the Deer Demons, who connect him to Mount Xiaoyao and demand vengeance for the Fox Consort.
• Gao’s former comrades condemn his betrayal; he responds with resentment and ambition, singling out Qin An as an obstacle to his advancement.
• The enemy forces deliberately target Jiang Chi’s blindness, but his unusual two-handed technique surprises both allies and opponents.
• Qin An and the Sect Master exchange powerful attacks, establishing the chapter’s central duel as the other fighters struggle to survive their separate matchups.

Key plot points and events

• Crescent Moon Sect Master Gao Huang reveals a cruel Secret Art: he transfers his injuries to his disciples, who die in his place. He has also temporarily raised his strength to Great Completion of the Inner God Realm.
• While Jiang Chi, Dai Lin, Ye Feng, and the Deer Demons remain locked in battle, Qin An confronts the Sect Master. He first uses the Water-Fire Blood Burning Demon Sealing Hand with one Demon Consciousness, but the Sect Master survives by sacrificing his followers.
• Qin An invokes his reputation for destroying Mount Xiaoyao and killing the powerful Fox Consort, then burns a second Demon Consciousness. The blow smashes the Sect Master into his throne and kills every remaining Crescent Moon Sect disciple, ending the Sect Master’s protection.
• Wounded and terrified, the Sect Master activates Frenzied Blood, driving his power higher at the cost of exhausting his own blood essence. Qin An uses the opening to kill Gao Huang and another Deer Demon, while Jiang Chi helps create the chance to strike.
• Qin An and the frenzied Sect Master then exchange more than twenty blows. As Qin An is driven back toward the hall wall, his allies prepare to intervene. The chapter ends with Qin An burning two more Demon Consciousnesses and declaring that the Sect Master still cannot reach Perfection of the Inner God Realm.

Character developments

• Qin An remains composed and tactically sharp, revealing that his apparent limit was misleading. He uses Demon Consciousnesses strategically and prioritizes eliminating other threats before resuming the duel.
• The Sect Master shifts from smug confidence to fear, then to desperate, self-destructive aggression. His reliance on disciples and Frenzied Blood proves costly, but he continues fighting.
• Jiang Chi demonstrates battlefield experience and loyalty: he helps pin Gao Huang in place and later recognizes Qin An’s plan, while remaining ready to support him.
• Dai Lin, Ye Feng, and the Deer Demons are shaken by Qin An’s strength; the allies grow increasingly worried as the duel turns against him.

Significant themes

• Power and sacrifice: The Sect Master’s strength rests on making his disciples pay for his injuries, exposing the cruelty behind his authority.
• Composure and tactical judgment: Qin An’s calm contrasts with the Sect Master’s growing panic, and careful timing lets him remove multiple enemies amid a dangerous duel.
• Limits and escalation: Both fighters push beyond ordinary endurance—one through Frenzied Blood, the other by burning Demon Consciousnesses—leaving the outcome uncertain.

Character interactions

• The Sect Master taunts Qin An and boasts that his disciples can die in his place; Qin An counters by invoking his past victory over Fox Consort and dismissing the Sect Master’s supposed advantage.
• Jiang Chi coordinates with Qin An by keeping Gao Huang occupied, enabling Qin An’s lethal strike.
• Qin An protects Jiang Chi by throwing him clear before resuming his fight with the Sect Master, while his allies consider intervening as Qin An is forced back.

Key plot points and events

• Qin An unleashes the full force of his Water-Fire Blood Burning Demon Sealing Hand, combining blood essence, True Essence, and Divine Consciousness. His final clash with the frenzied Crescent Moon Sect Master destroys the palace.
• The others dig through the wreckage and find the Sect Master dead: headless, with a hole through his chest. Qin An is the only survivor besides Jiang Chi, Dai Lin, and Lin Feng; the sect’s Demons and disciples have all been killed.
• The group gathers the sect’s Mind Method and valuables, then parts ways. Qin An returns to the Evil Extermination Division, while the other three leave for their own duties.
• An unknown black-robed figure with a Silver Patterned Waist Token visits the massacre site, recognizes the efficiency of the killings, and decides to investigate.
• The next day, Qin An begins improving his Formation Master Profession, one of the two professions still below level thirteen.
• Meanwhile, Zhou Yuanfeng, Tang Zizhen, and Zheng Qunshan discuss Qin An’s killing of Ji Cheng. Zheng says their teacher intends to punish Qin An, despite acknowledging that Gao Huang’s death was justified because he colluded with Demons. The chapter ends before the punishment is specified.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An demonstrates overwhelming strength and composure, but remains cautious about future Inner God Realm opponents. He sees the battle as worthwhile and plans to strengthen his abilities. He rejects the spoils as largely useless and leaves without lingering.
• Jiang Chi finds emotional closure after the Crescent Moon Sect’s destruction, which ends the lifelong resentment caused by his expulsion and disfigurement. He kneels to thank Qin An and pledges his loyalty.
• Dai Lin feels relieved that she chose to work with Qin An, recognizing how dangerous the alternative could have been. She and Lin Feng both express respect and offer their help.
• Jiang Chi, Dai Lin, and Lin Feng predict that Qin An may eventually become a Mountain Patrol Golden General, while acknowledging that few Silver Generals achieve that rank.
• Zhou Yuanfeng openly defends Qin An, arguing that he is dedicated to fighting Demons and should not be condemned for joining Jin Fengyu after their teacher refused to accept him. Zheng Qunshan pressures and threatens him, but Zhou stands by his judgment.
• Tang Zizhen tries to defuse the confrontation and steer it toward a practical resolution. Zheng Qunshan presents the teacher’s position: Ji Cheng’s death must be punished, even though it occurred in an agreed life-or-death duel.

Significant themes

• Strength and survival: Qin An reflects that the strong can dominate while the weak are at others’ mercy.
• Justice versus political power: The discussion of Ji Cheng’s death suggests that political loyalties can make even straightforward actions appear wrong.
• Loyalty and gratitude: Jiang Chi’s pledge and Zhou Yuanfeng’s defense show different forms of allegiance—personal gratitude and principled conviction.
• Ambition and risk: Qin An’s plans to improve his professions reflect his awareness that greater power will bring more dangerous opponents.

Key plot points and events

• Zheng Qunshan reveals that Qin An must join the campaign to quell the Bamboo Water Rebellion. His teacher is invoking the Evil Extermination Division’s iron laws: Qin’s service may offset his alleged offense, but refusal is not an option.
• Zhou Yuanfeng objects that the rebellion is too complicated for Qin to resolve alone, while Tang Zizhen tries to ease the confrontation. Zheng warns them not to oppose the decision and leaves after Zhou recalls that their grandmother was right to strike him.
• Tang and Zhou tell Qin what happened. Qin accepts the mission, recognizing that it cannot be covered up and that the rebellion could offer valuable merits.
• Qin explains that the Bamboo Water River is contested by more than a hundred human, demon, and False God factions. He plans to depart in two months, using the time to raise his Formation Master and Alchemist professions to Level Thirteen and prepare pills.
• At Mount Lu, Lu Wufeng learns that Qin was responsible for the failure of the Crescent Moon Sect’s scheme. After learning Qin may travel to the Bamboo Water River, Lu decides to pursue him there and kill him to avenge the destruction of his bloodline.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An remains composed under pressure and treats the compulsory mission as both a danger and an opportunity. He plans strategically, prioritizing growth before entering the conflict.
• Zhou Yuanfeng openly challenges Zheng’s misuse of authority, then supports Qin while acknowledging his limited ability to intervene.
• Tang Zizhen mediates between Zhou and Zheng and shows unexpected personal concern for Qin, even surprising herself with how much she worries about him.
• Zheng Qunshan asserts his authority and pressures Tang and Zhou to accept the decision, while concealing hostility beneath appeals to rules and “principles.”
• Lu Wufeng shifts from gathering information to direct action, turning his personal vendetta against Qin into a planned ambush.
• Tang and Zhou act in solidarity when they bring Qin the news; their concern contrasts with Zheng’s coercive stance. The Deer Demons serve as messengers and informants, connecting the failed scheme to Lu’s plans.

Significant themes

• Law as both principle and weapon: The Division’s rules provide the formal basis for Qin’s assignment, but are used to impose a dangerous burden.
• Power and self-determination: Qin cannot avoid the mission through influence, so he responds by strengthening himself.
• Ambition amid danger: The rebellion is perilous, yet its hostile factions represent opportunities for merit and advancement.
• Loyalty, concern, and revenge: Tang and Zhou’s support contrasts with Lu Wufeng’s consuming desire for vengeance.

Key plot points and events

• Several days pass as tensions continue among Demons, False Gods, and humans in Xunyang Prefecture.
• Tang Zizhen visits Zhou Yuanfeng with wine to warn him that Zheng Qunshan is heading to the Bamboo Water River and may target Qin An out of resentment. Qin An already knows and says he will defend himself if challenged.
• After two months of focused training, Qin An raises both his Alchemist and Formation Master professions to level thirteen, advancing all related talents to Outer Core Realm proficiency.
• Preparing to leave for the Bamboo Water River, Qin An exchanges all his Merits for ten portions of Demon Consciousness, which will serve as reserves for his combat technique.
• He visits the Alchemist Alliance and refines fifty Golden Origin Pills for healing and fifty Silver Origin Pills for restoring True Essence. The Alliance Master supplies the ingredients as repayment for the Alliance’s debt to Qin An.
• At the Bamboo Water River, numerous factions have gathered around the rumored treasure, making the area dangerous. The Twin Absolute Sect’s Great Elder, Duan Yun, assures Zheng Qunshan that allied forces will refuse to associate with Qin An.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An emerges from his two-month training markedly stronger in alchemy and formations. He is pragmatic and thorough, preparing carefully for the dangerous mission while keeping its details private.
• Tang Zizhen shows concern for Qin An and warns Zhou Yuanfeng about Zheng Qunshan’s likely hostility.
• Zhou Yuanfeng recognizes that Qin An has surpassed his and Tang’s ability to intervene directly. He urges caution but accepts Qin An’s confidence.
• The Alchemist Alliance Master admires Qin An’s exceptional skill and repays his past help by covering the cost of ingredients.
• Zheng Qunshan appears intent on isolating or confronting Qin An, enlisting Duan Yun’s support.

Significant themes

• Growing power and independence: Qin An’s advancement places him beyond the reach of former mentors and allies, who can now mainly support him from the sidelines.
• Preparation amid danger: He builds reserves, crafts medicines, and plans for a mission involving many powerful factions.
• Loyalty and reciprocity: Tang Zizhen and Zhou Yuanfeng look out for Qin An, while the Alliance Master repays a debt through practical assistance.
• Factional rivalry: The treasure draws competing forces together, and Zheng Qunshan’s personal grudge threatens to add another layer of conflict.

Chapter Summary: “Isolated and Helpless”

Key plot points and events

• Zheng Qunshan persuades Elder Duan of the Twin Absolute Sect to support his efforts against Qin An. Duan Yun agrees to make the sect’s subordinate powers refuse Qin An assistance, deciding that backing Zheng’s powerful patron is safer than remaining neutral.
• Zheng continues visiting local powers to build a coalition against Qin An.
• Lu Wufeng seeks help from Elder Tiger, a powerful tiger demon. After refusing at first, Elder Tiger agrees to join the campaign in exchange for a drop of Lu Wufeng’s precious Deer Demon Essence Blood. Lu explains that Qin An killed his only descendant, making revenge his sole priority.
• As Qin An approaches the Bamboo Water River region, he chooses a route through human-held territory and visits local sects for information. Several powers turn him away with excuses, making clear that he is being deliberately shut out.
• Liu Yi, a disciple of Grandmother, appears and confirms that the sect leaders are neither injured nor absent: they have pledged themselves to Zheng Qunshan. She hints that she may help Qin An, but asks what he will offer in return.

Character developments

• Duan Yun chooses a firm political side, accepting the risks of opposing Jin Fengyu because he believes Zheng’s backing offers greater security.
• Lu Wufeng shows how far he is willing to go for revenge, offering a rare and debilitating resource to secure allies against Qin An.
• Qin An remains composed and practical in unfamiliar territory, seeking information before acting. Once he realizes the refusals are coordinated, he quickly identifies Zheng as the likely cause.
• Liu Yi presents herself as playful and confident, but also shrewd: she provides useful intelligence while making clear that assistance has a price.

Significant themes

• Political maneuvering and alliances: Success in the region depends not only on strength but on building coalitions and controlling access to support.
• Revenge and sacrifice: Lu Wufeng’s hatred drives him to spend a precious resource and enlist dangerous allies.
• Isolation and power: Zheng’s growing network leaves Qin An without the ordinary help he expected, turning his arrival into a test of strategy and resilience.
• Transactional loyalty: Both political support and Liu Yi’s information are treated as bargains, not freely given favors.

Character interactions

• Duan Yun and another elder debate the danger of opposing Jin Fengyu; Duan insists the sect must commit to Zheng’s side.
• Lu Wufeng and Elder Tiger negotiate: Tiger demands blood as payment, while Lu frames Qin An’s death as the only acceptable outcome.
• Qin An is repeatedly rebuffed by local sects, whose disciples follow orders to avoid him.
• Liu Yi intercepts Qin An, confirms the conspiracy, and challenges him to offer something in exchange for her help.

Plot and events

• Qin An meets Liu Yi, Green Luo’s irreverent final disciple, who jokingly proposes marriage. He turns her teasing into an apparent serious offer, even beginning to undress to consummate it; Liu Yi quickly backs down, embarrassed.
• Liu Yi proposes that they work together at the Bamboo Water River, promising to share the lead once the mission is complete. Qin An agrees, eager to avoid delays.
• Liu Yi explains that more than a hundred human, demon, and False God forces divide the river’s territory. Nine powerful Upper-Tier Forces are represented, each with an Inner God Realm expert at Perfection. The region remains relatively stable because the three sides balance one another, and the Evil Extermination Division lacks enough personnel to intervene without leaving other regions exposed.
• Qin An learns that the Twin Absolute Sect and Long Cloud Mountain have sided with Zheng Qunshan, while the Ink Sword Sect remains aligned with Lord Jin. He and Liu Yi decide to visit it for local intelligence.
• At the Ink Sword Sect’s encampment, they meet Wang Yue, its Perfection-level elder. Wang Yue recognizes Qin An’s talent and Killing Intent, then warns that the situation is worse than they know: Zheng Qunshan is not the only newcomer; a demon from Mount Lu has also arrived.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An is pragmatic, mission-focused, and unruffled by Liu Yi’s teasing. His bold response exposes her bluff and shifts their conversation toward business. He seeks information before acting and treats even powerful figures directly.
• Liu Yi is playful and provocative, but also knowledgeable about the river’s political balance. She is surprised by Qin An’s quick agreement and calls him both fascinating and dull: he treats her and Green Luo as ordinary people, yet remains emotionally distant.
• Wang Yue is initially impressed by Qin An’s reputation and apparent abilities, but becomes more serious when discussing the growing threat.

Significant themes

• Practicality over ceremony: Qin An values results and information above social niceties.
• Power balanced by competing interests: The river’s disorder persists partly because the three factions keep one another in check.
• Hidden complexity and escalating danger: The Ink Sword Sect’s warning suggests that the known conflict involving Zheng Qunshan is only part of the threat.

Key plot points and events

• Qin An learns that Lu Wufeng, a powerful demon from Mount Lu, has come to the Bamboo Water River and is likely conspiring with local factions against him. The region is already unstable, with several powerful groups competing for a hidden treasure.
• Wang Yue explains that restoring order directly is impractical: the forces are too numerous to subdue, and dispatching elite reinforcements would weaken other areas. Their best chance is to let the factions fight over the treasure, then intervene amid the resulting chaos.
• Studying Wang Yue’s detailed map, Qin An identifies a vast Natural Formation that has hidden the treasure. He concludes that the treasure lies beneath a nearby plain, but the formation confuses anyone searching for it.
• Qin An reveals that the Bamboo Water River’s current is the key to exposing the treasure. Reversing the current would reverse the formation, but doing so requires the combined strength of humans, demons, and False Gods—and would likely trigger widespread fighting.
• Wang Yue agrees to discuss a temporary alliance with the other Upper-Tier Forces. Qin An and Liu Yi stay at the Ink Sword Sect while events develop.
• In private, Qin An and Liu Yi decide to let the factions exhaust themselves and then seize the opportunity to restore order. Liu Yi offers to help Qin An claim the treasure and deal with Zheng Qunshan and Lu Wufeng; Qin An accepts their alliance.
• The chapter ends with Qin An privately resolving to eliminate everyone who is targeting him.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An remains composed despite the threats and demonstrates exceptional formation knowledge, identifying what even the leading local formation sect missed. His strategic thinking shifts the mission from direct suppression to exploiting the coming conflict. His calm exterior also conceals a ruthless determination to deal with his enemies.
• Wang Yue begins cautiously impressed by Qin An’s temperament, then becomes astonished by his abilities. He accepts Qin An’s analysis and takes responsibility for approaching other factions about cooperation.
• Liu Yi openly admires Qin An, mixing flirtation and teasing with practical political judgment. She quickly aligns with his plan and offers both access to the treasure and help against his enemies.
• Qin An and Liu Yi’s playful banter gives way to serious strategy. Their handshake formalizes a partnership, though Liu Yi hints that their flirtation may continue after the mission.

Significant themes

• Knowledge as power: Qin An’s mastery of formations uncovers the hidden mechanism behind the treasure and changes the strategic situation.
• Order through controlled chaos: The characters see a faction-wide struggle as the only viable opening to restore peace.
• Alliance and opportunism: Cooperation between rivals may be necessary, but it is temporary; once the treasure appears, strength will determine who claims it.
• Composure versus concealed intent: Qin An appears calm and pragmatic, while his final thought reveals a far more lethal side.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• The Ink Sword Sect discovers a way to open the hidden treasure beneath the Bamboo Water River: the gathered forces must work together to reverse the river’s flow.
• Its messengers invite more than a hundred factions—including demons and False Gods—to cooperate. All agree, prioritizing the treasure over their disputes.
• Duan Yun of the Twin Absolute Sect orders his faction to conserve its strength until the treasure appears, then seize whatever it can. He also directs his people to watch Qin An and kill him if circumstances allow, as a way to win favor with Zheng Qunshan’s backer.
• Qin An and Liu Yi discuss the coming conflict with Wang Yue. Since Qin An’s enemies must focus on the treasure, he can act more freely against them while they hold back.
• Liu Yi agrees to postpone her own treasure-seeking plan and help Qin An deal with his enemies first.
• At Tiger Cave, Elder Tiger insists Lu Wufeng remain with him until their bargain is complete. Lu Wufeng, eager to kill Qin An, is forced to wait because the other factions have put the treasure first.
• At dawn, more than ten thousand people from over a hundred factions gather along the river. Qin An, Zheng Qunshan, and Lu Wufeng exchange hostile looks as Wang Yue announces the start of the effort to reverse the river.

Character developments

• Duan Yun reveals himself as calculating and opportunistic: he is willing to cooperate temporarily, but plans to turn on rivals once the treasure is available. He also regards Qin An as a threat.
• Qin An recognizes that his enemies’ fixation on the treasure gives him tactical freedom, since he is not competing for it.
• Liu Yi shows that her interest in chaos and fighting can outweigh her original desire for the treasure; she willingly backs Qin An’s priorities.
• Lu Wufeng grows increasingly frustrated as his plan to kill Qin An is delayed. His lack of leverage leaves him subject to Elder Tiger’s control.
• Elder Tiger proves wary and coercive, keeping Lu Wufeng close to ensure he honors their agreement.

Significant themes

• Temporary alliances and inevitable betrayal: The factions cooperate only because the treasure demands it, expecting conflict to resume once it is revealed.
• Competing priorities: Qin An’s aim to end the turmoil contrasts with the factions’ pursuit of the treasure, giving him an unexpected advantage.
• Power and leverage: Lu Wufeng cannot force others to honor his wishes, while Duan Yun and Elder Tiger use strategy and pressure to protect their interests.
• Escalating conflict: The gathering of immense forces turns the riverbank into the threshold of a major confrontation.

Character interactions

• Duan Yun receives the Ink Sword Sect’s proposal and instructs his elder to cooperate while preparing to seize the treasure—and possibly kill Qin An.
• Qin An, Liu Yi, and Wang Yue plan around the factions’ competing goals, with Liu Yi supporting Qin An’s campaign against Zheng Qunshan and Lu Wufeng.
• Elder Tiger and Lu Wufeng clash over priorities and trust; Elder Tiger prevents Lu Wufeng from leaving before their deal is settled.
• At the river, Qin An and his enemies silently acknowledge their hostility before Wang Yue begins the operation.

Key plot points and events

• Wang Yue starts the effort to reverse the Bamboo Water River’s flow. After he challenges the assembled factions to contribute or withdraw, they combine their True Essence and force the river backward.
• The river splits, revealing a bottomless opening in its bed. When one Mid-Tier Force tries to rush in, the other factions kill its members, leaving everyone in a tense standoff.
• Qin An announces that the true treasure is about to appear. The Formation separates the crowd and sends them into a vast underground space. Using his Six-colored True Essence, he keeps himself, Wang Yue, and Liu Yi together.
• The three find themselves in a sealed stone chamber containing a black coffin. Qin An identifies the larger underground structure as a complex Formation and warns that the coffin is their only apparent exit.
• The chamber becomes a Death Formation: fiery walls close in, and Wang Yue’s sword attack cannot damage them. Qin An reasons that the coffin offers their best chance of survival.
• Wang Yue and Liu Yi strike the coffin in turn. Their attacks do not open it, but Qin An explains that they weaken it. He then strikes it with his own blade, splitting it open as chilling Killing Intent spills out.

Character developments and interactions

• Wang Yue takes responsibility for moving the expedition forward and shows decisiveness and leadership. In the chamber, he quickly understands Qin An’s hint and attacks the coffin.
• Qin An demonstrates deep knowledge of formations and protects Wang Yue and Liu Yi from being separated. Though he advises caution, he examines the coffin closely and directs the others’ attacks. He claims his lower cultivation makes their blows more useful, but Liu Yi suspects he is concealing his true ability.
• Liu Yi remains observant and outspoken, questioning Qin An’s plan and later challenging why he did not attack sooner. Her own palm strike helps weaken the coffin despite her doubts.
• The three cooperate under pressure, though Qin An’s clipped instructions and apparent evasiveness frustrate Liu Yi and briefly puzzle Wang Yue.

Significant themes

• Cooperation and mistrust: The factions must unite to reverse the river, but competition for the treasure quickly turns that cooperation into lethal suspicion.
• Caution versus action: The characters face deadly uncertainty, yet survival requires testing the Formation and acting before the closing walls trap them.
• Hidden power and appearances: Qin An appears to be the weakest in cultivation, but his understanding—and perhaps his actual combat strength—exceeds what he reveals.
• Entrapment and survival: The treasure hunt becomes a struggle to escape an intricate, deadly Formation, with the coffin serving as their only uncertain hope.

Plot points and events

• A Mummy False God bursts from a coffin in the sealed chamber and attacks Qin An, Liu Yi, and Wang Yue. It appears to be at the Perfection of the Inner God Realm and draws strength from the chamber’s Death Formation.
• While Liu Yi and Wang Yue fight to hold it off, Qin An circles the room, identifying and striking the formation’s weak points. His command, “Break!”, turns the Death Formation into a Life Formation and weakens the mummy to Great Completion.
• The mummy lunges at Qin An, but he kills it with a single saber strike, astonishing Wang Yue and revealing that Qin An’s combat strength far exceeds his cultivation level.
• Qin An concludes the mummy was a follower of the unknown master whose death—and the resulting Killing Intent—transformed it into a False God. There may be other such followers and battles across the underground complex.
• The group finds a dark passage beneath the coffin, which Qin An identifies as the formation’s path to life. They descend together.
• Elsewhere, Lu Wufeng and two Deer Demons survive another Mummy False God in a magma-filled area. They discover stairs leading downward and continue, while Lu vows that he alone will kill Qin An.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An remains composed under pressure, prioritizes breaking the formation over joining the fight, and demonstrates exceptional skill and power. His understated manner—he says he did not reveal his strength because no one asked—amuses and frustrates Wang Yue.
• Liu Yi fights capably beside Wang Yue and trusts Qin An even when his actions appear risky. She reassures Wang Yue that Qin An is stronger than he seems.
• Wang Yue begins alarmed by the mummy’s strength and doubts Qin An can face it, but is left stunned by Qin An’s victory. He then accepts Qin An’s judgment about the route forward.
• Lu Wufeng survives through cooperation with the Deer Demons but remains fixated on his rivalry with Qin An, framing it as a personal vendetta.

Significant themes

• Strength beyond appearances: Qin An’s low cultivation rank conceals extraordinary combat ability.
• Trust and teamwork: Liu Yi and Wang Yue buy Qin An time to break the formation; their cooperation makes the victory possible.
• Life within death: Qin An turns a seemingly inescapable Death Formation into a Life Formation, revealing that danger may conceal a path forward.
• Escalating danger and uncertainty: The separated explorers face different threats across the complex, suggesting the wider expedition is in chaos.

Key plot points and events

• Zheng Qunshan survives a deadly trial on a narrow iron chain over killing-infused water, killing a powerful Mummy False God with a Secret Art. He suspects Qin An may have died, but plans to kill him if they meet and to search for treasure.
• The water drains, revealing an opening; Zheng Qunshan enters it.
• Qin An, Wang Yue, and Liu Yi descend through a dark passage and arrive in a vast white space. They find survivors from several factions, all badly injured, and a huge staircase ascending into the sky, wrapped in formidable killing intent.
• More survivors gather, including a small remnant of the Ink Sword Sect. A platform then rises bearing nearly ten thousand corpses. The group realizes that barely a hundred people survived the first trial.
• Duan Yun proposes that the remaining factions share the treasure. The Kitchen God and Wang Yue agree, as does Elder Tiger reluctantly.
• Zheng Qunshan and Lu Wufeng interrupt the fragile truce, openly demanding Qin An’s death. Qin An remains calm, while his allies recognize that a fight would jeopardize their chances of reaching the treasure.
• The survivors turn their attention to the staircase, but no one dares climb it. Qin An senses that something is about to happen.

Character developments and interactions

• Zheng Qunshan reveals both his resourcefulness and ruthlessness: he survives through his teacher’s Secret Art, intends to exploit the site, and treats Qin An as a target.
• Qin An stays composed and strategic, warning his companions during the descent and refusing to be provoked. He reminds his enemies that their allies may not support an attack.
• Wang Yue is shaken by the Ink Sword Sect’s losses but prioritizes cooperation and survival over immediate revenge or treasure disputes.
• Liu Yi continues teasing Qin An, who rebuffs her dryly; she then turns serious and asks him what to do.
• Duan Yun seeks a temporary alliance to secure the treasure, while Elder Tiger remains suspicious and focused on the staircase. The Kitchen God supports an equal division but avoids taking sides.
• Lu Wufeng is eager to kill Qin An, but his allies’ priorities—and Duan Yun’s warning—prevent him from acting.

Significant themes

• Survival and sacrifice: The enormous death toll makes clear the cost of advancing through the trials.
• Greed versus cooperation: The factions recognize that they need one another, but old grudges and desire for treasure threaten their alliance.
• Uncertainty and escalating danger: The staircase’s killing intent and Qin An’s closing warning signal that the next challenge is imminent.

Plot points and events

• Qin An warns that the Formation is rebuilding and that the Second Trial is beginning. The mound of corpses turns into black smoke, which the staircase absorbs; the dead reappear as lifeless figures lining the steps.
• He explains that disturbing the bodies will trigger a deadly Formation attack. With the staircase the only apparent route forward, the group decides to climb it, hoping the Treasure lies at the top.
• Lu Wufeng renews his threats against Qin An, who taunts him over his family’s deaths. Elder Tiger stops the exchange, insisting they focus on reaching the Treasure. Zheng Qunshan also holds back from confrontation.
• Stepping onto the staircase triggers a powerful illusion. The cultivators are each overwhelmed by visions or strange behavior, but Qin An’s Formation Resistance Talent shields him, and Liu Yi’s Heart Refining Method protects her.
• Qin An warns Liu Yi not to attack the affected cultivators, since provoking the interlocking Formations could make things worse. The two continue climbing, enduring increasingly potent illusions.
• At the summit, they meet a dying cultivator who calls himself Formation Elder. He claims he built the trial to test candidates and preserve his teachings, but says a False God altered the Formation, killing his followers and turning them into False Gods.
• Formation Elder offers a Treasure Orb and urges Qin An and Liu Yi to accept his inheritance. Qin An refuses, asking only for treasure and saying another candidate below could inherit the teachings. The elder becomes visibly irritated.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An establishes himself as the group’s trusted strategist: he recognizes the trial’s stages, explains its dangers, resists the illusion, and avoids a risky fight. At the summit, his blunt refusal of the inheritance suggests he distrusts Formation Elder’s motives.
• Liu Yi reveals that her lineage’s Heart Refining Method protects her from illusions. Though eager to attack and later to claim the treasure, she trusts Qin An’s judgment and follows his lead.
• Wang Yue now relies on Qin An for direction and leads the group onto the staircase.
• Lu Wufeng remains consumed by vengeance, while Zheng Qunshan chooses restraint. Elder Tiger acts as a practical mediator, stopping Lu Wufeng from escalating their quarrel.
• Formation Elder presents himself as a weary teacher seeking a successor, but his insistence that Qin An accept his teachings—and his irritation at being refused—casts doubt on his intentions.

Significant themes

• Trust and suspicion: Qin An’s caution contrasts with Formation Elder’s apparently generous offer, which may conceal ulterior motives.
• Illusion and inner resilience: The staircase tests the cultivators’ minds as much as their strength; Qin An’s talent and Liu Yi’s discipline help them retain control.
• Power, inheritance, and ambition: The survivors seek treasure, while Formation Elder seeks a worthy successor, bringing their competing priorities into conflict.
• Vengeance versus necessity: Lu Wufeng’s personal hatred persists, but the group must cooperate long enough to survive the trial.

Key plot points

• Qin An and Liu Yi deduce that the Formation Elder created the killing formation and has been cooperating with the False Gods. He uses the trapped Cultivators’ flesh and blood as ingredients for Divine Soul Refinement, hoping to extend his life and advance his cultivation.
• The Elder intended to lure Qin An and Liu Yi into the formation and use them as especially valuable “Medicine Ingredients.” When they refuse, he vanishes and sends the illusion-controlled survivors toward them.
• Qin An weighs escape against breaking the formation. He chooses to work on the formation while Liu Yi holds off the approaching attackers.
• To help her, Qin An casts a rare formation that greatly boosts Liu Yi’s abilities. He also gives her Golden and Silver Origin Pills, which restore her vitality, heal injuries, and replenish True Essence.
• Nearly a hundred mostly Inner God Realm fighters, including Wang Yue and other powerful experts, attack Liu Yi. She fights them off with enhanced strength and repeated use of healing pills, while Qin An concentrates on weakening the formation.
• The Formation Elder returns and tries to bargain: Qin An and Liu Yi may leave if he lets the others become Blood Medicine. Qin An rejects the offer. He realizes he may not need to break the entire formation to turn the situation around.

Character development and interactions

• Qin An remains composed under pressure, recognizes the Elder’s motives, and takes charge of the escape plan. His exceptional formation talent and previously undisclosed alchemy skill become clear.
• Liu Yi begins wary of the scale of the coming battle but commits to holding the attackers back. She demonstrates courage, combat skill, and trust in Qin An, accepting his formation and pills without hesitation.
• The Formation Elder reveals himself as a ruthless, desperate schemer. His frustration grows when Qin An and Liu Yi see through his plan and reject both his threats and his bargain.
• Qin An and Liu Yi work as a team: he supplies the strategy and support while she takes on the immediate fighting. Their exchange also shows mutual confidence and Liu Yi’s growing awareness of Qin An’s extraordinary abilities.

Significant themes

• Betrayal and exploitation: The Elder disguises mass murder as a path to greater power, treating Cultivators as expendable resources.
• Trust and cooperation: Qin An and Liu Yi survive by relying on each other’s distinct strengths.
• Courage against overwhelming odds: Liu Yi fights despite being badly outnumbered, while Qin An remains focused on finding a strategic way through.
• Power through ingenuity: Formation skill, preparation, and resourcefulness offer an alternative to brute force.

Key plot points and events

• Liu Yi, gravely wounded after fighting off earlier attackers, is cornered by Wang Yue, Duan Yun, Zheng Qunshan, Lu Wufeng, Elder Tiger, and the Kitchen God. As they launch a coordinated attack, she prepares to sacrifice herself by striking her Death Acupoints.
• Qin An pulls Liu Yi through the True Essence barrier just in time. The Heavenly Staircase then collapses, and the attackers fall with it.
• Qin An has broken only the part of the Formation that controlled the others, not the entire Formation. The group realizes they had been manipulated by its Illusion, while the Formation’s creator remains hidden.
• Qin An and Wang Yue face Duan Yun, Zheng Qunshan, Lu Wufeng, Elder Tiger, and the Kitchen God. The Kitchen God openly chooses the opposing side, hoping to secure a share of the Treasure.
• Qin An uses his knowledge of the Natural Formation to strengthen himself and Wang Yue while gradually weakening their enemies. He assigns Wang Yue to hold off two opponents and takes on the other three.
• Wang Yue battles the Kitchen God and Elder Tiger, while Qin An faces Duan Yun, Zheng Qunshan, and Lu Wufeng. Qin An wounds Duan Yun with his Three-Blade Fusion, then shatters Zheng Qunshan’s defense with a powerful fist technique.
• Qin An pursues Zheng Qunshan and reveals that he killed Ji Cheng and Gao Huang as well. He grabs Zheng by the throat and snaps his neck.

Character developments and interactions

• Liu Yi shows both her formidable fighting ability and her willingness to die rather than surrender. Despite her vulnerability, she remains concerned for Qin An and urges him to escape if the odds turn against them. Their exchange also carries a playful edge: she complains when Qin An drops her, while he insists survival matters more than romance.
• Qin An remains composed under pressure and confident in his command of the Formation. Rather than flee, he chooses to eliminate his rivals and uses the battlefield itself to overcome their numerical advantage.
• Wang Yue is ashamed that he was controlled by the Illusion, but stands firmly with Qin An. His loyalty to Qin An—and concern for the Ink Sword Sect’s safety—drives him to fight at his side.
• The Kitchen God abandons neutrality and admits he will help Duan Yun’s group. His decision confirms that his interest in the Treasure outweighs avoiding conflict.
• Duan Yun, Lu Wufeng, and Zheng Qunshan openly renew their hostility toward Qin An. Zheng’s death marks the first decisive kill in the confrontation.

Significant themes

• Sacrifice and loyalty: Liu Yi is ready to die for her companions, while Wang Yue risks himself to protect Qin An.
• Ingenuity over brute force: Qin An turns the Natural Formation into a weapon, using it to boost allies and sap enemies.
• Illusion, control, and revelation: The combatants discover they were manipulated, but the Formation’s hidden master remains at large.
• Greed and betrayal: The Kitchen God’s choice to side with Qin An’s enemies exposes the Treasure as a source of opportunism and conflict.

Plot points

• Qin An kills Zheng Qunshan, then defeats Lu Wufeng by breaking off his antlers and driving one into his skull. He absorbs both men’s Demon Consciousnesses, though the fight leaves him with little Blood and Qi Power.
• Duan Yun hesitates to attack Qin An, then agrees to switch sides when Qin An offers to spare him in exchange for loyalty to Lord Jin and help against Elder Tiger and the Kitchen God.
• With Duan Yun’s support, Qin An, Wang Yue, and Liu Yi kill Elder Tiger and the fleeing Kitchen God. Qin An absorbs their consciousnesses as well.
• Duan Yun tries to escape, but Wang Yue and Liu Yi stop him. Qin An kills him, deciding that his death is safer than trusting him.
• After the fight, Wang Yue thanks Qin An, and Liu Yi expresses renewed interest in him. The Formation Elder then appears on a White Cloud Throne and vows to kill them all, setting up the next confrontation.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An proves resourceful and formidable, combining martial techniques, stored Blood and Qi Power, True Essence, Divine Consciousness, and—most crucially—the formation’s power. He concludes that developing all his disciplines, rather than relying on a single strength, saved his life. His offers and threats show both political calculation and ruthless pragmatism.
• Duan Yun shifts from frightened hesitation to cooperation when survival and self-interest outweigh loyalty. Once the immediate threat is gone, he again tries to bargain and flee, confirming Qin An’s judgment that he cannot be trusted.
• Liu Yi recognizes Qin An’s intentions and helps pressure Duan Yun into choosing a side. She later tends her injuries and returns to the fight; her playful closeness with Qin An contrasts with the battle’s brutality.
• Wang Yue fights effectively alongside Qin An and the others, then acknowledges Qin An’s strength and potential despite his own higher cultivation.
• Elder Tiger and the Kitchen God lose confidence as the battle turns against them: Elder Tiger threatens retaliation, while the Kitchen God abandons his allies and attempts to flee.

Significant themes

• Adaptability and comprehensive growth: Qin An’s mastery across multiple professions, especially his formation abilities, proves more decisive than any single technique.
• Self-interest and betrayal: Duan Yun and the Kitchen God change course when circumstances shift, while Qin An uses their motives to his advantage.
• Power and reputation: Qin An’s strength and standing with the Evil Extermination Division make his offer to Duan Yun politically consequential.
• Trust and consequences: Qin An grants cooperation only while useful, then eliminates Duan Yun because a former conspirator remains a liability.

Plot points and events

• The Formation Elder traps Qin An, Wang Yue, Liu Yi, and the others inside a Natural Formation that turns into a scorching Red Mist, intending to refine them into a life-extending pill.
• Wang Yue’s sword attack disappears into the mist. Qin An explains that an individual cannot overcome a Formation powered by Heaven and earth; the group must counter it with another Formation.
• Qin An recruits dozens of recovered Inner God Realm experts—including humans, Demons, and False Gods—to stand at points he marks. Using energy he seized from the Natural Formation, he creates a White Mist Formation that temporarily holds the Red Mist back.
• While the Elder insists the counter-Formation will fail within half an hour, Qin An reveals his real plan: the Elder is vulnerable while dividing his attention between maintaining the trap and confronting them.
• Qin An’s White Mist restrains the Red Mist, and he cuts through the illusion-like space to reveal the Elder’s weakened true body. He defeats the Elder’s last Formation attack, then kills him after the Elder begs for mercy.
• Qin An releases the group from the Formation. Though everyone believes they are safe, he warns that the danger is not over and turns toward the remaining white space.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An demonstrates exceptional Formation knowledge, tactical patience, and combat skill. He calmly turns the Elder’s trap against him and fulfills his prediction that the Elder will be the one pleading for mercy.
• Wang Yue initially looks to Qin An for a solution and follows his lead. His awe at Qin An’s abilities grows after the victory.
• Liu Yi, still wounded, conserves her strength and helps coordinate the group’s response. She understands the danger of the Formation but is surprised by Qin An’s resourcefulness; her frustration with his blunt, unsettling manner remains.
• The Formation Elder shifts from arrogant threat-maker to desperate victim. His skill is formidable, but his reliance on the Formation leaves him exposed when Qin An finds his true body.
• The gathered experts set aside their former grudges and cooperate because survival takes precedence.

Significant themes

• Ingenuity over brute force: Qin An defeats an overwhelming Natural Formation by understanding and exploiting its mechanics rather than attacking it directly.
• Cooperation and survival: People from opposing groups unite when faced with a shared threat.
• Arrogance and reversal: The Elder’s confidence collapses, and his intended victims turn the situation against him.
• The limits of power: Even a gifted Formation Master is vulnerable when focused on one strength and unable to defend himself.
• Unresolved danger: Qin An’s closing warning suggests the apparent victory may not end the confrontation.

Plot points and events

• Qin An reveals that the group’s ordeal is over, but the hidden treasure has yet to be found. He opens a doorway into a room filled with pills, weapons, materials, and other valuables.
• Qin An finds little worth taking and lets the others divide the treasure, partly to earn their gratitude and build a reputation strong enough to deter enemies within the Evil Extermination Division.
• Liu Yi gives Qin An a Jade Stone containing a secret connected to Heavenly Extreme True Meaning. She says she knows where it may be found and proposes that they explore together. Qin An agrees, since he is seeking the Human, Earthly, and Heavenly Extreme True Meanings needed to complete his Supreme Foundation.
• Once the treasure is divided, Qin An identifies the twenty-two surviving Demons as criminals responsible for atrocities against humans. He orders the Human faction to kill them and claims their Demon Consciousnesses in exchange for letting the others keep their newly acquired loot.
• The Demons are overwhelmed and killed. Qin An absorbs five Demon Consciousnesses to replenish his supply and keeps the remaining fifteen.
• The group returns to the banks of the Bamboo Water River. Qin An leaves immediately with Cold Star, while the others prepare to go their separate ways. Just as Wang Yue and Liu Yi are about to depart, heavy footsteps approach.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An shows himself to be pragmatic and strategic: he gives away treasure to improve his standing, but acts decisively against the Demons because of their crimes. He accepts that his choices will earn him more enemies.
• Liu Yi reveals that she withheld information until she trusted Qin An. She now considers him capable and reliable, shares the lead to Heavenly Extreme True Meaning, and openly admires his decisiveness.
• Wang Yue and the other human experts defer to Qin An after witnessing his strength. They accept his command to attack the Demons, and Wang Yue expresses gratitude for his leadership.
• Liu Yi and Qin An speak privately about his political motives and the risks he faces; the others, meanwhile, follow his lead and divide the treasure.

Significant themes

• Power and reputation: Qin An seeks public standing as protection from powerful enemies, knowing that strength shapes life in this world.
• Justice and moral responsibility: Though he benefits from the Demons’ deaths, Qin An grounds his decision in their documented atrocities and rejects cooperating with them.
• Trust and cooperation: Liu Yi’s disclosure of the Jade Stone depends on her growing confidence in Qin An, while the group’s cooperation rests largely on his demonstrated authority.
• Ambition and self-cultivation: The Heavenly Extreme True Meaning offers Qin An a chance to complete the foundation he has been building.

Key plot points

• After the battle at Bamboo Water River, Mountain Patrol Golden General Situ Shen arrives and asks about Zheng Qunshan. Wang Yue conceals that Qin An killed him, saying he died in the fighting.
• Situ Shen leaves without attacking anyone, but sends Qin An a warning: his opinion of him is now extremely poor, and he will kill him if Qin An causes more trouble. Wang Yue and the others return to the Ink Sword Sect, while Liu Yi wonders why Situ Shen came and why he let them go.
• Qin An returns to the Evil Extermination Division and plans to raise his Scholar Profession to Level Fourteen, then advance his other Professions and complete his Inner God Realm Mind Method. He recognizes that his broad skill set—and especially his Formation Master ability—saved his life.
• At Mount Lu, the Deer Lord learns from the essence-blood records that Qin An killed Lu Wufeng and other Deer Demons. Unable to leave the mountain freely, he orders his subordinates to kill Qin An and proposes an alliance with the Tiger Cave.
• The Deer Lord’s forces know Qin An has returned to the Division and intend to target him when he is sent on a mission. The Deer Lord also possesses secret knowledge about when Qin An will leave.
• In a hidden chamber, the Deer Lord meets a black-robed Mountain Patrol Silver General. Their exchange reveals that the human is connected to a powerful, unnamed figure and is helping the Deer Lord cultivate the Divine Soul Refinement Method. The chapter ends with the human pouring wine over the Deer Lord’s head after he insults human cultivators.

Character developments and interactions

• Wang Yue protects Qin An by hiding his role in Zheng Qunshan’s death. Situ Shen’s presence leaves Wang Yue frightened and aware that Qin An faces a growing threat.
• Situ Shen shows restrained but unmistakable hostility toward Qin An, despite choosing not to punish the survivors.
• Liu Yi remains cautious around Situ Shen and turns her attention to the Heavenly Extreme True Meaning and a planned discussion with Qin An about the Secret Land.
• Qin An responds to danger by committing to systematic cultivation, aiming to strengthen every Profession rather than relying on one ability.
• The Deer Lord is driven by Mount Lu’s wounded honor and fear of Qin An’s future potential. He directs his subordinates but keeps important information to himself.
• The black-robed Silver General demonstrates that he can openly rebuke and intimidate the Deer Lord, despite the latter’s Unity Realm power.

Significant themes

• Concealment and political danger: Wang Yue’s lie protects Qin An, while hidden alliances and secrets shape the larger conflict.
• Preparation and adaptability: Qin An’s diverse Professions prove essential to survival and become the basis of his future strategy.
• Reputation, honor, and retaliation: Mount Lu’s response is motivated not only by losses but by the need to preserve its standing.
• Unequal power and concealed influence: The Deer Lord is formidable, yet his dependence on the black-robed human—and the human’s connection to a greater authority—complicates the apparent balance of power.

Chapter Summary

Plot and key events

• In a secret chamber, the Deer Lord is pressured by a black-robed agent serving a hidden master. The agent demands that he help kill Qin An as soon as Qin An leaves the Evil Extermination Division, warning him to mobilize all his forces but not act personally, lest he attract the attention of the Mountain Patrol Golden Generals.
• The Deer Lord resents being controlled, but the Divine Soul Refinement Technique has become his only hope of advancing to the next realm. He accepts that he must serve the hidden master in exchange for access to it.
• More than two months after resolving the Bamboo Water River crisis, Qin An remains in the Confidential Archives, rapidly improving his Scholar Profession by reading. His growing reputation draws the attention of other Prefecture Generals, who admire him and hope to get close to him.
• Qin An exchanges Merits for an Inner God Realm Mind Method, the Thunder Calling Heart Sutra, and ten Demon Consciousness. His Scholar Profession reaches level 14, raising his relevant talents to Great Completion of the Inner God Realm.
• He masters the Thunder Calling Heart Sutra and fuses it with his existing Bodhi Golden Dragon Six Harmony Art. The result, the Bodhi Golden Dragon Seven Star Art, brings him to Great Completion of the Inner God Realm and gives his True Essence seven attributes: metal, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, and lightning.
• The advancement consumes many resources, leaving Qin An with only twenty Demon Consciousness. He decides to take another mission to earn more Merits and plans to improve his Blacksmith and Butcher Professions afterward.
• Just as Qin An is selecting a mission, a visitor enters without knocking. Qin An recognizes the visitor and prepares tea. She is astonished by how quickly he has reached Great Completion.

Character developments

• Qin An turns more methodical and ambitious: he uses his Scholar talent to master and combine techniques, but recognizes that advancement increasingly demands scarce Demon Consciousness and Merits.
• The Deer Lord is shown as powerful but compromised. His hunger for advancement makes him tolerate humiliation and obey the hidden master’s agent.
• The black-robed man acts as an enforcer for his master, directing the plot to eliminate Qin An while carefully avoiding the authorities.

Character interactions

• The black-robed man threatens and commands the Deer Lord, who suppresses his anger because he needs the promised technique.
• Prefecture Generals whisper about Qin An’s reputation and try to gain his favor, while he remains focused on reading.
• Qin An exchanges resources with an Internal Affairs officer, who treats him with deference.
• The chapter ends with an unidentified woman confronting Qin An’s astonishing progress; her familiar, informal entrance contrasts with his elevated status.

Significant themes

• Ambition and dependence: the Deer Lord’s desire to advance makes him subordinate to a force he despises.
• Growth through knowledge: Qin An’s reading and scholarly talents directly enable rapid mastery and innovation.
• The rising cost of power: each advancement requires more resources, pushing Qin An toward further missions.
• Reputation and status: Qin An’s success changes how others approach him, even as he remains absorbed in his own goals.