Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gu Yao attacks Qin Chen with the Emperor Seal Technique, launching successive powerful palm strikes. Qin Chen effortlessly destroys them with a single blow empowered by purple-black flames.
• Gu Yao escalates by using the Myriad Beasts Spear Technique, summoning numerous beast phantoms that merge into a massive attacking apparition. Qin Chen counters with the Method of Separation Fire: Dragon Tail Sweep. The dragon and beast phantom annihilate each other in a violent collision.
• Determined to win, Gu Yao activates the Ancient Saint Treasure Mirror to absorb the surrounding natural energy and dramatically increase his strength. He then prepares the destructive Great Annihilation Finger, a Low Heaven Grade Dou Technique capable of killing opponents several stars stronger.
• Gu Qingyang, Gu Hua, and Gu Xing recognize the danger and prepare to intervene, fearing that the attack could destroy the entire city.
• Qin Chen responds by using the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame, raising his cultivation to the Six-Star Dou Zun level. Despite this, he does not immediately attack, causing Gu Xun’er and the others to worry that he intends to endure Gu Yao’s ultimate technique directly.
• Gu Yao unleashes the Great Annihilation Finger, creating a gigantic black finger that tears through the sky and damages the Void Space.
• Qin Chen calmly tears open a massive spatial rift and swallows the attack completely, neutralizing Gu Yao’s strongest move without suffering harm.
• Gu Yao is overwhelmed by disbelief and despair. The backlash from the Blood Transformation Technique, combined with the exhaustion of his Dou Qi, body, and spirit, causes him to vomit blood and nearly collapse.
• Qin Chen declares victory. Shortly afterward, Elder Gu Xun appears and praises Qin Chen’s talent. Qin Chen respectfully greets him, revealing that he had deliberately restrained himself because he knew Elder Gu Xun was observing the battle.

Character Developments

• Qin Chen: Demonstrates overwhelming combat ability, composure, and confidence. He defeats Gu Yao without appearing pressured and reveals mastery of flames, spatial power, and the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame. His restraint also shows awareness and respect toward Elder Gu Xun.
• Gu Yao: Begins the battle aggressively and confidently, relying on powerful techniques and his Blood Transformation Technique. However, his repeated failures gradually turn his confidence into desperation. His defeat exposes the enormous gap between him and Qin Chen.
• Gu Qingyang, Gu Hua, and Gu Xing: Shift from observers to potential protectors of the city, recognizing that Gu Yao’s ultimate technique could cause catastrophic destruction. Their respect and caution toward Qin Chen deepen.
• Gu Xun’er: Becomes visibly concerned when Qin Chen does not counterattack against the Great Annihilation Finger, showing her emotional investment in his safety.
• Elder Gu Xun: Steps forward after witnessing the battle and acknowledges Qin Chen as an extraordinary young genius.

Significant Themes

• The overwhelming gap between true geniuses: Qin Chen’s effortless victory emphasizes that cultivation rank alone does not determine strength; superior techniques, foundations, and combat mastery can create an immense disparity.
• Calm versus desperation: Qin Chen remains relaxed throughout the battle, while Gu Yao grows increasingly frantic as his strongest attacks fail.
• Power and restraint: Qin Chen possesses enough strength to seriously injure or kill Gu Yao but deliberately limits himself because Elder Gu Xun is present and because he does not need excessive violence to prove victory.
• The danger of ultimate techniques: The chapter highlights the destructive potential of Heaven Class Dou Techniques and the risks involved in forcing them beyond one’s limits.
• Respect for legendary strength: The Gu Clan’s reverence for Xiao Xuan connects Qin Chen’s technique to the legacy of a past supreme expert and reinforces the importance of inherited martial traditions.

Character Interactions

• Qin Chen and Gu Yao engage in an escalating duel, with Qin Chen repeatedly dismissing or neutralizing Gu Yao’s attacks.
• Gu Yao’s final attack is intended to decisively defeat Qin Chen, but Qin Chen’s effortless counter leaves Gu Yao humiliated and emotionally shattered.
• Gu Qingyang and the others coordinate to shield the city from the battle’s destructive shockwaves.
• Gu Xun’er watches anxiously as Qin Chen faces the ultimate attack without moving.
• Elder Gu Xun formally acknowledges Qin Chen after the duel, while Qin Chen responds with respectful courtesy, establishing a significant first interaction between the two.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Elder Gu Xun meets Qin Chen after witnessing his exceptional combat ability and welcomes him into the Gu Clan’s Black Annihilation Army.
• Gu Xun reveals that the Gu Clan wants to verify Qin Chen’s alchemy skills. His potential as a Tier 9 Alchemist could help the Imperial Clans challenge the Yao Clan’s monopoly over Ninth-Grade Pills.
• Qin Chen agrees to demonstrate his abilities and moves to an intact plaza better suited for alchemy.
• To prepare, he uses an Earth Core Jade Mother, the Myriad Beast Cauldron, and the Three Thousand Burning Flame.
• Qin Chen begins refining a complex pill using hundreds of rare ingredients. His flawless control and extraordinary soul power allow him to purify the ingredients over several days without losing focus.
• The observers initially cannot identify the pill. Qin Chen eventually reveals a rare Bodhi Seed, making it clear that he is refining a Bodhi Pill, a precious Tier 8 pill capable of increasing a Peak Dou Zun’s chance of reaching the Half-Saint realm by twenty percent.
• The chapter ends as Qin Chen adds the Bodhi Seed to the cauldron, while Gu Xun and the others anxiously hope that the refinement succeeds.

Character Developments

• Qin Chen demonstrates not only overwhelming combat strength but also extraordinary alchemical talent, patience, preparation, and technical precision. He deliberately chooses the Bodhi Pill to prove his value to the Gu Clan.
• Gu Xun shifts from politely testing Qin Chen to recognizing his enormous strategic importance. His confidence is shaken when he realizes Qin Chen is refining a Bodhi Pill, something even the Gu Clan’s best alchemists struggle to produce.
• Gu Qingyang, Gu Yao, and the other Gu Clan members become increasingly astonished as Qin Chen’s unfamiliar methods and rare treasures exceed their expectations.
• Gu Xun’er remains quietly observant, but Qin Chen’s repeated ability to surprise her deepens her curiosity and admiration.
• The Gu Clan’s leadership is shown to be pragmatic: rather than suppressing Qin Chen because of his connection with Gu Xun’er, they see his alchemy as a major advantage against the Yao Clan.

Significant Themes

• Alchemy as political power: A reliable Tier 9 Alchemist could break the Yao Clan’s monopoly over Ninth-Grade Pills and alter the balance among the Ancient Imperial Clans.
• Talent versus established power: Qin Chen’s abilities offer the Gu Clan a way to challenge long-standing advantages held by the Yao Clan and Pill Tower.
• Preparation and discipline: Qin Chen’s careful use of the Earth Core Jade Mother and meticulous review of the formula emphasize that success comes from both talent and rigorous control.
• Scarcity and value: The rarity of Bodhi Seeds and Bodhi Pills highlights how valuable cultivation resources are and why their production carries enormous influence.
• Reputation proven through action: Rather than relying on claims, Qin Chen demonstrates his worth directly before powerful observers.

Character Interactions

• Gu Xun speaks warmly and respectfully with Qin Chen, assuring him that the Gu Clan will not target him while requesting an alchemy demonstration.
• Qin Chen responds with humility but confidently accepts the challenge.
• Gu Xun explains, implicitly through his reactions, how significant Qin Chen’s alchemy would be to the Gu Clan’s political position.
• Gu Qingyang asks Gu Xun to identify the pill, but even the experienced elder cannot recognize Qin Chen’s unusual refining process.
• The Gu Clan youths react with growing shock as Qin Chen displays rare treasures and eventually reveals the Bodhi Seed.
• Gu Xun’er watches silently, intrigued by Qin Chen’s ability to repeatedly exceed expectations.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Chen undertakes the refinement of a Tier 8 Eight-Colored Bodhi Pill, using the Bodhi Seed as its primary ingredient inside the Myriad Beast Cauldron.
• After several hours of tempering, the Bodhi Seed is successfully reduced to its emerald-green essence. Qin Chen then spends ten days painstakingly fusing hundreds of medicinal essences.
• The pill gradually takes shape over several more days. Its completion initially triggers an Eight-Colored Pill Lightning tribulation.
• Qin Chen reveals that the refinement is not yet complete. He uses Three Thousand Burning Flame, soul power, special powders, and his own blood in a technique called “Blood Sacrifice, Spirit Return.”
• This process draws out the pill’s spiritual energy and upgrades it into a Tier 8 Nine-Colored Bodhi Pill, causing a Nine-Colored Lightning Cloud to form.
• Two golden puppets at the Fourth-Turn Dou Zun level withstand and absorb the lightning, allowing the tribulation to pass safely.
• The completed pill transforms into a tiny jade-green dragon and attempts to escape, but Qin Chen restrains it with his soul power and seals it inside a jade bottle.
• Qin Chen presents himself modestly to Gu Xun, who responds with sincere admiration and recognizes his extraordinary alchemical potential.
• Gu Qingyang, Gu Hua, and Gu Xing—the second, third, and fourth commanders of the Black Annihilation Army—approach to congratulate Qin Chen and introduce themselves.

Character Developments

• Qin Chen demonstrates immense growth in both alchemy and soul control. In only two and a half years, he has risen from a Seventh-Grade Alchemist to a Tier 8 Nine-Colored Alchemy Grandmaster.
• His confidence and composure are evident as he calmly handles the powerful pill tribulation and reveals that the initial Eight-Colored Pill is only an intermediate stage.
• Gu Xun becomes increasingly determined to establish a relationship with Qin Chen, realizing that Qin Chen may eventually become a Tier 9 Alchemist and provide immense value to the Gu Clan.
• Gu Yao accepts that he has lost his chance to pursue Xun’er, acknowledging Qin Chen’s superior abilities. However, resentment remains, and he still regards Qin Chen as unworthy of Xun’er because of his Xiao Clan background.
• Gu Xun’er is shocked by Qin Chen’s rapid advancement and the successful refinement of the Nine-Colored Pill.
• Gu Qingyang, Gu Hua, and Gu Xing develop genuine respect for Qin Chen after witnessing his alchemy and openly recognize him as an extraordinary talent.

Significant Themes

• Talent and rapid growth: Qin Chen’s astonishing progress challenges ordinary standards of cultivation and alchemy.
• Perseverance and mastery: The difficult ten-day fusion process emphasizes that even great talent requires patience, concentration, and endurance.
• Recognition and status: Qin Chen’s alchemical achievement changes how powerful members of the Gu Clan view him, elevating him from a talented junior to someone worthy of respect and recruitment.
• Envy and lingering prejudice: Although Qin Chen’s abilities are undeniable, Gu Yao’s hostility shows that personal resentment and clan-based prejudice remain.
• Spirituality and the power of pills: The Bodhi Pill displays a life-like spirit, symbolizing the extraordinary level of Qin Chen’s alchemy and the near-mystical nature of high-tier medicinal treasures.

Character Interactions

• Qin Chen works independently while Gu Xun and the others watch anxiously, especially during the dangerous pill-lightning tribulation.
• Gu Xun’s initial concern that the Nine-Colored Pill Lightning might destroy the pill is relieved when Qin Chen reveals his lightning-absorbing puppets.
• Gu Yao silently contrasts Qin Chen’s accomplishments with his own position, accepting Qin Chen’s superiority in alchemy while continuing to resent his relationship with Xun’er.
• After the successful refinement, Gu Xun warmly praises Qin Chen rather than asserting his seniority.
• Gu Qingyang, Gu Hua, and Gu Xing respectfully introduce themselves and offer praise. Qin Chen responds courteously and invites them to seek his help with Tier 8 pills, establishing a cooperative relationship with the Black Annihilation Army commanders.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Chen meets several members of the Gu Clan, including Gu Qingyang, Gu Xing, Gu Hua, Gu Xun, and Gu Xun’er. His calm explanations of cultivation impress Gu Qingyang, while Gu Xun becomes particularly interested in the Tier 8 Top-Tier Bodhi Pill Qin Chen refined.
• Gu Xun proposes trading for the Bodhi Pill, which can increase a Ninth-Turn Peak Dou Zun’s chance of reaching the Half-Saint realm by twenty percent. Qin Chen negotiates generously, requesting ten sets of ingredients for Tier 8 Nine-Colored Pills as compensation.
• Qin Chen explains that he cannot regularly travel to the Eastern Region because he needs time for cultivation and alchemy. Gu Xun agrees that the Gu Clan will send ingredients and future missions directly to Saint Pill City.
• Qin Chen also negotiates for several portions of Bodhi Body-Transformation Saliva, claiming it is needed to help a beloved woman suffering from a Woeful Poison Body. The Gu Clan agrees, unaware that this arrangement further supports the appearance that Qin Chen and Gu Xun’er’s relationship is merely a false one.
• Qin Chen privately meets Gu Xun’er and receives the agreed-upon reward: three ancient warships, five portions of Bodhi Body-Transformation Saliva, and other resources stored in several rings.
• He confirms that he will honor his promise to help Xiao Yan rescue Senior Yao once news of the situation arrives.
• Qin Chen asks about the Gu Clan’s Heavenly Tomb and whether its Energy Cores can be removed. Gu Xun’er explains that the cores dissipate immediately once taken outside, meaning Qin Chen must personally enter the Heavenly Tomb to benefit from them.
• After leaving Gu Xun’er, Qin Chen gives Gu Xun a list of medicinal ingredients and a Seventh-Grade Pill as a token of appreciation. He then departs from the Eastern Region.
• Rather than using the city’s crowded Space Wormhole, Qin Chen travels to a secluded forest and prepares to test the Void Shuttle he received from Gu Xun’er, hoping to gain a faster and more convenient means of transportation.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Qin Chen demonstrates his growing influence and business-minded nature. He uses his alchemical abilities to secure valuable resources while maintaining a calm, polite demeanor. His negotiations show that he plans carefully and rarely acts without gaining a benefit.
• Gu Xun becomes increasingly impressed by Qin Chen’s talent and potential. He treats Qin Chen as a valuable future ally and willingly offers the Gu Clan’s support, even adapting arrangements so Qin Chen can work remotely from Saint Pill City.
• Gu Xun’er remains cautious but cooperative. She fulfills her agreement with Qin Chen and reminds him of his promise to Xiao Yan, showing that her primary concern remains Xiao Yan and Senior Yao’s rescue. She is also surprised by Qin Chen’s knowledge of the Heavenly Tomb.
• Gu Qingyang and the other Gu Clan members recognize Qin Chen’s exceptional cultivation knowledge and alchemical ability, strengthening the clan’s interest in befriending him.
• Qin Chen and Gu Xun’er maintain a transactional but respectful relationship. Their private discussion reveals that their cooperation is based on mutual benefit, though Qin Chen’s concern for his companions and the Woeful Poison Body suggests deeper personal motivations.

Significant Themes

• Mutual benefit and political alliance: Qin Chen uses the Bodhi Pill and his alchemy skills to establish a profitable relationship with the Gu Clan.
• Strategic negotiation: Both sides understand the value of long-term cooperation. The Gu Clan provides resources in hopes of securing Qin Chen as a future source of high-level pills.
• Power and opportunity: Qin Chen seeks every possible advantage, including medicinal ingredients, warships, Bodhi Body-Transformation Saliva, and access to the Heavenly Tomb.
• Trust and obligation: Qin Chen repeatedly assures Gu Xun’er that he will honor his promise to assist Xiao Yan, while Gu Xun demonstrates trust by fulfilling their agreement.
• Freedom versus entanglement: Qin Chen wants to avoid being tied down by the Gu Clan’s affairs, preferring to focus on cultivation and alchemy. The Void Shuttle symbolizes his desire for independence and unrestricted movement.
• Hidden motives and appearances: Qin Chen’s stated reasons for requesting the Bodhi saliva conceal broader plans, while his relationship with Gu Xun’er continues to appear false to the Gu Clan members.

Episode 225 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Chen unveils and boards the enormous Void Shuttle, a powerful spatial warship gifted by the Gu Clan. After studying its controls and using a map, he successfully activates it and travels through the spatial void.
• Traveling at full speed, Qin Chen reaches the Pill Region and arrives at the Ye Residence near Saint Pill City after approximately three days.
• He reunites with Ye Xinlan and Ye Zhong, who are examining a newly refined Swift Recovery Pill, a low-grade Tier 6 healing pill.
• Qin Chen retrieves the Green Lotus Core Flame from Ye Xinlan. The Heavenly Flame displays unusual intelligence and affection, behaving almost like a living pet and recognizing Qin Chen as its true master.
• Ye Xinlan willingly returns the flame and demonstrates considerable progress in alchemy, having successfully refined a Tier 6 pill. Qin Chen praises her and encourages her to attempt high-grade Tier 6 pills once her cultivation improves.
• Qin Chen gives Ye Xinlan continued use of the Myriad Beast Cauldron, a highly valuable medicinal cauldron that he no longer needs for his current plans.
• After greeting Zi Yan and the others, Qin Chen enters secluded cultivation. He consumes the Tier 8 Venerable Spirit Pill, intending to use its power to increase his cultivation and move closer to the Dou Sheng realm.
• The pill releases violent energy through his body, but Qin Chen uses the Green Lotus Core Flame to suppress and refine it. His aura begins steadily rising.
• The scene then shifts to the Gu Clan’s main hall, where the clan elders debate how to distribute the newly obtained Bodhi Pill.
• A red-faced elder at the Ninth-Turn Peak Dou Zun level argues that he deserves the pill because he has served the clan for centuries and is close to breaking through to the Half-Saint realm.
• Another elder challenges his claim, insisting that many others have also contributed greatly. The discussion quickly becomes heated, revealing intense competition among the Gu Clan’s powerful elders.

Character Developments

• Qin Chen gains access to an exceptionally fast and concealed mode of transportation through the Void Shuttle. With the Eastern Region mission completed, he shifts from cautious preparation to aggressive cultivation.
• Qin Chen also demonstrates continued generosity toward his allies by allowing Ye Xinlan to retain the Myriad Beast Cauldron and promising that she will eventually obtain another Heavenly Flame.
• Ye Xinlan has made major progress as an alchemist. Under Qin Chen’s guidance, she can now refine low-grade Tier 6 pills and is approaching the level required to attempt high-grade Tier 6 pills.
• Ye Xinlan’s loyalty and emotional attachment to Qin Chen deepen. She accepts the return of the Green Lotus Core Flame without resentment and remains grateful for his guidance.
• Ye Zhong is astonished by the Green Lotus Core Flame’s intelligence and unusual bond with Ye Xinlan and Qin Chen. Although curious, he wisely chooses not to question matters that may be dangerous or beyond his understanding.
• Green Lotus Core Flame is portrayed as unusually sentient. It helps Ye Xinlan regulate pill-refining heat, recognizes Qin Chen, and behaves affectionately toward him.
• The Gu Clan elders are shown to be ambitious, competitive, and willing to argue openly when valuable resources are at stake.

Significant Themes

• Power and cultivation: Qin Chen’s consumption of the Venerable Spirit Pill marks a new phase in his pursuit of greater strength and eventual advancement to Dou Sheng.
• Trust and loyalty: Ye Xinlan’s willingness to return the Heavenly Flame and Qin Chen’s support for her growth demonstrate mutual trust and devotion.
• The value of rare treasures: The Void Shuttle, Heavenly Flame, Myriad Beast Cauldron, Venerable Spirit Pill, and Bodhi Pill all emphasize the enormous importance of powerful resources in the cultivation world.
• Restraint and secrecy: Qin Chen deliberately concealed the Venerable Spirit Pill during his time with the Gu Clan, showing the importance of preserving hidden advantages.
• Competition within powerful factions: The Gu Clan’s dispute over the Bodhi Pill illustrates how even allied elites compete fiercely for opportunities to advance.
• Unusual spiritual intelligence: The Green Lotus Core Flame’s personality challenges the usual understanding of Heavenly Flames and suggests that Qin Chen’s abilities and treasures possess extraordinary origins.

Character Interactions

• Qin Chen and Ye Xinlan share a warm master-and-disciple-like relationship. He praises her achievements, encourages her future progress, and rewards her with continued use of the Myriad Beast Cauldron.
• Ye Xinlan and Green Lotus Core Flame have developed a cooperative bond, with the flame assisting her during alchemy despite ultimately recognizing Qin Chen as its primary master.
• Ye Zhong observes Qin Chen and Ye Xinlan’s relationship with respect and caution, choosing not to interfere or investigate the flame’s secrets.
• Qin Chen’s interactions with the Gu Clan are indirect in this section, but the elders’ discussion shows the practical consequences of the resources and achievements connected to him.
• The Gu Clan elders clash over entitlement to the Bodhi Pill, with one emphasizing his military service and future usefulness while another rejects his attempt to monopolize the reward.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The elders of the Ye Clan argue fiercely over who should receive the newly refined Bodhi Pill. Their dispute becomes chaotic as they expose one another’s embarrassing pasts, especially mocking Old Man Shan for wanting a pill refined by someone he previously dismissed.
• In the Ye Residence’s secret chamber, Qin Chen spends three days refining and absorbing the Venerable Spirit Pill’s energy. He successfully breaks through from the Five-Star Dou Zun realm to the Six-Star Dou Zun realm.
• After his breakthrough, Qin Chen spends time with Medusa before entering the Lesser Pill Tower to stabilize his cultivation. He practices Heavenly Flame Dou Techniques and begins developing Soul Dou Techniques to strengthen his combat abilities.
• After ten days of training, Qin Chen receives an urgent soul message from Ye Zhong. Heavenly Flame Venerable has arrived with news from the Flower Sect.
• Qin Chen learns that Yun Yun is seeking help for Hua Yu, the former Flower Sect master. Hua Yu, whose legs are paralyzed and whose life is nearly exhausted, transferred her lifelong Dou Qi to Yun Yun through a secret method.
• Hua Yu is being kept alive by Tier 8 medicinal pills, but the situation is worsening. Qin Chen suspects that Hua Jin, the acting sect master, may attempt to seize Hua Yu’s inheritance before Yun Yun can fully refine it.
• Qin Chen and Heavenly Flame Venerable travel to the Flower Sect aboard Qin Chen’s Void Shuttle. Along the way, they learn that Hua Jin is a Three-Star Dou Zun allied with the Five-Star Dou Zun Demon Flower Evil Lord of the Heavenly Nether Sect.
• Because the Flower Sect permits a man and woman to fight together, Hua Jin and Demon Flower Evil Lord may cooperate to challenge Yun Yun and claim Hua Yu’s power.
• Qin Chen is unconcerned by their strength and decides to save Hua Yu if possible, preserve the Flower Sect’s proper leadership, and deal ruthlessly with anyone threatening Yun Yun.
• After reaching the northwestern Central Plains, Qin Chen and Heavenly Flame Venerable descend into a mountain range. Heavenly Flame Venerable crushes a jade communication shard, presumably to contact Yun Yun or the Flower Sect.

2. Character Developments

• Qin Chen: Advances to the Six-Star Dou Zun realm, further consolidating his power through combat and alchemy-related training. He continues expanding his Heavenly Flame and Soul Dou Techniques. His concern for Yun Yun and willingness to save Hua Yu demonstrate both his protective nature and his strategic interest in the Flower Sect’s inheritance.
• Yun Yun: Although absent from the main action, she is shown to be compassionate and responsible. Rather than seeking help for herself, she urgently attempts to preserve Hua Yu’s life. Her possession of Hua Yu’s Dou Qi places her in a dangerous political and martial position.
• Hua Yu: Revealed to be the former Flower Sect master, now physically disabled and near death. She has transferred her lifelong cultivation to Yun Yun, suggesting both trust in Yun Yun and a deliberate attempt to preserve her legacy.
• Hua Jin: Characterized as ambitious and ruthless. Her long-standing desire for the sect-master position, combined with her connection to the Heavenly Nether Sect, makes her the main threat to Yun Yun and Hua Yu.
• Heavenly Flame Venerable: Acts as Qin Chen’s informant and ally. He remains calm because he trusts Qin Chen’s overwhelming strength.
• The Ye Clan elders: Their dignified public image collapses during their argument, revealing greed, competitiveness, hypocrisy, and long-held grudges.

3. Significant Themes

• Greed and hypocrisy: The elders’ fight over the Bodhi Pill reveals that even respected figures can abandon dignity when confronted with a rare treasure.
• Power and inheritance: Hua Yu’s transfer of her cultivation to Yun Yun creates a struggle over who has the right to inherit and control the Flower Sect’s power.
• Protection versus ambition: Yun Yun seeks to save Hua Yu, while Hua Jin seeks to exploit Hua Yu’s decline for political gain.
• Growth through discipline: Qin Chen’s breakthrough is followed by deliberate training rather than complacency, emphasizing that advancement requires both power accumulation and technical refinement.
• Strategic strength: Qin Chen’s response to the Flower Sect crisis shows that strength is valuable not only for direct combat but also for protecting allies, preserving institutions, and shaping political outcomes.
• Legacy and responsibility: Hua Yu’s fading life and transferred cultivation raise questions about how a leader’s will and power should continue after physical decline.

4. Character Interactions

• The Ye Clan elders clash verbally over the Bodhi Pill, with Old Man Shan defending his right to receive it despite his earlier contempt for Qin Chen.
• Qin Chen shares an intimate moment with Medusa before returning to his training.
• Ye Zhong summons Qin Chen because of the Flower Sect crisis, while Heavenly Flame Venerable explains the situation and accompanies him.
• Qin Chen questions Heavenly Flame Venerable about Hua Yu, Yun Yun, Hua Jin, and the Heavenly Nether Sect, using the information to assess the threat.
• Qin Chen and Heavenly Flame Venerable travel together aboard the Void Shuttle, with Heavenly Flame Venerable relying on Qin Chen’s confidence and strength.
• Yun Yun’s indirect connection to Hua Yu and Qin Chen establishes the emotional and political stakes of the coming confrontation.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Chen and Heavenly Flame Venerable arrive at the hidden entrance to the Flower Sect. Since the sect no longer has a Dou Sheng to maintain the Flower Realm, it is concealed behind a powerful spatial barrier and illusion formation.
• Yun Yun urgently emerges from the barrier, takes Qin Chen inside, and leads him through a vast sea of flowers. The flowers form a complex illusion array capable of trapping even Dou Zun experts, but Qin Chen quickly recognizes its structure and memorizes the route.
• Yun Yun explains what happened to Granny Flower, revealing that she is actually Hua Yu, the former master of the Flower Sect. Yun Yun originally met her after accidentally injuring her through the backlash of the Dragon Emperor Blood Essence.
• Despite Hua Yu’s initial hostility, Yun Yun cared for her after the incident. Their relationship gradually deepened, and Hua Yu ultimately entrusted Yun Yun with all her cultivated Dou Qi and made her the next sect master before falling unconscious.
• Qin Chen examines Hua Yu and discovers that her body is catastrophically damaged, with severed meridians and displaced organs. Ordinary healing would leave her crippled, but her soul still contains enough vitality to be restored.
• Qin Chen proposes using his Resurrection Secret Art, inherited from Yao Lao, to revive Hua Yu. He extracts her soul into a Storage Ring and refines Soul-Nourishing Dew with the Green Lotus Core Flame to slowly repair it.
• Hua Yu is no longer in immediate danger, though the recovery will take considerable time. Qin Chen explains that they will eventually need a suitable female Dou Zun body for the resurrection process.
• The chapter ends with Qin Chen taking Yun Yun’s hand, suggesting a more intimate moment between them after the crisis.

Character Developments

• Yun Yun: Her kindness, loyalty, and compassion are emphasized. She repays Hua Yu’s hostility with care, forms a genuine emotional bond with her, and accepts the burden of becoming Flower Sect master. Her deep trust in Qin Chen is also evident.
• Qin Chen: He demonstrates his knowledge of formations, medical diagnosis, soul techniques, and alchemy. His calm confidence reassures Yun Yun, while his willingness to save Hua Yu reflects his concern for Yun Yun and respect for her attachments.
• Hua Yu/Granny Flower: Her past as the Flower Sect’s master is revealed. Though initially harsh and isolated, she comes to accept Yun Yun and entrusts her with the sect’s future. Her sacrifice leaves her physically ruined but potentially recoverable.
• Heavenly Flame Venerable: He remains outside the Flower Sect, recognizing that the matter is personal and that Qin Chen does not need his assistance inside.

Significant Themes

• Kindness overcoming hostility: Yun Yun’s compassionate treatment of Hua Yu transforms their antagonistic first meeting into a bond of mutual trust.
• Loyalty and emotional responsibility: Yun Yun refuses to prioritize her new position over Hua Yu’s life, while Qin Chen acts to save someone important to her.
• Hope through extraordinary means: Even when Hua Yu’s body appears beyond repair, Qin Chen’s soul techniques and Resurrection Secret Art offer a chance at renewal.
• Trust and partnership: Yun Yun relies completely on Qin Chen, while he supports her emotionally and practically during the crisis.
• Legacy and succession: Hua Yu’s transfer of her power and title to Yun Yun marks the continuation of the Flower Sect through a new leader.

Character Interactions

• Yun Yun urgently brings Qin Chen into the Flower Sect and explains Hua Yu’s history while guiding him through the illusion formation.
• Qin Chen gently questions Yun Yun, comforts her, and reassures her that Hua Yu can still be saved.
• Yun Yun reacts with guilt and anxiety over Hua Yu’s condition, then experiences relief and happiness when Qin Chen offers a solution.
• Qin Chen and Yun Yun share a warm, trusting relationship, highlighted by her unquestioning acceptance of his decisions and his final gesture of holding her hand.

Chapter Summary: Rising from Jia Nan Academy

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Chen examines the powerful Dou Qi seal inside Yun Yun and explains that it is preventing her from rapidly refining the vast energy inherited from Granny Hua Yu.
• He offers to tear open a controlled breach in the seal using his soul power, Heavenly Flames, and medicinal pills, allowing Yun Yun to refine the energy much faster.
• Before they can begin, Hua Jin, the Flower Sect’s acting sect master, arrives unexpectedly at their secluded cave.
• Qin Chen introduces himself as Yun Yun’s partner and reveals that Granny Hua Yu has supposedly died. He and Yun Yun deliberately maintain the appearance that Hua Yu is dead while concealing the truth about her soul.
• Hua Jin attempts to claim the sect master’s authority and requests the sect master’s jade token, believing Hua Yu’s death will finally allow her to take control.
• Qin Chen instead announces that Hua Yu had designated Yun Yun as her successor and transferred her lifelong cultivation and Dou Qi to her.
• To prove this claim, Qin Chen releases the aura of Hua Yu through Yun Yun, causing Hua Jin to recognize the former sect master’s power.
• Furious that Yun Yun has inherited the position and power she desired, Hua Jin accuses Qin Chen and Yun Yun of attempting to seize control of the Flower Sect.
• Qin Chen openly challenges Hua Jin’s authority. Hua Jin proposes a formal two-on-two battle according to Flower Sect rules: she and her partner, Demon Wolf, will fight Qin Chen and Yun Yun.
• The wager is that if Qin Chen and Yun Yun win, Hua Jin will acknowledge Yun Yun’s succession and cease opposing her. If Hua Jin wins, Qin Chen must surrender the sect master’s jade token and remove Yun Yun’s inherited Dou Qi.
• Qin Chen accepts the challenge, precisely as he intended.

Character Developments

• Qin Chen: Demonstrates his intimate concern for Yun Yun, his skill in inspecting and manipulating seals, and his confidence in confronting powerful enemies. He deliberately provokes Hua Jin to force a decisive confrontation rather than wasting time in negotiations.
• Yun Yun: Becomes increasingly comfortable with Qin Chen’s affection and trusts his judgment, quietly cooperating with his plan despite not initially understanding it. Her status rises from Granny Hua Yu’s successor to the Flower Sect’s rightful sect master.
• Hua Jin: Reveals her ambition, resentment, and long-standing desire to become sect master. Her outward composure collapses when she learns that Hua Yu chose Yun Yun instead, exposing her jealousy and willingness to challenge the succession.
• Granny Hua Yu: Though absent and apparently dead, her influence remains central. Her inheritance of power and alleged final instructions determine the Flower Sect’s succession.

Significant Themes

• Legitimacy versus ambition: The chapter contrasts Yun Yun’s designated succession with Hua Jin’s belief that years of service entitle her to rule.
• Trust and partnership: Yun Yun relies on Qin Chen’s protection and strategy, while Qin Chen openly supports her claim and treats her as his partner.
• Hidden power and deception: Qin Chen and Yun Yun conceal the truth about Hua Yu’s condition while using her aura to validate Yun Yun’s succession.
• Jealousy and betrayal: Hua Jin’s anger comes from feeling overlooked after years of loyalty, turning her ambition into hostility toward Yun Yun.
• Strength beyond appearances: Hua Jin underestimates Qin Chen because he is an alchemist, failing to recognize his formidable combat ability.

Character Interactions

• Qin Chen teases Yun Yun affectionately, while she responds with embarrassment and growing warmth.
• He examines her seal physically and spiritually, establishing both romantic intimacy and his technical role in helping her cultivate.
• Qin Chen and Hua Jin engage in a tense exchange over Hua Yu’s death and the Flower Sect’s succession.
• Qin Chen repeatedly addresses Hua Jin as “Acting Sect Master,” subtly challenging her authority.
• Yun Yun silently follows Qin Chen’s instructions and supports his deception.
• Hua Jin attempts to manipulate the situation by proposing a battle she believes will exploit Yun Yun’s inexperience and Qin Chen’s presumed weakness as an alchemist.
• Qin Chen accepts the wager confidently, setting up the chapter’s impending confrontation.

Chapter 229 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Chen accepts Hua Jin’s challenge to fight for the position of Flower Sect Master, deliberately provoking her into agreeing to a match in three days.
• After Hua Jin leaves, Qin Chen explains to Yun Yun that Hua Jin is ambitious and dangerous. By defeating her openly according to the Flower Sect’s rules, they can resolve the conflict without damaging their reputations or the Pill Tower’s standing.
• Qin Chen and Yun Yun preserve Hua Yu’s body in Yun Yun’s Storage Ring before returning to her residence.
• Qin Chen begins forcibly opening the seal that has blocked Yun Yun’s Dou Qi. Using the Green Lotus Core Flame, he carefully attacks a weak point in the intricate seal while Yun Yun protects her own meridians.
• The process causes Yun Yun tremendous pain and makes her cough up blood, but Qin Chen succeeds in creating a fissure. Her suppressed Dou Qi bursts out violently, demonstrating that her strength has been fully restored.
• Yun Yun’s released power destroys a nearby table, forcing Qin Chen to protect the Storage Ring containing Hua Yu’s body.
• After the successful breakthrough, the mood between Qin Chen and Yun Yun turns intimate. They spend the next two days together, and by the morning of the third day, Yun Yun is resting in Qin Chen’s arms.

Character Developments

• Qin Chen demonstrates strategic restraint and political awareness. Although he could resolve the conflict through overwhelming force, he chooses to follow the Flower Sect’s rules to protect his reputation and achieve his larger goals.
• He also displays technical mastery and precision while dismantling Yun Yun’s seal, carefully avoiding damage to her meridians.
• Yun Yun shows complete trust in Qin Chen, enduring severe pain without complaint so that her power can be restored. Her emotional dependence on him becomes clearer, as she feels comforted by having someone reliable at her side.
• After regaining her Dou Qi, Yun Yun’s confidence and happiness return. Her shyness around Qin Chen gradually gives way to affection and willing intimacy.
• Hua Jin is established as ambitious, arrogant, and easily provoked. Her eagerness to accept the challenge suggests that Qin Chen’s assessment of her character is correct.

Significant Themes

• Trust and reliance: Yun Yun’s willingness to entrust her body and cultivation to Qin Chen reflects their deep bond.
• Strategic restraint versus brute force: Qin Chen deliberately follows established rules rather than using violence, emphasizing the importance of reputation and legitimacy.
• Restoration and liberation: Breaking Yun Yun’s seal symbolizes the recovery of her strength, freedom, and former identity.
• Romantic intimacy: The chapter strongly develops Qin Chen and Yun Yun’s romantic relationship after their long separation.
• Ambition and danger: Hua Jin’s desire for power positions her as a future threat and sets up the coming confrontation.

Character Interactions

• Qin Chen provokes Hua Jin into accepting a formal duel, then explains his strategy to Yun Yun.
• Yun Yun walks hand in hand with Qin Chen to her chamber, reflecting their growing closeness.
• During the sealing procedure, Qin Chen gives Yun Yun firm instructions while she responds with discipline and trust.
• Once Yun Yun’s power returns, their relationship shifts from solemn cooperation to mutual romantic intimacy, culminating in two days of passion.
• The chapter ends on a light, teasing note when Yun Yun hiccups after Qin Chen repeatedly feeds her “nourishing” food, glaring at him with affectionate irritation.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Chen checks the condition of Yun Yun’s internal seal. A crack he created allows Granny Flower’s stored Dou Qi to flow out at a rate Yun Yun can safely refine, meaning she may absorb it all within one or two years.
• To aid Yun Yun’s cultivation, Qin Chen plants another Heartflame Seed within her body. The seed will accelerate her refinement process, temper her Dou Qi, and strengthen her foundation.
• Afterward, Qin Chen and Yun Yun share an affectionate, intimate moment before dressing and leaving the room together.
• They stroll through the Flower Sect, admiring the beautiful Sea of Ten Thousand Flowers. Yun Yun expresses a longing for a peaceful life free from conflict, while Qin Chen reassures her that their present struggles are meant to secure such a future.
• A bell announces the beginning of the agreed-upon contest over leadership of the Flower Sect. Qin Chen and Yun Yun travel to the sect’s central mountain plaza.
• Hua Jin appears with the Demon Flower Evil Lord, an expert from the Heavenly Nether Sect. The stakes are confirmed: if Hua Jin loses, Yun Yun becomes Sect Master; if Qin Chen and Yun Yun lose, they must surrender the Sect Master’s jade token and the previous Sect Master’s lifelong Dou Qi.
• Qin Chen announces himself to the hidden elders of the Flower Sect and offers future access to his pill-refining abilities, earning a favorable response from the sect’s older generation.
• The Demon Flower Evil Lord agrees to fight Qin Chen, believing Qin Chen is an inexperienced alchemist with little combat ability. Yun Yun withdraws, leaving Qin Chen to face him alone.
• The battle begins. Qin Chen meets the Evil Lord’s attack directly and overwhelms him with his physical strength, injuring his hand and forcing him backward.
• The Evil Lord is shocked by Qin Chen’s power and retaliates with a folding fan that releases countless energy needles. Their aerial battle intensifies, prompting him to urge Hua Jin to finish her own fight quickly.

Character Developments

• Qin Chen: Demonstrates tenderness toward Yun Yun but also confidence, political awareness, and overwhelming combat strength. He deliberately appeals to the Flower Sect’s hidden elders and reveals that he is far more capable in battle than the Demon Flower Evil Lord expected.
• Yun Yun: Continues adapting to her inherited Dou Qi and accepts Qin Chen’s guidance. Her relationship with him becomes increasingly intimate and emotionally secure. She also recognizes her current combat limitations and willingly allows him to fight in her place.
• Hua Jin: Remains hostile, resentful, and determined to retain control of the Flower Sect. Despite her outward confidence, she depends heavily on the Demon Flower Evil Lord’s strength.
• Demon Flower Evil Lord: Is introduced as arrogant, sinister, and obsessed with beauty. He becomes attracted to Yun Yun and hostile toward Qin Chen, but his confidence is shaken when Qin Chen defeats him in their first exchange.
• Flower Sect elders and disciples: The disciples show curiosity toward Qin Chen, while the hidden elders appear pragmatic and receptive to his offer of assistance through alchemy.

Significant Themes

• Power versus underestimation: The Demon Flower Evil Lord assumes Qin Chen is merely a sheltered alchemist, but Qin Chen’s physical strength and combat ability quickly overturn that judgment.
• Love as motivation: Qin Chen and Yun Yun’s affection provides emotional warmth amid political and martial conflict. Their wish for peace motivates their struggles.
• Leadership and legitimacy: The contest is not only a personal duel but also a battle for the future direction of the Flower Sect and the right to inherit its authority and resources.
• Cultivation and mutual support: Qin Chen strengthens Yun Yun’s foundation through the Heartflame Seed, showing how their partnership combines emotional intimacy with practical cultivation.
• Political strategy: Qin Chen seeks the support of the Flower Sect’s hidden elders by presenting himself as a valuable ally, not merely an outsider involved in a succession dispute.

Important Character Interactions

• Qin Chen and Yun Yun share affectionate banter, physical intimacy, and a quiet conversation about their hopes for a peaceful future.
• Qin Chen respectfully addresses the hidden Flower Sect elders, offering pills and demonstrating diplomatic skill.
• Hua Jin and Qin Chen openly negotiate the consequences of the contest, with Qin Chen calmly insisting that Yun Yun become Sect Master if they win.
• The Demon Flower Evil Lord displays lustful interest in Yun Yun and resentment toward Qin Chen, leading to their direct confrontation.
• Yun Yun trusts Qin Chen enough to retreat from the battlefield, while Qin Chen confidently takes responsibility for defeating the Evil Lord.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hua Jin, realizing she has underestimated Qin Chen, attacks Yun Yun in anger, blaming her for inheriting the Flower Sect’s resources and legacy.
• Before Hua Jin can reach Yun Yun, Qin Chen’s Three Thousand Lightning Phantom Body intercepts her. The clone is virtually identical to Qin Chen and possesses the strength of a Six-Star Dou Zun.
• The clone overwhelms Hua Jin, whose cultivation is only at the Three-Star Dou Zun level. She is quickly forced into a desperate defensive position.
• Demon Flower Evil Lord intervenes to support Hua Jin, attacking Qin Chen with his spatial technique, Great Rending Wind. Qin Chen effortlessly nullifies the spatial cracks, revealing his superior mastery of spatial energy.
• Qin Chen mocks Demon Flower Evil Lord and declares that the battle is not worth continuing unless the latter uses his full strength.
• Driven into desperation, Demon Flower Evil Lord unleashes Heavenly Nether Art: Qi Transforms Heaven and Earth, creating a gigantic Dou Qi figure nearly one hundred zhang tall.
• The attack severely pressures the Flower Sect’s surroundings, forcing its elders to construct and reinforce a defensive barrier around the square.
• The Dou Qi giant launches a devastating punch at Qin Chen, powerful enough to fracture space and damage the surrounding ground.
• Qin Chen responds with the Green Lotus Core Flame and uses Li Fire Art: Flame God Hand, forming a colossal purple-black flaming hand.
• Qin Chen’s flaming hand destroys the hurricane summoned by Demon Flower Evil Lord and completely captures the massive Dou Qi giant, leaving the Evil Lord alarmed and in immediate danger.

Character Developments

• Qin Chen demonstrates overwhelming growth and confidence. His combat ability greatly surpasses what would normally be expected of an alchemist, and he continues to fight while deliberately withholding his full strength.
• Hua Jin shifts from arrogance to panic as Qin Chen’s clone easily suppresses her. Her hostility toward Yun Yun exposes her resentment and jealousy.
• Demon Flower Evil Lord is forced to abandon his initial confidence. After recognizing Qin Chen’s superiority, he reveals a powerful ultimate technique, but even this fails to gain an advantage.
• Yun Yun remains calm and composed throughout the battle. Her confidence in Qin Chen reflects both deep trust and romantic attachment.
• The Flower Sect elders move from astonishment to active concern, recognizing that the battle’s destructive power could endanger the entire sect.
• The Flower Sect disciples witness a battle far beyond their experience, developing fear and awe toward Qin Chen and the opposing forces.

Significant Themes

• The transformation of the underestimated: Qin Chen’s rise from an ordinary young Dou Wang to a powerful Dou Zun highlights his extraordinary growth.
• Overwhelming strength and mastery: Qin Chen defeats techniques that would normally be considered devastating, showing that cultivation level, technique quality, and combat experience matter more than appearances or profession.
• Pride versus reality: Hua Jin and Demon Flower Evil Lord both begin with confidence but are forced to confront the vast gap between their abilities and Qin Chen’s.
• Trust and loyalty: Yun Yun’s calm faith in Qin Chen contrasts with the panic of everyone else and emphasizes their emotional bond.
• The difference between appearance and substance: Qin Chen’s identity as an alchemist leads others to underestimate him, but his physical strength, secret techniques, spatial control, and flame arts reveal him as a formidable combatant.

Important Character Interactions

• Hua Jin verbally attacks Yun Yun before attempting to assault her, establishing their hostility.
• Qin Chen’s clone protects Yun Yun, directly opposing Hua Jin and reinforcing his role as Yun Yun’s defender.
• Qin Chen and Demon Flower Evil Lord exchange taunts, with Qin Chen repeatedly belittling the Evil Lord’s abilities and forcing him to reveal his strongest technique.
• Yun Yun silently observes Qin Chen, reflecting on his dramatic growth and acknowledging her love and trust in him.
• The Flower Sect elders react collectively to the battle, protecting the sect while recognizing Qin Chen’s extraordinary power.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Chen decisively defeats Demon Flower Evil Lord’s powerful Dou Qi giant with his Flame God Hand, destroying the attack and severely injuring its user.
• Demon Flower Evil Lord is forced to retreat beyond the Flower Sect’s defensive barrier, thereby forfeiting the succession match.
• Qin Chen then strikes Hua Jin, who is already restrained by his Three Thousand Lightning Phantom Body, sending her crashing outside the plaza. She survives but is badly burned and humiliated.
• Qin Chen deliberately spares both opponents, recognizing that killing them would create political complications and hoping they will eventually make further moves against him.
• The Flower Sect’s First Elder appears and officially announces that Qin Chen and Yun Yun have won the contest.
• Yun Yun is appointed the Flower Sect’s new sect master, initially accepting the role as an acting position until Granny Flower awakens.
• Hua Jin objects, warning that Yun Yun’s succession will destroy the Flower Sect’s alliance with the Heavenly Nether Sect and provoke retaliation.
• Qin Chen counters that the Heavenly Nether Sect’s supposed alliance is actually an attempt to infiltrate and eventually annex the Flower Sect.
• Trusting Granny Flower’s judgment, Qin Chen’s reputation, and his connection to the Pill Tower, the First Elder firmly confirms Yun Yun’s appointment.
• Demon Flower Evil Lord departs in humiliation, vowing revenge implicitly through his hateful glare at Qin Chen. Hua Jin also retreats in anger.
• The Flower Sect’s elders and disciples formally acknowledge Yun Yun as their sect master.

Character Developments

• Qin Chen demonstrates overwhelming combat strength, defeating two powerful opponents without needing to kill them. His calmness and strategic thinking reveal that he is planning beyond the immediate victory.
• Demon Flower Evil Lord suffers a major defeat and loss of prestige. His failure ruins his attempt to influence the Flower Sect and leaves him resentful toward Qin Chen.
• Hua Jin is exposed as both physically outmatched and politically manipulative. Her alliance-based argument fails, and she leaves with deep hatred but little remaining influence.
• Yun Yun transitions from a potential successor into the Flower Sect’s officially recognized leader. Though uncertain and willing to step aside later, she accepts the responsibility to prevent internal disorder.
• The First Elder displays firm authority and political insight. She supports Yun Yun, rejects Hua Jin’s threats, and makes clear that the Flower Sect will not submit to the Heavenly Nether Sect.
• Qin Chen and Yun Yun’s relationship remains affectionate and supportive. Yun Yun tends to Qin Chen after the battle, while he helps secure her position as sect master.

Significant Themes

• Legitimacy and succession: Yun Yun’s inheritance of Granny Flower’s power and legacy establishes her rightful claim to leadership.
• Political manipulation and hidden ambition: The Heavenly Nether Sect’s alliance is portrayed as a cover for infiltration and annexation.
• Strength as political authority: Qin Chen’s overwhelming power and Pill Tower connections make it possible for the Flower Sect to resist external pressure.
• Strategic restraint: Qin Chen chooses not to kill his enemies, recognizing that sparing them may serve his larger plans.
• Duty and responsibility: Yun Yun accepts leadership not out of personal ambition, but to stabilize the Flower Sect during a period of uncertainty.
• Humiliation and revenge: Demon Flower Evil Lord and Hua Jin’s defeats create future hostility, suggesting that the conflict is not truly over.

Character Interactions

• Qin Chen humiliates Demon Flower Evil Lord and Hua Jin in battle but deliberately allows both to live.
• Yun Yun warmly tends to Qin Chen after his victory, highlighting their close bond.
• Hua Jin challenges the First Elder’s decision by invoking the Heavenly Nether Sect’s threat.
• Qin Chen directly confronts Hua Jin’s political claims and exposes the alliance as a possible annexation strategy.
• The First Elder sides with Qin Chen and Yun Yun, silencing further opposition and ordering the entire Flower Sect to obey Yun Yun.
• The chapter ends with Yun Yun standing beneath the sunlight as the Flower Sect’s new leader, reflecting on how Qin Chen’s earlier joke has unexpectedly become reality.