Ch. 281Must Die!

Chapter Summary — “Must Die!”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lin Jiadong learns that Jian Dai spent the night at the Hilton Hotel with Gao Jing and went shopping with him the following morning. Enraged and jealous, he smashes an antique vase.
  • Lin believes Jian Dai and the Golden Horse Group should have belonged to him after the death of his elder brother, Jian Dai’s husband. He views Jian Dai as his personal possession, despite her longstanding disgust toward him.
  • In the past, Lin used the Jeni Gang to eliminate a rumored romantic rival of Jian Dai’s. Now, seeing that Jian Dai has genuinely fallen for Gao Jing, he decides Gao Jing must die.
  • Lin contacts a dangerous associate, Mr. Adusa, and asks him to help eliminate Gao Jing.
  • Meanwhile, Jian Dai takes Gao Jing shopping at Twin Towers Shopping Center, spending nearly ten million on luxury clothing, accessories, and a Patek Philippe watch. She is pleased by his improved appearance and clearly enjoys caring for him.
  • Jian Dai tours Gao Jing through a Golden Horse Group paper mill, introducing him to the company’s extensive paper, forestry, timber, and furniture businesses. The visit confirms that she is an ideal potential partner for Gao Jing’s plans involving Great World’s forest resources.
  • After dinner, Jian Dai is called back to group headquarters. She apologizes, kisses Gao Jing goodbye, and promises to continue showing him the company’s factories the next day. They remain emotionally close, speaking by phone later that night.
  • The next morning, driver Lin Zhenhui takes Gao Jing toward another factory but gradually diverts onto increasingly remote roads. Gao Jing notices the suspicious route, Lin’s nervous behavior, and the lack of phone signal.
  • The car stops at an abandoned factory, where armed men carrying machetes and hunting rifles surround it. Lin Jiadong appears and congratulates Lin Zhenhui for betraying Gao Jing.
  • Before Lin Zhenhui can finish accepting his reward, Lin Jiadong stabs him in the back, revealing that he intends to eliminate even his own accomplice after the ambush.

Character Developments

  • Lin Jiadong: His jealousy, entitlement, and hatred intensify into an explicit murder plot. He sees Jian Dai and the Golden Horse Group as things he deserves and treats Gao Jing as an intolerable rival. His stabbing of Lin Zhenhui demonstrates his cruelty and willingness to betray anyone.
  • Jian Dai: Her relationship with Gao Jing becomes increasingly intimate and domestic. She spends lavishly on him, introduces him to her business empire, and balances her romantic feelings with her responsibilities as a business leader.
  • Gao Jing: He becomes more integrated into Jian Dai’s personal and professional world. Although he accepts her extravagant gifts somewhat reluctantly, he appreciates her support. His calm reaction to the suspicious detour suggests confidence and strong situational awareness.
  • Lin Zhenhui: Initially appears to be a trusted driver, but he has secretly cooperated with Lin Jiadong. His betrayal ultimately proves futile when Lin Jiadong kills him immediately after the trap is sprung.

Significant Themes

  • Possessiveness and entitlement: Lin Jiadong’s belief that Jian Dai and the family business belong to him drives the central conflict.
  • Jealousy turning into violence: Romantic resentment escalates from surveillance and intimidation to an organized assassination attempt.
  • Love versus duty: Jian Dai cares deeply for Gao Jing but still returns to handle her corporate responsibilities.
  • Power and business alliances: The chapter emphasizes the value of Jian Dai’s corporate empire and its importance to Gao Jing’s future plans.
  • Betrayal and ruthlessness: Lin Jiadong’s murder of his own accomplice shows that his ambition and cruelty extend beyond his romantic rivalry.

Important Character Interactions

  • Lin Jiadong speaks deferentially to Mr. Adusa while arranging Gao Jing’s murder, showing that he relies on darker outside forces.
  • Jian Dai and Gao Jing share affectionate shopping, business touring, dinner, phone conversations, and a goodbye kiss, strengthening their relationship.
  • Gao Jing notices Lin Zhenhui’s suspicious driving but deliberately remains calm, creating tension before the ambush.
  • Lin Jiadong praises Lin Zhenhui for his betrayal, then immediately stabs him, exposing the brutal and treacherous nature of the trap.

Ch. 282Slaughter

Chapter Summary: “Slaughter”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lin Jiadong kills Lin Zhenhui, who collapses after being attacked. He takes the black plastic case Lin Zhenhui was carrying, discovering it is a cell-phone jammer.
  • Jiadong arrogantly orders Gao Jing out of the Rolls-Royce and demands that he kneel. Driven by drugs, hatred, and excitement, he shoots Gao Jing in the thigh.
  • Gao Jing’s crimson Battle Armor materializes and completely blocks the bullet. Shocked, Jiadong fires repeatedly at Gao Jing’s head and chest, but none of the bullets can penetrate the armor.
  • The surrounding gang members attack Gao Jing with shotguns, machetes, and axes. Gao Jing easily withstands the gunfire and brutally kills several attackers with his fists.
  • Terrified by Gao Jing’s supernatural defense and overwhelming strength, the gang members lose their nerve and flee. Gao Jing retrieves an AK-74 from his storage space and methodically shoots down every escaping gang member.
  • Gao Jing gains a large amount of high-quality Faith Power from the slaughter, replenishing the nearly depleted Faith Pool within the Copper Anchor. He also notes that operating abroad allows him to kill and gather Faith Power without fearing intervention from the River Crab God.
  • Returning to the Rolls-Royce, Gao Jing finds Lin Jiadong desperately trying to start the locked car. Jiadong crawls out, begs for mercy, and repeatedly kowtows.
  • Gao Jing refuses to spare him, judging him responsible for the entire incident, and shoots him in the head.

Character Developments

  • Gao Jing is revealed as vastly stronger than his enemies expect. His Battle Armor makes him immune to ordinary gunfire, while his physical strength allows him to kill gang members effortlessly. He becomes increasingly comfortable acting as a ruthless executioner when outside the constraints he faces at home.
  • Lin Jiadong shifts from an arrogant, drug-fueled aggressor to a terrified, pleading coward once his weapons prove useless. His hatred of Gao Jing and insistence on confronting him personally lead directly to his downfall.
  • Lin Zhenhui dies helplessly at Jiadong’s hands, establishing the brutality and betrayal driving the confrontation.
  • The gang members begin confident in their numerical advantage but quickly realize they are facing an inhuman opponent. Their courage collapses after witnessing Gao Jing’s violence.

Significant Themes

  • Overwhelming power and misjudgment: Gao Jing’s enemies mistake him for an ordinary “pretty-boy” and underestimate his supernatural abilities.
  • The consequences of arrogance: Jiadong’s pride prevents him from using a safer approach and ultimately leaves him helpless before Gao Jing.
  • Fear and the collapse of violence: The gang members rely on weapons and numbers, but their confidence vanishes when confronted with someone impervious to both.
  • Moral restraint versus slaughter: Gao Jing claims to show mercy by not using his full strength, yet he still kills nearly everyone involved. The chapter emphasizes his growing acceptance of lethal force.
  • Faith as a source of power: The deaths provide Gao Jing with valuable Faith Power, linking violence and supernatural advancement.
  • Justice and self-inflicted consequences: Gao Jing frames Jiadong’s death as the natural result of the path he chose.

Character Interactions

  • Jiadong coldly kills Lin Zhenhui and takes his equipment.
  • Jiadong humiliates and threatens Gao Jing, demanding that he kneel and shooting him when he refuses to submit.
  • Gao Jing responds with contempt, defeats the gang members, and transforms their confidence into panic.
  • Jiadong reverses roles by begging Gao Jing for mercy, but Gao Jing rejects his plea and executes him.

Ch. 283Uproot the Grass and Eliminate the Roots

Chapter Summary: "Uproot the Grass and Eliminate the Roots"

Key Plot Points & Events

  • Gao Jing burns down the abandoned factory with gasoline, cremating Lin Jiadong and the gang members who tried to kill him
  • He takes Lin Zhenhui's Rolls-Royce and begins driving back; phone service returns
  • Jian Dai, after failing to reach Gao Jing, locates him via the car's satellite positioning and flies to him by private helicopter
  • They return to Golden Horse Tower (Golden Horse Group headquarters) in Kuala Lumpur
  • Gao Jing reports that Lin Zhenhui is dead (killed by Jeni Gang) and that he killed Lin Jiadong and the gang members
  • Gao Jing proposes eliminating the entire Jeni Gang to prevent future retaliation, particularly against Jian Dai

Character Developments

  • Gao Jing: Demonstrates cold efficiency and ruthlessness (disposing of bodies, showing no hesitation about killing), yet reveals a protective side—his stated reason for destroying the Jeni Gang is to ensure Jian Dai's safety and smooth future cooperation. He embodies the "uproot the grass and eliminate the roots" philosophy—total elimination of threats.
  • Jian Dai: Shows vulnerability and genuine emotional attachment (trembling, crying, clinging to Gao Jing), a contrast to her usual composed persona. Her fury at Lin Zhenhui's betrayal reveals how deeply trust violations affect her. She also displays decisiveness—mobilizing a helicopter and armed guards quickly.
  • Lin Zhenhui (revealed in retrospect): A tragic-betrayer figure—an illegitimate, low-status Lin Family member saved and generously treated by Jian Dai, yet secretly in love with her. That hidden love and bribery by Lin Jiadong allegedly drove him to sell out Gao Jing, costing him his life.

Significant Themes

  • Betrayal vs. Loyalty: Lin Zhenhui's betrayal of a benefactor who saved and trusted him versus the mutual trust developing between Gao Jing and Jian Dai
  • Absolute Elimination: "Uproot the grass and eliminate the roots" — the principle that threats must be wiped out completely to prevent future danger
  • Consequences of Unrequited Love: Lin Zhenhui's secret love for Jian Dai is implied as the root of his treachery
  • Power and Protection: Jian Dai's wealth (helicopter, armed guards) versus Gao Jing's raw capability; their combined strength forms a formidable alliance

Character Interactions

  • Gao Jing & Jian Dai: The reunion is emotionally charged. She embraces him, trembling and weeping with relief. Gao Jing soothes her with comforting words. Their relationship deepens—Jian Dai's vulnerability and Gao Jing's calm protection create clear romantic tension, with Jian Dai visibly dazzled by Gao Jing's confidence. She embraces him again, prompting Gao Jing's playful reproach: "Sister Dai, let's handle business first."
  • Jian Dai & Lin Zhenhui (reflective): Jian Dai's recollection highlights her history of kindness toward him and the depth of her shock and anger upon learning of his betrayal—she calls him a "white-eyed wolf" (an ungrateful person).
    Chapter Purpose: Serves as an aftermath/transition chapter—resolving the immediate crisis, revealing background on the Lin Family dynamics, advancing the Gao Jing–Jian Dai relationship, and setting up the next arc: war with the Jeni Gang.

Ch. 284Hell's Messenger (Part 1)

Chapter Summary: “Hell’s Messenger (Part 1)”

Plot Points and Events

  • The chapter introduces Kuala Lumpur’s Pasha District, a poverty-stricken and crime-ridden area described as the city’s “scar.” It is home to factories, impoverished residents, ex-convicts, illegal immigrants, and the powerful Jeni Gang.
  • Gao Jing enters Pasha District disguised through the Giant Spirit Totem as an enormous, intimidating warrior over two meters tall. He wears dark leather armor, carries a battle axe, and uses equipment from the Great World.
  • Local hoodlums initially panic at the sight of him. Gao Jing calmly asks for directions to Shaba Slaughterhouse, the headquarters of the Jeni Gang. After receiving directions, he rewards the informant with several 100-ringgit notes and advises the gang members to abandon crime and study.
  • Shaba Slaughterhouse is revealed to be both a major meat-processing plant and the fortress-like base of Apachai, leader of the Jeni Gang. The slaughterhouse has a brutal reputation as a place where enemies and traitors disappear.
  • After confirming his destination with his phone, Gao Jing deliberately smiles at a surveillance camera and uses a powerful Charge to smash through the outer wall.
  • He enters the compound with his battle axe drawn. A silver-white gu insect emerges from his armor and flies into the gang’s main building, apparently gathering information or scouting.
  • Gao Jing’s intrusion immediately triggers an alarm-like response, and more than a dozen armed gang members move in to confront him.

Character Developments

  • Gao Jing is presented as confident, disciplined, and overwhelmingly powerful. Despite his frightening appearance, he behaves generously toward the local youths and attempts to discourage them from gang life.
  • His transformation and equipment show that he is deliberately using an intimidating identity for his mission, rather than appearing as himself.
  • Gao Jing also demonstrates strategic preparation: he studies intelligence supplied by Jian Dai, verifies the target’s location, scouts with the gu insect, and openly breaches the compound to force a confrontation.
  • Apachai is established as a ruthless but intelligent gang leader. He rose from poverty and gang activity to become the Jeni Gang’s boss, a councilor, and a major criminal power in Kuala Lumpur.
  • Apachai’s continued residence at the slaughterhouse reveals both his attachment to his origins and his extreme distrust of enemies, as the fortified compound provides him security.

Significant Themes

  • Light and darkness within society: Pasha District represents the hidden, neglected side of Kuala Lumpur beneath the city’s modern and glamorous surface.
  • Poverty and crime: The district’s harsh conditions and social instability are shown as breeding grounds for gangs and violence.
  • Fear and power: Gao Jing’s appearance, Apachai’s fortress, and the slaughterhouse’s reputation all emphasize how authority is maintained through intimidation.
  • Moral choice and redemption: Gao Jing’s advice to the hoodlums contrasts with the criminal world around him, suggesting that people trapped in gangs may still have the opportunity to change.
  • Justice versus brutality: Gao Jing enters a place known for disappearances and murder, positioning his mission as a direct challenge to Apachai’s violent empire.

Character Interactions

  • Gao Jing intimidates a group of street hoodlums simply by approaching them, but he treats them politely and pays them for their help.
  • His advice that gang life has “no future” creates a contrast between his apparent monstrous appearance and his unexpectedly humane attitude.
  • Gao Jing indirectly confronts Apachai by breaking through the slaughterhouse wall and announcing his presence to the gang.
  • The chapter ends with Gao Jing facing an armed group of Jeni Gang members, setting up the coming conflict.

Ch. 285The Envoy of Hell (Part 2)

Summary of "The Envoy of Hell (Part 2)"

1. Key Plot Points

  • Gao Jing single-handedly invades the Jeni Gang’s lair at Shaba Slaughterhouse to assassinate their boss, Apachai.
  • The gang members—mostly poor, fierce natives of Pasha District with makeshift weapons—attempt to stop him but are slaughtered by his AK-74; his protective Battle Armor makes their bullets useless.
  • Gao Jing ignores lesser enemies and heads for the main building, knowing that killing Apachai will collapse the gang.
  • Meanwhile, Apachai watches the massacre on surveillance. He has already suspected something is wrong because his men sent to do a job for Lin Jiadong of the Lin Family never returned.
  • Terrified, Apachai abandons his wives, children, and relatives to flee through a private elevator to an escape tunnel.
  • Just as he enters the elevator, a tiny Six-Wing insect bites him. Apachai dies instantly—bleeding from eyes, nose, ears, and mouth—while his bodyguards can only watch in shock.
  • Gao Jing retrieves the insect and gains a large amount of Faith Power from Apachai’s death.
  • After killing another sneak-attacker, Gao Jing, seeking more Faith Power, enters the factory building—and is immediately confronted with a shocking sight.
  • The chapter ends on that cliffhanger.

2. Character Developments

  • Gao Jing: Shows ruthless pragmatism and tactical intelligence. He uses the battle axe as a decoy, switches to AK-74, relies on Battle Armor, and later uses Six-Wing as a covert assassination tool. He prioritizes decapitating the gang’s leadership over killing ordinary members.
  • Apachai: Reveals true cowardice and extreme selfishness. Though once a fierce gangster, he now cares only about his own survival, abandoning his family without hesitation. His unceremonious, mysterious death is a fall from power.

3. Significant Themes

  • Power vs. Fear: Gao Jing is seen as an unstoppable "envoy of hell," causing the gang members to stop fighting and hope he leaves after enough killing.
  • Decapitation strategy: Gao Jing’s focus on killing the leader as the fastest way to destroy an organization.
  • Selfishness of the powerful: Apachai’s disregard for everyone else highlights the moral rot at the top.
  • Overconfidence and its limits: Gao Jing’s insatiable desire for Faith Power leads him to push further into danger, setting up the final cliffhanger.

4. Character Interactions

  • Gao Jing vs. the Jeni Gang: A one-sided gunfight; gang members fire helplessly at Gao Jing while he mows them down.
  • Apachai and his bodyguards: Apachai orders them to help him flee; they are paralyzed with shock when he suddenly dies.
  • Gao Jing and Six-Wing: A silent coordination—Six-Wing infiltrates the building, kills Apachai, returns to Gao Jing, and is rewarded via the storage space in his armor.
  • Gao Jing and Apachai: No direct fight; Apachai dies from the insect’s attack before ever facing Gao Jing face-to-face.

Ch. 286A Return Strike

Chapter Summary: The Return Strike

Key Plot Points

  • Gao Jing breaks into Shaba Slaughterhouse, the Jeni Gang's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur's poorest district
  • He discovers the gang has been murdering people like livestock—over a dozen naked, throat-slit corpses hang from hooks. This explains his massive Faith Power harvest
  • The gang cuts the factory's lights to blind him, but Gao Jing activates his infrared vision (a new ability from his Hui Snake Spirit fusion) and turns the slaughterhouse into a genuine hell
  • He kills 30–40 gang members in minutes using his battle axe and firearms. None escape—not even those who flee outside
  • He briefly spares a terrified indigenous family hiding in a nearby shack, throwing them money and silencing them
  • He deliberately waits nearby for reinforcements, knowing his enemies will come
  • Hundreds of gang members arrive; when a leader rallies them, Gao Jing executes him with a single shot and charges back in for his "return strike"

Character Developments

  • Gao Jing: Demonstrates cold, calculated ruthlessness toward the wicked while showing mercy to innocents. His infrared vision emerges as a new supernatural ability. He is strategically patient—not leaving the scene because he craves more opportunities to harvest Faith Power. His moral code is clear: he sees no one at Shaba Slaughterhouse as innocent, including apparently legitimate workers, whom he kills without hesitation.

Significant Themes

  • Righteous but brutal retribution: Gao Jing embodies a merciless vigilante justice—the gang's inhumanity justifies his total annihilation of them
  • Darkness as a double-edged sword: The gang's attempt to use darkness against him backfires completely; his infrared vision makes him even more lethal
  • Faith Power as motivation: Gao Jing's primary driver in battle is harvesting Faith Power; the gang's evil only sweetens the opportunity
  • The savagery beneath "civilized" society: The contrast between the factory's advanced facilities and the barbaric acts committed inside

Character Interactions

  • Gao Jing vs. the Jeni Gang: A one-sided massacre; gang members beg, weep, and suffer mental breakdowns in the darkness—none are spared
  • Gao Jing vs. the indigenous family: A brief, wordless interaction showing his compassion; he makes a silencing gesture and leaves them money, and they obey out of terror
  • Gao Jing vs. arriving reinforcements: Executes their rallying leader, announcing the return strike

Ch. 287When the Deed Was Done, He Brushed Off His Sleeves and Left

Chapter Summary: "When the Deed Was Done, He Brushed Off His Sleeves and Left"

1. Key Plot Points & Events

  • Gao Jing returns to the Shaba Slaughterhouse and massacres the Jeni Gang members gathered there (400-500 men), using his Flame Blade ability to kill over 200 people
  • The gang members' weapons prove useless against him; their resistance collapses in under half a minute
  • Police sirens and helicopter rotors approach, so Gao Jing stops pursuing and leaves the scene cleanly ("brushed off his sleeves and left")
  • Jian Dai, waiting anxiously at Golden Horse Tower, receives news of a massive shooting at Shaba Slaughterhouse and fears for Gao Jing
  • Gao Jing calls Jian Dai and casually invites her to dinner at his hotel; they reunite at the Hilton Hotel suite
  • News of the "Shaba Massacre" spreads online despite authorities' attempts at censorship, with photos and a short video showing the Jeni Gang's atrocities (dozens of corpses hanging from a conveyor line)
  • Public outrage erupts across Malaysia and internationally, dealing a blow to Kuala Lumpur's tourism and image

2. Character Developments

  • Gao Jing: Demonstrates ruthless, systematic slaughter—treating gang members as mere "Faith Power" (cultivation resource). His power has grown severalfold since stepping into the Totem Grand Warrior realm (Blazing Blades reach 7+ meters). He shows a calm, detached attitude, prioritizing escape over unnecessary confrontation and showing no remorse
  • Jian Dai: Reveals genuine concern for Gao Jing, regretting letting him go alone. Despite her worry, she maintains composure and rationality at critical moments. Her feelings for him deepen—she expresses longing ("I miss you") and physical attraction

3. Significant Themes

  • Power asymmetry: High Rank Transcendents vs ordinary humans—a one-sided massacre emphasizing the crushing gap in strength
  • Sanctioned violence: The protagonist's cold, utilitarian view of enemies as resources ("waves of Faith Power")
  • Consequences of brutality: Mass casualties trigger media firestorm, governmental crackdown, and international scrutiny
  • Hidden identity: The protagonist's "hit-and-hide" methodology—concluding the deed anonymously despite the chaos left behind
  • Criminal underworld corruption: Exposed by the leaked video, revealing the Jeni Gang's inhuman practices

4. Character Interactions

  • Gao Jing vs Jeni Gang members: Total annihilation; gang members initially vow revenge but break into panicked flight, suffering a brutal, one-sided defeat
  • Gao Jing & Jian Dai: A distant but intimate dynamic—Jian Dai restrains herself from calling him (to avoid causing trouble), then greets him with relief, promise of reunion, and romantic desire upon his safe return
  • Off-screen actors: Kuala Lumpur authorities (deploying police and special operations teams, controlling internet) and malicious actors spreading rumors amplify the incident's scale

Ch. 288Storm

Chapter Summary: "Storm"

Key Plot Points

  • Gao Jing returns from a lengthy negotiation/"battle" with Jian Dai, who has fallen asleep from exhaustion
  • He discovers a massive surge of Faith Power flowing into his Copper Anchor Space—comparable to his million-member Bilibili giveaways
  • The cause: footage from the Shaba Slaughterhouse, filmed on Gao Jing's GoPro, has gone viral globally after Jian Dai leaked it to international media
  • The internet in Malaysia gets cut off as authorities panic over the fallout
  • The "Sabah Slaughterhouse Incident" triggers a worldwide storm of outrage; the Malaysian government launches a crackdown on the Jeni Gang and purges corrupt Kuala Lumpur officials connected to Apachai
  • A planned billion-dollar redevelopment of Pasha District is announced; Jian Dai's Golden Horse Group receives a share of the spoils
  • The Lin family, due to their ties to Apachai, comes under official investigation and is severely weakened
  • Malaysian authorities fail to find the culprit, codenaming him "Transcendent Warrior" in secret files
  • Gao Jing decides to return home after receiving a call from Xu Cheng: his electroplating factory in West City Industrial Park has been sealed by the Environmental Protection Bureau, halting the renovation project

Character Developments

  • Gao Jing: Shows his strategic ruthlessness (recording the slaughterhouse footage for propaganda purposes) and his business pragmatism; remains unbothered by the global manhunt
  • Jian Dai: Displays fierce resolve and political savvy—she weaponizes the footage to destroy her enemies, strikes at the Lin family, and secures business advantages while maintaining deniability; her negotiation performance improved notably (though she still loses to Gao Jing)

Significant Themes

  • Power of information/media: Footage as a weapon to shape public opinion and destroy political opponents
  • Faith Power mechanics: Indirect gratitude and emotional responses (even anger/vindication from the public) generate faith for Gao Jing
  • Political corruption and consequences: The symbiotic relationship between gangs and elites, and how public scandal forces systemic purges
  • Deniable violence: Gao Jing operates as an untraceable force, leaving authorities with only a codename

Character Interactions

  • Gao Jing & Jian Dai: A tender post-"battle" moment where she seeks comfort in his arms; he warns her about risk, she reassures him of her secure channels—revealing mutual respect and growing intimacy
  • Jian Dai's off-screen maneuvering: Her calculated leak of the footage and exploitation of the crisis demonstrates her capability as a political operator

Chapter Ending

  • A new problem is introduced: Gao Jing's electroplating factory in West City Industrial Park has been sealed by the Environmental Protection Bureau, forcing him to cut his stay short and return home—setting up the next arc.

Ch. 289No Longer Enduring

Chapter Summary: "No Longer Enduring"

Key Plot Points

  1. Farewell in Malaysia: Gao Jing leaves after spending several days with Jian Dai, Malaysia's richest woman, who pleads with him to stay longer
  2. Timber Cooperation Agreement: Gao Jing and Jian Dai reach a preliminary deal—he will supply her Golden Horse Group with ~2 million cubic meters of quality oak and fir at 80% market price; she provides storage facilities. He uses his Transcendent abilities to explain the arrangement but tells her not to ask questions
  3. Return to China: Gao Jing flies back, bypassing Shanghai, and meets Xu Cheng that evening
  4. Factory Crisis Resumes: Despite Wei Qiangyu's death, the electroplating factory is sealed again by the Environmental Protection Bureau over groundwater pollution claims, even though the site has no production capacity. Xu Cheng discovers Young Master Wu is behind this
  5. Buyout Offer: Someone offers 3 million to purchase the shuttered factory
  6. Gao Jing's Decision: He publicly tells Xu Cheng to keep appealing while he "calls in connections," appearing helpless—but internally, he decides to kill Young Master Wu, viewing him as both an intolerable nuisance and valuable "experience" for Copper Anchor's Faith Pool upgrade

Character Developments

  • Gao Jing: Undergoes a decisive shift—his killing spree in Malaysia and increased power have made him unwilling to endure humiliation any longer. He resolves to eliminate threats violently rather than passively endure
  • Jian Dai: Shows her vulnerability and deep love for Gao Jing, though she quickly composes herself; demonstrates trust by accepting his secrecy about the timber's origin
  • Xu Cheng: Increasingly defeated and exhausted, with more white hairs; feels ashamed at failing Gao Jing a second time

Significant Themes

  • Power and Oppression: The recurring theme of the privileged (Young Master Wu) crushing ordinary businessmen through connections
  • Escalation of Violence: Gao Jing's transition from restraint to calculated ruthlessness as a solution
  • Duality of Life: The contrast between his tender romance in Malaysia and the cold-blooded planning now underway
  • The Cost of Development: How his plans depend on power plays against obstructionists

Key Character Interactions

  • Gao Jing & Jian Dai: A warm, intimate farewell; she offers to buy him a new factory, he gives her a protective talisman and orders her never to remove it; their dynamic shows mutual affection mixed with his dominance
  • Gao Jing & Xu Cheng: Xu Cheng reports failure with bitter self-reproach; Gao Jing offers false comfort while concealing his true murderous intentions, showing his growing ability to manipulate even loyal allies' perceptions

Ch. 290Double Kill

Chapter Summary: “Double Kill”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • The chapter opens at the Cheng Zongfu Former Residence, a historic Jiangnan-style garden in Cloud City that has secretly been converted into the exclusive Cloud Dragon Club.
  • The club is frequented by powerful officials, wealthy businessmen, and influential heirs from the Provincial Capital and the wider Jiangnan region.
  • Inside a private room, the notorious Wu Brothers discuss the Wu Family’s involvement in the West City Industrial Park redevelopment project.
  • The younger brother, Young Master Wu, has used coercion and violence to force several factories into being acquired. His intermediary, Wei Qiangyu, recently died, leaving him to handle the situation personally.
  • The elder Wu brother, a senior provincial official, reprimands him for acting recklessly and creating problems that could expose the family. He emphasizes the need to protect his clean political image.
  • Their conversation reveals the brothers’ coordinated strategy: the elder brother advances through officialdom while the younger brother handles the family’s business interests and morally questionable operations.
  • The younger brother invites his elder brother to indulge in women and entertainment, but the elder refuses, claiming he must return home to accompany his wife.
  • Several young heirs suddenly enter the room and call for Young Master Wu to join the evening’s festivities.
  • Without warning, Young Master Wu begins bleeding from his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. He appears to suffer an inexplicable and horrifying attack.
  • When his elder brother rushes to help him, the elder brother immediately experiences similar symptoms: intense pressure in his head, loss of vision, and sudden unconsciousness.
  • Both brothers collapse together, apparently struck down simultaneously.
  • The witnesses panic, realizing that the mysterious attack on the Wu Brothers could cause enormous political and social upheaval throughout the Provincial Capital.

Character Developments

  • Young Master Wu is portrayed as arrogant, violent, indulgent, and confident in the Wu Family’s power. He believes the family can dominate Cloud City and shows little concern for consequences.
  • The elder Wu brother appears restrained, calculating, and politically ambitious. Although he criticizes his younger brother’s recklessness, he is clearly complicit in the family’s broader plan and relies on his brother to perform the dirty work.
  • The brothers’ relationship is revealed as both cooperative and unequal: they depend on each other to advance the family, but the elder brother places the burden and risks largely on the younger one.
  • The elder brother’s supposed self-discipline is shown to be partly motivated by political survival and fear of displeasing his powerful wife, rather than genuine morality.
  • The young heirs are established as reckless socialites, but their attitude changes instantly to fear and confusion when the Wu Brothers collapse.

Significant Themes

  • Corruption and abuse of power: The Wu Family exploits political influence, business connections, and violence to control a major redevelopment project.
  • Political-business collusion: The brothers represent the alliance between official authority and private wealth, with one operating within the government and the other manipulating the commercial world.
  • Public respectability versus hidden depravity: The elder brother maintains a polished political image while privately participating in or benefiting from the family’s corruption.
  • The vulnerability of the powerful: Despite their status and influence, the Wu Brothers are suddenly rendered helpless by an unknown force.
  • Fear and impending upheaval: Their attack suggests that someone has challenged the Wu Family directly, foreshadowing major consequences for the Provincial Capital.

Important Character Interactions

  • The elder brother warns Young Master Wu to stop using excessive violence and to consult him before taking action.
  • Young Master Wu defends his methods, arguing that intimidation is necessary to protect the family’s business interests.
  • Their exchange exposes resentment beneath their cooperation: the younger brother feels he handles the dangerous work while the elder receives the political benefits.
  • Young Master Wu attempts to tempt his elder brother with women, while the elder rejects the offer to preserve his domestic and political stability.
  • The sudden entrance of the young heirs interrupts the brothers’ conversation.
  • When Young Master Wu collapses, the elder brother instinctively tries to save him, only to suffer the same mysterious fate.
  • The witnesses’ panic highlights the brothers’ importance and the danger of being associated with their downfall.

Ch. 291The Fourth Upgrade

Summary of Chapter: "The Fourth Upgrade"

1. Key Plot Points and Events

  • Gao Jing is relaxing in a park when he receives a call from Xu Cheng about a major event: the Wu brothers (one an official, one a spoiled young master) have been found dead at the Cloud Dragon Club, and their father, a provincial official, has suffered a heart attack and is in the ICU.
  • Gao Jing reveals to himself (and to Xu Cheng) that he killed the brothers using his Spirit Gu Six-Wing after stalking them for days. He views their deaths as justice for their misdeeds, and their father's collapse as an unexpected but deserved outcome.
  • The deaths and following "Faith Power" fill the Copper Anchor's Faith Pool, triggering its fourth upgrade:
    • Internal storage space expands from 10,000 to 100,000 cubic meters (tenfold increase).
    • Three stars appear in the Faith Pool:
      • Lucky Star: absorbs faith to increase luck.
      • Sacred Flame Star: enhances the gathering and use of Faithfire.
      • True Sight Star: a new ability that lets Gao Jing see people's auras, revealing their health, morality, or criminal nature.
  • To test True Sight Star, Gao Jing scans people in the park. He notices a man with a black and blood-red aura — a sign of severe evil. Gao Jing chases him, knocks him out with a thrown drink can, and pins him to the ground. When police arrive, Gao Jing claims the man is a thief he caught stealing a phone.

2. Character Developments

  • Gao Jing: Demonstrates cold pragmatism and a strong personal sense of justice. He treats killing the Wu brothers as trivial ("swatting two flies") but feels satisfaction over the downfall of their corrupt father. He is methodical in testing his new abilities and shows quick, decisive action without hesitation. He remains calm and composed in public, easily fabricating a cover story for the police.
  • Xu Cheng: Acts as a subordinate bringing good news; his excitement contrasts with Gao Jing's calm, showing Gao Jing's superior knowledge and control of events.

3. Significant Themes

  • Justice and Retribution: The Wu family's crimes lead to their destruction, highlighting a theme of karmic punishment carried out by Gao Jing.
  • Power and Its Application: The Copper Anchor's upgrades expand Gao Jing's capabilities, and he uses them deliberately — both for logistical benefit (larger storage) and moral enforcement (True Sight).
  • Moral Judgment and Evil: True Sight Star visually distinguishes good from evil, reinforcing Gao Jing's role as an active judge of human character.
  • Public vs. Hidden Life: Gao Jing hides his supernatural abilities while operating in a mundane park, underscoring his secret double life.

4. Character Interactions

  • Gao Jing and Xu Cheng: Brief phone call — Xu Cheng excitedly reports news, Gao Jing says he already knows and advises him to focus on his own work, not the Wu family's fall.
  • Gao Jing and the masked man: Non-verbal confrontation — Gao Jing sees the man's evil aura, chases him, and physically subdues him with a thrown drink can.
  • Gao Jing and police: Short exchange — Gao Jing falsely identifies the man as a thief, quickly defusing suspicion and ending the incident.
    (Note: The chapter also implicitly references Gao Jing's previous deals with Jian Dai regarding lumber shipments, as the expanded storage space benefits that ongoing task.)

Ch. 292Divine Constable

Here is a concise summary of the chapter (excerpt) "Divine Constable":

1. Key Plot Points and Events

  • Gao Jing confronts and pins down a masked man, accusing him of being a thief. The man protests his innocence, but Gao Jing exposes a dagger hidden on his person.
  • The patrol officers arrest the masked man, who is identified as Ding Xin, an A-level wanted criminal for a family annihilation case.
  • Gao Jing accompanies the officers to the police station to give a statement, learning he will receive a 100,000 yuan reward and gaining significant "Faith Power" from the arrest.
  • In a parallel scene, Wang Lian, the mother of the Wu brothers, petitions Qin Anming, a famed "Divine Constable," to investigate the sudden death of her two sons, who were both declared victims of acute cerebral hemorrhages.
  • Wang Lian signs consent for autopsies and provides Qin Anming with information on her sons' activities and enemies, suspecting foul play.

2. Character Developments

  • Gao Jing demonstrates the power of his True Sight Star, which allows him to perceive evil auras (black qi and blood-red light) around criminals. He is confident, decisive, and unfazed by the arrest.
  • Ding Xin (the masked man) shows panic and theatrical desperation, but once identified, he collapses, realizing his fate is sealed.
  • Wang Lian is a grieving but determined mother, willing to expose her sons' private dealings and spend everything to find the truth. Her grief is mixed with barely suppressed rage.
  • Qin Anming is a legendary, experienced investigator—calm, meticulous, and professional. He does not jump to conclusions but takes the case seriously.

3. Significant Themes

  • Justice vs. Crime: The swift arrest of a wanted criminal demonstrates both the reach of the law and Gao Jing's supernatural ability to identify evil.
  • Wealth, Loss, and the Quest for Truth: Wang Lian's sorrow highlights how even powerful families are vulnerable, and how money is used to seek answers beyond official conclusions.
  • Supernatural Perception in a Modern World: Gao Jing's True Sight Star introduces an element of the extraordinary within normal police procedures.
  • Ambiguity of "Accident": The chapter questions whether coincidental deaths may hide darker motives.

4. Character Interactions

  • Gao Jing vs. the masked man: Gao Jing dominates and is unimpressed by the man's act, forcing the situation to a decisive conclusion.
  • Gao Jing vs. the patrol officers: The officers are cautious and initially skeptical of Gao Jing's rough methods, but they cooperate once evidence is revealed.
  • Wang Lian vs. Qin Anming: Wang Lian is emotional and pleading; Qin Anming is measured and professional, setting conditions for the investigation while remaining sympathetic.

Note: The excerpt ends with a commentary on Wang Lian's dangerous aura, hinting at her potential for vengeance.

Ch. 293Back on Track

Summary: "Back on Track"

Key Plot Points & Events

  • Ji Yu returns unexpectedly to the villa at Minglan Grand View from Shanghai, where she and Qin Qing had been handling business matters.
  • Gao Jing updates her on the "Cloud Computing Data Center" (the Copper Anchor Charging Factory): it's complete and will begin trial operations within days.
  • The electroplating factory was unsealed after the Wu brothers' deaths removed the pressure behind the Environmental Protection Bureau's forced shutdown. Xu Cheng helped expedite the process.
  • The Wu Family has collapsed in the provincial capital — the patriarch is in the ICU, and their flagship West City Commercial Center project may die prematurely.
  • Ji Yu plans to upgrade the Hong Kong Island Great World Cloud City Office into the Jiangnan Great World Import & Export Trading Company, relocating to a new office building. Its first project: a nationwide tender for 18,000 tons of high-purity grain white liquor worth ~600–700 million yuan.
  • Gao Jing inspects the renovated factory with Xu Cheng, then inserts Copper Anchor into the custom charging box and resumes cultivating the Mountain Tribe Soul Refining Art.

Character Developments

  • Gao Jing: Keeps dangerous Wu Family matters from Ji Yu (not wanting to burden her). He remains focused on cultivation — "the path to becoming the strongest Transcendent had no end."
  • Xu Cheng: Has developed a deep, unspoken awe and fear of Gao Jing since the Wu brothers' sudden deaths (which echo Wei Qiangyu's earlier death). He suspects Gao Jing's hidden involvement but reveals nothing — not even to his wife.
  • Ji Yu: Effortlessly balances business ambition and playful affection. She and Nine Apertures have been training performance acts with Qin Qing as "artistic director," planning to enter Talent Show auditions next month.
  • Nine Apertures: Displays childlike grievance at its long separation from Gao Jing, quickly soothed by Ji Yu's doting ("Mommy's here").

Significant Themes

  • Hidden power: Gao Jing's true nature remains concealed beneath a legitimate business facade — even his own manager fears him without evidence.
  • Business expansion: The transition from a Hong Kong island office to a full provincial trading company marks Gao Jing's growing commercial footprint.
  • Dual cultivation: Gao Jing's parallel pursuit of both commerce and spiritual advancement, never allowing business to supersede his primary path.
  • The mundane disguising the supernatural: A spirit-pet rehearsing talent show acts with its "mother"; a factory housing an artifact-charging device.

Character Interactions

  • Gao Jing & Ji Yu: Reunited with playful affection ("Good boy") and mutual warmth; she rewards him with a promise of the night ahead, while he deflects her question about his doings with nervous guilt.
  • Ji Yu & Nine Apertures: Over-the-top maternal doting; she's clearly spent significant time bonding with the spirit pet.
  • Gao Jing & Xu Cheng: Polite praise for hard work, but the dynamic has shifted — Xu Cheng's admiration is now tinged with fear, keeping him respectful and discreet.

Ch. 294Solved a Major Problem

1. Key Plot Points and Events

  • Gao Jing finishes a meditation session, his mind now perfectly aligned with his body after practicing the Mountain Tribe Soul Refining Art.
  • He discovers Copper Anchor has charged six Silver Scales in ten hours (compared to 4–5 days per scale before), and estimates it could now charge ~15 scales per day.
  • He realizes he can’t stay at the factory around the clock to supervise charging.
  • Wishing he could take Copper Anchor while it still charges, the anchor spontaneously detaches and returns to him, leaving behind a thin “Energy Storage Plate” that remains plugged in and charging.
  • He learns to remotely retrieve and reattach the plate, allowing him to leave the factory while charging continues.
  • Before leaving, he locks the charging case and gives two security guards cigarettes, permits them to raise guard dogs, and promises year-end bonuses.

2. Character Developments

  • Gao Jing’s spiritual control over Copper Anchor has grown, enabling new functions (like separating the Energy Storage Plate) seemingly triggered by his desires.
  • He shows practical resourcefulness: solving the charging bottleneck without sacrificing security.
  • He continues to build rapport with his employees through small rewards and trust.

3. Significant Themes

  • Efficiency and convenience: Upgraded technology + clever adaptation greatly improves charging output.
  • Security and trust: Gao Jing emphasizes protecting Copper Anchor but also delegates responsibility to guards.
  • Symbiosis with the artifact: Copper Anchor responds to Gao Jing’s needs, suggesting a deepening bond.

4. Character Interactions

  • Gao Jing talks with two ex-military guards at the data center: gives them cigarettes, approves bringing a local dog for night guarding, and promises year-end red envelopes for good work.

Ch. 295Things Have Changed

Chapter Summary: Things Have Changed

Key Plot Points

  • Gao Jing continues charging the Copper Anchor Flood Python's scales at the resource center (15 Silver Scales daily; 256 total scales, full in ~10 days)
  • Ji Yu moves Jiangnan Great World Import & Export Trading Company into new CBD office space
  • Qin Qing buys a villa in Minglan Grand View, becoming Gao Jing's neighbor again; establishes a provincial branch of the Gao Jing Charity Foundation (headquartered in Shanghai)
  • Jiangnan Great World officially opens bidding for white liquor procurement (~600-700 million yuan order), attracting many struggling distilleries amid a global economic downturn
  • On May 7th, bidding day, Gao Jing encounters Zhang Shaohui, a former colleague from Golden Radiance Trading
  • Flashback reveals: Zhang Shaohui was Gao Jing's early mentor, but attempted to steal a major company order (asking Gao Jing to join). Gao Jing refused. The plot was exposed by Liang Xiang (not Gao Jing), but Zhang Shaohui blamed Gao Jing, they quarreled and became enemies. Zhang Shaohui left Cloud City afterward
  • At the office, the receptionist calls Gao Jing "President Gao" — Zhang Shaohui realizes Gao Jing is the company's big boss, not just an employee, and leaves in shock

Character Developments

  • Gao Jing: Has transformed from a poor salesman into a wealthy, composed business owner. Maintains a clear conscience about the past, seeing no need to defend himself against Zhang Shaohui's accusations
  • Zhang Shaohui: Changed from slovenly to polished in appearance; returned to Cloud City after years away, still bitter and resentful, believing Gao Jing betrayed him. Shaken by seeing Gao Jing's success
  • Ji Yu: Handles all of Gao Jing's business operations (company legal representative and GM)
  • Qin Qing: Continues to build infrastructure around Gao Jing (neighbor, charity foundation)

Significant Themes

  • Misunderstanding and resentment: Old grudges persist despite years passing; Gao Jing chooses not to explain himself, accepting the false accusation with dignity
  • Success as the ultimate rebuttal: Gao Jing's silent rise contrasts with Zhang Shaohui's failed shortcut
  • Business ethics: Gao Jing's refusal to betray his employer's trust is vindicated by the trajectory of his life

Character Interactions

  • Gao Jing & Zhang Shaohui: Strained reunion — Zhang is sarcastic and confrontational; Gao Jing remains calm and unaffected, offering no defense
  • Zhang Shaohui & Receptionist: He learns of Gao Jing's true status ("President Gao is our big boss"), which devastates him and prompts his exit
  • Gao Jing & Receptionist: Reflects the distance between his past poverty and present authority

Ch. 296A Welcome Outcome

Chapter Summary: A Welcome Outcome

Key Plot Points & Events

  • Zhang Shaohui, having learned Gao Jing has become owner of a major trading company, chooses to leave Cloud City entirely rather than participate in the White Liquor procurement bid, still bitter over their past falling-out.
  • Gao Jing shows no interest in humiliating Zhang Shaohui; he remains above such petty grudges, viewing himself as having transcended ordinary mortal concerns.
  • Ji Yu (Senior Ji) faces endless lobbying calls for the White Liquor procurement order worth 600-700 million yuan, requiring Qin Qing's behind-the-scenes help to deter aggressive parties.
  • The procurement bidding proceeds smoothly without incident.
  • Over ten days, Gao Jing fully charges his Copper Anchor Flood-Dragon Handle for the first time—all 256 scales turn from copper to silver.
  • Gao Jing flies to Malaysia, discusses business with Jian Dai, and establishes a new teleportation point at Muten Stronghold in the Great World.
  • He transports 700,000–800,000 cubic meters of premium oak back to the main world—worth several billion yuan even at 80% market price.
  • A new export channel through Jian Dai's wholly-owned company is arranged, solving Gao Jing's financial problems.
  • Gao Jing returns to the Great World seeking Wizard Shan Yan to inscribe a new High-Rank Essence Totem (his second, after advancing to Totem Grand Warrior).

Character Developments

  • Zhang Shaohui: Still consumed by resentment and wounded pride; cannot swallow his ego or face Gao Jing, despite knowing Gao Jing was never the informant.
  • Gao Jing: Demonstrates magnanimity and detachment from worldly slights; increasingly powerful and focused on cultivation; shows business acumen in establishing a timber export pipeline.
  • Ji Yu: Growing into her role as general manager; learning to navigate corporate politics with Qin Qing's backing; ambitious to prove herself as a business elite.
  • Qin Qing: Exerts significant off-page influence, resolving a confrontation with an overbearing power broker.

Significant Themes

  • Rising above petty grievances: Gao Jing's transcendence of ordinary human conflicts contrasts with Zhang Shaohui's inability to let go.
  • Power and status shifts: The former powerless observer has become a figure of immense wealth and otherworldly power.
  • Cross-world economic exploitation: Using the Great World's resources to solve Main World financial problems.
  • Ambition and growth: Ji Yu's professional development mirrors Gao Jing's cultivation progress.

Character Interactions

  • Zhang Shaohui ↔ Gao Jing: No direct confrontation; Zhang Shaohui flees, while Gao Jing remains indifferent to the past.
  • Gao Jing ↔ Ji Yu: Warm, supportive dynamic; Gao Jing reassures her, providing the backing she needs.
  • Ji Yu ↔ Qin Qing: Continued reliance on Qin Qing's connections and protection.
  • Gao Jing ↔ Jian Dai: Strategic business partnership; trust established for a major export arrangement.

Ch. 297Blazing Flame Ring

Chapter Summary: “Blazing Flame Ring”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Gao Jing tells the old wizard Shan Yan that he is ready to receive a new, higher-rank Essence Totem now that he has become a Totem Grand Warrior.
  • Because Gao Jing’s cultivation has advanced abnormally quickly and his Hui Serpent bloodline has strengthened his body, Shan Yan had already prepared a high-rank totem for him.
  • Gao Jing enlarges himself using the Giant Spirit Totem, reaching nearly ten meters tall so Shan Yan can successfully bestow the totem.
  • Shan Yan reveals that he obtained the extremely rare Blazing Flame Ring totem from an old friend at great personal cost.
  • The Blazing Flame Ring is far more powerful than Gao Jing’s previous Flame Blade technique, but its cultivation difficulty is extraordinarily high. Its eventual highest stage can even produce a legendary Domain of Fire.
  • Gao Jing immediately chooses the Blazing Flame Ring rather than two less difficult Essence Totems.
  • Shan Yan brands the totem onto Gao Jing’s chest. The process causes intense, bone-deep pain, but Gao Jing suppresses his instinct to activate Flame Immunity, fearing it would interfere with the ritual.
  • The new totem connects with the Scarlet Python Rune-Seal near Gao Jing’s heart. Gao Jing then instinctively activates the Blazing Flame Ring, releasing a powerful wave of heat that turns a nearby wooden stool to ash.

Character Developments

  • Gao Jing demonstrates tremendous confidence, determination, and tolerance for pain. Rather than avoiding a technique with less than a one-percent success rate, he deliberately chooses the more difficult and potentially more powerful option.
  • His Hui Serpent bloodline and mastery of the Giant Spirit Totem are shown to have dramatically enhanced his physical potential, allowing him to reach a height never before achieved by practitioners of the Giant Spirit Totem.
  • Gao Jing’s control and willpower improve as he suppresses his Flame Immunity ability during the dangerous totem-bestowing process.
  • Shan Yan is portrayed as a supportive mentor who has great faith in Gao Jing. He secretly prepares an extremely valuable opportunity for him and is deeply impressed when Gao Jing succeeds immediately.

Significant Themes

  • Exceptional talent and destiny: Gao Jing’s rapid progress and unique bloodline place him far beyond ordinary practitioners.
  • Risk and ambition: The chapter emphasizes that great power requires accepting extreme difficulty and danger.
  • Mentorship and sacrifice: Shan Yan spends significant resources and even personal goodwill to secure the Blazing Flame Ring for Gao Jing.
  • Control over innate power: Gao Jing’s success depends not only on his strength but also on restraining his instincts and maintaining precise control.
  • Foreshadowing of greater power: The Blazing Flame Ring’s potential to develop into a Domain of Fire suggests a major future increase in Gao Jing’s abilities.

Character Interactions

  • Gao Jing and Shan Yan share a respectful mentor-student relationship. Shan Yan explains the value and risks of the totem honestly, allowing Gao Jing to make his own decision.
  • Gao Jing expresses direct gratitude for Shan Yan’s efforts and accepts the challenge without hesitation.
  • Shan Yan’s confidence in Gao Jing is rewarded when Gao Jing successfully activates the Blazing Flame Ring immediately, leaving the old wizard shocked.

Ch. 298The Old Wizard's Recommendation

Chapter Summary: The Old Wizard’s Recommendation

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Shan Yan is astonished when Gao Jing immediately activates the Blazing Fire Ring, a powerful High Rank Essence Totem that normally requires immense cultivation time and skill.
  • The technique creates a high-temperature area of destruction and instantly destroys a purple sandalwood stool, proving its extraordinary power.
  • Gao Jing can sustain the Blazing Fire Ring for less than half a minute because it consumes both Totem Power and Battle Aura at a tremendous rate. However, its destructive potential has no known upper limit as Gao Jing grows stronger.
  • The technique severely injures Gao Jing by burning deep into his body, but Shan Yan gives him a rare Healing Potion. The potion rapidly restores his flesh and leaves almost no scars.
  • Gao Jing realizes that the Blazing Fire Ring has been permanently integrated into his body, bloodline, and soul. As a High Rank Essence Totem, it will likely remain with him throughout his transcendent life.
  • After recognizing that the Mountain Tribe lacks the knowledge and resources to continue supporting Gao Jing’s rapid advancement, Shan Yan recommends that he study at the War God Martial Hall in Nilo Royal City.
  • Shan Yan gives Gao Jing a recommendation letter that will qualify him for admission.
  • Gao Jing accepts the opportunity but promises to remain until Shan Tai’s wedding is over. He wants to repay the Mountain Tribe and ensure that he leaves enough support behind before departing.

Character Developments

  • Gao Jing demonstrates extraordinary talent by mastering an exceptionally difficult battle skill almost immediately. His Hui Serpent Bloodline gives him remarkable affinity for fire-based Totem Battle Skills.
  • He also shows humility, gratitude, and loyalty. Rather than leaving immediately for greater opportunities, he prioritizes Shan Tai’s wedding and the welfare of the Mountain Tribe.
  • Shan Yan moves from amazement to acceptance of Gao Jing’s immense potential. He realizes Gao Jing has outgrown the Mountain Tribe’s limited environment and must seek broader knowledge elsewhere.
  • Shan Yan acts as both mentor and benefactor, obtaining the Blazing Fire Ring and a valuable recommendation letter despite the likely heavy personal cost.

Significant Themes

  • Genius and limitless potential: Gao Jing’s talent repeatedly exceeds Shan Yan’s expectations, suggesting that he may become an extraordinary Battle Wizard.
  • Growth beyond one’s origins: The Mountain Tribe is compared to a small pool that cannot contain Gao Jing’s future. Advancement requires leaving familiar surroundings for a stronger institution.
  • Mentorship and sacrifice: Shan Yan supports Gao Jing even when the tribe cannot benefit directly from his continued presence.
  • Gratitude and responsibility: Gao Jing refuses to abandon the tribe and intends to repay the people who helped him.
  • Power and cost: The Blazing Fire Ring offers immense, potentially limitless strength, but it demands enormous energy, mental control, and physical endurance.

Character Interactions

  • Shan Yan evaluates Gao Jing’s performance with awe and regret, wishing Gao Jing possessed the Mountain Bloodline so the Mountain Tribe could reclaim its former glory.
  • He treats Gao Jing’s wounds with the Healing Potion and allows him to keep the remainder, strengthening their bond.
  • Shan Yan candidly explains the tribe’s limitations and presents the War God Martial Hall as Gao Jing’s best path forward.
  • Gao Jing responds respectfully, accepts the recommendation, and promises not to leave until Shan Tai’s wedding is complete, demonstrating his respect for Shan Yan and loyalty to the tribe.

Ch. 299Heart of Compassion

Chapter Summary: Heart of Compassion

Key Plot Points

  • Gao Jing returns to the Mountain Apes' territory to collect "protection money" (their brewed Mountain Ape Wine) before leaving for Nilo Royal City to study at the War God's Sanctum.
  • He defeats the Mountain Apes easily with his giant form and Dragonscale Battle Armor, using only physical blows and throwing fruit back at them.
  • In the cave, he finds both fermentation pools finished (clear blue-green liquid) and takes ~200,000 jin of wine from one pool, leaving the second as incentive for the apes to keep brewing.
  • Unexpectedly, the Mountain Ape King surrenders immediately without fighting, prostrating submissively. Gao Jing, moved by compassion, gives the king a defective Shell Pearl as payment.
  • The Shell Pearl excites the Mountain Ape King — sensing its Spirit Energy, it sees a chance to advance from Wild Beast to Demon Beast.

Context/Setting

  • Five days have passed since the Blazing Fire Ring Totem was reinforced.
  • Gao Jing plans to return to the Main World to settle Shan Tai's bride price, then depart for the distant Nilo Royal City.

Character Developments

  • Gao Jing: Shows restraint (holds back his full Transcendent power) and compassion — he pays for what he takes rather than plundering outright. He also considers long-term consequences (not over-depleting the apes' stocks).
  • Mountain Ape King: Learns from past defeat (previously beaten by Shan Tai), choosing submission over futile resistance. Demonstrated to have intelligence and ambition.

Significant Themes

  • Compassion toward the defeated: The chapter title reflects Gao Jing's mercy — treating even beasts with fairness.
  • Sustainable exploitation: Leaving one pool and paying for the wine shows a mindset of long-term mutual benefit rather than mindless plunder.
  • Transition/preparation: Gao Jing is tying up loose ends before a major life change (leaving for the War God's Sanctum).

Character Interactions

  • Gao Jing vs. Mountain Apes: One-sided combat, followed by the apes' mass surrender.
  • Gao Jing & Mountain Ape King: Non-verbal exchange — the king's submission earns it a treasure; Gao Jing's kindness creates a potential future ally (an ape that may become a Demon Beast).
  • Referenced: Shan Yan (approved of the wine-taking), Shan Tai (bride price), Mountain Tribe warriors (previous wine collection).

Ch. 300A Business Worth Billions

Chapter Summary: "A Business Worth Billions"

Key Plot Points & Events

  • Gao Jing arrives at a Kuala Lumpur storage yard accompanied by three SUVs and a bulletproof Mercedes-Benz S600, where Malaysia's richest woman, Jian Dai, is waiting.
  • Jian Dai recently benefited from the purge following the Jeni Gang's destruction—her rivals were removed from power, and the Lin Family was suppressed, ending their threat to her Golden Horse Group.
  • Gao Jing reveals he has already delivered the first batch of oak timber: an estimated 700–800 thousand cubic meters, worth billions.
  • Jian Dai is initially incredulous, suspecting Gao Jing added an extra "ten thousand" by mistake, but is stunned to find the yard piled with mountains of high-quality oak logs.
  • Manager Huang, general manager of Golden Horse Group's timber processing factory, assesses the oak as at least Grade One, estimating the logs are two to three hundred years old and nearly identical in size, making his scalp go numb.
  • Gao Jing confirms the deal: the timber is priced at 80% of market rate, providing enormous profit margins.
  • Unknown to Jian Dai, the oak is actually from another world (the "Great World"), where trees grow one ring per month; the logs are considered mere "saplings" and not even fit for firewood by the Great Wilderness Giants. Gao Jing deliberately selected only saplings to avoid inviting trouble.
  • Gao Jing stays in Kuala Lumpur for several days to "negotiate" the deal—with heavy innuendo about an intense, passionate encounter—before the billion-dollar business is finally settled.

Character Developments

  • Gao Jing: Demonstrates extraordinary logistical capability by moving massive amounts of cross-world timber overnight. He is strategic about concealing his secrets, choosing only "saplings" to avoid raising suspicion. His business empire clearly spans worlds, and his relationship with Jian Dai deepens.
  • Jian Dai: Transitions from strong fondness to complete emotional surrender to Gao Jing. She is intelligent enough to notice how impossible the delivery is but wisely refrains from asking about his secrets in front of others. She profits both politically and financially from aligning with him.

Significant Themes

  • Power and influence: Wealth consolidates through personal relationships with the powerful; Jian Dai's political fortune rises directly due to Gao Jing's actions.
  • Secrecy and cross-world trade: The enormous competitive advantage Gao Jing holds comes from his access to another world, and he carefully manages what outsiders see.
  • The blending of business and personal intimacy: The "negotiation" of the deal is heavily sexualized, framing their billion-dollar venture as inseparable from their personal entanglement.
  • Perception versus reality: What is priceless in one world is worthless in another; the Great World's "saplings" are premium timber in the Main World.

Character Interactions

  • Jian Dai greets Gao Jing warmly, suppressing her desire to embrace him in front of onlookers.
  • She presses him on the delivery speed, but when he gives an unbelievable answer, her curiosity is checked by her prudence—she holds back her question about how he managed it.
  • Manager Huang is overwhelmed by the timber quality and wants to ask where it was imported from, but is too stunned to properly voice it; he performs spot checks and confirms the timber's high grade.
  • The chapter ends with Jian Dai and Gao Jing alone, where several days of "intense and fiery" negotiation complete the deal.
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