Ch. 781A Worker's Life, a Worker's Soul
Chapter Summary: “Worker, Worker’s Soul”
Key Plot Points and Events
- Yang Ming enters Di Tian’s prison cell and silences him using the Infinity Gauntlet’s power to block sound.
- With Di Tian’s Soul Power sealed and his body already severely injured, Yang Ming kills him instantly.
- Yang Ming extracts Di Tian’s soul and sends it temporarily into the Six Paths Reincarnation World.
- After removing the Soul Power-sealing shackles, Yang Ming observes Di Tian’s corpse automatically absorbing surrounding Soul Power and beginning to heal. He realizes that a new consciousness might eventually form in the body, though it would no longer truly be Di Tian.
- Yang Ming decides to transform the corpse into a Six Paths Puppet. He implants fragments of a Black Rod as control ornaments and establishes a connection between the puppet and the Six Paths Reincarnation World.
- The corpse awakens with Rinnegan-like eyes and becomes capable of acting independently rather than requiring Yang Ming’s constant control.
- Yang Ming retrieves Di Tian’s soul, brands it with his own mark using the Soul Stone, erases Di Tian’s independent consciousness, and replaces it with absolute loyalty.
- The transformed Di Tian is renamed Zero, made a senior member of the Sky-Blasting Gang, and ordered to serve Yang Ming.
- Yang Ming dresses Zero in a black robe and leads him out of the prison. The Azure Dragon Hall experts are terrified and awed, believing Yang Ming has completely subdued Beast God Di Tian.
Character Developments
- Yang Ming becomes increasingly ruthless and manipulative, treating Di Tian’s body and soul as resources to be exploited. His ingenuity is emphasized as he combines the Infinity Gauntlet, Rinnegan abilities, and the Six Paths Reincarnation World to create a powerful servant.
- Di Tian loses everything that defined him: his body, identity, free will, and status as Beast God. His soul is forcibly rewritten, turning him into Zero, a loyal puppet-like servant with limited independent intelligence.
- Zero retains Di Tian’s formidable dragon body and combat potential but lacks true selfhood and has weak spiritual defenses.
Significant Themes
- Loss of identity and free will: Di Tian’s transformation demonstrates the horrifying consequences of having one’s memories and consciousness forcibly rewritten.
- Power and domination: Yang Ming’s victory is not merely physical; he conquers Di Tian’s soul and converts him into an instrument of his will.
- The body versus the self: Di Tian’s corpse remains powerful and biologically active, but the being inhabiting it is no longer the original Di Tian.
- Creation through destruction: Yang Ming turns death and defeat into the creation of a new weapon, reflecting his practical and morally detached approach.
- Loyalty as something manufactured: Rather than earned, Zero’s allegiance is artificially implanted, highlighting Yang Ming’s authoritarian control.
Character Interactions
- Yang Ming completely overwhelms Di Tian, whose attempts to protest are prevented by the Infinity Gauntlet.
- Their relationship changes from enemy and prisoner to master and servant, though this “loyalty” is imposed through soul manipulation.
- Yang Ming treats Zero as a successful creation or worker, while Zero formally acknowledges him as “Gang Leader.”
- The Azure Dragon Hall experts react with fear and reverence toward Yang Ming and his newly created servant, further strengthening Yang Ming’s intimidating authority.