Ch. 161The Ninth Spirit Ring: Seven-Colored Gilding! Nine-Hundred-Ninety-Thousand-Year Ancestral Qilin! (Part 1)
Chapter Summary
Key Plot Points and Events
- Su Chen ascends the final passage toward the eighth floor of the inheritance, where blood-red runes and the trembling Void Throne reveal a powerful resonance.
- Ancient murals come alive, depicting the previous Supreme Summoner leading the Legion of All Spirits against descending gods across multiple planes.
- The murals reveal that the former Supreme Summoner was not defeated. He deliberately shattered his own divine core, transforming it into a seal that imprisoned the Lord of All Spirits’ Godhood within the inheritance.
- The eighth floor is an endless white void containing the true spirit of the Nine-Hundred-Ninety-Thousand-Year Ancestral Qilin, whose immense presence nearly crushes Su Chen.
- The Ancestral Qilin explains that three previous challengers failed: a Soul Sage died immediately, a Titled Douluo succumbed during the third trial, and a wielder of two Godhoods died during the fourth.
- Su Chen responds by activating his eight spirit rings, Void Throne, Myriad-Realm Summoning God Seal, and the spiritual links of 120 beast souls. Six powerful Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts reinforce his Sea of Spirit.
- The Ancestral Qilin begins examining Su Chen’s memories through the Seven-Colored Gilding, judging the qualities that define him.
- Su Chen passes three trials:
- Killing Intent: He demonstrates the resolve to exterminate the Holy Spirit Cult without mercy.
- Benevolent Heart: He shows compassion by sparing vulnerable soul-beast cubs.
- King’s Heart: His memories reveal that he protects his allies rather than treating them as expendable.
- The chapter ends as the Ancestral Qilin probes the deepest part of Su Chen’s mind: the fourth trial, Obsession.
Character Developments
- Su Chen is shown to possess both ruthless decisiveness and genuine compassion. His cold exterior conceals strong loyalty and protectiveness toward his companions and allied soul beasts.
- His leadership is clarified: people follow him not merely because of his strength, but because he refuses to sacrifice them casually.
- The previous Supreme Summoner is revealed as a tragic and powerful figure who chose self-sacrifice to imprison the Lord of All Spirits rather than being defeated in battle.
- The Ancestral Qilin shifts from detached judgment to cautious recognition as Su Chen proves that his strength is balanced by mercy and responsibility.
Significant Themes
- Strength versus morality: True power requires more than killing ability; it must be tempered by compassion and responsibility.
- Leadership and trust: A true king protects those under his command instead of viewing them as tools.
- Self-sacrifice and duty: The former Supreme Summoner’s suicide reflects the extreme cost of containing divine evil.
- The complexity of Su Chen’s nature: He is neither simply a butcher nor a benevolent hero, but someone capable of both merciless destruction and sincere care.
- Judgment and inner truth: The Ancestral Qilin evaluates Su Chen through his memories, testing the motives beneath his actions rather than merely measuring his strength.
Character Interactions
- The Ancestral Qilin directly challenges Su Chen’s worthiness and compares him with failed predecessors.
- Su Chen does not argue verbally; he answers through the manifestation of his powers and the evidence of his actions.
- His memories highlight bonds with Mo Qianye, Chu Yao, and Jiang Tieyi, showing that he repeatedly risks himself to protect them.
- His relationship with the six allied soul beasts is also emphasized, particularly his tenderness toward the Dark Golden Terrorclaw Bear and the rescued cubs.
- The interaction between Su Chen’s Myriad-Realm Summoning God Seal and the Ancestral Qilin’s “Ancestor” rune establishes a direct spiritual and divine confrontation.