Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Soul-Suppressing Bell”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun recognizes the treasure brought to the Number One Appraisal Hall as the Soul-Suppressing Bell, a top-grade Immortal Treasure famous from the ancient war ten thousand years earlier.
• He recalls that the Red Dust Fairy was originally destined to obtain it and realizes that her sending it to Shengjing City suggests she may already be there, possibly signaling major events in the city.
• Using the Spirit Eye Technique, Chen discovers that the bell possesses a powerful Artifact Soul. Although ownerless, it can sense spiritual energy and is prepared to attack anyone attempting to appraise it.
• Chen performs a divination with three ancient copper coins and receives an auspicious omen, confirming that he can proceed.
• To protect himself from the bell’s soul-targeting abilities, he uses the defensive methods of the Godslaying Art, forming a spiritual net around his consciousness before applying the Myriad Spirits Unsealing Technique.
• He gradually cleanses the bell of the accumulated Resentment Baleful Intent, Blood Baleful Intent, killing intent, and remnants of countless beings slain in battle.
• The Artifact Soul retaliates several times:
  • It launches an initial soul-suppressing attack.
  • It expands the bell and unleashes a much more powerful spiritual shock wave by drawing upon its former master’s power.
• Chen blocks every attack with his spiritual defenses. Because the appraisal takes place inside his Sleeve Space, the bell’s destructive shock wave cannot harm the outside world.
• Chen ultimately grinds away the Artifact Soul’s former master’s will and spiritual imprint, reducing it to a pure white sphere. The bell is therefore fully appraised and purified.
• Although he could imprint the purified Artifact Soul with his own will and claim the bell, Chen refuses, maintaining the professional ethics of an appraiser.
• The Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror then reveals visions of the bell’s past, including the massive war of ten thousand years ago and battles between demons, fiends, True Immortals, dragons, black tortoises, and other terrifying beings.
• Witnessing the power of True Immortals leaves Chen deeply shaken and reminds him that, despite his current strength, he remains far from the highest realms.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun demonstrates increasing confidence and technical mastery. He calmly handles a treasure capable of attacking powerful spiritual beings and successfully withstands its Artifact Soul.
• His spiritual cultivation is shown to be extraordinarily deep. Even the bell’s strongest soul attacks cannot break through his Godslaying Art defenses.
• Chen’s caution and strategic thinking are emphasized when he conducts the appraisal inside the Sleeve Space to prevent mass destruction.
• His moral character is reinforced: despite having the opportunity to keep a priceless Immortal Treasure, he refuses to do so because it would violate his principles and damage his spiritual purity.
• The visions strengthen Chen’s ambition and humility. He recognizes that his apparent power—especially with the Heaven-and-Earth Seal—is still insignificant compared with genuine True Immortal-level beings.
• The Red Dust Fairy does not appear directly, but her presence is strongly suggested through the Soul-Suppressing Bell and Chen’s speculation about her movements in Shengjing.

Significant Themes

• Professional integrity and restraint: Chen chooses to return the treasure rather than exploit his position as an appraiser.
• Spiritual purity and cultivation: The chapter links moral conduct with the growth and cleanliness of one’s spiritual power. Greed and betrayal would stain Chen’s heart and limit his future.
• Power and humility: The Soul-Suppressing Bell is immensely powerful, yet Chen overcomes it; afterward, the ancient battle visions remind him that far greater beings exist.
• The danger of powerful artifacts: Immortal Treasures possess autonomy, memories, and destructive force. Appraising them is not merely examining an object but confronting its accumulated history and will.
• Legacy and remnants of the past: The bell carries the resentment, bloodshed, and will of the ancient war, showing how past conflicts continue to influence the present.
• The limits of apparent strength: Chen realizes that relying on external treasures such as the Heaven-and-Earth Seal does not make him equal to true Immortal-level cultivators.

Character Interactions

• Chen’s main interaction is with the Artifact Soul, which regards him as an enemy and repeatedly attacks to preserve its former master’s imprint.
• Through this confrontation, Chen suppresses, cleanses, and ultimately purifies the Artifact Soul without enslaving it for personal use.
• Chen also has an indirect connection with the Red Dust Fairy: her decision to entrust the Soul-Suppressing Bell to the appraisal hall suggests considerable trust in the institution or in Chen’s reputation.
• The visions of the bell expose Chen to the ancient warriors and powerful beings who once wielded or confronted it, shaping his understanding of the wider cultivation world.

Chapter Summary: “Bronze Skin, Iron Bones”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror completes its appraisal of the Soul-Suppressing Bell, identifying it as a Divine-Grade, Lower-Tier treasure.
• Chen Shaojun receives the reward Bronze Skin, Iron Bones, a powerful defensive divine ability associated with the legendary Great Sage Sun.
• The ability compensates for Chen Shaojun’s greatest weakness: his physical defense. His attack and speed had already reached the Heaven-Earth Limit, but his defenses had lagged behind.
• With Bronze Skin, Iron Bones combined with Heavenly Manifestation, Chen Shaojun realizes that he may now qualify as an Invincible Powerhouse, joining the highest level of experts beneath Heaven.
• However, maintaining both abilities consumes Arcane Cultivation at an enormous rate. With only two hundred years of cultivation, he can sustain his full power for roughly three breaths, prompting him to jokingly describe himself as having “three seconds of invincibility.”
• Chen Shaojun finishes appraising the remaining treasures and refuses to refine or claim the Soul-Suppressing Bell, despite being capable of doing so, because it belongs to someone else.
• He summons the attendant and Shopkeeper Liu, instructing them to notify the treasure owners and increase the appraisal hall’s intake because his appraisal speed has improved significantly.
• Shopkeeper Liu is stunned that Chen Shaojun appraised the entire accumulated batch in one morning, especially the exceptionally powerful Soul-Suppressing Bell.
• Liu activates the spirit talisman left by its owner, the mysterious immortal maiden Hongchen, informing her that the treasure has been appraised.
• Their conversation also recalls the Cloud-Heaven Tomb and the release of the suppressed Gods and Devils powerhouse. Powerful figures have gathered near Shengjing to hunt the escaped demon, and Hongchen may be involved.
• Chen Shaojun reflects on how dramatically he has grown in only half a year and recognizes the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror as the key source of his progress.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun advances from a Limit-Breaking Powerhouse to someone potentially capable of reaching the Invincible level. His defensive weakness is finally repaired.
• Despite his immense strength, Chen Shaojun remains principled and refuses to exploit the Soul-Suppressing Bell for personal gain.
• He becomes increasingly confident and less concerned with others discovering that he possesses extraordinary abilities.
• He also recognizes that raw strength is limited by his Arcane Cultivation reserves and that he must continue accumulating cultivation to use his abilities freely.
• Shopkeeper Liu shifts from viewing Chen Shaojun as a talented appraiser to recognizing him as an existence far beyond the Lin Family’s influence. Though briefly tempted by greed, Liu quickly suppresses it and accepts Chen’s superior status.

Significant Themes

• Completeness and overcoming weakness: True invincibility requires balance in attack, speed, and defense; Chen’s new divine ability completes his power.
• Power versus endurance: Having overwhelming strength is not enough if one cannot sustain it. Chen’s limited Arcane Cultivation remains his main constraint.
• Integrity amid temptation: Chen refuses to seize a priceless treasure simply because he can, emphasizing his principles.
• Rapid transformation and opportunity: His extraordinary rise over six months is attributed largely to the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror and the opportunities it provides.
• The hierarchy of power: The chapter distinguishes between Limit-Breaking Powerhouses and truly Invincible Powerhouses, while noting that treasures and deep sect foundations can compensate for individual shortcomings.

Character Interactions

• Chen speaks briefly with the attendant, directing him to summon Shopkeeper Liu.
• Liu enters expecting an explanation but is overwhelmed by the sight of all the completed appraisals and the Soul-Suppressing Bell.
• Liu praises Chen’s astonishing growth and implicitly acknowledges the widening gap between them.
• Chen responds modestly, reflecting on how quickly time has passed and crediting the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror for much of his advancement.
• Liu sends a message to Hongchen through the spirit talisman, setting up her likely future involvement in the conflict surrounding the escaped Gods and Devils powerhouse.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Red Dust Fairy arrives at the Number One Appraisal Hall after receiving Shopkeeper Liu’s message that her treasure has been appraised.
• She retrieves the Soul-Suppressing Bell, a powerful top-grade Immortal Treasure, and discovers that Chen Shaojun has successfully cleansed it of its resistance.
• Red Dust Fairy immediately forms a smooth connection with the bell and begins refining it, confirming the success of Chen Shaojun’s appraisal.
• She thanks Chen Shaojun and gives him a communication jade slip, allowing them to contact each other within ten thousand miles.
• Red Dust Fairy leaves, while more customers begin collecting their appraised treasures. Impressed by the results, many entrust the appraisal hall with even more valuable treasures.
• Chen Shaojun spends the following days appraising treasures, cultivating, observing the Dao through Thousand-Mile Sight, and using his Copying Divine Ability to create Stacking Talismans and Wish Talismans.
• After more than ten days, he accumulates and completely fills one hundred Lower Immortal Rank Stacking Talismans.
• He prepares to use a Wish Talisman to unravel their rewards and obtain a large amount of Merit Golden Light, hoping to raise his Arcane Cultivation beyond a thousand years.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun demonstrates exceptional appraisal ability, successfully handling a top-grade Immortal Treasure that even Red Dust Fairy might otherwise have needed years to refine. His restraint and lack of greed further establish his calm, trustworthy character. He is also increasingly focused on strengthening his Arcane Cultivation, which has become a limitation despite his tremendous combat power.
• Red Dust Fairy develops respect and admiration for Chen Shaojun after witnessing the effortless refinement of the Soul-Suppressing Bell. She becomes curious about his possible Innate Dao Body and intends to investigate his identity further through future contact.
• Shopkeeper Liu continues to serve as the intermediary between Chen Shaojun and powerful clients, helping facilitate the appraisal hall’s growing reputation.

Significant Themes

• Trust earned through ability: The appraisal hall’s reputation grows gradually as customers personally witness Chen Shaojun’s reliable and extraordinary results.
• Restraint in the face of treasure: Chen Shaojun’s refusal to seize the Soul-Suppressing Bell highlights his integrity and mental discipline.
• Hidden identities and rare destiny: Red Dust Fairy’s recognition of Chen Shaojun’s Innate Dao Body raises questions about his true identity and the connection between him and Kunlun Daoist.
• Preparation and accumulation: Chen Shaojun’s relentless work reflects the importance of building strength before facing dangerous trials.
• Power versus cultivation foundation: Although Chen Shaojun possesses exceptional combat ability, his limited Arcane Cultivation restricts how long he can sustain his strength.

Character Interactions

• Red Dust Fairy questions Chen Shaojun about whether they have met before, sensing the aura of an Innate Dao Body similar to her own.
• Chen Shaojun gives a plausible explanation, claiming they encountered each other at an auction in Myriad Treasures Town, while concealing the deeper truth.
• Red Dust Fairy praises his appraisal and offers him her communication jade slip as both a sincere token of gratitude and a means of future investigation.
• Chen Shaojun initially declines her excessive thanks but accepts the jade slip after she explains how much it will improve her chances in an upcoming dangerous trial.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun uses a Wish Talisman while activating one hundred Stacking Talismans through the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror, wishing for all rewards to become Merit Golden Light.
• His wish succeeds, producing 163,224 points of Merit Golden Light—an amount equivalent to roughly 4,500 years of arcane cultivation by his calculations.
• Chen reflects on the limitations of the Ancient Immortal Method, which has no cultivation bottlenecks but requires centuries or millennia to achieve power comparable to modern Daoist cultivators. Its slow progress and limited human lifespans are the main reasons it has been abandoned.
• Because Chen can convert Merit Golden Light directly into cultivation, he realizes that the Ancient Immortal Method’s greatest weakness does not apply to him.
• He begins rapidly increasing his arcane cultivation:
  • From 200 to 210 years
  • Then to 310 years
  • Eventually to 910 years
  • Finally, he spends another 3,240 points of Merit Golden Light and reaches 1,000 years of arcane cultivation, corresponding to the Spirit Severing Realm.

Character Development

• Chen Shaojun transitions from cautiously accumulating resources to aggressively pursuing a major breakthrough.
• His confidence grows as his cultivation rises. At 910 years, he believes he can overcome the world’s Heaven-Earth restrictions and unleash power comparable to the Divine Tier.
• His body, spiritual power, and physical strength are all enhanced alongside his arcane cultivation. His spiritual perception expands to over 1,200 meters.
• He recognizes that his sudden increase in power has weakened his control somewhat; initially, he can only use about eighty percent of his strength effectively.
• Despite understanding the risks of forcing a breakthrough before fully adapting, Chen chooses ambition over caution and pushes through to 1,000 years of cultivation.

Significant Themes

• Accumulation versus talent: The Ancient Immortal Method rewards persistence and has no bottlenecks, while modern cultivation is faster but constrained by talent and the suppression of Heaven and Earth.
• Time and lifespan: Ancient cultivation is theoretically limitless but practically difficult because cultivators may die before reaching the required stages.
• Resource-based advancement: Merit Golden Light transforms Chen’s greatest disadvantage—slow cultivation—into an overwhelming advantage.
• Ambition and risk: Chen knowingly accelerates his breakthrough despite unstable control, emphasizing his determination to reach the highest possible realm.
• Breaking imposed limits: His goal is not merely to become stronger but to shatter the world’s restrictions through his own cultivation and achieve Spirit Severing-level power.

Character Interactions

• There are no direct interpersonal interactions in this chapter. Chen’s only implied connection is with Shopkeeper Liu, who previously helped gather the large quantity of treasures needed for appraisal.
• Most of the chapter focuses on Chen’s internal reflections, calculations, and decision-making as he evaluates cultivation systems and commits to his breakthrough.

Chapter Summary: The Difference Between Immortals and Mortals

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun reaches one thousand years of Arcane Cultivation, triggering a major breakthrough into the Spirit Severing Realm.
• His arcane power compresses into a violet vortex with nine rings, each representing one hundred years of cultivation.
• His body undergoes a fundamental transformation, gaining an immortal aura that marks the difference between higher-level beings and mortals.
• Chen realizes that, although Spirit Severing Realm experts exist in the world’s Grotto-Heaven Blessed Lands, he may be the first person in ten thousand years to reach the realm through cultivation within the Main World itself.
• He understands that those who break through inside the Blessed Lands remain suppressed when entering the Main World, while he is recognized by the world’s laws and can use his power more freely.
• Reflecting on the ancient war against the Devil Realm, Chen restrains his pride. He remembers that the world was sealed for ten thousand years because its forces could not defeat the invading Gods and Devils directly.
• While testing his new strength, Chen loses control of his Arcane Cultivation. His attempt to cast a basic Fireball Technique instead causes a destructive burst that nearly destroys his room.
• He decides to remain at home and focus on stabilizing his realm and improving his control, rather than joining the battle against the newly escaped Kaiza Demon.
• Several days later, news arrives that the demon has been killed by Zhou Yinong, who defeats it single-handedly with a spear.
• Chen identifies Zhou Yinong as the Great Zhou Dynasty’s remaining prince and the founder of the Divine Martial Hall. He concludes that Zhou’s speed, defense, and offense have likely all reached the ultimate level.
• Chen anticipates that Yongtai True Lord and others will soon contact him about traveling to Sword Elder’s Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land.
• Before that, he plans to honor an agreement to visit Spirit-Sealing House during the monthly marketplace opening and unseal Spirit-Sealing Stones.

Character Development

• Chen Shaojun advances from a powerful cultivator to a genuine, though still relatively low-level, immortal or “Pseudo-Immortal.” His life level changes, giving him an aura that naturally inspires awe.
• His breakthrough also exposes a major weakness: his power has increased faster than his ability to control it. He becomes more cautious and recognizes the need for patience, foundation-building, and practical mastery.
• Chen’s confidence develops into measured self-awareness. Though he acknowledges that he is now strong enough to face nearly any crisis in the world, he does not become reckless.
• He begins to recover control over his abilities, reaching the point where he can use roughly thirty percent of his current strength—already more than his former maximum.
• Zhou Yinong is established as an extraordinary martial expert, apparently stronger than before and capable of killing a powerful demon who resisted numerous top experts.
• Kaiza Demon is presented as a dangerous ancient being, but its long imprisonment, the world’s suppression, and the Great Zhou Dynasty’s hidden strength leave it unable to cause lasting destruction.

Significant Themes

• The boundary between immortals and mortals: The Spirit Severing Realm represents not merely greater strength but an elevation in one’s fundamental level of life.
• Recognition by heaven and earth: Cultivators who break through within the Main World are accepted by its laws, while those who rely on Blessed Lands are suppressed as outsiders.
• Power versus control: Possessing immense cultivation is useless—or dangerous—without the ability to wield it precisely.
• Humility after advancement: Chen’s breakthrough briefly gives him a sense of superiority, but memories of the Devil Realm war remind him that he remains far below true immortal-level beings.
• The importance of foundations: The chapter emphasizes consolidating strength and mastering one’s realm rather than pursuing advancement recklessly.
• The world’s hidden power: The Great Zhou Dynasty contains formidable experts capable of suppressing ancient demons, suggesting that its true strength is much greater than commonly understood.

Character Interactions

• Chen has no direct confrontation in the chapter, but his thoughts contrast his status with that of ancient Spirit Severing experts and true immortals.
• His relationship with the wider cultivation world is shown through his awareness of the Heavenly Spirit Sect, Jade Pool Immortal Sect, Inch Mountain, and Great Zhou Imperial Household.
• He indirectly evaluates Zhou Yinong’s abilities after hearing reports of Zhou’s battle, mentally comparing their respective strengths.
• Chen expects Yongtai True Lord and others to approach him regarding the expedition to Sword Elder’s Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land.
• His agreement with the owner of Spirit-Sealing House motivates his immediate next action and connects his cultivation goals with the marketplace’s supply of Spirit-Sealing Stones.

Chapter Summary: “Pei Zhen’s Shock”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun returns to the Immortal Martial marketplace disguised as he was during his previous visit. Using the Chief Treasure Unsealer plaque from Ruyi Pavilion, he enters without difficulty.
• The marketplace guards recognize the plaque’s significance and become suspicious, since Chen Shaojun was widely believed to have been kidnapped by the White Snake Demon King. One guard reports his return to the marketplace authorities.
• Chen proceeds directly to Ruyi Pavilion, where his return shocks everyone. Guildmaster Pei Zhen and Shopkeeper Xiong had believed Chen was either dead or still imprisoned by the Demon Race.
• In a private discussion, Chen reveals that the person captured by the White Snake Demon King was only a clone. His true body had already escaped safely and returned to Shengjing City.
• Chen also confirms that the Little White Dragon did not fall into the Demon Race’s hands. The White Snake Demon King was deceived, despite being an ancient and powerful Demon King.
• Chen explains that he had intentionally used the clone as a substitute because he anticipated that powerful experts would pursue the Little White Dragon after its unsealing.
• When questioned about his cultivation, Chen states that his martial realm is the Spirit Astral Realm, while his Dao Arts cultivation is slightly stronger than Pei Zhen’s.
• This implies that Chen has reached at least the late Nascent Soul Realm in Dao Arts, stunning everyone present.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun: Demonstrates increased confidence, composure, and strategic foresight. He is no longer concerned with others’ opinions and reveals that his strength and abilities are far greater than previously believed. His use of a powerful, convincing clone shows exceptional preparation and caution.
• Pei Zhen: Experiences profound shock and renewed hope. He had mourned Chen’s apparent loss, but now realizes that Chen is not only alive but likely stronger than himself. Pei also recognizes that Chen’s clone technique is far more advanced than ordinary cultivation methods.
• Shopkeeper Xiong and the senior Treasure Unsealers: Shift from worry and grief to astonishment. They learn that both Chen and the Little White Dragon survived, and they begin reassessing Chen’s true identity and power.
• The marketplace guards: Reveal the rumors and suspicion surrounding Chen’s disappearance. Their reactions show how widely news of the White Snake Demon King’s attack had spread.

Significant Themes

• Deception and strategic preparation: Chen’s clone allowed him to mislead even top-tier human and Demon Race experts, emphasizing the value of foresight over brute force.
• Hidden strength and mistaken identity: Chen’s public image as a kidnapped Treasure Unsealer conceals his true cultivation and abilities.
• Hope restored after apparent disaster: Ruyi Pavilion had believed its greatest opportunity was lost, but Chen’s return reverses that despair.
• The danger of reputation and rumor: The marketplace assumes Chen was captured, killed, or possibly corrupted by the Demon Race, showing how quickly incomplete information shapes public opinion.
• Dual cultivation and exceptional talent: Chen’s mastery of both Dao Arts and martial cultivation marks him as an extraordinarily rare and powerful figure.

Important Character Interactions

• The entrance guards discuss Chen’s Chief Treasure Unsealer status and debate whether he might be a Demon Race spy.
• Pei Zhen and Shopkeeper Xiong express concern over Chen’s disappearance and Ruyi Pavilion’s lost prospects.
• Upon Chen’s return, Pei Zhen immediately brings him to a private room to avoid public scrutiny.
• Shopkeeper Xiong and Zhao Qun question Chen about his escape and the Little White Dragon.
• Chen calmly reveals the truth about his clone, leaving the group stunned.
• Pei Zhen and Zhao Qun infer that Chen’s clone must have been extraordinarily powerful, prompting them to ask about his cultivation.
• Chen’s claim that his Dao Arts realm surpasses Pei Zhen’s produces the chapter’s central shock and dramatically raises expectations regarding his true background and future influence.

Chapter Summary: “Business Arrived?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun’s true strength is revealed to be far greater than Guildmaster Pei Zhen expected. His thousand years of Arcane Cultivation place him around the Spirit Severing Realm, surpassing Pei Zhen’s Nascent Soul, Middle Stage cultivation.
• Chen explains that he has no formal lineage and attributes his achievements to various opportunities and the mysterious “Spirit-Seeking Daoist,” whose existence and origins remain uncertain.
• Pei Zhen and the others become highly respectful after realizing Chen is both a powerful Daoist cultivator and martial artist, as well as an extraordinary treasure-unsealing expert.
• Zhao Qun asks about the Little White Dragon. Chen summons it from his Sleeve Space, shocking everyone with how dramatically it has grown in only a month.
• The dragon has not technically reached the Growth Stage, but it is at the peak of the late juvenile stage, comparable in strength to a Core-Formation cultivator, and close to advancing further.
• Chen’s ability to store and summon a living creature raises further speculation about whether he possesses a Grotto-Heaven Microcosm or an extremely advanced spatial technique. Pei Zhen concludes that Chen’s abilities are even more profound than his own.
• In the Treasure-Unsealing Room, Chen begins unsealing Spirit-Sealing Stones to absorb their impure spiritual energy and improve his martial cultivation.
• The first two stones contain no treasures and are effectively worthless to their buyers, though Chen successfully absorbs their spiritual energy.
• Because his cultivation has advanced, the same amount of energy now produces much smaller gains. Chen estimates that even unsealing a hundred stones might only raise him one or two layers.
• Frustrated by the slow pace and lack of stones, Chen considers changing his approach—just as someone knocks at the door, suggesting that more significant business has arrived.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun: His concealed identity and overwhelming strength become clearer. He remains modest and deliberately low-profile, but is increasingly concerned with obtaining enough resources to advance his martial cultivation.
• Pei Zhen: His attitude shifts from curiosity and professional respect to genuine awe and submission after witnessing Chen’s cultivation, spatial abilities, and divine beast.
• Little White Dragon: It has grown enormously in size, aura, intelligence, and power. Though still technically juvenile, it is nearing the Growth Stage and is sensitive enough to understand Chen’s teasing.
• Zhao Qun and Shopkeeper Xiong: Both are astonished by the dragon’s rapid development and gain an even deeper appreciation of Chen’s abilities.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and mistaken identity: Chen’s lack of fame contrasts sharply with his extraordinary abilities because he has deliberately concealed himself and used aliases.
• Power determines status: Pei Zhen’s treatment of Chen changes immediately once Chen’s superior cultivation becomes apparent.
• Rapid growth versus natural limits: The Little White Dragon’s development defies ordinary divine-beast growth patterns, while Chen’s own advancement is increasingly slowed by the greater energy demands of higher realms.
• Resource constraints: Even a powerful cultivator must depend on available Spirit-Sealing Stones and cannot advance indefinitely without sufficient resources.
• Mystery of the Spirit-Seeking Daoist: Chen’s supposed master—and possibly the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror itself—remains an unresolved supernatural mystery beyond the known limits of the world.

Character Interactions

• Pei Zhen respectfully questions Chen about his lineage and privately resolves to investigate the Spirit-Seeking Daoist.
• Chen calmly answers Pei Zhen while maintaining the fiction of a reclusive master and rogue cultivator.
• Zhao Qun asks about the Little White Dragon, prompting Chen to display it before the group.
• The dragon’s uncontrolled pressure nearly overwhelms a nearby attendant, forcing Shopkeeper Xiong to intervene.
• Chen teasingly calls the dragon “plump,” causing it to react resentfully before he returns it to his Sleeve Space.
• Chen pressures Zhao Qun to bring him Spirit-Sealing Stones to unseal, emphasizing that his interest is cultivation rather than earning his position’s salary.
• The chapter ends with a knock at the door, creating anticipation that a valuable or unusual customer has arrived.

Chapter Summary: Spirit-Sealing Stone King

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun is summoned by Guildmaster Pei after Master Gu Chen of the Spirit-Sealing House arrives to meet him.
• Chen suspects the visit concerns the invitation previously extended by the Spirit-Sealing House, particularly their mysterious centerpiece, the enormous Spirit-Sealing Stone King.
• He reflects that his spiritual power, martial cultivation, and Daoist techniques have greatly improved since their last meeting. He now believes he can unseal even extremely large Spirit-Sealing Stones.
• In the rear courtyard, Chen meets:
  • Master Gu Chen, the marketplace’s publicly acknowledged greatest treasure unsealer.
  • Daoist Flying Goose, the owner of the Spirit-Sealing House and a powerful Rogue Cultivator.
• Flying Goose and Gu Chen praise Chen’s treasure-unsealing ability and his ability to survive recent dangers using a substitute body.
• They invite Chen to the Spirit-Sealing House to help unseal several stones that Gu Chen cannot safely handle. Gu Chen openly admits that Chen’s skill surpasses his own and hopes to learn from observing him.
• Guildmaster Pei approves Chen’s visit, noting his long friendship with Flying Goose.
• Chen travels to the Spirit-Sealing House, which is larger and more exclusive than Ruyi Pavilion. Its Spirit-Sealing Stones are more expensive but have a much higher chance of containing valuable treasures.
• Chen notices several powerful young cultivators, including Zhuang Hanyan, Yan Shuangjie, and Guo Xianyun. They do not recognize him because of his changed appearance.
• Master Gu Chen explains that the shop’s stones are carefully selected by junior unsealers, ensuring that most contain treasures of significant value.
• Chen is finally shown the shop’s centerpiece: the enormous blue-green Spirit-Sealing Stone King. Its spiritual energy is comparable to that of a huge Upper-Grade Spirit Stone, yet centuries of attempts by experts have failed to unseal it.
• The chapter ends with Chen volunteering to try. Unlike other unsealers, he can absorb and transform the stone’s mixed spiritual energy rather than merely dispersing it.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun displays increased confidence in his abilities. His greatly strengthened spiritual power and cultivation have transformed him from a talented unsealer into someone capable of challenging the marketplace’s greatest treasures.
• He remains modest and tactful, downplaying his strength while privately recognizing that he may now surpass even established experts.
• Master Gu Chen shows humility and professional honesty by admitting that Chen’s unsealing techniques exceed his own. He also becomes a potential student or observer, hoping to gain insight from Chen.
• Daoist Flying Goose is revealed as a powerful and influential cultivator. He respects Chen’s abilities and personally seeks his assistance rather than relying solely on Gu Chen.
• Guildmaster Pei demonstrates trust in Chen and supports his growing independence, allowing him to accept the Spirit-Sealing House’s invitation without hesitation.
• Zhuang Hanyan is shown to have advanced to the peak of the Core-Formation Realm, indicating the rapid progress of the young geniuses Chen once knew.

Significant Themes

• Growth and changed status: Chen’s improvements have elevated him from a promising specialist to a peer of powerful senior figures.
• Humility versus true strength: Chen speaks modestly, but his abilities are now extraordinary enough to challenge a treasure no one else has been able to open.
• Risk, certainty, and gambling: The Spirit-Sealing House succeeds because it offers customers a higher chance of obtaining treasures, reflecting the human desire to gamble while avoiding total loss.
• Accumulated power and hidden potential: The Stone King has gathered spiritual energy for centuries, suggesting that its contents may be extraordinarily valuable.
• Recognition and concealment: Chen’s disguised appearance prevents former acquaintances from recognizing him, while Flying Goose’s concealment technique illustrates how power can be hidden from ordinary perception.

Character Interactions

• Chen exchanges polite but purposeful dialogue with Flying Goose and Gu Chen, quickly steering the conversation toward the reason for their visit.
• Flying Goose praises Chen and invites him to unseal several difficult stones, while Gu Chen personally confirms Chen’s superiority and supports the invitation.
• Chen seeks Guildmaster Pei’s permission before accepting, showing respect for his position at Ruyi Pavilion, though Pei freely grants approval.
• At the Spirit-Sealing House, younger cultivators respectfully greet Flying Goose and Gu Chen but remain unaware of Chen’s identity.
• Gu Chen acts as Chen’s guide, explaining the shop’s selection process and the nature of the Spirit-Sealing Stone King.
• Chen’s final offer to attempt the unsealing creates the chapter’s central anticipation: whether his unique ability to absorb mixed spiritual energy will finally unlock the legendary stone.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun is invited by Flying Goose, owner of the Spirit-Sealing House, to unseal several powerful Spirit-Sealing Stones, including the massive Spirit-Sealing Stone King.
• Because the Stone King is the Spirit-Sealing House’s central treasure and previous attempts to open it have failed, Master Gu Chen insists that Chen first prove his abilities on five smaller stones.
• The five test stones contain exceptionally dense spiritual energy. One is comparable to a Supreme-Grade Spirit Stone, while the others range from Mid-Grade to Upper-Grade intensity. Their high energy density suggests that they almost certainly contain extremely valuable treasures.
• Master Gu Chen explains that such stones are difficult because unsealing them consumes enormous amounts of spiritual power and exposes the unsealer to the backlash of their powerful restrictions.
• Chen confidently accepts the challenge and creates a spatial isolation barrier using his Heaven-and-Earth-in-the-Sleeve Technique. The barrier separates him and the stones from the observers while still allowing Flying Goose and Master Gu Chen to watch.
• His display of spatial cultivation astonishes both men. They realize that previous reports about Chen’s strength were not exaggerated and that he may be powerful enough to evade even formidable enemies such as the White Snake Demon King.
• Chen begins with the smallest fiery-red Spirit-Sealing Stone. Using the Spirit Eye Technique, he detects 127 restriction chains surrounding the stone’s interior.
• He performs divination and receives an auspicious result, then activates the Myriad Spirits Unsealing Technique.
• The stone’s spiritual-energy balance collapses, releasing a torrent of mixed spiritual energy. Rather than being overwhelmed, Chen absorbs and refines it into his own Spirit Astral power, viewing the intense energy as an opportunity to strengthen himself.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun: Displays overwhelming confidence in his treasure-unsealing abilities. His thousand years of Arcane Cultivation, Spirit Severing Realm cultivation, and vastly increased spiritual power make even high-grade Spirit-Sealing Stones manageable. He is increasingly portrayed as someone who welcomes greater difficulty because it provides more energy for cultivation.
• Master Gu Chen: Initially cautious and skeptical, he insists on testing Chen before allowing him to approach the Stone King. After witnessing Chen’s spatial technique, he recognizes that Chen’s abilities surpass his previous understanding.
• Flying Goose: Begins as an eager but cautious owner anxious to see the Stone King opened. After observing Chen’s technique, he comes to regard Chen as an equal, addressing him as “Fellow Daoist” rather than “Master Chen.”
• The Spirit-Sealing House: Its reputation and central treasure are emphasized, as are the repeated failures of earlier experts to unseal the Stone King.

Significant Themes

• Power proven through action: Chen’s confidence is validated not by claims but by his ability to perform techniques beyond the observers’ expectations.
• Hidden value and risk: The denser a Spirit-Sealing Stone’s energy, the greater both the danger and the likelihood that it contains a rare treasure.
• Growth through challenge: Chen sees powerful sealed stones not as obstacles but as sources of cultivation energy.
• Changing perceptions: The chapter highlights how witnessing genuine strength can overturn skepticism and reshape relationships.
• Isolation and mastery: Chen’s spatial barrier symbolizes his ability to control his surroundings completely and operate beyond the reach of ordinary interference.

Character Interactions

• Flying Goose eagerly urges Chen to begin, while Master Gu Chen restrains him and negotiates a safer testing process.
• Chen responds diplomatically, accepting the preliminary challenge while subtly demonstrating confidence in his superiority.
• Master Gu Chen explains the technical dangers of high-energy Spirit-Sealing Stones, establishing the difficulty Chen is expected to overcome.
• After witnessing the Sleeve Space, both observers privately reassess Chen: Gu Chen abandons his doubts, while Flying Goose elevates Chen to the status of a peer.
• The chapter ends with Chen working alone inside the spatial barrier, beginning the first unsealing and converting the released energy into personal strength.

Chapter Summary: Second Layer of Spirit Astral Realm

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun continues unsealing a powerful Spirit-Sealing Stone containing mixed spiritual energy equivalent in intensity to a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone.
• Thanks to his exceptionally powerful spiritual force, he absorbs and refines the chaotic energy far more efficiently than ordinary Treasure Unsealers.
• His Spirit Astral power rapidly increases, allowing him to break through from the First Layer to the Second Layer of the Spirit Astral Realm within minutes.
• Chen estimates that fully unsealing the remaining Spirit-Sealing Stones could raise him to the seventh or eighth layer of the Spirit Astral Realm, though perhaps not yet to the Divine Profound Realm’s Martial Saint level.
• Once the stone’s energy is exhausted, its 132 restrictive forces activate and launch a violent backlash against him.
• Chen uses the Seventy-Two Unsealing Method to neutralize seventy-two of the attacks, leaving sixty restrictive backlash forces.
• Rather than destroy the remaining attacks with his overwhelming Arcane Cultivation, Chen tests the defensive divine ability he previously obtained: Bronze Skin, Iron Bones.
• The ability covers his body in golden light, transforming him into a seemingly invulnerable figure. The remaining backlash forces strike him repeatedly but shatter harmlessly against his body.
• Chen confirms that even attacks comparable to the full-strength strikes of Nascent Soul Realm experts cannot damage him while the divine ability is active.

Character Developments

Chen Shaojun

• Makes a rapid cultivation breakthrough to the Second Layer of the Spirit Astral Realm.
• Demonstrates extraordinary efficiency in absorbing chaotic spiritual energy, far surpassing ordinary Treasure Unsealers.
• Displays greater confidence and curiosity by deliberately testing his defensive ability instead of immediately crushing the backlash.
• Gains a clearer understanding of the strength of Bronze Skin, Iron Bones, becoming highly satisfied with its defensive power despite currently controlling only about thirty percent of his total strength.

Master Gu Chen

• Moves from confusion and admiration to deep shock at Chen’s spiritual power and unsealing mastery.
• Realizes that Chen’s technique is far beyond his own Sixty-Three Unsealing Method, since Chen can precisely destroy seventy-two backlash forces at once.
• Becomes alarmed when Chen appears to stop resisting the remaining attacks, fearing that Chen has placed himself in danger.

Daoist Flying Goose

• Recognizes that Chen is using an exceptionally rare bodily defensive technique.
• Is astonished because genuine defensive divine abilities are scarce and difficult even for Nascent Soul experts to use effectively.

Significant Themes

• Rapid advancement through unique power: Chen’s extraordinary spiritual strength and access to the Spirit-Sealing Stone allow him to cultivate at an astonishing speed.
• Mastery versus conventional limitations: Ordinary Treasure Unsealers struggle to control and refine the stone’s chaotic energy, while Chen handles it almost effortlessly.
• Hidden strength and experimentation: Chen continually reveals abilities beyond what observers expect and uses dangerous situations to test his powers.
• The rarity of true divine abilities: The chapter emphasizes that divine abilities are vastly more profound and difficult to master than ordinary spells, making Chen’s instant mastery especially extraordinary.
• Confidence backed by overwhelming power: Chen’s willingness to endure attacks directly reflects his growing certainty in his own strength.

Character Interactions

• Master Gu Chen and Daoist Flying Goose observe Chen through the Sleeve Space and discuss his methods indirectly through their reactions.
• Master Gu Chen admires Chen’s precise use of the Seventy-Two Unsealing Method but becomes anxious when Chen allows the remaining backlash to attack him.
• Daoist Flying Goose reassures the situation by recognizing that Chen has activated a defensive technique rather than surrendered.
• Chen does not directly converse with either observer, but his actions challenge their understanding of Treasure Unsealing and demonstrate a level of power far beyond theirs.

Chapter Summary:

Continuous Advancement in Strength

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun successfully unseals the first high-grade Spirit-Sealing Stone without suffering meaningful backlash. He refuses to break apart the stone himself, respecting the principle that the original owners should retrieve their own treasures.
• Master Gu Chen praises Chen Shaojun’s extraordinary treasure-unsealing skills, especially his ability to separate mixed spiritual energy. Daoist Flying Goose is equally impressed by Chen’s spatial and defensive techniques.
• Chen identifies these spells as Heaven-and-Earth-in-the-Sleeve Technique and Bronze Skin, Iron Bones, though Flying Goose suspects they may actually be legendary divine powers from an ancient record.
• Master Gu Chen opens the Spirit-Sealing Stone and reveals the treasure inside: the Truefire Zither, an ancient Immortal Treasure once owned by Firecloud Fairy. The fiery zither releases flames and gathers surrounding spiritual energy, but its power is weakened after ten thousand years of sealing.
• Gu Chen retrieves the zither and passes it to Daoist Flying Goose. Both men are delighted by the discovery, while Chen remains focused on continuing the unsealing process.
• With Chen’s permission, the Spirit-Sealing House allows other Treasure Unsealers to observe him working, hoping they can learn from his methods.
• Chen begins appraising the second Spirit-Sealing Stone. It contains far denser mixed spiritual energy—almost equivalent to an Upper-Grade Spirit Stone—and is protected by 156 restrictions.
• His divination indicates that the stone is auspicious and poses no real danger. Chen absorbs and refines its mixed spiritual energy with increasing speed.
• The energy allows him to break through from the Second Layer of the Spirit Astral Realm to the Third Layer, and then to the Fourth Layer.
• Upon reaching the Middle Spirit Astral Realm, his Spirit Astral power becomes denser, purer, sharper, and at least thirty percent more powerful when used with the same martial techniques.
• The restrictions finally trigger their backlash: enormous black chains sweep across the area, attempting to crush and kill Chen.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun demonstrates increasing mastery, confidence, and efficiency. His Daoist cultivation makes absorbing the Spirit-Sealing Stone’s energy nearly effortless, and his powerful spiritual foundation prevents instability despite his rapid martial breakthroughs.
• Chen views his martial cultivation as his current weakness compared with his advanced Daoist strength. He aims to develop both paths together, hoping eventually to reach the Spirit Severing realm in Daoist cultivation and the Human Immortal realm in martial cultivation.
• Master Gu Chen becomes fully convinced of Chen’s superiority as a Treasure Unsealer and openly admires his techniques.
• Daoist Flying Goose grows increasingly curious about Chen’s mysterious spells and begins suspecting that Chen may possess rare divine powers beyond what his apparent cultivation level should allow.
• Chen’s principles are reinforced: despite his overwhelming strength, he respects the traditions of Treasure Unsealing and does not personally claim or retrieve another person’s treasure.

Significant Themes

• Continuous self-improvement: Chen refuses to be satisfied with minor breakthroughs and constantly seeks greater strength.
• The balance of cultivation paths: The chapter emphasizes the need to advance Daoist and martial cultivation together so their combined power can exceed the sum of their individual strengths.
• Hidden power beneath appearances: Chen looks like a refined, harmless young man, yet possesses astonishing techniques and the ability to withstand catastrophic attacks.
• Respect for rules and rightful ownership: His refusal to divide the Spirit-Sealing Stone himself reflects professional ethics and respect for established principles.
• Accumulated mastery: Chen’s rapid progress is not portrayed as reckless; his profound Daoist foundation allows him to control every increase in martial power immediately.

Character Interactions

• Master Gu Chen and Daoist Flying Goose repeatedly praise Chen and discuss the extraordinary nature of his spells.
• Flying Goose questions Chen about his techniques, but Chen gives only their names and modestly attributes their power to deep cultivation.
• Gu Chen and Flying Goose share excitement over the discovery of the Truefire Zither and handle its retrieval together.
• Chen directs the process and determines when to move on to the next Spirit-Sealing Stone, while the others support and observe him.
• The chapter ends with Chen alone inside the second Spirit-Sealing Stone’s backlash, facing a seemingly apocalyptic assault of black chains.

Chapter Summary: “Spirit-Communing Mirror”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun confronts the backlash from 156 seals inside a Spirit-Sealing Stone. The backlash manifests as enormous black chains capable of distorting the surrounding space, alarming the observing Treasure Unsealers.
• Rather than relying on his previously tested Bronze Skin, Iron Bones ability, Chen uses the Seventy-Two Seal-Breaking Methods. He releases 144 techniques to counter most of the backlash, then destroys the remaining twelve strands with spiritual power shaped into blades and axes.
• Chen successfully unseals the stone, revealing a Spirit-Communing Mirror.
• Master Gu Chen identifies it as an ancient Elder Spirit Artifact capable of communicating with the Nine Netherlands, contacting gods, devils, ghosts, and monsters, and even forming contracts to summon them into battle.
• Daoist Flying Goose explains that the world’s heavenly and earthly seals currently prevent the mirror from reaching other realms, greatly reducing its usefulness. He nevertheless accepts the treasure gratefully and stores it.
• Chen turns to a much larger third Spirit-Sealing Stone containing 189 seals and denser spiritual energy. Divination produces an auspicious result.
• While using the Myriad Spirits Unsealing Technique to absorb and refine the stone’s energy, Chen breaks through twice, advancing to the Fifth and then Sixth Layer of the Spirit Astral Realm.
• When the stone’s energy is nearly exhausted, its stronger backlash erupts. Chen effortlessly suppresses it with three Seventy-Two Seal-Breaking Methods and completes the unsealing.
• The third stone contains an ominous emerald-green battle armor, radiating intense killing intent. The observers hesitate to approach it because the spiritual treasure may awaken and attack.

Character Development

• Chen Shaojun demonstrates overwhelming confidence and control. His spiritual power is now strong enough to destroy backlash directly, and he no longer approaches treasure unsealing cautiously or anxiously.
• His rapid martial cultivation advances reveal the relationship between his Daoist and martial systems: his stronger Daoist foundation stabilizes and expands his martial progress, allowing him to advance without bottlenecks or instability.
• Chen’s growing interest in the enormous Spirit-Sealing Stone King shows his increasing ambition and curiosity. He expects to unseal it soon, once the remaining stones have been appraised.
• Despite his excitement, Chen remains disciplined, deliberately calming himself before each appraisal and maintaining the composure expected of an expert Treasure Unsealer.
• Master Gu Chen continues to admire Chen’s exceptional unsealing abilities.
• Daoist Flying Goose remains confident in Chen’s strength and becomes the custodian of the treasures recovered from his Spirit-Sealing House.

Significant Themes

• Power and mastery: Chen’s effortless destruction of increasingly dangerous backlash establishes how far his abilities have surpassed ordinary Treasure Unsealers.
• Growth through cultivation: The chapter emphasizes Chen’s rapid advancement and the synergy between Daoist and martial cultivation.
• Ancient treasures in a changed world: The Spirit-Communing Mirror was once extraordinarily powerful, but the world’s barriers have rendered much of its original function inaccessible.
• Risk and restraint: Even after gaining immense strength, Chen carefully controls his emotions and follows proper appraisal procedures, showing that discipline is as important as power.
• Mystery and anticipation: The colossal Spirit-Sealing Stone King remains a major looming mystery, with the characters eager to discover the treasure hidden inside.

Character Interactions

• The surrounding Treasure Unsealers react with fear to Chen’s massive seal backlash, contrasting their limited experience with his extraordinary strength.
• Master Gu Chen and Daoist Flying Goose act as knowledgeable observers and supporters, recognizing Chen’s success and praising his methods.
• Daoist Flying Goose explains the limitations of the Spirit-Communing Mirror and then respectfully accepts it as the rightful treasure of the Spirit-Sealing House.
• Chen and the two elders share an unspoken anticipation regarding the Spirit-Sealing Stone King; all appear eager to witness its eventual opening.
• The chapter ends with the group confronting the dangerous battle armor, creating tension over whether its killing intent will turn into an active attack.

Chapter Summary: Starry Sky Battle Armor, Supreme Grandmaster

Key Plot Points and Events

• Master Gu Chen identifies the treasure inside a previously unsealed Spirit-Sealing Stone as the Starry Sky Battle Armor, once used by the Starry Sky War God.
• Daoist Flying Goose explains that it is a Human Immortal-level martial Divine Weapon, equivalent in power to a Daoist cultivator’s Spirit Severing Realm treasure.
• The armor contains 960 acupoints and can potentially double the strength of a martial artist who has ignited an equal number of acupoints. The Starry Sky War God once used it to kill a powerful demon.
• Although the crowd is amazed by the armor’s value, Chen Shaojun realizes it is not especially useful to him. He has already ignited 1,296 acupoints, so the armor cannot fully match his body and would provide less than its maximum amplification.
• Chen instead turns his attention to the next Spirit-Sealing Stone, the fourth one. It is exceptionally large, contains 216 restrictions, and holds spiritual energy at the peak of the Upper-Grade Spirit Stone level.
• Chen uses divination and discovers that unsealing the stone will bring great fortune, though the treasure inside carries some danger. Since the danger does not threaten him directly, he proceeds.
• Using the Myriad Spirits Unsealing Technique, Chen absorbs and refines the stone’s immense spiritual energy into Spirit Astral Qi.
• The energy allows him to break through successively from the Spirit Astral Realm Sixth Layer to the Seventh, Eighth, and finally Ninth Layer.
• Reaching the Ninth Layer makes Chen a Supreme Grandmaster, the highest martial arts realm beneath the Martial Saint level.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun demonstrates increasing detachment from treasures and cultivation milestones. Although the Starry Sky Battle Armor is extraordinarily powerful, he recognizes that his own perfected acupoint foundation and divine abilities make it less valuable to him.
• His martial arts cultivation advances dramatically, but Chen remains dissatisfied. He views the Supreme Grandmaster realm as only another step toward his true goal: becoming a Martial Saint.
• Chen’s long-term ambition is reinforced by his admiration for Martial Hero Marquis Ren Tiancheng, whose legendary strength represents the level Chen hopes to achieve.
• Master Gu Chen is shown to be knowledgeable and humble. He recognizes that Chen is far superior to him at treasure unsealing and does not resent others comparing them.
• Daoist Flying Goose acts as an informed guide, explaining the relationship between martial and Daoist cultivation and emphasizing that Human Immortals are not inferior to Spirit Severing cultivators.

Significant Themes

• The equality of cultivation paths: Daoist cultivation is considered more mysterious because of spells and magical treasures, but powerful martial artists can rival or surpass Daoist experts of the same realm.
• The limits of external treasures: Even an incredibly rare Human Immortal-level armor cannot match the benefits of Chen’s own perfected foundation and divine abilities.
• Relentless ambition: Chen refuses to be satisfied with rapid progress, focusing instead on reaching the Martial Saint realm.
• Inner cultivation versus external enhancement: Chen’s strength comes primarily from his own body, acupoints, techniques, and divine abilities rather than dependence on magical equipment.
• Progress through opportunity and preparation: Chen’s success in unsealing the dangerous Spirit-Sealing Stone comes from combining divination, caution, powerful techniques, and a foundation capable of absorbing vast spiritual energy.

Character Interactions

• Daoist Flying Goose explains the Starry Sky Battle Armor to Master Gu Chen and the surrounding Treasure Unsealers, correcting any assumption that martial Divine Weapons are inferior to Daoist treasures.
• The crowd reacts with shock and envy upon learning the armor can double a Human Immortal martial artist’s strength.
• Several Treasure Unsealers express confidence in Chen’s ability to unseal the next stone, implicitly comparing him favorably to Master Gu Chen.
• Though the comparison could have embarrassed him, Master Gu Chen remains calm and accepts that Chen’s unsealing ability surpasses his own.
• Chen largely works independently inside his Sleeve Space, while the observers outside watch his progress with admiration and expectation.

Chapter Summary: Master Chen Is Truly Divine

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun reflects on his long-standing ambition to become a Martial Saint of the Divine Profound Realm. Having reached the Ninth Stage of the Spirit Astral Realm, he believes he is only one breakthrough away and expects to advance naturally once he gathers enough spiritual energy.
• To increase his cultivation efficiently, Chen continues absorbing the mixed spiritual qi contained within a massive Spirit-Sealing Stone. Unlike expensive Upper-Grade or Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones, Spirit-Sealing Stones provide him with spiritual energy at little personal cost because he can unseal them for others.
• As the stone’s spiritual qi is depleted, Chen senses that it contains 216 powerful seals and discovers that the sealed object is not merely a treasure but apparently a living armored person carrying a battle saber, possibly an ancient general.
• Once the final strand of spiritual qi is absorbed, the seals erupt. Two hundred and sixteen black chains attack Chen simultaneously, each possessing the force of a Spirit Astral Realm expert and combining into an even stronger coordinated formation.
• Chen uses the Treasure-Fixing Divine Light to freeze all the chains in midair. Although the spell can only restrain them for five breaths, this gives him enough time to unleash 216 seal-breaking techniques.
• His techniques exploit the weaknesses of each seal and completely dismantle the backlash. The dangerous attack disappears effortlessly, leaving the observers stunned.
• After dispersing the Sleeve Space, Chen warns Flying Goose and the others that the sealed treasure is unusual and may require caution when retrieved. Before they can investigate further, the Spirit-Sealing Stone begins to crack.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun demonstrates that his cultivation, spiritual force, and understanding of sealing techniques are far beyond what others expected. He remains calm even when facing a combined attack powerful enough to trouble peak experts.
• His use of the Treasure-Fixing Divine Light reveals another exceptionally versatile ability. He modestly describes it as a stronger version of a Body-Fixing Technique, though others recognize that its actual power is nearly comparable to a divine ability.
• Chen also confirms that he may soon reach the Divine Profound Realm, since his comprehension is sufficient and only an adequate supply of spiritual energy remains necessary.
• Flying Goose becomes increasingly impressed and envious of Chen’s abilities. As a powerful expert himself, he understands how useful Chen’s restraining spell would be in combat and admits that he might not be able to resist it.
• Master Gu Chen openly praises Chen, calling him “truly divine.” The surrounding Treasure Unsealers are similarly shocked by how easily he neutralizes the seal backlash.

Significant Themes

• Power beyond appearances: Chen’s humble explanations conceal abilities vastly more advanced than ordinary techniques, emphasizing the gap between his true strength and others’ understanding of him.
• Preparation and composure: Chen succeeds because he immediately recognizes the danger, restrains the attack, and uses his limited window of opportunity with perfect precision.
• Cultivation and resources: The chapter highlights the relationship between spiritual energy and advancement. Chen’s realm is ready for a breakthrough, but he still needs enormous amounts of qi to realize it.
• Mystery and danger: The discovery that the stone contains a living person shifts the unsealing from a normal treasure-retrieval process to a potentially dangerous encounter involving an unknown ancient figure.
• Admiration and reputation: Chen’s achievements continue to elevate his status among elite Treasure Unsealers, who view him with a mixture of awe, curiosity, and respect.

Character Interactions

• Chen explains his cultivation needs and unsealing methods through his actions rather than boasting about them.
• Flying Goose questions Chen about the Treasure-Fixing Divine Light, eager to understand the technique. Chen answers openly, though his deliberately simple explanation makes the spell seem less extraordinary than it truly is.
• Flying Goose and Master Gu Chen praise Chen’s skill while recognizing that his abilities surpass ordinary spell techniques.
• Chen reminds the group that the sealed object may be alive and dangerous, but Flying Goose is initially more interested in discussing Chen’s spell than investigating the warning.
• The chapter ends with everyone turning their attention back to the cracked Spirit-Sealing Stone, anticipating the emergence of whatever—or whoever—was sealed inside.

Chapter Summary: “Figures from Eight Thousand Years Ago”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A Spirit-Sealing Stone unexpectedly begins cracking from within, despite having no external force acting upon it. Chen Shaojun remains calm because his earlier appraisal revealed that the stone contains a humanoid being who poses little immediate danger.
• The stone shatters, releasing a living man in white robes carrying a war saber. His appearance and powerful aura shock everyone present.
• The man asks how much time has passed since the Heaven-Sealing War. Flying Goose explains that it is now the 1,736th year of the Great Zhou Dynasty and identifies the war as the ancient conflict that created the Heaven-and-Earth Seal.
• The man reveals that approximately eight thousand years have passed since he sealed himself away.
• He identifies himself as Mo Xinghe, formerly the young alliance leader of the Divine Blade Alliance, also known as the Eight-Armed Divine Blade.
• Mo Xinghe recounts the ancient history of the three great martial legends: himself, Qiu Jiutian, and Mu Yuxian. All three had reached the peak of the Divine Profound Realm but were unable to advance because the Heaven-and-Earth Seal blocked further cultivation.
• The three fought a three-day battle atop a snowy mountain, hoping combat would help them break through. Mu Yuxian defeated the other two with the aid of her Ascension Technique, but even she failed to break the seal.
• Mo Xinghe and Qiu Jiutian eventually chose to use the Ancient Spirit-Sealing Art to preserve themselves until the world’s restrictions were lifted. Mu Yuxian refused to retreat and instead entered her family’s forbidden grounds to seek another path.
• In the present, Mo Xinghe learns that the Heaven-and-Earth Seal still exists, meaning his original plan failed. However, he has gained a new understanding of cultivation and no longer blames the environment for his limitations.
• Mo Xinghe asks whether Mu Yuxian succeeded. Although the others believe she probably failed, Chen Shaojun reveals evidence that she survived and likely became a Human Immortal.
• Chen Shaojun describes a historical account of an immortal woman named Yuxian who appeared roughly seven thousand years earlier and effortlessly defeated a powerful demon. He deduces that she was probably Mu Yuxian.
• The chapter ends with the confirmation that Mu Yuxian likely became the second person after Sword Elder to transcend the world’s restrictions. Chen Shaojun privately knows this because he once saw her through the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror visiting the tomb of Mu Yuntian.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun demonstrates exceptional composure and insight. He recognizes the sealed man’s nature before anyone else and later reveals his knowledge of Mu Yuxian’s fate, though he conceals the true source of that information.
• Mo Xinghe evolves from a powerful but disoriented ancient figure into a reflective character. He acknowledges that sealing himself away was evidence of insufficient confidence and realizes that true transcendence requires unwavering determination, not merely favorable circumstances.
• Flying Goose acts as the group’s spokesman, cautiously handling the dangerous encounter and asking Mo Xinghe about the past.
• Gu Chen reveals his extensive knowledge of ancient martial history by recognizing Mo Xinghe and explaining his former reputation.
• Mu Yuxian, though absent, is characterized as the most determined of the three legends. Unlike Mo Xinghe and Qiu Jiutian, she never accepted retreat or surrender and continued searching for a way forward.

Significant Themes

• Determination versus retreat: Mo Xinghe realizes that his decision to seal himself away reflected a lack of confidence, while Mu Yuxian’s refusal to give up allowed her to pursue a higher path.
• The limits of environment and fate: The Heaven-and-Earth Seal restricts cultivation, but the chapter questions whether external limitations alone determine success.
• The passage of time: Mo Xinghe’s awakening emphasizes how civilizations, people, and entire eras can disappear while sealed individuals remain unchanged.
• Legacy and historical memory: The present generation knows ancient figures only through incomplete records, while the awakening of Mo Xinghe turns legends into living people.
• Transcendence and perseverance: Sword Elder and Mu Yuxian represent individuals who overcame the world’s restrictions through exceptional conviction and mastery.

Character Interactions

• Flying Goose serves as the first authority to address Mo Xinghe and establishes the present era for him.
• Gu Chen identifies Mo Xinghe’s legendary status, prompting Mo Xinghe to explain the history of the three martial geniuses.
• Mo Xinghe openly reflects on his inferiority to Mu Yuxian and seeks emotional closure by asking whether she survived.
• The group’s silence initially suggests that Mu Yuxian failed, but Chen Shaojun intervenes and offers hope by presenting evidence of her survival.
• Chen Shaojun’s revelation creates a direct connection between the ancient past and the present, while also highlighting that he possesses knowledge and secrets beyond what he openly admits.

Chapter Summary: “Myth Descends Upon the Mortal World”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun infers that the mysterious woman who once entered the dangerous graveyard was Mu Yuxian, a legendary figure from eight thousand years ago who had disappeared after battling Mo Xinghe and other experts.
• Because Mu Yuxian appeared 6,700 years ago, long after her natural lifespan should have ended, Chen concludes that she likely broke through into the Human Immortal Realm rather than merely relying on a longevity treasure.
• Mo Xinghe is relieved to learn that Mu Yuxian may still be alive, but the news also reignites his desire to break through himself. After eight thousand years of cultivation and sealed slumber, however, he feels despair because the world remains sealed and almost no one has reached the Human Immortal Realm.
• Chen Shaojun claims that he can help Mo Xinghe achieve this breakthrough. Mo Xinghe initially doubts him and nearly takes offense, while Gu Chen and Flying Goose worry that Chen is provoking an ancient powerhouse.
• Chen explains that he possesses abilities comparable to the legendary Tang Monk, including Myriad Apertures Perfection, a Perfectly Flawless Physique, and powerful compatibility with the laws of heaven and earth.
• To prove his claim, Chen releases his Martial Dao Fragrance, which greatly sharpens everyone’s spiritual senses and places them in a state of enlightenment.
• He then manifests a vast display of the world’s Great Dao and heavenly laws, allowing everyone present to observe and study laws that are normally impossible to perceive.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun reveals that his previously concealed cultivation talent is extraordinary. Unlike Tang Monk, who was naturally blessed, Chen achieved his perfected physique through arduous cultivation and enormous resources. His confidence and willingness to assist Mo Xinghe establish him as far more than a skilled Treasure Unsealer.
• Mo Xinghe shifts from skepticism and pride to shock and cautious respect. Learning that Mu Yuxian succeeded in becoming a Human Immortal awakens his long-suppressed ambition and gives him a new reason to continue living.
• Flying Goose becomes even more eager to recruit or retain Chen, recognizing that Chen’s abilities are comparable to mythological figures and could transform the fortunes of the Spirit-Sealing House.
• Gu Chen remains cautious and protective, fearing that Chen’s bold statements might offend Mo Xinghe, but he is also astonished by Chen’s true capabilities.
• The gathered cultivators move from disbelief to intense concentration once Chen demonstrates his Martial Dao Fragrance and manifests the laws.

Significant Themes

• Hope rekindled through revelation: Mo Xinghe’s encounter with news of Mu Yuxian restores his desire to pursue the seemingly impossible Human Immortal breakthrough.
• Myth becoming reality: Legends surrounding Tang Monk are shown to be potentially factual when Chen demonstrates similar abilities, symbolizing the descent of ancient myths into the present world.
• Cultivation through effort versus innate destiny: Tang Monk possessed extraordinary natural fortune, while Chen attained comparable qualities through deliberate effort, perseverance, and resources.
• The limits of a sealed world: Even supreme experts are trapped by the world’s stagnant environment, emphasizing the difficulty of transcending its laws.
• Knowledge as empowerment: By revealing the heavenly laws, Chen offers the cultivators an opportunity to overcome bottlenecks through understanding rather than brute force or endless waiting.
• Respect for hidden strength: The chapter repeatedly shows characters revising their judgments as Chen reveals deeper and deeper abilities.

Character Interactions

• Chen and Mo Xinghe engage in a tense exchange over whether Chen can help him break through. Mo initially dismisses the claim as reckless, but Chen’s composure and demonstration force him to reconsider.
• Chen reassures Mo that his confidence comes from genuine understanding of Martial Dao, not arrogance.
• Gu Chen quietly warns Chen not to offend Mo, showing his reverence for the ancient expert and concern for Chen’s safety.
• Flying Goose publicly urges Chen to apologize, while privately hoping to win Mo Xinghe’s allegiance for the Spirit-Sealing House.
• Chen’s revelations unite everyone’s attention: once he manifests the laws, the previous tension gives way to collective awe and eager study.
• Mo Xinghe, Flying Goose, and the others all recognize that Chen may be a once-in-an-age genius whose existence could change the cultivation world.

Key plot points and events

• Chen Shaojun manifests the laws of heaven and earth through the insect’s movements, making their patterns clear enough for those present to study.
• The display grants everyone a rare chance to gain insight. Gu Chen breaks through from the Solid Core Realm to the Golden Core Realm, and several Treasure Unsealers also advance.
• Chen ends the demonstration after three minutes. Though the observers assume it has exhausted him, he has used only a fraction of what he can sustain; the short display was meant to establish his power.
• Flying Goose recognizes Chen as the first person since the Heaven-and-Earth Seal to achieve the legendary Perfectly Flawless Physique. He and Mo Xinghe understand that Chen may offer a way to overcome the seal’s limits.
• Chen offers Mo Xinghe a bargain: serve as his protector for a hundred years, and Chen will help him break through the seal and become a Human Immortal. Mo agrees without requiring a contract or oath, trusting Chen’s word.
• Gu Chen compares Chen to the legendary Tang Monk, noting their shared Perfectly Flawless Physique, ability to reveal the laws, and talent for attracting powerful followers. He wonders whether Chen is Tang Monk reincarnated.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Shaojun reveals himself as a strategic, self-assured benefactor. He gives others a valuable glimpse of the Dao while using the demonstration to recruit a powerful guardian.
• Mo Xinghe shifts from a legendary powerhouse to Chen’s willing ally. He senses a profound threat in Chen and judges that cooperation offers a better path than confrontation.
• Flying Goose recognizes Chen’s exceptional strength and helps explain why Mo accepts the offer: both Mo’s current condition and Chen’s abilities make Chen a formidable figure.
• Gu Chen grows stronger through insight and becomes an enthusiastic witness to Chen’s apparent resemblance to Tang Monk. The onlookers generally respond with gratitude, respect, envy, and longing.

Significant themes

• Insight and power: Even a brief glimpse of the Great Dao can achieve what years of cultivation cannot.
• Trust and mutual benefit: Chen and Mo forge an agreement without formal restraints, relying on mutual confidence.
• Breaking imposed limits: Chen’s connection to the Dao may provide a path out of the Heaven-and-Earth Seal’s restrictions.
• Myth and identity: The chapter ends by turning Chen’s extraordinary traits into a question of reincarnation.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Master Gu Chen suggests that Chen Shaojun may be the reincarnation of the legendary Tang Monk. The similarities include their Perfectly Flawless Physiques, white-dragon mounts, ability to use the Great Dao to enlighten others, and talent for attracting powerful followers.
• Chen Shaojun rejects the idea internally but does not bother arguing, choosing instead to continue unsealing the final Spirit-Sealing Stone.
• Daoist Flying Goose worries that Chen Shaojun has exhausted his spiritual power after unsealing four stones, but Chen assures everyone that his energy is still abundant.
• The final Spirit-Sealing Stone is the smallest of the five but contains the most concentrated spiritual energy, reaching Supreme-Grade Spirit Stone intensity. It contains 256 restrictions, more than any previous stone.
• Chen uses divination and receives an auspicious result. He also senses no danger from the stone, concluding that it likely contains a treasure rather than a powerful living being.
• Using the Myriad Spirits Unsealing Technique, Chen absorbs the stone’s enormous supply of mixed spiritual energy. His 1,296 apertures refine it into pure Spirit Astral Qi.
• After approximately ten minutes, the stone’s energy level falls from Supreme-Grade to Upper-Grade as Chen drains most of its contents.
• The influx of energy pushes Chen’s Spirit Astral Qi to perfection, allowing him to break through from the Ninth Stage of the Spirit Astral Realm into the First Stage of the Divine Profound Realm.
• Chen officially becomes a Martial Saint. His Spirit Astral Qi condenses into golden Saint Origin Force, vastly increasing his strength.
• Chen estimates that, despite being only at the First Stage of the Divine Profound Realm, his Perfectly Flawless Physique and perfected martial arts may allow him to rival or even slightly surpass Ren Tiancheng, a Ninth-Stage Martial Saint, in pure martial combat.
• Mo Xinghe notices the breakthrough despite Chen’s spatial barrier concealing his aura. He questions Daoist Flying Goose, who still believes Chen is only a Spirit Astral Realm Grandmaster.
• Mo Xinghe accepts the sudden breakthrough as plausible because Chen possesses extraordinary gifts and the Perfectly Flawless Physique.
• Chen remains unaware that Mo Xinghe has detected his advancement and continues absorbing the last traces of energy from the Spirit-Sealing Stone.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun: Reaches the Martial Saint realm, marking a major advancement in his cultivation. His confidence grows as he recognizes that his combination of physique, Daoist cultivation, and perfected martial arts may let him overcome opponents of much higher realm.
• Mo Xinghe: Becomes increasingly impressed and surprised by Chen. His understanding of Chen shifts from seeing him as merely talented to recognizing him as an extraordinary figure capable of sudden, seemingly miraculous breakthroughs.
• Daoist Flying Goose: Shows greater caution and respect toward Chen, especially because Chen now travels with the Peak Martial Saint Mo Xinghe. However, he remains unaware of Chen’s newly achieved Martial Saint cultivation.
• Master Gu Chen and the surrounding observers: Their speculation about Chen’s connection to Tang Monk reinforces the image of Chen as a near-mythical figure.

Significant Themes

• Myth, reincarnation, and destiny: Chen’s resemblance to Tang Monk causes others to interpret his abilities as evidence of reincarnation, highlighting how extraordinary talent is often explained through legend or fate.
• Effort versus appearance: Although Chen’s breakthroughs seem effortless to outsiders, he knows they resulted from his own cultivation and accumulated effort. The chapter contrasts personal struggle with the public’s tendency to romanticize success.
• Rapid cultivation and exceptional destiny: Chen’s ability to absorb spiritual energy and advance quickly emphasizes the idea that great prodigies can achieve in moments what ordinary cultivators require years to accomplish.
• Strength beyond realm: Chen’s Perfectly Flawless Physique and mastery of numerous martial arts allow him to challenge the conventional hierarchy of cultivation stages.
• Concealed power: Chen’s spatial barrier hides both his actions and aura, allowing him to advance unnoticed while those outside continue to underestimate his true strength.

Character Interactions

• Master Gu Chen’s reincarnation theory provokes shock and recognition among the observers, while Chen silently dismisses it.
• Daoist Flying Goose expresses concern for Chen’s exhaustion and treats him with heightened respect; Chen calmly reassures him.
• Chen works alone behind the spatial barrier while the others watch helplessly from outside.
• Mo Xinghe and Daoist Flying Goose discuss Chen’s cultivation. Flying Goose provides outdated information, while Mo Xinghe privately realizes that Chen has just broken through to the Martial Saint realm.
• Mo Xinghe’s reaction confirms the significance of Chen’s breakthrough: even a Peak Martial Saint is startled by his hidden and sudden advancement.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun successfully unseals the fifth Spirit-Sealing Stone, whose energy is comparable to that of a Supreme-Grade Spirit Stone.
• He neutralizes all 256 restriction backlash forces using the Treasure-Fixing Divine Light and the Seventy-Two Seal-Breaking Methods.
• After unsealing five stones, his martial cultivation rises dramatically from the First Layer of the Spirit Astral Realm to the First Stage of the Divine Profound Realm—a leap of one major realm and nine minor stages.
• Chen turns his attention to the enormous Spirit-Sealing Stone King in the hall. He estimates a roughly fifty-percent chance of unsealing it but decides to use Divination Art before taking action.
• Master Gu Chen openly acknowledges Chen’s superiority, admitting that Chen’s treasure-unsealing abilities far surpass his own. The other Treasure Unsealers also become deeply impressed and eager to emulate him.
• Flying Goose approaches the newly unsealed stone to inspect its contents, while Mo Xinghe positions himself beside Chen to protect him from any potentially dangerous sealed object.
• The stone contains a living Ten-Thousand-Year Purple Ginseng. The ginseng has nearly transformed into human form, possesses intelligence, and immediately attempts to escape.
• Master Gu Chen identifies it as a Ginseng King nearly equivalent to Divine Medicine, possibly reaching the level of Semi-Divine Medicine.
• The group realizes its enormous value: Divine Medicine can grant a second life, while Semi-Divine Medicine can add approximately eight hundred years to one’s lifespan.
• The ginseng nearly escapes through Earth Escape, but Chen intervenes at the last moment, immobilizing it less than half an inch above the ground.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun: Demonstrates overwhelming treasure-unsealing skill and rapidly increasing martial strength. Despite the immense value of the ginseng, he remains calm because his youth and high Arcane Cultivation already give him a lifespan of several thousand years. His cautious nature is also emphasized through his intention to use Divination Art before challenging the Spirit-Sealing Stone King.
• Master Gu Chen: Fully accepts his inferiority to Chen and openly praises him. His admiration reflects the widening gap between Chen and the other treasure unsealers.
• Mo Xinghe: Shows loyalty and sound judgment by guarding Chen rather than pursuing the ginseng immediately. His reaction is especially intense because he has only about 120 years of effective lifespan remaining and desperately needs additional longevity to pursue the Divine Realm.
• Flying Goose: Acts quickly and responsibly by attempting to capture the escaping ginseng, but initially struggles against its speed and innate escape ability.
• The other Treasure Unsealers: Become inspired, awed, and eager to master techniques like Chen’s.

Significant Themes

• Power and mastery: Chen’s flawless unsealing methods establish him as vastly superior to established masters.
• Longevity and the limits of cultivation: The chapter emphasizes that even the strongest experts are bound by heavenly lifespan limits, making Divine and Semi-Divine Medicines extraordinarily valuable.
• Opportunity versus restraint: While others are overwhelmed by greed and excitement, Chen remains composed and cautious, prioritizing control and future strategy.
• Loyalty and dependence: Mo Xinghe’s protection of Chen reveals his growing allegiance and dependence on Chen for the chance to break through into the Divine Realm.
• Hidden danger in treasures: Spirit-Sealing Stones may contain not only valuable medicines but also poisons, killing weapons, baleful energy, or dangerous cultivators, requiring constant vigilance.

Character Interactions

• Master Gu Chen humbly praises Chen, while Chen modestly attributes his success partly to stronger spiritual power.
• The other unsealers gather around Chen with admiration, reinforcing his rising prestige.
• Mo Xinghe silently protects Chen, demonstrating trust and loyalty while Chen appreciates his ability to understand his position.
• Flying Goose takes responsibility for capturing the ginseng and competes against its remarkable escape technique.
• Chen ultimately assists Flying Goose by using a special immobilizing light to prevent the ginseng from escaping underground.

Plot points and events

• Chen Shaojun catches the Ten-Thousand-Year Purple Ginseng and returns it to the Spirit-Sealing House rather than keeping the valuable semi-divine medicine.
• Flying Goose and the others secure the ginseng in a special jade box, though they had initially feared Chen or Mo Xinghe might seize it.
• Chen asks to unseal the Spirit-Sealing House’s greatest treasure, the Spirit-Sealing Stone King. Flying Goose agrees, but says the attempt must be held publicly after preparations are made.
• They settle on beginning the unsealing at noon the following day. Chen then leaves for Ruyi Pavilion, where he is chief Treasure Unsealer.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen’s refusal to take the ginseng reflects his integrity and lack of interest in extending his life: he reveals that he has cultivated for less than a century and considers an extra eight hundred years unnecessary.
• Mo Xinghe is baffled by Chen’s restraint and asks why he did not take the ginseng. Learning Chen’s age makes him realize how far ahead Chen’s cultivation path is.
• Mo Xinghe, who has only about 120 years of life remaining, worries about his own lifespan. Chen reassures him that he can help him break through to Martial Dao Human Immortal, greatly extending his life. Excited and relieved, Mo Xinghe asks for Chen’s guidance.
• Flying Goose is eager to see the Stone King unsealed after centuries of failed attempts. Chen’s success with five stones has raised his hope, and both men are keen to proceed.

Significant themes

• Integrity over greed: Chen refuses to exploit his strength or use deception to claim the ginseng.
• Trust and suspicion: The Spirit-Sealing House’s fears are understandable given the treasure’s value, but Chen responds calmly and proves trustworthy.
• Hope against long odds: Chen’s abilities revive the possibility of unsealing a stone that generations of powerful figures could not crack.
• Different views of mortality: Chen’s youth leaves him unconcerned with life-extending medicine, while Mo Xinghe’s limited remaining years make the prospect of a breakthrough urgent.