Chapter Summaries

Plot points and events

• Qin Fen is trapped in a men’s restroom with Fu Qiang after spending Merit to activate an Invisibility Talisman. He is frustrated by his dwindling Merit and resolves to find a way to earn more.
• Fu Qiang waits for Qin Fen, eager to build a friendship and business partnership with him—partly for Qin’s unusual products, but especially because he wants Qin to cook for him. When he finds the stall empty, he assumes Qin has abandoned him.
• Qin Fen slips out invisibly, but Huang Lei enters and starts criticizing the people he has encountered, including Qin and Fu Qiang, unaware Qin is standing nearby.
• A group of staff enter, leaving Qin stuck in the restroom. His phone repeatedly rings; he rejects the calls so others mistake the sound for Huang Lei’s phone.
• Qin finally escapes, but the phone rings again. Huang Lei answers and discovers the caller is Chairman Zhou, whom he had just insulted. Trying to recover, he claims everything is ready for the next day’s show—then learns he has urinated on his pants.

Character developments

• Qin Fen is resourceful but increasingly anxious about his low Merit. He uses invisibility to avoid an awkward situation, then carefully manages the repeated phone calls to protect his secret.
• Fu Qiang reveals his strong appetite for both Qin’s cooking and a closer connection with him. He interprets Qin’s disappearance as disloyalty.
• Huang Lei comes across as vain, dismissive, and careless in private, but becomes deferential as soon as he realizes he is speaking to his superior.

Themes and interactions

• Comic misfortune and embarrassment: Qin’s attempts to remain unseen turn an ordinary restroom visit into a prolonged farce; Huang Lei’s embarrassment culminates in his accident.
• Appearance versus reality: Huang Lei fusses over his appearance and acts superior, yet his confidence collapses when confronted with his own mistake and his boss’s call.
• Loyalty and self-interest: Fu Qiang frames his interest in Qin as brotherhood and partnership, but his enthusiasm is also driven by food and business opportunities.
• The chapter’s humor comes from crossed assumptions: Fu Qiang thinks Qin has abandoned him, staff mistake Qin’s hidden phone for Huang Lei’s, and Huang Lei’s private complaints are overheard by the very person he is insulting.

Key plot points

• Huang Lei discovers he has wet himself after Qin Fen’s earlier curse, while the staff around him struggle not to laugh. His embarrassment is compounded by having cursed at the company’s big boss during the incident.
• Qin Fen leaves the restroom under an Invisibility Talisman, but the crowded fashion-show venue makes it difficult to move without bumping into anyone. He grumbles that his supposed destiny has brought him nothing but trouble.
• Liu Mengxi texts Qin Fen, unaware that he is nearby and invisible. He replies that he has left, only to spot her in person moments later.
• A rush of models traps Qin Fen in the crowd. A woman in a blue dress is shoved against him, pinning his hand against her thigh. Qin Fen and the woman are both embarrassed and unable to move away.
• Qin Fen’s vibrating phone makes the awkward contact worse. Fu Qiang then appears, angrily complaining that Qin Fen abandoned him. Fu Qiang sends Qin Fen a text, and the vibration prompts the woman to glare at him instead.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Fen remains convinced he ought to be a favored “child of Destiny,” but his comic misfortunes undermine that belief. He tries to avoid attention and silently apologizes to the woman he is trapped against.
• Huang Lei is left humiliated and worried about the consequences of his outburst at the boss.
• The woman in blue is embarrassed by the accidental contact but recognizes that the crush is responsible; the phone vibration pushes her patience to its limit.
• Liu Mengxi tries to reach Qin Fen, unaware that he is close enough to see her.
• Fu Qiang vents his frustration at Qin Fen for leaving him, then innocently acts as though nothing unusual happened when the woman glares at him.

Significant themes

• Fate versus misfortune: Qin Fen’s expectations of destiny clash with a string of absurd, inconvenient accidents.
• Embarrassment and social appearances: Huang Lei’s public humiliation and the crowd’s awkward encounter show how people struggle to preserve dignity.
• Situational comedy: Invisibility, crowded backstage chaos, mistimed phone vibrations, and mistaken blame drive the chapter’s humor.

Chapter Summary: An Unexplainably Bizarre Life

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen becomes trapped in an extremely embarrassing situation at a crowded fashion event. His hand, holding a vibrating phone, is accidentally pressed against a female model.
• Because the hall is too noisy, Fu Qiang assumes the girl is speaking to him and responds to her vague remarks. His answers unintentionally make him sound like a shameless molester.
• The girl repeatedly complains about the phone vibrating, but Fu Qiang misunderstands her words and continues explaining why vibration mode is convenient.
• Qin Fen is unable to explain the situation without exposing himself, so he remains silent and suffers in humiliation.
• When the phone vibrates again, the girl finally pulls away and slaps Fu Qiang, believing he deliberately harassed her.
• Fu Qiang and his subordinates are completely confused about the assault, while Qin Fen internally apologizes and blames fate for the misunderstanding.
• Once released, Qin Fen tries to escape by hiding among clothing racks. However, the racks lead him toward the models’ changing area, where he ends up surrounded by models changing clothes, making his predicament even more absurd.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Demonstrates strong self-control and a desire to behave honorably, but his inability to speak leaves him trapped in an increasingly compromising situation. His attempts to escape show quick thinking, though they only worsen his circumstances.
• Fu Qiang: Remains oblivious to what is actually happening. His calm, literal responses and confidence make him appear increasingly suspicious, despite having no intention of harassing anyone.
• The girl/model: Becomes progressively more uncomfortable and angry as she interprets Fu Qiang’s words and the vibrating phone as deliberate sexual harassment. Her frustration culminates in slapping him.
• Liu Mengxi: Calls Qin Fen and asks whether he will come again the next day. Her ambiguous question adds to the confusion because Qin Fen cannot properly respond or see what is happening.

Significant Themes

• Miscommunication and mistaken identity: The entire incident is driven by people interpreting incomplete information incorrectly.
• Absurdity and irony: Fu Qiang appears guilty despite being unaware of Qin Fen’s presence, while Qin Fen—who is actually responsible for the physical circumstances—cannot defend himself.
• The danger of appearances: Fu Qiang’s manner and words seem perverse only because the girl misunderstands the situation, showing how easily appearances can distort reality.
• Fate and unintended consequences: Every attempt Qin Fen makes to avoid trouble leads him into an even more embarrassing situation.
• Silence versus explanation: Qin Fen believes silence is safest, but his refusal to speak allows the misunderstanding to grow beyond control.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen is physically trapped beside the girl while Fu Qiang unknowingly converses with her.
• The girl questions Fu Qiang about his phone, interpreting his replies as suggestive, while Fu Qiang thinks they are having an ordinary conversation.
• Qin Fen silently witnesses Fu Qiang being slapped and is unable to clarify the accident.
• Liu Mengxi’s phone call adds another layer of confusion just as Qin Fen is under the greatest pressure.
• Qin Fen’s escape attempt brings him into direct proximity with the changing models, ending the chapter on another comic cliffhanger.

Key plot points and events

• Qin Fen remains invisible while the Invisibility Talisman’s limited duration ticks down. Trapped backstage amid a crowd, he needs to reach somewhere quiet before he becomes visible.
• He sneaks beneath a moving clothes rack but gets caught among models changing and jostling. Their accidental touches and frequent near-collisions make it difficult for him to avoid exposing himself.
• After overhearing that the changing rooms are reserved for supermodels, Qin Fen decides they may be a safer, less crowded place to wait out the talisman.
• Huang Lei, an impatient and domineering consultant, rushes the models and slaps one as he orders them to hurry. As Qin Fen moves nearby, he accidentally strikes a model himself, then knocks loose her menstrual pad.
• Qin Fen flicks the pad away; Huang Lei trips over it, picks it up, and uses it to wipe his forehead. When a model explains what it is, the backstage crowd falls silent.

Character developments

• Qin Fen is increasingly anxious and overwhelmed, but stays resourceful, adapting his escape plan as the crowded backstage area becomes more dangerous. His invisibility leads to a string of mortifying accidents he cannot explain.
• Huang Lei appears harsh and self-important, pressuring the models while remaining oblivious to the chaos around him. His confidence collapses into embarrassment when he learns what he used as a sweat cloth.
• The models are stressed by the lack of changing rooms and Huang Lei’s bullying. One continues working despite her period, making the mishaps especially humiliating for her.

Significant themes

• Comic chaos and embarrassment: Qin Fen’s attempt to stay unseen repeatedly causes awkward, unintended consequences.
• Power and status: Huang Lei uses the models’ lower status to deny them facilities and demand obedience.
• Vulnerability in crowded spaces: Qin Fen’s invisibility offers no safety when he is surrounded by people and unable to control where they move.

Character interactions

• The models tease and accuse one another as they jostle, unknowingly making Qin Fen’s hiding place more precarious.
• Huang Lei berates and slaps the models; Qin Fen’s accidental contact creates further confusion without anyone realizing he is present.
• A model tries to alert Huang Lei to the pad, but his dismissive replies prolong the misunderstanding until she identifies it, leaving the room stunned.

Key plot points and events

• At a public exhibition, Huang Lei realizes that the small item he has been using to wipe his sweat is a sanitary pad. His earlier questions about its absorbency and his confident demonstrations now look deeply embarrassing. As cramps affect the models, the crowd’s laughter grows, and Huang flees to the restroom.
• Qin Fen feels guilty about Huang’s humiliation, then slips into a fitting room to escape the commotion and check his phone. Among a flood of messages, Guanyin asks whether she can ever become a Buddha if she cannot sever her karma.
• Qin Fen tells Guanyin to travel to Haitian City on the Western Sea. The trip also serves his urgent goal of finding a way to resolve Jingwei Fills the Sea, which could win him Shennong’s support for developing agriculture.
• Guanyin reaches the Western Sea and meets Yan Emperor (Shennong), who is watching the birds above the waves. She explains that an unnamed senior guided her there. Yan Emperor is startled and hopeful, since the problem of Jingwei has resisted attempts at a solution for thousands of years.
• Through messages, Qin Fen instructs Guanyin to try a spell on Jingwei and promises to find a loophole in the Heavenly Dao’s laws. Guanyin is uneasy about defying those laws, while Yan Emperor is astonished that anyone would attempt it.

Character developments and interactions

• Huang Lei shifts from busy exhibition consultant to the center of an increasingly ridiculous public embarrassment. Qin Fen sympathizes with him, though the incident is accidental.
• Qin Fen juggles social obligations and fantastical problems, feeling overwhelmed by messages and low on mobile data. Despite his self-doubt, he acts as Guanyin’s mysterious guide and presses her to take a chance on Jingwei’s predicament.
• Guanyin seeks guidance about her spiritual path and obeys Qin Fen’s instructions, though she doubts she can overcome the Heavenly Dao’s restrictions.
• Yan Emperor moves from long-standing frustration toward cautious hope, but is baffled by the claim that an even greater senior is directing Guanyin.
• The central interaction is indirect: Qin Fen communicates by phone while Guanyin and Yan Emperor meet in person, each interpreting his unseen guidance as evidence of extraordinary power.

Significant themes

• Comic embarrassment and misfortune: Huang Lei’s exhibition mishap contrasts with the grand supernatural concerns that follow.
• Hidden identity and mistaken assumptions: Qin Fen’s ordinary circumstances lead others to imagine him as an unfathomable expert.
• Limits of power and law: Jingwei’s task and Guanyin’s hesitation highlight the apparent immovability of the Heavenly Dao.
• Responsibility and ambition: Qin Fen’s attempt to solve Jingwei’s problem is tied to his larger goal of gaining Shennong’s help.

Plot points and events

• Qin Fen tells Guanyin and the Yan Emperor that saving Jingwei should not be too difficult, though he privately has no certainty and is only an ordinary mortal.
• Guanyin and the Yan Emperor mistake his confidence and inability to be divined as proof that he is an immensely powerful, compassionate master. Guanyin even declares herself his disciple and treats his remarks as spiritual guidance.
• Qin Fen is embarrassed by their reverence. His real motives are simpler: he sincerely wants to help Jingwei and hopes Shennong will help him obtain a permit in Haitian.
• The Yan Emperor asks whether Qin Fen is confident. Qin Fen honestly admits he does not know, while the grieving father waits anxiously for hope after millennia of suffering.
• A song about hardship and perseverance carries across the sky. Its refrain, “I will not give up,” becomes Qin Fen’s personal challenge to the Heavenly Dao, echoed by Jingwei’s unending effort to fill the sea.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Fen remains practical and self-effacing, but his willingness to try despite uncertainty becomes a sincere act of defiance and compassion. He is frustrated that Guanyin and the Yan Emperor keep attributing grand wisdom and power to him.
• Guanyin moves from cautious assessment to deep admiration, interpreting Qin Fen’s apparent resolve as an example of selfless compassion and making him her spiritual guide.
• The Yan Emperor is overwhelmed by hope and grief for Jingwei, his beloved daughter. His reverence for Qin Fen grows, though his chief concern remains whether Jingwei can be saved.
• Their interactions hinge on a misunderstanding: Qin Fen’s casual, honest words are treated as profound teachings, while his genuine desire to help is mixed with an ordinary personal goal.

Significant themes

• Perseverance against impossible odds: Jingwei’s endless task and Qin Fen’s refrain affirm that effort can continue even against overwhelming forces.
• Compassion and responsibility: Guanyin sees Qin Fen’s willingness to act as a model of compassion, despite his lack of certainty.
• Appearance versus reality: Qin Fen is mistaken for a transcendent master, revealing the gap between others’ reverence and his own modest self-understanding.
• A mortal’s defiance: The chapter’s closing declaration frames Qin Fen’s resolve as a challenge to the Heavenly Dao itself.

Key plot points and events

• Dong Re (actually the Natural Daoist, speaking through Chef Qin) declares that he refuses to admit defeat. Guanyin and the Yan Emperor, Shennong, are present, and the Water Tribe mistakes the tense exchange for the start of a battle.
• Little White Dragon rushes out with the Western Sea’s forces. Believing Dong Re is in danger, he appeals to Guanyin and Shennong to spare him, insisting that Dong Re has done the Water Tribe a great service.
• When neither side seems to relent, Little White Dragon declares that the Water Tribe will stand or fall with Dong Re. The tribe rallies behind him, raising banners and calling Dong Re their king.
• The confrontation is abruptly reframed when Guanyin addresses the voice as “World-Honored One” and bows, identifying herself as his disciple. Shennong then speaks respectfully to him as a fellow Daoist. The Water Tribe realizes Dong Re is far more powerful and highly placed than they imagined.
• Little White Dragon and the assembled Water Tribe kneel and hail Dong Re, pledging their loyalty and wishing him eternal blessings.

Character developments

• Little White Dragon moves from anxious confusion to decisive, public loyalty. Though frightened by the prospect of facing Guanyin and Shennong, he is determined to repay Dong Re’s kindness.
• Dong Re / the Natural Daoist remains largely unseen, but his voice and the deference he commands reveal his extraordinary status.
• Guanyin begins prepared to act but becomes deferential once she recognizes the speaker’s authority.
• Shennong shifts from anger at the Water Tribe’s interference to a respectful, gentle manner toward the unseen figure.

Significant themes

• Gratitude and loyalty: Little White Dragon and the Water Tribe risk a disastrous confrontation rather than abandon someone who helped them.
• The danger of appearances and misunderstanding: The tribe mistakes a dispute—or what sounds like one—for a fight, while the true hierarchy behind the scene is initially hidden.
• Power and reverence: The revelation of Dong Re’s standing transforms fear and confusion into awe and allegiance.
• Collective solidarity: The Water Tribe follows its prince’s lead and acts as one.

Character interactions

• Little White Dragon respectfully greets Guanyin, then confronts her and Shennong to defend Dong Re.
• Guanyin tries to keep the Water Tribe out of danger, while Shennong threatens them when they interfere.
• The Water Tribe rallies around Little White Dragon and publicly proclaims support for Dong Re.
• Guanyin’s bow and Shennong’s respectful address reveal Dong Re’s rank, prompting the Water Tribe to kneel and acclaim him.

Key plot points and events

• Qin Fen’s hidden Dong Re identity is exposed when the Water Tribe kneels before him. He had wanted to keep a low profile, but the spectacle draws attention and risks bringing the Jade Emperor’s scrutiny down on Haitian.
• Qin Fen orders the Water Tribe to withdraw. Little White Dragon sends his troops away but stays behind, curious about the gathering of Qin Fen, Guanyin, and Yan Emperor.
• Yan Emperor explains that they intend to lift Jingwei’s curse. Watching Jingwei’s bird form persistently drop pebbles into the sea moves him deeply.
• Little White Dragon warns that Jingwei’s fate is governed by the Heavenly Dao, whose authority no one can challenge. Guanyin and Yan Emperor share his fear, while Qin Fen is prepared to proceed.
• Yinglong arrives amid a violent storm. He recounts the ancient conflict and its enormous consequences, arguing that the Heavenly Dao’s punishment and the accumulated Karma make Jingwei’s matter untouchable. He challenges the others to admit they dare not intervene.
• Qin Fen responds by sending a bold declaration: “Struggle against people, struggle against the earth, struggle against heaven! The joy is endless!” The others are stunned by his defiance.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Fen is frustrated by the unwanted attention but remains determined to challenge the Heavenly Dao. His confidence contrasts with the fear and caution of those around him.
• Yan Emperor is emotionally invested in Jingwei’s suffering and hopes to resolve it, but Yinglong’s reminder of past calamities touches his deepest fears.
• Guanyin sympathizes with the suffering involved yet recognizes the danger of opposing heaven.
• Little White Dragon shifts from curious observer to anxious witness. He respects Qin Fen but believes no one can overcome the Heavenly Dao.
• Yinglong acts as a stern, skeptical authority, warning that Jingwei’s curse is bound up with ancient tragedy, punishment, and immense Karma.

Significant themes

• Defiance versus destiny: Qin Fen insists that heaven’s authority can be challenged, while the others see it as absolute.
• Persistence and hope: Jingwei’s repeated, seemingly futile effort to fill the sea mirrors the resolve behind the attempt to lift her curse.
• Karma and inherited suffering: The ancient conflict harmed multiple peoples, and its consequences continue to shape the present.
• Courage and fear: The chapter contrasts Qin Fen’s apparent fearlessness with the understandable hesitation of even powerful figures.

Plot points and events

• Qin Fen boldly declares that “fighting heaven is endless fun,” provoking Yinglong, who still refuses to accept the Water Tribe’s losses and the Karma he believes is owed.
• At the Yan Emperor’s request, Qin Fen begins typing Gorky’s poem Petrel. Its imagery of birds defying the sea and storm appears to stir the natural world: winds rise, clouds darken, thunder rolls, and lightning fills the sky.
• The poem’s birds—Jingwei, petrels, and their descendants—embody perseverance in the face of overwhelming forces. Qin Fen continues despite having no power to match the Heavenly Dao, determined to make his defiance heard.
• Yinglong mocks Qin Fen, insisting the Heavenly Dao will not notice him. Qin Fen finishes with “Let the storm rage harder still,” intensifying the spectacle.
• Qin Fen then sends a red packet and angrily demands to know why the Heavenly Dao has not given a reward. The clouds part, and a powerful ray of golden light appears, confirming that the Heavenly Dao has responded.
• The Yan Emperor, Little White Dragon, Guanyin, and even Yinglong drop to their knees in astonishment.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Fen reveals fearless resolve and irreverent confidence: he uses poetry not as a display of strength, but as a declaration that he will never surrender. He even speaks to the Heavenly Dao as though ordering it.
• Yinglong, initially contemptuous and defiant, is stunned into submission when the Heavenly Dao answers Qin Fen.
• The Yan Emperor watches anxiously, then marvels at Qin Fen’s apparent success.
• Little White Dragon shifts from fearful disbelief to reverence, viewing Qin Fen as extraordinary.
• Guanyin is impressed but increasingly alarmed by her master’s audacity, ready to intervene before the situation escalates.
• Qin Fen’s confidence affects everyone around him, turning a risky confrontation into a shared moment of awe.

Significant themes

• Defiance and perseverance: The petrel and Jingwei symbolize continuing to struggle against forces vastly stronger than oneself.
• Power of conviction and words: Qin Fen’s poetry gives emotional force to his challenge, while his confidence unsettles even those who doubt him.
• Humor and reversal: Yinglong’s mockery collapses into disbelief when the Heavenly Dao appears to comply with Qin Fen’s demand.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen, posing as the mysterious “Dong Re,” deliberately invokes the Heavenly Dao by reciting a powerful poem and loudly questioning it. His goal is to intimidate Yinglong and force Guanyin to act on behalf of the suffering Flying Bird.
• His challenge produces an unprecedented result: the Heavenly Dao immediately manifests. The storm disappears, the sky clears, and a vast expanse of golden light descends over the area.
• The Heavenly Dao’s appearance shocks everyone present. Rather than merely acknowledging a major deity’s accomplishment, it appears to respond directly to Qin Fen’s command and bestows Merit as a reward.
• Qin Fen privately reveals that this “miracle” is actually being financed through his own system funds. He has spent hundreds of yuan to create the illusion of Heavenly Dao intervention and is distressed that the cost may be wasted.
• Qin Fen orders Guanyin to use the changed rules to save Flying Bird. Guanyin, still awed by his apparent power, uses her willow branch to send three drops of sweet dew toward Flying Bird.
• The dew surrounds Flying Bird in a luminous barrier, producing a rainbow-like phenomenon. Everyone waits anxiously to see whether the intervention has worked.
• The light eventually fades without any obvious change. Yinglong concludes that the attempt has failed because Flying Bird’s karmic burden is too great, though the chapter ends before the true result is confirmed.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Demonstrates cleverness, theatrical confidence, and a strong protective instinct toward Flying Bird. Although he appears overwhelmingly powerful, his inner thoughts reveal that he is improvising, financially strained, and deeply worried that his plan will fail.
• Yinglong: His arrogance collapses after witnessing the Heavenly Dao respond to Qin Fen. He becomes cautious and fearful, no longer daring to openly challenge or ridicule him. When Flying Bird shows no immediate change, Yinglong regains some confidence.
• Guanyin: Moves from astonishment to obedience. Her belief in Qin Fen’s extraordinary status grows so strong that she addresses him with great reverence and follows his instructions without hesitation, though she remains nervous about the outcome.
• Yan Emperor: Becomes hopeful that Qin Fen’s intervention might reverse Flying Bird’s fate. His intense anticipation reflects his emotional investment in saving her.
• Little White Dragon: Is overwhelmed by Qin Fen’s ability to summon the Heavenly Dao. His understanding of Qin Fen’s status rises dramatically, and he retreats into the role of a stunned observer.
• Flying Bird: Remains the focus of everyone’s efforts. She is enveloped by Guanyin’s protective dew, but the chapter does not yet reveal whether she has been saved.

Significant Themes

• Power and authority: The chapter emphasizes the terrifying difference between ordinary divine power and the authority to summon or command the Heavenly Dao.
• Appearance versus reality: Qin Fen appears to possess incomprehensible supernatural power, but his apparent miracle is partly a carefully staged and costly deception.
• Faith and uncertainty: The characters must trust in Qin Fen’s claims despite having no proof of his identity or abilities. Even after the Heavenly Dao responds, the final success remains uncertain.
• Compassion and intervention: Qin Fen’s actions are motivated by sympathy for Flying Bird, showing that his bravado conceals genuine concern for the vulnerable.
• Humor through dramatic contrast: Qin Fen’s grand public statements are contrasted with his private complaints about money, creating comedy while reinforcing the gap between his image and his actual circumstances.
• Karma and the limits of divine influence: The chapter raises the question of whether even the Heavenly Dao can overturn accumulated karmic consequences.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen intimidates Yinglong by summoning the Heavenly Dao after Yinglong mocks his worthiness.
• Guanyin and the Yan Emperor treat Qin Fen as an incomprehensibly powerful figure, praising and respectfully obeying him.
• Qin Fen urges Guanyin to stop observing and use her powers immediately, while privately worrying about the cost of the Heavenly Dao’s “reward.”
• The group’s shared anxiety centers on Flying Bird’s fate, with Guanyin acting, the Yan Emperor praying for success, and Yinglong and Little White Dragon watching in tense disbelief.
• Yinglong’s final claim that the attempt failed restores some of his confidence, but the unresolved result leaves the chapter suspended between triumph and humiliation.

Plot and events

• Qin Fen’s initial attempt to help Jingwei by invoking the Heavenly Dao appears to fail. Yan Emperor Shennong accepts the setback, believing divine powers cannot overcome fate.
• Qin Fen then tries a new WeChat feature: scanning Jingwei’s QR code. The resulting page reveals that her immense Karma can be undone—but only for 40,000 Merit and 1,000 popularity.
• Qin Fen has enough popularity but only 400 Merit. As Shennong prepares to leave, Qin Fen hints that there may still be a chance, prompting Shennong and the others to hope again.
• Qin Fen asks Shennong to lend him Merit, first requesting 100,000 and then lowering the request to 50,000. He says he will make one last attempt to free Jingwei from her bonds.
• The onlookers interpret Qin Fen’s request as a potentially heroic sacrifice. Shennong offers to swear brotherhood with him if he succeeds.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Fen remains determined to help Jingwei, but his motives are partly practical: he hopes to have enough Merit to cover the cost and perhaps keep some extra. He is frustrated by the expense and uncomfortable with Guanyin’s exalted praise.
• Shennong moves from resigned acceptance to renewed hope, then offers Qin Fen brotherhood in gratitude.
• Guanyin sees Qin Fen’s actions as profound compassion and reflects on Buddhist self-sacrifice, though she does not know his actual lack of resources.
• Yinglong and Little White Dragon are impressed and wary of Qin Fen, interpreting his willingness to challenge the Heavenly Dao as evidence of extraordinary power.
• The mismatch between Qin Fen’s mundane intentions and the group’s reverent assumptions drives much of the scene’s humor.

Significant themes

• The tension between fate and free will: Jingwei’s curse may be reversible, but only at a steep cost.
• Compassion and sacrifice, especially as perceived by others.
• Misunderstanding and appearance: Qin Fen’s ordinary, self-interested calculations are mistaken for saintly devotion.

Plot points and events

• Yan Emperor proposes becoming sworn brothers with Qin Fen, whom he calls Dong Re, after Qin Fen agrees to help resolve Jingwei’s problem. Qin Fen is alarmed: Yan Emperor is an ancient human sovereign and, by Qin Fen’s reckoning, his ancestor.
• Yan Emperor insists the oath is settled. Qin Fen reluctantly accepts, though he worries that the alliance will make Dong Re famous across the Heavenly Court, Buddhist School, and Earthly Immortal Realm.
• Yan Emperor sends Qin Fen a huge reward of 50,000 Merit. Qin Fen intends to use it to carry out the promised task rather than keep it.
• The enormous transaction summons the Heavenly Dao, whose presence forces beings across the realms—including the Jade Emperor, Tathagata, Lord Lao, Guanyin, Yan Emperor, and the demons—to kneel.
• Qin Fen remains unaffected and realizes the Heavenly Dao has appeared to process the unusually large payout, not to punish anyone. The others mistakenly believe he has provoked it and is about to sacrifice himself.
• Yan Emperor offers to contribute more Merit so Qin Fen will not bear the cost alone. Qin Fen, already regretting the expense, is exasperated that Yan Emperor made the offer only after sending the reward.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Fen is reluctant to gain fame or become sworn brothers with an ancestor, but follows through on his promise. His calm understanding of the Heavenly Dao contrasts with his private frustration over the cost.
• Yan Emperor is firm about the oath and deeply moved by what he takes to be Qin Fen’s selfless courage. He offers additional help and sees Qin Fen as a worthy brother.
• Guanyin recognizes Yan Emperor’s desperation and supports his appeal. She also misreads Qin Fen’s composure as proof of extraordinary compassion.
• Little White Dragon and Yinglong are overwhelmed by the Heavenly Dao’s authority; Yinglong even blames Qin Fen for bringing it down on them.
• The broader cast’s fear and Qin Fen’s mundane explanation create the chapter’s central comic misunderstanding.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus reality: Qin Fen’s practical choice is mistaken for heroic self-sacrifice.
• Duty and generosity: Yan Emperor’s oath and offer of more Merit reflect honor and loyalty, while Qin Fen insists on honoring his promise.
• Power and reverence: The Heavenly Dao’s appearance demonstrates its overwhelming authority, even over the highest divine figures.
• Fame and unwanted consequences: Qin Fen’s effort to keep a low profile is undermined by the dramatic alliance and cosmic spectacle.

Key plot points and events

• The Heavenly Dao responds to Qin Fen’s offering by directing Merit and Fortune onto Jingwei. She regains her original form and memories, and her Karma ends.
• A realm-wide proclamation restores Jingwei’s place among the immortals, pardons the Water Tribe’s calamity, lowers the Dragon Gate’s height for carp by three inches, and revokes Yinglong’s punishment—while assigning him to serve Qin Fen as a mount for three hundred years.
• Qin Fen is distressed that the Heavenly Dao’s public recognition brings him fame rather than a practical reward. His name, “Natural Daoist,” becomes known to every living being, drawing attention from the Jade Emperor, Tathagata, the Demon Kings, and other powerful figures.
• Yan Emperor, overwhelmed by Jingwei’s restoration, kneels and calls Qin Fen his “big brother,” believing Qin Fen acted from boundless generosity. Qin Fen is too embarrassed to correct him.

Character developments and interactions

• Jingwei and Yan Emperor: Jingwei is restored to herself, and Yan Emperor’s long anguish gives way to joy and profound gratitude.
• Qin Fen: Though he has changed fate, he resents being mistaken for a selfless hero and worries that his sudden fame will create trouble. He also feels awkward about Yan Emperor’s reverence.
• Yinglong: He is humiliated by being made Qin Fen’s mount and believes the Heavenly Dao has treated him unfairly. His pride takes another blow as the others celebrate.
• Guanyin: Jingwei’s restoration renews her hope that even great Karma can eventually end; she begins to make a request, but Yan Emperor interrupts.
• The wider immortal world: Tathagata advises his followers to respect Qin Fen and avoid incurring Karma with him. The Jade Emperor resolves to keep his distance, while other immortals and powers become wary or newly curious.

Significant themes

• Fate and redemption: Jingwei’s transformation shows that even seemingly irreversible Karma can be brought to an end.
• Recognition versus intention: Qin Fen’s act is publicly celebrated as heroic, though he rejects that interpretation and feels the Heavenly Dao has misunderstood what he wanted.
• The cost of fame and power: His unprecedented notoriety gives him influence but also attracts scrutiny and anxiety.
• Humor through misunderstanding: Qin Fen’s private frustration contrasts with the reverence and noble motives others attribute to him.

Chapter Summary: “Unintentional Showing Off Is the Real Flex”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Emperor is overwhelmed with gratitude after Qin Fen helps resolve his daughter Nüwa’s situation. He embraces her and formally treats Qin Fen as his “Big Brother.”
• Qin Fen asks Yan Emperor for permission to develop ecological agriculture in Haitian City, using the Immortal Herb Garden and Haitian’s land as the foundation. Yan Emperor enthusiastically agrees to issue an edict protecting the project from interference, even from the Heavenly Court.
• Qin Fen explains his larger vision: developing agriculture first, then advancing industry and technology throughout the Celestial Realm and eventually benefiting the Mortal Realm. He hopes to improve ordinary people’s lives, accumulate merit, strengthen humanity, and protect the Yan-Huang people.
• Qin gives Nüwa a red packet containing 888 as a gift. The act unexpectedly triggers another golden Heavenly Dao reward.
• Nüwa innocently thanks Qin Fen for the Heavenly Dao’s reward, implying that Qin himself controls or commands the Heavenly Dao. Qin then casually tells her to use the money to buy candy, further convincing everyone that he and the Heavenly Dao are essentially the same being.
• Guanyin, Yan Emperor, and Yinglong are stunned. Guanyin concludes that Qin Fen must be an incarnation of the Heavenly Dao rather than merely a powerful immortal.
• Guanyin asks Qin Fen for guidance. Unable to offer genuine spiritual instruction, Qin tells her to work at Great Sage Skewers in Haitian City as an ordinary member of the Demon Tribe and gain insight through experience.
• Guanyin accepts this as a profound decree and leaves to carry it out. Yan Emperor also departs under the pressure of Qin’s mysterious presence.
• Yinglong asks what role he has, reminding Qin that he is supposed to be Qin’s mount. Irritated and having no use for a mount, Qin dismisses him and warns him not to spread rumors. Yinglong is left heartbroken.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Reveals his sincere ambition to reform the Celestial Realm through agriculture, science, and technology. Although he is actually improvising and often confused by others’ assumptions, his casual actions make him appear increasingly omnipotent and mysterious. He also shows a strong sense of responsibility toward humanity and ordinary beings.
• Yan Emperor: Becomes deeply loyal to Qin and regards him as family, calling him Big Brother and encouraging Nüwa to call him Uncle. His gratitude makes him willing to give Qin unrestricted political support.
• Nüwa: Sees Qin as an extraordinary, almost all-powerful uncle. Her innocent comments unintentionally intensify the adults’ misunderstanding about Qin’s identity.
• Guanyin: Shifts from curiosity and uncertainty to complete belief that Qin is the Heavenly Dao Incarnation. She willingly accepts his bizarre “guidance” and prepares to experience mortal life firsthand.
• Yinglong: Moves from awkwardness to reverence, believing serving Qin could mean serving the highest power in existence. His hopes collapse when Qin rejects him as a mount.

Significant Themes

• Unintentional displays of power: Qin Fen’s ordinary actions—granting permission, giving a child money, and speaking casually—are interpreted as commands to the Heavenly Dao.
• Misunderstanding and mistaken identity: The chapter’s humor comes from the gap between Qin’s actual ignorance and everyone else’s conviction that he is a divine incarnation.
• Responsibility and reform: Qin believes true progress depends on agriculture, self-reliance, science, and technology rather than dependence on powerful individuals.
• Family and loyalty: Yan Emperor’s gratitude turns into familial devotion, while Qin’s gift to Nüwa strengthens their bond.
• Experience as enlightenment: Guanyin is sent to work among ordinary demons, suggesting that genuine understanding comes from living among the people rather than relying solely on status or theory.

Character Interactions

• Yan Emperor openly embraces Qin as an elder brother and introduces him to Nüwa as her uncle.
• Qin and Nüwa exchange affectionate greetings, with Qin promising her a gift and giving her a red packet.
• Nüwa’s innocent words cause Guanyin, Yan Emperor, and Yinglong to believe Qin commands the Heavenly Dao.
• Guanyin respectfully asks Qin for spiritual guidance, while Qin improvises an assignment that she interprets as profound instruction.
• Yinglong pleads to remain Qin’s mount, but Qin rejects him, leaving the dragon devastated.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen finishes resolving the Jingwei Fills the Sea matter. Although the Heavenly Dao is miserly, the other parties benefit, while Qin Fen receives Yan Emperor’s payment and gains a sworn younger brother. He also feels satisfied that he helped Nüwa.
• With the ecological agriculture problem settled and Haitian’s future secure, Qin Fen prepares to leave the exhibition after waiting for the right moment to reveal himself.
• While still invisible, Qin Fen hides in a cramped backstage changing room. A model named Xiaomeng enters and begins changing, forcing him into increasingly awkward positions against the wall.
• Liu Mengxi enters as well, unaware that Qin Fen is present. The two women joke and squeeze into the tiny space, leaving Qin Fen trapped between them and terrified that his invisibility will end at the worst possible moment.
• Meow-Meow and Little Bean create a distraction by pretending there is a mouse. The frightened women flee, causing widespread panic throughout the exhibition hall.
• Qin Fen uses the confusion to reveal himself safely and claims that he chased away the mouse. Liu Mengxi and Fu Qiang are shocked because they thought he had already left.
• The commotion causes Chairman Zhou, the owner of Sea House, to tear an expensive painting he had brought to show Qin Fen. Feeling responsible, Qin Fen impulsively offers to give him a painting of his own.
• Fu Qiang, Liu Mengxi, and Chairman Zhou are astonished that Qin Fen can paint. After Qin Fen confidently confirms it, all three immediately request paintings, leaving him regretting his careless promise.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen remains resourceful and shamelessly adaptable, using invisibility, improvisation, and the mouse distraction to escape an embarrassing situation. However, his tendency to boast and make generous promises creates another problem.
• His sense of responsibility is evident when he feels guilty about Chairman Zhou’s damaged painting and offers compensation.
• Qin Fen’s growing confidence—and perhaps overconfidence—is emphasized by his claim that he can paint despite having no immediate plan for doing so.
• Liu Mengxi is portrayed as bold, playful, and oblivious to Qin Fen’s predicament. Her teasing interaction with Xiaomeng intensifies the awkwardness.
• Xiaomeng is carefree and unconcerned about the limited changing-room space, accidentally trapping Qin Fen in an embarrassing position.
• Meow-Meow and Little Bean work together to rescue Qin Fen, showing their usefulness and loyalty despite the narrator’s humorous complaints about them.
• Chairman Zhou shifts from a respected art enthusiast to a disappointed victim when his treasured painting is torn, but Qin Fen’s offer gives him hope.
• Fu Qiang becomes increasingly exasperated by Qin Fen’s apparently limitless talents and eagerly asks for a painting himself.

Significant Themes

• The danger of using supernatural abilities carelessly: Qin Fen’s invisibility solves one problem but creates a potentially disastrous misunderstanding in the changing room.
• Improvisation under pressure: Qin Fen repeatedly invents excuses and relies on quick thinking to avoid exposure.
• Unintended consequences: The mouse ruse saves him but causes chaos, damages property, and leads to new obligations.
• Reputation and embarrassment: Qin Fen is constantly worried about being branded a pervert, while the chaotic circumstances threaten his public image.
• Talent, generosity, and overpromising: Qin Fen’s willingness to help others is sincere, but his impulsive claims place him in increasingly difficult situations.
• Comic contrast between the Heavenly Court and everyday life: Qin Fen moves between grand supernatural affairs and mundane problems involving changing rooms, mice, and paintings.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen internally reacts to Xiaomeng’s changing and struggles to maintain physical distance while remaining invisible.
• Liu Mengxi’s arrival forces the cramped situation to become even more uncomfortable, while her banter with Xiaomeng provides comic relief.
• Meow-Meow and Little Bean intentionally trigger a fake mouse scare, coordinating indirectly with Qin Fen’s escape plan.
• Qin Fen reassures the panicked crowd and interacts with Liu Mengxi and Fu Qiang, who are confused by his sudden appearance.
• Chairman Zhou confronts Qin Fen about the ruined painting, prompting Qin Fen to offer a replacement.
• Fu Qiang, Liu Mengxi, and Chairman Zhou simultaneously demand paintings, turning Qin Fen’s attempt to make amends into a new source of trouble.

Key plot points and events

• At the exhibition, Qin Fen is overwhelmed by people eager to meet him. He agrees to see them one at a time, then slips away.
• Hungry, he visits a Southeast Asian restaurant and orders spicy ramen. While waiting, he sends Queen Mother the item she had asked him to deliver: a so-called Heart-Protecting Mirror.
• On Kunlun, the Western Sea Dragon King asks Queen Mother to help arrange a marriage for his son, Little White Dragon. Queen Mother agrees to hear the details, but asks about the Sea-Calming Divine Pearl she once gave the Dragon family.
• The Dragon King admits he gave the pearl to Natural Daoist—Qin Fen’s identity in the immortal world. Queen Mother is startled by the connection, and the promised delivery arrives in a box.
• The “mirror” turns out to be a thong. Queen Mother is appalled and embarrassed, while the Dragon King recognizes it and confidently insists it is a Heart-Protecting Mirror designed by Natural Immortal. Watching the exchange, Qin Fen can only cringe as his attempts to keep his promise make him look worse.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Fen remains well-meaning but impulsive: he tries to fulfill his promise without knowing what the assistant gave him, then regrets the resulting misunderstanding. His efforts to avoid attention contrast with the growing trouble his reputation brings.
• Queen Mother shifts from composed authority to baffled anger when she sees the delivery. Her earlier willingness to help the Dragon King is complicated by her discovery that he gave away her precious pearl.
• The Western Sea Dragon King is deferential and nervous before Queen Mother, but his certainty about the garment’s identity inadvertently makes the situation more humiliating for her—and for Qin Fen.
• The scene cross-cuts between Qin Fen’s ordinary dinner and the celestial court, linking their worlds through the delivery and creating comic dramatic irony: the reader and Qin Fen know what the Dragon King and Queen Mother misunderstand.

Significant themes

• Keeping one’s word: Qin Fen follows through on his promise even when the result is awkward.
• Miscommunication and unintended consequences: A mistaken item and the characters’ confident assumptions turn a simple delivery into a farcical embarrassment.
• Reputation and entanglement: Qin Fen’s identity as Natural Daoist draws him into immortal affairs whether he wants it or not.
• Power and obligation: Queen Mother’s authority over female immortals shapes the marriage request, while the pearl’s history reveals the Dragon King’s debt and the importance of celestial gifts.

Chapter Summary: Queen Mother, I Am Guilty

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen accidentally sprays noodles everywhere while reading a message involving the Queen Mother and the Dragon King. He panics because a previous “Victoria’s Secret” incident has created a serious misunderstanding.
• The Dragon King explains that he recognizes the item as a “Heart-Protecting Mirror,” claiming that the Natural Immortal gave him one as well. His version is red, while the Queen Mother’s is black and decorated with lace.
• To prove his claim, the Dragon King reveals that he is wearing his own imitation. Qin Fen is horrified to see him cross-dressed and internally blames himself for the entire situation.
• The Dragon King suggests that the Heart-Protecting Mirrors were specifically designed for female immortals and implies that Qin Fen may have created the Queen Mother’s version especially for her.
• The Queen Mother begins to believe that the item was personally designed and sent to her by Qin Fen. She becomes embarrassed and flustered, interpreting the gift as intimate and romantic.
• The Dragon King leaves after the Queen Mother dismisses him, unintentionally making the misunderstanding worse.
• Alone, the Queen Mother examines the revealing garment and realizes it is likely meant to be worn close to the body. She becomes furious and screams loudly enough to shake Kunlun Mountain.
• Qin Fen, meanwhile, suffers through painfully spicy noodles, tears, and a runny nose. Hearing his distressed voice, the Queen Mother mistakes his suffering for emotional heartbreak.
• She softens toward him and decides that, despite the embarrassment, his gift was thoughtful and moving.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen becomes increasingly desperate and helpless as every attempt to avoid embarrassment creates a deeper misunderstanding. His guilt and panic are heightened by the Dragon King’s reckless explanations.
• The Dragon King acts as an overconfident but disastrous “ally.” He tries to support Qin Fen’s story, but his cross-dressing demonstration and speculation about the garment’s intended wearer make the situation far worse.
• The Queen Mother shifts from suspicion and embarrassment to curiosity, then anger, and finally reluctant affection. She begins viewing Qin Fen as someone who thoughtfully designed an intimate gift specifically for her.
• The minor gods of Kunlun remain frightened observers, interpreting the Queen Mother’s outburst as evidence that someone has once again provoked a terrifyingly powerful figure.

Significant Themes

• Misunderstanding and unintended consequences: Qin Fen’s innocent mistake becomes increasingly scandalous because each character interprets incomplete information differently.
• Embarrassment and social perception: The chapter humorously explores shame surrounding intimate clothing, especially when powerful and dignified figures are involved.
• Irony: Qin Fen is genuinely suffering from spicy noodles, but the Queen Mother believes his tears reflect emotional pain caused by her reaction.
• Affection expressed through gifts: Although the gift was not actually created for the Queen Mother, she interprets it as evidence of Qin Fen’s care and effort.
• Power contrasted with vulnerability: The mighty Queen Mother can terrify all of Kunlun, yet she is still embarrassed and emotionally affected by a suggestive garment and the apparent sincerity of Qin Fen’s gesture.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and the Dragon King: Qin Fen silently condemns the Dragon King for exposing the garment and making reckless assumptions, while the Dragon King remains unaware of the damage he is causing.
• Dragon King and the Queen Mother: The Dragon King presents his own garment as proof and unintentionally convinces her that Qin Fen’s version was specially designed for women—and perhaps specifically for her.
• Qin Fen and the Queen Mother: Their communication is dominated by misunderstanding. Qin Fen tries to explain his distress, but the Queen Mother interprets his tears as proof of deep emotional investment.
• Queen Mother and the surrounding gods: Her screams and anger terrify the local gods, who speculate about the unknown person bold enough to offend her.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen chats with the Queen Mother while eating noodles and suffering from the intense heat of wasabi. His tears and apparent distress cause the Queen Mother and a nearby waitress to mistakenly think he is emotionally upset.
• The Queen Mother thanks Qin Fen for the “effort” he put into preparing something, though Qin Fen’s actual reason for contacting her is unrelated. Their conversation is filled with misunderstandings and teasing.
• When the Queen Mother tries to end the conversation by claiming eye fatigue, Qin Fen offers to teach her a technique for relieving tired eyes. He instructs her through a series of acupressure movements:
  • Pressing the Tianying acupoints
  • Pinching the Jingming acupoints
  • Rubbing the Sibai acupoints
  • Pressing the temples and massaging around the eye sockets
• Qin Fen reveals that the supposedly secret technique is ordinary eye exercises. He jokingly regrets not trading the technique to Taibai and Matchmaker Yue, who operate schools, for valuable benefits.
• Pleased by the gesture, the Queen Mother becomes more cooperative. Her good mood leads her to scatter a plate of immortal fruit across Kunlun, causing the Earth God, Mountain God, birds, and spiritual beasts to scramble for it.
• Qin Fen finally asks who in the Heavenly Court is best at painting. The Queen Mother names Lü Dongbin and the Yan Emperor as skilled painters, but identifies Wu Daozi—the “Painting Sage”—as the greatest professional.
• She explains that Wu Daozi entered the Dao through painting and was enlightened into immortality by Cangjie, the legendary creator of Chinese characters.
• Qin Fen is shocked by Cangjie’s immense status and suspects that the Queen Mother’s unusually meaningful smile indicates a hidden trap.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Remains resourceful, opportunistic, and determined to fulfill promises. He disguises his true purpose behind flattery and a useful favor, but becomes increasingly wary when Cangjie is mentioned. His reactions also show his frustration with the absurd consequences of interacting with the Heavenly Court.
• The Queen Mother: Displays a teasing, mercenary side, initially trying to dismiss Qin Fen but becoming increasingly pleased by his attention and the eye-exercise lesson. Her improved mood reveals that Qin Fen has learned how to manipulate conversations by offering small but meaningful benefits.
• Wu Daozi: Is elevated from a famous historical painter to an immortal Painting Sage whose mastery allowed him to enter the Dao.
• Cangjie: Is introduced as an extraordinarily powerful and influential figure—the ancestor of writing, painting, and possibly related forms of civilization and divination.
• Minor divine figures: The Earth God and Mountain God provide comic reactions as they compete with supernatural creatures to seize the Queen Mother’s scattered immortal fruit.

Significant Themes

• Misunderstanding and comic deception: Qin Fen’s wasabi-induced tears are mistaken for emotional weakness, while his “secret technique” is simply eye exercises presented as something valuable.
• Exchange and negotiation: Qin Fen repeatedly uses favors, flattery, and practical knowledge to obtain cooperation from powerful immortals.
• The collision of ordinary and divine life: Modern food, phones, cola, and school eye exercises coexist humorously with immortal fruit, acupoints, and Heavenly Court politics.
• The power of cultural heritage: Cangjie and Wu Daozi symbolize the importance of writing and painting as paths to enlightenment and civilization.
• Hidden danger beneath humor: Although the chapter is comedic, Qin Fen senses that the Queen Mother’s mention of Cangjie may signal a dangerous or complicated development.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and the Queen Mother engage in playful but strategically motivated banter. He tries to maintain the appearance of casual conversation while maneuvering toward his real question.
• The Queen Mother follows Qin Fen’s acupressure instructions exactly, creating a humorous image of a high-ranking immortal performing mundane eye exercises.
• Qin Fen’s mention of offering the technique to other immortals reveals his concern with turning knowledge into influence and benefits.
• The Queen Mother’s sudden generosity affects the entire Kunlun community, as gods, birds, and beasts rush to collect the immortal fruit she scatters.
• The chapter ends with the Queen Mother introducing Qin Fen to the formidable Cangjie, shifting the interaction from lighthearted teasing toward possible intrigue or danger.

Chapter Summary: Wu Daozi Gives a Skill, Chef Qin Returns a Favor

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen meets the Queen Mother and learns that the famous painter Wu Daozi is staying at Kunlun Mountain.
• Interested in acquiring painting knowledge, Qin agrees to meet Wu Daozi.
• To conceal his identity and avoid exposing his connections with the Queen Mother and the Demon King, Qin introduces himself as the powerful immortal “Natural.”
• Wu Daozi reacts with extreme excitement and respect, eagerly offering to teach Qin painting.
• Wu Daozi sends Qin his lifetime painting insights. Qin downloads them at the cost of 1,000 Merit, leaving him with 8,237 Merit.
• The skill allows Qin to create masterpieces and even high-quality imitations, greatly expanding his abilities.
• Qin invites Wu Daozi to teach painting at Lanxiang Technical College, where he could instruct demons, Water Tribe members, and eventually humans. Wu Daozi immediately agrees.
• Wu Daozi then asks Qin for help finding his missing disciple, explaining that the disciple possesses a miraculous brush.
• The disciple once painted a mountain of gold and an ocean, then created violent weather that caused a dragon boat carrying a mortal emperor to sink.
• Wu Daozi reveals that the brush was transformed from the Luo Writing, the same divine object associated with Cangjie’s attainment of the Dao. It can create objects and conceal its user from even the Heavenly Court.
• Qin realizes that Wu Daozi’s disciple is likely Ma Liang, the legendary owner of the Magic Brush, and the chapter ends with Wu Daozi confirming the connection.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Demonstrates his cautious, opportunistic personality. Although suspicious of Wu Daozi’s excessive eagerness, he accepts the valuable painting skill anyway, deciding that any potential trap is worth the benefit. He also continues expanding Lanxiang Technical College by recruiting powerful teachers.
• Wu Daozi: Appears unusually deferential toward Qin because he believes Qin is the exalted “Natural Daoist.” Despite being a revered Painting Saint, he willingly offers his teachings and agrees to teach at Qin’s college. His concern for his disciple reveals a strong sense of responsibility and compassion.
• Queen Mother: Manipulates the situation subtly, knowing Qin would benefit from meeting Wu Daozi. She is amused by Qin’s suspicions and apparent discomfort.
• Ma Liang: Though absent, he is revealed as Wu Daozi’s talented disciple and the likely owner of the legendary Magic Brush. His past actions have made him a target of the Heavenly Court.

Significant Themes

• Power, reputation, and mistaken identity: Qin’s fabricated identity as “Natural” causes Wu Daozi to treat him as an overwhelmingly powerful senior immortal, showing how reputation can influence behavior more than truth.
• Knowledge as a valuable resource: Qin willingly spends a large amount of Merit to obtain Wu Daozi’s painting expertise, reinforcing the importance and cost of skills that approach the Dao.
• Talent and responsibility: Wu Daozi’s brush gave Ma Liang extraordinary creative power, but that power also caused catastrophe when used against oppressive forces.
• Fate versus personal action: Ma Liang’s paintings interfere with forces connected to mortal emperors and the Heavenly Dao, suggesting that even acts motivated by justice can disrupt cosmic order.
• Reciprocity and hidden obligations: Qin recognizes that accepting Wu Daozi’s gift creates an obligation, forcing him to consider helping locate the disciple.

Character Interactions

• Qin and the Queen Mother exchange wary, humorous dialogue, with Qin repeatedly refusing to be manipulated or drawn into a suspicious story.
• Qin presents himself to Wu Daozi as “Natural,” while Wu Daozi responds with exaggerated reverence and eagerness.
• Qin recruits Wu Daozi to Lanxiang Technical College, turning a personal favor into a broader educational opportunity.
• Wu Daozi’s request shifts the relationship from teacher-and-student to one of mutual obligation: he gives Qin his painting skill, and Qin is expected to help recover Ma Liang.
• The final revelation that Ma Liang may be the disciple creates a new connection between Qin’s supernatural network, Cangjie’s Luo Writing, and the legendary Magic Brush.

Chapter Summary: “People Really Shouldn’t Show Off Recklessly”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen is asked by Wu Daozi to find Ma Liang, the legendary owner of the Magic Brush. Qin Fen realizes that Ma Liang is not merely a fictional cartoon character but a real figure connected to powerful ancient beings.
• The Magic Brush is revealed to be linked to the Luo Writing, a Primordial Spiritual Treasure and treasure of Merit created through Cangjie’s invention of writing. Because anything drawn with it becomes real, the brush is extremely powerful and cannot be located through ordinary divination.
• Although Qin Fen doubts his ability to find Ma Liang, he agrees to help after Wu Daozi kneels and promises to obey him in the future. Qin Fen suspects that the request conceals a much larger Heavenly Court-related conspiracy.
• Wu Daozi explains that he last saw Ma Liang near the sea, but Qin Fen realizes this provides almost no useful information. Ma Liang and the Magic Brush may have been separated during the Heavenly Court’s division, possibly leaving Ma Liang in the Mortal Realm, the Celestial Realm, or one of the Three Thousand Lesser Worlds.
• Qin Fen tells Wu Daozi that he will let matters unfold naturally and contact him if he finds Ma Liang. Afterward, Wu Daozi and Queen Mother discuss the seriousness of the matter and acknowledge that Qin Fen may be the only person capable of intervening.
• When Qin Fen leaves the noodle shop, he discovers that Song Shaoqing and Fu Qiang are waiting for him beside an important government vehicle. Song reveals that he came to test whether Qin Fen can truly paint, since Qin Fen had previously shown off his abilities.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen becomes increasingly wary of boasting or making careless promises. His earlier display of ability now creates difficult obligations, reinforcing the chapter’s central warning about showing off.
• He also demonstrates greater insight, recognizing that Ma Liang’s disappearance involves karma, the Heavenly Dao, and the separation of worlds rather than being a simple search.
• Wu Daozi is shown to be deeply devoted to Ma Liang and willing to submit himself to Qin Fen in exchange for help. His fear and uncertainty reveal how dangerous the situation is.
• Queen Mother appears confident when speaking to Wu Daozi, but privately she is uncertain about Qin Fen’s identity and intentions. She relies on Qin Fen while pretending to understand his mysterious behavior.
• Song Shaoqing remains energetic and opportunistic. He is pleased that Qin Fen’s previous actions helped improve his family’s circumstances and is eager to verify Qin Fen’s artistic abilities.
• Fu Qiang is embarrassed and frustrated after losing a bet that Qin Fen would not acknowledge him.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of reckless self-promotion: Qin Fen’s earlier boasts lead others to treat him as an all-powerful figure and burden him with impossible requests.
• The gap between fiction and reality: A character Qin Fen knew from childhood cartoons exists as a real immortal-world figure, creating both humor and existential absurdity.
• Hidden forces and uncertain fate: The Magic Brush’s protection from divination symbolizes how powerful treasures and larger cosmic forces can conceal the truth.
• Duty versus self-preservation: Qin Fen wants to avoid involvement but feels obligated after accepting Wu Daozi’s benefits and witnessing his sincerity.
• Appearance and misunderstanding: Others interpret Qin Fen’s casual remarks and accidental abilities as profound wisdom, allowing him to maintain an image far more powerful than he feels.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Wu Daozi negotiate the search for Ma Liang, with Wu Daozi pleading and Qin Fen cautiously accepting.
• Qin Fen, Wu Daozi, and Queen Mother discuss the hidden dangers surrounding Ma Liang and the limits of divination.
• Queen Mother reassures Wu Daozi that Qin Fen can handle the matter, despite privately being irritated and uncertain about how to interpret Qin Fen’s words.
• Qin Fen later encounters Song Shaoqing and Fu Qiang, whose visit turns his private embarrassment over showing off into a new public challenge: proving that he can really paint.