Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Grant tries to cover for Yan Bing by claiming that Yan Bing and Qin Fen know each other, hoping to make Yan Bing’s earlier behavior seem natural.
• Qin Fen innocently asks Yan Bing who he is, exposing that he genuinely does not remember him. This immediately turns Grant’s attempt at mediation into an embarrassing farce.
• Grant hurriedly explains that Qin Fen and Yan Bing met once in Sanya. Qin Fen then remembers Yan Bing and realizes he may be connected to the people who were pursuing the Sea-Calming Divine Pearl.
• To salvage the situation, Grant claims that Yan Bing also knows the Queen Mother, Yao Chi. However, when questioned, Yao Chi openly admits that she has forgotten Yan Bing’s name.
• Yan Bing is humiliated in front of everyone. He tries to recover by claiming that he actually admires another woman who accompanied him, and Grant reluctantly supports the explanation.
• Just as the crowd begins pretending to accept this excuse, Sun Yujie and Fu Qiang arrive. Sun enthusiastically greets Qin Fen and reveals that he made many of the banquet’s dishes, destroying any remaining possibility of quietly ending the awkward scene.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Remains blunt, honest, and unconcerned with social maneuvering. His innocent questions unintentionally expose everyone’s lies. He also realizes that Yan Bing may be tied to the Sea-Calming Divine Pearl.
• Yan Bing: His attempt to appear familiar with Qin Fen and connected to Yao Chi collapses completely. His pride and concern for his reputation force him into increasingly desperate excuses.
• Grant: Tries to act as a mediator but repeatedly worsens the situation. His efforts to protect Yan Bing backfire, leaving him embarrassed and frustrated.
• The Queen Mother/Yao Chi: Displays her immense detachment from mortal status and social conventions. She does not remember Yan Bing and sees no reason to indulge his attempt to associate himself with her.
• Sun Yujie: Arrives cheerfully and unknowingly intensifies the humiliation by loudly greeting Qin Fen and praising his cooking.
• Qin Fen and Yao Chi: Both are eager to speak privately about important matters—Qin Fen wants to learn how Yao Chi returned and whether he can visit the Heavenly Court, while Yao Chi wants to discuss Qin Fen’s connection to the Heavenly Dao.

Significant Themes

• Social embarrassment and loss of face: The chapter’s central conflict is not physical danger but the terror of being publicly exposed and humiliated.
• Pride versus reality: Yan Bing assumes his wealth and status should earn him respect, but Yao Chi’s indifference proves that mortal influence means nothing to a powerful immortal.
• Honesty versus pretension: Qin Fen’s straightforwardness dismantles the false relationships and exaggerated claims constructed by Yan Bing and Grant.
• Comedic escalation: Every attempt to resolve the awkwardness creates a deeper problem, producing a chain of increasingly humiliating misunderstandings.
• The gap between mortals and immortals: Yao Chi’s casual treatment of Yan Bing emphasizes the vast difference between her identity as an Innate Divine Being and the ordinary social world around her.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Yan Bing: Qin Fen’s failure to recognize Yan Bing embarrasses him, though Qin Fen later recalls their meeting in Sanya.
• Qin Fen and Grant: Grant repeatedly tries to guide Qin Fen into supporting his fabricated story, but Qin Fen’s literal responses undermine him.
• Yan Bing and Grant: Their relationship becomes strained as each silently blames the other for the disaster.
• Yan Bing and Yao Chi: Yan Bing tries to imply familiarity with her, but Yao Chi’s blunt admission that she has forgotten him completely humiliates him.
• Qin Fen and Yao Chi: Their mutual curiosity and desire for a private conversation are repeatedly obstructed by the public spectacle.
• Sun Yujie and Qin Fen: Sun greets Qin Fen warmly and praises his cooking, unintentionally reigniting the embarrassing scene just as it seems to be ending.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen encounters several familiar people at once: Yan Bing, Grant, the Queen Mother, and Sun Yujie. The gathering quickly becomes awkward because multiple characters seem connected to him in unclear or romantic ways.
• Sun Yujie arrives unexpectedly, claiming she is on vacation. The Queen Mother immediately suspects that Sun Yujie is not truly Qin Fen’s cousin, while Sun Yujie realizes the Queen Mother is likewise not his relative.
• Both women blush when recalling their previous encounters with Qin Fen, causing Yan Bing, Grant, and the surrounding people to assume there is some complicated romantic situation.
• Qin Fen asks whether the Queen Mother and Sun Yujie know each other. Both deny it, insisting that merely traveling together does not count as knowing one another.
• Grant and Yan Bing escape the scene to avoid further embarrassment. Grant pretends to remember an urgent task, while Yan Bing retreats toward the restroom.
• When Fu Qiang asks about the Queen Mother’s identity, Qin Fen hurriedly claims she is his cousin. He calls her his “cousin,” while she awkwardly specifies that she is his older cousin.
• Sun Yujie teases the Queen Mother by emphasizing the “older cousin” explanation. The Queen Mother retaliates with pointed questions about Sun Yujie’s name, nickname, and relatives, indirectly exposing the contradictions in Sun Yujie’s own story.
• Sun Yujie, unable to withstand the verbal exchange, excuses herself to find food.
• After Sun Yujie leaves, the Queen Mother asks Qin Fen how she came to the Mortal Realm. Qin Fen struggles to explain that the Heavenly Dao transported her because of his actions.
• The Queen Mother assumes Qin Fen intentionally arranged their reunion through an Immortal-Mortal Separation and believes he went to great lengths to see her secretly. Qin Fen, confused and alarmed, realizes she has completely misunderstood the situation.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Becomes increasingly bewildered as he tries to manage everyone’s misunderstandings. He protects the Queen Mother’s identity by inventing the “cousin” explanation but inadvertently creates more awkwardness.
• The Queen Mother: Reveals a surprisingly playful and combative side. Although embarrassed by the false family relationship, she actively challenges Sun Yujie and holds her own in their verbal battle. Her feelings toward Qin Fen also become more apparent, though she interprets events incorrectly.
• Sun Yujie: Displays her mischievous, teasing personality but is ultimately outmatched by the Queen Mother’s sharper counterattacks. Her embarrassment over her own fabricated relationship with Qin Fen forces her to retreat.
• Grant: Shows self-preservation and comic awareness by fleeing before he is dragged further into the uncomfortable situation.
• Yan Bing: Arrives hoping to find a seller but becomes caught in the social chaos and quietly withdraws.
• Fu Qiang: Remains genuinely confused because he cannot perceive the hidden rivalry and romantic implications between the others.

Significant Themes

• Miscommunication and mistaken assumptions: Almost every interaction is shaped by characters misunderstanding Qin Fen’s relationships and motives.
• Romantic tension disguised as rivalry: The Queen Mother and Sun Yujie compete indirectly while pretending their exchange is casual, revealing jealousy, embarrassment, and mutual suspicion.
• Identity and secrecy: Qin Fen must conceal the Queen Mother’s true identity, forcing him to rely on an improvised lie.
• Social awkwardness and comic embarrassment: The chapter builds humor through synchronized reactions, blushing, evasive excuses, and characters fleeing uncomfortable conversations.
• Powerful figures in ordinary situations: Even immortals and formidable characters become flustered by mundane social and romantic complications.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and the Queen Mother: Their interaction is dominated by secrecy and misunderstanding. Qin Fen tries to protect her identity, while she interprets his actions as deliberate efforts to reunite with her.
• The Queen Mother and Sun Yujie: They immediately recognize each other as rivals in Qin Fen’s social circle. Their polite remarks conceal a sharp battle of insinuations and counterattacks.
• Qin Fen and Sun Yujie: Their supposedly familial relationship is exposed as suspicious, with Sun Yujie teasing Qin Fen about his popularity.
• Grant and the group: Grant attempts to welcome everyone but quickly realizes the situation is dangerous and escapes.
• Fu Qiang and the Queen Mother: Fu Qiang innocently asks who she is, prompting Qin Fen’s hurried false explanation and triggering the “older cousin” exchange.
• Qin Fen and the Queen Mother at the end: Their conversation becomes the chapter’s central misunderstanding, as she believes Qin Fen sacrificed a great deal to secretly meet her, while he has no idea why she thinks that.

Chapter Summary: Shuttling Through Space, What Kind of Déjà Vu Is This?

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen questions the Queen Mother about how she reached the Mortal Realm. She explains that, after returning home from the conflict between the Heavenly Dao and the Asura Path, she suddenly became dazed and appeared in Shennongjia.
• The demon spirit Little Fatty witnessed an oil lamp briefly flaring before the Queen Mother appeared, suggesting that the Heavenly Dao used the Wish Stone or Moonlight Box as a medium to transport her.
• Qin Fen concludes that the Heavenly Dao cannot directly interfere with the Mortal Realm and must exploit the shared power of wishes and magical artifacts. This reassures him that the Mortal Realm remains relatively safe.
• Qin Fen instructs Little Fatty to help the Queen Mother settle into a guest room and to treat her as though she were an ordinary visitor. His vague instructions and Little Fatty’s cryptic comments create a series of comic misunderstandings.
• Qin Fen gives the Queen Mother durian cheese. Although she initially finds its smell disgusting, she enjoys its taste. Little Fatty convinces her that “durian” implies “remembrance,” causing her to believe the cheese contains a hidden romantic message from Qin Fen.
• The Queen Mother begins adapting to Qin Fen’s eccentric habits and becomes increasingly convinced that he is constantly setting subtle traps or embedding hidden meanings in ordinary actions. Little Fatty is similarly impressed by what he mistakenly sees as Qin Fen’s elaborate schemes.
• Qin Fen, unaware of their interpretations, simply considers the cheese a successful recipe and wishes people would be more straightforward.
• After completing his Upgrade and mastering the Creation of Heaven, Qin Fen wonders whether he can use the Moonlight Box to travel to the Heavenly Court. He reasons that, like Golden Horn and the Queen Mother, he may need to personally “drive” the journey.
• He secretly tests a newly downloaded Flight Talisman in the restroom. With abundant Fortune available, he ignores the cost and activates it, disappearing in a burst of power.
• The chapter ends with Qin Fen arriving in another location, where a muscular man is chasing the beautiful goddess Athena and declaring his love for her.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen becomes more confident in understanding the Heavenly Dao’s methods and realizes the limits of its influence over the Mortal Realm. His completed Creation of Heaven also gives him greater freedom to experiment with inter-realm travel.
• The Queen Mother shifts from suspicion and bewilderment to curiosity and reluctant enjoyment of Qin Fen’s lifestyle. She becomes fascinated by his unusual inventions and starts interpreting his ordinary behavior as evidence of hidden motives or affection.
• Little Fatty continues to act as Qin Fen’s helper and comic accomplice. He exaggerates Qin Fen’s intentions, presenting mundane actions—especially the durian cheese—as profound schemes.
• Qin Fen and Little Fatty remain unaware of how seriously the Queen Mother is taking their jokes and ambiguous remarks.

Significant Themes

• Limits of divine power: Even the Heavenly Dao cannot act freely in the Mortal Realm and must rely on artifacts, wishes, and existing laws.
• The Dao and causality: The characters emphasize that every event leaves traces and follows underlying rules, reflecting the cultivation world’s belief that nothing happens without a reason.
• Miscommunication and interpretation: Ordinary actions are repeatedly mistaken for elaborate plans or emotional signals, especially by the Queen Mother.
• Culture shock and adaptation: The Queen Mother encounters electric carts, modern food, and Qin Fen’s unconventional household, gradually becoming intrigued by mortal life.
• Comedy through contrast: The dignified Queen Mother’s solemn interpretations clash with Qin Fen’s practical intentions, while Little Fatty deliberately fuels the confusion.
• Exploration and experimentation: Qin Fen’s attempt to use the Flight Talisman signals his growing willingness to test his abilities and explore the relationship between the Mortal Realm and higher realms.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and the Queen Mother: Their conversation is tense and suspicious, with both accusing the other of scheming. Qin Fen seeks factual answers, while the Queen Mother remains wary of his motives.
• Qin Fen and Little Fatty: Qin Fen relies on Little Fatty to handle the Queen Mother but becomes exasperated when Little Fatty’s jokes create misunderstandings.
• Queen Mother and Little Fatty: Little Fatty escorts her around the household and encourages her belief that Qin Fen’s actions contain hidden meanings. Their conversation helps the Queen Mother become more comfortable while deepening her misconceptions.
• Queen Mother and Qin Fen’s food: Her reaction to the durian cheese becomes an accidental emotional moment; she enjoys it and imagines it symbolizes remembrance, while Qin Fen sees it as nothing more than a successful dish.
• Qin Fen and the unknown pursuer: The chapter concludes by introducing a new encounter involving Athena, setting up Qin Fen’s next interaction in the unfamiliar location.

Qin Fen used the Moonlight Box and landed in Greek mythology, where the Eastern Emperor Bell knocked Athena unconscious when she collided with him. After discovering that Ares and Athena were siblings, Qin Fen returned to the restroom and decided to try traveling again.

• Qin Fen arrived in the Greek gods’ world and wondered whether he had used the Moonlight Box incorrectly.
• Athena warned Qin Fen about the oncoming collision, but the Eastern Emperor Bell activated and sent her flying.
• Ares rushed to Athena, and she woke up with no memory of him.
• A woman in the sky told Ares that he and Athena were siblings because they shared a father.
• Qin Fen returned to the restroom and decided to try the Moonlight Box again.

Qin Fen arrived in Greek mythology as Ares pursued Artemis, only for Apollo's chariot to run her over and leave her gravely injured. Apollo took Artemis away to seek a cure, while Ares learned she was his half sister and collapsed in despair.

• Ares chased Artemis and declared his love, but Artemis rejected him.
• Qin Fen suddenly appeared beside Artemis as Apollo's chariot charged toward them, and Artemis collided with Qin Fen before rolling beneath the chariot.
• Ares and Qin Fen recognized Artemis, who woke with amnesia after the accident.
• Apollo said the Sun Chariot's divine power was consuming Artemis and that she might have only a year to live.
• Apollo took Artemis away to find the goddess of wisdom, then revealed that Artemis was Ares's half sister, leaving Ares devastated.

Qin Fen befriended the lovesick Ares in Greek mythology and traded him a Playboy magazine for the Zodiac, whose star chart revealed traces of Destiny. In the Celestial Realm, Xi regained his peak strength as the New Year approached and prepared to escape.

• Qin Fen stayed with Ares and used the Golden Crow and his earphones to converse with him.
• Qin Fen told Ares that Persephone was his uncle Hades's wife, crushing Ares's hopes of pursuing her.
• Qin Fen offered Ares a Playboy magazine in exchange for something valuable.
• Ares traded Qin Fen the Zodiac, which he had found when Athena lost her memory.
• Qin Fen's Insightful Eye revealed that the Zodiac's star chart seemed to show the tracks of Destiny and resonate with his skill constellation.
• Xi felt the power of the stars and the Chinese Zodiac restore him to peak strength, then declared that he was getting out.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen returns to his room after bathing, wearing only a towel, while Queen Mother is already there holding an electric kettle.
• His appearance and an earlier ambiguous hint make Queen Mother extremely nervous. She accidentally crushes the steel kettle with her immense strength.
• Qin Fen, alarmed by her power and strange behavior, assumes something is wrong with her and worries she may attack him.
• Queen Mother misinterprets Qin Fen’s concern—such as asking whether she feels unwell—as a deliberate romantic advance.
• The tense misunderstanding escalates when Qin Fen sits beside her on the bed. Queen Mother’s anxiety causes her to crack the granite floor with one foot.
• When Qin Fen reaches toward her to check on her condition, Queen Mother instinctively grabs his hand, hurting him badly.
• Qin Fen falls backward, and Queen Mother ends up pinning him down. Both are shocked by the position, while the observing pets cover their eyes or remain stunned.
• Queen Mother accuses Qin Fen of having ulterior motives and demands to know his purpose. Qin Fen, irritated and embarrassed, points out that she is the one pressing against him.
• Qin Fen’s defensive Eastern Emperor Bell is temporarily unavailable, leaving him especially wary of Queen Mother’s overwhelming strength.

2. Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Reveals a rare vulnerability. Although powerful himself, he feels genuinely threatened by Queen Mother’s casual physical strength and becomes cautious, nervous, and defensive. He remains largely oblivious to her romantic interpretation of the situation, though he becomes flustered when their physical proximity turns suggestive.
• Queen Mother: Despite her status as the leader of the female immortals, she becomes inexperienced and highly self-conscious in the intimate situation. Her imagination leads her to interpret innocent actions as seduction, causing her normally controlled strength and defensive instincts to misfire.
• Little Bean and Shorty: Serve as comic observers. Little Bean refuses to look at the compromising scene, while Shorty’s dog hair contributes to Qin Fen choosing the bed over the sofa.

3. Significant Themes

• Comic misunderstanding: The chapter is driven by both characters interpreting the same actions in completely opposite ways.
• Power versus vulnerability: Queen Mother possesses overwhelming physical strength, yet socially and emotionally she feels inexperienced and vulnerable. Qin Fen, meanwhile, is physically intimidated despite being a formidable fighter.
• Gender expectations and restraint: Queen Mother’s identity as the leader of female immortals makes her particularly concerned with dignity, reputation, and personal boundaries.
• Romantic tension through accidental intimacy: Ordinary gestures—sitting together, reaching out, and falling backward—are transformed into suggestive situations because of mutual nervousness and misinterpretation.
• Role reversal: Queen Mother believes Qin Fen is attempting to take advantage of her, but the physical scene makes it appear as though she is the aggressor.

4. Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Queen Mother repeatedly question each other’s intentions, with both believing the other is hiding a deeper motive.
• Qin Fen asks if Queen Mother is unwell, intending genuine concern; she interprets it as a pretext for physical contact.
• Queen Mother reacts defensively to Qin Fen’s reaching hand, injuring him and causing him to fall.
• Once she lands on top of him, Queen Mother accuses him of scheming, while Qin Fen protests that she is the one pinning him down.
• Their interaction remains tense, embarrassed, and flirtatiously ambiguous, ending with both still convinced that the other is responsible for the situation.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

Qin Fen summons Queen Mother to discuss an important matter involving potentially immense Merit. However, their conversation is quickly derailed when Queen Mother asks what “purpose” he has in bringing her to the Mortal Realm. Qin Fen interprets her question as suspicion about his plans and worries that revealing his mortal identity would leave him vulnerable. Meanwhile, Queen Mother’s wording makes her seem romantically interested, leading both of them to misunderstand each other completely.
Their awkward physical proximity worsens the confusion. Qin Fen notices Queen Mother’s body and struggles not to stare, while she interprets his glances as evidence that he summoned her for romantic reasons. Embarrassed and frustrated, she declares that she has no time to argue. Qin Fen assumes she is about to attack him and immediately apologizes, prioritizing survival over pride.
Queen Mother then reveals the real reason for her visit: she wants to see Qin Fen’s parents in the Mortal Realm. She considers this an appropriate visit between people of equal status and treats herself as a junior visiting Dongwang Gong’s family. Qin Fen is stunned by the idea that a powerful female immortal wants to meet his parents. Before the misunderstanding can resolve, Queen Mother leaves after declaring the visit settled. Qin Fen desperately calls her back, insisting that he summoned her to discuss a major matter involving immeasurable Merit.

Character developments

• Qin Fen remains cautious, calculating, and deeply concerned with concealing his true mortal nature. He suspects Queen Mother may be plotting around Merit and the Heavenly Dao, but his defensive mindset causes him to misread her intentions. His fear of her overwhelming power also makes him retreat quickly when he thinks she is angry.
• Queen Mother is shown to be dignified but surprisingly shy and emotionally vulnerable. Although she is a powerful immortal accustomed to political consequences, she becomes flustered by the romantic implications of her own words and Qin Fen’s reactions. Her desire to meet his parents suggests that she feels a genuine connection or sense of fate with him.
• Little Bean, Myna, and Nian provide comic commentary and observe the misunderstanding. Little Bean understands Qin Fen’s ambitions and knows his behavior is not normally motivated by lust, while Myna is amused by how badly the conversation has gone.

Significant themes

• Miscommunication and mismatched perspectives: Qin Fen and Queen Mother are thinking about entirely different matters—he is focused on strategy, Merit, and self-preservation, while she is concerned with their personal relationship and meeting his family.
• The contrast between mortal and immortal values: Qin Fen thinks practically as a mortal who must protect himself, whereas Queen Mother views their possible connection through ideas of fate, Heavenly Marriage, etiquette, and destiny.
• Pride versus vulnerability: Both characters struggle to maintain dignity while feeling embarrassed and uncertain. Their status prevents them from speaking openly, creating increasingly absurd misunderstandings.
• The danger of hidden power: Qin Fen fears that revealing his true strength or identity would weaken his position, while Queen Mother assumes he is an immensely powerful figure capable of challenging the Heavenly Dao.

Character interactions

Qin Fen’s companions mock and observe the awkward encounter, highlighting how unusual his behavior is. Qin Fen and Queen Mother repeatedly misinterpret each other’s words, body language, and intentions. Queen Mother sees his nervous glances and apologies as evidence of romantic interest, while Qin Fen sees her sternness and physical closeness as signs of an impending attack or deliberate seduction. Their interaction ends with Queen Mother unilaterally deciding to meet his parents, leaving Qin Fen shocked and still unable to discuss the important Merit-related matter that brought her there.

Chapter Summary: Qin Fen’s Ambition—The Age of the Internet of Things

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen urgently summons Queen Mother to discuss an important matter, but she initially misunderstands his intentions and believes he is making an improper advance.
• The misunderstanding creates an awkward and comedic atmosphere. Queen Mother becomes deeply embarrassed and resentful, while Qin Fen struggles to clarify himself. Little Bean and the Myna are caught in the tension.
• Qin Fen explains that Haitian Lanxiang’s clothing, food, potion, and mechanical-puppet industries are developing successfully, but their growth is restricted by the limited size of the current market.
• He reveals that Monkey is preparing to establish Great Sage Logistics, which will help distribute products and connect different regions.
• Qin Fen then presents his larger plan: transforming the Mysterious Light Technique into a standardized communication device resembling a mobile phone.
• His goal is to create an information network throughout the Heavenly Court, eventually linking it with the Earthly Immortal Realm and forming an integrated Celestial Realm.
• Queen Mother quickly understands that the plan would enable real-time communication, resource exchange, knowledge sharing, improved administration, and greater interaction between immortals, humans, and demons.
• Qin Fen acknowledges that such a system would require more than communication terminals. It would need large-scale infrastructure, including magical servers, base stations, transmission networks, and other powerful treasures.
• Because the Earthly Immortal Realm lacks sufficient users and resources, Qin Fen decides that the project must begin in the Heavenly Court.
• Queen Mother advises him to seek approval from the Three Sovereigns, Five Emperors, Purple Tenuity, and Gouchen through an arbitration conference. However, Qin Fen’s poor reputation among the Heavenly Court’s rulers makes success unlikely.
• She jokingly tells him to beg her for assistance, creating another suggestive misunderstanding that embarrasses both of them.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen is shown as an ambitious visionary. He thinks beyond his current businesses, recognizing that information flow and logistics are essential for large-scale economic and social development.
• He also demonstrates practical planning by identifying the need for infrastructure, technical talent, government approval, and integration between magic and mechanical technology.
• Queen Mother proves to be perceptive and politically knowledgeable. Although initially distracted by embarrassment, she immediately grasps the scale and consequences of Qin Fen’s proposal.
• Her time in the Mortal Realm has made her more familiar with modern technology and organizational methods, allowing her to understand the mobile-phone concept quickly.
• Queen Mother also displays a more emotionally vulnerable and playful side. Her usual dignity and coldness repeatedly collapse into embarrassment when Qin Fen’s wording creates romantic or suggestive misunderstandings.
• Little Bean and the Myna serve mainly as comic observers and victims of the awkward exchange, emphasizing the absurdity of the situation.

Significant Themes

• Information as the foundation of development: Qin Fen believes communication must come before broader economic expansion. Once information can move freely, goods, knowledge, and resources can circulate as well.
• Integration of magic and technology: The proposed network combines the Mysterious Light Technique with Mechanism Arts, suggesting that the Celestial Realms can advance by adapting Mortal Realm scientific ideas.
• Expansion and modernization: Qin Fen’s plan represents a shift from isolated regional development toward a connected, large-scale civilization.
• Economic and social integration: The network could improve trade, governance, education, entertainment, and communication between different classes and species.
• Political obstacles to innovation: Even though the project is technically feasible and highly beneficial, Qin Fen must overcome opposition from Heavenly Court officials who dislike him.
• Comedy through misunderstanding: Serious discussions are repeatedly interrupted by romantic misinterpretations, highlighting the complicated and embarrassing dynamic between Qin Fen and Queen Mother.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Queen Mother maintain a tense but increasingly familiar relationship. Their conversation moves between strategic planning and flirtatious misunderstandings.
• Queen Mother alternates between criticizing Qin Fen, recognizing his intelligence, and teasing him about needing her support.
• Qin Fen relies on Queen Mother’s knowledge of the Heavenly Court and seeks her advice on how to gain official approval.
• Their mutual embarrassment suggests growing emotional tension, though neither directly acknowledges it.
• The surrounding characters react silently or comically to the pair’s awkward exchanges, reinforcing the contrast between Qin Fen’s grand ambitions and his chaotic personal interactions.

After the Queen Mother fled in embarrassment, Qin Fen decided to convene an Imperial Lords' arbitration assembly. His announcement threw the Heavenly Court into turmoil as the other powers braced for his next move.

• The Queen Mother hurried away from Qin Fen after misunderstanding his teasing, and she told him to initiate arbitration himself.
• Qin Fen messaged Matchmaker Yue to notify everyone and sent the Yan Emperor word that the arbitration would take place the next day.
• Matchmaker Yue panicked at being tasked with summoning the Imperial Lords, while the Yan Emperor welcomed the coming upheaval and announced the assembly.
• The Jade Emperor, Ziwei, Gouchen, and the Yellow Emperor's faction reacted with alarm and suspicion, debating how to face Qin Fen.
• The news spread through the Heavenly Court, leaving immortals speculating about Qin Fen's plans as the assembly approached.

Qin Fen began a video meeting with the Heavenly Court leaders to present his proposal, bringing the Queen Mother into the call from her room. Their early-morning appearance together sparked scandalous assumptions, and the Imperial Lords decided to oppose whatever Qin Fen wanted.

• Qin Fen read the Yan Emperor's message confirming preparations and resolved to seek support elsewhere if the Heavenly Court rejected his proposal.
• Qin Fen went to the Queen Mother's room and started a video call with her beside him.
• The Heavenly Court leaders saw Qin Fen and the Queen Mother together in the same room, dressed in similar modern clothes, and assumed they had spent the night together.
• The Queen Mother moved away from Qin Fen, mortified by the impression their appearance had created.
• The Imperial Lords silently agreed to oppose Qin Fen's position and support whatever he opposed.

Qin Fen proposed promoting mobile phones across the Celestial Realm, but the Imperial Lords opposed or questioned the plan, leaving him politically outnumbered. The Queen Mother also disagreed with his approach, though she meant to advise him to start with the Heavenly Court; the Heavenly Dao remained hostile and poised to seize an excuse to act.

• Qin Fen proposed a magical artifact based on the Mysterious Light Technique, called a mobile phone, for use throughout the Celestial Realm.
• The Jade Emperor and Ziwei opposed the proposal as unnecessary, while the Yellow Emperor and Yan Emperor considered its broader implications.
• Gouchen joined the Jade Emperor and Ziwei in opposing Qin Fen, and the Yellow Emperor signaled his support for the Jade Emperor.
• The Queen Mother said she disagreed and questioned why Qin Fen had not started with the Heavenly Court, startling the gathered immortals.
• The Queen Mother privately intended to steer Qin Fen toward a simpler first step, while the Heavenly Dao remained displeased with him.

The Imperial Lords mistook the Queen Mother’s remarks for opposition to Qin Fen’s information infrastructure proposal and united to reject it. She revealed that she supported starting with a pilot in the Heavenly Court, leaving them stunned and Qin Fen impressed by her maneuver.

• The Jade Emperor, Ziwei, Gouchen, and the Yellow Emperor interpreted the Queen Mother’s words as a betrayal of Qin Fen and rallied against him.
• The Yan Emperor tried to offer a compromise, but Fuxi spoke first and supported settling the matter according to the majority’s opposition.
• The Jade Emperor, Yellow Emperor, Gouchen, and Ziwei declared their support for the Queen Mother’s supposed rejection and criticized Qin Fen.
• The Queen Mother clarified that she agreed with them about starting small, proposing a Heavenly Court pilot modeled on the West Sea Dragon Clan.
• The Imperial Lords realized the Queen Mother had played them, while Qin Fen marveled at her skill.

The Queen Mother’s wordplay tricked the Imperial Lords into approving a pilot project in the Heavenly Court, despite Qin Fen’s proposal being the original target. The Yellow Emperor secured control of the project for the Jade Emperor, Ziwei, and Gouchen, leaving Qin Fen silent as the hall resumed its negotiations.

• The Queen Mother’s distinction between the Celestial Realm and the Heavenly Court fooled the Jade Emperor, Ziwei, Gouchen, and the other Imperial Lords into supporting the pilot project.
• The Yan Emperor declared that the project should proceed because the Imperial Lords had already agreed to the Queen Mother’s proposal.
• The Yellow Emperor proposed placing the Jade Emperor, Ziwei, and Gouchen in charge of the Heavenly Court pilot project.
• The Jade Emperor, Ziwei, and Gouchen accepted the roles, hoping to share in the project’s benefits.
• The Imperial Lords resumed their lively discussion while Qin Fen remained silent, and the Yan Emperor lamented that the old foxes were impossible to outmaneuver.

At the arbitration meeting, the Jade Emperor and the Imperial Lords moved to take over Qin Fen’s proposal, leaving him apparently isolated. Qin Fen’s final remarks made them suspect the Jade Emperor had set them up, and the chapter ended with the Yellow Emperor desperately trying to deny being a traitor.

• The Jade Emperor accepted the Imperial Lords’ support and claimed responsibility for handling Qin Fen’s proposal, while the Yellow Emperor and Shaohao congratulated him.
• The Queen Mother protested that Dongwang Gong should carry out his own suggestion, but Qin Fen stopped her and let the others argue that the Jade Emperor was better suited to lead.
• Qin Fen asked whether everyone agreed, then congratulated the Jade Emperor and said he would have nothing more to do with the undertaking.
• Ziwei, Gouchen, and the Jade Emperor began suspecting one another after Qin Fen’s words cast doubt on their alliance.
• Qin Fen told the Yellow Emperor he would have opportunities to earn merit among the Human Tribe, then ended the video call.
• The Yellow Emperor saw the others staring at him and shouted that Qin Fen was trying to sow discord.

Chapter Summary: “Advancing by Retreating, Big Chef’s Scheme”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen reveals to Queen Mother that his apparent defeat during the Heavenly Court arbitration was deliberate. He understood that proposing the mobile-phone and network project would immediately make him a target, since the other major powers feared helping him grow stronger.
• His strategy was to “advance by retreating”: by allowing everyone to oppose him, he could later reveal the enormous benefits of connecting the Celestial Realm and pressure the others into supporting the project.
• Qin Fen expected the Yellow Emperor to reverse the situation at the decisive moment. The Yellow Emperor would appear to oppose the Jade Emperor, gain Qin Fen’s trust, and then betray him while the other factions seized control of the project.
• Queen Mother’s unexpected intervention disrupted Qin Fen’s original plan, but this ultimately benefited him by preserving suspense and preventing him from revealing all the project’s advantages.
• Back in the Soaring Firmament Palace, Qin Fen’s remarks create suspicion toward the Yellow Emperor. The Jade Emperor realizes that the Yellow Emperor’s earlier silence makes him appear complicit in a plot.
• The Yan Emperor unintentionally exposes the real weakness of the opposing factions: none of them understand how the proposed network would actually function across the Celestial Realm, the Earthly Immortal Realm, and the mortal nations.
• Everyone realizes that without Qin Fen’s technical knowledge and planning, they cannot meaningfully use or develop the project. Their earlier argument and apparent victory were therefore meaningless; they had been manipulated into fighting over something they could not manage themselves.
• The Yellow Emperor tries to salvage the situation by suggesting that everyone combine their knowledge and proceed without Qin Fen, but the Yan Emperor—and likely everyone else—doubts that Qin Fen would allow them to succeed so easily.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Displays his true nature as a patient, calculating strategist. Rather than relying on force, he manipulates the ambitions, suspicions, and greed of the Heavenly Court’s rulers. He deliberately accepts temporary setbacks to secure long-term control over the project.
• Queen Mother: Gains a deeper understanding of Qin Fen’s schemes. She recognizes that the seemingly ordinary Qin Fen is actually the formidable Nature Patriarch and “Dongwang Gong” she knows. Her own intervention unexpectedly helps his larger strategy.
• Jade Emperor: Becomes increasingly frustrated and humiliated as he realizes Qin Fen has repeatedly outmaneuvered him. His attempt to warn everyone against Qin Fen only partially restores confidence in the Yellow Emperor.
• Yellow Emperor: Is placed in an awkward and suspicious position. His decision to remain passive causes the others to suspect betrayal, while his attempt to recover authority by proposing collective cooperation is met with doubt.
• Yan Emperor: Although he may not intend to help Qin Fen, his practical question about how the network would actually be used reveals that the opposing faction lacks the necessary knowledge.
• Ziwei and Gouchen: Initially oppose Qin Fen, but gradually realize that the benefits of the project cannot be obtained without him.

Significant Themes

• Advancing through retreat: Qin Fen demonstrates that apparent surrender can be a deliberate tactic for gaining leverage.
• Greed and self-interest: The Heavenly Court’s rulers are driven less by loyalty or principle than by the potential benefits of Merit and control over the new technology.
• The power of expertise: Even if Qin Fen’s enemies seize the project politically, they lack the technical understanding to make it useful.
• Political manipulation and distrust: Qin Fen exploits divisions between the Jade Emperor, Yellow Emperor, and other rulers, causing them to suspect one another.
• No permanent enemies, only permanent interests: The factions quickly shift from opposing Qin Fen to considering cooperation once they realize the project’s potential value.
• Humiliation through false victory: The other rulers believe they have defeated Qin Fen, only to discover that their triumph was part of his plan.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Queen Mother: Qin Fen explains his strategy while teasing Queen Mother, who is both impressed and irritated by his secrecy. Their conversation emphasizes their familiarity and her recognition of his calculating personality.
• Qin Fen and the Heavenly Court rulers: Though Qin Fen is not physically present in the palace scene, his earlier actions control the entire discussion. His words make the rulers turn suspiciously against one another.
• Jade Emperor and Yellow Emperor: The Jade Emperor attempts to defend the group’s unity by accusing Qin Fen of deliberate manipulation, but the Yellow Emperor’s suspicious behavior makes the defense ineffective.
• Yan Emperor and the opposing faction: The Yan Emperor’s practical questions force everyone to confront their ignorance about the network’s actual purpose, unintentionally exposing their dependence on Qin Fen.
• Yellow Emperor and the assembled rulers: The Yellow Emperor proposes solving the problem without Qin Fen, but the others remain doubtful, recognizing that Qin Fen’s expertise and scheming make such independence unlikely.

Qin Fen explained how handing the phone project to the Heavenly Court would protect his interests while turning the Imperial Lords against one another. As suspicions fell on the Yellow Emperor, the Heavenly Court’s leadership began to fracture, leaving him furious and isolated.

• Qin Fen told the Queen Mother that he had given the phone project to the Jade Emperor and the others to avoid its risks while keeping his profits.
• The Queen Mother warned Qin Fen that surrendering control of the phone network would leave him dependent on the Heavenly Court’s infrastructure.
• Gouchen proposed using control of the phones to constrain Qin Fen, but the Imperial Lords suspected the Yellow Emperor might secretly cooperate with him.
• Qin Fen revealed that he had deliberately made the Yellow Emperor central to the phone project so the other Imperial Lords would distrust one another and compete to work with him.
• The Jade Emperor, Ziwei, and Gouchen viewed the Yellow Emperor as a possible traitor, while the Yellow Emperor resented Qin Fen for making him a target of their suspicions.

The Jade Emperor assigned the duty star officer to establish a department for magical treasure phones, while the Imperial Lords resolved to keep Qin Fen’s people out of it. The officer attracted eager applicants, but his optimism faded when the celebrated swordsmiths Gan Jiang and Moye revealed that they had joined hoping to meet the Nature Patriarch.

• The Jade Emperor put the duty star officer in charge of the magical treasure phone department, and Ziwei and Gouchen urged him to recruit carefully and exclude Qin Fen’s people.
• The duty star officer announced recruitment, drawing a large crowd of immortals hoping for new opportunities.
• Thousand-Mile Eye and Wind-Following Ear congratulated the duty star officer, who promised to share the project’s benefits with them.
• Gan Jiang and Moye arrived as applicants, and the duty star officer welcomed the renowned swordsmiths as valuable recruits.
• Gan Jiang and Moye asked to meet the Nature Patriarch, leaving the duty star officer stunned when he realized they had come for Dongwang Gong.

The Heavenly Court duty officer struggled to recruit for a new department after applicants kept revealing ties to Qin Fen. Zhang Heng finally qualified because he wanted to help develop a mobile phone, but his admiration for Qin Fen left the officials fearing another complication.

• Gan Jiang and Mo Ye applied to join the new department, but their connection to Qin Fen left the duty officer unable to accept or reject them outright.
• Cai Lun said he had applied to learn from the Nature Patriarch, so the duty officer told him to go home and wait for a response.
• Zhang Heng introduced his inventions and said he wanted to help develop a mobile phone to pursue his own path of invention.
• Thousand-Mile Eye welcomed Zhang Heng, who then declared his wish to become like Qin Fen and benefit all living beings.

The new department’s recruitment fair stalled after Thousand-Mile Eye accidentally welcomed Zhang Heng, who openly admired Qin Fen, leaving the interviewers unable to accept or reject him without causing trouble. With the duty star official and Thousand-Mile Eye both escaping their duties, Wind-Following Ear summoned Taibai Venus to continue the interviews under the rule against recruiting anyone connected to Qin Fen.

• Zhang Heng praised Qin Fen and explained that the patriarch’s book Doraemon had inspired his pursuit of Dao Follows Nature.
• The duty star official told Zhang Heng to go home and await a decision, but Zhang Heng pointed out that Thousand-Mile Eye had already welcomed him aboard.
• Thousand-Mile Eye, Wind-Following Ear, and the duty star official struggled to respond because rejecting Zhang Heng would undermine their credibility, while accepting him would cross the Jade Emperor and the three Imperial Lords.
• The duty star official pretended to have a stomachache and left, while Thousand-Mile Eye took Zhang Heng to the back hall.
• Wind-Following Ear summoned Taibai Venus to interview the next applicants and warned him not to recruit anyone connected to Qin Fen.
• Taibai Venus agreed to help, assuming the restriction meant excluding Luban’s group.