Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The Jade Emperor invokes the Dao Ancestor after the Heavenly Dao’s earlier appearance, causing Qin Fen to manifest in disguise.
• All the immortals—including Lord Lao and Mount Li Old Mother—kneel to Qin Fen, treating him as an exalted figure equal to or above Hongjun.
• The Jade Emperor uses the opportunity to complain about the Heavenly Court’s crises: the shattered Investiture of the Gods, instability among the appointed deities, internal disorder, and external threats from the Demon Tribe.
• Qin Fen gives deliberately vague but encouraging advice, endorsing reform and the proposed assessment system. He tells the Jade Emperor not to fear change and hints that he will share in the eventual credit.
• The Jade Emperor completely misinterprets Qin Fen’s words as a personal endorsement, abandons his plan to obstruct the reforms, and decides to support them while trying to retain control.
• When the Jade Emperor asks about the Queen Mother’s role, Qin Fen responds with more cryptic sayings, which are again interpreted as approval of the reorganization.
• Ziwei and Gouchen conclude that reform is inevitable and decide to support it strategically so they can benefit from the upheaval.
• The immortals unanimously pledge obedience to Qin Fen, effectively overruling Hongjun’s objection.
• Hongjun protests that he disagrees, but nobody pays attention. Since the reform had already been approved by the Great Dao, he is unable to interfere directly.
• Qin Fen privately taunts Hongjun, provoking him into a near-collapse of his Dao Heart. Hongjun regains control only after realizing that losing himself could allow Qin Fen to replace him as the Heavenly Dao.

2. Character Developments

• Qin Fen reveals his talent for manipulation and performance. He uses ambiguous language to make the immortals believe he supports their individual ambitions while guiding them toward his desired reform.
• The Jade Emperor shifts from opposing the reorganization to enthusiastically supporting it after believing Qin Fen promised him credit and authority. His vanity and eagerness to gain recognition make him easy to deceive.
• Hongjun suffers a major blow to his authority. Although he is the Heavenly Dao Incarnation, the immortals favor Qin Fen’s approachable and benevolent persona. His frustration escalates into anger and nearly causes a Dao Heart collapse.
• The Queen Mother understands Qin Fen’s true meaning better than the Jade Emperor and recognizes that he is deliberately manipulating the situation.
• Ziwei and Gouchen demonstrate political opportunism, choosing to cooperate with the reform while intending to exploit the resulting disorder for their own benefit.
• The immortals quickly transfer their loyalty from the Heavenly Dao to the Dao Ancestor, revealing their preference for authority that appears sympathetic and accessible.

3. Significant Themes

• Perception versus reality: Qin Fen’s disguise and ambiguous statements show how authority depends on presentation. The immortals respond more strongly to the image of the Dao Ancestor than to the actual content of his words.
• Manipulation through vagueness: Qin Fen never directly promises anything, yet each faction interprets his sayings in its own favor.
• Political reform and opportunism: The reorganization of the Heavenly Court becomes both a necessary response to crisis and an opportunity for powerful figures to secure influence and benefits.
• Authority and legitimacy: Hongjun possesses formal power as the Heavenly Dao, but Qin Fen gains practical influence because the immortals trust and admire him more.
• Vanity and self-deception: The Jade Emperor’s desire for recognition causes him to believe whatever supports his sense of importance.
• Humor through irony: Hongjun knows Qin Fen is deceiving everyone, while the immortals—including the Jade Emperor—mistake the deception for profound wisdom.

4. Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and the Jade Emperor: Qin Fen flatters and misleads the Jade Emperor, convincing him that reform will increase his prestige. The Jade Emperor responds with complete loyalty.
• Qin Fen and the Queen Mother: The Queen Mother sees through Qin Fen’s performance and lightly criticizes him for manipulating the Jade Emperor, while Qin Fen proudly acknowledges her understanding.
• Qin Fen and Hongjun: Their rivalry becomes direct. Qin Fen publicly defeats Hongjun’s opposition through the immortals’ support and privately mocks him, nearly driving him into demonic deviation.
• Hongjun and the immortals: Hongjun feels increasingly abandoned as the immortals ignore his objections and compare his cold authority unfavorably with Qin Fen’s apparent kindness.
• Ziwei and Gouchen: They communicate tacitly and agree to support the reform for their own advantage, treating the crisis as an opportunity to profit from political change.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After eating, Qin Fen reflects on his suspicious rise to the position of Dao Ancestor. He realizes that Hongjun, despite being the incarnation of Heavenly Dao, seems unable to interfere with him.
• Qin Fen theorizes that his “One” may be something far greater than the ordinary “One That Escaped.” His ability to use Heavenly Dao’s power, send and seize red packets, and even receive Heavenly Dao’s assistance suggests that WeChat possesses a hidden authority or connection to the Great Dao.
• While Qin Fen is thinking, a purple aura enters Queen Mother’s forehead, granting her the mysterious Foundation of Dao Attainment. Neither Qin Fen nor Queen Mother understands its origin, though they suspect it may be connected to her status as an administrator.
• Unknown to them, the younger sister-in-law also receives a similar flash on her forehead.
• Wang Zhiqiang secretly observes the group. The voices of Mountain Demon, Enchanter Demon, and the youngest sister identify Queen Mother’s Foundation of Dao Attainment and decide to investigate and potentially seize it.
• Qin Fen, Queen Mother, and the younger sister-in-law go shopping before watching a movie. At the same time, Yan Bing orders Chameleon to follow Qin Fen and retrieve the Luminous Pearl and Revelation, which Yan believes are in his possession.
• Qin Fen senses that he is being watched, while Queen Mother detects an unnatural change in temperature. However, their suspicions are distracted by the younger sister-in-law’s insistence that Queen Mother try on clothes.
• Wang Zhiqiang attempts to disguise himself and spy on Qin Fen inside the clothing store. Enchanter Demon also tries to remain hidden, repeatedly mirroring Qin Fen’s movements.
• The disguise fails when Wang Zhiqiang accidentally grabs Chameleon in an extremely compromising manner. Chameleon panics and slaps him, causing him to tighten his grip and mysteriously destroy one of her breasts. Everyone is shocked when it appears that Wang Zhiqiang—or Enchanter Demon—may possess a strange magical ability.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Becomes increasingly suspicious of the true nature of WeChat and his Dao Ancestor status. He recognizes that his power may rival or surpass Heavenly Dao’s authority, though he still lacks an explanation for its source. He also becomes more alert to surveillance and threats.
• Queen Mother: Receives the Foundation of Dao Attainment, potentially marking a major step toward higher cultivation or sainthood. She grows more comfortable and physically close with Qin Fen, instinctively taking his hand and responding positively to his concern.
• Younger Sister-in-law: Continues to provide comic relief through her blunt comments and suggestive misunderstandings. She also appears to receive the Foundation of Dao Attainment without realizing it, suggesting she may be more important than expected.
• Wang Zhiqiang / Enchanter Demon: Acts as an undercover spy but is easily overwhelmed by the situation. His clumsy mistake reveals that he or Enchanter Demon may have an unusual destructive or magical power.
• Mountain Demon and the other demons: Become interested in the Foundation of Dao Attainment and begin planning how to obtain it.
• Chameleon: Follows Yan Bing’s orders despite fearing Qin Fen. Her attempt to escape the accidental assault only escalates the incident.
• Yan Bing: Establishes herself as an active antagonist, directing Chameleon to recover the Luminous Pearl and Revelation.

Significant Themes

• The hidden nature of power: Qin Fen’s strength appears to come from an unknown source that may transcend Heavenly Dao and the established structure of the Great Dao.
• Destiny and conspiracy: The mysterious Foundation of Dao Attainment and WeChat suggest that larger forces are manipulating events behind the scenes.
• Power and possession: The demons’ desire to seize the Foundation of Dao Attainment reflects the importance of cultivation resources and the lengths characters will go to obtain them.
• Surveillance and mistrust: Several groups secretly monitor Qin Fen, while he struggles to identify the threats around him.
• Comedy amid cosmic conflict: Grand metaphysical revelations are repeatedly interrupted by shopping, food jokes, suggestive misunderstandings, and slapstick accidents.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Queen Mother discuss the strange Foundation of Dao Attainment, though neither understands how it appeared. Their interaction shows growing closeness.
• The younger sister-in-law teases Qin Fen and gives Queen Mother fashion advice, creating awkward and humorous tension.
• Mountain Demon, Enchanter Demon, and the youngest sister debate whether and how the Foundation of Dao Attainment can be extracted.
• Yan Bing commands Chameleon to track Qin Fen and recover valuable treasures.
• Qin Fen repeatedly tries to detect the people following him, while Wang Zhiqiang and Enchanter Demon attempt increasingly ineffective disguises.
• The chapter ends with Chameleon and Wang Zhiqiang caught in a disastrous misunderstanding, culminating in an apparent supernatural attack and Enchanter Demon’s shocked realization that Wang may possess magical abilities.

Chapter Summary: “Follow or Not?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chameleon secretly infiltrates a women’s clothing store to monitor Qin Fen, hiding surveillance equipment and using artificial “magic” bra inserts as a disguise.
• Wang Zhiqiang, also undercover and hiding near Qin Fen, accidentally grabs Chameleon’s chest. His squeeze causes the silicone inserts to burst, creating a shocking scene.
• Chameleon slaps Wang twice to maintain her cover and escape Qin Fen’s attention, while Wang tries to conceal his identity by pretending to assist her.
• Qin Fen, Mei, the shop employees, and other customers become alarmed by Chameleon’s apparent injury. Qin offers medical help, but Chameleon insists she is fine.
• Wang is trapped between keeping Chameleon hidden and avoiding Qin Fen, who possesses the Eastern Emperor Bell and Haotian Tower—powerful artifacts capable of restraining or disabling him.
• Chameleon’s hidden camera falls out after the struggle. The store realizes she may have been secretly filming inside the fitting rooms, prompting accusations and pursuit.
• Chameleon escapes by kicking Wang in the groin, leaving him incapacitated. Qin Fen then recognizes Wang as “Professor Wang,” exposing his disguise.
• Queen Mother senses that Wang has a strange smell, but he explains it away as perfume from Chameleon.
• Qin Fen leaves with the two girls, then notices Chameleon and realizes that multiple groups—including Wang, Chameleon, and Yan Bing—are tracking him. He suspects the Sea-Calming Divine Pearl is nearby.
• At the end, Qin Fen deliberately announces that they are going to a movie and silently challenges the hidden pursuers to decide whether they will follow him.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Becomes increasingly suspicious and perceptive. He connects the presence of several spies to the possible location of the Sea-Calming Divine Pearl and begins testing whether they will continue following him.
• Chameleon: Her carefully planned surveillance operation collapses due to the bra mishap, Wang’s interference, and the loss of her camera. Her frustration grows, but she acts quickly and decisively to escape.
• Wang Zhiqiang: His disguise and self-control deteriorate throughout the incident. He is forced to endure Chameleon’s slaps, accidental exposure, and finally her kick, ultimately being recognized by Qin Fen.
• Queen Mother: Remains alert to supernatural irregularities, detecting that something about Wang is abnormal even though she cannot identify the cause.
• Mei: Reacts with shock and suspicion to Chameleon’s apparent resilience, briefly considering that she may possess unusual abilities.

Significant Themes

• Surveillance and counter-surveillance: Nearly everyone is observing or tracking someone else, while Qin Fen gradually realizes he is at the center of a larger conspiracy.
• Disguise and mistaken appearances: Chameleon and Wang attempt to hide their identities, but physical accidents and suspicious behavior repeatedly expose them.
• Comic humiliation amid danger: The scene combines powerful supernatural figures and dangerous artifacts with slapstick embarrassment, creating tension through absurdity.
• Strategic restraint: Wang and Chameleon cannot openly fight because Qin Fen and Queen Mother are too dangerous, forcing them to improvise and maintain their covers.
• The hunter becoming the hunted: Qin Fen recognizes that he is being followed and begins manipulating the pursuers instead of merely reacting to them.

Character Interactions

• Chameleon and Wang’s frantic struggle creates most of the chapter’s chaos; both need each other as cover but repeatedly endanger one another.
• Qin Fen tries to help Chameleon while unknowingly increasing the pressure on both undercover agents.
• Qin’s recognition of Wang shifts the encounter from comic confusion to a confrontation involving supernatural enemies.
• Queen Mother’s suspicion of Wang adds another layer of danger, though Wang successfully offers a temporary explanation.
• Qin Fen’s final invitation to the movie functions as a deliberate challenge to Chameleon, Wang, and the other hidden followers.

Qin Fen watched an animated movie with the Queen Mother while Wraith Demon attempted to possess him, mistaking his identity and then accidentally taking over Chameleon. Wraith Demon ended up trapped in Chameleon’s body for three days and struggled with her clothing.

• Qin Fen chose to watch Little Door Gods, and Chameleon entered the theater to plant a surveillance device on him while Mountain Demon, Wraith Demon, and Lesser Wraith followed.
• Wraith Demon tried to possess Qin Fen, but stopped when Qin Fen revealed the Treasure-Felling Coin, then learned from the Queen Mother that Qin Fen was Dongwang Gong and the Dao Ancestor.
• Wraith Demon’s brothers urged him to attack despite his fears, and he flew toward Qin Fen again as the Queen Mother questioned Qin Fen about his role and interests.
• Wraith Demon accidentally possessed Chameleon instead of Qin Fen and realized he would be stuck in her body for three days.
• Wraith Demon struggled with Chameleon’s clothes and shapewear, then pulled out a transparent pad as Qin Fen remarked that she would not find what she was looking for.

Wraith Demon and Lesser Wraith failed to possess Qin Fen and his companions, while Lesser Wraith uncovered a connection between Sun Yujie and Queen Mother that could lead to sagehood. After another Wish Stone shattered, Mountain Demon tried to intervene and found himself in a poodle’s body.

• Wraith Demon possessed Chameleon and awkwardly tried to approach Qin Fen in the theater, drawing complaints from the audience.
• Lesser Wraith attempted to possess Qin Fen’s sister-in-law but discovered that she was Sun Yujie and that her primordial spirit shared Queen Mother’s Foundation of Dao Attainment.
• Lesser Wraith’s intrusion loosened the Lady Meng Seal, giving Sun Yujie a vague vision and a new connection to Queen Mother.
• Qin Fen, Sun Yujie, and Queen Mother sensed something was wrong as another Wish Stone shattered.
• Mountain Demon tried to possess someone himself but opened his eyes in a poodle’s body, where a Pekingese sniffed at him.

Mountain Demon fled a Pekingese while Third struggled with the men's restroom, as the Queen Mother realized something about Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang and assumed Qin Fen knew what was happening. The chapter ended with Qin Fen confused by her explanation.

• Yan Bing's Sea-Calming Divine Pearl reacted, leading him to suspect Qin Fen had another pearl.
• Mountain Demon, in a poodle's body, ran from an amorous Pekingese and raced into the mall, where Wang Zhiqiang mocked him.
• Third rushed into the men's restroom, became trapped by his female body, and drew attention from men taking photographs.
• Sun Yujie worried about her strange visions while the Queen Mother recognized fragments of her Primordial Wilderness memories.
• The Queen Mother told Qin Fen she had figured out that Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang were missing from the Treasure-Dropping Money, but Qin Fen was bewildered.

Qin Fen learned that Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang were ancient beings born from Pangu’s resentment and that the Treasure-Dropping Money had imprisoned them. The Queen Mother revealed that the four had escaped into the Mortal Realm and were still nearby, leaving Qin Fen to face the crisis.

• Qin Fen told the Queen Mother that he had taken part in the Creation of Heaven and challenged the accepted account of Pangu’s death and Hongjun’s role.
• The Queen Mother explained that Pangu’s resentment gave rise to demons, Asuras, evil spirits, and Drought Demons, while Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang were born with unusual power.
• The Queen Mother described how Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang had helped cause calamity during the Yan-Huang Rebellion by inciting the fire god and water god and creating undying puppets.
• The Queen Mother realized that the Treasure-Dropping Money had been the prison of Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang, but something was missing from it.
• The Queen Mother confirmed that Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang had escaped into the Mortal Realm and were nearby, while the four beings remained unaware of the danger they faced.

The Queen Mother tried to cheer Qin Fen up after he worried about the dangerous Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang, but their conversation and his pets’ overheard assumptions led to an awkward misunderstanding. The chapter ended with Yao Chi making a pig face and oinking at him.

• After leaving the mall, Sun Yujie returned to her room to call Sun Yating, leaving Qin Fen alone with the Queen Mother.
• The Queen Mother saw that Qin Fen was unhappy and offered to have some fun to cheer him up.
• Qin Fen and the animals misinterpreted the Queen Mother’s suggestions as sexual advances, while she tried to work out how to make him happy.
• The Queen Mother tugged at her face, made a pig face, and oinked at Qin Fen.

Chapter Summary: A Chance Encounter, Dark Struggle Rekindled!

Key Plot Points and Events

• Queen Mother tries to flirt with Qin Fen using a confusing reference to “two hands and one mouth.” Qin Fen mistakenly expects something more suggestive, only to discover that she meant making funny faces.
• Their conversation becomes awkward because both misunderstand each other. Queen Mother thinks Qin Fen is a “bad man,” while Qin Fen assumes she is teasing him.
• Queen Mother admits that she does not understand certain aspects of romance and decides she must learn more, ultimately resolving to watch adult films from the island nation for “instruction.” The surrounding beasts completely misunderstand the exchange, believing the pair are discussing cultivation.
• Meanwhile, the Heavenly Court remains agitated after the day’s major events: Lu Ya’s elevation, Hongjun’s appearance, Qin Fen’s restructuring of the Heavenly Court, and the renewed Investiture of the Gods.
• Hongjun secretly contacts the newly awakened Lu Ya. He explains that Lu Ya’s role as Solar Star Lord is not merely to replace Qin Fen as Dongwang Gong, but to undermine Qin Fen’s rise to Dao Ancestor.
• Hongjun plans to exploit the chaos caused by Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang in the Mortal Realm. If the realm becomes a disaster, Qin Fen may be blamed, lose Merit, and have his incarnation erased by the Great Dao.
• Hongjun urges Lu Ya to achieve results that will satisfy the Heavenly Dao and seize control of the restructuring process. Lu Ya cleverly asks for assistance, and Hongjun agrees.
• Unable to recruit Primordial Lord or control the Heavenly Demon, Hongjun decides to impersonate the Dao Ancestor and approaches the Jade Emperor.
• The Jade Emperor eagerly assumes the message is truly from the Dao Ancestor and shamelessly pledges absolute loyalty. Hongjun then tempts him with the possibility of becoming a saint, intending to use him against Qin Fen.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Displays frustration and confusion during his exchange with Queen Mother, but also responds playfully once he realizes she is merely flirting. He remains unaware of the serious political conspiracy forming against him.
• Queen Mother: Reveals her inexperience with romantic and sexual matters. Her embarrassment, curiosity, and determination to “study” the subject create much of the chapter’s comedy.
• Lu Ya: Demonstrates intelligence and ambition. He immediately understands Hongjun’s indirect explanation and recognizes that the restructuring of the Heavenly Court is inevitable. However, he also shows caution by demanding support before taking risks.
• Hongjun: Becomes increasingly desperate and ruthless. He shifts from trying to obstruct Qin Fen directly to manipulating the Mortal Realm, Lu Ya, and the Jade Emperor. His hatred of Qin Fen drives him to use increasingly elaborate schemes.
• Jade Emperor: Is shown as vain, eager for recognition, and extremely willing to flatter authority. His excitement at being praised makes him easy for Hongjun to manipulate.

Significant Themes

• Miscommunication and comic misunderstanding: Qin Fen and Queen Mother interpret the same conversation in completely different ways, while the beasts mistakenly believe the discussion concerns cultivation.
• Political manipulation and power struggles: Hongjun seeks to delay Qin Fen’s ascension by controlling Merit, responsibility, and the Heavenly Court’s restructuring.
• Ambition and opportunism: Lu Ya and the Jade Emperor both pursue greater status, though Lu Ya is calculating while the Jade Emperor is openly sycophantic.
• Destiny versus interference: Qin Fen’s rise appears to be an unavoidable trend, yet Hongjun continues trying to delay or redirect it through schemes.
• Humor amid cosmic conflict: The chapter contrasts absurd romantic confusion with high-stakes struggles involving the Heavenly Dao, the Mortal Realm, and the future of the Heavenly Court.

Important Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Queen Mother: Their playful but awkward exchange is driven by mutual misunderstanding. Queen Mother’s embarrassment contrasts with Qin Fen’s teasing attitude.
• Queen Mother and the beasts: Her words are interpreted completely incorrectly by the onlookers, especially Xi, who confidently labels the conversation as a discussion of cultivation.
• Hongjun and Lu Ya: Hongjun reveals the true purpose behind Lu Ya’s promotion and recruits him into an anti-Qin Fen strategy. Lu Ya agrees but negotiates for assistance.
• Hongjun and the Jade Emperor: Hongjun impersonates the Dao Ancestor and exploits the Jade Emperor’s desire for approval and sainthood. The Jade Emperor eagerly offers himself as Hongjun’s weapon.
• Hongjun and Qin Fen: Though Qin Fen is not present for their confrontation, Hongjun’s entire plot is motivated by resentment and his determination to “screw Qin Fen to death.”

Chapter Summary: “Reorganization Begins, the Jade Emperor’s Ferocity”

Key Plot Points and Events

• During the night, the newly obtained Treasure-Dropping Money undergoes a mysterious transformation. Its gold lacquer disappears, and it changes into an eraser-like object after being enveloped by the golden light of The Cultivation of an Imperial Lord. This potentially removes the only known weapon capable of countering Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang.
• The Jade Emperor summons the Heavenly Court’s major officials, Imperial Lords, and Lu Ya Daojun to Soaring Firmament Palace. He intends to take advantage of Queen Mother’s absence and Qin Fen’s nonattendance to interfere in the coming reorganization.
• The Jade Emperor reveals that Hongjun has given him a one-use Investiture of the Gods scroll. He believes this gift will help him gain authority, recruit allies, and possibly advance toward Sainthood, though the reader understands that Hongjun’s motives are more complicated.
• At the meeting, the Jade Emperor adopts a noticeably more diplomatic and approachable manner. Calling himself the Heavenly Court’s “class monitor,” he argues that he has a duty to help establish the new department responsible for lotteries and Merit.
• He proposes using the Manufacturing, Warehouse Management, and Daily Duty Departments to provide logistics and oversight. Beneath this seemingly helpful proposal, he is attempting to place his own people and systems inside Qin Fen’s emerging organization.
• Lu Ya immediately objects, unwilling to surrender control while Qin Fen and Queen Mother are absent. Ziwei, however, subtly supports allowing the Jade Emperor to present his plan, hoping to secure some benefit from the power struggle.
• Just as the Jade Emperor is about to begin, Qin Fen suddenly appears through his phone and interrupts the meeting, having discovered what was taking place through WeChat.

Character Developments

• The Jade Emperor undergoes a major strategic shift. Instead of relying on intimidation, he uses courtesy, political language, and administrative authority to win ministers over and expand his influence. His confidence rises sharply after receiving Hongjun’s support and the Investiture of the Gods.
• Lu Ya Daojun remains proud and politically alert after his humiliation the previous day. He hides his embarrassment well and carefully watches the court, trying to identify Hongjun’s mysterious ally. However, he finds himself isolated when the Jade Emperor begins gathering support.
• Qin Fen remains politically unpredictable and vigilant. Though absent from the court physically, he monitors events through WeChat and arrives before the Jade Emperor can consolidate control.
• Queen Mother is absent and in seclusion, but her absence significantly affects the balance of power. The Jade Emperor sees it as an opportunity to act without directly violating his promise to recognize her position.
• Ziwei and Gouchen remain cautious and opportunistic, unwilling to oppose the Jade Emperor openly because of his connection to the Dao Ancestor. Ziwei chooses to support the meeting while waiting to see which side will prevail.
• Li Jing becomes uneasy at the Jade Emperor’s altered behavior and carefully withdraws his objection after being tactfully pressured.
• Hongjun and the Dao Ancestor are revealed to be manipulating events from behind the scenes. Hongjun uses the Jade Emperor’s ambition and misunderstanding of the “One” to further his own plans.

Significant Themes

• Political maneuvering and power vacuums: Qin Fen and Queen Mother’s absence creates an opening for the Jade Emperor to seize influence.
• Appearance versus intention: The Jade Emperor presents his intervention as assistance and responsibility, but his real goal is to infiltrate and control Qin Fen’s new department.
• Uncertain alliances: Nearly every official is trying to determine who supports Qin Fen, the Jade Emperor, Lu Ya, or Hongjun. The court functions like a game of hidden factions.
• Manipulation by higher powers: The Jade Emperor believes he is being elevated by the Dao Ancestor, while Hongjun is secretly using him as part of a larger scheme to disrupt the reorganization.
• Transformation and hidden danger: The Treasure-Dropping Money’s mysterious conversion suggests that powerful treasures may change roles or lose their expected functions, potentially altering the balance against Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang.
• Adaptability: The Jade Emperor learns from his past failures and changes tactics, becoming more restrained, persuasive, and politically sophisticated.

Important Character Interactions

• The Jade Emperor consults Thousand-Mile Eye about Queen Mother and Lu Ya, confirming that he is carefully planning around their positions.
• He uses Li Jing’s concern about Qin Fen’s absence to frame himself as a responsible ruler while subtly warning the ministers to cooperate.
• Lu Ya challenges the Jade Emperor’s attempt to interfere, creating the central confrontation of the meeting.
• Ziwei supports the Jade Emperor’s proposal, indirectly isolating Lu Ya and positioning himself to benefit from the reorganization.
• The Jade Emperor and Lu Ya engage in a quiet contest over authority, each watching for signs of hidden allies.
• Qin Fen’s sudden voice interrupts the meeting, preventing the Jade Emperor from proceeding unchallenged and signaling that he remains aware of the court’s political developments.

Chapter Summary: “Qin Fen Versus the Jade Emperor, the Jade Emperor Caved”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen appears in the Soaring Firmament Palace alongside Dongwang Gong, immediately frustrating Lu Ya and disrupting the Heavenly Court’s expectations.
• Contrary to their long history of violent conflict, the Jade Emperor adopts an unusually conciliatory attitude toward Qin Fen. He proposes cooperation over the Heavenly Court’s reorganization and claims that they should work together for the institution’s benefit.
• The assembled immortals—including Li Jing, the Eight Immortals, Ziwei, Gouchen, and Lu Ya—are shocked by the Jade Emperor’s behavior. They suspect hidden motives because his sudden friendliness is entirely out of character.
• Internally, the Jade Emperor explains his strategy: direct confrontation cannot overcome Dongwang Gong’s Heaven-ordained reorganization, so he intends to use diplomacy to secure influence and a share of the reorganization’s benefits. He is willing to endure humiliation and pretend to be magnanimous in order to achieve a larger goal.
• Qin Fen remains suspicious, correctly sensing that the Jade Emperor’s friendliness conceals a scheme, though he does not understand the precise nature of it.
• The Jade Emperor initially believes his soft approach is succeeding, but Qin Fen abruptly begins mocking his past humiliations:
  • His repeated fainting and vomiting blood after Qin Fen’s attacks.
  • His defeat at the hands of Sun Wukong.
  • His sister’s capture by a mortal.
  • The Third Holy Mother’s similar fate.
• Qin Fen repeatedly refuses to let the Jade Emperor change the subject, using each embarrassing incident to test whether his apparent reconciliation is genuine.
• The Jade Emperor becomes increasingly humiliated and exasperated, but continues restraining himself because he believes losing his temper would damage his long-term plans. He finally begs Qin Fen to conduct a proper discussion.

Character Developments

• The Jade Emperor: Demonstrates a major tactical shift. Rather than relying on force and authority, he adopts patience, flattery, and apparent cooperation to preserve his power and secure benefits from the reorganization. His willingness to tolerate insults shows his political ambition and self-control, though his internal frustration reveals how difficult the strategy is for him.
• Qin Fen: Remains wary, irreverent, and confrontational. He immediately detects that the Jade Emperor is acting unnaturally and responds by provoking him with humiliating reminders. His teasing is also a deliberate test of the Jade Emperor’s intentions.
• Lu Ya: Becomes increasingly suspicious and confused, particularly because the Jade Emperor’s behavior seems inconsistent with his apparent alignment with the Dao Ancestor.
• The Heavenly Court’s immortals: Their reactions emphasize how unprecedented the Jade Emperor’s apparent humility is. They are astonished, amused, and skeptical rather than reassured.
• Dongwang Gong: His presence is politically important. His Heaven-destined reorganization gives him a position the Jade Emperor cannot easily challenge, forcing the Jade Emperor to reconsider his usual confrontational tactics.

Significant Themes

• Diplomacy versus confrontation: The Jade Emperor recognizes that force is unlikely to defeat a Heaven-sanctioned opponent and turns to manipulation and compromise.
• Political pragmatism and sacrifice: The chapter portrays power politics as a willingness to endure temporary humiliation for greater long-term influence.
• Suspicion and hidden motives: Qin Fen and the other immortals understand that apparent harmony may conceal ambition and self-interest.
• Humor through humiliation: The chapter undercuts the Jade Emperor’s grandeur by repeatedly recalling his defeats and embarrassments, especially his defeat by Sun Wukong and his encounters with Qin Fen.
• Patience and restraint: The Jade Emperor repeatedly reminds himself that losing his temper would ruin his broader plans, making patience a strategic weapon rather than a moral virtue.

Character Interactions

• The Jade Emperor attempts to establish a cooperative relationship with Qin Fen through polite language and appeals to shared responsibility.
• Qin Fen responds with sarcasm instead of cooperation, exposing the gap between the Jade Emperor’s lofty claims and his humiliating past.
• The Jade Emperor tries several times to redirect the conversation, but Qin Fen deliberately returns to each painful subject.
• The surrounding immortals silently observe the exchange, struggling not to laugh and becoming increasingly convinced that the Jade Emperor’s supposed reconciliation is both politically motivated and comically fragile.

Chapter Summary: “Turbulent Winds and Treacherous Clouds, Hongjun’s Scheme”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen returns to the meeting after realizing that the Jade Emperor’s unusually cooperative behavior may conceal a scheme.
• He publicly humiliates the Jade Emperor by recalling his past failures and disgraces, including being deceived by Laozi, defeated by the Monkey, and suffering scandals involving his family.
• Despite his fury, the Jade Emperor suppresses his anger and insists that the meeting about restructuring proceed. His restraint alarms the other immortals, who suspect a conspiracy.
• Lu Ya attacks Qin Fen for disrupting the serious meeting and for acting without proper respect for authority. He hopes to intensify the conflict between Qin Fen and the Jade Emperor while benefiting from the chaos.
• The true mastermind, Hongjun, is revealed to be manipulating everyone through an information gap. He has secretly instructed the Jade Emperor to appear cooperative, oppose Qin Fen only partially, and use Lu Ya as a political target.
• Hongjun’s objective is to infiltrate Qin Fen’s restructuring project, gain his trust, and place the Dao Ancestor’s influence inside the new system rather than confronting Qin Fen directly.
• The Jade Emperor openly sides against Lu Ya, claiming that he is setting aside personal grudges for the good of the Heavenly Court. He criticizes Lu Ya for recommending personnel without Qin Fen’s approval.
• Qin Fen, stunned by the Jade Emperor’s apparent support, agrees with him. Their temporary cooperation shocks the assembled immortals and creates the impression that the Dao Ancestor has arranged an alliance between them.
• Hongjun and the Jade Emperor consider the first stage of their plan successful.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen remains suspicious and provocative, testing the Jade Emperor’s motives rather than accepting his behavior at face value. However, he is caught off guard when the Jade Emperor unexpectedly supports him.
• The Jade Emperor demonstrates unusual self-control and political flexibility. Instead of retaliating against Qin Fen’s insults, he adopts a righteous, conciliatory posture to gain Qin Fen’s trust and advance Hongjun’s agenda.
• Hongjun emerges as the chapter’s central strategist. He avoids direct confrontation and instead manipulates alliances, perceptions, and incomplete information to turn Qin Fen’s allies and enemies against one another.
• Lu Ya mistakenly believes the Jade Emperor may be his ally. His attempt to exploit the conflict backfires, leaving him isolated and unknowingly serving as Hongjun’s “cannon fodder.”
• The surrounding immortals become increasingly confused and wary as the Jade Emperor behaves contrary to his established character. Their reactions reinforce the sense that a major hidden conspiracy is unfolding.

Significant Themes

• Political manipulation and palace intrigue: Hongjun relies on indirect control, misinformation, and carefully staged alliances rather than open conflict.
• Appearance versus reality: The Jade Emperor’s public magnanimity and loyalty are largely a performance designed to conceal his true objectives.
• Trust as a weapon: The plan depends on making Qin Fen believe that the Jade Emperor has genuinely abandoned their old rivalry.
• Exploiting information gaps: Hongjun deliberately keeps Lu Ya and the Jade Emperor unaware of their shared connection, allowing him to manipulate both.
• Temporary alliances and shifting power: Former enemies briefly cooperate, demonstrating that political interests can override personal hatred.
• Sacrifice for a larger plan: Lu Ya is knowingly used as a disposable target, while the Jade Emperor’s pride is also sacrificed to advance Hongjun’s strategy.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and the Jade Emperor: Their usual hostility becomes a bizarre display of restraint and cooperation. Qin Fen provokes him, while the Jade Emperor pretends to forgive past grievances and publicly supports Qin Fen.
• Qin Fen and Lu Ya: Lu Ya criticizes Qin Fen’s conduct, while Qin Fen recognizes that Lu Ya is acting opportunistically and privately dismisses him as untrustworthy.
• Lu Ya and the Jade Emperor: Lu Ya expects the Jade Emperor to help oppose Qin Fen, but the Jade Emperor instead rebukes him, revealing that Lu Ya has misread the political situation.
• Hongjun and the Jade Emperor: Hongjun directs the Jade Emperor’s performance, instructing him to oppose Qin Fen only partially and use cooperation to infiltrate the restructuring effort.
• Hongjun and Lu Ya: Hongjun manipulates Lu Ya without his knowledge, deliberately allowing him to become the visible opponent whom Qin Fen and the Jade Emperor can jointly suppress.

Chapter Summary: Nail-Head Seven-Arrows Book, Lu Ya Unleashes His Ultimate Move

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hongjun’s appearance convinces the immortals that restructuring the Heavenly Court is unavoidable. With the Jade Emperor and Dongwang Gong apparently aligned, most officials decide to support the reform in order to secure their own benefits.
• Lu Ya becomes isolated and publicly criticized by Ziwei and Gouchen for trying to use improper influence. The other Imperial Lords and departmental Star Lords gradually shift toward Hongjun, Qin Fen, and the Jade Emperor.
• The Jade Emperor unexpectedly endorses Qin Fen’s proposed Civil Service Examination and restructuring plan. He presents himself as humble and cooperative, claiming that Qin Fen’s ideas are superior and that they should work together for the Heavenly Court.
• Beneath this apparent support, the Jade Emperor carefully limits Qin Fen’s independence. He argues that the new department must rely on the Manufacturing Department, Duty Merit Officers, Northern Constellations, Gouchen, and other existing Heavenly Court institutions.
• The Jade Emperor proposes placing officials from the major departments inside the new system, ensuring that Qin Fen’s project remains dependent on the established bureaucracy and ultimately under the Jade Emperor’s supervision.
• The Star Lords enthusiastically support the proposal because it guarantees them positions and benefits. Qin Fen realizes that openly rejecting the arrangement could allow the departments to obstruct the reform through delays and bureaucratic resistance.
• Just as Qin Fen is about to accept, Lu Ya interrupts. Fearing that the Jade Emperor and Qin Fen will completely exclude him, he decides to use the sinister Nail-Head Seven-Arrows Book against Qin Fen.
• Lu Ya attempts to activate the curse by calling out to Qin Fen and interpreting Qin Fen’s response as the required acknowledgment. However, because Qin Fen does not clearly identify himself as the person being addressed, Lu Ya accidentally creates a karmic connection to himself.
• When Lu Ya drives the first nail into the effigy, the curse rebounds. Qin Fen’s Infinite Damage Reflection ability causes the attack to return to Lu Ya, and the remaining nails begin affecting him as well.
• Lu Ya suffers severe pain and realizes too late that he has cursed himself.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen/Dongwang Gong: Shows increasing political awareness. He recognizes the Jade Emperor’s hidden attempt to control the reform but also understands that he needs the existing departments to make the Merit Lottery Platform function. His mysterious identity and karmic status remain central to the chapter.
• The Jade Emperor: Reveals himself as highly calculating and politically skilled. Rather than opposing Qin Fen directly, he publicly supports him while ensuring that the new system remains integrated into the Heavenly Court and subject to imperial oversight.
• Lu Ya: Becomes increasingly desperate and reckless. His humiliation, fear of losing influence, and resentment toward Qin Fen drive him to use a dangerous curse without fully understanding its karmic implications.
• Hongjun: Remains an observer and strategist. He recognizes that direct confrontation with Qin Fen is unwise and is pleased that the Jade Emperor’s maneuver both strengthens the reform and weakens Lu Ya.
• Ziwei and Gouchen: Quickly exploit Lu Ya’s political vulnerability, publicly criticizing him and helping shift the court’s allegiance away from him.
• The Star Lords: Demonstrate their self-interest by supporting whatever arrangement guarantees them participation in the new department.

Significant Themes

• Political maneuvering and control: Support for reform does not necessarily mean support for Qin Fen’s independence. The Jade Emperor turns cooperation into a method of control.
• Bureaucratic power: Even a revolutionary project must rely on existing institutions, giving established officials leverage over its operation.
• Karma and unintended consequences: Lu Ya’s attack fails because karmic laws interpret his words against him. His attempt to manipulate fate causes the curse to return to its originator.
• Identity and destiny: Qin Fen’s true status as the Dao Ancestor influences how magical treasures and karmic laws respond to him, while Lu Ya’s mistaken understanding of Qin Fen leads to his downfall.
• Hubris and desperation: Lu Ya’s refusal to accept political defeat drives him to act impulsively, turning a dangerous weapon against himself.

Character Interactions

• The Jade Emperor presents a courteous alliance to Qin Fen while subtly asserting authority over his reform.
• Ziwei and Gouchen join the public criticism of Lu Ya, isolating him from the other powerful figures.
• Qin Fen and the Jade Emperor agree that the reform requires cooperation from the Heavenly Court’s departments, though Qin Fen recognizes the trap within that agreement.
• Lu Ya attempts to manipulate Qin Fen through a verbal response, but the ambiguity of the exchange causes the Nail-Head Seven-Arrows Book to target Lu Ya instead.
• Hongjun observes the entire conflict, understanding both the Jade Emperor’s strategy and the karmic reason for Lu Ya’s backlash.

Chapter Summary: “Lu Ya, Crying Isn’t a Sin”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen counters Lu Ya’s Nail-Head Seven-Arrows Book through a verbal trap. By answering Lu Ya’s call in a way that makes the magical treasure identify Lu Ya himself as the target, Qin Fen turns the curse back on its owner.
• The curse activates, pinning Lu Ya’s soul and leaving him unable to speak or move properly. He secretly tries to reach the curse doll beneath the table so he can deactivate the spell.
• The Jade Emperor mistakenly assumes Lu Ya has merely relapsed from his earlier illness and repeatedly praises his dedication instead of realizing he is under attack.
• Qin Fen arrives in person. While taking his seat, he accidentally steps on the cursed doll, causing Lu Ya to vomit blood as all seven needles pierce the doll at once.
• Qin Fen unknowingly steps on the doll again, intensifying Lu Ya’s suffering and paralyzing him completely. Lu Ya is unable to explain what is happening and can only shake his head and silently beg Qin Fen to move away.
• The immortals interpret Lu Ya’s condition and refusal to leave as proof of his loyalty and perseverance. The Jade Emperor even suggests beginning the meeting quickly so Lu Ya can return home sooner.
• When Qin Fen turns to leave, he steps on and crushes the doll once more. Lu Ya is left in agony, inwardly blaming both Qin Fen and the Jade Emperor for accidentally “playing him to death.”

Character Developments

• Qin Fen demonstrates cleverness and composure by exploiting the magical treasure’s inability to recognize a linguistic trick. He also remains completely unaware that his actions are repeatedly worsening Lu Ya’s condition.
• Lu Ya shifts from a powerful, confident schemer to a helpless victim of his own curse. His attempts to endure silently are mistaken for heroic devotion, creating the chapter’s central comic irony.
• The Jade Emperor and the immortals reveal their tendency to judge appearances rather than investigate. They idealize Lu Ya’s suffering as loyalty to the Heavenly Court, completely misunderstanding his desperate situation.
• Lu Ya’s vulnerability is emphasized through his inability to speak, move, or control events, despite his Quasi-Saint cultivation and possession of a dangerous magical treasure.

Significant Themes

• Karma and ironic reversal: Lu Ya’s own curse is turned against him through his connection to the magical treasure and Dongwang Gong’s identity.
• Appearance versus reality: Everyone believes Lu Ya is nobly enduring illness, while he is actually being tortured by his own artifact.
• Unintended consequences: Qin Fen’s innocent movements repeatedly trigger the curse, showing how ignorance can be more destructive than deliberate hostility.
• Humorous suffering and dramatic irony: The chapter presents Lu Ya’s extreme pain comically because the readers understand the truth while the surrounding characters do not.
• Crying and vulnerability: The title humorously suggests that even powerful men and immortals can be reduced to tears when placed in an impossible situation.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Lu Ya: Qin Fen unintentionally torments Lu Ya by stepping on the curse doll several times, while Lu Ya can only stare, shake his head, and silently plead for him to stop.
• Lu Ya and the Jade Emperor: Lu Ya tries to signal that something is wrong, but the Jade Emperor interprets his silence and resistance as determination and loyalty.
• The immortals and Lu Ya: The surrounding officials praise Lu Ya’s supposed perseverance, reinforcing the misunderstanding and making his helpless frustration worse.
• Qin Fen and the assembly: Qin Fen is treated as an important participant in the Heavenly Court meeting, while his accidental interference with the curse becomes the hidden cause of Lu Ya’s worsening condition.
  The chapter ends with Lu Ya suffering in silence as everyone around him celebrates his “devotion,” while Qin Fen unknowingly causes the curse to intensify again.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen sits down beside Lu Ya, accidentally crushing Lu Ya’s lower body. Lu Ya is left in severe pain and unable to move or speak properly.
• The Jade Emperor suggests continuing the meeting while privately arranging for Hua Tuo to treat Lu Ya, maintaining the appearance of magnanimity toward Hongjun’s disciple.
• Ziwei proposes that the various Star Lords contribute ideas about establishing the new department. The Jade Emperor agrees, intending to share credit while gradually weakening Qin Fen’s influence.
• Qin Fen becomes bored during the political discussion. Matchmaker Yue avoids him, and Li Jing hides under the table to avoid attracting his attention.
• Qin Fen discovers Lu Ya’s hidden Nail-Head Seven-Arrows Book, a powerful treasure capable of harming the soul. Lu Ya panics because exposure of his secret curse would ruin his reputation.
• Qin Fen cannot read the seal script on the doll and mistakenly treats it as a curious toy. He repeatedly pulls out and reinserts its needles, unknowingly inflicting unbearable pain on Lu Ya.
• When Qin Fen begins targeting the doll’s lower abdomen, Lu Ya finally manages to shout for him to stop. However, Qin Fen misunderstands “Don’t stop” as encouragement to continue, while the Jade Emperor interprets Lu Ya’s words as evidence of his dedication to the meeting.
• Lu Ya ends the chapter in despair, furious that Qin Fen’s innocent teasing is torturing him and that nobody understands what he is trying to say.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Remains carefree, mischievous, and politically disengaged. He is unaware of the doll’s true function and treats a dangerous primordial treasure like a toy.
• Lu Ya: Shifts from resentment and fear to complete panic and humiliation. His greatest concern becomes not his physical injury but the discovery that he used the curse treasure against himself. His helplessness emphasizes how thoroughly Qin Fen has gained the upper hand.
• The Jade Emperor: Displays political calculation by appearing charitable toward Lu Ya while attempting to control the restructuring discussion and diminish Qin Fen’s achievements.
• Ziwei: Shows ambition and pragmatism by seeking a share of the credit and influence surrounding the new department.
• Li Jing and Matchmaker Yue: Both avoid Qin Fen, revealing their fear of provoking him based on his past behavior and power.

Significant Themes

• Comic misunderstanding: Lu Ya’s desperate attempts to communicate are repeatedly misread, turning his suffering into farce.
• Power and helplessness: Despite Lu Ya’s status and powerful treasure, he is completely powerless against Qin Fen’s casual actions.
• Political maneuvering: The Heavenly Court meeting is presented as a cooperative discussion, but the Jade Emperor and Ziwei are quietly competing for influence and credit.
• Appearance versus reality: The immortals assume the doll is harmless because such a sinister act seems impossible in the Soaring Firmament Palace, while the reader knows it is genuinely harming Lu Ya.
• Humiliation through secrecy: Lu Ya fears public exposure of his cursecraft even more than the pain itself, especially because the treasure has accidentally become evidence of his own foolishness.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Lu Ya: Their interaction drives the chapter. Qin Fen’s playful handling of the Nail-Head Seven-Arrows Book causes Lu Ya escalating agony, while Lu Ya’s attempts to protest only create further misunderstandings.
• Qin Fen and the Jade Emperor: Qin Fen’s interruptions and behavior contrast with the Jade Emperor’s formal political management. The Jade Emperor repeatedly interprets events to preserve the meeting’s dignity.
• Qin Fen and Li Jing/Matchmaker Yue: Their avoidance demonstrates the fear and caution Qin Fen inspires among other immortals.
• Jade Emperor and Ziwei: They cooperate publicly on the meeting while privately competing to claim credit and influence over the new department.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ya, overwhelmed by pain and frustration, realizes that his attempts to stop the proceedings have been ignored. The immortals continue discussing the Heavenly Court’s restructuring and the proposed lottery.
• Qin Fen secretly tortures Lu Ya through a doll connected to the Nail-Head Seven-Arrows Book, piercing it in increasingly painful ways. Lu Ya is already weakened from having his soul torn apart twice, leaving him nearly incapacitated.
• Qin Fen notices Lu Ya crying but deliberately misinterprets it as emotional support for the Heavenly Court’s supposed harmony. Lu Ya cannot explain the truth and internally curses him.
• Qin Fen reveals his practical intentions: the restructuring and lottery will allow him to collect a small profit, influence the Demon Tribe, gain Merit, and ultimately advance toward learning the Seventy-Two Earthly Transformations. He is less interested in wealth than in strengthening his Dao.
• Qin Fen becomes suspicious of the unnatural behavior of both Lu Ya and the Jade Emperor. He speculates that Hongjun may be manipulating events because Qin Fen’s WeChat ability appears to be growing into a force that could rival or replace the Heavenly Dao.
• Qin Fen takes the doll containing Lu Ya’s name and casually puts it in his pocket, unaware—or pretending not to care—that Lu Ya must recover it within seven days to avoid death.
• Lu Ya attempts to rise and ask for the doll back, but Qin Fen interprets his movement as proof that he has recovered. Qin Fen slaps his thigh, accidentally causing Lu Ya’s leg to break again and making him collapse.
• The Jade Emperor uses Lu Ya’s condition as an excuse to remove him from the meeting, ordering that he be treated and sent home. Lu Ya realizes that without the doll, he may soon die.
• Hongjun observes the situation and concludes that Lu Ya has served as convenient “cannon fodder,” allowing the Jade Emperor to proceed freely with his plans.

Character Developments

• Lu Ya becomes increasingly helpless and desperate. Once confident in his power and survival, he is forced to confront the possibility of death, especially after losing control of the Nail-Head Seven-Arrows Book.
• Qin Fen is shown to be calculating, self-interested, and strategically patient. He uses the restructuring for long-term cultivation and influence rather than immediate profit, while also remaining suspicious of hidden powers manipulating events.
• The Jade Emperor appears outwardly cooperative and cordial toward Ziwei and Gouchen, but his behavior suggests he is exploiting the situation to consolidate control and remove Lu Ya as an obstacle.
• Hongjun is revealed as an active observer and likely mastermind. He recognizes the larger political maneuvering and appears unconcerned that Qin Fen may suspect his involvement.

Significant Themes

• Cruelty and helplessness: Lu Ya’s suffering is ignored because the broader political discussion matters more to everyone else.
• Manipulation and hidden agendas: The meeting’s apparent cooperation conceals competing plans by Qin Fen, the Jade Emperor, and Hongjun.
• Power versus perception: Qin Fen’s casual behavior masks his deeper strategy, while Lu Ya’s attempts to communicate are misunderstood or disregarded.
• Death and vulnerability: Lu Ya, who once seemed nearly untouchable, is reduced to panic over his mortality.
• Long-term strategy over immediate gain: Qin Fen values the restructuring mainly as a means to accumulate Merit, influence the Demon Tribe, and advance his cultivation.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ya silently glares at Qin Fen with grief and hatred while Qin Fen repeatedly misunderstands his tears and physical reactions.
• Qin Fen and Lu Ya speak privately, with Qin Fen insisting that the restructuring should proceed while Lu Ya struggles to understand Qin Fen’s real motives.
• Qin Fen watches the Jade Emperor suspiciously, sensing that both the Emperor and Lu Ya are behaving abnormally.
• Qin Fen and Hongjun exchange a meaningful glance, suggesting mutual awareness and an escalating conflict involving WeChat and the Heavenly Dao.
• The Jade Emperor publicly treats Lu Ya as a sick official needing care, but privately benefits from his removal. Hongjun recognizes this as the turning point that clears the way for the Jade Emperor’s next move.

Lu Ya collapsed from an unexplained, seemingly fatal condition while the Heavenly Court debated the escape of Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang and the danger they posed. The Jade Emperor decided to use Samadhi True Fire to treat Lu Ya, but Qin Fen volunteered to help, leaving Lu Ya terrified.

• Hua Tuo examined Lu Ya and diagnosed severe organ weakness and strained tendons, while the immortals wondered whether he had the five declines of heaven and man.
• Thousand-Mile Eye announced that Zhao Gongming had arrived with a decree from Heavenly Lord Tongtian, and Zhao reported that Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang had escaped.
• Zhao Gongming delivered Tongtian’s private letter to Qin Fen and revealed that Tongtian also had instructions concerning Lu Ya.
• Zhao Gongming and the Jade Emperor learned that Lu Ya might be needed to capture Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang with the Nail-Head Seven-Arrows Book, which could target their souls.
• Hua Tuo proposed treating Lu Ya with fire, and the Jade Emperor called for Lord Lao’s Eight Trigrams Furnace.
• Qin Fen offered to help with Samadhi True Fire, and Lu Ya panicked when he saw that Qin Fen was the one who had volunteered.

Qin Fen used his phone’s bomb and Samadhi True Fire emojis on Lu Ya, whose severe injuries made the attack agonizing even as the immortals mistook his screaming for recovery. The chapter left Lu Ya burning and in unbearable pain while Hongjun observed that his soul was beginning to change.

• The Jade Emperor and the other immortals asked Qin Fen to use Samadhi True Fire to help Lu Ya deal with Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang.
• Qin Fen summoned a bomb emoji above Lu Ya and detonated it, sending the already injured Golden Crow crashing into flames.
• Qin Fen’s Heavenly Dao-powered fire burned Lu Ya’s soul, causing him to scream while Hua Tuo and the immortals wrongly concluded that he was recovering.
• At the Jade Emperor’s urging, Qin Fen threw two more bombs, then discovered he could not use any more as Lu Ya writhed in pain.
• Lu Ya noticed a subtle change in his soul, and Hongjun declared that everything was unfolding as he had anticipated.

Chapter Summary: Karmic Fire and Thunderfire Are Both Fire! Showing Off Too Much Got Him Struck by Lightning

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ya endures Qin Fen’s Samadhi True Fire and realizes the flames are weakening the Nail-Head Seven-Arrows Book’s control over his primordial spirit. He begins recovering and hopes to reclaim the cursed book.
• Qin Fen discovers that his “bomb” ability has a limited number of uses and cannot immediately send out another attack.
• The Jade Emperor orders the immortals to help maintain the flames. Wang Lingguan adds Heavenly Fire, Lü Dongbin contributes Pure Yang True Fire, and Thunder Duke and Lightning Mother unleash Thunderfire.
• The combined flames restore Lu Ya’s magic power and allow him to stand again. Believing himself close to recovery, Lu Ya arrogantly invites everyone to send more fire.
• Qin Fen uses his strange “poop” ability three times. The resulting explosions transform into Karmic Fire, which wraps around Lu Ya and rapidly consumes his Merit.
• The immortals explain that Karmic Fire is not ordinary flame but the manifestation of karmic force. It threatens Lu Ya’s future cultivation and chances of attaining sainthood.
• Qin Fen, misunderstanding the nature of the flames, decides to use Purple Firmament Divine Thunder to dispel the Karmic Fire. The moment he activates it, the Nail-Head Seven-Arrows Book burns up and disappears.
• Lu Ya believes the crisis is over and boasts that he has recovered. However, the heavens darken, and an enormous bolt of Purple Firmament Divine Thunder forms above the palace.
• The chapter ends with the terrifying lightning descending directly toward Lu Ya, who is horrified that it appears to be targeting him.

Character Developments

• Lu Ya: Moves from despair to renewed confidence as the various flames restore his strength. His arrogance returns too quickly, and his boastful remark prompts Qin Fen to escalate the attack. He becomes increasingly fearful when Karmic Fire damages his Merit and finally panics at the arrival of Purple Firmament Divine Thunder.
• Qin Fen: Remains honest about his limited abilities but acts unpredictably because of his lack of cultivation knowledge. His bizarre powers accidentally produce Karmic Fire, and his attempt to help Lu Ya instead triggers an even more dangerous heavenly punishment.
• The Jade Emperor: Initially anxious that the rescue attempt will fail, he coordinates the immortals’ efforts and is relieved when Lu Ya begins recovering. He is later alarmed and embarrassed by Qin Fen’s strange methods.
• Wang Lingguan, Lü Dongbin, Thunder Duke, and Lightning Mother: Each contributes a different kind of flame or lightning, demonstrating cooperation among the immortals and helping Lu Ya regain his strength.
• Li Jing and the other immortals: Their confidence collapses when Qin Fen’s Karmic Fire and Purple Firmament Divine Thunder appear. Li Jing in particular is terrified by the lightning because of his previous trauma.

Significant Themes

• Unintended consequences: Qin Fen tries to help but repeatedly creates more dangerous problems through ignorance and unconventional methods.
• Arrogance and retribution: Lu Ya’s boast that ordinary flames are beneath him is immediately followed by Qin Fen’s Karmic Fire and leads indirectly to the heavenly lightning strike.
• The complexity of power: The chapter distinguishes between ordinary flames, Heavenly Fire, Pure Yang True Fire, Thunderfire, Karmic Fire, and Purple Firmament Divine Thunder, showing that similar-looking forces can have completely different natures.
• Collective cooperation versus individual recklessness: The immortals work together effectively to restore Lu Ya, but Qin Fen’s isolated, impulsive actions repeatedly disrupt their efforts.
• Comedy amid danger: Catastrophic divine forces are treated with absurd humor, especially Qin Fen’s poop-based attacks and the immortals’ disgust and panic.

Character Interactions

• The Jade Emperor repeatedly urges Qin Fen and the immortals to continue helping Lu Ya.
• Wang Lingguan, Lü Dongbin, Thunder Duke, and Lightning Mother coordinate their powers to support Lu Ya’s recovery.
• Lu Ya encourages everyone to increase the flames, unaware that Qin Fen is preparing another attack.
• Qin Fen questions the nature of Karmic Fire and Thunderfire, exposing his limited understanding and prompting explanations from the Jade Emperor, Ziwei, and Thunder Duke.
• Lu Ya gives Qin Fen an angry, suspicious look after the Karmic Fire appears, while Qin Fen awkwardly realizes he may have made a mistake.
• Just as Lu Ya thanks the immortals and assumes he has survived, the divine thunder appears, leaving everyone—including Lu Ya—terrified and confused.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The Heavenly Dao suddenly summons the terrifying Purple Firmament Divine Thunder against Lu Ya, shocking the entire court because Lu Ya appears to have committed no crime deserving such punishment.
• The lightning’s power disrupts all spells connected to Lu Ya, automatically erasing the talismans from the Nail-Head Seven-Arrows Book and freeing him from its curse.
• Lu Ya loses contact with the book just before the thunder strikes. He is engulfed in Purple Firmament lightning and thunderfire, leaving him temporarily unable to move or speak.
• Qin Fen casually claims that Lu Ya is being “reborn through fire,” interpreting the thunderfire as a form of Phoenix-like Nirvana. The others are skeptical but cannot contradict him.
• After the lightning disappears, Lu Ya is badly charred, hairless, numb, and exhausted. Hua Tuo discovers that Lu Ya’s internal organs have somehow improved, leading the court to accept the event as a miraculous healing.
• Lu Ya collapses and is carried away, while the court meeting resumes.
• Qin Fen secretly puts his phone away. A purple light passes through it, and the Nail-Head Seven-Arrows Book releases purple qi; the doll inside suddenly smiles, apparently acknowledging a new master.
• Hongjun concludes that the Great Dao deliberately arranged events to give Qin Fen a way to resolve his mistake. He believes Qin Fen’s connection to the book reveals a weakness he can exploit.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Ya: Experiences extreme fear, indignation, and physical suffering, but survives the Purple Firmament Divine Thunder. His curse is removed, though he is left severely weakened and determined to reclaim the Nail-Head Seven-Arrows Book.
• Qin Fen: Remains absurdly calm and oblivious to the danger, describing Lu Ya’s near-destruction as “rebirth through fire.” His actions unintentionally—or perhaps secretly—lead to the Nail-Head Seven-Arrows Book recognizing him.
• Hongjun: Becomes increasingly convinced that Qin Fen’s seemingly chaotic actions are guided by the Great Dao. He also believes he has finally discovered a vulnerability in Qin Fen.
• Jade Emperor: Grows more distrustful of the Heavenly Dao, recalling how similar incidents previously caused him trouble. He is relieved to see Lu Ya survive and helps restore order to the court.
• Hua Tuo: Treats Lu Ya after the attack and enthusiastically interprets his improved organs as evidence of successful healing.
• Thunder Duke and the immortals: React with confusion and disbelief to Qin Fen’s explanation, but gradually accept the event as an extraordinary form of rebirth.

3. Significant Themes

• Chaos mistaken for destiny: Qin Fen’s reckless behavior appears to fit into a larger cosmic plan, causing others to interpret accidents as arrangements of the Great Dao.
• Misunderstanding and absurdity: The court repeatedly misreads Lu Ya’s suffering as a miraculous treatment rather than a brutal punishment.
• Power and mistrust of authority: The Heavenly Dao’s unexplained intervention makes the immortals question its reliability and motives.
• Transformation through suffering: Lu Ya’s destruction by thunderfire is humorously reframed as healing and rebirth.
• Hidden ownership and manipulation: The Nail-Head Seven-Arrows Book’s apparent acceptance of Qin Fen suggests a major shift in power and gives Hongjun a possible means of controlling or challenging him.

4. Character Interactions

• The Jade Emperor and Ziwei privately criticize the Heavenly Dao’s unpredictable behavior.
• Hongjun complains to Qin Fen about repeatedly taking the blame for his actions, while secretly analyzing how Qin Fen’s problems may benefit him.
• Qin Fen argues with Thunder Duke over whether thunderfire qualifies as the “fire” of rebirth, leaving Thunder Duke speechless.
• Hua Tuo examines Lu Ya and celebrates his improved condition, despite Lu Ya’s obvious agony.
• Li Jing praises Lu Ya for surviving Purple Firmament head-on, while Lu Ya silently resents the court’s distorted interpretation of the event.
• Hongjun observes the Nail-Head Seven-Arrows Book’s reaction to Qin Fen and privately decides that Qin Fen’s new connection to it exposes a weakness.