Chapter Summaries

Wraith Demon absorbed the Tainted Blood, spreading a plague that threw the Mortal and Celestial Realms into chaos. As the Queen Mother sacrificed herself to buy time and the Heavenly Demon hesitated, Qin Fen used his phone and the Heavenly Book to bestow a divine title on the Heavenly Demon.

• Hongjun watched Wraith Demon merge with the Tainted Blood and revealed that his plan was to target Qin Fen's incarnation rather than kill Qin Fen himself.
• Wraith Demon's growing blood energy infected creatures across the realms, triggering chaos among humans, demons, and immortals as the Saints mobilized.
• Tongtian and Lord Lao set out to protect their followers and realms, while the Buddhist School used golden light to shield Spirit Mountain from the plague.
• Wraith Demon swallowed the Tainted Blood, and its power rapidly drained the Queen Mother's vitality as she urged Qin Fen to escape.
• The Queen Mother confessed her feelings to Qin Fen and stayed to hold Wraith Demon back, while the Heavenly Demon weighed whether to flee.
• Qin Fen opened the Celestial Realm group chat and bestowed a divine title on the Heavenly Demon, causing the Heavenly Book to shine with purple light.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Wraith Demon, empowered by Pangu Tainted Blood, believes he has become nearly invincible and prepares to slaughter Qin Fen, the Queen Mother, and the others.
• Qin Fen realizes that the Heavenly Book may be connected to WeChat’s exclusive-title function. He designates the Heavenly Demon as his “trusted confidant,” effectively giving him official status within the Great Dao.
• The Heavenly Demon is deeply moved by this recognition. Having previously been treated as a disposable tool by Hongjun, he now feels acknowledged and valued by Qin Fen.
• Hongjun dismisses the appointment, believing the Heavenly Demon cannot defeat Wraith Demon and that his own scheme will still force Qin Fen to bear responsibility for destroying the Mortal Realm.
• Qin Fen orders the Heavenly Demon to prove his loyalty. Encouraged by Qin Fen’s confidence, the Heavenly Demon attacks Wraith Demon.
• The Heavenly Demon swallows Wraith Demon whole. Because Qin Fen’s appointment places him within the Great Dao’s authority—on a level comparable to Pangu—the Heavenly Demon gains the ability to absorb Pangu Tainted Blood.
• Hongjun realizes that he miscalculated: the true demon produced by the combined resentment is not Wraith Demon, but the Primordial Heavenly Demon.
• As the Heavenly Demon absorbs Wraith Demon and grows rapidly stronger, Hongjun understands that he may have accidentally created a powerful, uncontrollable ally for Qin Fen.

2. Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Demonstrates his characteristic deceptiveness and strategic intelligence. Although widely regarded as weak, he discovers that his titles and appointments can alter the laws of the Great Dao.
• Heavenly Demon: Experiences a major emotional shift from neglected tool to officially recognized subordinate. His gratitude and loyalty toward Qin Fen become absolute, and his power rises dramatically after absorbing Wraith Demon.
• Wraith Demon: Begins the chapter arrogant and confident because of the tainted blood, but is quickly defeated and devoured once the Heavenly Demon’s status changes.
• Hongjun: Suffers a major strategic setback. His carefully planned catastrophe goes wrong when the Heavenly Demon, rather than Wraith Demon, becomes the dominant demon. He also loses control over the being he unintentionally empowers.

3. Significant Themes

• The power of recognition and authority: Qin Fen’s simple title transforms the Heavenly Demon’s status and unlocks powers that were previously inaccessible.
• Unintended consequences: Hongjun’s elaborate scheme produces the opposite result, strengthening Qin Fen instead of destroying him.
• Loyalty versus manipulation: Hongjun treats the Heavenly Demon as a disposable instrument, while Qin Fen’s recognition inspires genuine devotion.
• Appearances versus reality: Qin Fen’s apparent weakness causes others to underestimate him, but his ability to exploit overlooked rules makes him exceptionally dangerous.
• Fate and the Great Dao: Official designation within the Dao can determine a being’s nature, abilities, and ultimate destiny.

4. Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and the Heavenly Demon develop a master-and-loyal-servant relationship, with Qin Fen deliberately testing and rewarding the demon’s loyalty.
• The Heavenly Demon’s resentment toward his former treatment under Hongjun is replaced by emotional allegiance to Qin Fen.
• The Heavenly Demon confronts and devours Wraith Demon, absorbing both his resentment and the Pangu Tainted Blood.
• Hongjun watches the confrontation with confidence at first, then reacts with shock and frustration as his plan collapses and the Heavenly Demon becomes Qin Fen’s powerful “mad dog.”

Hongjun tried to turn Pangu’s tainted blood against the Heavenly Demon, but the plan went awry as Wraith Demon’s true spirit escaped and the blood began consuming the Heavenly Demon. Qin Fen’s Wish Stone reacted at the last moment, leaving Hongjun unable to control the tainted blood.

• Hongjun realized the Heavenly Demon was becoming a source of evil and tried to reverse the tainted blood with his power as Pangu’s True Body.
• The Heavenly Demon defeated Wraith Demon, restored the Queen Mother, and won Qin Fen’s praise, while Hongjun warned that the true spirit and tainted blood could still turn against him.
• The tainted blood rebelled inside the Heavenly Demon, and Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang’s true spirit flew out as the Heavenly Demon begged Qin Fen for help.
• Qin Fen reassured the Heavenly Demon, and his ring shattered another Wish Stone, preventing Hongjun from controlling the tainted blood.

Qin Fen unknowingly took control of the Heavenly Dao System and saved the Heavenly Demon, while Hongjun’s schemes instead empowered both Sun Yujie and the Heavenly Demon. The chapter ended with Hongjun’s Dao Heart shattering as he watched his plans backfire.

• Qin Fen’s Supreme Set, Heavenly Book, and Wish Stone displaced Hongjun as administrator of the Heavenly Dao System, which suppressed the tainted blood inside the Heavenly Demon.
• A blue orb entered Sun Yujie, and the Heavenly Demon realized Lesser Wraith remained sealed within her while Hongjun understood the True Spirits would now benefit her.
• The tainted blood transformed the Heavenly Demon into a far stronger being, but he feared Qin Fen and knelt to apologize for frightening Sun Yujie.
• Hongjun lamented that his intervention had strengthened Qin Fen’s allies and the Heavenly Demon, then heard his Dao Heart crack and crumble.

Hongjun lost his Dao Heart and blamed Qin Fen, while Qin Fen subdued the newly empowered Heavenly Demon and warned him to prepare for Hongjun. Hongjun then tempted the Heavenly Demon with the promise of power, leaving him eyeing Qin Fen’s unconscious sister-in-law.

• Hongjun realized that his schemes had led to the destruction of his Dao Heart and his chance to advance.
• Qin Fen ended the crisis, and the Heavenly Demon thanked him and pledged his loyalty.
• Qin Fen told the Heavenly Demon to prepare for Hongjun, whom he suspected of stirring up trouble.
• Hongjun swore that he and Qin Fen could never coexist, then promised the Heavenly Demon a chance to surpass the Saints by obtaining the four True Spirits within Qin Fen’s sister-in-law.
• The Heavenly Demon considered devouring Lesser Wraith and the True Spirits, despite Qin Fen being nearby.

Chapter Summary

• Plot and events: Hongjun successfully manipulates the Heavenly Demon into considering betrayal. He realizes the Demon’s ambition and encourages him to exploit a loophole in the Investiture of the Gods: rather than attack Qin Fen directly, the Heavenly Demon plans to target Sun Yujie, a mortal Qin Fen cannot protect forever. Believing Qin Fen has lowered his guard, the Heavenly Demon pretends loyalty and leaves, delighted by Qin Fen’s formal words of trust.
• Unexpected reversal: As the Heavenly Demon departs, the Heavenly Book activates and redirects him—not to the Mortal Realm, but to Hongjun’s Primordial Palace. Both Hongjun and the Heavenly Demon are shocked by the unexpected encounter. Instead of becoming a weapon against Qin Fen, the Heavenly Demon is forced into the role he was created to fulfill: attacking Hongjun’s Dao Heart.

Character developments

• Hongjun becomes increasingly confident and manipulative, believing he has found a way to make Qin Fen responsible for chaos in the Celestial Realm. His confidence collapses when he realizes Qin Fen has unintentionally—or deliberately—sent the Heavenly Demon against him.
• The Heavenly Demon shifts from eager subordinate to secret conspirator. He fantasizes about rising to power and betraying Qin Fen, but his confidence turns to panic when he is transported back to Hongjun.
• Qin Fen remains unaware of the Heavenly Demon’s betrayal. His casual encouragement and command to “do your job properly” inadvertently activate the Heavenly Demon’s true function.
• Hongjun and the Heavenly Demon are revealed as opposing manifestations of the same cosmic conflict: the Heavenly Demon is essentially Pangu’s Heart Demon and Hongjun’s natural counterforce.
• Themes: The chapter emphasizes betrayal, manipulation, unintended consequences, and the danger of overconfidence. Characters attempt to exploit loopholes and control fate, only to discover that their plans can be redirected by forces beyond their understanding. It also highlights dramatic irony: both Hongjun and the Heavenly Demon believe they are about to benefit, while the Heavenly Book has already determined a very different outcome.
• Character interactions: Hongjun deliberately tempts the Heavenly Demon with power and rebellion. The Heavenly Demon performs loyalty before Qin Fen while secretly plotting against him. Qin Fen unknowingly reassures the traitor and sends him away, only for the Heavenly Book to return him to Hongjun. The chapter ends with both Hongjun and the Heavenly Demon realizing they have been placed in a disastrous confrontation neither wanted.

Hongjun confronted the Heavenly Demon and tried to crush him, but Pangu’s resentment entered Hongjun instead. He realized that the demon foretold by his divination was himself.

• Hongjun recognized that the Heavenly Demon had absorbed most of Pangu’s resentment and had become a threat to him.
• The Heavenly Demon admitted that he had come to target Hongjun’s Dao Heart before and had been sent by Qin Fen.
• Hongjun confronted the Heavenly Demon about the damage to his Dao Heart and blamed him for the crisis.
• The Heavenly Demon blamed Hongjun for provoking Qin Fen, and Hongjun seized him with power that darkened the Celestial Realm.
• Black energy surged from the Heavenly Demon into Hongjun, turning his eyes black as he realized he was becoming the demon he had foreseen.

Chapter Summary: Giant Waves Descend, Hongjun Destroys the World

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hongjun’s Dao Heart finally shatters, confirming his complete fall into demonhood. As a result, he loses all authority over the Heavenly Dao and can no longer access its “administrator” control.
• Though the Heavenly Dao restores order and clears the sky, this calm is deceptive. The great powers sense that a terrifying calamity has only begun.
• Tathagata warns Ksitigarbha that an unprecedented demon has been born—one so powerful that even the combined strength of the Three Pure Ones, Nüwa, and himself would be insufficient to defeat it.
• Alarmed by the threat, Tathagata, Lord Lao, Zhen Yuanzi, Guanyin, and other powerful figures begin moving to investigate and seek a solution.
• Hongjun, now dressed in black and fully embracing his demonic transformation, reveals his plan to destroy the world and reclaim control over the Three Realms and Six Paths.
• He intends to complete the Sea-Calming Divine Pearl, unite the laws of the Six Paths, obtain Queen Mother’s assistance, and reconstruct his physical body so that his body and soul can merge again.
• Hongjun consumes the Heavenly Demon’s remaining resentment and explains that resentment is the key to restoring his original self and power.
• He declares that Qin Fen, the Great Dao, and the Heavenly Dao have all underestimated him. He believes he is the true variable and protagonist of creation, destined to overturn the existing order.
• Hongjun vows to destroy the world once Qin Fen completes the conditions necessary for his plan. The chapter ends as darkness and oppression spread through both the Celestial and Mortal Realms.

Character Developments

• Hongjun: Experiences total spiritual collapse and becomes a demon, but transforms his despair into renewed ambition. Rather than being merely a fallen ruler, he now sees himself as an ancient existence wronged and suppressed by the Great Dao. His resentment gives him new insight into his origins and fuels his plan to reclaim everything.
• Qin Fen: Though largely absent, he becomes central to Hongjun’s plans. Hongjun views him as both a rival and an uncontrollable “variable” whose actions inadvertently enabled Hongjun’s awakening.
• Tathagata: Shifts from confidence to profound fear and uncertainty. He recognizes that the threat is beyond the power of the Saints and accepts that even collective resistance may be futile.
• Ksitigarbha: Represents the perspective of the other great powers, initially struggling to believe that any being could surpass the Saints.
• Other great powers: Lord Lao, Zhen Yuanzi, Guanyin, and others are shaken from their usual composure and begin urgently searching for a way to respond.

Significant Themes

• The loss and corruption of power: Hongjun’s loss of control over the Heavenly Dao demonstrates that even the creator or ruler of a system can be stripped of authority.
• Resentment as both destruction and rebirth: Hongjun’s hatred, once expelled to become the Heavenly Demon, returns as the force that restores his original identity and power.
• Free will versus fate: Hongjun rejects the idea that events are governed entirely by the Great Dao, claiming that he and Qin Fen are uncontrollable variables beyond its designs.
• Conspiracy and rebellion against cosmic order: Hongjun reinterprets the creation of heaven and earth and Pangu’s legend as a scheme designed to control and eventually eliminate him.
• The calm before catastrophe: The restored sky and orderly Heavenly Dao contrast with the unseen, expanding threat, emphasizing that apparent peace may conceal impending destruction.
• Destruction as a path to renewal: Hongjun believes that only by destroying the existing world can he return to his original state and establish a new order.

Character Interactions

• Hongjun’s internal conflict centers on Qin Fen: he blames Qin Fen for his downfall, then reluctantly admits that his own actions helped create the situation.
• Tathagata and Ksitigarbha discuss the nature of the emerging calamity, with Tathagata stressing that conventional alliances cannot defeat it.
• Tathagata’s warning prompts the wider Celestial Realm’s powerful figures to mobilize.
• Hongjun mentally confronts Qin Fen, the Great Dao, and the Heavenly Dao, framing all three as forces that underestimated or betrayed him.
• Hongjun’s future plan depends on Queen Mother, whom he expects to help him complete his transformation and regain physical form.

After Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang was defeated, Qin Fen and the Queen Mother discovered they were trapped in a space-time confinement that neither knew how to lift. The Heavenly Dao System contacted Qin Fen with a reward offer that could make him its new administrator, while Yan Bing secretly planned to claim the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls.

• Qin Fen reassured the Queen Mother that he had not sealed the venue, and they realized Hongjun might have used the Heavenly Dao to stop time and space before losing his administrator privileges.
• The Queen Mother feared Hongjun had trapped them, and she and Qin Fen resolved to find a way out before the outside world changed beyond recognition.
• The Heavenly Dao System contacted Qin Fen and offered him a chance to fuse with the Sea-Calming Divine Pearl, which emerged from his phone.
• Yan Bing regained consciousness, recognized the pearl, and secretly held the Sea-Calming Divine Pearl he had recovered after Qin Fen knocked it loose.
• The Heavenly Dao System offered Qin Fen one wish as a reward for defeating Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang, and Yan Bing wondered whether the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls could grant him power.

Chapter Summary: “I Want to Make a Wish! Yan Bing Strikes Back!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen discovers that the collected Sea-Calming Divine Pearls can be fused and used to make a wish. Queen Mother explains that this is likely the Heavenly Dao’s reward for Qin Fen preventing Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang from wreaking havoc in the Mortal Realm.
• Yan Bing misunderstands the situation, believing the pearls function like the Dragon Balls from childhood stories. He assumes that Qin Fen’s extraordinary abilities were granted by divine artifacts and concludes that making a wish could allow him to transcend mortality as well.
• Qin Fen reveals that his desired wish is to learn the Seventy-Two Earthly Transformations and eventually complete the One Hundred and Eight Cosmic Transformations. Queen Mother confirms that mastering them would grant immense power and possibly Saint-level status.
• Qin Fen ultimately decides to use his wish to escape Subspace and rescue the people trapped there instead of pursuing greater personal power.
• Before Qin Fen can finish stating his wish, Yan Bing suddenly attacks. Believing he can claim the opportunity for himself, he raises his Sea-Calming Divine Pearl and wishes to learn the Seventy-Two Transformations.
• The pearls activate, producing a burst of blue light and apparently granting Yan Bing’s wish. The Heavenly Dao System then announces that the pearls have fused and that the Three Thousand Lesser Worlds are beginning restoration. Since Qin Fen was not the one who obtained the pearls, no Merit is deducted from him.
• Yan Bing is transported to an unknown location. Although the pearl disappears from his hand, a bloody mark remains on his palm, emitting an invisible, ominous black aura.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen is shown to be powerful but selfless. Although he desires the Seventy-Two Transformations, he prioritizes freeing the trapped people and restoring the Mortal Realm.
• Queen Mother/Yao Chi continues to understand the Heavenly Dao and Qin Fen’s identity better than Yan Bing does. She supports Qin Fen’s decision and recognizes that saving the trapped people is more important than personal advancement.
• Yan Bing becomes increasingly obsessed with proving his beliefs about divine artifacts and transcending ordinary humanity. His excitement turns into greed and impulsiveness, leading him to betray Qin Fen and steal the wish.
• Yan Bing’s apparent success is undercut by his mysterious relocation and the dark blood mark, foreshadowing that his wish may carry hidden consequences.

Significant Themes

• Selflessness versus selfish ambition: Qin Fen intends to use an extraordinary reward to save others, while Yan Bing immediately tries to seize it for personal power.
• Misunderstanding and limited perspective: Yan Bing interprets the Heavenly Dao’s power through the framework of childhood fantasy and fails to understand the actual rules governing the pearls.
• Rewards and consequences: The Heavenly Dao rewards Qin Fen’s merit, but Yan Bing’s interference creates an unexpected loophole that benefits Qin Fen by avoiding a Merit deduction.
• The danger of obsession: Yan Bing’s lifelong desire to prove himself drives him to act recklessly, despite not understanding the forces involved.
• Hidden corruption: The blood from Wraith Demon on Yan Bing’s pearl and the dark aura on his palm suggest that the wish may have linked him to something sinister.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen explains the pearls and his intended wish to Queen Mother, who validates his understanding and clarifies the significance of the transformations.
• Yan Bing silently observes their conversation, misinterpreting it and becoming increasingly determined to claim the opportunity.
• Queen Mother and Qin Fen briefly coordinate when Yan Bing awakens, with Qin Fen considering having his memories erased to protect their secrets.
• Yan Bing interrupts Qin Fen’s wish, arrogantly declaring that he has outsmarted him. Qin Fen and Queen Mother are both shocked by Yan Bing’s assumption that the wish belongs to him.
• The chapter ends with Yan Bing separated from the others, apparently empowered but marked by a mysterious and potentially dangerous force.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Bing awakulates on a strange, deserted beach after using the damaged Sea-Calming Divine Pearl. He assumes the pearl has teleported him away from China and Qin Fen, allowing him to escape punishment for stealing the treasure.
• Believing he has successfully wished for the Seventy-Two Transformations, Yan Bing celebrates and hopes the technique will grant him immortality and immense power. He remains indifferent to the fate of the mercenaries who helped him.
• In reality, Yan Bing’s wish is mistakenly attributed to Qin Fen. Qin Fen had begun saying, “My wish is…” earlier, and when Yan Bing continued the sentence by naming the Seventy-Two Transformations, the Heavenly Dao System registered the wish as Qin Fen’s.
• The Sea-Calming Divine Pearl held by Yan Bing fuses with Qin Fen’s other pearls, repairing and completing the Three Thousand Lesser Worlds. The fusion transports Yan Bing into one of those worlds, though his exact location is unknown.
• Qin Fen is horrified when the Heavenly Dao System announces that it is granting him the Seventy-Two Transformations. He repeatedly protests that this was not his wish and that he wanted a way to escape his confinement, but the system mechanically follows its rules.
• The technique is transmitted to Qin Fen, followed by the Seventy-Two Earthly Transformations. Qin Fen appears to reach Sainthood, causing a powerful reaction sensed by Hongjun in the Celestial Realm.
• Hongjun realizes that he has unintentionally helped Qin Fen yet again. Furious and despairing, he considers this another humiliating “assist,” reinforcing his reputation as the Heavenly Court’s greatest accidental supporter.

Character Developments

• Yan Bing remains selfish and opportunistic. He is more concerned with escaping and gaining immortality than with the lives of the mercenaries or the consequences of his actions. His ignorance of how the wishing system works causes the entire misunderstanding.
• Qin Fen experiences a mix of relief, anger, despair, and responsibility. Although gaining the Seventy-Two Transformations and Sainthood is extremely powerful, he is frustrated because the ability does not solve his immediate problem: escaping Heavenly Dao’s confinement and saving the mortals trapped with him.
• Queen Mother continues to act as Qin Fen’s emotional support. She comforts him after the apparent failure of their escape plan and encourages him to search for another solution.
• Hongjun suffers another blow to his pride and Dao Heart. Qin Fen’s sudden advancement appears to be partly due to Hongjun’s past actions, making him furious that he has once again strengthened his enemy.

Significant Themes

• Unintended consequences: Yan Bing’s careless wish produces results completely different from what he expected, while Qin Fen receives a reward he never consciously requested.
• The rigidity and absurdity of fate and systems: The Heavenly Dao System follows the literal wording of a wish rather than its speaker’s intent, highlighting the danger of relying on cosmic rules without understanding them.
• Selfishness versus responsibility: Yan Bing abandons others without concern, while Qin Fen worries about the elderly, children, and other mortals whose lives may be endangered by their confinement.
• Hope and disappointment: The successful fusion of the pearl initially seems to offer escape, but the accidental granting of the transformations turns hope into frustration. Queen Mother nevertheless insists that another solution may exist.
• Humorous irony: Qin Fen gains immense power through a technical misunderstanding, Yan Bing gains nothing from his own wish, and Hongjun once again becomes the unwilling source of Qin Fen’s advancement.

Character Interactions

• Yan Bing and Qin Fen: Yan Bing flees from Qin Fen, whom he considers overwhelmingly dangerous, while inadvertently granting Qin Fen the very power he hoped to obtain himself.
• Qin Fen and the Heavenly Dao System: Qin Fen argues with the emotionless system, insisting that the wish was not his. The system ignores his objections and distributes the transformations according to its literal interpretation.
• Qin Fen and Queen Mother: Queen Mother comforts Qin Fen physically and emotionally, reminding him that misfortune is temporary. Qin Fen appreciates her constant support but remains worried about the mortals around them.
• Qin Fen and the trapped audience: Qin Fen recognizes that his own immortality or increased strength cannot protect the ordinary people trapped in the same situation, deepening his sense of responsibility.
• Hongjun and Qin Fen: Though they do not directly interact, Hongjun’s past actions indirectly assist Qin Fen once again, provoking his rage and reinforcing the comedic pattern of Hongjun unintentionally helping his rival.

Chapter Summary: What the Hell Was This? Yan Bing’s Tragedy

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen’s rise to Sainthood unexpectedly strengthens Hongjun as well, leaving Hongjun furious and worried that Qin Fen may eventually threaten his plans to destroy the world and become supreme.
• Hongjun remains demonized after his conflict with Qin Fen. He is now separated from the Heavenly Dao and must keep his distance from the Heavenly Dao System, fearing it will automatically retaliate against him.
• Qin Fen, Hongjun, and Yan Bing simultaneously lament their situations. Qin Fen has become a Saint but cannot escape the Mortal Realm’s restrictions; Hongjun has gained strength but suffered demonic deviation; and Yan Bing cannot use the Seventy-Two Earthly Transformations he believes he obtained.
• Yan Bing repeatedly attempts to transform by using poses, chants, and absurd methods, but nothing happens. He begins questioning his intelligence, accomplishments, and why Qin Fen could master the technique while he could not.
• Yan Bing’s blood is exposed to Wraith Demon’s plague-filled blood and Divine Power. Instead of granting him transformations, it causes his body to deteriorate: he loses his hair, becomes pale and skeletal, and takes on the appearance of a starving, deformed creature.
• After finding himself transformed, Yan Bing searches desperately for the Sea-Calming Divine Pearl so he can make another wish and reverse the damage.
• He encounters armed natives in what appears to be a historical Spanish colonial territory. When they shoot him, his rage causes him to attack and bite one of them.
• Wraith Demon’s infectious power spreads through the bite, turning the victim into another bloodthirsty creature. The infection quickly spreads, producing a violent massacre along the shore.
• Meanwhile, Dongwang Gong establishes the Hungry Ghost Path of the Six Paths of Reincarnation. The Celestial Realm announces that his merit is immeasurable, stunning Tathagata, Ksitigarbha, and the Jade Emperor.
• Hongjun realizes that Qin Fen’s previous “feeding kills,” possibly involving Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang, have once again granted Qin Fen an enormous power increase. He reacts with despair and anger.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Despite becoming a Saint, Qin Fen is frustrated and feels trapped because his new power is severely limited in the Mortal Realm. He recognizes that his actions may have unintentionally made his own situation worse.
• Hongjun: He becomes increasingly bitter, insecure, and fearful of Qin Fen’s future growth. His demonic deviation has severed his connection with the Heavenly Dao, and he feels that Qin Fen’s advancement may have been partly caused by his own actions.
• Yan Bing: His confidence collapses when he cannot use the transformations he believes he learned. His pride in his intelligence, wealth, and former dominance gives way to humiliation and existential doubt. Physical contamination then turns his frustration into rage and monstrous violence.
• Queen Mother: She provides emotional support to Qin Fen, encouraging him that a way forward will eventually appear.
• Dongwang Gong: His perseverance results in the successful creation of the Hungry Ghost Path, earning him extraordinary merit and unintentionally worsening Hongjun’s emotional crisis.

Significant Themes

• Power without control: Qin Fen, Hongjun, and Yan Bing all possess or gain extraordinary power, yet none can use it freely or safely.
• Unintended consequences: Qin Fen’s growth strengthens Hongjun; Yan Bing’s attempt to gain transformations leads to infection and mutation; and seemingly unrelated events continue to empower Qin Fen.
• Pride and humiliation: Yan Bing’s former confidence is destroyed when his intelligence and status cannot help him master the technique he desires.
• Absurdity and cosmic unfairness: The chapter uses comedy and exaggeration to portray divine advancement as chaotic, irrational, and often counterproductive.
• Transformation and identity: Yan Bing seeks a magical transformation but instead loses his human appearance and identity through disease and demonic power.
• Merit and karmic progression: Dongwang Gong’s achievement demonstrates how sincere effort can produce enormous merit, while the resulting power imbalance causes further conflict.

Character Interactions

• Hongjun and Qin Fen mirror each other’s complaints, each blaming his circumstances and lamenting that his efforts have produced disastrous results.
• Queen Mother comforts Qin Fen as he struggles with the consequences of becoming a Saint.
• Yan Bing’s conflict is mostly internal, as he compares himself with Qin Fen and feels personally rejected by the laws of cultivation.
• Yan Bing’s encounter with the natives turns violent, and his bite transmits Wraith Demon’s corruptive power, creating a chain of infected attackers.
• The Celestial Realm’s announcement about Dongwang Gong affects the major divine figures differently: Tathagata and Ksitigarbha are shocked, the Jade Emperor is distressed, and Hongjun reacts with furious despair over Qin Fen’s continued empowerment.

Qin Fen and the Celestial Realm were stunned when the Heavenly Dao announced that he had established the Hungry Ghost Path, an unintended result of Yan Bing spreading Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang’s plague. Trapped alongside the Queen Mother, Qin Fen searched for a way out while Hongjun gloated over the seal he had placed on them; meanwhile, the Heavenly Dao System discovered that Qin Fen had not completed the administrator procedure.

• The Celestial Realm and Ksitigarbha were baffled by the announcement that Qin Fen had established the Hungry Ghost Path, while Hongjun realized Yan Bing’s plague had created it.
• Qin Fen denied creating the path and demanded to escape with the Queen Mother and the trapped people, whose families were waiting for them.
• Hongjun admitted he had sealed Qin Fen and the Queen Mother in the place, then gloated that Qin Fen could not break the seal or save everyone.
• Qin Fen set aside his argument with Hongjun and prepared to deal with the people who were about to wake up.
• The Heavenly Dao System discovered that Qin Fen had only completed half his wish and had not finished the administrator procedure, leaving it without an administrator.

Chapter Summary: “Dao Ancestor Takes His Place! There Are Traps Everywhere Under Heaven”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen has completed another major achievement: establishing the Hungry Ghost Path, one of the Six Paths of Reincarnation. Because this concerns the foundation of the Heavenly Dao, he is entitled to another substantial reward.
• However, the Heavenly Dao currently has no administrator. Hongjun is no longer in that role: his corruption and subsequent actions occurred after the previous matter had already been resolved.
• The Heavenly Dao needs Qin Fen to replace Hongjun, but Qin Fen refuses to take the position because he only wants to escape the situation.
• Unable to force him, the Heavenly Dao sends Qin Fen a message through the mysterious WeChat Celestial Realm Management Team. It subtly treats him as the administrator by asking how he wants the situation handled.
• Qin Fen misunderstands the Heavenly Dao’s intentions. Believing Hongjun is still manipulating the rewards and trying to withhold his benefits, he angrily orders the Heavenly Dao to “do what should be done.”
• When Qin Fen states that rewards and punishments must be clear and order should be restored, the Heavenly Dao interprets this as an official administrative instruction from the Dao Ancestor.
• A golden light descends, and Qin Fen’s Sea-Calming Divine Pearl disappears. Qin Fen assumes the Heavenly Dao has stolen or altered his treasure instead of properly rewarding him.
• The Heavenly Dao explains internally that the pearl must be transformed because its natural laws conflict with the Mortal Realm. It also needs to use some of Qin Fen’s Merit to repair the Three Thousand Worlds.
• Furious and convinced that he has been tricked again, Qin Fen raises his middle finger at the sky and curses the Heavenly Dao.
• Hongjun is amused by Qin Fen’s outrage, while the Heavenly Dao is frustrated that Qin Fen keeps blaming it despite its belief that it is merely following his instructions.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Remains clever, suspicious, stubborn, and highly resistant to responsibility. His refusal to become administrator causes the Heavenly Dao to devise indirect traps. His distrust of Hongjun and the Heavenly Dao leads him to misinterpret every action as an attempt to exploit him.
• The Heavenly Dao: Gains a more comical, almost human quality. Though usually portrayed as an impartial system, it becomes anxious and frustrated when forced to function without an administrator. It attempts to manipulate Qin Fen into accepting authority by treating him as the leader.
• Hongjun: No longer serves as administrator, though Qin Fen does not know this. He takes pleasure in watching Qin Fen suffer and misunderstand the situation, maintaining his detached and mischievous attitude.
• The Queen Mother: Initially hopes the Heavenly Dao’s message may provide a way for her and Qin Fen to escape. She gradually realizes that Qin Fen has been maneuvered into giving the Heavenly Dao instructions, leaving her disappointed and helpless.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility versus freedom: Qin Fen wants the benefits of his achievements and a way out, but the Heavenly Dao keeps pushing him toward the responsibility of administration.
• Bureaucracy and loopholes: The Heavenly Dao cannot simply force Qin Fen to take the position, so it exploits procedural logic and carefully worded questions to make him behave like an administrator.
• Miscommunication: The chapter’s humor depends on Qin Fen and the Heavenly Dao interpreting the same conversation in completely different ways.
• Impartial systems versus human frustration: The Heavenly Dao follows its rules precisely, yet Qin Fen experiences those rules as deception and theft.
• Power and entrapment: Even someone as powerful as Qin Fen finds himself surrounded by rules, hidden conditions, and unavoidable consequences.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and the Heavenly Dao: Their exchange is a battle of indirect manipulation. The Heavenly Dao asks for instructions to push Qin Fen into accepting authority, while Qin Fen tries to force it to grant him a reward and release him.
• Qin Fen and the Queen Mother: The Queen Mother watches the conversation and hopes Qin Fen’s answers will help them escape. She understands the danger before Qin Fen fully does, but neither can counter the Heavenly Dao’s procedures.
• Qin Fen and Hongjun: Qin Fen blames Hongjun for the apparent manipulation, unaware that Hongjun has already lost his administrative role. Hongjun enjoys Qin Fen’s confusion and anger.
• Qin Fen and the Heavenly Dao’s system: Qin Fen treats the Heavenly Dao as a scheming opponent, while the system views itself as simply executing rules and following what it believes are Qin Fen’s commands.

Chapter Summary: Qin Fen Reached the Pinnacle, Calm Amid the Mystery

Key plot points and events

• After the Mortal Realm’s crisis is resolved, Qin Fen discovers that Heavenly Dao has still not returned Laozi’s Sea-Calming Divine Pearl or released him and Queen Mother from their confinement.
• Furious, Qin Fen openly curses and berates Heavenly Dao. Queen Mother repeatedly tries to silence him, fearing that offending Heavenly Dao will prevent their escape.
• Instead of retaliating, Heavenly Dao responds unusually meekly, asking Qin Fen what he wants and even requesting that he provide a “hint.” Qin Fen accuses it of treating a hero unfairly and demands proper recognition and freedom.
• Qin Fen also insists that Queen Mother receive Merit for her contribution. Though Heavenly Dao initially hesitates, Qin Fen invokes its supposed impartiality and forces it to agree.
• Heavenly Dao gradually removes the restrictions around them and issues Queen Mother a formal Merit reward, though its delivery is delayed because she is outside the Celestial Realm.
• Qin Fen receives a major revelation: he has become the sole administrator of the Heavenly Dao System, replacing Hongjun in authority.
• Hongjun is also formally recognized for planning the operation, eliminating the Mortal Realm disaster, and creating the Hungry Ghost Path. However, his reward is immediately voided because he has fallen into demonic cultivation; his merits and crimes cancel each other out.
• Enraged by this humiliation and by Qin Fen’s apparent role in the decision, Hongjun vows revenge and threatens to kill Qin Fen after merging with resentment.

Character developments

• Qin Fen becomes increasingly bold and domineering. He treats Heavenly Dao not as an untouchable cosmic ruler but as an inefficient subordinate, using his new administrative authority to demand rewards and justice.
• Queen Mother is initially terrified by Qin Fen’s reckless behavior, but she becomes astonished and grateful when his confrontation succeeds and earns her recognition.
• Heavenly Dao is portrayed as unusually submissive and frustrated. Because Qin Fen is now its sole administrator, it must tolerate his insults and comply with his demands despite believing it has acted correctly.
• Hongjun suffers a major fall in status. He is no longer Heavenly Dao’s spokesperson, receives no reward despite his achievements, and becomes increasingly consumed by anger and resentment toward Qin Fen.

Significant themes

• Authority and reversal of power: The former cosmic hierarchy is overturned as Qin Fen gains control over Heavenly Dao, forcing the system itself to answer to him.
• Justice versus bureaucracy: Heavenly Dao insists that it has followed the rules, while Qin Fen argues that true justice requires recognizing contributions and treating heroes fairly.
• Humor through cosmic irreverence: Qin Fen’s casual insults toward Heavenly Dao create a comic contrast with its supposedly absolute power.
• Merit and moral corruption: Hongjun’s reward is canceled because his demonic cultivation offsets his accomplishments, emphasizing the system’s rigid distinction between merit and wrongdoing.
• Resentment and revenge: Hongjun’s humiliation deepens his hatred of Qin Fen and sets up future conflict.

Character interactions

• Qin Fen and Queen Mother contrast sharply: he is fearless and confrontational, while she is cautious and constantly worries about the consequences of his words.
• Qin Fen pressures Heavenly Dao into releasing them and awarding Queen Mother Merit, effectively treating it like an accountable administrator.
• Heavenly Dao’s forced cooperation highlights Qin Fen’s newfound supremacy within the system.
• Hongjun’s relationship with Qin Fen deteriorates further. He interprets the reward cancellation and Qin Fen’s rise as deliberate humiliation, ending the chapter with a direct threat of revenge.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hongjun, now freed from the Heavenly Dao System, reflects on the cosmic balance threatening his position. He believes the Great Dao created Qin Fen as his destined opponent because Qin Fen’s karmic connection to Pangu makes him uniquely capable of countering Hongjun.
• Hongjun realizes Qin Fen is close to completing the Six Paths of Reincarnation. Once the final paths are restored, Qin Fen will become a true Dao Ancestor and, together with the Pangu Axe, will possess enough power to challenge him.
• Two paths remain incomplete: the Heavenly Human Path, located in the Celestial Realm, and the Beast Path within the Three Thousand Worlds. Hongjun identifies the Sea-Calming Divine Pearl as crucial to this process.
• To prevent Qin Fen from completing reincarnation, Hongjun plans to corrupt the Three Thousand Worlds. He uses his restored Heart Demon abilities to locate the zombified Yan Bing and intends to spread the zombies’ infectious nature, filling the worlds with hungry ghosts and causing the Beast Path to collapse.
• Meanwhile, Qin Fen has effectively become the administrator of the Heavenly Dao. His will now carries the authority of Heavenly Will, and the Mortal Realm is released from its restrictions, with memories adjusted so reality can return to normal.
• Qin Fen is confused about his new status and wonders whether becoming an administrator allows him to act freely. The Heavenly Dao reminds him that it must remain impartial and forces him to publicly affirm this principle.
• The Celestial Realm anxiously awaits news about Qin Fen’s transformation, with figures such as Tathagata, the Jade Emperor, the Queen Mother, and the Heavenly Court’s followers speculating about whether he has become a Saint.
• Qin Fen sends a formal message declaring that “the Heavenly Dao is impartial.” The Heavenly Dao then publicly praises him as Dongwang Gong, claiming that he has achieved what no one else could and serves as a model for all beings.
• Qin Fen’s modest attempt to downplay his accomplishment triggers an even grander official commendation from the Heavenly Dao, leaving the entire Celestial Realm shocked and chaotic.

Character Developments

• Hongjun becomes more ruthless and proactive after escaping the Heavenly Dao’s restraints. He sees himself as the rightful ruler of the world and commits to destroying Qin Fen’s progress before Qin Fen reaches Dao Ancestor status.
• Qin Fen gains immense authority but remains awkward and uncertain about how to behave as the Heavenly Dao’s administrator. Despite his new power, he retains his humorous, low-profile personality and is embarrassed by the Heavenly Dao’s exaggerated praise.
• Yan Bing becomes an unwitting tool in Hongjun’s plan because her zombification gives Hongjun a way to spread corruption through the Three Thousand Worlds.
• The Queen Mother witnesses Qin Fen’s transformation with amusement and fear, recognizing that he now possesses overwhelming majesty while still retaining his familiar, somewhat inelegant personality.
• The Jade Emperor, Tathagata, Guanyin, Food God, Du Kang, and other followers become increasingly invested in Qin Fen’s advancement, hoping his success will improve their own status and prospects.

Significant Themes

• Cosmic balance and destined opposition: Hongjun believes the Great Dao has arranged Qin Fen as the counterweight to his own power, reinforcing the idea that overwhelming forces inevitably produce opposing forces.
• Freedom versus responsibility: Hongjun celebrates escaping all restraints, while Qin Fen discovers that authority brings obligations, rules, and the need to preserve impartiality.
• Power and legitimacy: Qin Fen has gained enormous authority but lacks the reputation and prestige Hongjun possessed. The Heavenly Dao therefore tries to establish his legitimacy through public proclamations.
• Humility and forced glorification: Qin Fen’s attempts to remain modest clash humorously with the Heavenly Dao’s insistence on presenting him as an incomparable sage.
• Manipulation of fate and systems: Hongjun seeks to exploit reincarnation, zombies, and the structure of the Six Paths, while Qin Fen is forced to operate within the rules of the Heavenly Dao.
• The danger of uncontrolled power: Hongjun’s freedom allows him to launch a catastrophic attack, while Qin Fen’s new administrative authority risks causing confusion and instability even when used benevolently.

Character Interactions

• Hongjun mentally frames Qin Fen as his ultimate rival and vows to torture him once he is defeated.
• The Heavenly Dao repeatedly corrects Qin Fen, insisting that he emphasize its impartiality and fulfill his responsibilities as administrator.
• Qin Fen interacts with the Queen Mother, whose restrained laughter highlights the contrast between his cosmic authority and his usual awkward personality.
• Qin Fen’s followers and the guild members send messages of concern and congratulations, treating his advancement as a benefit to everyone connected with him.
• Guanyin expresses concern for Qin Fen because of the approaching calamity, while the Jade Emperor anxiously tries to secure Qin Fen’s favor.
• The Heavenly Dao publicly intervenes in Qin Fen’s modest exchange with the immortals, transforming his ordinary statement into an extravagant proclamation that throws the Celestial Realm into chaos.

Chapter Summary: “What It Means to Show Off by Courting Death!”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Heavenly Dao announces an extraordinary reward for Qin Fen, apparently offering him the chance to become a Saint after his achievements in rebuilding and controlling much of the Six Paths of Reincarnation.
• Qin Fen refuses the reward, intending only to be polite and avoid appearing greedy. However, Heavenly Dao interprets his response literally.
• The Celestial Realm is stunned. The immortals, Bodhisattvas, and major deities assume Qin Fen has deliberately rejected sainthood because he is confident he can attain it whenever he wishes.
• Qin Fen privately regrets his decision and becomes increasingly frustrated as everyone praises him for his supposed nobility, confidence, and self-restraint.
• The chapter explains that Qin Fen possesses enough raw power for the Saint realm, but lacks Heavenly Dao’s formal recognition and title. His “hardware” is sufficient, but his “software”—official status and complete authority over the laws—is incomplete.
• Qin Fen tries to defend Heavenly Dao’s fairness, hoping to clarify that he did not reject the reward out of arrogance. Instead, Heavenly Dao uses his words to justify its own fairness and then abruptly declares that its previous announcement “does not count.”
• The Celestial Realm falls into further confusion, while Qin Fen’s reputation as an unpredictable “trap king” grows even more.

2. Character Developments

• Qin Fen: His accidental refusal exposes his awkward relationship with Heavenly Dao. He is not truly uninterested in becoming a Saint; he simply made a polite remark and was trapped by its literal interpretation. His frustration grows as others turn his mistake into evidence of supreme character and confidence.
• Heavenly Dao: It is portrayed as both powerful and exasperated. Qin Fen’s position as an administrator gives him unusual influence, forcing Heavenly Dao to deal with his statements carefully. It ultimately becomes so frustrated that it retracts its own declaration.
• Queen Mother: Correctly recognizes Qin Fen as someone who has managed to trap himself through his own actions, reinforcing his reputation for unintentionally creating elaborate situations.
• The Jade Emperor: Delights in Qin Fen’s apparent foolishness and sees the incident as proof that Qin Fen’s concern for reputation has led him to make an impractical choice.
• Nüwa: Interprets Qin Fen’s behavior more charitably, believing the Dao Ancestor may be encouraging others through his example.
• The other immortals: Instead of realizing Qin Fen made a mistake, they praise him as magnanimous, farsighted, and morally superior.

3. Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: Qin Fen’s outward action looks like a deliberate rejection of sainthood, while internally he is horrified that his casual courtesy was taken seriously.
• The dangers of reputation and excessive praise: The immortals’ flattering interpretations transform Qin Fen’s mistake into a legendary act of humility, making it impossible for him to correct the misunderstanding.
• Power versus legitimacy: The chapter distinguishes between possessing Saint-level strength and receiving the formal recognition required to truly become a Saint.
• Heavenly Dao and bureaucratic absurdity: Though Heavenly Dao is supposed to be fair and orderly, its interaction with Qin Fen becomes chaotic, highlighting the comedic tension between cosmic authority and literal-minded administration.
• Self-inflicted trouble: Qin Fen’s recurring talent for “trapping” others turns inward; his greatest problem is created by his own words and actions.

4. Character Interactions

• Qin Fen’s refusal prompts astonishment from the Four Great Bodhisattvas, Lord Lao, Heavenly Lord Tongtian, Primordial Lord, and the wider Celestial Realm.
• The Jade Emperor mocks Qin Fen’s decision, while Queen Mother observes that he has effectively trapped himself.
• Food God, Du Kang, Zhang Mingfeng, and others lavishly praise Qin Fen, interpreting his refusal as proof of extraordinary virtue and confidence.
• Qin Fen internally protests against their praise but cannot explain the truth without making the situation worse.
• Qin Fen invokes Heavenly Dao’s fairness, unintentionally giving Heavenly Dao justification to retract its original reward announcement.
• The chapter ends with the Jade Emperor and the immortals bewildered by Heavenly Dao’s sudden reversal, while Qin Fen’s accidental legend becomes even more exaggerated.

Summary

Key plot points and events

• The Heavenly Dao reverses its earlier refusal and declares that Qin Fen must receive a reward, demonstrating that its authority and fairness have been restored after Hongjun’s rule.
• Qin Fen repeatedly claims that his actions are merely his duty and refuses the reward—even sainthood—twice. His apparent modesty becomes an outrageous public display that leaves the immortals stunned.
• The Heavenly Dao is forced to insist on rewarding him, repeatedly changing its wording and effectively admitting that Qin Fen’s merit cannot go unrecognized.
• Qin Fen’s comments about justice, fairness, and not allowing cultivators to suffer become principles the Heavenly Dao itself echoes.
• The confrontation ultimately strengthens the Heavenly Dao’s prestige. It concludes that Qin Fen’s orders should be carried out without hesitation, since his influence over the Heavenly Dao System is growing rapidly.
• Qin Fen’s reputation spreads throughout the Celestial Realm and even among the Demon Tribe. He becomes widely recognized as exceptionally righteous, generous, and formidable, gaining support for his lottery and other plans.

Character developments

• Qin Fen remains outwardly calm and “modest,” but his refusal of immense rewards reveals his confidence, boldness, and talent for manipulating situations to his advantage. Although he feels unfairly blamed, he unintentionally gains extraordinary authority and prestige.
• The Heavenly Dao shifts from an impartial enforcer to an exasperated but submissive presence. It recognizes that Qin Fen has achieved what Hongjun could not: gaining its full cooperation while restoring its public legitimacy.
• Tathagata changes from suspecting the Heavenly Dao of instability to admiring its fairness.
• Lord Lao, Tongtian, Nüwa, Queen Mother, Food God, and the other immortals react with disbelief and admiration. They view Qin Fen’s repeated refusals as unprecedented audacity and proof of his extraordinary status.
• The Jade Emperor is so overwhelmed by the absurdity that he convinces himself he must be hallucinating.
• The Demon Tribe abandons its usual racial prejudice toward Qin Fen, accepting him as a figure whose righteousness transcends faction and species.

Significant themes

• Justice and legitimacy: The Heavenly Dao uses Qin Fen’s reward to prove that it is no longer arbitrary or corrupted by Hongjun.
• Power through principle: Qin Fen’s statements about fairness become so compelling that the Heavenly Dao adopts them as its own justification.
• Humility versus self-aggrandizement: Qin Fen insists that he is only doing his duty, but his repeated refusal makes him appear even more impressive and magnifies his reputation.
• Authority and submission: The Heavenly Dao technically holds supreme power, yet Qin Fen’s connection to the system gives him practical influence over it.
• Reputation transcending divisions: Qin Fen’s perceived righteousness wins the loyalty of immortals and demons alike.

Character interactions

• Qin Fen and the Heavenly Dao engage in a humorous power struggle: Qin Fen rejects the reward, while the Heavenly Dao repeatedly forces it upon him and becomes increasingly frustrated.
• Food God enthusiastically praises Qin Fen but is driven nearly mad by his refusal to accept the reward.
• Lord Lao, Tongtian, Nüwa, and Queen Mother openly marvel at Qin Fen’s audacity, treating him as uniquely fearless.
• Tathagata and the broader celestial community interpret the exchange as proof of the Heavenly Dao’s impartiality.
• By the end, the immortals and Demon Tribe collectively admire and support Qin Fen, strengthening his influence throughout the realms.

Chapter Summary: This Is a Win? The Queen Mother's Change

Key Plot Points and Events

• Heavenly Dao issues a series of announcements that erase the damage caused by Hongjun’s manipulation and restore its reputation for fairness. Qin Fen’s authority within Heavenly Dao’s core system rises to first place, surpassing Hongjun’s influence.
• Rumors spread throughout the Celestial Realm that Dongwang Gong may have become a saint, giving cultivators renewed hope and distracting them from the recent calamity.
• Guanyin and Ksitigarbha analyze Heavenly Dao’s suspicious behavior and conclude that Qin Fen may actually be the legendary Dao Ancestor—or at least someone with power comparable to him.
• After the battle, Heavenly Dao alters everyone’s memories and creates a new version of events. The attack, destruction, and chaos are forgotten, while the venue and Combat Chamber are restored.
• The Robot Wars competition is rewritten so that Qin Fen’s robot, Watcher, appears to have defeated the other teams through an absurd chain of lucky attacks. Qin Fen is officially declared champion and receives the Golden Nut Award.
• Forced by Heavenly Dao to uphold the dignity of an administrator, Qin Fen gives an overconfident patriotic speech praising Chinese ingenuity, perseverance, and technological potential. The audience responds enthusiastically, while the defeated foreign teams feel insulted.
• Qin Fen plans to leave Magic City and return home for Spring Festival, but Heavenly Dao assigns him additional duties: managing the divine beasts Xi, Nian, and Sui, organizing a special celebration, preserving mortal fortune, and establishing the year’s Chinese Zodiac.
• Before he can deal with these responsibilities, Sun Yujie, Yao Chi, and Female Hooligan suddenly collapse from exhaustion or energy depletion. Qin Fen catches all three, causing another commotion and forcing him to leave with them for medical attention.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Gains unprecedented authority over Heavenly Dao but becomes increasingly uneasy about the invisible force guiding events. He suspects the Great Dao may be manipulating him and worries about becoming a pawn. His administrator responsibilities also become increasingly burdensome, especially when Heavenly Dao forces him to boast publicly and assigns him the Spring Festival project.
• Guanyin and Ksitigarbha: Their understanding of Qin Fen changes dramatically. They begin to suspect that he is secretly the Dao Ancestor because Heavenly Dao appears to obey his words.
• Queen Mother: Recognizes that Qin Fen’s victory and speech are largely fabricated by Heavenly Dao. Her knowing, skeptical reaction contrasts with the audience’s admiration.
• Hongjun: Though absent, his removal as Heavenly Dao’s administrator continues to affect Qin Fen and raises questions about whether Hongjun has entered Dao Integration or been replaced by a greater power.
• Jed and the rival teams: Suffer humiliation and confusion after their defeat is rewritten into an implausible victory for Qin Fen. Jed is especially devastated because he cannot remember the actual events and fears the consequences for his reputation.
• Sun Yujie, Yao Chi, and Female Hooligan: Their sudden collapses reveal that the restoration of events did not eliminate the physical strain placed on them, creating a new problem for Qin Fen.

Significant Themes

• Power and manipulation: Heavenly Dao’s ability to rewrite memories, physical damage, and recorded evidence demonstrates its godlike authority. Qin Fen is both its controller and its unwilling instrument.
• Reality versus perception: The public believes Qin Fen won through skill, but the apparent victory is a fabricated narrative shaped by Heavenly Dao and Qin Fen’s subconscious desires.
• Responsibility and authority: Qin Fen discovers that possessing power also means fulfilling obligations. Heavenly Dao demands that he act like a dignified administrator rather than simply enjoy its benefits.
• National pride and confidence: Qin Fen’s forced speech becomes a celebration of Chinese resilience, technological progress, and cultural identity, even though the achievement itself was artificially constructed.
• The danger of becoming a chess piece: Qin Fen fears that the Great Dao or another hidden mastermind is directing his rise. His growing power does not give him freedom; instead, it may make him part of a larger design.
• Comedy amid cosmic stakes: The chapter contrasts terrifying metaphysical developments with absurd competition results, awkward speeches, administrative chores, and Qin Fen’s exasperation.

Character Interactions

• Guanyin contacts Ksitigarbha to share her theory about Qin Fen, and the two jointly speculate that he may be the Dao Ancestor.
• Qin Fen is interviewed by the host and reluctantly delivers a nationalistic speech under Heavenly Dao’s pressure.
• Queen Mother silently exposes Qin Fen’s hypocrisy by recognizing that he contributed little to the supposed victory.
• Qin Fen catches Sun Yujie and Yao Chi in his arms and supports Female Hooligan when she collapses, prompting the venue’s panic and speculation.
• The host and competition officials struggle to explain the bizarre tournament while the audience celebrates Qin Fen, creating a sharp contrast between public enthusiasm and the characters’ confusion.

Summary

• Key events: The narrator announces that “Comrade Table Lamp” has been feeling unwell and needs time to recover. As a result, the narrator will take two days of leave before resuming work on their novels.
• Character developments: Comrade Table Lamp is portrayed as hardworking but temporarily in need of rest. The narrator shows responsibility by prioritizing recovery and informing readers of the pause.
• Themes: Rest, health, responsibility, and consideration for one’s audience. The announcement also reflects humility and appreciation through the narrator’s apology.
• Character interactions: The narrator directly addresses the readers, apologizing for the interruption and thanking them implicitly for their understanding. No other significant interactions occur.