Ch. 1An Undeserved Calamity
Chapter Summary: An Undeserved Calamity
Key Plot Points and Events
- Lu Chen, a transmigrated former programmer, is hunted through the Star Dou Great Forest by Qian Renxue after accidentally seeing her bathing in a forest lake.
- Although he repeatedly uses Flash Step to flee, Qian Renxue activates Angel Domain, creating a golden space and binding him with radiant chains.
- Lu Chen realizes escape is impossible and decides to fight her. He attempts to provoke her by asking whether she has ever been defeated by someone of her generation.
- The question distracts Qian Renxue long enough for Lu Chen to break free and reveal his true power.
- Lu Chen transforms his original iron-armor Martial Soul into the Sagittarius Gold Cloth, gained through his supernatural Flash Sale Shop. He displays five powerful spirit rings, including unusually advanced first and second rings.
- He launches his sole Martial Soul ability, Golden Arrow, whose strength is based on the combined ages of his spirit rings.
- Qian Renxue counters with her fifth soul skill, Holy Sword. Their attacks collide with devastating force.
- The clash tears open spatial cracks, creating dangerous spatial turbulence. Both Lu Chen and Qian Renxue are unexpectedly swallowed and disappear from the Star Dou Great Forest.
Character Developments
- Lu Chen is revealed to be far stronger than his outwardly ordinary appearance suggests. Although he originally possessed only rank-one innate spirit power and an iron-armor Martial Soul, ten years of secret cultivation and the Flash Sale Shop allowed him to reach the Spirit Emperor level—or approximately that realm, despite not yet possessing his sixth spirit ring.
- His cautious, low-profile personality is emphasized: he has deliberately avoided Spirit Hall and the protagonist group, not because he lacks confidence, but because he fears unnecessary trouble and attracting powerful spirit beasts.
- Lu Chen’s confidence grows into open defiance when he challenges Qian Renxue directly. His Sagittarius Gold Cloth gives him tremendous offensive power, though his Golden Arrow has a long recovery time.
- Qian Renxue is established as a peerless prodigy with the god-grade Seraphim Martial Soul, innate rank-20 spirit power, and Angel God’s blessing. However, Lu Chen’s unexpected strength shocks her and briefly causes her to hesitate.
- Qian Renxue’s initial anger and killing intent remain strong, but she is forced to treat Lu Chen as a serious threat rather than an insignificant trespasser.
Significant Themes
- Misunderstood conflict and undeserved calamity: Lu Chen’s crisis begins with an accidental intrusion rather than malicious intent, yet he is nearly forced into a life-or-death battle.
- Hidden strength and gradual accumulation: Lu Chen’s success comes from years of patience, secrecy, and disciplined preparation rather than public talent.
- Destiny versus personal effort: Though Lu Chen began with the worst possible Martial Soul and spirit power, his cheat and determination allow him to challenge someone blessed by divine inheritance.
- Pride and rivalry: Lu Chen’s challenge strikes at Qian Renxue’s pride as an unrivaled prodigy, turning a misunderstanding into a contest between exceptional peers.
- The danger of uncontrolled power: Their battle demonstrates that even a confrontation between two Spirit Emperors can produce catastrophic spatial consequences in the depths of the forest.
Character Interactions
- Lu Chen repeatedly tries to explain that he saw Qian Renxue by accident, but she refuses to listen and pursues him aggressively.
- Their verbal exchange shifts from apology to provocation when Lu Chen questions whether Qian Renxue has ever been defeated.
- Qian Renxue initially dominates him with Angel Domain, but Lu Chen’s transformation reverses the power dynamic and surprises her.
- Their first direct battle becomes a test of pride and strength: Lu Chen fires the Golden Arrow, while Qian Renxue responds with Holy Sword.
- Neither character wins. Their attacks rupture space, forcing them into an unknown fate together.