Chapter Summaries

Summary: “Return to the Yulan Plane”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bei Bei, Linley, and their companions return to the Yulan Plane through the teleportation passage at Ironblade Gorge.
• Arnold is deeply moved by the return, remembering his homeland, disciple Pitero, brothers Yale, George, and Reynold, and friend Tru Pei.
• After arriving, the group separates:
  • Linley, Bei Bei, and their families travel toward Black Mountain Town.
  • Arnold and Bemona go to the Magnolia Empire.
• Arnold immediately senses the condition of the entire plane through Divine Sense. He discovers that Pitero and Red-Eyed remain in the Yulan Plane, while Tru Pei left two hundred years earlier for the Earth God Plane.
• Pitero, now a god, joyfully reunites with Arnold and Bemona. Arnold announces that he intends to remain in the Yulan Plane for several hundred years and train Pitero.
• Red-Eyed arrives soon afterward, having also become a god. His playful attempt to embrace Arnold is stopped when Arnold immobilizes him with wind elemental essence.
• Arnold, Pitero, Red-Eyed, and Bemona discuss the plane’s history over the past two thousand years.
• They learn that the High-God Biserre once attempted to force the Yulan Plane’s humans to worship him. Wharton sought Tru Pei’s help, and Tru Pei defeated and drove Biserre into the Infernal Realm.
• Arnold later reunites with the residents of Dragonblood Castle, including Wharton, Doehring Cowart, the Barker brothers, Cessler, the Rebecca sisters, and the other surviving Saints and gods.
• Arnold teases Yale for being the only one among the five brothers who has not yet become a god, then offers to train him during his extended stay.
• Bei Bei introduces his daughter Ina, who became a god in only a hundred years under Arnold’s guidance.
• Reynold challenges Ina to a sparring match but is decisively defeated after it is revealed that she has already fused profound mysteries. His defeat highlights the gap between her talent and the brothers’ current cultivation.

Character Developments

• Arnold returns as a vastly more powerful figure but remains emotionally attached to his homeland and former companions. He takes on renewed responsibility as a teacher, especially toward Pitero and Yale.
• Bemona is now openly accepted as Arnold’s wife, comfortably allowing Pitero to address her as “Mistress.”
• Pitero has grown from Arnold’s disciple into a god and the stabilizing force of the Magnolia Empire after Catherine’s departure.
• Red-Eyed has transformed into human form and become a god, though he retains his exaggeratedly playful personality.
• Tru Pei has become powerful enough to defeat the invading High-God Biserre and has since departed for the Earth God Plane.
• Yale remains the only one of the five brothers who has not become a god, making him the target of friendly mockery and a likely future student of Arnold.
• Ina emerges as an exceptionally talented cultivator. She became a god through the Wind Law and has already fused profound mysteries, surpassing older and more experienced figures such as Reynold.
• Reynold suffers a humbling defeat, realizing that becoming a god does not necessarily mean possessing superior combat ability.

Significant Themes

• Nostalgia and belonging: Arnold’s return emphasizes his emotional connection to the Yulan Plane and the people who shaped his early life.
• The passage of time: Two thousand years have brought major changes in power and status, yet many familiar relationships and personalities remain.
• Mentorship and legacy: Arnold’s role shifts from former disciple and adventurer to mentor and teacher, continuing the cycle of cultivation and inheritance.
• Talent versus effort: Ina’s rapid progress demonstrates the importance of natural aptitude and comprehension, while Yale and Reynold represent those still struggling to advance.
• Power and protection: The Biserre incident shows how vulnerable weaker planes are to powerful outsiders, while figures like Tru Pei and Arnold act as protectors.
• Family and friendship: The reunions at the Magnolia Empire and Dragonblood Castle reinforce the enduring bonds among Arnold, Linley, Bei Bei, and the five brothers.

Character Interactions

• Arnold and Pitero share a warm master-disciple reunion, with Pitero eagerly requesting further guidance.
• Arnold’s restrained reaction to Red-Eyed’s attempted embrace contrasts with Red-Eyed’s childish affection and playful personality.
• Arnold and the old companions exchange news about the plane’s history and their respective accomplishments.
• Arnold and Yale trade insults affectionately, with Arnold promising to train Yale intensely.
• Linley and Bei Bei tease one another over Ina’s success and Arnold’s teaching ability.
• George and Reynold express admiration for Ina’s remarkable cultivation.
• Reynold’s sparring match with Ina becomes both a comedic moment and a demonstration of her overwhelming strength.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• At Dragonblood Castle, Arnold continues training Ina in the difficult dual-core Wind Space technique.
• Arnold explains that the technique requires exceptional soul strength and control, which Ina currently lacks as a Demi-God. She will likely need to reach the Mid-God level before mastering it.
• He advises Ina to obtain Soul Golden Pearls from her father, Bei Bei, to strengthen her soul. Since Bei Bei possesses a huge stockpile acquired from the Amethyst Mountains, Ina is able to improve rapidly.
• Yale visits Arnold after Ina leaves and asks for guidance in the Law of Lightning. Although Arnold has no particular talent in Lightning, he understands its six profound mysteries and explains the fundamentals of the Lightning Element Profound Truth.
• Arnold trains Yale by having him study lightning elemental particles and practice forming elemental creatures while gradually reducing the spiritual energy needed to control them.
• Yale maintains this training for thirty years, eventually reaching the pinnacle of the Saint Domain and approaching the threshold of godhood.
• Ina’s soul is strengthened to the Demi-God limit through the Soul Golden Pearls, greatly accelerating her comprehension and deduction of profound mysteries.
• Arnold himself makes major progress: through the combined deductions of his main body and Water God Clone, his Fire Element Profound Truth and Water Element Profound Mystery reach their final stage of fusion.

Character Developments

• Ina: Demonstrates exceptional diligence and dedication to cultivation. Though unable to master dual-core Wind Space, she follows Arnold’s advice and strengthens her soul, significantly increasing her cultivation potential.
• Arnold: Establishes himself as a highly capable teacher. His understanding of fundamental principles allows him to guide even cultivators of Laws he does not personally specialize in. He also continues advancing his own fusion of profound mysteries.
• Yale: Despite being traditionally lazy and the only one of the five brothers who has not become a god, Yale begins serious cultivation under Arnold’s guidance. His progress over thirty years surpasses that of the previous thousand years, bringing him close to becoming a god.
• Bei Bei: His immense stockpile of Soul Golden Pearls becomes crucial to Ina’s improvement, showing the benefits of his past experiences and resources.
• Linley, Reynold, and George: They observe Yale’s transformation with surprise and admiration. Reynold becomes interested in seeking Arnold’s guidance, while Linley feels some envy of Arnold’s cultivation and teaching abilities.

Significant Themes

• Soul strength as the foundation of power: Both Ina’s failed attempt at dual-core Wind Space and Yale’s progress demonstrate that stronger souls provide superior control over elemental forces and accelerate comprehension.
• Persistence and disciplined cultivation: Yale’s dramatic improvement comes from sustained, focused effort rather than innate talent alone.
• The value of fundamental understanding: Arnold teaches that studying elemental particles is the best route to comprehending elemental profound mysteries, emphasizing principles over rote technique.
• Guidance and mentorship: Arnold’s insight enables others to make breakthroughs in areas beyond his personal specialization.
• Comparison and motivation among companions: The achievements of Arnold, Ina, and Yale inspire both admiration and competitive pressure among the brothers.

Character Interactions

• Arnold patiently explains to Ina why she cannot yet master dual-core Wind Space and recommends Soul Golden Pearls as a solution.
• Ina jokingly threatens to ignore Bei Bei if he refuses to give her the pearls, reflecting their familiar father-daughter relationship.
• Yale deliberately waits until Ina leaves before approaching Arnold, suggesting that her intense diligence intimidates him.
• Arnold teaches Yale through practical demonstrations and detailed explanations of Lightning Element Profound Truth.
• Reynold, George, and Linley watch Yale’s training from afar and comment on his unusual seriousness.
• Reynold tries to redirect Linley’s request for Arnold’s guidance by teasing him about his own cultivation progress, creating a lighthearted exchange between the brothers.

Chapter Summary: “Underworld”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Arnold reflects on the immense potential of fusing the Fire Law’s offensive Explosion Profound Truth with the Water Law’s defensive Roundness and Flexibility Profound Mystery. He believes such a fusion could achieve nearly perfect offense and defense, illustrating the advantage of Soul Mutants, who can combine the strengths of different Laws.
• Despite this potential, Arnold prioritizes advancing his Earth Law. His main body, Earth God Clone, and Water God Clone focus on fusing the Earth Law’s Profound Mysteries.
• After a century of cultivation at Dragonblood Castle—including thirty years spent guiding Yale—Arnold completely fuses five Earth Law Profound Mysteries: Earth Element, Gravity Space, Strength, Earth Travel, and Vitality. He is now preparing to integrate the sixth, Earth Pulsation, with the others.
• Yale becomes a god by perfecting the Lightning Element Profound Truth. Ina also makes major progress, comprehending the Wind Law’s Fast and Slow Profound Mysteries and nearing the fusion of Wind Element and Wind Space.
• Beirut visits Dragonblood Castle and discusses the Necropolis of the Gods with Bei Bei, Linley, Arnold, and the others. Beirut explains that Linley is still not strong enough to enter, while Arnold has no real need to explore it because its treasures are unlikely to surpass what he already possesses.
• Beirut encourages Arnold to visit the other Divine Planes, particularly the Underworld. He explains that mortal souls from the Material Planes are drawn there after death, transformed into undead, and potentially have their memories restored by the Underworld’s Sovereign.

Character Developments

• Arnold continues progressing toward Seven-Star Demon-level strength through Earth Law fusion. He demonstrates patience and strategic judgment by postponing more ambitious Fire-Water fusion projects in favor of completing the Earth Law.
• Arnold also reveals emotional acceptance regarding the deaths of his parents. Since they were ordinary mortals who died more than two thousand years earlier, he believes their souls were probably devoured long ago.
• Yale successfully becomes a god through his mastery of the Lightning Element Profound Truth.
• Ina continues her diligent cultivation and advances significantly in the Wind Law, earning Beirut’s particular affection and approval.
• Linley learns that, despite his remarkable strength and apparent connection to the Redbud Sovereign, he still needs to become stronger before entering the Necropolis of the Gods.
• Beirut acts as an informed guide and authority, explaining the conditions surrounding the Necropolis and the mysteries of the Underworld.

Significant Themes

• The power of fusion and balance: Combining different Laws can overcome their individual weaknesses, while successful fusion requires harmony and balance.
• Cultivation and long-term patience: Arnold’s progress occurs over centuries, emphasizing the enormous timescale of godhood and the need to prioritize one’s training carefully.
• Life, death, and the Earth Laws: Birth, aging, illness, and death are presented as expressions of the Earth Laws. Even death leads to another stage of existence in the Underworld.
• Loss and acceptance: Arnold and Linley are reminded of their deceased parents. Arnold accepts that his parents’ souls have likely vanished, while the possibility of memory restoration raises questions about whether the dead can truly be reclaimed.
• The limitations of strength: Even powerful figures such as Linley may still be unprepared for the dangers of higher realms like the Necropolis of the Gods.

Character Interactions

• Beirut warmly chats with Ina, showing their close relationship and his affection for her.
• Bei Bei asks Beirut whether he controls the opening of the Necropolis of the Gods, prompting a discussion of who may enter.
• Beirut tells Linley that his present strength is insufficient and that he must improve further before exploring the Necropolis.
• Beirut and Arnold discuss the other Divine Planes, leading to Arnold’s interest in visiting the Underworld.
• The explanation of the Underworld’s treatment of mortal souls deeply affects both Linley and Arnold, causing them to think of their deceased fathers and, in Arnold’s case, his mother as well.

Chapter Summary: “Planar Battlefield”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Linley asks Beirut whether a Sovereign could locate and restore the memories of his deceased relatives, whose souls now exist as undead in the Underworld.
• Beirut explains that only the seven Underworld Sovereigns can locate such souls, but Linley faces two major obstacles: finding a Sovereign and persuading one to help him.
• Beirut gives Linley books about the Underworld, a token connected to the Bloodpeak Sovereign, and advice. Linley leaves for the Underworld with Bei Bei, leaving behind his Fire God Clone. Arnold remains behind.
• Beirut discusses the upcoming Planar Wars with Arnold and explains their rules:
  • The wars occur between two opposing sides representing pairs of the Divine Planes.
  • Participants are categorized as soldiers or Prefects and identified by colored badges.
  • Killing enemy soldiers or Prefects earns military merits.
  • One hundred soldier badges can be exchanged for a drop of the appropriate Sovereign’s Might.
  • One hundred thousand soldier badges or ten Prefect badges can earn a Sovereign Artifact.
  • Military merits can accumulate across different Planar Wars.
• Arnold becomes interested in participating because he wants to obtain different types of Sovereign’s Might, especially Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind Sovereign’s Might for his experiments.
• Beirut reveals that the coming Planar War will pit the Dark God Plane against the Light God Plane. Arnold decides to wait and assess future wars before choosing whether to participate.
• Beirut promises Arnold a “great gift” if he makes another breakthrough in the Laws of Earth or Wind. Arnold reveals that he has begun fusing the eight profound mysteries of Wind Law.
• After leaving, Beirut privately reveals the true nature of Arnold’s potential reward: two Sovereign Sparks. He is also secretly planning to eliminate a Lowgod Sovereign of wind or fire so Arnold can eventually become powerful enough to stand safely against Augusta.

Character Developments

• Linley: Shows determination to recover the memories of his deceased relatives despite the extreme difficulty of obtaining a Sovereign’s help. He begins his journey into the Underworld.
• Arnold: Displays growing ambition and curiosity about the Planar Wars, particularly their rewards. His ability to fuse the profound mysteries of Wind Law is advancing rapidly, suggesting another major breakthrough may be near.
• Beirut: Acts as Linley’s guide and advisor while also making secret plans to increase Arnold’s power. His long-term concern is protecting Arnold from Augusta and ensuring Arnold becomes strong enough to survive a confrontation with him.
• Bei Bei: Accompanies Linley on the journey to the Underworld.
• Bemona: Is mentioned as someone who possesses substantial Wind Sovereign’s Might and may be able to provide some to Arnold.

Significant Themes

• The difficulty of defying death: Recovering the memories of deceased loved ones requires navigating the authority and power of the Underworld Sovereigns.
• Power and preparation: Beirut emphasizes that Arnold is not yet fully secure against Augusta, prompting plans to obtain Sovereign Sparks and further strengthen him.
• Ambition and experimentation: Arnold views Sovereign’s Might not only as a source of power but also as material for testing the fusion of different energies.
• Political and cosmic hierarchy: The chapter highlights the immense authority of Sovereigns and the strict systems governing the Planar Wars.
• Long-term strategy: Both Linley and Beirut pursue goals that require patience, planning, and overcoming seemingly overwhelming obstacles.

Character Interactions

• Linley and Beirut: Beirut discourages Linley’s unrealistic expectations but equips him with knowledge, resources, and a token to improve his chances in the Underworld.
• Beirut and Arnold: Beirut explains the Planar Wars and encourages Arnold to improve his Laws. Their conversation reveals mutual trust and Beirut’s confidence in Arnold’s potential.
• Arnold and Beirut: Arnold questions the rules, rewards, and participating planes, showing that he is carefully evaluating whether the battlefield will serve his objectives.
• Beirut and Bemona: Though Bemona does not appear directly, Beirut suggests that she may help Arnold acquire Wind Sovereign’s Might.
• Beirut and Augusta: Augusta never appears, but he functions as the central threat motivating Beirut’s secret plans to increase Arnold’s strength.

Chapter Summary: “Three-System Soul Mutant Comes Calling”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Arnold’s conversation with Beirut, the legendary Dicas arrives at Dragonblood Castle.
• Dicas is one of the extremely rare Three-System Soul Mutants, possessing divine clones aligned with earth, destruction, and water. His soul mutation occurred after he suffered a devastating injury while challenging the lord of Emerson City.
• Though Dicas has not reached Paragon level in any single law, his strength is so extraordinary that he is considered a possible Paragon-level existence.
• Dicas explains that he learned Arnold’s location from Gislason, the leader of the Black Tortoise Clan, after traveling through the Earth God Plane and Infernal Realm.
• He has come specifically to challenge Arnold to a sparring match.
• Arnold accepts, choosing the remote end of the South Sea to prevent their battle from destroying the Yulan Plane’s mainland.
• Arnold informs Wharton, Doehring, and the other residents of Dragonblood Castle, though they wisely decide not to approach the battlefield because the residual force of the combat could kill them.
• Beirut and Bluefire observe the battle from the Dark Forest. They expect Arnold to win but hope that fighting Dicas will help Arnold discover new connections between different profound mysteries.
• At the end of the South Sea, Arnold and Dicas begin their confrontation. Their first exchange of punches creates enormous explosions and Spatial Rifts stretching dozens of meters.
• The battle’s impact is so powerful that it shakes the entire Yulan Plane; even ordinary mortals sense that heaven and earth have become unstable.

Character Developments

• Arnold is portrayed as confident, powerful, and open to testing himself against other extraordinary figures. As a newly recognized Paragon-level expert, he allows Dicas to attack first, showing both composure and the status expected of a Paragon.
• Dicas is established as an energetic, battle-hungry legend who actively seeks powerful opponents. His successful three-system soul mutation demonstrates his exceptional talent and resilience.
• Beirut continues to act as a perceptive observer and supporter of Arnold’s growth. He believes Arnold may eventually fuse the profound mysteries of four different laws.
• Bluefire remains measured and realistic, acknowledging Arnold’s great potential while noting that Arnold has currently fused only two profound mysteries from the Laws of Fire and Water.
• Gislason is indirectly shown to maintain connections across major planes and to trust Arnold’s location to powerful figures when appropriate.

Significant Themes

• Rarity and exceptional talent: Three-System Soul Mutants are nearly unheard of, emphasizing Dicas’s legendary status and the extraordinary nature of Arnold’s own abilities.
• Growth through combat: The duel is not merely a contest of strength; Beirut and Bluefire hope Arnold will gain insight into combining different laws by fighting Dicas.
• Limits of power: Even experts beneath Paragon level can threaten an entire Material Plane through the residual effects of their battle.
• Ambition and self-improvement: Dicas seeks battle to test himself, while Arnold’s willingness to accept reflects his confidence and desire to advance further.
• The scale of the cosmos: The chapter highlights the vast connections between the Yulan Plane, Earth God Plane, Infernal Realm, and other divine planes.

Character Interactions

• Arnold and Dicas: Dicas respectfully challenges Arnold, while Arnold questions how Dicas found him before agreeing to fight.
• Arnold and Dragonblood Castle’s residents: Arnold warns them about the battle and gives them the choice to watch from a safe distance.
• Beirut and Bluefire: The two discuss Arnold’s current abilities, future potential, and the possible benefits of his duel with Dicas.
• Dicas and Gislason: Though Gislason does not appear directly, his prior interaction with Dicas enables the meeting between the two powerful fighters.
• Arnold and Dicas in combat: Their opening exchange immediately demonstrates their overwhelming strength, with each collision tearing open space and disturbing the entire plane.

Chapter Summary: The Mysterious Card

Key Plot Points and Events

• Arnold and Dicas continue their sparring match, with Arnold analyzing Dicas’s increasingly powerful attacks.
• Dicas has fused profound mysteries from the Earth, Water, and Destruction Laws:
  • Earth’s Strength Profound Truth
  • Water’s Roundness and Flexibility Profound Mystery
  • Destruction’s destructive power
• Dicas reveals that he made another breakthrough and launches his strongest attack. The blow tears open a massive Spatial Rift and is powerful enough to rival the fusion of several profound mysteries from a single Law.
• Arnold counters with Willpower Potency and the strength of his own eight fused profound mysteries. Their clash destroys the surrounding space and forms a huge black hole, but both escape unharmed.
• Dicas admits that even this attack cannot match the power of a Paragon because Paragons possess Willpower Potency after their souls transform.
• Arnold praises Dicas’s fusion ability while privately recognizing that his own true strength is far greater than that of an ordinary Paragon, thanks to his nearly Sovereign Artifact-level body.
• After discussing the upcoming Planar War, both reveal they will not participate in the current one. Dicas intends to continue cultivating and hopes to spar with Arnold again after another breakthrough.
• Dicas departs for the Arctic Icefield. Shortly afterward, Arnold tears open space with a casual punch, and a mysterious black metallic card flies out of the Spatial Rift.
• The card has no detectable aura but is extraordinarily hard—stronger than what Arnold expects from even a High-God Artifact. He wonders whether it might be a damaged Sovereign Artifact and prepares to drip blood on it to test its nature.

Character Developments

• Dicas demonstrates a major advancement in profound-mystery fusion. His strength now exceeds what most experts could achieve through the complete fusion of several mysteries, though he remains below a true Paragon.
• Arnold shows both respect for Dicas and confidence in his own hidden strength. He conceals the truth about his Four-System Soul Mutation but privately realizes that his physical body makes him vastly stronger than Dicas understands.
• Their exchange reinforces that both are rare Soul Mutants with immense potential, creating a bond of mutual respect and appreciation.

Significant Themes

• The limits of cultivation: Even extraordinary achievements in profound-mystery fusion may still fall short of the power granted by Willpower Potency.
• Potential versus accomplishment: Soul Mutants possess the possibility of surpassing Paragons, but reaching that level requires immense time and effort.
• Hidden strength and secrecy: Arnold deliberately withholds the full extent of his abilities and origins, emphasizing the danger of revealing too much.
• The unknown and foreshadowing: The seemingly ordinary but indestructible card introduces a new mystery and likely signals an important future discovery.

Character Interactions

• Arnold and Dicas engage in a friendly but highly destructive test of strength, praising each other’s abilities rather than treating the fight as hostile.
• Dicas seeks Arnold specifically because he needs a powerful opponent to evaluate his breakthrough.
• Arnold encourages Dicas to continue pursuing greater strength and agrees to spar with him again.
• Their conversation about the Planar War shows that both have moved beyond ordinary competition and no longer view the conflict as especially meaningful.

Chapter Summary: “Overgod Mission”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Arnold examines a mysterious black card that emerged from a Spatial Rift. Blood recognition and Divine Sense fail to activate it, but both Wind Midgod and Water High-God Divine Power are absorbed.
• When Arnold uses Water High-God Divine Power, the card turns green and reveals a message in common Divine Plane script. After he reads it, the card returns to black and the message disappears.
• Arnold immediately travels to the Dark Forest to consult Beirut and Bluefire. He reveals the card’s contents and reactivates its message for them.
• The card announces the beginning of an Overgod Mission. Anyone possessing a High-God-level Earth God Clone may use it to enter a special Material Plane called the Abyss of Earth, which will be transformed in one hundred years.
• Participants who obtain three Overgod Tokens will gain the opportunity to completely fuse one profound mystery of the Earth Law—effectively allowing a qualified deity to reach the Paragon level.
• Beirut explains that Overgod Artifacts are weapons created only by the four Overgods, and that Overgod Missions are the only way Sovereigns can obtain them.
• Arnold returns to Dragonblood Castle and tells Wharton and the others about his battle with Dicas, but deliberately withholds information about the Overgod Mission because they are too weak to benefit from participating.
• After Arnold leaves, Beirut and Bluefire discuss the unusual nature of the mission, especially why it is restricted to High-Gods who cultivate the Earth Law.

Character Developments

• Arnold: Demonstrates caution and intelligence while testing the card, then recognizes the enormous importance of the mission. He accepts Beirut’s advice and resolves to focus his five souls on completing the final profound mystery of the Earth Law within a century.
• Beirut: Acts as Arnold’s mentor and strategist. He explains the significance of Overgod Artifacts and immediately identifies Arnold’s greatest challenge: advancing his Earth God Clone to the High-God level before the deadline.
• Bluefire: Shows strong interest in the possibility of reaching the Paragon level but acknowledges that becoming an Earth-element Paragon would not be enough to surpass Augusta. He therefore shifts his hopes toward Arnold’s future growth.
• Arnold’s companions: Remain informed about his conflict with Dicas but are intentionally excluded from the Overgod Mission’s secrets.

Significant Themes

• Power and opportunity: The mission offers an unprecedented chance to obtain an Overgod Artifact or reach the Paragon realm, making it attractive even to the strongest Sovereigns.
• Preparation and time pressure: Arnold has only one hundred years to fulfill a difficult cultivation requirement, turning advancement into a race against time.
• Secrecy and selective trust: Arnold shares the information only with Beirut and Bluefire, recognizing that revealing it to weaker companions would be dangerous and pointless.
• Uncertainty and hidden motives: The mission’s connection to the Earth Law puzzles even experienced figures like Beirut and Bluefire, suggesting that greater forces or secrets may be involved.
• Mentorship and legacy: Bluefire and Beirut place their hopes in Arnold, emphasizing the importance of guiding the next generation toward greater strength.

Character Interactions

• Arnold consults Beirut and Bluefire after discovering the card, relying on their superior knowledge.
• Beirut explains the hierarchy between Divine Artifacts, Sovereign Artifacts, and Overgod Artifacts, while Bluefire emphasizes the mission’s appeal to Earth-law cultivators.
• Beirut advises Arnold to devote himself entirely to Earth Law cultivation, and Arnold respectfully agrees.
• Arnold later speaks with Wharton and the others about Dicas but keeps the Overgod Mission secret.
• Afterward, Beirut and Bluefire privately question the mission’s unusual rules and its connection to the Earth Law.

Chapter Summary: “Soul Annihilation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After returning briefly to Dragonblood Castle, Arnold goes to the far end of the South Sea to continue cultivating.
• He releases all his bodies and focuses on several goals:
  • His three souls work on fusing the Earth Laws’ Earth Pulsation, Strength, Earth Element, and Vitality profound mysteries.
  • His Earth God Clone resumes studying Earth Pulsation.
  • His main body begins developing a powerful soul-attack technique based on the Earth Laws.
• After fifty years, Arnold achieves major progress:
  • Earth Pulsation fuses with the other Earth profound mysteries and reaches the final stage of unification.
  • His new soul attacks become comparable to those of Asura- and Prefect-level soul experts, though he remains dissatisfied.
• While observing the membrane separating the South Sea from Spatial Turbulence, Arnold realizes he should not restrict himself to a single law. Since soul attacks conceal the nature of his Four-System Soul Mutation better than material attacks, he decides to combine soul-related profound mysteries from the Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind Laws.
• He selects:
  • Vitality from the Earth Laws
  • Soul Attack from the Fire Law
  • Water Ripple from the Water Law
  • Sound-related mysteries from the Wind Law, especially Sound Wave and Music
• Thirty years later, Arnold completes his comprehension of Earth Pulsation. His Earth God Clone becomes a High-God, and the Earth Laws descend in response.
• He successfully fuses Vitality and Soul Attack, creating a technique called Soul Annihilation. The technique forms a Soul Sword designed to relentlessly destroy an opponent’s soul. Its power will increase further once Water Ripple and Sound are incorporated.
• Having reached the required level to enter the Abyss of Earth, Arnold travels to Beirut’s Metal Castle to ask why he must compete for the Overgod Token.

Character Developments

• Arnold grows substantially in power and comprehension:
  • His Earth God Clone advances to High-God.
  • His Earth Pulsation reaches mastery.
  • He develops a deadly new soul-attack technique.
• He also becomes more strategically intelligent. Rather than stubbornly perfecting an Earth-only technique, he recognizes the advantages of combining multiple laws while concealing his unusual Four-System Soul Mutation.
• Arnold remains cautious about revealing his true abilities and understands the political danger of attracting the Sovereigns’ attention.
• Bemona is shown to be caring and worried about Arnold’s safety. She understands the immense risks associated with the Overgod Token and the powerful enemies Arnold may provoke.

Significant Themes

• Innovation through flexibility: Arnold makes progress only after abandoning his narrow focus on the Earth Laws and considering the strengths of all four elemental laws.
• Concealment and strategy: Soul attacks are less recognizable than material attacks, allowing Arnold to use his unique fusion abilities without exposing his secrets.
• Power and danger: Greater strength brings greater political risk, especially because competing for an Overgod Artifact may make Arnold a target of multiple Sovereigns.
• Persistence and perfection: Even techniques already comparable to top-level attacks do not satisfy Arnold, reflecting his relentless pursuit of greater power.
• Trust versus uncertainty: Arnold trusts Beirut’s intentions but still seeks an explanation before entering the dangerous Abyss of Earth.

Character Interactions

• Arnold briefly returns to Dragonblood Castle and greets Wharton, Pitero, and the others before leaving to cultivate.
• After becoming a High-God, Arnold visits Beirut’s Metal Castle.
• Bemona receives him on Beirut’s behalf, explaining that Beirut anticipated his arrival because the advancement of Arnold’s Earth God Clone caused a major disturbance.
• Bemona questions whether Arnold truly intends to compete for the Overgod Token. She warns that obtaining it could cause the Sovereigns to pursue him and potentially prevent him from ever leaving the Yulan Plane.
• Arnold reassures her that he trusts Beirut and believes Beirut would not deliberately endanger him, while acknowledging the significance of the Overgod Artifact and his strong chance of obtaining it.

Chapter Summary: “The Battle Ten Thousand Years Ago”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Arnold visits Beirut with Bemona to ask why Beirut had encouraged him to enter the Abyss of Earth. Beirut reveals that the invitation was connected to a much greater secret.
• Beirut explains that his Darkness Divine Clone possesses the terrifying Willpower Potency of a Paragon despite not actually being a Paragon.
• He then reveals the truth: he is a Sovereign. Bemona already knew this, while Arnold is shocked by the revelation.
• Beirut recounts the battle ten thousand years earlier between the four ancestors of the Four Divine Beasts clan—Azure Dragon, Black Tortoise, Vermilion Bird, and White Tiger—and the Radiance Sovereign, Augusta.
• Although the Four Divine Beasts combine their Innate Divine Abilities in a powerful soul-targeting attack, the technique fails to harm Augusta. Augusta subsequently kills all four ancestors, one by one.
• Seeing the Divine Beasts’ corpses drifting near him, Beirut—then still a High-God—risks everything and uses his Devouring God Rat tail to drag all four bodies into the Yulan Plane.
• The corpses contain Sovereign Sparks. Augusta attempts to reclaim them, first through a projection clone and then through threats, but Beirut destroys the clone and ignores the threats.
• Beirut immediately refines the Wind Sovereign Spark and becomes a Sovereign before Augusta can summon a Paragon to intervene.
• He retains three additional Sovereign Sparks and thereby earns Augusta’s lasting hatred.
• To provoke or distract Augusta and attract powerful outsiders, Beirut spreads news that the Necropolis of the Gods contains the Sovereign Artifacts of the four Divine Beasts. Powerful figures from various planes begin traveling to the Yulan Plane in pursuit of them.

Character Developments

• Arnold learns that Beirut has been hiding his true identity and is far more powerful than he realized. His understanding of Beirut shifts from seeing him as a mysterious elder to recognizing him as a Sovereign capable of defying other Sovereigns.
• Beirut is revealed as exceptionally daring, calculating, and opportunistic. His willingness to seize the Divine Beasts’ corpses from Augusta’s battlefield demonstrates both immense courage and confidence in his own abilities.
• Bemona is shown to have long known Beirut’s secret. Her calm reaction contrasts with Arnold’s shock and reinforces her close relationship with her grandfather.
• Radiance Sovereign Augusta is portrayed as powerful, vengeful, and extremely prideful. His rage at losing the Sovereign Sparks establishes his enduring hostility toward Beirut.

Significant Themes

• Risk and opportunity: Beirut’s rise to Sovereignty comes from recognizing and seizing an almost impossible opportunity, despite the danger of provoking Augusta.
• Power hidden behind appearances: Beirut’s public identity and apparent status conceal his true strength, emphasizing that the most dangerous figures may not reveal their capabilities.
• Pride and vengeance: Augusta’s inability to tolerate being challenged or robbed fuels his hatred of Beirut.
• The value of decisive action: Beirut succeeds because he acts instantly while others are stunned or distracted.
• Political and personal consequences of power: Obtaining the Sovereign Sparks elevates Beirut but also places him in direct conflict with one of the most powerful beings in existence.

Character Interactions

• Arnold and Bemona discuss the dangers of entering the Abyss of Earth before meeting Beirut.
• Beirut directly questions Arnold’s assumptions about his power, turning the conversation into a gradual revelation of his Sovereign status.
• Arnold reacts with disbelief but quickly accepts the importance of keeping Beirut’s identity secret.
• Bemona’s familiarity with the secret creates a moment of trust between her and Arnold.
• Beirut’s past conflict with Augusta forms the central relationship of the chapter: Augusta relies on overwhelming force and expects obedience, while Beirut survives through daring, speed, and defiance.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Beirut recounts how he became known among the Sovereigns after secretly controlling the great battle in the Yulan Plane.
• The Destruction Sovereign learned that Beirut possessed the corpses of the Four Divine Beasts and offered protection from the Radiance Sovereign in exchange for half of their refined blood essence.
• Beirut experimented with the Four Divine Beasts’ blood essence, eventually creating the first generation of the Four Ultimate Warriors, including Baruch’s ancestors.
• To protect the Four Divine Beasts clan, Beirut arranged for the Bloodpeak Sovereign to publicly identify him as an emissary.
• Beirut explains that he retained three Sovereign Sparks and carefully selected candidates to inherit them. Bluefire was the first, while Arnold became a candidate because of his exceptional four-element soul mutation and strong Earth and Wind Laws.
• Beirut clarifies that Sovereigns cannot enter foreign Material Planes because their souls are incompatible with those planes. However, a Sovereign may enter the Material Plane where their soul was originally born. Thus, Beirut can enter only the Yulan Plane.
• Beirut explains the importance of the Overgod’s token and Overgod Artifacts, which can counterbalance the Radiance Sovereign’s powerful Overgod Artifact.
• The chapter ends with Arnold questioning how much stronger a Lowlevel Sovereign is than a Paragon in terms of Willpower Potency.

Character Developments

• Beirut: Reveals his history, experiments, alliances, and motivations. His protection of the Four Divine Beasts clan stems from gratitude toward the beings whose remains helped him become a Sovereign. He is also shown to be strategically preparing Arnold as a possible dual-element Sovereign.
• Arnold: Gains a deeper understanding of Beirut’s power, the origin of the Four Ultimate Warriors, the restrictions on Sovereigns, and the inheritance of Willpower Potency. His excitement grows when he realizes Beirut may be favoring him for a Sovereign Spark.
• Bluefire: Is revealed to have been the first person chosen by Beirut to inherit a Sovereign Spark and become a Fire Overgod.
• The Four Ultimate Warriors: Their origin is explained as the result of Beirut’s successful experiments with the Four Divine Beasts’ blood essence.
• The Destruction and Bloodpeak Sovereigns: Their past arrangements with Beirut demonstrate the political alliances and bargains among Sovereigns.

Significant Themes

• Power and sacrifice: Beirut trades half of the Four Divine Beasts’ blood essence for protection, showing that even Sovereigns must bargain and surrender valuable resources.
• Inheritance and transformation: Sovereign Sparks do more than grant power; they transform the soul and distribute Willpower Potency across all divine clones.
• Belonging and origin: A soul’s birthplace determines whether a Material Plane accepts or rejects a Sovereign, emphasizing the connection between identity and homeland.
• Strategic preparation: Beirut carefully selects successors and seeks the Overgod’s token because raw strength alone may not be enough to oppose the Radiance Sovereign.
• Limits of knowledge: Arnold’s questions reveal that even the strongest beings do not fully quantify Sovereign power, especially the relationship between Willpower Potency and overall strength.

Character Interactions

• Beirut and Arnold have an increasingly open mentor-and-student relationship, with Beirut explaining secrets about Sovereigns and Arnold challenging him with increasingly sophisticated questions.
• Beirut recalls negotiating with the Destruction Sovereign and relying on the Bloodpeak Sovereign to protect the Four Divine Beasts clan.
• Beirut admits that Arnold’s unique talents made him a potential successor, creating a strong personal connection and raising Arnold’s hopes of becoming a Sovereign.
• The final discussion centers on Arnold’s theoretical question about whether multiple divine clones could each receive nearly Paragon-level Willpower Potency, leaving Beirut to consider how many “shares” of power a Lowlevel Sovereign truly possesses.

Chapter Summary: “Birth of the Water Sovereign!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Beirut explains that a Lowlevel Sovereign possesses seven portions of Willpower Potency, making one vastly stronger—potentially millions of times stronger—than an ordinary Paragon.
• Because Arnold’s Earth God Clone must enter the hidden Abyss of Earth to complete the Overgod mission, Beirut decides that Arnold should first become a Water Sovereign.
• Beirut, Bluefire, Bemona, and Arnold travel to the South Sea and descend into a concealed seabed chamber.
• Beirut activates a powerful sealing array, created and modified specifically to protect the Sovereign Sparks. The array opens only through Sovereign-level power and reveals a black box.
• The group enters the Necropolis of the Gods, a Divine Plane created by Beirut, and arrives at its previously unreachable eighteenth floor.
• Beirut opens the box, revealing two Sovereign Sparks: one for the Water Law and one for the Earth Law.
• Arnold begins refining the Water Sovereign Spark. The entire floor transforms into an ocean of liquefied Water Sovereign’s Might as the spark merges into his Water God Clone.
• Arnold successfully becomes a Water Sovereign, while the Earth Sovereign Spark remains for later, after he enters the Abyss of Earth.
• The transformation also grants Arnold an immense supply of Faith Power, dramatically improving his mental clarity, soul strength, and future cultivation potential.

Character Developments

• Arnold advances from an extraordinarily powerful Paragon into a true Sovereign. His Water God Clone gains Sovereign-level Willpower Potency, while his true body and other divine clones also receive enormous increases.
• His understanding of the gap between Paragons and Sovereigns deepens, motivating him to pursue the remaining Earth Sovereign transformation.
• Arnold discovers the effect of Faith Power and realizes that becoming a Sovereign will greatly accelerate his comprehension of the Water Law.
• Beirut is shown to be highly cautious and strategic. He prepared the sealing array to prevent enemies such as the Radiance Sovereign from obtaining the Sovereign Sparks.
• Beirut takes personal satisfaction in witnessing Arnold’s ascension and remains invested in Arnold’s future success.
• Bluefire continues to act as an informed guide, explaining the origins and strength of the Necropolis of the Gods and supporting Arnold’s transformation.
• Bemona observes the process alongside Beirut and Bluefire, serving as a witness to Arnold’s historic breakthrough.

Significant Themes

• The overwhelming power gap between realms: The chapter emphasizes how far Sovereigns surpass Paragons and why Sovereign Sparks are considered priceless treasures.
• Preparation and protection: Beirut’s elaborate sealing formation reflects the importance of guarding power capable of changing the balance of the world.
• Ascension and transformation: Arnold’s refinement of the Sovereign Spark marks a major evolutionary step, granting him not only strength but also improved mental and spiritual abilities.
• Faith and cultivation: Sovereigns receive vast Faith Power from believers across countless Material Planes, explaining their superior comprehension and why they can eventually fuse multiple profound mysteries.
• Legacy and creation: The discussion of Divine Planes highlights the hierarchy of power and the difference between planes created by Overgods, groups of Sovereigns, and a single Lowlevel Sovereign.

Important Character Interactions

• Beirut explains Sovereign strength to Arnold and encourages him by promising that Arnold will soon join their ranks.
• Beirut and Bluefire discuss the protection of the Sovereign Sparks and the unusual strength of the Necropolis of the Gods.
• Arnold questions the nature of the Necropolis and its binding force, prompting Bluefire and Beirut to explain its origin and connection to the Yulan Plane.
• Beirut personally hands Arnold the Water Sovereign Spark and urges him to begin refining it.
• After awakening, Arnold respectfully addresses Beirut and asks about the sudden influx of Faith Power. Beirut explains its role in Sovereign cultivation and then asks how powerful Arnold’s new Water Sovereign Clone has become.

Summary: “Actions on All Sides”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Arnold reveals that his Water God Clone has only recently harmonized the Water Element and Roundness and Flexibility Profound Mysteries, leaving him behind other Sovereigns in Law fusion.
• Beirut explains that Faith Power will greatly accelerate Arnold’s cultivation, while Arnold reveals that his Water God Clone’s body has become nearly as strong as a Sovereign Artifact.
• Arnold attributes this physical strength to his earth-, fire-, water-, and wind-system soul mutation and the resulting Four-System Highgod Fused Divine Power. Beirut and Bluefire speculate that Four-System Sovereign’s Might may strengthen him even further.
• Beirut explains the differences in Willpower Potency between Lowlevel Sovereigns, Midlevel Sovereigns, Sovereigns, and Paragons. Arnold realizes that he must improve substantially to challenge the Radiance Sovereign and help Beirut and Bluefire leave the Yulan Plane.
• Bluefire advises Arnold to emphasize material attacks because of his extraordinarily powerful body, though Arnold plans to continue researching soul attacks through his other bodies.
• Beirut temporarily retains the Earth Sovereign Spark, which Arnold will refine later.
• Arnold leaves the Necropolis of the Gods with Bemona and returns to the South Sea to cultivate in seclusion.
• Over the next twenty years, Arnold makes major progress:
  • His Water God Clone uses Faith Power to find compatibility among four additional Water Law profound mysteries.
  • His Wind God Clone continues fusing its eight profound mysteries.
  • His original body and other divine clones research soul-related profound mysteries.
  • His Earth Law Vitality Profound Truth and Water Law Water Ripple Profound Mystery also begin fusing.
• Meanwhile, identical cards connected to the Overgod Mission spread among High-Gods across the eleven Divine Planes. Some submit them to Sovereigns for rewards, while powerful Earth Law cultivators pursue the chance to become Paragons.
• Bette, the Fire Overgod, becomes the first Sovereign besides Beirut and Bluefire to learn of the mission. He plans to inform the Fate Sovereign and recruit powerful Earth Law cultivators and earth-element Super Divine Beasts.
• Bette travels toward the Higher Planes, while other Sovereigns gradually learn that the long-dormant Overgod Mission has reopened.

Character Developments

• Arnold: Gains confidence from his near-Sovereign-Artifact-level body but recognizes the enormous gap between his current strength and that of top Sovereigns. He becomes more determined to cultivate, especially his Water Laws, fused divine power, material attacks, and soul techniques.
• Beirut: Continues mentoring Arnold and places great hopes in him as a future combatant against the Radiance Sovereign. He also remains cautious about revealing or distributing the Earth Sovereign Spark.
• Bluefire: Offers strategic advice, urging Arnold to exploit his strongest advantage—his physical body—and focus on material attacks.
• Bemona: Accepts Arnold’s need to enter prolonged seclusion, understanding that his growth may eventually allow Beirut to leave the Yulan Plane and improve her own status as a Sovereign’s descendant.
• Bette: Quickly shifts into action upon learning of the Overgod Mission, seeking allies and powerful Earth Law cultivators.

Significant Themes

• Power and preparation: Arnold’s extraordinary potential is not enough; he must close the gap in Willpower Potency and Law fusion before confronting the Radiance Sovereign.
• Unique advantages and specialization: Arnold’s soul mutation and fused divine power give him abilities unavailable to ordinary Sovereigns, while his physical strength encourages him to specialize in material attacks.
• The importance of cultivation and time: Even a short twenty-year period produces major gains when supported by Faith Power and exceptional talent.
• Political and strategic competition: The Overgod Mission immediately triggers movement among Sovereigns, Paragons, High-Gods, and Super Divine Beasts, each seeking advantage or the chance to become a Paragon.
• Loyalty and sacrifice: Arnold accepts personal isolation and delayed relationships because his strength is essential to freeing Beirut and Bluefire from the Yulan Plane.

Character Interactions

• Beirut, Bluefire, and Bemona react with surprise to Arnold’s powerful body and discuss the implications of his fused divine power.
• Beirut explains the hierarchy of Sovereign strength, helping Arnold understand the challenge ahead.
• Bluefire encourages Arnold to build around his physical abilities while acknowledging the value of his soul techniques.
• Arnold apologizes to Bemona for his coming seclusion, but she reassures him that his cultivation also serves her future interests.
• Bette acts independently but immediately seeks cooperation with the Fate Sovereign and Earth Law experts, setting the stage for wider conflict surrounding the Overgod Mission.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• As the entrance to the Abyss of Earth approaches, Beirut and Bluefire prepare Arnold extensively. They provide him with Wind and Fire Sovereign’s Might, while Arnold’s Water Sovereign Clone prepares Water Sovereign’s Might for his Earth God Clone.
• Arnold also receives an Attack Sovereign Artifact and a soul-defense Sovereign Artifact, giving him additional protection despite the restrictions on Sovereigns granting artifacts.
• Arnold uses the mysterious black card to send his Earth God Clone into the Abyss of Earth. However, once the green light disappears, Arnold can no longer sense or communicate with that clone.
• Beirut and Bluefire conclude that the Abyss of Earth—created by the Life Overgod—must be capable of severing the connection between divine clones. Arnold remains confident that his Earth God Clone will be safe, since even Sovereigns cannot enter the material plane.
• During the following five hundred years, Arnold cultivates in the Yulan Plane:
  • His Water Sovereign Clone works on fusing Water Laws.
  • His Fire God Clone attempts to become a Highgod.
  • His main body continues fusing the foundational profound mysteries of the four Laws.
  • His Wind God Clone remains at Dragonblood Castle and occasionally guides Ina.
• Meanwhile, Arnold’s Earth God Clone is transported to the Abyss of Earth along with fifty-five other powerful competitors from various Material and Divine Planes.
• The Abyss is a strange, forest-covered island with gravity more than one hundred times stronger than that of the Infernal Realm. The competitors include famous Prefects, Paragons, powerful Earth-element experts, Dicas, and the Super Divine Beast known as the Void Realm Dragon.
• Upon arrival, Arnold discovers that his Willpower Potency—and the spatial control it grants—has been completely suppressed. Several other experts who possess Willpower Potency suffer the same restriction.

Character Developments

• Arnold demonstrates increasing preparation, confidence, and adaptability. Although his greatest advantage is neutralized, he remains calm because his physical strength and fused Laws still make him extremely powerful.
• Beirut and Bluefire act protectively and strategically, gathering artifacts, Sovereign’s Might, and information to maximize Arnold’s chances of surviving the mission.
• Arnold’s Earth God Clone is isolated from his other selves, creating a major gap in Arnold’s knowledge and forcing him to face the Abyss without outside support.
• Dicas and the Void Realm Dragon are established as major competitors, emphasizing the extraordinary level of the people gathered for the Overgod Mission.
• An unnamed brown-haired expert is revealed to have risked offending Sovereigns and disguising himself to pursue the Overgod Token, only to find his Willpower Potency suppressed as well.

Significant Themes

• The limits of power: Even Arnold’s nearly fiftyfold-Paragon Willpower Potency can be neutralized within the Abyss, showing that the Overgod-created realm operates beyond ordinary rules.
• Preparation versus uncertainty: Beirut and Bluefire prepare Arnold carefully, but the mission immediately introduces an unforeseen danger that no amount of ordinary preparation could prevent.
• Isolation and suspense: The severed connection between Arnold’s clones separates him from his allies and prevents him from knowing what happens inside the Abyss.
• Equality among powerful beings: By suppressing Willpower Potency for all affected experts, the Abyss removes the greatest advantage of the strongest individuals and forces the competitors onto a more even footing.
• Overgod authority: The Life Overgod’s creation is presented as a realm capable of defying the laws and abilities that govern even Sovereigns and Paragons.

Character Interactions

• Beirut, Bluefire, Bemona, Ina, and others gather at the South Sea to see Arnold’s Earth God Clone depart.
• Beirut questions Arnold about the failed connection, while Bluefire expresses disbelief that a soul-based link could be blocked.
• Arnold reassures everyone that his Earth God Clone should remain safe and that they will learn what happened after five hundred years.
• Inside the Abyss, Arnold observes and identifies several renowned competitors, including Dicas, an Earth Paragon, and the Void Realm Dragon.
• The suppression of Willpower Potency affects Arnold and at least six other experts, provoking frustration and uncertainty among the strongest participants.

Summary: “The Overgod’s Envoy Appears”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Overgod Artifacts are revealed to be extremely powerful but limited to four types, corresponding to the attributes of the Higher Planes. They are most valuable to Sovereigns of the Edict Laws, though even incompatible Sovereigns would gain a significant increase in strength.
• Because Lowlevel Sovereigns are too weak to protect an Overgod Artifact from stronger opponents, the competition for Overgod Tokens is expected to involve mainly Midlevel Sovereigns and ordinary Sovereigns. Of the fifty-five other participants besides Arnold, most are powerful representatives from the eleven elements.
• The Willpower Potency of everyone present has been sealed, forcing even the strongest participants to reconsider their tactics.
• Cecil, an Earth Paragon serving the Radiance Sovereign, attempts to exploit the situation by attacking a nearby Prefect. Both Cecil and his target activate Earth Sovereign’s Might.
• Before the attack can land, the entire region is frozen. Everyone—including Arnold, Cecil, the Prefect, and even the surrounding leaves—is rendered immobile.
• A mysterious green-haired elder appears in the sky. His aura is vastly more powerful than Arnold’s Sovereign clone, leaving Arnold uncertain how such a being could enter the newly formed Abyss of Earth.
• The elder commands everyone not to fight until he gives permission. He threatens to erase anyone who violates the rules, warning that even divine clones of other elements will not protect them.
• Once he releases the participants, Cecil abandons his attack, and the targeted Prefect refrains from retaliating.
• The elder identifies himself as a lifeform created by the Life Overgod and therefore an envoy of the Life Overgod, rather than a conventional Sovereign.
• He explains that this Overgod Mission differs from previous ones: only High-Gods who cultivate the Earth Law and possess an Overgod Mission Card may enter the Abyss of Earth.
• Three Overgod Tokens are present—the Wutie Crown, the Nine Spirit Pearls, and the Red Ling Crystal Diamond. Each is currently held by a different person.
• The tokens may only be contested after the envoy announces the start. Once a participant obtains one, the envoy will eventually announce an end, after which attacking that token-holder is forbidden.
• The competitors infer that the contest will occur in three separate rounds. Obtaining a second token would make someone the target of every other participant, making it nearly impossible for one person to claim all three.

Character Developments

• Arnold: Becomes increasingly suspicious and confused when the mysterious elder freezes everyone and displays power beyond that of his Sovereign clone. He carefully observes the envoy and the rules, recognizing the danger of the situation.
• Cecil: Demonstrates aggression and opportunism by immediately attacking a nearby Prefect after Willpower Potency is sealed. However, the envoy’s appearance forces him to abandon the attack and comply with the rules.
• The green-haired elder: Is established as an overwhelmingly powerful and authoritative figure. As the Life Overgod’s envoy, he acts as the enforcer of the mission’s rules and controls when the competition begins and ends.
• The assembled Prefects and Paragons: Shift from immediate conflict to wary cooperation under threat of annihilation. They listen closely to the envoy’s explanation and begin calculating how the three-stage competition will unfold.

Significant Themes

• Power and restraint: Even the strongest beings must submit when confronted by a superior force. The envoy’s control over the entire group emphasizes the limits of individual power.
• Competition under imposed rules: The participants are rivals, but the Overgod’s rules regulate their violence and create a structured contest rather than unrestricted slaughter.
• Strategic calculation: The sealing of Willpower Potency and the division of the contest into three rounds force everyone to think tactically rather than relying solely on strength.
• The hierarchy of existence: The appearance of a being created by an Overgod reinforces the vast gap between Sovereigns, Paragons, and the higher powers governing the cosmos.
• Greed and risk: Although all participants desire the Overgod Tokens, obtaining one immediately makes its owner a target, making excessive ambition dangerous.

Character Interactions

• Cecil attempts to attack a Prefect, but the envoy’s freezing ability interrupts the confrontation.
• The attacked Prefect is visibly resentful after being spared, yet neither he nor Cecil dares continue the conflict once the envoy establishes the consequences.
• A woman in green robes questions the elder’s identity and how he entered the Abyss of Earth, prompting his revelation that he is an envoy created by the Life Overgod.
• The entire group reacts collectively to the envoy’s announcement, memorizing the token names and recognizing that cooperation may be necessary to prevent any single participant from gaining all three.

Chapter Summary: “Black Annihilation Ant”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wusi, the Overgod’s messenger, announces that the first Overgod Token to be contested is the Wutie Crown.
• The fifty-six participants are told that their opponents will be fifty-six Black Annihilation Ants, mysterious creatures none of them recognize.
• Wusi explains that the Wutie Crown is hidden inside an interspatial ring within one of the ants’ bellies. The participants must locate it during the contest.
• The Black Annihilation Ants emerge from fifty-six ancient green trees. Each is half a man’s height, covered in black radiance, and possesses four arms.
• Wusi warns the contestants that they may injure the ants but must not kill them, threatening to kill anyone who delivers a fatal blow.
• Before the contest begins, Wusi has the ants perform a synchronized dance and “hum” for half an hour. Their buzzing produces a powerful soul-affecting sound that makes many Prefects drowsy.
• Wusi reveals that the ants are immature, yet even the weakest is stronger than most Prefects. They possess no understanding of the Profound Mysteries of Laws, implying that their overwhelming power comes primarily from their physical bodies.
• Wusi also casually hints that the future Destruction Overgod Mission will occur, causing several participants to consider warning the Destruction Sovereign.
• The battle for the Wutie Crown officially begins, and Wusi mysteriously vanishes.

Character Developments

• Wusi is established as powerful, eccentric, and unpredictable. He treats the Black Annihilation Ants as beloved pets, displays unusual favoritism toward the green-robed woman, and threatens the participants while joking and complaining about his appearance.
• The contestants, including Arnold, become increasingly wary of both Wusi and the ants. They initially underestimate the creatures because the ants have not assumed human form, but quickly recognize that they are extraordinarily dangerous.
• Arnold is particularly startled by Wusi’s disappearance, realizing that the messenger’s abilities far exceed his understanding.
• The green-robed woman again draws Wusi’s notably gentle attention, prompting others to suspect a special connection between them.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and deceptive appearances: The ants look like ordinary oversized insects and lack mastery of Laws, yet their physical power surpasses that of most Prefects.
• Power and helplessness: The contestants are elite experts, but Wusi’s authority is so overwhelming that they cannot challenge even his absurd or threatening decisions.
• The limits of knowledge: The participants know nothing about the Black Annihilation Ants, emphasizing how little even powerful beings understand about the higher realms and Overgod-level existence.
• Physical force versus cultivated laws: The ants demonstrate that immense bodily strength can rival or surpass mastery of Profound Mysteries.
• Foreshadowing: Wusi’s mention of the Destruction Overgod Mission introduces a future major conflict and gives the contestants information that may affect their later actions.

Character Interactions

• The green-robed woman questions Wusi about whether the ants qualify as Divine Beasts, and Wusi answers her more gently than he addresses the others.
• The contestants silently analyze Wusi’s explanation and the ants’ abilities but refrain from openly challenging him because of his overwhelming power.
• Wusi playfully speaks to the ants as his “adorable” pets and enjoys their performance, contrasting his casual attitude with the contestants’ growing fear.
• The ants’ soul-humming affects weaker or less-prepared contestants, while Paragons and those with strong soul defenses remain unaffected.

Chapter Summary: “Discussing the Feasibility of Besieging a Paragon!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The battle for the Overgod Token is about to begin while the assembled Prefects and Paragons observe one another warily.
• Although Overgod envoy Wusi claims that every Black Annihilation Ant is stronger than most Prefects, the participants are not particularly concerned because they possess Sovereign Artifacts. Their real concern is the possibility of Prefects and Paragons attacking one another.
• The non-Paragon Prefects begin forming alliances to eliminate the Paragons first, while the Paragons and special Prefects such as Arnold consider how to respond.
• Prefect Delen approaches Arnold and invites him to join a coalition against the Paragons. Delen assumes Arnold’s Earth God Clone is only Prefect-level because the Abyss of Earth permits only Earth God Clones to enter.
• Arnold reveals that there are actually seven people present with Willpower Potency, meaning six others besides himself are secretly Paragons or equivalent special experts. This shocks Delen, who had believed there were only four Paragons.
• Arnold identifies one previously unrecognized Paragon—the slightly plump, brown-haired man—but refuses to reveal the identity of another, warning that the person may be too dangerous.
• The Prefects consequently reconsider their plans, estimating that roughly forty participants might be assigned to besiege each of the five known Paragons.
• A beautiful matron who also possesses Willpower Potency contacts Arnold. She recognizes that he is likely a newly advanced Paragon and notes that the Prefects are preparing to attack them.
• Arnold confirms that the Prefects invited him to join them and admits that he exposed the brown-haired Paragon. He continues watching the Black Annihilation Ants’ strange “dancing and humming” while the others strategize.

Character Developments

• Arnold: Demonstrates his superior awareness by detecting all seven individuals with Willpower Potency, something the other participants failed to do. He remains cautious and deliberately maintains his public identity as a Wind-System Paragon, though his unusual presence as an Earth God Clone creates complications. Arnold also proves willing to manipulate the developing alliances by exposing one hidden Paragon while keeping another’s identity secret.
• Delen: Initially treats Arnold as roughly equal to an ordinary Prefect and attempts to recruit him. After learning that Arnold knows the identities of additional Paragons, Delen becomes more respectful and grateful, recognizing the danger they face.
• The other Paragons: Their identities are concealed because Willpower Potency is blocked in the Abyss of Earth, forcing them to hide their true strength. They become potential targets of a large-scale Prefect coalition.
• The beautiful matron: Reveals herself as one of the hidden Willpower Potency experts and engages Arnold in a cautious exchange, testing his identity and attitude.
• The Prefects: Shift from general anticipation to organized conspiracy, planning to overwhelm the Paragons through numbers while remaining wary of those with Sovereign Artifacts.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and deception: Since Willpower Potency is suppressed, even Paragons cannot easily identify one another. Appearances and public reputations become unreliable.
• Strategic alliances and betrayal: The Prefects seek to unite against the Paragons, but their coalition is fragile because not everyone agrees to participate and because some members’ true identities remain unknown.
• Power versus numbers: The chapter explores whether dozens of Prefects can successfully overwhelm a Paragon, especially when Sovereign Artifacts and escape abilities are involved.
• Uncertainty under restricted conditions: The Abyss of Earth limits entry to Earth God Clones and may impose unknown restrictions on the island, creating doubt about whether the planned sieges are even feasible.
• Arnold’s concealed identity: Arnold’s Four-System Soul Mutation and true combat power remain hidden, forcing him to balance honesty, misdirection, and self-protection.

Character Interactions

• Arnold and Delen: Delen proposes an alliance against the Paragons. Arnold questions Delen’s confidence and reveals the presence of additional hidden Paragons, then gives him the location of one.
• Arnold and the beautiful matron: She indirectly identifies Arnold as a likely Paragon and asks whether he has joined the Prefects’ plan. Arnold confirms this and openly admits that he revealed the brown-haired man’s identity.
• Arnold and the hidden Paragons: Arnold has silently observed the other six Willpower Potency users and knows more about the battlefield’s power structure than most participants.
• Prefects versus Paragons: The central conflict takes shape as the Prefects organize possible mass attacks, while the Paragons remain concealed and assess whether they can survive or counter the siege.

Chapter Summary: “The Battle for It Begins!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Arnold reveals his intention to seize the first Overgod Token by force. He explains that he did not expose the beautiful woman because he suspects she has a powerful Life God Clone and a strong background, evidenced by her connection to Wusi, the Overgod’s envoy.
• The woman acknowledges that Arnold’s deduction is largely correct but remains curious about the source of his confidence. Since Willpower Potency has been sealed, she reasons that Arnold must rely on either an exceptional body or a powerful Innate Divine Ability.
• Wusi announces the beginning of the battle for the first Overgod Token. The Black Annihilation Ants return to the ancient trees, while the gathered Prefects and Paragons avoid testing them.
• Cecil, the Earth Paragon, immediately resumes his attack on a Prefect he had previously targeted. Both combatants use Earth Sovereign’s Might, but the Prefect also calls on nearby Prefects for assistance.
• Cecil’s physical attack easily destroys the Prefect’s defensive barrier and sends him crashing into an ancient tree. The tree’s extraordinary toughness causes the Prefect to bounce away rather than damaging it.
• Realizing the Prefect possesses a material defense Sovereign artifact, Cecil attempts to use his Soul Attack against the three reinforcements. Two resist it completely, while the third struggles briefly before breaking free.
• Cecil recognizes that the sealing of Willpower Potency has dramatically reduced the advantage normally enjoyed by Paragons. Without Exile Space, even powerful Paragons can no longer effortlessly defeat ordinary Prefects.

Character Developments

• Arnold is portrayed as confident, perceptive, and willing to manipulate others. He accurately deduces the beautiful woman’s hidden strength and background, yet remains determined to claim the Overgod Token despite the risks.
• The beautiful woman is revealed to possess a powerful hidden foundation, likely including a Life God Clone. She is cautious and analytical, carefully evaluating Arnold’s abilities and possible reliance on physical strength or an Innate Divine Ability.
• Cecil remains aggressive and disdainful toward the Prefects, but the battle forces him to acknowledge his limitations. His confidence is tempered by the realization that, with Willpower Potency sealed, his Paragon status no longer guarantees overwhelming superiority.
• The targeted Prefect displays pragmatism by immediately using Earth Sovereign’s Might, relying on his material defense Sovereign artifact, and calling for allies rather than facing Cecil alone.
• The other Prefects are initially hesitant to intervene, but they ultimately decide that resisting Cecil early is preferable to allowing him to attack them individually later.

Significant Themes

• Power under restriction: The sealing of Willpower Potency changes the balance between Paragons and Prefects, demonstrating how much the strongest experts normally depend on this advantage.
• Hidden identities and backgrounds: Arnold’s deductions highlight the importance of secret divine clones, powerful affiliations, and concealed resources in determining survival.
• Strategic cooperation: The Prefects recognize that individual resistance is futile and begin forming temporary alliances against Cecil.
• Confidence versus uncertainty: Arnold’s determination and Cecil’s former arrogance are both tested by an environment where familiar abilities—especially Exile Space—are unavailable.
• The cost of special rules: Wusi’s alteration of the battlefield creates fairness between participants but also frustrates the Paragons, who feel their natural advantages have been unfairly neutralized.

Character Interactions

• Arnold and the beautiful woman engage in a playful but probing conversation. They exchange observations about each other’s motives and hidden strengths, with Arnold openly stating that he will forcibly take the Overgod Token.
• Cecil confronts the targeted Prefect, who responds defensively and summons three nearby Prefects for help.
• The assisting Prefects work together against Cecil, but his Soul Attack tests their defenses. Their resistance confirms that the battle will be more difficult than ordinary Paragon-versus-Prefect encounters.
• The chapter ends with the competition escalating into open conflict, as Cecil’s attack becomes the first major battle in the struggle for the Overgod Token.

Summary of “Thrashing Teresia”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cecil and three other Earth Law Paragons attack several Prefects, but their Willpower Potency is sealed within the Abyss of Earth and cannot enhance their offensive power or speed.
• As a result, the Paragons are no longer overwhelmingly superior. Their Sovereign’s Might also dissipates quickly because they cannot control it perfectly, allowing dozens of Prefects to surround and besiege them.
• Cecil and one other Paragon use Attack Sovereign Artifacts, while the remaining two rely on soul-defense artifacts. The Prefects recognize that the Paragons’ material attacks are still dangerous but believe they can now challenge them.
• The Prefects then target a mysterious, slightly plump brown-haired Paragon, later revealed to be Teresia. He possesses both material- and soul-defense Sovereign Artifacts, rendering repeated attacks ineffective.
• Several Prefects attack Teresia with material and Soul Attacks. Though initially caught off guard, Teresia becomes enraged and retaliates with a massive scythe, engaging his attackers directly.
• Arnold observes Teresia and suspects he may possess a hidden Sovereign Clone, since no one recognizes him as a famous Paragon despite his immense strength and complete set of three Sovereign Artifacts.
• Arnold joins the battle and launches his strongest Soul Attack, Soul Annihilation. Teresia’s soul-defense artifact withstands it, though Teresia must gradually destroy the lingering attack.
• Arnold then strikes Teresia directly in the face with overwhelming physical force. Despite Teresia’s material-defense Sovereign Artifact, the blow cracks his skull and leaves him bleeding and dazed.

Character Developments

• Cecil and the other Paragons: Their apparent invincibility is undermined by the sealing of Willpower Potency. They must rely on Sovereign Artifacts and fight defensively against coordinated Prefect attacks.
• Teresia: Initially irritated and complacent while watching the Paragons struggle, Teresia becomes furious when targeted himself. His three Sovereign Artifacts make him extremely difficult to injure, but Arnold’s attack proves that his defenses are not absolute.
• Arnold: Demonstrates exceptional strength and confidence. His analysis of Teresia reveals his strategic caution, while his use of Soul Annihilation and devastating physical attack establishes him as a far more dangerous combatant than the Prefects.
• The Prefects: They adapt quickly to the altered power balance, recognizing that the Paragons can now be challenged. Their coordinated attacks show increasing confidence, though they remain unable to penetrate Teresia’s artifacts.

Significant Themes

• The limits of absolute power: Even Paragons can be weakened when their Willpower Potency is restricted.
• Reliance on artifacts and preparation: Sovereign Artifacts become crucial substitutes for the Paragons’ lost advantages, especially in defense.
• Hidden identities and concealed strength: Teresia’s unknown background and possible Sovereign Clone make his true status uncertain.
• Teamwork versus individual power: The Prefects compensate for their lower individual strength by surrounding and attacking the Paragons collectively.
• Unexpected vulnerability: Teresia’s defenses appear impenetrable until Arnold demonstrates that superior power can still break through them.

Character Interactions

• The Prefects coordinate their assault against Cecil and the other Paragons, exploiting their weakened condition.
• Multiple Prefects attack Teresia with both material and Soul Attacks, provoking his retaliation with the scythe.
• Arnold studies Teresia before choosing to intervene, suspecting that Teresia may be a hidden Lowlevel Sovereign with a Sovereign Clone.
• Arnold’s Soul Attack is resisted by Teresia’s soul-defense artifact, but his subsequent punch physically injures Teresia despite the latter’s material-defense artifact, shifting the battle’s momentum.

Summary of “Teresia’s Misfortune”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Teresia, a Wind Lowlevel Sovereign and Wind Law Paragon, enters the Abyss of Earth to compete for the Overgod Token.
• He hopes to increase his power through the Overgod Mission, since other paths—obtaining an Overgod Artifact, refining another Sovereign Spark, or winning ten consecutive Planar Wars—are either unavailable or nearly impossible.
• Teresia disguises his identity because he fears that other Sovereigns would seize the Overgod Token from him if they learned he had obtained it.
• Upon entering the Abyss of Earth, he discovers that his greatest advantage, Paragon-level Willpower Potency, has been suppressed. This greatly weakens him.
• Teresia initially believes his chances have improved because the Prefects are attacking the Paragons. However, the Prefects soon turn against him as well.
• Arnold strikes Teresia with a single punch, revealing physical strength comparable to or greater than that of Hemmers or Beirut. Teresia realizes he cannot defeat Arnold under the Abyss’s restrictions.
• Attempting to turn the other Paragons and Prefects against Arnold, Teresia warns them about Arnold’s overwhelming physical strength.
• Before anyone can respond, Arnold creates a massive Spatial Rift without using a weapon and forcibly punches Teresia into Spatial Turbulence.
• Teresia is exiled from the Abyss of Earth, losing his chance to compete for the Overgod Token and likely being unable to reenter.

Character Developments

• Teresia: His confidence and ambition collapse as the Abyss suppresses his Willpower Potency and exposes his vulnerability. He shifts from arrogant superiority to fear, desperation, and manipulation, but his attempt to enlist others against Arnold fails.
• Arnold: He is revealed to possess extraordinarily powerful physical strength, rivaling the greatest material fighters. His calm, dismissive attitude toward Teresia emphasizes his overwhelming confidence and dominance.
• The Paragons and Prefects: They are shocked by Arnold’s power and begin reconsidering the balance of power within the Abyss. Their assumptions about Arnold and his identity are also influenced by Teresia’s words.

Significant Themes

• The limits of power: Even a Sovereign and Paragon can be severely weakened when his key abilities are restricted.
• Overconfidence and humiliation: Teresia’s belief in his superiority is destroyed when Arnold treats him like an insignificant opponent.
• Hidden strength and mistaken identity: Arnold’s physical power surprises everyone, while Teresia’s disguise and revelations create confusion among the combatants.
• Political manipulation and self-preservation: Teresia tries to redirect the other factions against Arnold to save himself, demonstrating the ruthless survival instincts of the powerful.
• The dangers of ambition: Teresia’s desire for greater power leads him into a situation where he loses both his advantage and his opportunity to obtain the Overgod Token.

Character Interactions

• Teresia and Arnold clash directly, with Arnold overpowering him through superior physical strength.
• Teresia insults and underestimates Arnold, but Arnold responds with calm threats and decisive action.
• Teresia attempts to persuade Cecil, Dodoka, Nubo, Wendell, and the surrounding Prefects to unite against Arnold.
• The Prefects and Paragons react with astonishment to Arnold’s ability to create a vast Spatial Rift barehanded.
• Arnold ultimately ends the confrontation by throwing Teresia into Spatial Turbulence, leaving the watching combatants stunned.

Chapter Summary: “One Against Four”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Teresia’s Earth God Clone is swept into Spatial Turbulence, his Wind Sovereign Clone senses its location through their divine connection and attempts to rescue it. However, he cannot locate the Abyss of Earth itself, leaving the clone’s fate uncertain.
• Arnold’s banishment of the unfamiliar, brown-haired man—who possessed Willpower Potency—alters the balance of power in the Abyss of Earth. Both the Paragons and Prefects realize that Arnold may be an even greater threat than the four known Paragons.
• The ongoing battles between the four Paragons and the Prefects stop as everyone turns their attention toward Arnold. The Paragons and Prefects discuss whether they should cooperate against him.
• The four Paragons—Cecil, Dodoka, Nubo, and Wendell—launch a combined attack on Arnold. Cecil and Dodoka wield Attack Sovereign Artifacts, while Nubo and Wendell possess soul-defense Sovereign Artifacts.
• Arnold meets their combined physical assault with a single fist. Although the collision devastates the surrounding space, Arnold retreats only one step, while the four Paragons are forced back five steps.
• Arnold then unleashes his strongest soul technique, Soul Annihilation, striking all four Paragons. Cecil and Dodoka, lacking soul-defense Sovereign Artifacts, struggle severely to resist it and are left pale and weakened. Nubo and Wendell remain unharmed because of their defensive artifacts.
• Arnold’s overwhelming physical and soul power convinces everyone that he is far beyond an ordinary Paragon, despite not officially being recognized as one.
• Cecil questions Arnold’s true identity and strength. Arnold responds evasively, then argues that the Paragons are overreacting since no Overgod Token has yet been claimed.
• Cecil explains that Arnold’s ability to banish a powerful opponent makes him too dangerous to ignore. Arnold counters that the banished man was not actually a Paragon and claims that, against the four genuine Paragons, he would merely “beat them soundly” rather than banish them.

Character Developments

• Arnold establishes himself as an unprecedented force. He combines immense physical strength with a devastating soul attack, allowing him to challenge four veteran Paragons simultaneously.
• Teresia becomes increasingly anxious about his Earth God Clone, demonstrating the danger posed by Spatial Turbulence and the importance of the connection between his clones.
• Cecil and Dodoka are shown to be vulnerable because they lack soul-defense Sovereign Artifacts. Their confidence in facing Arnold diminishes after barely surviving Soul Annihilation.
• Nubo and Wendell prove more secure in battle because their Sovereign Artifacts protect their souls.
• The four Paragons, initially proud and dominant, become wary of Arnold and recognize that their collective strength may still be insufficient.

Significant Themes

• Power disrupting alliances: Arnold’s appearance forces former opponents—the Paragons and Prefects—to reconsider their conflict and potentially unite against a common enemy.
• The difference between reputation and reality: Arnold is not formally known as a Paragon, yet his actual combat power surpasses that of ordinary Paragons.
• Preparation and specialization: The battle highlights the importance of possessing different types of Sovereign Artifacts, especially soul-defense artifacts.
• Threat and survival: The contest for the Overgod Token becomes secondary to the need to contain Arnold before he grows even more dangerous.
• Pride versus caution: The Paragons’ confidence is challenged by Arnold’s superior abilities, forcing them to act more carefully.

Character Interactions

• Teresia’s Wind Sovereign Clone searches for his Earth God Clone but cannot locate the Abyss of Earth.
• The Paragons and Prefects collectively observe and discuss Arnold after his banishment of the brown-haired man.
• Cecil, Dodoka, Nubo, and Wendell cooperate in attacking Arnold, temporarily setting aside their conflict with the Prefects.
• Cecil directly questions Arnold’s identity, while Arnold taunts and dismisses the Paragons’ concern by insisting he could only “beat them soundly.”
• Arnold’s remarks anger and embarrass the four Paragons, intensifying the tension before the next stage of the confrontation.