Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chi Yao visits the unconscious Tan Lin in the Dawn Ancient Chamber and wishes him well before leaving.
• She gives the First-Stage Strongest Physique Evolution Fluid she received from Qingtan Academy to Dean Zhongli Wo, asking him to dilute and use it to aid Tan Lin’s recovery.
• Seeking solitude, Chi Yao goes to the Purple Bamboo Forest and plays the zither. Her music reflects her emotional shift from sorrow toward determination.
• Dao Yi, a powerful young member of the Dao Yan Imperial Clan from Glazed Sacred City, arrives after hearing her music.
• Dao Yi offers Chi Yao a bottle of Fifth-Stage Strongest Physique Evolution Fluid as a gift and proposes that she leave with him to cultivate. He argues that his lineage is especially compatible with her First-Generation Innate Dao Embryo physique.
• Chi Yao refuses both the gift and his invitation, explaining that she must remain in the Eternal Star Domain because she is waiting for someone—implicitly Tan Lin.
• Dao Yi reveals that he knows about Tan Lin, recognizes him as another First-Generation Species, and admits that Tan Lin was partly responsible for his early emergence.
• Before leaving, Dao Yi warns Chi Yao that powerful factions and capitalist conglomerates are targeting her and Tan Lin because of the value of their First-Generation bloodlines.
• After Dao Yi departs, Chi Yao reflects on his suggestion that she has developed feelings for Tan Lin and wonders whether those feelings were obvious.

Character Developments

• Chi Yao: Her concern for Tan Lin becomes increasingly evident. She sacrifices a valuable cultivation resource for his recovery, refuses a potentially advantageous alliance, and chooses to remain by his side. Her grief and uncertainty gradually become resolve. She also begins confronting her romantic feelings for him.
• Tan Lin: Though unconscious and absent from the direct action, he remains central to the chapter. His condition motivates Chi Yao’s choices and attracts the attention of Dao Yi and powerful factions.
• Dao Yi: He is introduced as refined, powerful, perceptive, and confident. Although accustomed to being obeyed, he accepts Chi Yao’s rejection with restraint. His offer appears sincere, but his warning reveals his awareness of the political and commercial dangers surrounding her and Tan Lin.
• Zhongli Wo: He demonstrates understanding and discretion by accepting Chi Yao’s aid without questioning the depth of her concern for Tan Lin.

Significant Themes

• Devotion and loyalty: Chi Yao prioritizes Tan Lin over personal advancement and refuses to abandon him while he remains unconscious.
• Emerging romantic feelings: Dao Yi’s observation forces Chi Yao to acknowledge that her attachment to Tan Lin may be more than friendship or concern.
• The conflict between cultivation and modern society: Chi Yao’s Innate Dao Embryo requires quiet and harmony with the Great Dao, but the technologically advanced Eternal Star Domain constantly disrupts that state.
• Exploitation of talent and bloodlines: Powerful organizations view special physiques as resources, emphasizing the danger faced by individuals whose bodies contain rare and valuable blood.
• Choice versus destiny: Dao Yi speaks of fate and compatibility, but Chi Yao asserts her own choice by refusing his offer and remaining committed to Tan Lin.

Character Interactions

• Chi Yao and Zhongli Wo share a quiet exchange centered on Tan Lin’s treatment, with Zhongli respecting her unspoken feelings.
• Chi Yao and Dao Yi engage in a cautious conversation: he offers aid and partnership, while she remains guarded and ultimately refuses him.
• Dao Yi’s perceptive questioning exposes Chi Yao’s attachment to Tan Lin. His final warning transforms the encounter from a personal proposal into a broader caution about the dangers facing both First-Generation physiques.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After awakening from his coma, Tan Lin spends the following day recovering in the old presidential courtyard of the Dawn Ancient Welfare Institute.
• He reflects on the effects of the Evolution Fluid. It has significantly strengthened his body, stabilized his Sea of Consciousness, and laid the groundwork for opening his Immortal Platform.
• While watching three hungry chicks compete for food, Tan Lin discovers that he can faintly sense their emotions. He suspects this unusual ability may be a result of his life-level evolution.
• Tan Lin remembers the mysterious girl in green whom he saw before losing consciousness: Chi Yao. He wonders whether she may be connected to someone from his past life, possibly a companion with whom he once endured tribulation.
• Chi Yao visits him at dusk. She is surprised that he recovered so quickly and is concerned that others may now target him because of his potential.
• She subtly tests whether Tan Lin remembers their previous life by saying that he resembles an “old acquaintance.” Tan Lin conceals his reaction and claims to be merely an ordinary orphan.
• Unable to determine whether he remembers anything, Chi Yao drops the subject, deciding to investigate him gradually. She explains that she came to check on his condition and dismisses his thanks for the Evolution Fluid by saying he resembles someone important from her past.

Character Developments

• Tan Lin: His physical and spiritual condition has improved greatly after taking the Evolution Fluid. His ability to perceive the emotions of animals suggests that his life level has begun to evolve in unusual ways. He remains cautious and conceals his suspicions about Chi Yao, while his fragmented memories of a former life continue to grow more significant.
• Chi Yao: She reveals strong but conflicted feelings toward Tan Lin. She is relieved and pleased that he survived, yet anxious about the danger surrounding him. Her careful questioning shows that she suspects he may be her former senior brother—or at least connected to him—and that she intends to confirm the truth without exposing her own secrets.

Significant Themes

• Reincarnation and fragmented memory: Both Tan Lin and Chi Yao may share connections to a previous life, but neither possesses complete certainty or openly admits what they suspect.
• Evolution and transcending ordinary humanity: Tan Lin’s enhanced body, stabilized consciousness, and ability to sense the chicks’ emotions suggest that his transformation is affecting both his physical and spiritual perception.
• Hidden identities and cautious probing: The meeting centers on indirect questions, concealed reactions, and the tension between wanting recognition and fearing exposure.
• Survival and competition: The chicks fighting for food mirror the broader struggle for resources, power, and survival in the cultivation world.

Character Interactions

• Tan Lin and Chi Yao meet beneath the ancient tree and exchange restrained, emotionally charged conversation.
• Chi Yao deliberately probes Tan Lin by mentioning that he resembles an old acquaintance.
• Tan Lin recognizes the possible implication but maintains a neutral façade, denying any unusual identity.
• Chi Yao accepts his answer outwardly but remains unconvinced, choosing to continue observing and testing him over time.

Chapter 563 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chi Yao thanks Tan Lin for surviving the recent disturbance, noting that he might have been dragged into the danger as well.
• Beneath an ancient tree, Chi Yao asks Tan Lin if they can officially become friends. She suggests that, as fellow orphans at the welfare institute, they should spend more time together and support one another.
• Tan Lin agrees, while Chi Yao privately resolves to gradually investigate whether he is truly the senior brother connected to her past—and whether he remembers their former relationship.
• After Chi Yao leaves, Tan Lin reflects uneasily on their connection, admitting that he does not understand what relationship they share.
• Zhongli Wo appears at the courtyard entrance. He had secretly witnessed the earlier conversation but chooses not to interfere, believing the children should handle their own affairs. He worries, however, that the secrets between them may bring either fortune or disaster.
• The following morning, Tan Lin returns to school after more than ten days unconscious. The Evolution Fluid has strengthened and slightly grown his body, making him appear much healthier and more robust.
• At breakfast, students discuss his recovery, the death of a Half-Saint, the mysterious researcher who supposedly died protecting him, and the failure of the Parliament’s investigation. Many suspect that powerful figures are shielding Tan Lin.
• Rayne, Tan Lin’s transfer-student classmate, joins him for breakfast. He is delighted that Tan Lin survived and believes the official explanation that Tan Lin opened his Sea of Bitterness while unconscious.
• Tan Lin hides the truth about the incident, claiming he was unconscious and remembers nothing. Rayne accepts the answer despite recognizing that Tan Lin is withholding information.
• Rayne praises Tan Lin’s strength and hints that classmates who previously challenged him were nearly humiliated. The conversation continues as Rayne begins discussing his own situation, but the chapter excerpt ends before he finishes.

Character Developments

• Tan Lin: Becomes physically stronger through the Evolution Fluid and resumes ordinary school life. He remains cautious, concealing the truth about the attack and his unusual condition. His interaction with Chi Yao causes him to question their shared past and the secrets surrounding their relationship.
• Chi Yao: Takes the initiative in establishing a closer bond with Tan Lin. Although she presents the proposal as friendship, her embarrassment and hidden feelings suggest romantic undertones. She remains uncertain about his identity but decides to investigate him patiently rather than confront him directly.
• Zhongli Wo: Acts as a silent observer and protector. Although concerned about Tan Lin and Chi Yao’s mysterious connection, he deliberately refuses to interfere in their personal affairs.
• Rayne: Shows genuine concern and excitement over Tan Lin’s recovery. He is sociable, curious, and impressed by Tan Lin’s growing strength, though he respects Tan Lin’s reluctance to reveal the full truth.

Significant Themes

• Hidden identities and past-life connections: Chi Yao suspects Tan Lin may be someone important from her past, while Tan Lin senses that she conceals secrets tied to him.
• Trust and secrecy: Tan Lin deliberately gives Rayne a false or incomplete account of the incident, emphasizing that knowledge can endanger people.
• Growing companionship: Chi Yao’s proposal marks a step toward rebuilding a relationship, whether as friends or something deeper.
• Youthful emotions and romance: The chapter highlights Chi Yao’s shy, ambiguous confession of wanting to spend more time with Tan Lin, reinforced by the chapter’s humorous subtitle about young people falling in love.
• Protection and political concealment: The welfare institute and other powerful authorities appear to be covering up the truth behind the Half-Saint’s death and the attack on Tan Lin.
• Fate versus personal choice: Zhongli Wo wonders whether the secrets binding Tan Lin and Chi Yao will lead to blessing or catastrophe, while Chi Yao chooses to create a new relationship regardless of uncertainty about the past.

Important Character Interactions

• Tan Lin and Chi Yao: Share a quiet, emotionally charged conversation beneath the ancient tree. Chi Yao proposes friendship and mutual support; Tan Lin accepts but remains troubled by their unknown history.
• Zhongli Wo and the pair: Zhongli Wo observes them from outside the courtyard but chooses not to intrude, reflecting his cautious, grandfatherly role.
• Tan Lin and Rayne: Reconnect over breakfast. Rayne enthusiastically questions Tan Lin about his recovery and increased strength, while Tan Lin gives guarded answers to protect the truth.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tan Lin attends a Physical Potential Development class taught by Teacher Zhou, an Immortal Platform cultivator. The lesson focuses on progressing through the Sea of Reincarnation Secret Realm.
• Teacher Zhou tests Tan Lin’s cultivation using a rune-covered device. Although Tan Lin’s Sea of Bitterness has not actually opened, the instrument displays falsified results claiming that he has reached a 12% opening rate with excellent internal pressure concentration.
• Tan Lin realizes that the Welfare Institute’s leadership is deliberately concealing his true condition. He accepts the deception because it protects him from unwanted attention while his Immortal Platform and past-life memories continue awakening.
• After class, Chi Yao waits for Tan Lin and invites him to lunch using her remaining cafeteria credits. He accepts, partly out of gratitude and partly to investigate whether she knows anything about their shared past.
• Chi Yao begins repeatedly “coincidentally” encountering Tan Lin after class. They eat together, walk, and spend time in the Purple Bamboo Forest, where she plays the guzheng.
• Chi Yao’s music contains a Dao rhythm that helps calm the instability in Tan Lin’s Sea of Consciousness, which has been strained by his long unconsciousness and attempts to absorb the Myriad Selves Scripture.
• Their increasingly frequent companionship sparks gossip among the students, who speculate about romance, Tan Lin’s mysterious physique, and the possible danger surrounding the Welfare Institute’s orphans.
• Students discuss how powerful clans exploit orphan bloodlines as resources for producing Strongest Physique Evolution Fluids. They also fear that Chi Yao’s rare Innate Dao Embryo physique may eventually be treated as another valuable ingredient.
• Despite appearing close, Tan Lin and Chi Yao continue secretly testing and concealing themselves from one another. The chapter ends with Chi Yao apparently beginning a message or revelation: “Senior Brother, I Know Your—”

Character Developments

• Tan Lin: Remains cautious and highly observant. He understands that his public cultivation results are fabricated and sees the arrangement as useful protection. He willingly spends time with Chi Yao to uncover information about his past life, while continuing to hide his own knowledge and abilities.
• Chi Yao: Takes the initiative in approaching Tan Lin and uses their time together to investigate whether he is her former senior brother. Her guzheng playing reveals both her powerful cultivation and genuine concern for his mental and spiritual condition.
• Tan Lin and Chi Yao: Their relationship develops from mutual suspicion into a comfortable but carefully controlled companionship. Neither fully trusts the other, yet a sincere emotional bond appears to be forming beneath their calculated interactions.
• Teacher Zhou and the Welfare Institute leadership: They participate in maintaining the official false narrative about Tan Lin’s cultivation, suggesting that the Institute is actively protecting or concealing his identity.

Significant Themes

• Concealed identity and past-life memories: Both protagonists suspect that their current lives are connected to previous existences, but each hides what they know while trying to expose the other’s memories.
• Protection through deception: The false cultivation results demonstrate how concealment can protect Tan Lin from powerful forces and unwanted scrutiny.
• Trust versus manipulation: Tan Lin and Chi Yao’s interactions are friendly on the surface but driven by mutual probing and strategic disguises.
• Exploitation of the weak: The students’ discussion reveals the darker social structure of the Eternal Kingdom, where orphans with rare bloodlines can be cultivated and harvested by wealthy clans.
• Growing emotional connection: Although their relationship begins as an investigation, shared meals, music, and conversation gradually create genuine closeness.

Character Interactions

• Teacher Zhou formally tests Tan Lin and publicly praises his fabricated progress.
• Chi Yao invites Tan Lin to lunch and repeatedly seeks his company afterward.
• In the Purple Bamboo Forest, Chi Yao plays music while Tan Lin listens, allowing her Dao rhythm to soothe him.
• Other students observe and gossip about their closeness, while upperclassmen discuss Tan Lin’s physique, the exploitation of orphans, and Chi Yao’s future value to powerful factions.
• Tan Lin and Chi Yao maintain polite, harmonious conversations while privately probing one another’s identities and memories.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• A sudden, unnatural storm descends over Heavenly Origin City and more than half of Eternal Main Star. The sky darkens rapidly, followed by torrential rain containing powerful lightning and unusual Dao resonance.
• Students at the Dawn Ancient Welfare Institute and Qingtan Academy are caught outside. The rain penetrates or overwhelms ordinary defensive techniques, causing cultivators—especially those below the Immortal Platform Secret Realm—to become numb, collapse, and convulse.
• The phenomenon spreads chaos across the city. Because of strict laws against unauthorized technique use, many people cannot immediately defend themselves, though emergency measures soon begin.
• Observers speculate that the weather is caused by an extremely distant Heavenly Tribulation. Audishiya uses her ancestral Divine Treasure, the Empress Scepter, to confirm that a Quasi-Emperor is undergoing tribulation in the Outer Domain.
• Zhongli Wo, the Welfare Institute’s director, recognizes the storm’s significance but does not intervene. He judges that the rain is not truly lethal and may even cleanse cultivators or improve their future cultivation paths.
• Tan Lin watches the storm from the Fourth Year Class Twenty-One teaching area. Because of his unusually powerful body and Sea of Consciousness, he senses that the rain carries an exceptionally profound Dao resonance.
• The chapter ends with Chi Yao calmly approaching Tan Lin through the storm beneath a rune-protected oil-paper umbrella, completely unaffected by the rain.

2. Character Developments

• Audishiya demonstrates her growing awareness and political concern. Through the Empress Scepter, she identifies the storm’s source as a Quasi-Emperor Tribulation and worries about which faction has produced such a powerful figure.
• Zhongli Wo is portrayed as an experienced Great Saint with deep insight. He immediately understands the storm’s nature, remains calm, and foresees that the rise of a Quasi-Emperor may alter the balance of the Eternal Star Domain.
• Tan Lin shows restraint and sharp perception. Rather than rushing into danger, he studies the event and detects the storm’s hidden Dao power, hinting at his exceptional cultivation and sensitivity.
• Chi Yao appears mysterious, composed, and unusually powerful. Her ability to walk casually through the rain suggests that she possesses extraordinary defenses or insight into the phenomenon.

3. Significant Themes

• The arrival of a new era: The emergence of a Quasi-Emperor signals that the Great Era of Dao Attainment is accelerating and that the political and cultivation order may soon change.
• Hidden opportunities within danger: Though the storm harms weaker cultivators, its Dao resonance may cleanse their bodies or smooth their future paths, emphasizing that calamity can also bring transformation.
• The limits of ordinary power: Standard divine defenses and city regulations prove inadequate against the rain, highlighting the vast gap between everyday cultivators and supreme beings.
• Calm amid chaos: Zhongli Wo, Tan Lin, and Chi Yao each respond to the disaster with composure, contrasting with the panic of the surrounding students.
• Mystery and foreshadowing: The identity and allegiance of the tribulation survivor remain unknown, while Chi Yao’s unexplained immunity creates another layer of suspense.

4. Character Interactions

• Students and study companions react chaotically to the storm, revealing the vulnerability of both ordinary and aristocratic cultivators.
• Audishiya indirectly engages with the distant Quasi-Emperor through her ancestral scepter, using it to investigate the disturbance.
• Zhongli Wo observes the event from his courtyard and silently evaluates its consequences for the wider star domain.
• Tan Lin notices Chi Yao’s approach and turns toward her as she emerges from the rain. Their direct interaction has not yet occurred, but her arrival clearly sets up the chapter’s next encounter.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• During a violent thunderstorm at the Welfare Institute, most students are overwhelmed by rain infused with lightning and must be rescued by teachers and security personnel.
• Chi Yao remains completely unaffected because of an oil-paper umbrella reinforced with Spirit Silkworm Silk, Spirit Bamboo, and defensive runes.
• She approaches Tan Lin and invites him to walk with her. The sight of the girl, rainstorm, and oil-paper umbrella triggers a fragment of Tan Lin’s sealed memory: a palace-robed girl once appeared before him on a rainy night and called him “elder brother.”
• Tan Lin briefly loses consciousness in the memory, but Chi Yao brings him back to the present without pressing him for an explanation.
• Chi Yao shares her umbrella with Tan Lin and leads him through the storm. The umbrella magically prevents the rain and lightning from reaching them.
• Other students notice their intimacy and speculate that the two may be romantically involved, but neither Chi Yao nor Tan Lin responds.
• At Tan Lin’s dormitory, Chi Yao gives him the umbrella, telling him to use it in future rain because his body has not fully recovered after recently “waking up.”
• Before leaving, Chi Yao remarks that the rain reminded her of old memories, deepening the mystery surrounding her connection to Tan Lin.
• Hundreds of light-years away, an old man in the Extraterrestrial No-Man’s Land successfully completes his tribulation and advances to the Quasi-Emperor realm. A starship arrives to congratulate him, though the scene ends before the identities of those aboard are revealed.

Character Developments

• Tan Lin: His encounter with Chi Yao and the umbrella awakens a fragment of forgotten memory, suggesting a past-life or deeply buried connection with her. He becomes increasingly aware that Chi Yao may be linked to his lost identity and memories.
• Chi Yao: She displays unusual calm, power, craftsmanship, and emotional attentiveness. Her protective behavior toward Tan Lin—sharing the umbrella, guiding him through the rain, and giving it to him—reveals strong concern and perhaps personal attachment. Her comment about old memories implies that she recognizes or remembers something about their past.
• The Quasi-Emperor: The old man is introduced as a newly ascended powerhouse whose breakthrough may influence events beyond the institute. His arrival establishes a broader, high-level cultivation development occurring in parallel with Tan Lin and Chi Yao’s story.

Significant Themes

• Forgotten memories and reincarnation: The rain and umbrella act as triggers for Tan Lin’s sealed memories, hinting at a shared history with Chi Yao.
• Unspoken emotional connection: Chi Yao and Tan Lin communicate more through gestures, silence, and subtle reactions than direct confession.
• Protection and recovery: Chi Yao’s care emphasizes Tan Lin’s vulnerable state and her willingness to protect him while he rebuilds himself.
• Hidden power beneath ordinary appearances: The seemingly simple umbrella is actually made from rare materials and powerful runes, mirroring Chi Yao’s understated strength.
• Parallel developments: The quiet, intimate scene at the institute is contrasted with the distant breakthrough of a Quasi-Emperor, suggesting that personal mysteries and major cosmic events are unfolding simultaneously.

Character Interactions

• Chi Yao openly invites Tan Lin to accompany her and physically pulls him into the rain when he hesitates.
• Tan Lin feels awkward because of their close proximity but ultimately accepts her protection.
• Chi Yao notices Tan Lin’s unusual reaction to the rain and chooses to wait rather than interrogate him.
• She gives him the umbrella despite his attempt to refuse, showing a firm but gentle concern for his wellbeing.
• Their brief exchange about “old memories” leaves Tan Lin contemplative and strengthens his suspicion that they share a hidden past.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lan Tuo Kang successfully survives the Quasi-Emperor Tribulation, becoming the first major breakthrough associated with the Lan Tuo Family’s rising power.
• His family members, led by current patriarch Lan Tuo Lie, greet him with congratulations and immediately begin planning a grand celebration.
• Lan Tuo Kang acknowledges that he is not yet a true Great Emperor, but recognizes that even a Quasi-Emperor stands near the summit of the current era.
• He declares that the Lan Tuo Family is about to reshape the balance of power in the Eternal Star Domain.
• News of his breakthrough spreads throughout Eternal Main Star, alarming the other major clans and aristocratic families.
• In the Mo Family, Great Saint Mo Hong orders the clan to:
  • Reduce external business activities and avoid direct conflict with the Lan Tuo Family.
  • Open the clan treasury and Blood Pool.
  • Focus on nurturing promising descendants and cultivating their own Quasi-Emperor.
• Mo Hong privately worries that the Lan Tuo Family may soon seize the First-Generation Innate Dao Embryo in Heavenly Origin City and the mysterious young man carrying a great secret.
• The Never-Setting Royal Family also holds an emergency meeting. Its leader, Never-Setting Blazing Sun, decides to temporarily surrender some resource sites rather than provoke an immediate confrontation.
• The royal family plans to seek the positions of the Bauhinia Imperial Clan and Dao Yan Imperial Clan while secretly investigating how Lan Tuo Kang managed to break through after being stalled at the Great Saint Peak for thousands of years.
• The chapter ends by introducing the Canghai Clan’s ancestral territory beneath the Endless Sea, implying that the other major powers are also preparing to respond.

Character Developments

• Lan Tuo Kang rises from an aging Great Saint at the end of his lifespan to a Quasi-Emperor, dramatically improving his status and extending the Lan Tuo Family’s political influence.
• Lan Tuo Lie acts as a loyal and enthusiastic family leader, openly celebrating Lan Tuo Kang’s achievement and recognizing its implications for the clan.
• Mo Hong demonstrates caution and strategic foresight. Rather than challenge the Lan Tuo Family directly, he prioritizes preservation, internal development, and producing a Quasi-Emperor of his own.
• Never-Setting Blazing Sun reveals himself to be pragmatic and politically calculating. He chooses temporary retreat while investigating the source of Lan Tuo Kang’s breakthrough, suspecting outside intervention.
• The various clansmen and political leaders shift from confidence or routine rivalry to anxiety and defensive planning after realizing how much a single Quasi-Emperor can alter the regional balance.

Significant Themes

• The disruptive power of cultivation breakthroughs: Lan Tuo Kang’s advancement immediately changes the political structure of the Eternal Star Domain.
• Fear and competition among great families: Existing powers recognize that they may be eclipsed unless they produce a Quasi-Emperor themselves.
• Pragmatism over pride: Both the Mo Family and Never-Setting Royal Family choose temporary concessions instead of risking open war.
• Hidden opportunities and conspiracies: The suddenness of Lan Tuo Kang’s breakthrough suggests that an unknown external force or secret opportunity may be involved.
• The beginning of a new era: With the Great Era of Dao Attainment underway, old hierarchies are becoming unstable, and every major faction is racing to strengthen itself.

Character Interactions

• Lan Tuo Lie and the Lan Tuo descendants kneel before Lan Tuo Kang, praising him and reinforcing his authority within the family.
• Lan Tuo Kang responds with modesty, though his satisfaction at being treated like a Great Emperor is evident.
• Mo Hong addresses the Mo Family’s senior members, transforming their alarm into a concrete survival strategy.
• Never-Setting Blazing Sun consults his elders and family members, directing them to withdraw strategically, contact the two Divine Lineages, and investigate Lan Tuo Kang’s secret.
• Across Eternal Main Star, the breakthrough causes the major clans—including the Mo, Canghai, Yanyun, Never-Setting, and Miro families—to reassess their relationships with the Lan Tuo Family.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Canghai Clan learns that Lan Tuo Kang has broken through to the Quasi-Emperor realm, dramatically strengthening the Lan Tuo Family’s political and strategic position during the Great Era of Dao Attainment.
• In the Canghai Clan’s underwater ancestral city, Canghai Xuanming dismisses the immediate danger of a Quasi-Emperor but orders his people to:
  • Contact the Mo Family, Yanyun Clan, and Miro Clan to determine their positions.
  • Approach the surviving branch of the Ancient Heavenly Court—the God Organization—in hopes of preventing the Lan Tuo Family from gaining control of the First-Generation Innate Dao Embryo.
• The Yanyun Clan holds an emergency meeting in Cloud City. Their leader, Yanyun Shuang, acknowledges that Lan Tuo Kang’s breakthrough cannot be reversed but proposes adding two Divine Lineage seats to the Council of Elders to counterbalance Lan Tuo influence.
• Yanyun Shuang also orders envoys to visit Goddess Audai and Dao Yan, the Emperor’s son, recognizing that their identities make their political positions important despite their youth.
• In Myriad Treasures City, Miro Wanjin receives confirmation that Lan Tuo Kang had secretly prepared for his breakthrough for five hundred years. Rather than viewing the development solely as a threat, Miro sees the resulting instability as a commercial opportunity.
• Miro orders contact with the Lan Tuo Family, offering information about an “unusual” First-generation Indestructible Golden Body.
• The chapter ends at the Dawn Ancient Welfare Institute, where Tan Lin stands alone after the rain, silently holding and touching an oil-paper umbrella. The image suggests personal memories, emotional attachment, or an unresolved connection beneath the chapter’s broader political upheaval.

Character Developments

• Canghai Xuanming appears calm, calculating, and strategically ruthless. He believes the Canghai Clan should adapt rather than panic, while secretly encouraging rival forces to obstruct the Lan Tuo Family.
• Yanyun Shuang demonstrates authoritative leadership and political foresight. Instead of surrendering to Lan Tuo dominance, she seeks to build a coalition and use the Council of Elders to preserve the balance of power.
• Miro Wanjin is characterized as pragmatic and commercially minded. He interprets political instability as a profitable opportunity and is willing to trade sensitive intelligence to advance his clan’s interests.
• Tan Lin is presented in a quiet, introspective moment. His attachment to the umbrella hints at a private emotional history that contrasts sharply with the strategic calculations of the major clans.
• Lan Tuo Kang, though absent from the chapter, becomes its central unseen force. His long-hidden preparation and successful breakthrough establish him as a major power capable of reshaping the Eternal Kingdom.

Significant Themes

• Political balance and shifting power: A single Quasi-Emperor’s emergence threatens to alter the entire structure of the Eternal Star Domain.
• Coalition-building versus domination: The rival clans consider alliances, new Council seats, and contact with Divine Lineages to prevent the Lan Tuo Family from becoming overwhelmingly powerful.
• Opportunism in times of crisis: The Miro Clan illustrates how instability can be exploited for profit rather than treated purely as danger.
• Hidden strength and long-term preparation: Lan Tuo Kang’s five centuries of concealed preparation emphasize patience, secrecy, and the importance of unseen cultivation.
• The contrast between grand politics and personal emotion: The chapter shifts from vast strategic maneuvering to Tan Lin’s solitary interaction with the umbrella, suggesting that intimate human concerns continue beneath the era’s cosmic conflicts.

Character Interactions

• Canghai Xuanming directs his clan’s elders and sends them to negotiate with or manipulate other major powers.
• Yanyun Shuang silences the arguing clan leaders, then instructs them to contact rival families, Divine Lineage figures, Goddess Audai, and Dao Yan.
• Miro Wanjin questions his representative, explains his interpretation of the political situation, and orders him to approach the Lan Tuo Family with valuable intelligence.
• Tan Lin has no direct interaction with another character, but his silent engagement with the umbrella serves as an indirect emotional “conversation” with someone or something from his past.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• On the eve of the exchange meet, Tan Lin and Chi Yao continue their nightly routine in the Purple Bamboo Forest. Chi Yao plays the guzheng, using its Dao-infused music to stabilize Tan Lin’s turbulent Sea of Consciousness as he prepares for the future opening of his Immortal Platform.
• This is their seventh consecutive day of spending time together. Since the earlier rainstorm, Chi Yao has become more relaxed and direct around Tan Lin, frequently eating with him and inviting him to listen to her music.
• After the music ends, Chi Yao walks Tan Lin back to the boys’ dormitory. During the walk, she gradually moves closer until she holds his hand for several seconds.
• Before leaving, she warns him to be careful at the exchange meet, saying that many different people will be present.
• Her use of the familiar address “senior brother” triggers a clearer fragment of Tan Lin’s sealed past-life memories: a girl beneath an umbrella once told him, “Senior brother, I know you.”
• Tan Lin begins wondering whether Chi Yao was connected to him in a previous life and whether she is deliberately revealing her identity.
• Chi Yao is delighted by their brief physical contact and believes Tan Lin’s reaction confirms the response she hoped for. She admits internally that she has never held his hand in either this life or the past life she remembers.
• As Chi Yao returns past the Purple Bamboo Forest, she encounters a mysterious golden-robed old man. His lack of aura makes him seem ordinary, but she immediately senses overwhelming danger and finds herself immobilized by an invisible force.

Character Developments

• Tan Lin: Becomes increasingly comfortable with Chi Yao’s companionship and responds positively to her closeness, though he remains confused by their apparent past-life connection. The phrase “senior brother” significantly unlocks his sealed memories.
• Chi Yao: Grows more confident and emotionally open. She deliberately tests Tan Lin’s reaction by holding his hand and using the past-life form of address. Her happiness reveals deep affection and a strong desire to reclaim their lost relationship.
• The golden-robed old man: Introduced as a powerful and threatening figure whose presence immediately overwhelms Chi Yao.

Significant Themes

• Past-life bonds and reincarnation: Memories and relationships from previous lives are resurfacing, shaping the characters’ actions in the present.
• Emotional intimacy: Small gestures—shared music, walking together, and holding hands—represent major emotional progress between Tan Lin and Chi Yao.
• Memory and identity: Tan Lin’s sealed wisdom is gradually awakening, while Chi Yao already remembers more of their past.
• Calm before danger: The peaceful, romantic atmosphere of the forest contrasts sharply with the sudden appearance of the mysterious old man.

Character Interactions

• Chi Yao’s guzheng music soothes Tan Lin’s Sea of Consciousness, creating a quiet, mutually trusted ritual between them.
• During their walk, Chi Yao subtly closes the physical distance between them and finally hooks her fingers around Tan Lin’s hand.
• She calls him “senior brother,” both as an emotional slip and as a deliberate probe into his memories and feelings.
• Tan Lin does not pull away, suggesting an instinctive familiarity and acceptance despite his uncertainty.
• The chapter ends with Chi Yao facing an unknown enemy or powerful figure, leaving her fate and the impact on the exchange meet unresolved.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chi Yao is confronted at the Dawn Ancient Welfare Institute by Lan Tuo Kang, the current ancestor of the Lan Tuo Family and the Eternal Kingdom’s only Quasi-Emperor.
• Lan Tuo Kang reveals that he has come to take Chi Yao away because of her extraordinary Innate Dao Embryo physique, which he considers too valuable to remain at the welfare institute.
• He proposes bringing her into the Lan Tuo Family, offering her superior cultivation resources and the possibility of reaching the Great Saint or Quasi-Emperor realm. However, he also intends for her to bear descendants for the family and contribute to its Blood Pool, making his offer essentially an act of coercion and exploitation.
• Lan Tuo Kang suppresses Chi Yao with overwhelming cultivation pressure, leaving her unable to move or speak.
• The institute’s director, Zhongli Wo, arrives and attempts to protect Chi Yao by invoking Eternal Kingdom laws requiring proper adoption procedures and the child’s consent.
• Lan Tuo Kang produces an officially approved adoption document and claims that the procedures have already been completed. He dismisses Chi Yao’s lack of consent, arguing that a child’s opinion is irrelevant.
• Zhongli Wo accuses him of forced abduction, but Lan Tuo Kang overwhelms him as easily as he subdued Chi Yao.
• Lan Tuo Kang then exposes irregularities in Chi Yao’s identity records, including forged birth information, a blank history before she was one year old, and signs that she possesses Extraterritorial Human Race traits. He argues that these issues mean she is not protected by Eternal Kingdom law.
• Zhongli Wo is left speechless because Lan Tuo Kang’s accusations are true: he personally brought Chi Yao from a remote city and falsified her records.
• As Lan Tuo Kang forcibly draws Chi Yao toward him, she realizes she cannot allow herself to be taken away, especially after recently confirming Tan Lin’s identity and suspecting that he remembers their past-life connection.
• At the critical moment, a mysterious, seemingly ordinary old woodcutter appears. His arrival immediately alarms Lan Tuo Kang, suggesting that the newcomer possesses immense and possibly superior power.

Character Developments

• Chi Yao: Her calmness and intelligence are tested by the arrival of a Quasi-Emperor. Though physically powerless, she remains mentally alert, searches for ways to delay Lan Tuo Kang, and refuses to accept being treated as property. Her concern for Tan Lin and their possible shared past adds emotional motivation to her resistance.
• Lan Tuo Kang: He is introduced as arrogant, domineering, and confident in his status. He treats Chi Yao as a valuable resource rather than an autonomous person and uses legal documents, political influence, and overwhelming force to justify his actions. His willingness to threaten even Zhongli Wo demonstrates the Lan Tuo Family’s power.
• Zhongli Wo: The director shows courage by confronting a Quasi-Emperor to defend Chi Yao, despite knowing that he is hopelessly outmatched. However, his hidden falsification of Chi Yao’s records leaves him vulnerable and unable to legally challenge Lan Tuo Kang.
• The Mysterious Woodcutter: Though appearing frail and ordinary, his presence causes an immediate change in Lan Tuo Kang’s expression, establishing him as a potentially powerful and important figure.

Significant Themes

• Power versus justice: Lan Tuo Kang manipulates the law while openly violating its spirit, showing how authority and strength can overpower formal rules.
• Exploitation of talent: Chi Yao’s extraordinary potential makes her the target of powerful forces that view her as a resource for family advancement rather than as a person.
• Consent and autonomy: The chapter strongly contrasts Chi Yao’s lack of consent with Lan Tuo Kang’s assumption that legal paperwork and superior power are sufficient.
• Hidden identities and secrets: Chi Yao’s unknown origins, forged records, Extraterritorial traits, and possible connection to Tan Lin’s past life create deeper mysteries surrounding her identity.
• The limits of protection: Zhongli Wo wants to shield Chi Yao, but his lower cultivation and concealed actions prevent him from offering meaningful protection.
• Appearance versus reality: Lan Tuo Kang’s intimidating authority contrasts with the mysterious newcomer’s humble appearance, suggesting that true power may be hidden beneath an ordinary exterior.

Character Interactions

• Chi Yao and Lan Tuo Kang: Lan Tuo Kang speaks to Chi Yao as though her future has already been decided, while Chi Yao silently resists his attempt to control and appropriate her.
• Lan Tuo Kang and Zhongli Wo: Their exchange begins as a dispute over law and procedure but quickly becomes a confrontation between overwhelming power and moral opposition. Lan Tuo Kang uses his status to silence Zhongli Wo.
• Chi Yao and Zhongli Wo: Zhongli Wo positions himself between Chi Yao and Lan Tuo Kang, physically and verbally defending her despite the enormous danger.
• Lan Tuo Kang and the mysterious woodcutter: The chapter ends as the woodcutter appears, and Lan Tuo Kang’s sudden alarm hints that the balance of power may be about to change.

Chapter Summary

• The Old Woodcutter takes Chi Yao: An ancient old man arrives at the bamboo grove and immediately recognizes Chi Yao’s extraordinary talent. Revealing an Ancient Heavenly Court Token, he identifies himself as connected to the long-dormant God Organization. He declares that Chi Yao should leave the domain with him rather than remain in the Eternal Kingdom. Using his “Universe in the Sleeve,” he takes her away before she can resist.
• Lan Tuo Kang’s failed challenge: Furious at having Chi Yao stolen from him, Lan Tuo Kang attacks the Old Woodcutter from behind. Although Lan Tuo Kang has recently advanced to the Quasi-Emperor realm and unleashes a seemingly ordinary but immensely powerful palm strike, the Old Woodcutter remains completely unaffected. The force rebounds, sending Lan Tuo Kang staggering backward.
• The power gap is revealed: When the Old Woodcutter finally glances at Lan Tuo Kang, the latter becomes completely frozen with terror. He realizes that, despite both being Quasi-Emperors, the difference between them is vast and insurmountable. The Old Woodcutter leaves without further conflict, while Lan Tuo Kang bitterly labels him an “undying old monster” and abandons his plan to take Tan Lin as well.
• Zhongli Wo’s suspicions: After the two powerful figures depart, Zhongli Wo reflects uneasily on the reappearance of the God Organization. He wonders how they discovered the existence of Dawn Ancient’s gifted successor and suspects that someone may have leaked the information, potentially threatening the balance of the world.
• Qi Xiyuan arrives in Heavenly Origin City: The scene shifts to Heavenly Origin City, where Upper Parliament councilor Zhou Min arrives with thirteen- or fourteen-year-old Qi Xiyuan, whom she has adopted. Qi Xiyuan is struck by the city’s enormous prosperity and modern technology. She quietly wonders whether Tan Lin came here after leaving her behind and appears eager to find him.
• Zhou Min and Qi Xiyuan’s relationship: Zhou Min behaves in a composed, authoritative manner, while Qi Xiyuan is curious but restrained. During their private train ride through the city, Zhou Min asks Qi Xiyuan how she feels about Heavenly Origin City. Qi Xiyuan simply replies that it is “very prosperous,” highlighting her unfamiliarity with the metropolis and her quieter personality.

Character Developments

• Chi Yao: Her rare talent is confirmed by the Old Woodcutter, marking her as a major potential successor or cultivator. Her fate now lies with the God Organization beyond the current domain.
• The Old Woodcutter: He is revealed to be an overwhelmingly powerful and enigmatic member of the God Organization, capable of defeating another Quasi-Emperor without effort.
• Lan Tuo Kang: His confidence is shattered. His recent breakthrough, which had made him arrogant and aggressive, is put into perspective when he discovers how far he remains from the Old Woodcutter’s level.
• Zhongli Wo: He becomes concerned about the God Organization’s return and the possible political or strategic consequences.
• Qi Xiyuan: She begins a new life in Heavenly Origin City while carrying strong emotional ties to Tan Lin and hope of reconnecting with him.
• Zhou Min: She is established as a powerful, disciplined political figure and Qi Xiyuan’s guardian or adoptive mother.

Major Themes

• The vast hierarchy of power: The confrontation demonstrates that nominally equal realms do not guarantee equal strength; experience, age, and hidden cultivation can create an overwhelming gap.
• The return of ancient forces: The God Organization’s reappearance suggests that dormant powers are becoming active again, potentially destabilizing the world.
• Talent and destiny: Chi Yao’s exceptional potential draws the attention of powerful factions, implying that gifted individuals may be pulled into larger conflicts.
• Leaving home and entering a wider world: Qi Xiyuan’s arrival in the immense Heavenly Origin City symbolizes a transition into a broader, more complicated future.
• Humility after arrogance: Lan Tuo Kang’s defeat forces him to recognize his own limitations despite his recent advancement.

Important Character Interactions

• The Old Woodcutter calmly claims Chi Yao from Lan Tuo Kang and overwhelms him without directly attacking.
• Lan Tuo Kang’s attempted retaliation exposes the enormous difference between the two men.
• Zhongli Wo observes the confrontation and later voices concern about the God Organization.
• Zhou Min guides Qi Xiyuan through her arrival in Heavenly Origin City and briefly checks her reaction to the unfamiliar environment.
• Qi Xiyuan’s thoughts remain focused on Tan Lin, suggesting that her journey to the city is motivated partly by the hope of finding him.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou Min explains that Heavenly Origin City is far more politically complex than it appears. Her transfer to the Upper Parliament is officially a promotion, but she may merely be another piece in the city’s power struggles.
• The Eternal Star Domain is undergoing major political and economic realignment after the Lan Tuo Family produced a Quasi-Emperor and powerful conglomerates began reshuffling their positions.
• Zhou Min warns her niece, Qi Xiyuan, about Tan Lin. Because of the mysterious Dawn Ancient Welfare Institute incident—including the death of a Half-Saint—Tan Lin and the Innate Dao Embryo have become subjects of intense scrutiny by powerful factions.
• Zhou urges Qi Xiyuan to restrain her contact with Tan Lin so neither of them becomes entangled in the developing conflict. Qi agrees, though she is clearly saddened.
• Zhou brings Qi to First National University in Heavenly Origin City and completes her enrollment. Qi is placed in Class One of the Tenth Grade under Teacher Huo Yin.
• Zhou arranges a private apartment for Qi rather than shared dormitory housing and ensures that Qi’s extraordinary physique remains concealed. Her records will only mention a trace of the Bright Light Dao Physique, while the Supreme Immortal Physique must remain hidden.
• Zhou leaves to report to the Parliament Building, leaving Qi to begin her new life alone.
• Qi’s arrival immediately becomes a sensation on campus. Students circulate photographs and gossip about her beauty, comparing her to the famous Fan Nuo and speculating that she may challenge Fan Nuo’s status as the university’s most beautiful girl.

Character Developments

• Qi Xiyuan appears mature and restrained despite her youth. She accepts Zhou Min’s warnings rationally but remains emotionally attached to Tan Lin and worries about his current condition.
• Qi’s past trauma is briefly revealed: while at the welfare institute, she was nearly abused by a volunteer, and Tan Lin protected her. This explains the depth of her concern for him.
• Qi begins a major transition from her former life in Feng City to a new identity and environment in Heavenly Origin City. She feels both anticipation and anxiety about attending the university.
• Zhou Min is shown as protective and politically aware. She supports Qi’s education and safety while emphasizing secrecy, caution, and the dangers of the city’s competing powers.
• Tan Lin, though absent, remains central to Qi’s thoughts and motivations. His connection to the welfare institute’s mysterious events has made him a person of interest to powerful organizations.
• Fan Nuo is introduced indirectly as a celebrated student and martial talent whose reputation may be threatened by Qi’s arrival.

Significant Themes

• Political instability and hidden power struggles: Heavenly Origin City’s prosperity masks a complicated network of factions, conglomerates, aristocratic families, and parliamentary forces.
• Secrecy and self-preservation: Qi must conceal her Supreme Immortal Physique because revealing it could attract dangerous attention.
• Loyalty and emotional restraint: Qi’s bond with Tan Lin is strong, but Zhou warns that acting on it could endanger them both.
• Transition and identity: Qi is entering a new school and social world while carrying a hidden background and extraordinary potential.
• Objectification and reputation: Her arrival is immediately reduced to gossip about her appearance, highlighting how quickly public fascination can overshadow a person’s abilities or character.
• The unseen influence of the past: Events at the welfare institute continue to shape the present, affecting Tan Lin, Qi, and the interest of major powers.

Character Interactions

• Zhou and Qi share a close aunt-and-niece relationship. Zhou speaks firmly but compassionately, while Qi responds respectfully and quietly absorbs the warnings.
• Their discussion about Tan Lin reveals both Zhou’s concern for Qi and Qi’s lingering emotional attachment to her childhood companion.
• Zhou negotiates with the academic affairs director to secure Qi’s placement, private accommodation, and protected records.
• After Zhou departs, Qi is left physically alone but mentally focused on Tan Lin, wondering whether he is safe.
• Other students interact only indirectly with Qi through rumors, photographs, and comparisons to Fan Nuo, establishing the social attention and potential rivalry surrounding her arrival.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qi Xiyuan’s arrival at First National University quickly attracts attention because of her exceptional beauty, her status as Upper Parliament member Zhou Min’s adopted daughter, and her potentially valuable physique. Photos of her are circulated among the “hunting groups” used by the heirs of powerful noble families and conglomerates.
• Fan Nuo, the famous campus goddess, actress, and bearer of the revived Brahma Battle Physique, sees Qi Xiyuan’s photo. Though uninterested in campus rivalries, Fan Nuo recognizes her potential as an actress and saves the image, considering signing her to a future film company.
• Fan Nuo is also troubled by the persistent advances of Mi Luo Cong, a direct heir of the Miro Clan who uses business collaborations to pressure her into meeting him. Rejecting him repeatedly could harm her entertainment career because of his clan’s control over major media channels.
• Qi Xiyuan learns that she has been selected to attend an exchange event at Dawn Ancient Welfare Institute, despite having just transferred and never attending a class. She suspects the invitation was deliberately arranged because Tan Lin is at the institute.
• Qi Xiyuan calls Zhou Min, who confirms that powerful heirs likely manipulated the selection after seeing her photo. They intend to approach her and potentially treat her as a prized addition to their collections.
• Zhou Min advises Qi Xiyuan to attend but remain cautious, assuring her that the heirs will not dare act recklessly because Qi Xiyuan is now under her protection. She also reminds Qi Xiyuan to maintain proper boundaries with Tan Lin.
• The next morning, Dawn Ancient Welfare Institute opens unusually to the public for the major exchange event. Representatives from powerful factions, elite students, and noble heirs arrive in large numbers.
• The event is overshadowed by the unexplained absence of Chi Yao, the First-Generation Innate Dao Embryo. Rumors spread that she disappeared from the institute the previous night, raising suspicions that she may have been abducted or seized by a powerful faction.
• The chapter ends as the crowd gathers in the central plaza, where a conspicuous group of young noble heirs is led by a handsome blond boy dressed in gold.

Character Developments

• Qi Xiyuan: Becomes aware that her beauty, identity, and special potential make her a target for powerful young heirs. Although uneasy, she chooses to attend the event because she wants to see Tan Lin. Her anticipation is mixed with anxiety and irritation, showing that her feelings toward Tan Lin are becoming emotionally complicated.
• Fan Nuo: Is portrayed as successful, attractive, and influential, but also constrained by the political and commercial power of the entertainment industry. Her consideration of Qi Xiyuan as a potential actress reveals her business ambitions and practical judgment.
• Zhou Min: Acts protectively toward Qi Xiyuan and demonstrates her influence and willingness to retaliate against anyone who threatens her adopted daughter. She also remains concerned about Qi Xiyuan’s relationship with Tan Lin.
• Chi Yao: Although absent, her importance is emphasized through the widespread concern and speculation surrounding her disappearance.
• Mi Luo Cong: Emerges as an entitled and persistent heir who uses his clan’s influence to pressure Fan Nuo.

Significant Themes

• Objectification and social power: Qi Xiyuan and Fan Nuo are evaluated not only as people but as valuable assets because of their beauty, abilities, fame, and connections.
• Influence of wealth and noble status: Powerful families can manipulate school events, entertainment opportunities, and social access behind the scenes.
• Protection versus vulnerability: Qi Xiyuan is no longer alone, but her new protected status also makes her more visible and desirable to powerful figures.
• Public image and hidden intentions: Fan Nuo’s celebrity image contrasts with her private struggles, while the exchange event’s respectable appearance conceals political maneuvering and predatory motives.
• Anticipation and uncertainty: Qi Xiyuan looks forward to seeing Tan Lin, but the event’s suspicious circumstances and Chi Yao’s disappearance create an atmosphere of danger.

Character Interactions

• Fan Nuo is repeatedly pressured by Mi Luo Cong through unwanted invitations framed as professional collaborations.
• Fan Nuo briefly comments on Qi Xiyuan’s appearance and considers recruiting her in the future.
• Qi Xiyuan confides in Zhou Min about the suspicious exchange-event invitation, and Zhou explains the manipulation behind it.
• Zhou Min warns Qi Xiyuan to keep her distance from Tan Lin, creating tension around their anticipated meeting.
• The arriving factions and noble heirs interact amid rumors about Chi Yao’s disappearance, establishing the exchange event as a gathering filled with rivalry, schemes, and hidden agendas.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lan Tuo Xing arrives at Qingtan Academy surrounded by lackeys. Since his granduncle, Lan Tuo Kang, became a Quasi-Emperor, Lan Tuo Xing’s influence and arrogance have grown considerably.
• He learns that Chi Yao—the Innate Dao Embryo his family wanted to acquire—has mysteriously disappeared, though he does not know that his ancestor recently failed to obtain her from Dawn Ancient.
• At the exchange meeting, Tan Lin is swarmed by representatives from wealthy clans, royal families, and capitalist groups seeking to recruit him. They offer contracts, money, resources, and training in exchange for his allegiance.
• Tan Lin remains detached and refuses to accept any offers. His thoughts are focused on Chi Yao’s disappearance and how she could have vanished from the Dawn Ancient Welfare Institute.
• The recruiters treat Tan Lin like a valuable commodity and block him when he attempts to leave. Audishiya intervenes with a single commanding word, forcing the crowd to part.
• Audishiya meets Tan Lin and becomes deeply unsettled when her Empress Scepter awakens a sealed memory. Her grandmother once told her about the ancient Great Accomplished Golden Body, Tan Lin, who had lived alongside the Devouring Heaven Great Emperor two hundred thousand years earlier.
• Recognizing that the present Tan Lin shares the same name, appearance, and unusual background as the legendary figure—and that he previously awakened the Divine Mecha—Audishiya leaves abruptly.
• She goes to the Welfare Institute’s inner courtyard and confronts Director Zhongli Wo. She reveals that Tan Lin possesses the First-generation Indestructible Golden Body and warns that the Institute can no longer protect him from the powerful factions attempting to claim him.

Character Developments

• Lan Tuo Xing: His status has risen with his family’s growing power, making him more conceited and less fearful of offending influential figures such as Audishiya. His resentment and brutality toward her begin to surface.
• Tan Lin: He demonstrates emotional restraint and independence by ignoring the recruiters’ offers. However, his concern for Chi Yao reveals loyalty and genuine emotional investment beneath his otherwise calm exterior.
• Audishiya: Her attitude toward Tan Lin shifts from curiosity to shock and suspicion after her ancient memories resurface. She begins to recognize a possible connection between him and the legendary Sacred Body of the past.
• Zhongli Wo: He is shown as sympathetic but powerless. Although he has protected the Institute’s gifted orphans, he admits that his position is too weak to resist the larger political and economic forces targeting them.

Significant Themes

• Power and social hierarchy: Lan Tuo Xing’s transformation illustrates how rapidly status changes when backed by higher cultivation and influential family ties.
• Exploitation of the vulnerable: The exchange meeting turns gifted orphan students into commodities, with powerful organizations competing to control their talents and bloodlines.
• Freedom versus control: Tan Lin’s refusal to sign contracts contrasts with the recruiters’ insistence that he surrender his future to them.
• Legacy and reincarnation: Audishiya’s memories suggest that Tan Lin may be connected to the ancient Great Accomplished Golden Body, linking present events to the distant Devouring Heaven era.
• Institutional helplessness: Zhongli Wo’s inability to protect the students emphasizes how individual morality is overwhelmed by entrenched political and economic power.

Character Interactions

• Lan Tuo Xing discusses Chi Yao’s disappearance with his lackeys while observing Audishiya, revealing his growing hostility toward her.
• Numerous clan and corporate representatives pressure Tan Lin to sign recruitment agreements, arguing over who can offer him the greatest benefits.
• Audishiya commands the crowd to move aside, directly freeing Tan Lin from their harassment.
• Her brief conversation with Tan Lin triggers memories of the legendary Tan Lin and profoundly affects her.
• Audishiya then confronts Zhongli Wo, warning him that Tan Lin’s true constitution is known and that the Welfare Institute can no longer shield him from the forces gathering around him.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Audishiya privately confronts Zhongli Wo, director of Dawn Ancient Welfare Institute, and confirms that Tan Lin possesses the First-generation Indestructible Golden Body.
• She asks Zhongli Wo to hand Tan Lin over to the Bauhinia Imperial City, promising that the Bauhinia Imperial Clan will protect him and will not force him into research or use him to create a “Blood Pool.”
• Zhongli Wo recognizes that Tan Lin has become a highly coveted “resource” at the exchange event. He believes he can no longer protect the boy from powerful factions, but considers Audishiya’s protection the safest available option.
• Zhongli Wo agrees after Audishiya promises that any future request for Tan Lin’s blood will depend on Tan Lin’s consent. He gives her a previously approved orphan-placement recommendation form, effectively entrusting Tan Lin to her.
• Audishiya reassures Zhongli Wo that his fears will not come true and leaves to arrange Tan Lin’s transfer.
• The two-way selection event resumes. Although Chi Yao, the First-Generation Innate Dao Embryo, is absent, numerous other gifted students remain available for selection by academies, corporations, and influential factions.
• Elite students and aristocrats gather throughout the plaza. Lan Tuo Xing is surrounded by flatterers following his family’s rise in status, while Mo Qingyun observes the social scene with disdain.
• Fan Nuo, a famous First National University student, idol, and possessor of the Brahma Battle Physique, attracts a crowd but remains indifferent and avoids contact with fans.
• Qi Xiyuan arrives as a student representative and sees Tan Lin again after more than a month apart. She is happy and wants to approach him, but restrains herself because of her aunt’s warning and the crowd surrounding him.
• Tan Lin is immediately besieged by representatives of major corporations offering contracts. Some promise him opportunities, while others warn that rival organizations intend to use him for experiments.

Character Developments

• Audishiya demonstrates authority, political influence, and genuine concern for Tan Lin’s safety. Though she admits she may eventually need his blood, she emphasizes consent, distinguishing her protection from the exploitative practices of other factions.
• Zhongli Wo reveals his moral convictions and helplessness in the face of overwhelming political and corporate power. He views safeguarding the legacy of the Indestructible Golden Body lineage as more important than retaining Tan Lin himself.
• Tan Lin becomes the center of attention as news of his rare physique spreads. His status shifts from an orphan under institutional care to a valuable target coveted by powerful organizations.
• Qi Xiyuan shows strong emotional attachment to Tan Lin, thinking of herself as his “big sister.” Her restraint suggests growing maturity and awareness of the dangers surrounding him.
• Lan Tuo Xing is portrayed as a privileged aristocrat whose elevated family status attracts sycophants and potential social climbers.
• Mo Qingyun appears more calculating and observant, looking down on Lan Tuo Xing’s followers while maintaining his own influence.
• Fan Nuo is presented as famous, beautiful, and highly sought after, yet detached from the attention and uninterested in socializing.

Significant Themes

• Exploitation of gifted individuals: Special physiques and bloodlines are treated as commercial assets, with students effectively displayed as “premium resources.”
• Powerlessness against large institutions: Even Zhongli Wo, despite his position, cannot shield Tan Lin from powerful conglomerates and political forces.
• Protection versus ownership: Audishiya offers Tan Lin safety, but the agreement still raises questions about whether protection can remain free of ulterior motives.
• Consent and human dignity: The promise that Tan Lin’s blood will only be taken with his permission contrasts with the horrifying prospect of turning him into a captive “Blood Pool.”
• Class privilege and social hierarchy: The exchange event exposes the influence of aristocratic families, corporations, elite academies, and political clans.
• Reunion and emotional restraint: Qi Xiyuan’s joy at seeing Tan Lin again is tempered by caution, reflecting the increasingly dangerous circumstances around him.

Character Interactions

• Audishiya and Zhongli Wo: Their negotiation forms the chapter’s central interaction. They share an understanding of the threat Tan Lin faces, and Zhongli Wo ultimately trusts Audishiya more than the corporations seeking him.
• Audishiya and Tan Lin: Although Tan Lin is not directly present in their conversation, Audishiya’s decision to claim responsibility for him establishes a protective relationship and potentially changes his future.
• Qi Xiyuan and Tan Lin: They do not speak, but their reunion is emotionally significant. Qi watches him from afar while he is overwhelmed by corporate recruiters.
• Lan Tuo Xing and the aristocratic crowd: His companions flatter and pursue him because of his family’s newly enhanced status, highlighting opportunistic relationships.
• Mo Qingyun and his confidant: They mock Lan Tuo Xing’s supporters and discuss aristocratic social maneuvering, revealing Mo Qingyun’s cynical outlook.
• Fan Nuo and her admirers: Fans attempt to approach her, but her bodyguards prevent them while she remains completely indifferent, reinforcing her detached celebrity persona.
• Tan Lin and corporate representatives: Multiple factions compete aggressively for his signature, presenting the immediate external conflict and demonstrating how little personal agency he currently has.

Chapter Summary

• Tan Lin remains silent and expressionless throughout the exchange meeting, inwardly irritated that others treat him like an object to be selected. Whenever he tries to leave, the surrounding crowd blocks him, making him suspect they intend to control or claim him after the meeting.
• Mi Luo Cong, the wealthy young master of the Miro Clan, arrives with several powerful bodyguards. He immediately approaches Fan Nuo, addressing her familiarly as “Nuo Nuo” and openly displaying romantic and possessive interest. He again tries to persuade her to star in a film, offering the additional temptation of a ticket to the Extraterrestrial Starlight Gala, a rare event that could help cultivators comprehend the Dao and break into the Immortal Platform Secret Realm.
• Fan Nuo recognizes the value of the offer but politely refuses, claiming that her studies leave her no time. Her response reflects both her ambition in cultivation and her wariness of accepting favors from Mi Luo Cong, whose intentions are clearly not selfless. Mi Luo Cong maintains a smile, though his impatience becomes visible.
• Mi Luo Cong then notices Qi Xiyuan, an attractive new transfer student at First National University and the adopted daughter of Upper Parliament member Zhou Min. He shifts his attention to her and sends an aide from Qian Da Pictures to offer her an entertainment contract. Qi Xiyuan calmly and firmly rejects the offer, showing that she is uninterested in fame or Mi Luo Cong’s influence.
• When Mi Luo Cong is about to intervene personally, Lan Tuo Xing stops him and accuses him of harassing a student. Lan Tuo Xing warns Qi Xiyuan to stay away from Mi Luo Cong, but then attempts to introduce himself and shake her hand. Qi Xiyuan refuses because he is a stranger, leaving Lan Tuo Xing embarrassed and giving Mi Luo Cong an opportunity to laugh at him.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Tan Lin remains controlled outwardly but increasingly resents being manipulated by the crowd.
• Fan Nuo demonstrates independence and caution by rejecting Mi Luo Cong despite the enormous cultivation opportunity he offers.
• Mi Luo Cong is portrayed as powerful, entitled, lecherous, and accustomed to using wealth and influence to pursue women.
• Qi Xiyuan establishes herself as calm, direct, and resistant to social pressure. She refuses both Mi Luo Cong’s recruitment attempt and Lan Tuo Xing’s overly familiar approach.
• Lan Tuo Xing positions himself as Mi Luo Cong’s rival or critic, but his own behavior appears partly motivated by showing off, and Qi Xiyuan’s rejection undermines him.
• The interactions reveal tension among wealthy elites, students, and influential cultivators, while Tan Lin remains a detached observer at the center of the larger exchange-meeting conflict.

Significant Themes

• Power and coercion: Wealth, status, and influence are used to pressure others into accepting opportunities or relationships.
• Freedom and resistance: Fan Nuo and Qi Xiyuan both assert their independence by refusing offers despite the advantages attached to them.
• Objectification: Tan Lin feels treated like property, while Mi Luo Cong views women as prizes or acquisitions.
• Social rivalry and humiliation: Lan Tuo Xing’s confrontation with Mi Luo Cong quickly becomes a contest of status, ending with Lan being embarrassed by Qi Xiyuan’s rejection.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The Lan Tuo Family attempts to seize Tan Lin by challenging the legitimacy of his identity. Their commissioner presents an adoption approval form stamped by the Eternal Kingdom Parliament and claims that, because Tan Lin’s birth cannot be verified, he is not legally protected.
• The accusation causes an uproar, with the crowd speculating that Tan Lin’s unusual traits confirm he comes from outside the recognized domain.
• Although Tan Lin remains outwardly calm, he silently clenches his fist, revealing his anger and vulnerability.
• Audishiya, the divine maiden and descendant of the Female Emperor, arrives with two Half-Saint attendants. She publicly intervenes and asks Tan Lin to come with her.
• When the Lan Tuo commissioner questions her authority, Audishiya turns the accusation back on him, asking whether the adoption document itself was properly verified.
• She declares that Tan Lin was born in Bauhinia Imperial City and that members of the Divine Lineage can vouch for him. This effectively makes it impossible for the Lan Tuo Family to investigate or remove him.
• Audishiya offers Tan Lin protection and a place within the Bauhinia Divine Lineage. After briefly considering his options, Tan Lin accepts her outstretched hand.
• Tan Lin leaves the plaza with Audishiya and her attendants, while the gathered observers react with surprise, jealousy, suspicion, and concern.
• Afterward, several characters privately reassess Tan Lin’s importance. Mi Luo Cong orders an investigation, suspecting Tan Lin possesses more than the known trace of Indestructible Golden Body bloodline.
• Zhongli Wo watches from the Welfare Institute and worries that allowing Tan Lin to leave was the correct decision.

2. Character Developments

• Tan Lin: Maintains a composed exterior despite the attack on his identity. His acceptance of Audishiya’s hand marks a major choice: he accepts the protection and influence of the Divine Lineage rather than remaining vulnerable to the Lan Tuo Family.
• Audishiya: Demonstrates decisive authority, political strength, and personal interest in Tan Lin. Her repeated invitation and willingness to invoke the Bauhinia Imperial City show that she is prepared to openly protect him.
• Lan Tuo Xing: Becomes increasingly humiliated and enraged. Audishiya’s intervention undermines his family’s attempt to control the situation, while Tan Lin receiving the hand gesture Lan Tuo Xing once failed to obtain intensifies his jealousy.
• Qi Xiyuan: Experiences quiet sadness and a sense of loss, as though Tan Lin has been taken from her. Nevertheless, she recognizes that Audishiya’s protection is probably the safest option for him and chooses not to interfere.
• Mi Luo Cong: Realizes that Tan Lin is far more significant than previously believed and begins investigating his hidden value and possible bloodline.
• Fan Nuo: Observes the event with surprise and curiosity but remains detached.
• Zhongli Wo: Reveals regret and uncertainty, suggesting that Tan Lin’s departure may have involved a difficult decision or sacrifice.

3. Significant Themes

• Identity and legitimacy: Tan Lin’s uncertain origins are used as a weapon against him, highlighting how legal status and official recognition can determine a person’s rights.
• Power versus rules: The Lan Tuo Family hides behind laws and paperwork, while Audishiya exposes the selective and possibly corrupt use of those rules. True authority comes from political and bloodline power rather than documents alone.
• Protection and allegiance: Tan Lin must choose between remaining exposed and accepting the protection of the Divine Lineage, even though its motives may not be entirely clear.
• Social status and humiliation: The chapter contrasts Lan Tuo Xing’s rejected gesture with Tan Lin’s acceptance, turning a small act of etiquette into a public reversal of status.
• Hidden potential: Multiple characters begin to suspect that Tan Lin’s abilities and origins are much more extraordinary than previously understood.
• Separation and sacrifice: Qi Xiyuan and Zhongli Wo’s reactions suggest that Tan Lin’s departure may be emotionally painful and connected to choices made for his long-term survival.

4. Character Interactions

• Tan Lin and the Lan Tuo commissioner: The commissioner attacks Tan Lin’s legitimacy, while Tan Lin responds with silent resistance rather than open confrontation.
• Audishiya and the commissioner: Audishiya calmly but forcefully dismantles his argument, using her lineage to shield Tan Lin and leaving him unable to respond.
• Audishiya and Tan Lin: She repeatedly invites him to follow her, ultimately extending her hand. Tan Lin accepts, creating a public bond of protection and allegiance.
• Lan Tuo Xing and Tan Lin/Audishiya: Lan Tuo Xing watches in anger as Audishiya favors Tan Lin, especially because she had previously rejected Lan Tuo Xing’s own attempt at courtesy.
• Qi Xiyuan and Tan Lin: Though she does not speak to him directly, Qi Xiyuan emotionally acknowledges his departure and decides that joining Audishiya is the best immediate outcome for him.
• Mi Luo Cong and his subordinate: Mi Luo Cong orders an investigation into Tan Lin’s background and hidden abilities, signaling that Tan Lin has become a person of strategic importance.
• Zhongli Wo and Tan Lin: Zhongli Wo does not directly interact with him in the scene but reflects anxiously on whether sending him away was the right decision.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The exchange meeting concludes with nearly all children possessing special bloodlines being claimed by powerful families and conglomerates. Rayne is persuaded into signing with the Mo Family, while the girl with the Moonlight Origin Meridian is taken by a prince of the Never-Setting Royal Family. Only a few unwanted “misfits” remain at the welfare institute.
• Tan Lin and Audishiya leave the institute together while holding hands, attracting public attention, covert photographs, and widespread discussion on the Star Network.
• Audishiya leads Tan Lin to the Empress Express, a luxurious imperial train belonging to the Bauhinia Imperial City. Her two Half-Saint attendants accompany them.
• Once inside the carriage, Audishiya releases Tan Lin’s hand, then suddenly presses him into a seat and closely examines him. Their silent eye contact becomes a confrontation of wills.
• Tan Lin refuses to show fear or submission. His calm, unwavering gaze unsettles Audishiya, who eventually looks away and blushes slightly.
• Audishiya gives Tan Lin a detailed physique report obtained through Vivianer and the Dawn Ancient Chamber. The report confirms his First-generation Indestructible Golden Body, abnormal bodily traits, immense potential, and the existence of unexplained data that ordinary divine sense cannot fully investigate.
• Audishiya explains that Tan Lin’s origins are extraordinary and that the beginning of the All-Heavens Dao Attainment Era makes his potential especially significant. She openly declares that her protection and support are an advance investment.
• She offers to take Tan Lin with her wherever she goes, share cultivation resources and opportunities, and protect him while he develops. Tan Lin accepts the practical benefits with a cautious nod but does not fully trust or emotionally submit to her.

2. Character Developments

• Tan Lin: Demonstrates a strong instinct for independence and resistance to control. Despite his young age and weak current cultivation, he remains composed under Audishiya’s pressure and refuses to be intimidated by her status. He recognizes the value of her protection and resources but maintains vigilance, emotional distance, and personal judgment.
• Audishiya: Reveals herself as both dominant and pragmatic. She is accustomed to controlling situations, but Tan Lin’s fearless composure challenges her expectations and briefly causes her embarrassment. Her interest in him shifts from simple protection or curiosity toward a deliberate long-term investment in his future.
• Rayne and the other gifted children: Their recruitment illustrates how quickly special talents are absorbed by powerful factions, often through manipulation, coercion, or unequal contracts.
• Vivianer and the institute’s researchers: Their examination of Tan Lin has produced valuable information, but the leakage of the report also shows that the institute cannot keep his secrets contained.

3. Significant Themes

• Power, control, and autonomy: Tan Lin’s refusal to submit psychologically contrasts with Audishiya’s habitual authority. Their interaction establishes a relationship shaped by unequal power but also mutual recognition.
• Investment and exploitation: The gifted children are treated as assets by noble families and corporations. Audishiya is more honest than the other factions, openly describing her support of Tan Lin as an investment rather than pretending it is unconditional kindness.
• Hidden origins and destiny: Tan Lin’s unusual body and mysterious Past-Life Wisdom suggest that his identity is connected to events predating the current Dao revival. His future is portrayed as part of a larger cosmic pattern rather than a random rise.
• The commodification of talent: The contract-signing ceremony shows how bloodlines and physiques determine social worth, while those deemed undesirable are abandoned.
• Pride and mutual recognition: The silent confrontation between Tan Lin and Audishiya marks the first moment when each recognizes the other’s unusual willpower and dignity.

4. Character Interactions

• Tan Lin and Audishiya’s public hand-holding presents the appearance of closeness while actually reflecting a calculated arrangement. Tan Lin later tries to withdraw his hand, but Audishiya firmly continues leading him.
• Inside the imperial train, Audishiya physically asserts control by pressing Tan Lin into a seat and examining him at close range. Tan Lin responds not with resistance or submission, but with calm eye contact.
• Their prolonged gaze reverses the expected power dynamic: Audishiya intends to intimidate and assess him, yet she is the one who becomes unsettled and looks away.
• Audishiya then changes from physical dominance to direct negotiation, explaining her motives and offering protection, resources, and future opportunities.
• Tan Lin acknowledges the usefulness of her offer but keeps his emotional and strategic distance, establishing the beginnings of an alliance based on mutual benefit rather than trust.

Chapter Summary

Plot and Events

• Audishiya takes Tan Lin by the Empress’s special train to one of her family’s properties in Heavenly Origin City.
• They arrive at Purple Thorn Castle, an ancient and luxurious residence built from rare divine materials and filled with powerful spiritual energy, treasures, and relics of the Divine Lineage.
• Audishiya brings Tan Lin into her private bedchamber and assigns him living quarters behind a screen, placing him unusually close to her.
• To test his composure and assert her authority, she deliberately bathes within his sight and hearing, creating an intimate and provocative atmosphere.
• Tan Lin remains outwardly calm, recognizing that Audishiya is trying to unsettle him. After bathing, she orders an attendant to take him to the bath as well, allowing him to clean himself and recover from the day’s events.

Character Developments

• Tan Lin: Demonstrates independence, self-control, and resistance to hierarchy. He refuses to assist Audishiya when she expects him to support her and does not flatter her despite depending on her protection. He correctly identifies her behavior as a deliberate test and maintains his composure, though he admits privately that he still possesses the emotions and instincts of a young man.
• Audishiya: Reveals a proud, youthful, and competitive side beneath her dignified image as the divine maiden. Being ignored by Tan Lin irritates her, but instead of openly confronting him, she decides to keep him nearby and observe him. Her provocative behavior is motivated by curiosity and a desire to regain psychological dominance after feeling “defeated.”
• The attendants and servants: Their reverence toward Audishiya emphasizes her supreme status. The attendants are surprised by Tan Lin’s lack of deference but remain obedient to Audishiya’s decisions.

Significant Themes

• Status versus personal dignity: Tan Lin refuses to submit automatically to Audishiya’s rank, suggesting that inner independence can challenge established social hierarchies.
• Psychological testing and power games: Audishiya repeatedly probes Tan Lin’s reactions, while Tan Lin counters by refusing to give her the emotional response she wants.
• Composure and self-mastery: Tan Lin understands that losing focus would mean falling into Audishiya’s trap, so he deliberately preserves his calm.
• Youthful pride beneath authority: Audishiya’s actions show that even someone with immense status and power can behave impulsively when her pride is challenged.
• Luxury and ancient lineage: Purple Thorn Castle’s architecture, treasures, spiritual energy, and servants highlight the enormous foundation and prestige of the Divine Emperor’s bloodline.

Important Character Interactions

• Audishiya silently invites Tan Lin to support her after disembarking, but he ignores the gesture, embarrassing and irritating her.
• Audishiya responds by deciding to keep Tan Lin close, both as a special guest and as someone she can personally observe.
• She places him in the adjoining section of her bedchamber, an arrangement that signals unusual favor and intimacy.
• Her bathing scene is a deliberate attempt to provoke or embarrass him, but Tan Lin recognizes the manipulation and refuses to react.
• After failing to disturb him, Audishiya disguises her disappointment with a teasing remark and orders an attendant to bathe him, showing that her treatment of him mixes authority, curiosity, and reluctant preferential treatment.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tan Lin is brought to Audishiya’s private bathing chamber, where he enters a spiritual bath filled with Moonlight Spirit Water. The water nourishes his body, purifies impurities, and strengthens his Indestructible Golden Body.
• Audishiya dismisses her maids and remains nearby, teasing Tan Lin while deliberately maintaining the appearance of respecting his privacy. She secretly uses divine sense to inspect the surrounding area, though Tan Lin senses the fluctuation and remains wary.
• Audishiya reveals that she has investigated Tan Lin’s past, including his relationship with Qi Xiyuan, his “older sister” from Feng City. She explains that his decision to ignore Qi Xiyuan at Dawn Ancient was meant to protect her from being dragged into the conflict surrounding him.
• She warns Tan Lin that the Lan Tuo Family’s conflict with her has exposed his identity as the First-generation Indestructible Golden Body. Powerful conglomerates and factions throughout the Eternal Kingdom will now monitor him and everyone associated with him, including Qi Xiyuan and Chi Yao.
• After Tan Lin finishes bathing, Audishiya changes from her playful manner to a serious negotiation. She promises him cultivation resources, protection, and opportunities, while stating that she will not experiment on him or turn him into a Blood Pool.
• In exchange, she requests a vial of his essence blood once his physique matures—ideally after he reaches the Immortal Third Realm or King Realm—to help awaken the Ancient Emperor Divine Repository inherited through her bloodline as a descendant of the Female Emperor.
• Tan Lin counters with an unusually generous offer: if Audishiya can compensate him for the loss caused by extracting his essence blood, he will provide a vial whenever he advances by a major realm. However, he demands that she use the power of Bauhinia Imperial City to locate and, if necessary, rescue Chi Yao, the Innate Dao Embryo.
• Audishiya immediately realizes that Chi Yao is the person Tan Lin wants found. Amused by his bargaining and his concern for Chi Yao, she offers to reveal Chi Yao’s current whereabouts.

Character Developments

• Tan Lin remains composed, guarded, and resistant to manipulation. He refuses to flatter Audishiya or display embarrassment during the bathing scene, reinforcing his independent personality. Despite his caution, his concern for Chi Yao causes him to act more impulsively and offer a valuable bargaining chip.
• Audishiya becomes increasingly interested in Tan Lin. She views him as stubborn, pure-hearted, and unusual, and her attitude shifts between teasing familiarity and calculated political control. She presents herself as both protector and investor while clearly seeking long-term benefits from his physique and bloodline.
• Qi Xiyuan is shown to be important to Tan Lin despite his deliberate emotional distance. His decision to ignore her is framed as an act of protection rather than indifference.
• Chi Yao does not appear directly, but her possible disappearance drives Tan Lin’s most important decision in the chapter. His willingness to pay a steep price demonstrates how deeply he values her safety.

Significant Themes

• Trust versus manipulation: Audishiya offers genuine protection, but her warnings and promises also serve to keep Tan Lin under her influence. Tan Lin recognizes both her sincerity and her strategic motives.
• Power and political exposure: Tan Lin’s special physique is no longer secret. His association with Audishiya places him at the center of attention from conglomerates, factions, and spies throughout the Eternal Star Domain.
• Protection through distance: Tan Lin avoids acknowledging Qi Xiyuan publicly because proximity to him could endanger her, showing how relationships become liabilities in a world dominated by powerful forces.
• Mutual exploitation and alliance: Audishiya wants Tan Lin’s essence blood, while Tan Lin needs her political power. Their relationship is built on negotiated benefit rather than unconditional trust.
• Emotional restraint versus genuine attachment: Tan Lin maintains a calm exterior, but his urgency over Chi Yao reveals that his emotions can override his usual caution.

Character Interactions

• The bathing scene establishes a more familiar, teasing dynamic between Tan Lin and Audishiya, though Tan Lin remains unimpressed by her humor and suspicious of her intentions.
• Audishiya directly confronts Tan Lin about Qi Xiyuan, demonstrating how thoroughly she has investigated him and forcing him to acknowledge the risks faced by those connected to him.
• During their formal negotiation, Audishiya offers protection in exchange for future essence blood, while Tan Lin reverses the power balance by tying his cooperation to Chi Yao’s rescue.
• Audishiya easily sees through Tan Lin’s motives, but rather than exploiting his desperation, she is entertained and agrees to disclose Chi Yao’s location, setting up the next development.