Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Four Extremes Tribulation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Hao begins breaking through to the Four Extremes realm by absorbing a vast amount of Divine Source and Source Qi.
• His body, organs, bones, blood, and Divine Sense undergo a profound transformation. His flesh becomes crystal-like, while his golden Divine Sense takes the form of a radiant little figure.
• He pushes the Wa Huang Scripture to its limit, using its vitality to temper and reconstruct his body. His five internal “Heavens and Earth” resonate with the Great Dao, producing powerful Heavenly Sounds.
• Ji Hao’s primary Dao Vessel manifests as both a Tai Chi Diagram and the Other Shore Golden Bridge, symbolizing Yin-Yang balance and the deepest principles of Heaven and Earth. His Sword Germ remains dormant within the Sea of Bitterness.
• He reflects on his cultivation path, choosing to focus on the Wa Huang Scripture rather than combining the strongest scriptures from every realm. He believes this is more faithful to his own Dao.
• Heavenly Tribulation descends in the form of increasingly powerful violet lightning. Rather than merely enduring it, Ji Hao repeatedly provokes and absorbs the lightning to temper his body.
• He uses the Innate Grand Void Astral Qi to destroy the first lightning strikes, then swallows the remaining thunder into his abdomen for refinement.
• Multiple visions emerge around him, including the Yin-Yang Life-and-Death Diagram, Splendid Mountains and Rivers, Golden Crow Rising from Fusang, and Bright Moon Rising over the Sea. These phenomena combine to block the devastating lightning.
• Ji Hao escalates the confrontation by striking the thundercloud with the Embracing Mountain Seal, condensing Mount Tai in his palm. The tribulation responds by producing five-colored lightning, celestial palaces, and a phantom battle halberd resembling the might of the Ancient Heavenly Court.
• Nearby cultivators from Lingxu Paradise witness the tribulation and are shocked by Ji Hao’s strength. Their elder orders them not to interfere, recognizing that the person undergoing the tribulation is far beyond what they can afford to provoke.
• A crimson divine dragon rises from Ji Hao’s body and attacks the heavens. Ji Hao then employs the Void Monument Hand, transforming his palm into an ancient stone tablet that shatters another wave of thunder.
• The chapter ends as the lightning tribulation grows even more intense, filling the sky with countless stars’ worth of thunder and threatening to unleash an even greater punishment.

Character Development

• Ji Hao demonstrates immense confidence and fearlessness. He treats the Heavenly Tribulation not as a crisis but as an opportunity to strengthen himself and break through every limitation.
• His physical body and Divine Sense advance dramatically, becoming purified, resilient, and closely integrated with the Dao.
• He clarifies his personal cultivation philosophy: rather than blindly collecting powerful inheritances, he follows the Wa Huang Scripture as his chosen path and seeks unity between his cultivation and his own Dao.
• Ji Hao’s combat abilities continue to expand. He now commands several powerful visions, the Tai Chi Diagram, the Other Shore Golden Bridge, Innate Grand Void Astral Qi, the Embracing Mountain Seal, and the Void Monument Hand.
• His confidence borders on provocation, as he repeatedly declares that the tribulation is “still not enough” and actively challenges Heaven to send stronger lightning.

Significant Themes

• Transcendence through tribulation: The Heavenly Tribulation represents both danger and refinement. Ji Hao uses its destructive power to transform his body and advance toward a higher realm.
• Following one’s own path: Ji Hao rejects the idea that he must cultivate every supposedly strongest scripture. His progress comes from committing to the Wa Huang Scripture and developing a path suited to himself.
• Unity of body, spirit, and Dao: His body, Divine Sense, internal worlds, and treasured weapons resonate with the Great Dao, showing cultivation as a complete transformation rather than a mere increase in power.
• Defiance of Heaven: Ji Hao’s attitude toward the tribulation is openly rebellious. He does not submit to Heavenly Might; he challenges, absorbs, and destroys it.
• Power and awe: The reactions of the Lingxu Paradise cultivators emphasize how extraordinary Ji Hao’s breakthrough is. His tribulation is so immense that even experienced observers regard him as an existence they cannot afford to offend.

Character Interactions

• Ji Hao has no direct conversation with the nearby cultivators, but his tribulation profoundly affects them. A younger observer expresses disbelief at Ji Hao’s ability to provoke the Heavenly Tribulation, while the elder warns him not to interfere.
• Their exchange establishes Ji Hao’s overwhelming status and contrasts ordinary cultivators’ fear of Heavenly Tribulation with his aggressive, almost contemptuous attitude toward it.
• The main “interaction” of the chapter is between Ji Hao and Heaven itself: every time he destroys or absorbs a wave of lightning, the tribulation responds with an even greater display of power.

Chapter Summary: “Taiji Seal!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Hao endures an unprecedented Lightning Tribulation, suffering severe physical injuries while the Tai Chi Diagram shields him and begins developing innate Dao patterns.
• Nine lightning phantoms emerge from the ruins of the Heavenly Palace. Ji Hao battles them alongside the five Divine Deities within his Dao Palace, using the Bodhi Sapling to comprehend the Dao contained in the tribulation.
• During the battle, Ji Hao gains insight into the Void and successfully uses the previously inaccessible Void Severing Two Realms, destroying the phantoms. The five Divine Deities refine the remaining Dao Principles.
• The tribulation intensifies through Five Elements, Yin-Yang, Ancient Character, and eventually Chaos Divine Thunder. Ji Hao deliberately uses the lightning to temper both his physical body and Divine Sense.
• He employs the Heaven-Cutting Finger to shatter Chaos Divine Thunder, then has his Divine Sense swallow and refine the fragments despite the immense pain.
• Ji Hao repeatedly survives through the Nüwa Secret Technique: Fortune, combined with Living Flame, allowing his body to regenerate and return to peak condition.
• A later barrage of Chaos Divine Thunder overwhelms him. Ji Hao is left gravely wounded, his Divine Sense shattered, and the Tai Chi Diagram reduced to a mass of Qi.
• By absorbing the remaining Chaos Qi, Ji Hao discovers innate Great Dao patterns and significantly strengthens his Divine Sense and comprehension.
• He realizes that, despite possessing numerous Emperor Scriptures and Secret Techniques, he lacks a technique truly belonging to his own Dao.
• Drawing upon insights into Yin-Yang, Heaven and Earth, and the Tai Chi principle, Ji Hao forms a new hand seal and declares it the Taiji Seal.

Character Development

• Ji Hao demonstrates extraordinary endurance, repeatedly confronting the tribulation directly rather than merely defending against it.
• His Essence, Qi, Spirit, body, and Divine Sense all undergo major refinement and transformation.
• He becomes more adept at combining multiple powers, including the Tai Chi Diagram, Bodhi Sapling, Fortune Secret Art, Living Flame, and his various Emperor-level techniques.
• Most importantly, Ji Hao recognizes a fundamental weakness in his cultivation: he has mastered many inherited techniques but has not yet created one based entirely on his own understanding.
• His realization marks a major step toward developing his personal Dao and eventually becoming a true Ancient Emperor-level powerhouse.

Significant Themes

• Tribulation as opportunity: The Heavenly Tribulation is not merely a destructive punishment but also a rare source of Dao insight and power.
• Creation versus inheritance: Ji Hao’s many powerful techniques are insufficient without a unique method born from his own Dao.
• Yin and Yang: The chapter emphasizes mutual opposition and mutual containment, presenting Taiji as the foundation of Heaven, Earth, and all existence.
• Willpower and transformation: Ji Hao’s refusal to surrender allows him to turn near-death injuries into growth and enlightenment.
• The birth of a personal Dao: The creation of the Taiji Seal symbolizes Ji Hao beginning to move beyond imitation and establish his own path.

Character Interactions

• Ji Hao fights in cooperation with the five Divine Deities residing in his Dao Palace; they help destroy and refine the lightning phantoms.
• He draws on the Bodhi Sapling as a source of wisdom and Dao comprehension while battling the tribulation.
• The surrounding cultivators from the six nearby Grotto-Heavens witness the disaster from afar and react with shock, believing it may be Heaven’s punishment and questioning whether anyone could survive it.
• Ji Hao’s primary “opponent” is the Heavenly Tribulation itself, whose escalating forms force him to reveal new abilities and ultimately inspire the creation of the Taiji Seal.

Chapter Summary: “Breaking the Tribulation!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Hao endures the final stages of the Chaos Divine Thunder tribulation. Each strike severely damages him, but the Living Flame, Fortune Secret Art, and Fortune Divine Blood rapidly regenerate his body.
• The Chaos Thunder strengthens both his physical body and Divine Sense. His Martial Dao Heavenly Eyes advance, and the tiny Divine Sense figure absorbs and refines the Chaos Qi, developing additional Innate Patterns.
• Against the ninth and strongest bolt, Ji Hao combines three major phenomena—Bright Moon Rising over the Sea, Golden Crow Rising from Fusang, and the Yin-Yang Life-and-Death Diagram—to unleash his self-created Taiji Seal.
• Although the Taiji Diagram initially appears capable of suppressing the lightning, a flaw causes it to shatter. Ji Hao is struck directly, suffering a massive hole through his chest, but he survives and regenerates.
• The tribulation continues beyond the Chaos Thunder. The Heavenly Palace of lightning produces manifestations of powerful ancient Emperor Weapons:
  • The Primordial Emperor Sword pierces Ji Hao and leaves behind Imperial Dragon Aura.
  • The Void Mirror, Hengyu Furnace, Western Empress Pagoda, Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Cauldron, and Qilin Staff are also resisted with the help of his Qi and Sword Germ.
  • The Beginningless Bell nearly shatters his soul.
  • The Undying Heavenly Blade cuts him in half.
  • Finally, the Immortal Ascension Cauldron overwhelms even his improved Taiji Seal and crushes him, leaving only blood behind.
• Ji Hao’s Divine Sense survives within the blood. Using the Living Flame and essence blood, he reconstructs his body and returns to peak condition, emerging with the imposing presence of a Youthful Emperor.

Character Development

• Ji Hao demonstrates extraordinary endurance, recovery, and adaptability. Rather than merely surviving the tribulation, he uses each attack to refine his body, Divine Sense, weapons, and understanding of the Dao.
• He recognizes the limitations of his combined phenomena and Taiji Seal, showing self-awareness and a willingness to improve his technique.
• The Imperial Dragon Aura left by the Primordial Emperor Sword becomes a valuable source of comprehension. It imprints itself faintly on both his Sword Germ and the Qi above his head.
• His Sword Germ, previously unable to match his growing Taiji Diagram, finally manifests and begins developing through direct confrontation with the Emperor Weapons.
• By the end, Ji Hao has been physically and spiritually tempered into an even stronger existence, with the bearing and power of a true Youthful Emperor.

Significant Themes

• Survival through transformation: Destruction repeatedly becomes a means of rebirth, as Ji Hao’s injuries trigger greater strength and refinement.
• The limits of power: Even Ji Hao’s newly perfected Taiji Seal cannot fully withstand the tribulation, emphasizing that powerful techniques still contain weaknesses.
• Learning through adversity: Every Emperor Weapon represents not only a threat but also an opportunity for Ji Hao to comprehend different forms of Dao and Imperial power.
• Balance and integration: The Taiji Seal depends on harmonizing Yin and Yang, life and death, moon and sun. Its occasional failure shows how difficult it is to achieve true perfection.
• Defiance of Heaven: Ji Hao treats the terrifying tribulation almost conversationally, revealing both his confidence and his refusal to submit to the forces testing him.

Character Interactions

• Ji Hao’s primary “interaction” is with the Heavenly Tribulation, which behaves almost like a mocking, intelligent opponent by escalating its attacks in response to his challenges.
• He directly clashes with manifestations of ancient Emperor Weapons, using his Qi and Sword Germ to block or counter them.
• His Taiji Seal interacts with the Chaos Divine Thunder and the Immortal Ascension Cauldron, revealing both the technique’s growing strength and its remaining flaws.
• Ji Hao also interacts internally with the power he has cultivated: his Divine Sense absorbs Chaos Qi, his blood and Living Flame restore his body, and the Sword Germ begins to act as an independent weapon capable of confronting supreme artifacts.

Chapter Summary: “Jingwei’s Nirvana, the Mystery of Her Constitution”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After surviving and benefiting from a terrifying Heavenly Tribulation, Ji Hao changes into white robes and leaves the battlefield. His aura frightens the cultivators observing from afar, who speculate that he must be a hidden prodigy of one of the Eastern Wasteland’s great powers.
• On a mountain peak, Ji Hao examines his newly strengthened body and reflects on the dangers of provoking tribulations. Although he admits that he underestimated the risks, he remains determined to attempt similarly extreme methods again in pursuit of extraordinary power.
• Ji Hao prepares to restore the Jingwei Bird, who is actually Nüwa in transformed form. He gathers nine Sacred Fruits containing the Nine Wonders Immortal Medicine and places Jingwei inside the Shennong Ding.
• With the Shennong Ding’s Artifact Spirit assisting him, Ji Hao combines Sacred Spring Water, the fruits’ medicinal essence, fragments of Laws, and incomplete Dao diagrams. These forces form an Innate Dao Diagram that is infused into Jingwei’s body.
• The transformation succeeds: Jingwei returns to the form of a beautiful young woman, revealing Nüwa’s true appearance. Ji Hao realizes that he is seeing his “little aunt” for the first time.
• The Shennong Ding’s Artifact Spirit warns Ji Hao not to repeat Nüwa’s disastrous pursuit of an overly ambitious constitution or cultivation path. Ji Hao responds confidently but acknowledges that his own bloodline and constitution place him in a difficult position.

Character Developments

• Ji Hao: He has grown dramatically stronger after enduring the Heavenly Tribulation, gaining immense physical power and greater confidence. However, he also recognizes the danger of relying on bloodline or taking reckless shortcuts. His playful personality remains evident when he asks Jingwei whether he looks handsome and jokes with the Shennong Ding.
• Jingwei/Nüwa: Jingwei’s identity and origins are clarified. She is not merely a divine bird but Nüwa, who had transformed herself while attempting to overcome her innate limitations. Through Ji Hao’s treatment, she successfully returns to human form.
• Shennong Ding’s Artifact Spirit: The Artifact Spirit acts as both assistant and guardian. It helps perform the restoration while teasing Ji Hao about his past use of the cauldron, then offers serious advice based on its memories of Nüwa.
• Nüwa: Though she appears only after her restoration, her past is revealed through the Artifact Spirit’s comments. Her ambitions were extraordinarily high, but her attempt to change her innate nature led her down a path of ruin.

Significant Themes

• The danger of excessive ambition: Nüwa’s fate demonstrates that attempting to forcefully transcend one’s natural limits can have devastating consequences.
• Bloodline versus personal strength: Ji Hao recognizes that powerful ancestry can provide immense advantages but can also create shackles and limitations. True achievement ultimately depends on one’s own cultivation and strength.
• Transformation and rebirth: Jingwei’s restoration into Nüwa symbolizes physical and spiritual renewal, made possible through medicine, Dao principles, and the efforts of others.
• Risk and extraordinary achievement: Ji Hao believes that extraordinary accomplishments require extraordinary methods, even after experiencing the severe costs of challenging the Heavenly Tribulation.
• Humor amid grand cultivation themes: Ji Hao’s banter with Jingwei and the Shennong Ding balances the chapter’s serious discussions of life, destiny, and cultivation.

Character Interactions

• Ji Hao playfully asks Jingwei whether he is handsome, though he cannot understand her birdlike response.
• He reassures Jingwei before placing her in the Shennong Ding and carefully supervises her transformation.
• Ji Hao and the Artifact Spirit argue humorously over whether he intended to “stew” Jingwei, reflecting their familiar and teasing relationship.
• After Nüwa’s restoration, the Artifact Spirit counsels Ji Hao not to follow her example. Ji Hao responds with confidence in his own power but admits that his constitution and Emperor bloodline are both an advantage and a limitation.

Chapter Summary: “Setting Out for Purple Mountain”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter explains the hierarchy of cultivation constitutions. The Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo, Chaotic Body, Immortality Elixir transformation, and Immortal Spirit Descendants are considered the highest tier, while the Sacred Body, Hegemonic Body, and Emperor’s Sons belong to the second tier.
• Ji Hao possesses two Great Emperor bloodlines, making him an exceptionally powerful Emperor’s Son. However, the Great Emperor Law Fragments in his bloodline double the difficulty of his path to enlightenment.
• Despite this obstacle, Ji Hao may become a Heavenly Emperor if he attains the Dao, potentially gaining enough power to suppress the dark Forbidden Zones. The Flame Emperor and Yellow Emperor therefore place great hopes in him.
• Nüwa is undergoing treatment inside the Shennong Ding. Her Origin had been continuously leaking since she returned to human form, but the Innate Dao Diagram, medicinal power from the Sacred Fruit, and the cauldron’s formations stabilize her condition.
• Ji Hao briefly comprehends the Creation Dao while observing Nüwa’s transformation. He recognizes its power but decides it is not his own path, viewing Fortune and Creation as auxiliary rather than destructive methods.
• The Shennong Ding completes Nüwa’s treatment and seals her inside a Divine Cocoon protected by nine Emperor Characters. However, Nüwa must sleep for at least ten years before completing her transformation.
• Ji Hao decides to begin his own journey toward becoming a Great Emperor rather than relying on Nüwa’s strength.
• His immediate goal is to retrieve the Lihuo Divine Furnace from the Northern Region, prepare three Quasi-Emperor Weapons, and then enter Purple Mountain.
• Ji Hao hopes to obtain the Nine Secrets—particularly the “Dou” Secret—and rescue Divine King Jiang Taixu, who has been trapped in Purple Mountain for over four thousand years.
• He sets off toward the Northern Region, only to realize midway that he does not know where he is or how to locate it.

Character Developments

• Ji Hao: Becomes more determined to forge his own path and openly declares the beginning of his rise toward Emperor-hood. He remains ambitious, boastful, and somewhat mischievous, but also shows loyalty and responsibility by planning to rescue Jiang Taixu.
• Nüwa: Survives the dangerous treatment and enters a long period of recovery. Her condition stabilizes, but her transformation is incomplete, leaving her unable to assist Ji Hao for at least ten years.
• Shennong Ding: Acts as Nüwa’s healer and guardian. Its Artifact Spirit expends considerable energy during the treatment and repeatedly warns Ji Hao not to depend on Nüwa’s power.
• Flame Emperor and Yellow Emperor: Their expectations for Ji Hao are emphasized; they view him as a possible future Heavenly Emperor capable of confronting the Forbidden Zones.
• Jiang Taixu: Though absent, he becomes an important motivation for Ji Hao’s next expedition because of his long imprisonment in Purple Mountain.

Significant Themes

• The difficulty of attaining the Dao: Powerful bloodlines and constitutions provide great potential but can also impose restrictions. Ji Hao’s double Emperor bloodline gives him extraordinary strength while making enlightenment far more difficult.
• Forging one’s own path: Ji Hao rejects dependence on Nüwa and chooses to pursue his personal Dao, reinforcing the idea that true greatness must be achieved through individual effort.
• Hope amid a dark era: The chapter contrasts the promised brilliance of the current age with the looming darkness of the Forbidden Zones.
• Recovery and transformation: Nüwa’s healing symbolizes rebirth, while Ji Hao’s departure marks the beginning of his own transformation.
• Ambition and destiny: Ji Hao’s exaggerated declarations of future greatness blend humor with the serious suggestion that he may genuinely become a Heavenly Emperor.

Character Interactions

• Ji Hao anxiously asks about Nüwa’s recovery and jokingly hints that he hopes to rely on her status and strength.
• The Shennong Ding teases and rebukes him, insisting that he must cultivate independently. Their exchange shows a familiar relationship built on mutual irritation, humor, and trust.
• Ji Hao and the Shennong Ding also discuss the ominous nature of the era, though the Artifact Spirit stops short of revealing what it knows, frustrating Ji Hao’s curiosity.
• Ji Hao’s plans to rescue Jiang Taixu reflect his sense of responsibility toward an older-generation figure and his desire to correct a longstanding tragedy.

Chapter Summary: “At Last, the Northern Region”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Hao finally reaches the Northern Region after an extremely difficult journey. Along the way, he:
  • Escapes the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Zone.
  • Undergoes a tribulation.
  • Treats Nüwa’s illness.
  • Becomes lost and flies hundreds of thousands of miles north.
  • Fights several groups of Monster Beasts after entering their territory.
  • Kills the beasts and their elders, but flees when confronted by a powerful Demon King.
  • Leads the Demon King back toward the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Zone and uses it to escape.
  • Spends more than half a month searching for a Domain Gate before finally reaching the Northern Region.
• Once there, Ji Hao decides to locate Purple Mountain and recover the Lihuo Divine Furnace, a Quasi-Emperor-level Divine Weapon that originally belonged to his family.
• He quickly finds Purple Mountain but realizes he cannot enter without Emperor Jade, which is associated with the Qingxia Sect.
• Ji Hao then travels to the Lihuo Sect, located in a rare oasis.
• The Lihuo Sect refuses to acknowledge his claim to the Lihuo Divine Furnace and secretly summons its Tai Shang Elder.
• The Tai Shang Elder immediately attacks Ji Hao with the furnace, intending to kill him and permanently secure the sect’s treasure.
• Ji Hao calmly uses the Eight Gods Desolate Force Secret Technique to summon the furnace. It shrinks and flies directly into his hand, proving that he is its true master.
• The Lihuo Sect is shocked, while the Tai Shang Elder angrily tries—and fails—to control the weapon.

Character Development

• Ji Hao demonstrates increased confidence and self-reliance. Although he possesses powerful weapons, he deliberately avoids relying on them, viewing escape and survival against stronger enemies as valuable cultivation.
• His newly created Eight Gods Desolate Force Secret Technique is shown to be highly effective, allowing him to control the Lihuo Divine Furnace effortlessly.
• Ji Hao remains calm and composed under threat. Rather than reacting emotionally to the Lihuo Sect’s deception, he allows them to reveal their intentions before reclaiming the furnace.
• The Lihuo Sect’s elders are portrayed as greedy, arrogant, and opportunistic. They recognize that Ji Hao may be the furnace’s rightful heir but decide to kill him so the sect can keep the treasure.
• The Tai Shang Elder’s confidence collapses into anger and embarrassment when the furnace ignores his commands and obeys Ji Hao instead.

Significant Themes

• Survival as cultivation: Ji Hao views fleeing from overwhelming enemies not as weakness but as an essential skill and form of training.
• Ownership and legitimacy: The chapter contrasts rightful possession with institutional control, as the Lihuo Sect claims the furnace despite lacking true authority over it.
• Power and deception: The sect hides its intentions behind denial and hospitality, but quickly resorts to violence when Ji Hao challenges its claim.
• Confidence versus arrogance: Ji Hao’s quiet confidence contrasts with the elders’ arrogant belief that strength and status alone can secure the treasure.
• Homecoming and reclamation: Reaching the Northern Region marks a major stage in Ji Hao’s journey, while recovering the family’s Divine Furnace symbolizes reclaiming part of his inheritance.

Character Interactions

• Ji Hao and the Monster Beasts/Demon King: Ji Hao defeats weaker beasts but deliberately retreats from the stronger Demon King, using the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Zone to escape.
• Ji Hao and the Lihuo Sect disciples: The disciples confront him as an intruder and alert their elders.
• Ji Hao and the Lihuo Sect elder: The elder denies possessing anything belonging to Ji Hao while secretly sending for reinforcements.
• Ji Hao and the Tai Shang Elder: The elder openly declares that Ji Hao deserves death and attacks with the Lihuo Divine Furnace. Ji Hao responds by effortlessly taking control of it, overturning the elder’s assumptions and humiliating the sect.

Chapter Summary: “Purple Mountain”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Lihuo Sect’s Supreme Elder attacks Ji Hao with the sect’s legendary Embracing Mountain Seal, conjuring a mountain of immense pressure.
• Ji Hao effortlessly destroys the technique with Fortune Heaven-Opening, then demonstrates a vastly more powerful version of the same seal. His divine mountain covers the Lihuo Sect and annihilates it.
• After retrieving the Lihuo Divine Furnace, Ji Hao travels to the Azure Mist Sect. Along the way, he eliminates nearby bandits who have committed numerous atrocities.
• At the Azure Mist Sect’s gates, Ji Hao declares his intention to destroy the entire sect. He kills the guards and instantly slaughters the sect’s Supreme Elder with the Heaven-Cutting Finger.
• Ji Hao methodically exterminates the Azure Mist Sect’s members while searching for an important treasure. He finds a piece of Great Emperor Wu Shi’s Emperor Jade.
• Using the nighttime-compatible Bright Moon Rising over the Sea phenomenon, he wipes out the remaining disciples and erases the traces of blood.
• He then destroys several other vicious sects near Purple Mountain and discovers another piece of Emperor Jade in Profound Moon Cave.
• Returning to Purple Mountain, Ji Hao studies its unusual terrain: nine surrounding ridges form the pattern of “nine dragons paying homage to one stalk.”
• Through the Nine Secrets: Shu, he calculates that the eastern ridge is the safest route. He locates an ancient underground mine leading toward Purple Mountain and enters it.
• Because Purple Mountain is associated with Heavenly Emperor’s Son and powerful Saints, Ji Hao conceals his aura with the Hidden Escape Compass as he cautiously advances underground.

Character Developments

• Ji Hao is portrayed as overwhelmingly powerful, confident, and disdainful of sect authorities who misuse their power. He has advanced to the point where techniques considered supreme by major sects are insignificant before him.
• His moral position becomes clearer: although he ruthlessly destroys entire sects, he views them as irredeemably evil because of their involvement in murder, oppression, and the destruction of innocent lives.
• Ji Hao also demonstrates strategic maturity. Rather than charging blindly into Purple Mountain, he uses divination, terrain analysis, concealment techniques, and the Hidden Escape Compass to avoid alerting stronger enemies.
• The Lihuo Supreme Elder and Azure Mist Supreme Elder serve mainly to emphasize Ji Hao’s overwhelming gap in cultivation. Both are defeated almost instantly despite their status.
• The sect disciples shift from arrogance and confidence to terror and despair after witnessing Ji Hao’s power.

Significant Themes

• Absolute power versus false prestige: Techniques and titles revered by the sects are exposed as crude imitations when compared with Ji Hao’s mastery.
• Justice through destruction: Ji Hao presents his massacres as punishment for sects and bandits responsible for widespread atrocities, raising the theme of violent retribution against corrupt powers.
• Inheritance and authenticity: The contrast between the Lihuo elder’s version of the Embracing Mountain Seal and Ji Hao’s true version highlights the importance of genuine ancient inheritances.
• Treasure hunting and destiny: The Emperor Jade fragments and the route into Purple Mountain suggest a larger mystery connected to Great Emperor Wu Shi and ancient imperial legacies.
• Caution beneath confidence: Although Ji Hao dominates ordinary opponents, he recognizes that Purple Mountain contains far more dangerous beings and proceeds with concealment and calculation.

Character Interactions

• Ji Hao mocks the Lihuo Sect disciples and Supreme Elder, treating their strongest technique as an embarrassment before crushing it.
• He confronts the Azure Mist Sect’s guards and elders without negotiation, dismissing their claims of legitimacy and killing them with minimal effort.
• The Azure Mist disciples react with disbelief and fear, wondering whether Ji Hao is a demonic figure or the successor of a holy land.
• Ji Hao has no direct interaction with the beings inside Purple Mountain yet, but his cautious entry establishes the coming conflict with Heavenly Emperor’s Son’s forces and the Saints guarding the mountain.

Chapter Summary:

Divine King Jiang Taixu

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Hao travels deeper into Purple Mountain, using the Compass Sacred Weapon to avoid swarms of dangerous Demon Bats without being detected.
• He continues inspecting the ancient mine and sarcastically criticizes Purple Mountain’s gloomy environment, weak spiritual energy, crude murals, and neglected appearance.
• The surroundings grow increasingly sinister, changing from ash-covered ground to piles of bones and haunted-looking shadows. Ji Hao initially fears the apparent ghosts, but his Martial Dao Heavenly Eyes reveal that they are not genuine ghosts, allowing him to proceed.
• Ji Hao discovers a naturally formed pair of Yin-Yang Eyes: one chamber contains spiritual qi surrounded by baleful qi, while the other contains baleful qi surrounded by spiritual qi. Together they form a natural Tai Chi Diagram.
• Recognizing the immense potential of the formation, Ji Hao uses it to temper his Divine Sense and nurture his Sword Germ. He places the Lihuo Divine Furnace within the Yin-Yang formation and allows its opposing energies to refine him.
• During the process, Ji Hao experiences a vision of the universe’s creation and destruction: Chaos divides into Yin and Yang, Heaven and Earth emerge, and eventually all things return to unity as epochs rise and fall.
• His Divine Sense undergoes a major transformation, becoming pure and powerful, with an aura resembling Immortality through countless tribulations. He then comprehends the balance point between the Yin and Yang energies and opens a stable gateway through the formation.
• Protected by the Lihuo Divine Furnace, Ji Hao enters the Yin-Yang Eyes and discovers a magnificent jade palace complex hidden within Purple Mountain.
• He finds inscriptions left by Divine King Jiang Taixu, Gu Tianshu, and Yaochi Saintess Yang Yi, suggesting that other great figures had entered Demon Mountain before him.
• A mysterious Demon Sound attempts to lure Ji Hao in a particular direction, but the two pieces of Emperor Jade counteract its influence.
• The chapter ends when Divine King Jiang Taixu suddenly addresses Ji Hao as a descendant of the Jiang Family, startling him.

Character Developments

• Ji Hao remains bold, irreverent, and sarcastic, casually criticizing Purple Mountain even while recognizing its dangers. His humor contrasts with the increasingly horrifying environment.
• His caution develops alongside his confidence: although he is frightened by ghosts, he uses his Heavenly Eyes to investigate rather than blindly retreating.
• Ji Hao demonstrates greater strategic understanding by identifying the Yin-Yang formation’s potential and daring to use it for cultivation.
• His Divine Sense and Sword Germ are significantly strengthened through the refinement process. His comprehension of Yin-Yang principles also advances, allowing him to open a safe passage through the deadly formation.
• Ji Hao’s connection to the Jiang Family becomes important when Jiang Taixu recognizes him as a descendant, hinting at hidden ancestry or a significant relationship between them.
• Divine King Jiang Taixu is introduced indirectly through inscriptions and finally through his voice, establishing his presence as a powerful and mysterious figure.

Significant Themes

• Yin and Yang as creation and destruction: The chapter presents Yin-Yang Qi as the force behind both the birth of the universe and its eventual destruction.
• Transformation through danger: Ji Hao deliberately places himself in a deadly environment to purify his Divine Sense and achieve a higher state, reflecting the idea that great growth requires risk.
• Balance and harmony: Ji Hao succeeds not by overpowering the Yin-Yang formation, but by finding the point where its opposing forces balance.
• Ancient inheritance and destiny: The inscriptions and Jiang Taixu’s recognition of Ji Hao suggest that his journey is tied to ancient figures and family legacies.
• Decay versus true majesty: Ji Hao initially mocks Purple Mountain’s ruined exterior, but the hidden jade palaces reveal that its true grandeur lies beneath the decay.
• Humor amid danger: Ji Hao’s irreverent comments and final complaint about being frightened provide comic relief in an otherwise ominous setting.

Character Interactions

• Ji Hao avoids detection by the Demon Bats, effectively moving through the area without directly confronting them.
• His Heavenly Eyes allow him to distinguish harmless or nonphysical shadows from genuine threats.
• The Lihuo Divine Furnace, Sword Germ, and Compass Sacred Weapon function as crucial partners in his cultivation and survival, protecting and strengthening him within the Yin-Yang formation.
• The Emperor Jade pieces shield Ji Hao from the Demon Sound’s influence.
• The chapter’s main direct interaction occurs at the end, when Divine King Jiang Taixu suddenly speaks to Ji Hao. Jiang’s formal recognition of him as a Jiang descendant contrasts with Ji Hao’s humorous irritation at being startled.

Chapter Summary: “Nine Secrets: Dou”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Hao locates the imprisoned Divine King Jiang Taixu inside Purple Mountain, following his weak voice through tunnels filled with the remains of previous intruders.
• Jiang Taixu is sealed within a purple jade wall and has been trapped for more than four thousand years. His body, Origin, and Divine Power are nearly exhausted.
• He teaches Ji Hao the opening move of Nine Secrets: Dou, also known as the Battle Saint Method, one of the strongest offensive Secret Techniques in existence.
• Ji Hao quickly comprehends the technique. When he performs it, his Essence, Qi, Spirit, bloodline, and fighting intent surge dramatically, revealing that he possesses the Emperor bloodline of the Jiang Family.
• Jiang Taixu recognizes Ji Hao as a descendant of the Hengyu Great Emperor. Ji Hao explains his unusual connection to the Jiang Family through the phenomenon of Emperor Corpse Spirit Awakening.
• Ji Hao attempts to free Jiang Taixu using the Lihuo Divine Furnace, but the purple wall rapidly regenerates after being damaged.
• He considers using the Xuanyuan Sword alongside the furnace, but Jiang Taixu warns that Ji Hao is not strong enough to sustain the power required. Fully awakening the weapons could also alert the Primordial Creatures sealed within Purple Mountain or provoke the Beginningless Bell, since the mountain was once Great Emperor Wu Shi’s dojo.
• Unable to rescue him safely, Ji Hao instead sends Jiang Taixu Sacred Spring Water, a Sacred Fruit, and Source energy.
• These treasures restore portions of Jiang Taixu’s Origin, Vitality, physical body, Sea of Bitterness, and Divine Power. He visibly recovers from his skeletal state, gaining renewed strength and several more years of life.

Character Developments

• Ji Hao: Demonstrates exceptional comprehension by mastering the opening move of Nine Secrets: Dou almost immediately. His Emperor bloodline is confirmed, and he shows both increasing combat potential and concern for his ancestor’s survival. He also acts cautiously, abandoning the rescue attempt when the risks become too great.
• Jiang Taixu: Though nearly dead after millennia of imprisonment, he remains knowledgeable and perceptive. He recognizes Ji Hao’s bloodline, teaches him a supreme technique, and warns him against recklessly awakening powerful weapons. His condition improves substantially after receiving Ji Hao’s resources.
• Ji Hao and Jiang Taixu: Their relationship shifts from a formal meeting between junior and senior to one of familial recognition. Jiang Taixu acknowledges Ji Hao as a Little Ancestor of the Jiang Family, while Ji Hao treats him as an elder worthy of protection.

Significant Themes

• Inheritance and bloodline: Ji Hao’s connection to the Hengyu Great Emperor and the Jiang Family gives him both authority and immense potential.
• Knowledge passed between generations: Jiang Taixu’s final strength is used to transmit the Nine Secrets: Dou, ensuring that his legacy survives even if he remains imprisoned.
• Power versus restraint: Ji Hao possesses powerful weapons but lacks the cultivation to use them safely. The chapter emphasizes that true strength includes knowing when not to act.
• Survival and renewal: Jiang Taixu’s recovery symbolizes hope after thousands of years of suffering, while the treasures Ji Hao provides preserve him until future help can arrive.
• The danger of ancient forces: Purple Mountain contains sealed Primordial Creatures and the legacy of Great Emperor Wu Shi, making any reckless action potentially catastrophic.

Important Character Interactions

• Jiang Taixu teaches Ji Hao the opening move of Nine Secrets: Dou and evaluates his cultivation.
• Ji Hao’s execution of the technique reveals his Emperor bloodline, shocking Jiang Taixu.
• Ji Hao tries to rescue Jiang Taixu with the Lihuo Divine Furnace and considers adding the Xuanyuan Sword.
• Jiang Taixu stops him from taking the risk and explains the dangers of awakening the weapons.
• Ji Hao ultimately supports Jiang Taixu with medicinal treasures and energy, strengthening their familial bond and preserving Jiang Taixu’s life until Ye Fan’s eventual arrival.

Chapter Summary: “Little Ancestor”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Ji Hao treats him, Jiang Taixu regains enough vitality to survive for roughly another century.
• Jiang Taixu teaches Ji Hao the principles of the Nine Secrets, guiding him through countless hand seals and bodily transformations. With the Bodhi Sapling enhancing his wisdom, Ji Hao spends ten days comprehending the technique.
• Ji Hao successfully derives the Unique Stance, condensing the countless transformations of the Life-Slaying Great Art into a single ultimate form. This stance resonates with the “Fighting” Secret, meaning he has now obtained that Secret Technique.
• Ji Hao’s battle intent surges after his breakthrough, showing the dramatic increase in his power and confidence.
• Despite Jiang Taixu’s warning to leave Purple Mountain, Ji Hao decides to visit Great Emperor Wu Shi’s Daoist temple.
• Before departing, Ji Hao repays Jiang Taixu by transmitting the Fortune Secret, a technique capable of turning decay into vitality and allowing life to emerge from near-death. He also leaves Jiang Taixu Sacred Spring Water and a Little Medicine King.
• In a cave, Ji Hao discovers the Origin Heaven Book beside a skeleton. He chooses not to take it, reasoning that Ye Fan needs it for his cultivation and that the Origin Heaven Book’s inheritance may eventually bring a terrible curse.
• Ji Hao buries the skeleton, identified as Zhang Jiye’s, and places the Origin Heaven Book beside the grave.
• He then finds the sealed Wu Shi Scripture, contained within a massive Stone Book. Unable to open it without the proper Dao Embryo or all nine pieces of Emperor Jade, he moves on.
• Ji Hao briefly notices the Black Emperor but deliberately avoids him, unwilling to become involved with the infamous dog’s schemes.
• He finally reaches a magnificent, mysterious hall surrounded by spiritual herbs and immortal plants, recognizing it as the kind of Daoist temple he hopes to build after attaining the Dao himself.

Character Developments

• Ji Hao: Achieves a major breakthrough by mastering the Unique Stance and obtaining the Fighting Secret. His confidence, battle intent, and ambition grow, but he also demonstrates restraint and foresight by refusing to take the Origin Heaven Book.
• Jiang Taixu: Recovers significantly from his weakened state and gains the Fortune Secret from Ji Hao. Their relationship develops into one of mutual respect and exchange rather than simple teacher and student.
• Ye Fan: Though absent, his future cultivation is protected by Ji Hao’s decision to leave the Origin Heaven Book behind.
• Black Emperor: Appears briefly as a potential source of trouble, reinforcing his reputation as cunning, unreliable, and prone to deceiving even acquaintances.

Significant Themes

• Transmission and repayment: Ji Hao receives the Fighting Secret from Jiang Taixu but repays him with the Fortune Secret, emphasizing balance and mutual respect.
• Unity and transcendence: The chapter focuses on reducing countless laws and transformations to a single fundamental principle—the Unique Stance.
• Restraint and responsibility: Ji Hao proves that power does not require greed. He declines the Origin Heaven Book because taking it would hinder Ye Fan’s growth.
• Life, death, and renewal: The Fortune Secret embodies the possibility of vitality emerging from decay, while the ruined corpses and cursed inheritances highlight the dangers surrounding cultivation.
• Reverence for greatness: Ji Hao’s desire to witness Wu Shi’s legacy reflects his admiration for powerful predecessors and his own ambition to create an even greater Daoist temple.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Taixu teaches Ji Hao the Fighting Secret through direct instruction, Divine Sense, and personal insight.
• Ji Hao thanks Jiang Taixu not only verbally but by giving him the Fortune Secret and valuable healing treasures.
• Their farewell is respectful and somewhat emotional, with Jiang Taixu wishing Ji Hao safety despite his concern over Purple Mountain’s dangers.
• Ji Hao’s decision to ignore the Black Emperor shows his awareness of the dog’s manipulative nature and his unwillingness to be drawn into unnecessary conflict.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Hao reaches a mysterious Dao Platform formed from Chaos Stone. It is surrounded by powerful Chaos Qi, rare plants, and an enduring phantom of Great Emperor Wu Shi.
• The chapter emphasizes Wu Shi’s overwhelming legacy and power, including his battles against Forbidden Zone beings, the Undying Taoist, the Immortal Emperor, and Red Dust Immortals.
• Ji Hao discovers numerous ancient Medicine Kings growing around the platform. He attempts to harvest them using the Lihuo Furnace, Xuanyuan Sword, Shennong Ding, and Emperor Jade.
• He successfully obtains two Medicine Kings, but the platform’s Chaos Qi becomes increasingly violent. The Beginningless Bell intervenes, knocking away his weapons and preventing further harvesting.
• Ji Hao plants his Bodhi Tree sapling in Chaos-infused soil and nourishes it with Sacred Spring Water, causing it to grow new branches and buds.
• Using the two pieces of Emperor Jade, Ji Hao activates a teleportation mechanism and escapes Purple Mountain.
• A black shadow follows him through the passage. Ji Hao emerges in a familiar mine tunnel and is immediately attacked by the Big Black Dog.
• The Big Black Dog demands the two Medicine Kings and threatens to make Ji Hao his “human pet.” Ji Hao, despite being nearly drained of Divine Power, chooses to fight and prepares to test his physical strength against the legendary dog.

Character Developments

• Ji Hao: Demonstrates courage, resourcefulness, and greed for rare treasures. He takes calculated risks to acquire the Medicine Kings, uses several powerful artifacts creatively, and remains confident even after his Divine Power is nearly exhausted. His curiosity about the Black Emperor also motivates him to engage in direct combat.
• Great Emperor Wu Shi: Though absent, his lingering phantom and achievements reinforce his status as one of history’s most powerful and domineering emperors.
• The Big Black Dog/Black Emperor: Revealed as opportunistic, shameless, and extremely bold. He waits until Ji Hao is weakened before attacking, while relying on his immense physical strength and notorious combat ability.
• Bodhi Tree Sapling: Shows renewed growth after being planted in Chaos-infused soil and watered with Sacred Spring Water, suggesting that Ji Hao’s treasures and resources are beginning to develop significantly.

Significant Themes

• Legacy and overwhelming power: Wu Shi’s phantom represents how the accomplishments of ancient supreme beings continue to shape the present.
• Resourcefulness and exploitation of opportunity: Ji Hao uses artifacts in unconventional ways—such as wielding the Xuanyuan Sword as a shovel—to seize rare treasures.
• Risk versus reward: Harvesting the Medicine Kings nearly exhausts Ji Hao and triggers the Dao Platform’s defenses, but the danger yields valuable gains.
• Treasure and power accumulation: The Medicine Kings, Emperor Jade, Bodhi Tree, and sacred resources all contribute to Ji Hao’s growing strength and future ambitions.
• Humor amid danger: The narrative contrasts grand historical lore with comic details, including the Black Emperor’s habit of using supreme treasures as bathwater and Ji Hao’s exchange with the dog over becoming a “human pet.”

Character Interactions

• Ji Hao interacts primarily with the lingering legacy of Great Emperor Wu Shi through the Dao Platform and phantom.
• The Beginningless Bell acts as an indirect guardian of the platform, stopping Ji Hao from taking more Medicine Kings.
• Ji Hao and the Big Black Dog immediately enter a hostile confrontation. The dog attempts to intimidate and exploit Ji Hao’s weakened condition, while Ji Hao responds with sarcasm and confidence.
• Their battle is set to test Ji Hao’s physical body against the Black Emperor’s renowned strength, establishing the chapter’s cliffhanger.

Chapter Summary: “I Got Bitten by a Damn Dog!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Hao challenges the Black Emperor to a physical fight, mocking him as a hairless, mangy dog.
• The Black Emperor becomes enraged by the insults and repeatedly bites Ji Hao, whose powerful physique allows him to survive but not avoid being injured.
• Ji Hao uses the Great Void Technique to escape the dog’s jaws, and the two engage in a fierce close-combat battle without relying on powerful Divine Techniques.
• Their bodies prove extraordinarily tough: the Black Emperor possesses strength gained from Great Emperor Wu Shi’s blood and Nirvana rebirth, while Ji Hao’s awakened Emperor bloodline makes him nearly invulnerable.
• The Black Emperor demands that Ji Hao return two Medicine Kings, claiming they were left by the Great Emperor for him or the Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo.
• Ji Hao eventually uses the Void Great Handprint to slam the Black Emperor into the ground, then knocks him unconscious with the Lihuo Divine Furnace.
• Afterward, Ji Hao binds the Black Emperor to a stone pillar with the Demon-Binding Rope, a powerful restraint even a Sage cannot escape.
• Ji Hao pretends that he intends to roast and eat the Black Emperor, sharpening a knife and threatening to “neuter” him, terrifying the dog.

Character Developments

• Ji Hao: His confidence and pride are badly damaged by being repeatedly bitten by the Black Emperor. Although much stronger overall, he refuses to kill the dog and instead treats the encounter as a contest of physical strength. His frustration grows into a desire to humiliate and frighten the Black Emperor.
• Black Emperor: He demonstrates immense physical resilience, shamelessness, and combat ability. Despite being beaten and restrained, he continues to boast about becoming the future Demon Emperor and tries to make Ji Hao his human pet. His greed is evident in his insistence on reclaiming the Medicine Kings.
• Ye Fan: Though only briefly shown, Ye Fan humorously sneezes while cultivating, apparently because Ji Hao and the Black Emperor are discussing or insulting him. This adds a comedic link to the ongoing events.

Significant Themes

• Pride and humiliation: Ji Hao’s greatest grievance is not being physically harmed but being publicly reduced to “someone bitten by a dog.”
• Comedy through rivalry: The battle is presented as an absurd clash between two arrogant, stubborn, and unusually powerful figures.
• Strength versus technique: Both fighters rely primarily on their bodies, highlighting their exceptional bloodlines, rebirths, and physical cultivation.
• Greed and possessiveness: The argument over the Medicine Kings reveals the Black Emperor’s selfish desire to claim treasures intended for him or the Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo.
• Reputation and future glory: Ji Hao imagines his future as an unrivaled Emperor and immortal, only to have those grand achievements comically overshadowed by the repeated refrain: “You got bitten by a dog.”

Character Interactions

• Ji Hao and the Black Emperor constantly trade insults, with Ji Hao calling him a mangy mutt and the Black Emperor addressing Ji Hao as a “human pet.”
• Their verbal hostility escalates into a prolonged physical confrontation, but neither initially uses lethal force.
• After defeating and binding the Black Emperor, Ji Hao reverses their power dynamic, taunting him with the threat of roasting and neutering him.
• The Black Emperor remains defiant and boastful even while terrified, maintaining their antagonistic but comedic relationship.

Chapter Summary: Fire Domain

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Hao silences the enraged Black Emperor by threatening to neuter him, using the threat to control the dog’s aggressive behavior.
• He travels from the Northern Region to Jin State in the Southern Region through a Domain Gate. Jin State is famous for its ancient Fire Domain, which has burned since Immortal Fire descended there.
• After arriving, Ji Hao briefly disguises himself as an elegant mortal gentleman and wanders through a lively city, enjoying the ordinary sights, sounds, and food of the mortal world.
• Feeling detached from mortal life, he abandons the attempt to blend in and uses the Great Void Technique to travel directly to the Fire Domain.
• Ji Hao enters the Fire Domain without difficulty, despite temperatures that would overwhelm ordinary cultivators.
• He uses his blue-gold Living Flame to absorb and refine the flames from successive layers of the domain, gradually increasing the flame’s strength and offensive potential.
• In the sixth layer, “Purple Qi Comes from the East,” Ji Hao remains unharmed by the extraordinarily powerful purple flames. His Hengyu Great Emperor bloodline activates automatically, with fragments of Great Emperor laws protecting him.
• The Living Flame transforms into a divine furnace resembling the Lihuo Divine Furnace, absorbing and refining the purple mist-like flames.
• After absorbing flames from six layers, the Living Flame finally undergoes a major transformation.

Character Developments

• Ji Hao remains confident, playful, and domineering, easily intimidating the Black Emperor while treating the threat humorously.
• His brief attempt to live as a mortal reveals a lingering emotional distance from ordinary life. Though he enjoys the atmosphere, he realizes that his cultivation has separated him from it.
• Ji Hao demonstrates increasing mastery over the Living Flame, turning it from a mostly supportive ability into a more powerful divine technique.
• His Hengyu bloodline proves especially important, automatically protecting him in the most dangerous part of the Fire Domain and highlighting his deep connection to fire-based laws.
• The Black Emperor is reduced from furious defiance to frightened submission after Ji Hao threatens him.

Significant Themes

• Power and control: Ji Hao’s threat against the Black Emperor shows how overwhelming strength and intimidation govern their relationship.
• Distance from the mortal world: Ji Hao longs for the warmth and simplicity of mortal life but recognizes that his cultivation has created an invisible barrier between himself and ordinary people.
• Transformation through refinement: The Fire Domain serves as both a physical trial and a source of growth, allowing the Living Flame to evolve.
• Bloodline and destiny: Ji Hao’s inherited connection to the Hengyu Great Emperor gives him unique protection and suggests the importance of ancestral power.
• Fire as creation and cultivation: The flames are not merely destructive; they can imprint laws and principles, forge artifacts, and strengthen divine abilities.

Important Character Interactions

• Ji Hao and the Black Emperor engage in a comedic but threatening exchange. The Black Emperor angrily protests, but immediately becomes submissive when Ji Hao threatens to neuter him.
• Ji Hao interacts briefly with the mortal world through observation rather than direct relationships, appreciating the city’s vendors, crowds, and peaceful atmosphere.
• His most important “interaction” is with the Fire Domain itself: he confronts its increasingly powerful layers and absorbs their flames into the Living Flame, culminating in the sixth layer’s purple fire and the Living Flame’s transformation.

Chapter Summary: Fire Domain

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Hao confronts the Black Emperor, who angrily threatens him from the ground. Ji Hao intimidates the dog by joking that he will neuter him, causing the Black Emperor to immediately become submissive.
• Ji Hao arrives in Jin State after traveling from the Northern Region through a Domain Gate. Jin State is famous for its ancient Fire Domain, which has burned continuously since the Immortal Fire descended there.
• Unlike cultivators who visit the Fire Domain to refine weapons and imprint them with Dao principles, Ji Hao comes to strengthen his Living Flame. He refuses to forge his unfinished vessel without Immortal Metal, preferring to use it in its crude state.
• Before entering the Fire Domain, Ji Hao disguises himself as an elegant mortal gentleman and wanders through a lively town. He enjoys the sights, sounds, and food of ordinary human life but realizes that his cultivation has placed an invisible distance between him and the Mortal World.
• Ji Hao enters the Fire Domain and uses the Living Flame to absorb and refine flames from successive layers. The Living Flame gradually incorporates crimson, pale-blue, and other increasingly powerful fires.
• At the sixth layer, “Purple Qi Comes from the East,” Ji Hao encounters purple, mist-like flames of immense heat. His bloodline power, inherited from the Hengyu Great Emperor, protects him and causes the flames to recognize and avoid harming him.
• The Living Flame transforms into a Divine Furnace identical to the Lihuo Divine Furnace. It absorbs the purple fire and refines it into the Living Flame’s origin, triggering a major transformation.

Character Developments

• Ji Hao: Demonstrates his dominance over the Black Emperor through humor and intimidation. He also reveals his pride, refusing to forge his vessel without suitable Immortal Metal. His brief return to mortal society exposes his loneliness and emotional distance after thousands of years of sealing and separation. In the Fire Domain, his cultivation and bloodline powers allow him to withstand flames that even Powerful Experts would struggle to endure.
• Black Emperor: Despite his fierce appearance and bluster, he is easily cowed by Ji Hao and becomes submissive when threatened. Their exchange reinforces Ji Hao’s authority over him.
• Living Flame: Develops from primarily a supportive ability into a much more powerful offensive and refining force. After absorbing flames from six layers of the Fire Domain, it transforms into a Divine Furnace and reaches a new stage of power.
• Hengyu Great Emperor: Though absent, his influence is evident through the revived Great Emperor Law Fragments in Ji Hao’s bloodline. His connection to fire enables Ji Hao to survive the sixth layer.

Significant Themes

• Power and submission: The Black Emperor’s immediate retreat shows the difference between outward aggression and true authority.
• Transformation through refinement: The Living Flame grows stronger by absorbing and integrating increasingly powerful forms of fire, reflecting cultivation through challenge and adaptation.
• Connection and alienation: Ji Hao enjoys the vitality of mortal life but cannot fully blend into it, emphasizing the emotional cost of his long cultivation and separation from his former world.
• Pride and independence: Ji Hao refuses to compromise his standards by forging his vessel without Immortal Metal, even if doing so would be more convenient.
• Inheritance and legacy: Ji Hao’s ability to withstand the Fire Domain is linked to the Hengyu Great Emperor’s bloodline and mastery of fire, showing how ancestral power shapes his development.

Character Interactions

• Ji Hao and the Black Emperor engage in a comic but one-sided confrontation: the Black Emperor threatens him, but Ji Hao’s teasing threat of castration instantly silences the dog.
• Ji Hao interacts briefly with the mortal crowds as an observer rather than a participant. His elegant disguise attracts attention, especially from women, but he remains emotionally detached.
• Ji Hao’s most important “interaction” is with the Fire Domain itself. Layer by layer, he absorbs its flames, while his bloodline power resonates with the sixth layer and allows him to pass unharmed.

Chapter Summary: “Innate Patterns, Saint Spirit Furnace!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Hao witnesses the Living Flame absorbing Origin Power and the Power of Heaven and Earth, causing three incomplete Innate Patterns to form within its Origin.
• Through his Martial Dao Heavenly Eyes and the Bodhi Tree sapling’s wisdom-enhancing light, Ji Hao comprehends profound mysteries of the Great Dao of fire.
• His Heart Dao Palace evolves alongside the Living Flame, briefly developing the vitality and appearance of a genuine world of fire.
• The Living Flame undergoes a major transformation, gaining a trace of purple within its gold-and-cyan flames and becoming vastly more powerful.
• Ji Hao advances to the seventh level of the Fire Domain, where he uses the Living Flame as a furnace to absorb and refine the Five-Colored Flame. The new flame is powerful but insufficient to trigger another evolution.
• Protected by the Lihuo Divine Furnace, Ji Hao enters the eighth level and confronts the far more dangerous Seven-Colored Divine Flame.
• He begins forging the Living Flame into a weapon or Vessel, tempering it with seven-colored fire, Divine Power, Divine Patterns, and Hengyu Emperor Script.
• The transformed furnace is officially named the Saint Spirit Furnace, reflecting Ji Hao’s intention to eventually place a Saint Spirit within it.
• After nine days of refinement, the seven-colored fire is exhausted, and Ji Hao proceeds toward the ninth level, where the Nine-Colored Divine Fire awaits.

Character Development

• Ji Hao’s comprehension and cultivation advance significantly. By observing the Innate Patterns, he gains deeper insight into the Dao of fire and approaches another breakthrough beyond the Four Extremes realm.
• His resistance to flame improves greatly, allowing him to endure increasingly dangerous levels of the Fire Domain.
• Ji Hao displays growing confidence in his ability to transform and refine the Living Flame, recognizing its potential as a powerful personal weapon.
• His ingenuity and craftsmanship develop as he combines flame refinement, Emperor Scripts, Divine Patterns, and the Lihuo Divine Furnace to create the Saint Spirit Furnace.
• Despite his confidence, Ji Hao remains cautious when confronting the Nine-Colored Divine Fire, acknowledging that its heat surpasses that of the previous eight levels combined.

Significant Themes

• Comprehension through opportunity: Rare manifestations such as the Innate Patterns allow Ji Hao to grasp profound Dao principles that would normally be inaccessible.
• Transformation and evolution: The Living Flame repeatedly changes through absorption, refinement, and the fusion of various kinds of fire.
• Creation through mastery: Ji Hao does not merely endure the Fire Domain; he turns its dangers into materials for forging a powerful Vessel.
• The relationship between cultivation and craftsmanship: Ji Hao’s understanding of the Dao directly improves his ability to create and strengthen weapons.
• Ambition and preparation: The Saint Spirit Furnace represents Ji Hao’s long-term plans and his determination to acquire a weapon suited to future dangers.

Character Interactions

• Ji Hao’s primary interaction is with the Living Flame, which responds completely to his will and evolves under his guidance.
• The Bodhi Tree sapling supports Ji Hao indirectly by illuminating his Sea of Consciousness and enhancing his wisdom, helping him comprehend the fire-based Innate Patterns.
• The Lihuo Divine Furnace acts as both protection and a forging tool, assisting Ji Hao in containing and refining increasingly powerful flames.
• Ji Hao interacts with the various levels of the Fire Domain—Five-Colored, Seven-Colored, and Nine-Colored Divine Flames—treating them as both threats and resources.
• His naming of the Saint Spirit Furnace reflects his anticipation of eventually placing a Saint Spirit within it, giving the newly forged Vessel a future purpose.

Chapter Summary: “Innate Patterns, Saint Spirit Furnace!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Hao observes Innate Patterns forming within the Origin of the Living Flame. These patterns embody the Great Dao of fire and provide him with an extraordinary opportunity for comprehension.
• With assistance from the Bodhi Tree sapling’s Divine Light, Ji Hao enters a profound state of enlightenment. His understanding of fire deepens, and the Heart Dao Palace within him begins transforming into a fiery world filled with vitality.
• Three incomplete Innate Patterns are inscribed onto the Living Flame. Their completion causes the flame to radiate immense Divine Light and influence the surrounding Fire Domain, even affecting the Five-Colored Flame on the next level.
• Ji Hao awakens with greatly enhanced resistance to fire and realizes that he is close to advancing beyond the Four Extremes realm. Encouraged, he proceeds deeper into the Fire Domain.
• On the seventh level, he absorbs the powerful Five-Colored Flame into a furnace formed from the Living Flame. Using nine Emperor Characters, he suppresses and refines it, though the energy is insufficient to trigger another evolution.
• Protected by the Lihuo Divine Furnace, Ji Hao advances into the eighth level, where he encounters the terrifying Seven-Colored Divine Flame. He collects and forces the flame into the Living Flame furnace for refinement.
• Ji Hao decides to transform the Living Flame into a personal Vessel, since his existing weapons are limited without Immortal Metal. He tempers and reshapes it using the seven-colored fire, the Lihuo Divine Furnace, Divine Power, and matching Divine Patterns.
• The evolving furnace develops a connection between its newly inscribed Divine Patterns and the Innate Patterns within its Origin. Ji Hao names it the Saint Spirit Furnace, intending for it eventually to contain a Saint Spirit.
• Over nine days, he continues refining the furnace and inscribes the Hengyu Emperor Script onto it. Once the seven-colored fire is exhausted, he advances toward the ninth level.
• The chapter ends as Ji Hao encounters the Nine-Colored Divine Fire, whose heat surpasses that of the previous eight levels combined.

Character Development

• Ji Hao gains a much deeper understanding of the Dao of fire through direct observation of the Innate Patterns.
• His cultivation and resistance to flames increase significantly, bringing him close to another breakthrough.
• He becomes more confident and ambitious, resolving to absorb additional flames and evolve the Living Flame further.
• Ji Hao shifts from merely using the Living Flame as a cultivation aid to treating it as the foundation of a powerful personal weapon—the Saint Spirit Furnace.
• His craftsmanship and strategic abilities are emphasized as he combines multiple sources of power, scripts, and Divine Patterns to reshape the furnace.

Significant Themes

• Comprehension through opportunity: Rare visions of Innate Patterns allow Ji Hao to gain insights normally available only in Fortune Source Grounds or Heavenly Tribulations.
• Transformation and evolution: The Living Flame repeatedly absorbs stronger flames and is reborn into a more powerful, artifact-like form.
• Fusion of cultivation and crafting: Ji Hao’s advancement depends not only on meditation and Dao comprehension but also on refining a personal Vessel.
• The relationship between fire and creation: Fire is portrayed not merely as destructive but as a force capable of forging life, power, and new forms.
• Ambition and progression: Ji Hao continually seeks greater strength, willingly entering increasingly dangerous layers of the Fire Domain.

Character Interactions

• Ji Hao’s primary “interaction” is with the Living Flame, the Bodhi Tree sapling, the Lihuo Divine Furnace, and the successive layers of the Fire Domain.
• The Bodhi Tree sapling aids his enlightenment by transforming the Dao of fire into sparks of wisdom.
• The Lihuo Divine Furnace protects him from extreme heat and helps suppress and refine the Seven-Colored Divine Flame.
• Ji Hao treats the Living Flame as both a partner in cultivation and a future weapon, ultimately giving its evolved furnace form the name Saint Spirit Furnace.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Hao completes the forging of the Saint Spirit Furnace after a month of uninterrupted work. He survives only because Sacred Spring Water continually replenishes his life force and mental energy.
• The newly forged furnace absorbs and refines the surrounding Nine-Colored Divine Fire, causing the emergence of new Innate Patterns and triggering another period of enlightenment for Ji Hao.
• After three days of comprehension, Ji Hao realizes that once he survives his next tribulation, he will likely reach Four Extremes Grand Perfection.
• Ji Hao proceeds to the tenth and final level of the Fire Domain, a barren region associated with the death of an immortal and the Desolate Pagoda’s ancient self-repair.
• There he discovers a small, tree-like cluster of Immortal Fire, actually a flame composed of Dao Runes and Great Dao chains.
• Using the Fishing Rod’s connection to the River of Time, Ji Hao extracts a Quasi-Immortal Emperor Dao Seed from the Immortal Fire, far exceeding his expectations.
• The Immortal Fire reacts to the Dao Seed by manifesting several powerful forms:
  • A Rune-formed

Phoenix

• A young

Qilin

• Finally, a mysterious humanoid figure with an aura resembling a

Kun Peng

• Ji Hao studies the Immortal Fire and manages to record nine Runes, deciding that this is the maximum his current spiritual power can safely withstand.
• Unable to comprehend more due to the fire’s overwhelming heat and the limits of his cultivation, Ji Hao withdraws to the ninth level and replenishes himself with Sacred Spring Water.

Character Development

• Ji Hao demonstrates extraordinary endurance and determination by forging the Saint Spirit Furnace without rest for an entire month.
• His mastery of cultivation and artifact refinement advances significantly. The furnace becomes a powerful tool capable of absorbing and refining Nine-Colored Divine Fire.
• His enlightenment deepens, bringing him close to Four Extremes Grand Perfection.
• Ji Hao also shows increased caution and self-awareness. Rather than greedily attempting to comprehend every Rune, he recognizes the danger to his Divine Soul and stops after recording nine.
• His ability to use the Fishing Rod to retrieve a Quasi-Immortal Emperor Dao Seed reveals a growing connection to the River of Time and the deeper mysteries of existence.
• The mysterious humanoid flame appears to notice Ji Hao’s Sea of Reincarnation, hinting that Ji Hao may possess hidden significance or powers not yet fully understood.

Significant Themes

• Perseverance and endurance: Ji Hao’s month-long forging effort emphasizes the extreme effort required to improve one’s cultivation and artifacts.
• Transformation and refinement: The Saint Spirit Furnace and the Immortal Fire both symbolize the conversion of raw power into higher forms of existence.
• Limits of knowledge: Even with exceptional abilities, Ji Hao cannot fully comprehend the Immortal Fire’s countless Dao Runes, reminding him that his current realm remains limited.
• The relationship between past and present: The Fishing Rod’s power draws traces from the River of Time, raising questions about whether Ji Hao’s actions can influence or reshape the past.
• Hidden identities and ancient legacies: The Immortal Fire may be connected to a powerful ancient being, possibly the Footprint Emperor, while its Phoenix, Qilin, and humanoid manifestations suggest remnants of extraordinary life and Dao principles.
• Balance between ambition and caution: Ji Hao pursues immense power but understands when further progress would risk damaging his Divine Soul.

Character Interactions

• Ji Hao has no direct interaction with other living characters in this chapter, but he engages closely with several supernatural entities and manifestations.
• The Saint Spirit Furnace responds to Ji Hao’s forging and commands, absorbing Divine Fire and producing new patterns.
• The Immortal Fire reacts to the Dao Seed, repeatedly manifesting symbolic creatures and a mysterious humanoid figure, suggesting awareness or intelligence.
• The humanoid flame briefly examines Ji Hao and appears to focus on his Sea of Reincarnation before disappearing, creating an unresolved connection between them.
• Ji Hao observes and analyzes these manifestations, treating them as clues to the Immortal Fire’s origin and nature.

Chapter Summary: “Immortal Fire? Quasi-Immortal Emperor Fire!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Hao spends an entire month forging the Saint Spirit Furnace on the ninth level of the Fire Domain. He uses the Lihuo Divine Furnace to gather Nine-Colored Divine Fire and continually inscribes Emperor Characters into the furnace.
• The process nearly exhausts him mentally, but his supply of Sacred Spring Water keeps him alive and restores his vitality.
• Once completed, the Saint Spirit Furnace absorbs and refines the surrounding divine flames. Its activation causes new Innate Patterns to appear and triggers another period of enlightenment for Ji Hao.
• After three days of comprehension, Ji Hao realizes that his cultivation has advanced considerably and that, after surviving his next tribulation, he may reach Four Extremes Grand Perfection.
• Ji Hao proceeds to the tenth and final level of the Fire Domain, a barren region said to contain the remains of an immortal who was burned to death.
• There he discovers what appears to be a small ancient tree, but it is actually Immortal Fire, composed of Great Dao Runes and divine chains.
• Using the power of the Fishing Rod, Ji Hao extracts a Dao Seed from the Immortal Fire. To his surprise, it becomes a Quasi-Immortal Emperor Dao Seed, far exceeding what he expected from a True Immortal’s remains.
• The Immortal Fire reacts to the Dao Seed by manifesting several living forms: a Rune-created Phoenix, a young Qilin, and finally a mysterious humanoid flame resembling a Kun Peng. These manifestations appear intelligent and seem to search for the Dao Seed.
• Ji Hao studies the Immortal Fire and manages to record nine Runes, judging that this is the limit his current mental strength can safely endure.
• Unable to withstand the immense heat for long, he withdraws to the ninth level and replenishes himself with Sacred Spring Water.

Character Development

• Ji Hao demonstrates extraordinary endurance and determination by forging for a full month despite severe mental exhaustion.
• His mastery of crafting, Dao comprehension, and use of the Fishing Rod continues to grow, allowing him to extract a powerful Dao Seed from the Immortal Fire.
• He becomes more cautious and self-aware. Rather than greedily attempting to comprehend every Rune, he recognizes the danger of overextending his Divine Soul and stops after recording nine.
• Ji Hao also becomes increasingly aware that the Immortal Fire may contain secrets connected to higher existences, including the Footprint Emperor and possibly the past and future.

Significant Themes

• Persistence and discipline: Ji Hao’s successful forging reflects the importance of endurance and sustained effort.
• Power and cultivation: The Saint Spirit Furnace and Dao Seed represent major leaps in Ji Hao’s strength and understanding.
• The mysteries of time and causality: Ji Hao wonders whether his actions in the present can influence the past, especially after the Immortal Fire produces a Quasi-Immortal Emperor Dao Seed.
• Limits of comprehension: Even with his exceptional abilities, Ji Hao cannot fully understand the Immortal Fire. The chapter emphasizes that true power may remain inaccessible until one reaches a higher realm.
• Life, death, and remnants of existence: The Immortal Fire is the surviving trace of a dead immortal, yet it retains immense power, intelligence, and the potential to manifest life-like forms.
• Restraint amid opportunity: Ji Hao chooses survival and gradual progress over reckless pursuit of every secret.

Character Interactions

• Ji Hao interacts primarily with the Saint Spirit Furnace, the Lihuo Divine Furnace, and the Immortal Fire, treating them almost as living or responsive entities.
• The Immortal Fire reacts directly to Ji Hao’s Dao Seed, producing the Phoenix, Qilin, and humanoid flame manifestations. Their behavior suggests that they can sense the Dao Seed—or possibly Ji Hao himself.
• The humanoid flame briefly examines Ji Hao and appears to focus on his Sea of Reincarnation, implying a deeper connection or recognition that Ji Hao does not yet understand.
• Ji Hao remains uncertain whether these manifestations are coincidental, remnants of past beings, or signs that the Immortal Fire possesses genuine consciousness.

Chapter Summary: “Holy City”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Hao completes the inscription of nine mysterious Immortal Characters onto the Saint Spirit Furnace. Although Heaven briefly reacts as if preparing a Lightning Tribulation, no punishment descends.
• Over seven days, he engraves the furnace’s Innate Patterns while his Divine Sense merges with the Living Flame and explores the Great Dao. The flame absorbs aspects of multiple Dao principles, including the Laws of Life.
• Ji Hao nearly undergoes Dao transformation, but the furnace finishes evolving in time. The Living Flame becomes pure white, and the Saint Spirit Furnace takes on a sacred appearance resembling Radiant Immortal Metal.
• To test the furnace, Ji Hao allows it to undergo his next Lightning Tribulation without interference. It absorbs and refines several forms of divine thunder—including Five Elements, Yin-Yang, and Chaos Divine Thunder—before swallowing the entire tribulation cloud.
• The furnace’s power tempers Ji Hao’s body, allowing him to advance to the Second Heaven of the Four Extremes. He deliberately avoids advancing too quickly because he lacks sufficient understanding of the realm and wants to strengthen his future combat methods.
• Ji Hao travels north through a Domain Gate and reaches the Holy City of the Northern Region after more than ten days of travel.
• The Holy City is introduced as the Northern Region’s central sacred ground: enormous, ancient, prosperous, and filled with powerful cultivators, sacred lands, gambling workshops, pleasure quarters, and rare treasures.
• Ji Hao searches for the Dao One Stone Workshop, intending to obtain the Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Sword from the Nine-Aperture Stone Man for integration into his Sword Germ.
• After encountering the Wonderful Desire Nunnery, one of the city’s famous pleasure quarters, Ji Hao initially leaves to pursue his more important goal—though he later decides to visit it to listen to music.

Character Development

• Ji Hao demonstrates increasing mastery of the Great Dao, fire-based divine power, and artifact refinement. His ability to evolve the Saint Spirit Furnace marks a major improvement in both cultivation and crafting.
• He becomes more cautious and strategic about cultivation. Rather than rushing toward the Dragon Transformation Realm, he chooses to consolidate each breakthrough and deepen his understanding.
• Ji Hao also reveals a practical and ambitious mindset: he is already planning to acquire the Dragon-Pattern Black Gold from Shi Huang’s future weapon after settling their karmic conflict.
• Despite his powerful status, he uses humility and feigned ignorance when questioning a stranger about the city, concealing his true knowledge and intentions.

Significant Themes

• Transformation through mastery: The Saint Spirit Furnace evolves as Ji Hao’s understanding of the Great Dao deepens, symbolizing the connection between artifact refinement and personal cultivation.
• Heavenly resistance and defiance: The possible Heavenly Punishment and the furnace’s swallowing of the Lightning Tribulation emphasize Ji Hao’s growing ability to withstand and turn cosmic forces to his advantage.
• Patience in cultivation: Ji Hao values a stable foundation over rapid advancement, highlighting the importance of understanding, control, and long-term strength.
• Sacred grandeur and worldly temptation: The Holy City combines ancient holiness, immense power, commerce, and pleasure, presenting both opportunities and distractions for cultivators.
• Ambition and destiny: The city is portrayed as the stage upon which future upheavals and the rise of a Heavenly Emperor will unfold.

Character Interactions

• Ji Hao briefly interacts with an unnamed passerby who mocks his apparent ignorance of the Wonderful Desire Nunnery. Ji Hao responds politely and continues pretending not to know the city.
• The exchange introduces the contrast between Ji Hao’s serious pursuit of treasures and cultivation and the Holy City’s more indulgent, pleasure-oriented culture.
• The chapter ends with Ji Hao torn only superficially between his mission to find the Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Sword and the temptation to visit the Wonderful Desire Nunnery for entertainment.

Chapter Summary: “Dao One Stone Workshop”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After spending time at Wonderful Desire Nunnery, Ji Hao abruptly remembers his true objective: obtaining the Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Sword and the legendary humanoid Immortality Elixir.
• Using information gathered at the pleasure house, he travels to Dao One Stone Workshop and is admitted to the exclusive Heaven-Grade Park because of his noble appearance and wealth.
• Ji Hao identifies the person-sized stone containing the incomplete humanoid Immortality Elixir, a treasure that originally would have been destroyed because its owner failed to preserve it. He purchases it for 3,000 jin of source but postpones opening it.
• He then selects the mysterious Nine-Aperture Stone Man, a stone that many Origin Arts experts have studied but none have dared to cut. Ji Hao pays 90,000 jin of source for it.
• Knowing exactly where the treasure lies, Ji Hao breaks open the Stone Man’s brow. A dark-gold cocoon emerges, containing a tiny Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Sword radiating terrifying killing intent.
• Ji Hao suppresses and claims the sword using Five Elements Runes. Dao One Sacred Land offers 150,000 jin of source to buy it, but he refuses because he has his own plans for the weapon.
• After the Stone Man disintegrates, only a dark-red, heart-shaped stone remains. Ji Hao keeps it, believing it may prove useful later.

Character Developments

• Ji Hao: Demonstrates strong self-control by leaving Wonderful Desire Nunnery despite enjoying its pleasures. His knowledge of the original story gives him confidence and allows him to select treasures with precision. He also shows foresight by preserving both the Immortality Elixir and the mysterious remnant stone rather than focusing only on immediate profit.
• Origin Arts Master: Becomes highly excited when Ji Hao chooses the Nine-Aperture Stone Man, since opening it has been a long-standing wish of his.
• The spectators and Dao One Sacred Land: Their attitude shifts from curiosity to astonishment once the sword is revealed, confirming Ji Hao’s ability to acquire treasures others overlooked.

Significant Themes

• Knowledge as power: Ji Hao’s awareness of future events enables him to identify treasures that others dismiss as worthless.
• Self-control versus temptation: His departure from the nunnery emphasizes his attempt to prioritize his mission over pleasure, even though the narration humorously questions his motives.
• Hidden value and overlooked treasures: The chapter highlights how extraordinary artifacts may lie inside ordinary or neglected stones.
• Preservation and responsibility: Ji Hao intends to properly nurture the Immortality Elixir instead of exploiting its remaining vitality, contrasting with the fate it suffered in the original timeline.
• Fate and altered history: Ji Hao’s intervention changes the known future, potentially saving the Divine Medicine and placing the Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Sword in different hands.

Character Interactions

• Ji Hao receives massage and entertainment from the women of Wonderful Desire Nunnery before leaving despite their reluctance.
• The Dao One Stone Workshop staff admit him to Heaven-Grade Park and follow his unusual choices with growing interest.
• The Origin Arts master warns Ji Hao about the dangerous and mysterious Nine-Aperture Stone Man, then eagerly watches him open it.
• The assembled elders and the supervising Taoist nun observe the sword’s emergence in shock and excitement.
• Dao One Sacred Land attempts to purchase the sword for a large sum, but Ji Hao refuses, asserting his intention to retain it.