Ch. 61Chapter 61
Chapter 61 Summary
This chapter advances several parallel storylines involving conflict, intrigue, cultivation, and personal crises.
Key Plot Points and Events
- During a palace confrontation, Li Zhiquan is surrounded by players seeking the Imperial Jade Seal. It is implied that throwing the seal away would have distracted them and allowed him to escape.
- Wang Zhongming receives a call from Chen Songsheng’s office and steps onto the balcony to answer it, while Fan Weiwei quietly studies chess pieces and appears to be plotting. Ming Luo, initially frightened, becomes relieved after understanding the situation.
- The chapter explains that evil gods tend to possess the greatest treasures, particularly those whose worlds have been destroyed, because their greed and desire drive them to accumulate wealth.
- In the Earth Ghost World, humans receive Battle Tokens from the Human Sacred Palace. These tokens record merit, which can only be earned by killing members of other races.
- Several cultivation and combat developments occur:
- Pierre proves to be a powerful opponent, and Li Feng enjoys the challenge of fighting him.
- A mysterious insect wing enters someone’s consciousness.
- A crimson spark is sent into Jiang He’s body, suggesting an attempt to influence, empower, or harm him.
- Chen Feng’s dormant Passionate Curse suddenly activates, radiating intense heat through his body.
- A formation that rebounds attacks prevents Tang Yan and the others from breaking through a stone wall.
- Military conflicts continue at Zhenyuan Pass, where Mongol troops repeatedly attempt to scale the walls while both sides suffer heavy casualties from arrows.
- A plot involving Marshal Tianlou and Yelü Sun moves forward. Allies report that the trap has been prepared, and they are waiting for Yelü Sun to act.
- A major evil god condemns the so-called righteous or “angelic” forces, claiming their own people have begun rejecting their rules and vowing to destroy their authority.
- Various personal crises unfold:
- Wei Longting lies gravely ill, and Wei Nuyi desperately searches for an antidote.
- Madam Qin attacks Wei Nuyi, accusing her of harming her eldest sister and calling her a curse.
- Tang Xiuning is confused after Shu Ning is kidnapped as leverage against him, since he cannot identify what provoked the kidnapping.
- Lin Jing and the narrator bury Grandma’s ashes on a winter mountain after bringing her paper offerings.
- In another storyline, a royal capital appears unusually warm and prosperous despite being a mortal dynasty, astonishing the people entering the city.
- Sha Xue, a cold and ruthless senior vice commander of the Sha Shi family, arrives to handle affairs concerning the Fanzi family.
- Ling Shaofeng denies having encountered disciples of the Tianshan Sword Sect in the Wilderness Zone, insisting that he and Yuyan only met other human martial artists.
Character Developments
- Fan Weiwei appears increasingly calculating, using chess pieces as she silently plans her next move.
- Ming Luo shifts from fear to reassurance after realizing the situation is not as dangerous as she first believed.
- Li Feng demonstrates confidence and enthusiasm in combat, finding Pierre’s strength exhilarating rather than intimidating.
- Chen Feng faces the sudden reawakening of the Passionate Curse, creating a new threat or source of power.
- Wei Nuyi is placed under severe emotional pressure by Wei Longting’s illness and the attack from Madam Qin, yet remains focused on finding a cure.
- Tang Xiuning is left bewildered and vulnerable by Shu Ning’s kidnapping.
- Ling Shaofeng adopts a defensive, explanatory stance, attempting to distance himself and Yuyan from accusations involving the Tianshan Sword Sect.
- Sha Xue is established as an influential, intimidating representative of the Sha Shi family.
Significant Themes
- Power and manipulation: Chess imagery, political traps, kidnappings, and the struggle over the Imperial Jade Seal all emphasize strategic control rather than straightforward strength.
- The moral ambiguity of righteousness: The evil god challenges the legitimacy of self-proclaimed righteous powers, arguing that their authority is built on rules others no longer accept.
- Survival through conflict: Merit in the Earth Ghost World can only be earned through killing, while battles at Zhenyuan Pass show the brutal cost of military survival.
- Hidden forces and awakening powers: The insect wing, crimson spark, and Passionate Curse suggest that unseen supernatural influences are beginning to affect the characters.
- Family duty and grief: Wei Nuyi’s concern for Wei Longting and the burial of Grandma’s ashes highlight loyalty, mourning, and the burdens of familial responsibility.
- Appearances versus reality: The prosperous royal capital, concealed plots, and competing testimonies show that people and institutions may not be what they seem.
Important Character Interactions
- Wang Zhongming and Fan Weiwei share a tense, indirect interaction, with Wang handling urgent communications while Fan quietly schemes.
- Wei Nuyi confronts both Wei Longting’s illness and Madam Qin’s violent accusations.
- Tang Yan is pressed by his companions to find a solution to the attack-reflecting formation.
- Tianlou receives a report from his subordinate about the trap awaiting Yelü Sun.
- Li Feng engages Pierre in a thrilling battle that tests his abilities.
- Ling Shaofeng responds immediately to accusations, denying any connection to the Tianshan Sword Sect.
- Students and cultivators exchange teasing and boastful remarks, revealing jealousy, arrogance, and social competition beneath their outward camaraderie.