Chapter Summaries

Plot points and events

• Chen Hao arrives at Liu Yan’s office and is visibly taken with her red dress. Zhang Jing teases them about having a date, but Liu Yan insists they are attending a business summit.
• Liu Yan’s friend Su Xiaoxiao picks them up in her Porsche. Chen Hao is relegated to the back seat while the two women talk.
• Chen Hao checks the Samadhi True Fire Talisman he obtained and learns it is weak and requires “pure yang fire” to activate. Frustrated, he contacts Thunder God instead and trades a carton of cigarettes for ten Purple Thunder Pearls.
• The group arrives at the Ancient Sovereign hotel, where Chen Hao recalls a previous visit with the Chu family. At the summit entrance, staff refuse to admit Su Xiaoxiao and Chen Hao without individual invitations, despite Liu Yan’s objections.
• A formally dressed man, addressed by Liu Yan as “Young Master Zhang,” appears at the end of the chapter.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao remains flirtatious and impulsive, admiring both women and privately making crude jokes. He also shows resourcefulness in trading cigarettes for powerful magical items, though his excitement draws Su Xiaoxiao’s suspicion.
• Liu Yan is composed and professionally focused, but her friendship with Su Xiaoxiao reveals that her relationship with Chen Hao may be more complicated than she admits.
• Su Xiaoxiao is introduced as Liu Yan’s close friend. She is perceptive, skeptical of Liu Yan’s claim that Chen Hao is merely a company shareholder, and openly unimpressed by his antics.
• Zhang Jing playfully encourages Chen Hao and teases Liu Yan before they leave.
• Chen Hao and Thunder God negotiate a trade, with Chen Hao accepting what may be an unfavorable exchange to obtain the Purple Thunder Pearls.
• Liu Yan challenges the summit’s restrictive entry policy, then reacts with surprise upon seeing Young Master Zhang.

Significant themes

• Romantic ambiguity and social perception: Others notice a connection between Liu Yan and Chen Hao that Liu Yan denies.
• Resourcefulness and bargaining: Chen Hao uses his scarce cigarettes as currency to acquire magical weapons.
• Status and exclusion: The summit’s invitation rules create a barrier for Liu Yan’s companions, setting up a likely conflict involving Young Master Zhang.

Plot points and events

• At a business banquet, Dihao Group heir Zhang Wei openly flatters Liu Yan and offers to get her friends inside. Chen Hao recognizes him as a rival for Liu Yan’s affection.
• When Zhang Wei belittles Chen Hao and threatens to bar him from the event, Chen Hao declares himself Liu Yan’s boyfriend. Liu Yan denies it playfully, but Zhang Wei takes the implication seriously.
• Chen Hao calls over Ancient Sovereign manager Wang Kaixuan. Zhang Wei orders Wang to stop Chen Hao, assuming his influence will prevail.
• Wang reveals that Chen Hao is an Ancient Sovereign Supreme VIP, a status so rare that Zhang Wei himself—despite being a senior VIP—cannot match it. Chen Hao is therefore entitled to enter any venue event.
• Chen Hao goes inside with Liu Yan and Su Xiaoxiao, leaving Zhang Wei humiliated. Zhang Wei retaliates by ordering an assistant to investigate Chen Hao.
• Inside the lavish banquet hall, Liu Yan draws attention from business and political figures because Blue Light Pharmaceuticals has recently become prominent. Chen Hao observes that she is much better suited to networking than he is.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao uses humor, confidence, and his hidden status to outmaneuver Zhang Wei. He plays along with Liu Yan and Su Xiaoxiao, but downplays his Supreme VIP standing afterward, claiming Wang was merely helping him save face.
• Liu Yan is uncomfortable with Zhang Wei’s crude attention but remains polite. She reacts warmly—if coyly—to Chen Hao’s claim that he is her boyfriend, then enters the banquet with him.
• Zhang Wei is exposed as arrogant and entitled. His confidence collapses when he learns Chen Hao outranks him at the Ancient Sovereign, and his humiliation turns into resentment and a plan to investigate Chen.
• Wang Kaixuan carefully chooses Chen Hao’s side, judging that Chen’s connections and status make opposing him riskier than angering Zhang Wei.
• Su Xiaoxiao admires Chen Hao’s apparent influence, then is disappointed when he says it was only a favor from Wang.
• Chen Hao’s arm-in-arm entrance with the two women draws attention, while Liu Yan quickly becomes the focus of the business crowd.

Significant themes

• Hidden status and mistaken assumptions: Zhang Wei judges Chen Hao by appearance and overlooks his exceptional standing.
• Power and social hierarchy: The Supreme VIP revelation reverses the confrontation and demonstrates that influence can matter more than wealth or arrogance.
• Romantic rivalry and jealousy: Zhang Wei’s interest in Liu Yan intensifies his hostility toward Chen Hao.
• Public image and networking: The banquet rewards reputation and connections; Blue Light Pharmaceuticals’ recent success has transformed Liu Yan’s reception.

Key plot points and events

• At a business gathering, Liu Yan’s father, Liu Shan, and brother, Liu Qi, criticize her for bringing Chen Hao, until she explains that Chen is a shareholder of Blue Light Pharmaceuticals and is entitled to represent the company.
• Pang Xiao, head of the powerful Pang Group, arrives and exchanges polite—but insincere—pleasantries with Liu Shan. His son Pang Jiawei hides behind him, bruised and wearing a hat and sunglasses.
• Pang Jiawei recognizes Chen Hao as the person who beat him earlier and angrily accuses him. Liu Yan steps forward to defend Chen, but Pang Jiawei reveals his injuries.
• Liu Shan distances the Liu family from Chen, while Liu Qi mocks him and tries to pull Liu Yan away. Chen stops Liu Qi from grabbing her.
• Pang Xiao summons his bodyguards and demands that Chen kneel, apologize, and let Pang Jiawei beat him in return. Chen challenges him to learn why his son was beaten.
• Pang Jiawei urges Pang Xiao’s enforcer, Sixth Brother, to cripple Chen. Just as the confrontation is about to turn violent, an authoritative voice orders everyone to stop.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao remains composed in the face of insults and threats, while firmly defending himself and stopping Liu Qi from manhandling Liu Yan.
• Liu Yan openly stands by Chen, first asserting his right to attend and later placing herself between him and Pang Xiao.
• Liu Shan prioritizes protecting the Liu family’s standing over loyalty to Chen, quickly denying any connection to him.
• Liu Qi is contemptuous toward Chen and tries to exploit the confrontation, but Chen physically restrains him.
• Pang Xiao shifts from courteous networking to an aggressive display of power when he learns Chen injured his son. He presents a demand for submission as “reasonable.”
• Pang Jiawei is humiliated by his injuries but regains his bravado once his father’s guards arrive. His earlier hesitation at Chen’s gaze hints that he is still intimidated by Chen.

Significant themes

• Power and status: The gathering’s social hierarchy shapes how people treat one another, and Pang Xiao expects his wealth and influence to dictate the outcome.
• Loyalty and self-preservation: Liu Yan supports Chen, while Liu Shan abandons him to avoid conflict with the Pang family.
• Hypocrisy and appearances: The characters’ polite business greetings conceal opportunism, and Pang Xiao’s claim to fairness contradicts his demand for a public beating.
• Courage and intimidation: Chen refuses to submit, while Liu Yan’s willingness to defend him puts her at odds with her family.

• Key events: Pang Xiao twists the story of Chen Hao’s confrontation with Pang Jiawei and persuades District Police Chief Tang Hualong to arrest Chen. Chen openly challenges Tang, and officers restrain him—until Mayor Jia Zhengyi arrives. Jia recognizes Chen as a friend and immediately turns on Tang and Pang, forcing them to retract their accusations. When Jia asks whether their account is true, Chen bluntly calls it nonsense, then clarifies that the insult was aimed at Tang. Tang shifts the blame to Pang, who tries to deny the incident; Pang Jiawei accidentally confirms Chen hit him, prompting his father to scold him. Jia seeks to end the public dispute, but Chen insists on a formal apology. Tang apologizes, though Chen says he cannot hear him and demands a microphone.
• Character developments: Chen remains defiant under pressure and refuses to accept a quiet settlement, using his newfound leverage to demand accountability. Jia’s warm greeting and fierce defense reveal that Chen has powerful connections through their mutual associate Chu Jinliang. Tang’s and Pang Xiao’s confidence collapses as soon as Jia intervenes. Pang Jiawei remains impulsive and careless, undermining his father’s attempt to save face.
• Interactions: Pang Xiao initially recruits Tang against Chen; Tang abuses his authority and orders Chen’s arrest. Jia’s arrival reverses the power dynamic, making Tang and Pang scramble to appease Chen. Liu Yan anxiously tries to help Chen, while Liu Shan and Liu Qi watch in disbelief at his connection to the mayor.
• Themes: The chapter contrasts official authority and social influence with fairness and accountability. It also highlights hypocrisy and self-preservation: Tang and Pang change their stories when power shifts, while Chen refuses to let intimidation or a convenient “misunderstanding” erase what happened.

Chapter summary

Key plot points and events

• Chen Hao forces Tang Hualong, director of the district public security bureau, and Pang Xiao, chairman of the Pang Group, to apologize publicly for wrongly accusing him. He has the apologies broadcast over microphones before a growing crowd.
• Tang Hualong makes a brief apology and leaves in humiliation. Under heckling from the audience, Pang Xiao gives a more explicit apology, while his son Pang Jiawei also apologizes. As they depart, Pang Xiao slaps his son for causing the family’s disgrace.
• Mayor Jia Zhengyi invites Chen Hao to join him. Liu Shan and his son try to approach the mayor, but Chen Hao clarifies that he meant Liu Yan and Su Xiaoxiao should be admitted instead, pointedly snubbing Liu Shan’s party.
• Jia Zhengyi, Chen Hao, Liu Yan, and Su Xiaoxiao enter the venue together, drawing media attention and the notice of prominent businesspeople.
• Away from the crowd, Su Xiaoxiao challenges Chen Hao about his feelings for Liu Yan. He declares that Liu Yan is the only woman he will marry. Their teasing escalates into an argument, ending when Su Xiaoxiao pinches his arm after he boasts about being alone with Liu Yan and sharing a room.

Character developments

• Chen Hao confidently turns the public apology into a spectacle, demonstrating his influence and willingness to humiliate those who wronged him. He openly reveals his serious feelings for Liu Yan.
• Tang Hualong is embarrassed into apologizing, then leaves rather than remain in the crowd.
• Pang Xiao struggles to preserve his dignity but ultimately apologizes under pressure. His anger shifts toward his son, whom he blames for the humiliation.
• Pang Jiawei remains defiant about revenge until his father’s slap silences him.
• Jia Zhengyi is relieved that the confrontation ends and continues to show Chen Hao considerable respect, accommodating his request to admit Liu Yan and Su Xiaoxiao.
• Liu Shan begins to reconsider Chen Hao, recognizing that Jia Zhengyi’s treatment of him suggests a genuinely close connection. Liu Qi, by contrast, dismisses Chen Hao out of jealousy and prejudice.
• Su Xiaoxiao acts protectively toward Liu Yan, but her banter with Chen Hao becomes increasingly heated and personal.

Significant themes

• Public shame and power: The forced apologies show how public reputation can become a weapon, especially when influential people are made to answer before their peers.
• Status and perception: Chen Hao’s association with the mayor challenges assumptions that he is merely an insignificant country bumpkin.
• Pride, resentment, and family responsibility: Pang Xiao’s humiliation turns into anger at the son whose actions caused the conflict.
• Romantic teasing and jealousy: Su Xiaoxiao’s warnings about Liu Yan contrast with Chen Hao’s confident declaration of his intentions.

Character interactions

• Chen Hao controls the confrontation with Tang Hualong and the Pang family, while the crowd’s heckling intensifies their embarrassment.
• Jia Zhengyi supports Chen Hao and follows his lead when deciding whom to admit.
• Liu Shan and Liu Qi react differently to Chen Hao’s rise in status: Liu Shan grows wary and thoughtful, while Liu Qi grows resentful.
• Chen Hao and Su Xiaoxiao trade increasingly provocative remarks about Liu Yan and romantic experience, with Su Xiaoxiao’s final pinch ending the exchange.

Plot points and events

• At a Dihao Group-sponsored banquet, internationally renowned pianist Athos performs as guests begin dancing and networking.
• Chen Hao declines Su Xiaoxiao’s invitation to dance. She goes with a handsome stranger and flirts with him, provoking Chen’s jealousy.
• Liu Yan joins Chen. They trade teasing remarks, and she is visibly pleased when he calls her future father-in-law his own.
• Zhang Wei arrives and claims he paid five million to bring Athos in for the chance to dance with Liu Yan. Chen steps in, and Liu Yan chooses him as her partner instead.
• Zhang Wei angrily dismisses Chen as a country bumpkin but decides not to retaliate immediately, wary of raising Liu Yan’s suspicions.
• Elsewhere, Fang Lei and Fang Ying examine detailed information about Chen. Fang Lei confirms that Chen has reached the Qi Nurturing Realm and suspects an unseen expert is guiding him.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao enjoys the luxury of the banquet but remains irreverent and teasing. His jealousy over Su Xiaoxiao reveals a possessive streak, while his confident intervention against Zhang Wei shows his growing attachment to Liu Yan.
• Liu Yan balances work with warm, playful exchanges with Chen. She accepts his dance invitation over Zhang Wei’s expensive offer, signaling her preference for Chen.
• Su Xiaoxiao needles Chen after he refuses to dance, then leaves with another man; her flirtation makes Chen jealous.
• Zhang Wei treats wealth as a way to win Liu Yan’s attention, but her rejection fuels his resentment and contempt for Chen.
• Fang Lei takes Chen’s abilities seriously and orders surveillance, believing Chen’s cultivation points to a powerful mentor. Fang Ying is surprised by Chen’s advancement and agrees to investigate.

Significant themes

• Wealth and status: The lavish banquet and Zhang Wei’s spending contrast with Chen’s dismissive attitude toward displays of money.
• Romance and rivalry: The dance invitations become a contest for Liu Yan’s favor, while Chen’s jealousy hints at deepening feelings.
• Hidden power and mystery: Chen’s cultivation is far beyond what his ordinary background would suggest, raising questions about who—or what—is guiding him.

Plot points and events

• Chen Hao dances with Liu Yan to prevent her from dancing with Zhang Wei. His clumsy steps make the performance comic, but Liu Yan stays warm toward him and offers to teach him.
• After the performance, Zhang Wei presents a costly Hetian jade Guanyin. Chen Hao senses that it contains an extraordinary amount of pure qi, and Qin Meng confirms that such jade can be valuable to Qi Refiners.
• Zhang Guotao announces that Zhang Wei will succeed him as Dihao Group’s general manager. He then invites Liu Yan onstage, where Zhang Wei places the jade around her neck as a supposed gift.
• Liu Yan tries to refuse, but Zhang Guotao reveals that the jade marks a planned partnership between Dihao Group and Blue Light Pharmaceuticals. Liu Yan says she never agreed to it. Zhang Guotao claims that someone else did—and points toward an unidentified person, leaving Liu stunned.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao reveals both his insecurity and protectiveness: he pretends to know ballroom dancing to keep Liu Yan away from Zhang Wei, then enjoys their close, playful lesson. His discovery of the jade’s qi also sparks an apparent interest in it.
• Liu Yan shows affection and patience toward Chen Hao, defending his dancing despite his clumsiness. Onstage, she remains cautious and principled, refusing a valuable gift and questioning the business deal.
• Zhang Wei uses his family’s wealth to pursue Liu Yan, presenting the jade as a romantic gift. His smile falters when he sees her closeness with Chen Hao.
• Zhang Guotao combines a family succession announcement with a major corporate maneuver, presenting the unapproved partnership as settled.
• Su Xiaoxiao teases Chen Hao about his dancing, adding lighthearted banter to the scene.
• The chapter ends on a cliffhanger: the person who supposedly accepted the deal is not identified to the reader, though Liu Yan recognizes them.

Significant themes

• Romance and jealousy: Chen Hao’s excuse for dancing is driven by jealousy, while Zhang Wei’s extravagant gift is a competing attempt to win Liu Yan.
• Wealth and power: Dihao’s money and influence shape both Zhang Wei’s public image and the proposed partnership.
• Consent and business ethics: Liu Yan’s objection highlights the difference between a unilateral announcement and genuine agreement.
• Cultivation and valuable resources: The jade’s concentrated qi introduces a potentially important resource for Chen Hao’s growth.

Plot points and events

• Liu Yan is blindsided when her father, Liu Shan, announces that Blue Light Pharmaceuticals will partner with the Dihao Group. He signed the agreement without consulting her.
• Liu Yan rejects the deal, arguing that her father no longer understands the company and that she has her own plans. Liu Shan counters that she has put the family at risk by trusting Chen Hao and entering a performance wager.
• Wei Jingzhong of rival Hengrui Group offers Dihao double the value to win Blue Light’s partnership. Liu Yan cuts off the bidding and publicly declares her father’s agreement has nothing to do with Blue Light, then storms out.
• The banquet descends into confusion. Wei is pleased by the disruption, while Zhang Guotao grows angry at the partnership’s uncertain future.
• Outside, Liu Yan apologizes to Chen Hao for her father’s actions. Chen reassures her that he will support her.
• Chen notices Liu Yan’s costly Jade Guanyin pendant. She wants to return it, but he takes it and says he will handle it—secretly intending to keep and absorb its spiritual energy.
• Zhang Wei gives Chen a one-million check to stay away from Liu Yan. Chen takes the money, briefly denies accepting it, then agrees to the terms. After Zhang Wei leaves, Chen celebrates his gains from the evening.

Character developments and interactions

• Liu Yan stands up to her father publicly, asserting her authority over Blue Light despite the embarrassment and uncertainty his actions have caused. She is upset but accepts Chen’s reassurance.
• Liu Shan reveals his belief that securing Dihao’s support is essential, but his unilateral decision damages his relationship with Liu Yan and undermines his authority in her eyes.
• Chen Hao supports Liu Yan while also acting opportunistically: he keeps the Jade Guanyin despite promising to return it and accepts Zhang Wei’s payment while making light of the bargain.
• Wei Jingzhong exploits the public dispute to weaken Dihao’s prospective partnership with Blue Light.
• Zhang Wei tries to buy Chen off and claim Liu Yan as his woman, but Chen’s shameless response leaves him furious and flustered.
• Su Xiaoxiao comforts Liu Yan and drives her home.

Significant themes

• Control and trust: Liu Yan’s conflict with her father centers on who has the right to decide Blue Light’s future.
• Corporate rivalry and self-interest: Dihao and Hengrui compete for Blue Light, while Wei uses the family dispute to advance his company’s interests.
• Public image versus private motives: The banquet’s polished business setting gives way to open conflict, and Chen’s apparent support of Liu Yan coexists with his personal schemes.
• Money and opportunism: Zhang Wei’s check and Chen’s reaction highlight how readily wealth becomes a tool for influence.

Key plot points and events

• Chen Hao struggles to control the spiritual energy stored in the Jade Guanyin, fearing that releasing it directly would waste most of its power.
• Qin Meng explains that the Crescent Pendant contains a sealed palace and a spirit array capable of gathering spiritual energy. Chen Hao consults Chang’e, who confirms it is a miniature Guanghan Palace with a Spirit-Gathering Array.
• Chang’e reveals that the palace can be repaired by binding it to Chen Hao’s soul, but warns that damage to the palace could severely injure him. Chen Hao accepts the risk, uses his blood to become its master, and feeds the Jade Guanyin’s energy into the pendant.
• The array channels the energy efficiently, repairing Guanghan Palace to 2% while rapidly advancing Chen Hao’s cultivation. His Celestial Immortal Art reaches its maximum level, granting immunity to all poisons; his Heavenly Eye Art reaches level 2, allowing him to perceive and trace energy. His Tiger-Subduing Arhat Fist nearly reaches level 2 but stalls at 99%.
• The Jade Guanyin loses its spiritual energy and becomes ordinary-looking. Chen Hao is disappointed that the palace is only 2% repaired, but keeps the valuable jade so he can return it to its owner.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao moves from confusion about his pendant to boldly binding his soul to Guanghan Palace, motivated by the chance to improve his cultivation. He gains major new abilities but recognizes that fully repairing the palace will take time.
• Qin Meng proves knowledgeable about the pendant and guides Chen Hao toward a solution. She is excited by the palace’s repair because cultivating inside it could help restore the soul power she lost to the Soul-Locking Chain.
• Chang’e confirms the palace’s nature and teaches Chen Hao how to claim it. In exchange, she hints that she wants food; Chen Hao sends her a fruit basket, and she readily shares the pendant’s secrets.
• Chen Hao consults both Qin Meng and Chang’e, combining Qin Meng’s discovery with Chang’e’s firsthand knowledge to unlock the pendant’s potential.

Significant themes

• Risk and ambition: Chen Hao accepts a potentially dangerous soul-bond to gain power.
• Making use of overlooked treasures: What Chang’e dismisses as discarded junk becomes invaluable to Chen Hao.
• Cultivation through cooperation and exchange: Qin Meng’s insight and Chang’e’s help enable Chen Hao’s progress, while the fruit basket serves as playful payment.
• Shared benefit: Repairing Guanghan Palace advances Chen Hao’s cultivation and offers Qin Meng a path to recover her strength.

Plot points and events

• Chen Hao uses the million yuan Zhang Wei gave him to shop for a car at a Mercedes-Benz dealership.
• Manager Tang judges him by his inexpensive clothes and passes him to trainee Yu Jiao, then repeatedly treats him dismissively.
• Chen Hao considers an S-Class but walks away after a wealthy-seeming customer, Mr. Xiong, and his companion insult him. He decides the sedan feels too formal for his age.
• He chooses a silver-gray AMG C-Class and announces he will pay in full. Yu Jiao is surprised and delighted, while Manager Tang remains skeptical.
• Mr. Xiong balks at the AMG’s price, and Manager Tang fails to keep him as a customer. She then realizes Chen Hao is the real buyer and tries to take over the sale.
• When Manager Tang takes Yu Jiao’s paperwork and claims the sale, Chen Hao follows her to the cashier. He pretends to be shocked by the $1.2 million total, alleges that Tang quoted him a much lower price, and demands to complain to the person in charge.

Character developments

• Chen Hao is newly confident with his unexpected wealth. He is practical about choosing a car that suits him, but also enjoys turning the dealership’s snobbery back on Manager Tang.
• Yu Jiao is nervous and inexperienced, struggling to explain the cars and procedures. Her courtesy toward Chen Hao contrasts with Tang’s prejudice; she becomes excited when he commits to the purchase.
• Manager Tang is shown as knowledgeable and persuasive but strongly status-conscious and opportunistic. She dismisses Chen Hao when she assumes he is poor, then tries to claim his sale once she recognizes its value.
• Mr. Xiong and his companion act superior toward Chen Hao, but Xiong’s hesitation over the price undermines his show of wealth.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus reality: Chen Hao’s plain clothes conceal his ability to pay, while Mr. Xiong’s display of status proves less substantial than it seems.
• Prejudice and respect: Tang’s treatment of Chen Hao changes with his perceived purchasing power, exposing her shallow assumptions.
• Fairness and credit: Tang’s attempt to take the sale from Yu Jiao highlights the imbalance between an inexperienced trainee and a powerful manager.
• Reversal and irony: The people who dismiss Chen Hao are forced to reconsider him, and Tang’s confidence collapses when he challenges her.

Character interactions

• Chen Hao treats Yu Jiao warmly, reassuring her when she forgets her sales pitch and letting her handle the paperwork.
• Tang repeatedly sidelines Yu Jiao, first assigning her Chen Hao because she expects little from him, then taking over once he commits to an expensive car.
• Mr. Xiong and his companion belittle Chen Hao for sitting in the S-Class; Chen Hao avoids arguing and simply moves on.
• Chen Hao’s final confrontation with Tang turns her attempt to claim the sale into a potential complaint against her.

Chen Hao secures a luxury-car sale for Yu Jiao after Manager Tang mistreats him and the Sales Director publicly reprimands her. He refuses to buy unless Yu Jiao handles the transaction, earning her a commission worth roughly a year’s salary. As Yu Jiao drives him to Blue Light Pharmaceuticals, Chen Hao receives an urgent call from Liu Yan.
At the factory, Liu Yan reveals that trusted employees have disappeared with all the medicinal ash needed for Blue Light’s new product. Chen Hao suspects Uncle Ming, and news confirms that rival Kang’ai Technology has announced a supposedly superior product. The theft has halted production, putting Blue Light’s booked orders, reputation, and finances at risk. Liu Yan feels responsible and has already suppressed news of the theft, considered legal action, and begun planning tighter security. Chen Hao reassures her and promises to find more powder, while vowing to make the culprits pay.
Chen Hao asks Alchemy Boy to make another batch, but Alchemy Boy refuses because Supreme Lord Lao is back and would catch him. Chen Hao then asks Sun Wukong to lure Lao Jun away; Wukong admits he cannot do so easily, leaving Chen Hao desperate—until Lao Jun messages him about selling cigarettes through his Heavenly Court store.
Inspecting the store, Chen Hao sees that its pills and weapons barely sell and cost far more Daoist Merit than he can afford. He realizes the store’s poor performance stems from a saturated market, while cigarettes are a novel product with strong sales potential. He sees the proposed partnership as a chance to create a lucrative new market, though he has not yet agreed on terms.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao shifts from using his wealth to reward Yu Jiao to calmly managing Blue Light’s crisis. He supports Liu Yan rather than blaming her, then resourcefully searches for help through his supernatural contacts. Lao Jun’s offer gives him a promising business idea.
• Yu Jiao gets a major first-day success and shows gratitude by offering Chen Hao dinner; she also helps him by driving him to the factory. Manager Tang regrets losing the sale after underestimating Chen Hao.
• Liu Yan is shaken by the betrayal of long-serving staff but demonstrates responsibility by taking immediate steps to limit the damage.
• Alchemy Boy refuses to risk Lao Jun’s anger; Sun Wukong is willing to help but cannot provide a workable solution. Supreme Lord Lao, initially a potential obstacle to replacing the stolen powder, becomes a possible business partner.
  Significant themes: appearances can be misleading; betrayal and corporate rivalry have serious consequences; responsibility matters more than blame; and innovation can succeed where an established market is already saturated.

Key plot points and events

• Chen Hao asks Supreme Lord Lao about Daoist Merit points, learning they are the Heavenly Court’s currency and can also be exchanged at the Heavenly Stele for power, lifespan, or other benefits.
• Lao Jun proposes selling Chen Hao’s cigarettes exclusively through his store at 1,000 Merit points per carton, splitting profits equally. Chen Hao agrees, but only after Lao Jun accepts an extra task: using the Eight Trigrams Furnace to ruin a batch of pills. Chen Hao supplies the ingredients and gives up one percentage point of his cigarette profits in exchange.
• The God of Wealth, Lao Jun’s commercial rival, approaches Chen Hao about a cigarette partnership. Chen Hao has already granted Lao Jun exclusive distribution rights, so he turns him down.
• Browsing the God of Wealth’s struggling store, Chen Hao spots a “Counterfeit Golden Cudgel” for 800 Merit points. Short 222 points, he borrows that amount from Sun Wukong, then buys it.
• The item proves to be a battered, foot-long iron rod rather than the impressive cudgel shown in the listing. The God of Wealth refuses a refund, citing his store’s terms, and offers to make an exception only if Chen Hao gives him cigarette distribution rights. Chen Hao refuses.
• The chapter ends as Chen Hao notices something on Liu Yan’s desk, hinting that the counterfeit cudgel may soon have another use.

Character developments

• Chen Hao shows growing commercial savvy, bargaining with Lao Jun and exploring the Heavenly Court’s marketplace. His excitement over the cudgel turns into anger when he realizes he has been swindled.
• Supreme Lord Lao is revealed as impatient but opportunistic: he accepts a deal that benefits him and insists on exclusive cigarette distribution.
• The God of Wealth is a shrewd, unscrupulous merchant, eager to exploit Chen Hao’s product and unwilling to refund a misleading purchase.
• Sun Wukong readily lends Chen Hao the missing Merit points, showing trust and friendliness.

Significant themes

• Commerce and rivalry: Heavenly Court gods compete for customers and valuable products.
• Trust and deception: The cigarette partnership involves negotiation, while the cudgel purchase exposes the risks of misleading listings and fine print.
• Resourcefulness and bargaining: Chen Hao uses deals, favors, and quick decisions to pursue his goals.

Character interactions

• Chen Hao and Lao Jun negotiate cigarette sales and the pill-refining favor, with each pushing for better terms.
• Chen Hao rejects the God of Wealth’s partnership offer but later buys from his store, only to clash with him over the defective cudgel.
• Chen Hao asks Sun Wukong for a short-term loan, and Wukong helps without hesitation.

Plot points and events

• Chen Hao secures cola’s Heavenly Court distribution deal with the God of Wealth, selling him the first bottle for 100 Daoist Merit points and agreeing to split profits fifty-fifty. He sends over the cola stock from Liu Yan’s office, hoping to supply both the God of Wealth and Supreme Lord Lao.
• Chen asks Long Guangsheng to accompany him to Kang’ai Technology, insisting they intend to negotiate rather than fight. Liu Yan offers to come, but Chen leaves her to manage Blue Light Pharmaceuticals.
• On the drive, Qin Meng notices an Audi following them. Chen uses his level-two Heavenly Eye to detect that the driver is a Qi Refiner, but keeps his discovery hidden.
• At Kang’ai Technology, Wang Xuemin and Uncle Ming celebrate their takeover of Blue Light’s medicinal powder and their rising stock price. They plan to obstruct Blue Light until it misses its performance target, forcing Liu Yan to surrender her shares.
• Chen confronts them over the stolen powder, but they deny wrongdoing and point out that Blue Light has neither registered nor disclosed its formula, making the theft hard to prove. Uncle Ming tells Chen to relay their demand that Liu Yan transfer her shares.
• Qin Meng recognizes Wang Xuemin as the man who murdered her family decades earlier. Though she wants revenge, her weakened soul cannot remain outside the Crescent Pendant for long. Chen leaves Wang a cryptic note referring to Qin Meng and her family’s deaths; Wang turns pale when he reads it.

Character developments

• Chen Hao shows growing commercial savvy in negotiating the cola deal. He is confident and defiant toward Kang’ai’s executives, while becoming more cautious after discovering the pursuer is a Qi Refiner.
• Qin Meng reveals the depth of her trauma and a frightening desire to make Wang suffer. Her limited soul strength constrains her ability to act, so she must depend on Chen.
• Wang Xuemin and Uncle Ming appear smug and calculating, confident that their control of the powder and Blue Light’s weak legal position will force Liu Yan out.
• Long Guangsheng has adopted a more respectable appearance, but remains concerned about whether to bring his men—highlighting the contrast between his past and Chen’s insistence on civilized conduct.
• Liu Yan continues to rely on Chen while remaining responsible for Blue Light’s operations.

Significant themes

• Commerce and ambition: Chen seeks to turn Heavenly Court distribution into a major source of wealth.
• Power and strategy: Kang’ai exploits legal and business vulnerabilities, while Chen counters with observation and carefully chosen pressure.
• Revenge and justice: Qin Meng’s discovery of her family’s killer turns the corporate conflict into a personal one.
• Appearance versus reality: Long Guangsheng’s polished suit masks his rough past, while Kang’ai’s claims of legitimate competition conceal its underhanded conduct.

Character interactions

• Chen bargains with the God of Wealth, then directs Long Guangsheng to accompany him to Kang’ai.
• Chen reassures Liu Yan that he can handle the visit, while subtly flirting with her.
• Qin Meng acts as Chen’s unseen lookout, identifies the pursuer as a Qi Refiner, and later exposes Wang as her family’s murderer.
• Chen and Kang’ai’s executives trade insults and accusations; their meeting ends with Chen’s cryptic note unsettling Wang.

Key plot points and events

• Chen Hao notices an Audi watcher outside Kang’ai Technology and tests the driver by asking for a light. The man turns out to be Fang Ying, who is surprised that Chen Hao spotted him so quickly.
• In the Heavenly Court chat group, immortals rave about the God of Wealth’s cola, which quickly sells out and overshadows Supreme Lord Lao’s planned cigarette launch. Chen Hao supplies Supreme Lord Lao with cigarettes in exchange for Alchemy Boy’s medicinal powder.
• Chen Hao brings the powder to Blue Light Pharmaceuticals. Liu Yan, newly energized, resumes production with tighter security and Long Guangsheng’s men replacing the factory workers.
• Qin Meng asks Chen Hao to help locate Wang Xuemin, then goes to frighten him at his villa. With Chen Hao watching in a Spider-Man mask, she stages a supernatural haunting that makes Wang believe the victim he burned to death twenty years earlier has returned.
• While Chen Hao watches, the masked Qi Refiner who attacked Chu Mengling ambushes him. Chen Hao is struck and falls; the attacker, Luo Tian, approaches—only for an unseen voice to call him by name.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao shows sharp observation in identifying Fang Ying, remains amused by the immortals’ commercial rivalry, and helps secure Liu Yan’s production operation. His curiosity leads him to watch Qin Meng’s revenge, leaving him vulnerable to Luo Tian’s ambush.
• Fang Ying is revealed as the person secretly monitoring Chen Hao, though his intentions remain unclear.
• Liu Yan rebounds from discouragement and takes decisive steps to protect the production line.
• Qin Meng acts on her anger toward Wang Xuemin, carrying out a theatrical, frightening revenge herself; Chen Hao assists by finding the villa and observing.
• Supreme Lord Lao and the God of Wealth compete to sell cigarettes and cola, while their customers’ enthusiasm turns the chat into a comic marketplace.
• Luo Tian reappears as Chen Hao’s attacker, but the identity and purpose of the speaker who confronts him are left unresolved.

Significant themes

• Revenge and justice: Qin Meng terrorizes Wang over a past killing, while the chapter’s ending brings a more dangerous threat against Chen Hao.
• Trust and security: The factory’s safeguards reflect how recent sabotage has made reliability crucial.
• Commerce and rivalry: The immortals’ products mirror ordinary marketing competition, providing comic relief.
• Appearance and performance: Chen Hao’s disguise and Qin Meng’s staged haunting show how fear can be manufactured through illusion.

Key plot points and events

• Luo Tian confronts Chen Hao, but Fang Ying appears and warns him that Kirin considers Chen Hao important. Luo Tian dismisses Kirin’s authority and refuses to back down.
• A nearby resident interrupts their argument by dumping dirty wash water on Luo Tian. As Luo Tian turns on her, Fang Ying attacks.
• Fang Ying uses his keen perception and agility to evade Luo Tian’s pebble attacks, but Luo Tian overwhelms him with a bone-breaking strike and knocks him down.
• Luo Tian turns toward Chen Hao, only to discover that Chen Hao has recovered. Chen Hao’s protective bellyband has kept him from being seriously harmed, and he blocks Luo Tian’s next attack.
• Fang Ying tries to protect Chen Hao, but Chen Hao insists on fighting himself. He lands a powerful punch that drives Luo Tian back, though the impact injures Chen Hao’s own fist.
• Luo Tian reveals that he has just advanced to the Qi Refining Realm and can form Qi Armor. He uses it to strengthen his Flying Stones, striking both men: Chen Hao is hurled into a wall and spits blood, while Fang Ying’s leg is crippled.
• As Luo Tian approaches with a dagger, Chen Hao throws a Purple Thunder Pearl—only for it to fail to explode. He tests his remaining nine pearls, but they are also duds. Luo Tian, angered by what he sees as mockery, kicks Chen Hao away.

Character developments

• Chen Hao shows growing confidence in his strength. His fist technique has advanced after absorbing energy from the Jade Guanyin, and he can withstand attacks that would incapacitate an ordinary person. However, he is inexperienced with cultivation ranks and his strongest weapon unexpectedly fails.
• Fang Ying demonstrates speed and skill, but his confidence is shaken by Luo Tian’s breakthrough. Despite being badly injured, he repeatedly tries to protect Chen Hao and warn him of the danger.
• Luo Tian is arrogant and ruthless, and his recent advancement makes him even more confident. He views both opponents as targets for testing his new abilities.

Significant themes

• Strength and its limits: Chen Hao’s newfound power lets him challenge Luo Tian, but Luo Tian’s higher cultivation level still gives him a decisive advantage.
• Protection and loyalty: Fang Ying risks himself for Chen Hao despite their limited acquaintance.
• Uncertainty and reversal: Chen Hao’s apparent recovery and strong punch briefly shift the balance, while the Purple Thunder Pearls’ failure abruptly undermines his attempted comeback.
• Power and arrogance: Luo Tian’s breakthrough feeds his belief that no one can stop him.

Character interactions

• Fang Ying challenges Luo Tian on Kirin’s behalf, while Luo Tian rejects Kirin’s authority over the city.
• Fang Ying and Chen Hao disagree over who should face Luo Tian: Fang Ying urges Chen Hao to flee, but Chen Hao pulls him back and takes the fight himself.
• Luo Tian taunts both men as he displays his Qi Armor and attacks them.
• At the end, Chen Hao’s failed weapon draws Luo Tian’s anger, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

Key plot points and events

• Luo Tian’s Purple Thunder Pearl attack fails, and he rushes Chen Hao with a dagger. Chen, badly outmatched, grabs the embarrassing Counterfeit Golden Cudgel from his bag.
• Chen’s blood unexpectedly binds him to the cudgel, unlocking the skill Earth-Shattering Staff Strike. He uses it to break Luo Tian’s Qi Armor and unleash a devastating blow. The attack drains Chen’s spiritual energy, and he blacks out; the chapter does not yet reveal Luo Tian’s fate.
• Chen wakes inside the Crescent Pendant, in a white realm beside Guanghan Palace. Qin Meng explains that the pendant pulled him in because his Soul Power had grown dangerously weak.
• When Qin Meng touches the Golden Cudgel, it absorbs her and begins refining her soul. Chen immediately cancels the process and frees her, but she is left severely weakened and frightened.
• Chen discovers that the cudgel is a beginner-grade, growth-type Immortal Artifact that can devour and refine soul forms. He also finds that his Tiger-Subduing Arhat Fist has advanced to level 2.
• Qin Meng advises Chen to recover before leaving. With nowhere else to go after taking revenge on Wang Xuemin—who died of fright—she agrees to stay, though she retreats to recuperate after Chen explains he hopes she will help manage Guanghan Palace someday.
• Chen practices the Heavenly Book inside the pendant, where spiritual energy is especially abundant, and resolves to work toward unsealing the palace.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao moves from panic and helplessness to successfully wielding his newly bound artifact. He is excited by its power and his martial progress, but feels guilty after it nearly harms Qin Meng. He promises to prevent it happening again and shows concern for her recovery.
• Qin Meng is relieved to see Chen awake but becomes fearful after the cudgel nearly consumes her. She accepts his apology and offer to stay, though her brief blush at his invitation is quickly replaced by reserve when he frames it as a practical role.
• Luo Tian attacks confidently, but Chen’s unexpected skill overwhelms his defenses.
• Fang Ying is too exhausted to intervene, leaving Chen to face Luo Tian alone.

Significant themes

• Power gained at a cost: Chen’s new technique defeats a formidable opponent but completely depletes him.
• Responsibility and unintended harm: The cudgel’s power is dangerous even to Chen’s allies, making control and accountability important.
• Growth and future ambition: Chen’s improving skills and artifact point toward greater strength, while Guanghan Palace represents a larger goal.
• Belonging and uncertain futures: Qin Meng’s lack of a place to go contrasts with Chen’s offer of a role and a possible home within his plans.

Key events

• Chen Hao wakes after two days unconscious in a private ward and calls Liu Yan, reassuring her that he is safe. Their affectionate exchange leaves him wondering whether she has confessed her feelings.
• Fang Lei visits and explains that Chen Hao’s damaged soul power recovered unusually quickly. Chen Hao asks after Fang Ying, who is recovering.
• Fang Lei reveals that he initially had Fang Ying watch Chen Hao to learn who he was, but now trusts him enough to explain the world of Qi Refiners.
• Chen Hao learns about Qi Refiner organizations, their uneasy arrangements with governments, and the nine cultivation realms. Most practitioners never progress beyond the first two realms; Fang Lei and Fang Ying have spent decades stuck at the second.
• Fang Lei shows Chen Hao a photograph of the damage from Chen Hao’s fight with Luo Tian. Chen Hao learns that Luo Tian died, but Fang Lei has kept the police from pursuing him. The Lu Association may still investigate.
• Fang Lei asks how Chen Hao, apparently only in the early-to-middle qi nurturing realm, defeated Luo Tian, who had reached qi refining. Chen Hao refuses to explain, and Fang Lei accepts this.
• Chen Hao asks how Qi Refiners obtain spiritual energy. Fang Lei describes three sources: ambient energy, energy stored in objects such as jade or antiques, and natural spirit sources such as volcanoes.
• Overwhelmed by the revelation that cultivation and ascension are real, Chen Hao thanks Fang Lei and leaves.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao shows concern for Liu Yan and the company, curiosity about Qi Refiner society, and caution about revealing the secrets behind his strength. He is still adjusting to the supernatural world he has entered.
• Liu Yan is visibly worried about Chen Hao and tells him she has missed him; he reciprocates, though their conversation ends before either clarifies their feelings.
• Fang Lei shifts from covertly monitoring Chen Hao to openly sharing knowledge and offering protection from ordinary police trouble. He remains curious about Chen Hao’s unusual power but respects his refusal to explain it.
• Fang Ying is recovering after Chen Hao saved him, reversing Fang Lei’s original plan for him to protect Chen Hao.

Significant themes

• A hidden supernatural society: Qi Refiners and their organizations exist alongside ordinary society, with governments suppressing public knowledge and maintaining uneasy agreements.
• Power, secrecy, and suspicion: Chen Hao’s victory over a stronger opponent draws attention, while his unusual abilities remain undisclosed.
• A changing worldview: The cultivation system overturns Chen Hao’s assumptions about reality, leaving him startled by the world’s extraordinary possibilities.

Chapter summary

• Fang Lei tries to recruit Chen Hao into Kirin Organization, warning that being alone could be dangerous and that Kirin might protect him if the Lu Association investigates Luo Tian’s death. Chen Hao questions Fang Lei’s relatively modest cultivation after more than twenty years in the organization, then declines to commit. Fang Lei remains deferential, impressed by Chen Hao’s strength, and gives him the Mercedes he had bought.
• Chen Hao reflects on Qi Refiners and the Heavenly Court while driving to Blue Light Pharmaceuticals, wondering whether the two worlds are connected and whether anyone else has encountered the Heavenly Court.
• Chen Hao and Liu Yan share an intimate moment when he returns to her office, but Zhang Jing interrupts them with documents. She jokingly pretends to re-enter the room and teases the pair; Chen Hao’s suggestive reply earns him a book to the head.
• Liu Yan explains Blue Light’s business strategy: despite having fresh medicinal powder, the company is withholding supplies and accepting contract penalties so Kang’ai Technology can exhaust its stock and lose its market advantage. Liu Yan shows herself to be patient and calculating rather than eager for an immediate victory.
• Chen Hao manages his Heavenly Court business. Supreme Lord Lao and the God of Wealth ask for more goods, but say his commission will be settled monthly. Chen Hao also angrily confronts the Thunder God because all ten experimental Purple Thunder Pearls failed during his fight with Luo Tian; the Thunder God dismisses them as unreliable samples.
• Chen Hao remembers that his college reunion is that evening. Though he considers using Liu Yan to make his former girlfriend Sun Jiaqi jealous, he decides against it, recognizing that this would only gratify his vanity. Liu Yan teases him as he leaves, but afterward quietly watches the door, seeming tired or thoughtful.
• At the Golden Goblet, the reunion venue, Chen Hao struggles to find parking. Another car steals the space he was about to take. He recognizes its occupants as Liang Hong and Sun Jiaqi, setting up a confrontation at the reunion.

Character developments and themes

Chen Hao remains confident and irreverent, but shows a moment of self-awareness by rejecting the idea of using Liu Yan to provoke Sun Jiaqi. Liu Yan’s warmth toward him is clear, though her quiet reaction after he leaves hints at complicated feelings. Fang Lei’s respect underscores Chen Hao’s formidable power, while Liu Yan’s business plan highlights strategic patience.
The chapter contrasts power and vulnerability—Chen Hao’s strength does not prevent him from relying on unreliable magical weapons—and explores ambition, vanity, and restraint. It also blends cultivation-world intrigue, supernatural commerce, romantic tension, and corporate competition.

Plot and events

• Chen Hao unexpectedly meets his former classmates Liang Hong and Sun Jiaqi, along with Wang Menglong, Zhou Sheng (“Fatty”), and Zhang Xiaoliang, outside a class reunion.
• Liang Hong and Sun Jiaqi mock Chen Hao, assuming he rented his Mercedes-Benz to impress everyone. Liang Hong also accuses him of disguising a cheaper car as an AMG.
• Zhou Sheng recognizes Chen Hao’s car as a genuine, high-performance AMG and exposes Liang Hong’s own car as a modified, ordinary C-Class. Liang Hong becomes furious and challenges Chen Hao to a race, with the loser required to kowtow and apologize.
• Chen Hao initially declines but accepts after Liang Hong blocks his car and calls him a coward. The two race down a short parking lane toward a wall.
• Liang Hong takes an early lead, but Chen Hao’s superior car quickly overtakes him. Chen Hao brakes safely; Liang Hong, consumed by rage and focused on catching up, fails to stop in time. The chapter ends as his car speeds past Chen Hao toward the wall.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao stays restrained through the insults but eventually stands up to Liang Hong. He trusts his car and remains composed enough to brake before the wall.
• Liang Hong is revealed as insecure and obsessed with appearances: he has modified a cheaper car to look like an AMG and resents Chen Hao. His pride and anger drive him to accept a dangerous race.
• Sun Jiaqi joins Liang Hong in belittling Chen Hao and tries to stop the race only after Liang Hong escalates.
• Wang Menglong greets Chen Hao warmly and tries to mediate, showing his friendly, even-tempered nature.
• Zhou Sheng reunites playfully with Chen Hao and defends him by identifying both cars correctly, openly confronting Liang Hong.
• Zhang Xiaoliang is present but plays little role.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus reality: Liang Hong’s impressive-looking car conceals its lesser performance, while Chen Hao’s car is genuine.
• Pride and insecurity: Liang Hong’s need to show off turns a verbal dispute into a reckless contest.
• Loyalty and honesty: Zhou Sheng risks provoking Liang Hong to defend his friend and tell the truth.
• Consequences of anger: Liang Hong’s fixation on winning blinds him to immediate danger, leaving the outcome unresolved at the chapter’s end.

Plot points and events

• Liang Hong crashes his expensive modified car into a garage wall after racing Chen Hao. He is physically only slightly injured, but the car is badly damaged.
• When Liang tries to leave without honoring the race’s wager, Chen Hao confronts him. Zhou Sheng draws a crowd and taunts Liang until he kneels and apologizes. The spectators record the humiliation.
• At the reunion venue, Chen Hao’s friends ask about his work and his costly car. He confirms he once delivered takeout but gives little explanation about his current circumstances.
• Liu Hai, the wealthy former classmate who organized the reunion, arrives to widespread attention and takes a prominent seat. When he and Li Gang try to push Chen Hao away from the main table, Chen Hao challenges their status-conscious attitude.
• Gu Han reveals that Chen Hao had been delivering takeout, prompting laughter. Chen Hao starts to leave, but Wang Menglong and Zhou Sheng persuade him to stay at the secondary table.
• Liu Hai and Li Gang later approach that table and deliberately bring up Chen Hao’s former relationship with Sun Jiaqi, mocking him for being dumped. Chen Hao refuses to engage. The chapter ends as the private-room door opens, leaving the interruption unexplained.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Hao stands up for himself against Liang Hong and the reunion’s class-based snobbery. Though he mocks Liang, he also feels a moment of sadness when he sees Sun Jiaqi being rejected by him.
• Liang Hong is forced to face the consequences of losing the race and publicly apologize, but remains angry and resentful.
• Sun Jiaqi tries to protect Liang and asks Chen Hao to let the matter go. Chen rejects her appeal, reflecting their estrangement, though he still remembers their past affection.
• Zhou Sheng eagerly provokes Liang into honoring the wager and later helps keep Chen Hao at the reunion. Wang Menglong likewise acts as a peacemaker.
• Liu Hai uses his wealth and influence to dominate the reunion, while Li Gang reinforces his social hierarchy. Their teasing of Chen Hao appears calculated and performative.
• Gu Han contributes to Chen Hao’s embarrassment by revealing his former job.

Significant themes

• Status and class divisions: The reunion’s split between prosperous classmates and those with modest means exposes how money has replaced old friendships as the basis for social ranking.
• Pride and humiliation: Liang’s public apology and Chen Hao’s treatment at the reunion show how pride can turn disputes and social encounters into spectacles.
• Past love and moving on: Chen Hao’s lingering compassion for Sun Jiaqi coexists with his acceptance that her future is no longer his responsibility.