Chapter Summaries

After finishing his morning run and buying wonton noodles for his grandfather, Zhang Yao witnessed Yan Wu and Zhang Xiao fight over a treasure in the park. Both men died, and their bodies dissolved into yellow liquid, leaving Zhang Yao at the scene with no sign of the treasure.

• Zhang Yao ran through the park, bought two bowls of wonton noodles at Qian's Snacks, and headed home through the park.
• Zhang Yao heard muffled impacts and saw Yan Wu and Zhang Xiao fighting beside an artificial rock formation over a treasure.
• Yan Wu defeated Zhang Xiao with a hidden dagger, but both men suffered fatal injuries and collapsed.
• Zhang Yao set down the noodles, searched Yan Wu for the treasure, and found nothing.
• Yan Wu and Zhang Xiao's bodies dissolved into yellow liquid as Zhang Yao watched.

After Yan Wu and Zhang Xiao dissolved into yellow liquid, Zhang Yao returned to the park to search for whatever they had been fighting over. He found a cloth-wrapped stone, but despite examining it closely, he could not discover why it was valuable.

• Zhang Yao left the clearing without reporting Yan Wu and Zhang Xiao's deaths, then went home and lamented the chance he had missed.
• Zhang Yao realized Yan Wu might have hidden the object before the fight and rushed back to search the park.
• Zhang Yao searched the grass, trees, and rockery until he found a gray-cloth-wrapped object in a hollow tree.
• Zhang Yao took the object home, unwrapped it, and discovered it was a bluish-gray stone.
• Zhang Yao examined the stone and its wrapping repeatedly but found no clue to its significance.

Zhang Yao discovered that sweat and water revealed a cultivation method called Nine Netherworlds on the rag that had wrapped the stone. After memorizing and burning it, he lay down to begin practicing its first level.

• Zhang Yao discovered that his sweat made writing appear on the rag and tested his theory by pressing his palm against it.
• Zhang Yao soaked the rag with sweat and found the Nine Netherworlds cultivation method written across it, but the writing faded when the rag dried.
• Zhang Yao used water to reveal the full method and memorized it despite suspecting it came from an evil path.
• Zhang Yao burned the rag after checking that he had memorized the method correctly.
• Zhang Yao followed the instructions and prepared to practice the first level, qi drawing into the body.

Zhang Yao finally mastered the first level of the Nine Nether Art after eight months of cultivation and began building true qi toward the next stage. When he picked up the stone kept with the manual, he discovered that it was absorbing his true qi.

• Zhang Yao woke after a fruitless first night of cultivation and reminded himself that the manual allowed years to master qi drawing into the body.
• Zhang Yao studied the Nine Nether Art’s nine realms and spent the following months cultivating whenever he was free from school.
• Zhang Yao finally sensed true qi flowing through his dantian after eight months and doubled its amount during his first successful breathing session.
• Zhang Yao realized that accumulating enough true qi to open the lesser heavenly circuit would take time, and resolved to persevere before practicing the Nine Nether Yin Wind Step.
• Zhang Yao picked up the stone stored with the Nine Nether Art and found that it was slowly absorbing his true qi.

After Zhang Yao’s Guide beat and mocked him, she transformed his Guiding Stone into a Spatial Ring and left him unconscious in the Chosen One’s Hall. He learned that he had entered the dangerous Rodos World and, with only twenty-four hours in the safe hall, began preparing to survive.

• Zhang Yao attacked his Guide after she insulted him, but she struck him down and called him worthless.
• His Guide activated the Guiding Stone, which formed a ring around Zhang Yao’s finger and flooded his mind with information before he passed out.
• Zhang Yao woke hours later, swore revenge on his Guide, and examined the ring.
• Zhang Yao learned that the ring had brought him to Rodos World, where death was real and returning to his own world cost one hundred gold coins per day.
• Zhang Yao realized he had to inspect his equipment and attributes before his twenty-four hours in the safe Chosen One’s Hall ended.

Zhang Yao checked his status in the Chosen One Hall, discovered that his Nine Nether Art talent let him restore and greatly increase his true qi, and nearly lost track of the time. With seconds remaining before the hall’s deadline, he entered the portal and began his adventure in Rodos.

• Zhang Yao examined the Ring of the Cunning Jackal and his character panel, finding enhanced attributes and the unexplained talent nine netherworlds.
• Zhang Yao meditated to recover his true qi and absorbed spiritual energy so quickly that his reserves grew to twice their former amount.
• Zhang Yao checked his panel and found that his attributes were unchanged, while a blue true qi bar showed a value of 50.
• Zhang Yao noticed that only ten minutes remained before the Chosen One Hall’s deadline and realized he had meditated for more than twenty hours.
• Zhang Yao entered the portal just before time ran out, beginning his adventure in Rodos.

Zhang Yao arrived in the sea, where a fleeing man and a navy pursuer drew him into a deadly struggle underwater. As he began to drown, he comprehended the Fetal Breath Technique, killed the elite navy soldier, and reached level 1.

• Zhang Yao fell through a portal into the sea and cursed his Guide for the dangerous arrival.
• Zhang Yao saw two corpses in the water, then watched a handsome middle-aged man flee from a pursuing navy man.
• The navy man lunged at Zhang Yao, grabbed his waist, and dragged him toward the seabed as they fought.
• Zhang Yao began to suffocate, but his true qi stirred and he comprehended the Fetal Breath Technique.
• Zhang Yao's system reported that he had killed an elite navy soldier and reached level 1.

After learning the Fetal Breath Technique and killing a navy soldier, Zhang Yao surfaced beside a sea battle and pretended to belong to the Sea Wolf Pirates. Rod Gamet mistook him for one of the pirates’ elite water ghosts and begged him for protection.

• Zhang Yao checked his attributes and realized the Fetal Breath Technique had saved him from drowning.
• Zhang Yao surfaced and saw pirates and navy soldiers fighting between two ships as bodies fell into the sea.
• Rod Gamet approached Zhang Yao, and Zhang Yao angrily blamed him for using him as a human shield.
• Zhang Yao introduced himself without confirming he was a pirate and decided to play along so Rod Gamet could explain Rodos.
• Rod Gamet concluded Zhang Yao belonged to the Sea Wolf Pirates’ Water Ghost Unit and begged him to protect him.

Zhang Yao accepted a mission to escort Luo De away from the battlefield and took the ring Luo De offered as payment. When navy soldiers attacked, Zhang Yao killed one underwater and went after the other, who escaped toward the ships.

• Luo De asked Zhang Yao to protect him and gave him a Gemstone Ring as a deposit.
• Zhang Yao accepted a mission to escort Luo De 10 kilometers from the battlefield for experience and gold.
• Two navy soldiers swam toward Zhang Yao and Luo De, and Luo De fled while Zhang Yao dived underwater.
• Zhang Yao dragged one navy soldier beneath the sea and killed him, earning 100 experience points.
• The one-armed soldier fled toward the ships, and Luo De pointed out his direction when Zhang Yao surfaced.
• Zhang Yao dived again to pursue the fleeing soldier.

Zhang Yao leveled up by killing wounded soldiers who fell into the sea, but a wounded pirate nearly exposed his ambushes. Zhang Yao dragged the pirate underwater and endured his kicks with help from his Nine Nether True Qi.

• Zhang Yao reached level 2 after killing a one-armed elite marine and found that his attributes had increased, though he received no loot.
• Zhang Yao spotted wounded men in the sea and began ambushing them underwater for experience.
• Zhang Yao reached level 4 as the battle continued, then became more cautious after a wounded pirate stabbed at him with a dagger.
• Zhang Yao pursued the pirate before he could reach the surface, caught the pirate's dagger hand, and endured repeated kicks.
• Zhang Yao's Nine Nether True Qi eased his injuries, allowing him to tighten his grip and drag the pirate deeper underwater.

After killing an elite Drowned Ghost, Zhang Yao reached level 4 but discovered that the experience required for his next level had risen sharply. He examined the valuable equipment and Concealment Technique the ghost dropped, leaving him pleased with his new rewards.

• Zhang Yao killed an elite Drowned Ghost and received 2,000 experience, several items, and a level increase.
• Zhang Yao checked his character panel and saw that the experience required for the next level had risen to 3,000.
• Zhang Yao decided the rewards were still worthwhile and inspected the Sharp Water Ghost Dagger, Sturdy Water Ghost Leather Armor, and Concealment Technique.
• Zhang Yao learned how Rodos World classified equipment and skills, including the limit of ten Skill Book skill slots for each Chosen One.

Zhang Yao equipped new gear and learned the Concealment Technique, then hid beneath the ships and gained experience by finishing off pirates thrown into the water. As he neared level 5, he watched the naval captain Lancelot confront Sea Wolf, captain of the Sea Wolf Pirates.

• Zhang Yao equipped the black leather armor and dagger, then learned the Concealment Technique despite its limited skill slots and movement restrictions.
• Zhang Yao hid in the shadows beneath the ships and observed a heavily armored sailor cutting through the pirates above.
• Zhang Yao swam to pirates knocked into the sea and killed those still alive, gaining experience until he reached 2,900 out of 3,000 needed for level 5.
• Sea Wolf challenged the sailor, and their first clash ended in a stalemate.
• The sailor introduced himself as Lancelot, a naval captain of the Dora Merchant Alliance, and Sea Wolf said he had never heard of him.

Lancelot revealed his Heaven Tier power and defeated Sea Wolf, turning the battle in the naval forces’ favor. Sea Wolf escaped into the sea, where a figure in familiar leather armor approached him as he lost consciousness.

• Sea Wolf attacked Lancelot before he could introduce himself, forcing him to fight without his broadsword while Zhang Yao considered retreating.
• Lancelot unleashed an overwhelming aura that pinned everyone to the deck and revealed him as a Heaven Tier expert.
• Lancelot struck Sea Wolf with a blade of battle energy, but Sea Wolf dodged the fatal blow and lost his right arm.
• Sea Wolf rolled off the deck into the sea, and Lancelot ordered his men to defeat the pirates and recover Sea Wolf’s body.
• Lancelot entered the cabin and revealed that using his power had exhausted him and caused him pain.
• A figure in familiar leather armor swam toward the unconscious Sea Wolf, who believed his Drowned Ghost had come to save him.

Zhang Yao killed the wounded Sea Wolf, gained three levels, and escaped the navy searching for the captain’s body. He reunited with Luo De and hurried away from the battlefield, leaving Lancelot’s power and the meaning of heaven tier unexplained.

• Zhang Yao dragged the unconscious Sea Wolf underwater and killed him, gaining items, gold, and three levels.
• Zhang Yao spotted the navy searching for Sea Wolf’s body and swam away from them.
• Zhang Yao caught up with Luo De, who explained that he had continued onward after waiting for Zhang Yao.
• Zhang Yao told Luo De that Lancelot was a heaven-tier expert and that Sea Wolf had been killed.
• Zhang Yao urged Luo De to swim faster so they could escape before the navy reached them.

While swimming toward safety with Luo De, Zhang Yao examined Sea Wolf’s loot, equipped valuable gear, and upgraded his combat abilities by merging battle aura with True Qi. He discovered the Spacetime Shop but postponed exploring it so they could continue their escape.

• Luo De estimated they had about half an hour left to swim and asked Zhang Yao to let him rest.
• Zhang Yao examined Sea Wolf’s loot, equipped the Bewitching Siren Boots, stored the Spyglass and Gems, and learned Basic Battle Aura.
• Zhang Yao merged his battle aura with True Qi, transforming Basic Battle Aura and improving its combat bonuses.
• Zhang Yao discovered the Spacetime Shop icon, but Luo De urged him to continue swimming before he could open it.

Zhang Yao completed Luo De's escort quest and reached Doreze's ship, the Nightglow, which appeared mysteriously at sea. After Doreze welcomed them aboard, Luo De revealed that the navy and a Heaven Tier powerhouse were nearby, prompting Doreze to order the ship to flee.

• Zhang Yao received the rewards for completing Luo De's Request after swimming with Luo De for nearly half an hour.
• Luo De called for Doreze, and the Nightglow suddenly appeared from a ripple in the sea.
• Zhang Yao climbed aboard the Nightglow and helped Luo De over the rail.
• Luo De introduced Zhang Yao to Doreze, his smuggler friend, who began offering Zhang Yao a tour of the ship.
• Luo De stopped Doreze and warned him that the navy, accompanied by a Heaven Tier powerhouse, was nearby.
• Doreze cursed Luo De and ordered the crew to raise the sails and flee.

After the Nightglow escaped a naval force backed by a Heaven Tier powerhouse, Luo De and Doreze worried about what the appearance meant and headed back toward Andal Harbor. There, the Plachy Brothers mocked them and threatened Zhang Yao, who stepped forward to face the brothers as Luo De held Doreze back.

• The Nightglow sailed west, and Luo De told Doreze that a Heaven Tier powerhouse had appeared during his meeting with Sea Wolf.
• Luo De and Doreze decided to return to Andal Harbor to investigate, then joked about how the news would unsettle certain people there.
• The Plachy Brothers mocked Luo De and Doreze when they met aboard the Nightglow, and Zhang Yao laughed at their exchange.
• The Plachy Brothers threatened Zhang Yao and insulted Doreze, prompting Doreze to stop his sailors and prepare to fight them himself.
• Zhang Yao stepped forward to confront the Plachy Brothers, while Luo De held Doreze back and urged him to watch.

Zhang Yao tested his strength by killing the Platchy brothers aboard the Nightglow, then accepted Doreze’s offer of a cabin. After Doreze and Luo De left, Zhang Yao revealed how exhausted the fight had left him.

• Doreze assured Zhang Yao that killing was allowed aboard the smuggling ship and encouraged him to fight the Platchy brothers.
• The younger Platchy brother stabbed Zhang Yao, but Zhang Yao’s body vanished like a projection before he killed him with the Drowned Ghost Dagger.
• The elder Platchy brother searched for Zhang Yao, who emerged from concealment and killed him with the same dagger.
• Luo De praised Zhang Yao, while Doreze thanked him and escorted him to a luxurious cabin to rest.
• After Doreze and Luo De left, Zhang Yao closed the door, turned pale, and gasped for breath from exhaustion.

After recovering from his fight with the Plachy Brothers, Zhang Yao planned to grow stronger by fighting pirates and entered the Spacetime Shop. He met Shopkeeper Sun, who showed him the shop’s inventory, and Zhang Yao asked for recommendations.

• Zhang Yao struggled to cope with the sight of the Plachy Brothers’ blood, encouraged himself to adapt, and fell asleep from exhaustion.
• After waking, Zhang Yao checked his rewards and found that the Plachy Brothers had given him 500 experience and 50 gold coins, bringing him to level 7.
• Zhang Yao decided to seek pirates to defeat for experience rather than risk becoming wanted for attacking civilians.
• Zhang Yao entered the Spacetime Shop and met its proprietor, Shopkeeper Sun.
• Zhang Yao inspected the shop’s mostly low-quality wares and asked Shopkeeper Sun to recommend items.

Zhang Yao bought the Overview of Rodos and bargained with Shopkeeper Sun for information about the world. He learned that Rodos summoned about a thousand Chosen Ones from across the universe every hundred years, but Shopkeeper Sun stopped him again as he was leaving.

• Shopkeeper Sun recommended several items, but Zhang Yao bought only the Overview of Rodos for 100 gold coins.
• Zhang Yao asked whether other newcomers had arrived, and Shopkeeper Sun offered to answer his questions for 200 gold coins.
• Zhang Yao pretended to leave and negotiated the price down to 80 gold coins.
• Shopkeeper Sun explained that Rodos summoned around a thousand Chosen Ones from planets across the universe every hundred years, with only one Guiding Stone on each planet at a time.
• Zhang Yao thanked Shopkeeper Sun and prepared to leave, but Shopkeeper Sun stopped him again.