Chapter Summaries

Cao Ya watched Xuanbei secretly observe the young Zhending at Shaolin Temple and reflected on the coming upheaval in The Masters of This World. That night, two new versions of Cao Ya appeared in the System Space, bringing its population to eight.

• Cao Ya asked Xuanbei why he was watching Zhending from the shadows, and Xuanbei said the boy needed time in the chores courtyard to mature.
• Cao Ya recalled that he had lived in multiple worlds and feared the coming rise of powerful beings in The Masters of This World.
• Cao Ya recognized Zhending as Meng Qi, Xuanbei's nephew, who had been sent to Shaolin Temple amid conflict in the Su Family.
• Xuanbei left the woods, and Cao Ya also departed before meditating that night.
• Two new Cao Yas appeared in the System Space, where the other versions introduced themselves and their worlds.

Eight versions of Cao Ya met in the System Space, shared memories and power, and compared their lives across different worlds. Cao Ya from Naruto gained reassurance that the others could help him deal with Danzo, while Cao Ya from Mysterious Revival was revealed to have become a formidable captain without relying on ghosts.

• The eight Cao Yas introduced their worlds and joined hands to share memories in the System Space.
• The other Cao Yas mocked Cao Ya from Naruto for drawing Danzo's attention, joining Root, and receiving the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.
• Cao Ya from Naruto declared that the others' help would let him kill Danzo, and he envied the versions who had become rulers or powerful martial figures.
• The Cao Yas discussed how their shared power had changed their lives, including Cao Ya from Mysterious Revival avoiding the dangers of controlling malevolent ghosts.
• Cao Ya from Mysterious Revival was described as the mysterious captain of Great Sun City, able to handle ordinary malevolent ghosts with his own power.

In the System Space, the eight Cao Yas discussed combining cultivation systems and how they would face the coming changes in their worlds. Back in Konoha, Cao Ya prepared to kill Danzo during Orochimaru’s Konoha Crush, while reflecting on the Third Hokage’s failings.

• The Cao Yas compared their combined strength with Naruto’s Kage-level fighters and agreed that the Naruto and Global Martial Arts systems could benefit them alongside their shared martial arts cultivation.
• Cao Ya from Detective Conan proposed that the newcomers cultivate their worlds’ systems, and the others agreed that the systems’ powers could stack.
• Cao Ya from Global Martial Arts said he would not take Fang Ping as a disciple and instead planned to quietly help humanity through the coming upheaval.
• Cao Ya woke in Konoha during the Chunin Ninja Exams and resolved to kill Danzo during Orochimaru’s attack, along with the Third Hokage.
• Cao Ya condemned Hiruzen Sarutobi’s handling of Konoha, including the village’s treatment of Naruto and the circumstances surrounding the White Fang.

Cao Ya weighed how to eliminate Danzo while seeking a way to resist Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami, then reported to Root and walked through Konoha. He ended up at Ichiraku Ramen, where he saw Team 7 and Team Guy.

• Cao Ya considered how his combined powers could help him kill Danzo, but worried that Kotoamatsukami could control his will.
• Cao Ya dismissed the idea of competing for Hokage and reflected that Root still operated in secret despite Hiruzen Sarutobi’s order to disband it.
• Cao Ya visited the Root Base, found that Danzo was absent, and left without seeking out Orochimaru.
• Cao Ya spotted Jiraiya peeping outside the women’s bathhouse, restrained his urge to test his strength against him, and continued on his way.
• Cao Ya went to Ichiraku Ramen for breakfast and saw Kakashi, Might Guy, Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Tenten, Rock Lee, and Neji.

Cao Ya reunited with Guy and Kakashi, then privately studied how to counter Kotoamatsukami and concluded he would have to evade it before it was cast. As the Chunin Ninja Exams began, he waited for the final rounds and anticipated the fallout from Orochimaru’s plot against Konoha.

• Cao Ya met Guy, Kakashi, and their students, teased them about romance, and declined Guy’s challenge to spar.
• Cao Ya stayed home to study Kotoamatsukami and concluded he could not break it directly, but could exploit the brief pause required to cast it.
• Cao Ya reasoned that Danzo believed his secrets were safe and felt reassured that knowing about Kotoamatsukami gave him a chance to counter it.
• The teams from the various ninja villages arrived, and the Chunin Ninja Exams began while Cao Ya ignored the early rounds and waited for the eliminations.
• Cao Ya suspected Orochimaru had already killed the Fourth Kazekage and criticized Rasa’s plan to attack Konoha and his treatment of Gaara.

As Orochimaru began the Konoha Crush by attacking the Chunin Ninja Exams, Cao Ya left the chaos to lure Danzo into the Forest of Death. Cao Ya attacked Danzo, who suspected Orochimaru was controlling him.

• Orochimaru, disguised as the Fourth Kazekage, helped trigger a genjutsu that put most spectators to sleep, then took the Third Hokage hostage as snakes rampaged through Konoha.
• Orochimaru revealed himself to the Third Hokage, while the confused Sunagakure ninja wondered what had happened to their Kazekage.
• Cao Ya left to carry out his own plan and sent Danzo a letter asking to meet in the Forest of Death.
• Danzo went to the forest, eager to claim the position of Fifth Hokage after the attack on Konoha.
• Cao Ya approached Danzo under the pretense of reporting urgent information, then drew his blade and attacked him.

Cao Ya fought Shimura Danzō in the Forest of Death and killed him after overcoming his repeated Izanagi revivals and attempt to use Kotoamatsukami. With Danzō dead, the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal vanished, and Root members emerged to confront Cao Ya.

• Danzo mistook Cao Ya's attack for a sneak attack under Orochimaru's control, but Cao Ya used a substitution and struck him from behind.
• Danzo revived with Izanagi, and Cao Ya withstood his Wind Release attacks before punching him apart again.
• Danzo unleashed multiple techniques and summoned Baku, but Cao Ya defeated the beast and repeatedly killed Danzo until all ten Sharingan on Danzo's arm went blind.
• Danzo tried to use Shisui's Kotoamatsukami, but Cao Ya dodged his gaze and blasted him into fragments with a devastating punch.
• Cao Ya realized the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal had vanished, then called out Torune Aburame, Yamanaka Fū, and other Root members, who emerged and questioned his identity.

Cao Ya took control of Root after killing Danzo and declared his ambition to become Hokage. As Orochimaru’s invasion left the Third Hokage dead and Orochimaru badly injured, Cao Ya publicly challenged him and attacked.

• Cao Ya claimed leadership of Root, told Torune Aburame and Yamanaka Fū to assemble its members, and announced plans to visit Konoha’s major clans.
• Cao Ya flew toward the battle between the Third Hokage and Orochimaru, while Orochimaru ordered the Four Violet Flames Formation released and tried to retreat after losing both arms.
• Cao Ya appeared over Orochimaru and declared that he would bring him to justice, making his challenge audible across Konoha.
• Cao Ya transformed into a small golden figure and struck at Orochimaru, who realized Cao Ya was far stronger than an ordinary Jonin.

Cao Ya crushed Orochimaru’s invasion, took charge of Konoha, and maneuvered himself into power after the Third Hokage and Danzo died. After sentencing Orochimaru and his captured forces, Cao Ya secured the daimyo’s backing and became the Fifth Hokage.

• Cao Ya captured Orochimaru, defeated Manda with a single punch, and brought the Sound Ninja and Sunagakure forces to surrender.
• Cao Ya ordered Root to aid Konoha’s villagers and took command while Jiraiya and other ninja reinforced the younger fighters.
• Cao Ya revealed his Indestructible Diamond Divine Art as Konoha’s leaders recognized his ambition to become Hokage.
• Cao Ya held trials, executed criminals, accepted ransoms for other prisoners, and sentenced Orochimaru to life imprisonment serving Konoha.
• Cao Ya brought the daimyo under his control, used Root to build support, and succeeded to the position of Fifth Hokage.

Cao Ya secured his position as Konoha’s Fifth Hokage and reorganized the village’s research and education systems. As Konoha flourished, he remained concerned about threats to the wider Shinobi World, then met with his seven counterparts in the system space.

• Cao Ya used Root’s records and a mix of pressure and concessions to quiet dissent, and the Fire Daimyo’s envoy confirmed his succession as Fifth Hokage.
• Jiraiya left Konoha with Naruto to search for Tsunade, while Cao Ya discussed Wood Release research and rules against coercive human experimentation with Orochimaru.
• Cao Ya established research departments, revised the Ninja Academy curriculum, and ordered secret research into other villages’ kekkei genkai, including Dust Release.
• Cao Ya’s allies praised his reforms and resolved to share his burden, while he worried about the Akatsuki, rival nations, and the Otsutsuki.
• Cao Ya entered the system space, where his seven counterparts discussed their worlds and the Global Martial Arts Cao Ya’s plans to delay his breakthrough.

Cao Ya discussed the danger of the Six Reincarnation Space with his other selves, who agreed that cautious cultivation was wiser than attracting the attention of mighty beings. In [Global Martial Arts], Cao Ya woke after Magic City Martial Arts University won the freshman exchange tournament and prepared to reach the eighth rank, while worrying about the coming upheaval.

• Cao Ya from [The Masters of This World] rejected the idea of drawing the Lord of the Six Paths of Reincarnation's attention, since powerful beings could use him as a vessel or crush him.
• Cao Ya from [Mysterious Revival] noted that merit points could buy techniques and weapons, but Cao Ya from [The Masters of This World] preferred to rely on Shaolin's resources and quietly grow stronger.
• Cao Ya from [Detective Conan] wondered whether a heavyweight might arrive and send them straight to ascension, but the other Cao Yas dismissed his hope.
• Cao Ya woke at Magic City Martial Arts University after it won the freshman exchange tournament and reflected that he would soon become an eighth-rank golden body realm martial artist.
• Cao Ya worried about the powerful hidden experts and the coming upheaval, then went outside and greeted Lu Fengrou without revealing his concerns.

Cao Ya prepared to enter the Magic City Catacombs, chose a staff, and passed through the guarded military base and energy passage. He emerged into the Catacombs beneath an enormous sun.

• Cao Ya told Lu Fengrou he was heading into the Catacombs, and she wished him a safe return.
• Cao Ya went to the Logistics Department and picked out a staff from Li Changsheng, where he encountered Fang Ping.
• Li Changsheng told Fang Ping that Cao Ya was strong but claimed he himself was invincible below Grandmaster.
• Cao Ya passed security at the Magic City Catacombs military base and greeted several acquaintances returning from battle.
• Cao Ya entered the Catacombs through the energy passage and emerged into a world with an enormous sun.

Cao Ya announced that he would enter Heavenly Gate City and challenge its Ninth-Rank City Lord, prompting Hope City to prepare for the upheaval. He left Hope City and advanced toward Heavenly Gate City, confident that his combined powers would let him survive the fight.

• Cao Ya told Commander Xu Mofu that he had reached the Eighth-Rank Realm and intended to fight his way into Heavenly Gate City.
• Xu Mofu agreed to Cao Ya's plan, notified the Grandmasters and Hope City's forces to prepare, and urged Cao Ya to return alive.
• News of Cao Ya's breakthrough and planned challenge spread to the military, Magic City Martial Arts University, and other organizations, startling those who knew him.
• Cao Ya left Hope City, explained his confidence in facing the Heaven Gate City Lord, and defeated enemies threatening Earth martial artists along the way.
• Cao Ya encountered Qin Fengqing and other Magic City Martial Arts University martial artists, told them to return to Hope City, and continued toward Heavenly Gate City.

After sending the human martial artists back to Hope City, Cao Ya attacked Heavenly Gate City to demonstrate Earth’s strength and stop the Catacombs from threatening humanity. He fought the ninth-rank Heaven Gate City Lord, but the city’s second ninth-rank guardian, a supernatural tree, joined the battle.

• The students returned to Hope City and learned Cao Ya had reached the eighth-rank realm, while Qin Fengqing resolved to seek his guidance.
• Magic Martial University leaders and military representatives discussed defending against Heavenly Gate City as the old principal worried whether Cao Ya could return safely.
• Cao Ya waited for the human martial artists to withdraw, then openly unleashed his power at Heavenly Gate City and devastated its gates and surroundings.
• The Heaven Gate City Lord flew out to confront Cao Ya, who struck him with a powerful punch and nearly knocked him down.
• The Heaven Gate City Lord manifested a towering tree and attacked Cao Ya with branches and mental power.
• A second ninth-rank supernatural tree in the city also began attacking and binding Cao Ya.

Cao Ya fought the Heaven Gate City Lord and Divine Tree in Heavenly Gate City, then escaped safely as the battle stirred the Southern Seven Regions. He returned to Hope City to cheers, while resolving to deepen his study of the Global Martial Arts system.

• Cao Ya fought the Heaven Gate City Lord at close range and wounded him, but Divine Tree’s aid forced the battle into a stalemate that devastated Heavenly Gate City.
• The fighting’s power alarmed the high-rank fighters across the Southern Seven Regions, and Grandmasters from Hope City flew out to support Cao Ya.
• Cao Ya took a blow from the Heaven Gate City Lord and used its force to retreat, while the Heaven Gate City Lord ordered the city’s martial artists to deal with the destruction.
• Cao Ya met Wu Kuishan and the other Grandmasters on his return to Hope City, where they welcomed him safely back and praised his battle.
• Cao Ya reflected on his shortcomings and decided to study the Global Martial Arts system further, while the people of Hope City cheered and Grandmasters offered to attend his Grandmaster Banquet.

After his battle in the Magic City Catacombs, Cao Ya agreed to hold a Grandmaster banquet and told Zhang Tao he would share cultivation methods to strengthen humanity. His release of the Golden Bell Shield and other techniques sparked worldwide interest, and he ended the chapter hiding from visitors while Fang Ping and Li Changsheng eyed the system’s future stages.

• Cao Ya agreed to hold a Grandmaster banquet at the old chancellor’s urging, and the quiet Magic City Catacombs allowed Grandmasters to support other regions.
• Cao Ya returned to Magic Martial, where students and faculty celebrated his achievement, then received congratulations from Zhang Tao.
• Cao Ya told Zhang Tao he planned to reveal cultivation methods, beginning with the Golden Bell Shield while keeping stronger techniques secret for now.
• Cao Ya released accessible methods from a different cultivation system, causing a worldwide uproar and drawing factions to Magic City.
• Cao Ya avoided the visitors by hiding at the Logistics Department, where Fang Ping studied the Golden Bell Shield and Li Changsheng asked to become his eldest disciple.

Cao Ya’s cultivation methods spread through both worlds, earning him the title of Dao Ancestor while powerful figures debated their potential. That night, two new versions of Cao Ya appeared in the system space, including one from the [Dragon Raja] world.

• Li Changsheng eagerly chose to study Cao Ya’s cultivation system after realizing his damaged mental power would not prevent him from advancing along it.
• Cao Ya told Li Changsheng and Fang Ping that the cultivation methods were available to everyone, then hinted that mastering the Golden Bell Shield could unlock even greater abilities.
• The Heaven-Suppressing King and Zhang Tao examined the manuals and recognized Cao Ya’s achievement, while Catacomb factions and the Source Land’s emperors also learned of the new system.
• Cao Ya studied the Blood-and-Qi System and the Origin Dao before entering the system space at night.
• Two newcomer Cao Yas appeared, and one introduced himself as being from the [Dragon Raja] world.

Ten Cao Yas exchanged memories and discussed how their different worlds’ powers could change the newcomers’ plans. The [Dragon Raja] Cao Ya prepared to return with overwhelming strength and consider cooperating with the state, while the [The Grave Robbers' Chronicles] Cao Ya decided he was no longer afraid to investigate “It.”

• The Cao Yas compared the power levels of their worlds, and the [The Grave Robbers' Chronicles] Cao Ya revealed where he came from.
• The ten Cao Yas shared memories, and the [Dragon Raja] Cao Ya learned that he could draw on the others’ abilities.
• The [The Masters of This World], [Mysterious Revival], and [Naruto] Cao Yas discussed Dragon Raja word spirits, and the [Global High Martial Arts] Cao Ya urged cooperation with the state to study dragons.
• The [Dragon Raja] Cao Ya accepted the suggestion and realized few beings in his world could challenge him besides the Black King and White King.
• The [The Grave Robbers' Chronicles] Cao Ya recounted avoiding the main storyline and warned Fatty about the Xisha Undersea Tomb.
• The [The Grave Robbers' Chronicles] Cao Ya decided to investigate “It” now that his new power made him confident he could survive, and the other Cao Yas approved.

Cao Ya returned to the world of The Grave Robbers' Chronicles with power strong enough to dismiss his earlier fear of its hidden force, then contacted Fatty to join a crew. After Fatty arranged a job, Cao Ya traveled to Changsha and met him alongside a mysterious, lean man before they prepared to head to Jilin.

• Cao Ya abandoned his solo search for a Tang Dynasty tomb and left the mountains after gaining new power.
• Cao Ya returned to town, contacted Fatty, and learned that Fatty had found no treasure in the Sea Tomb.
• Cao Ya asked Fatty about joining a crew, and Fatty offered him a place on a large expedition.
• Cao Ya agreed to meet Fatty in Changsha and travel with the crew to Jilin.
• Cao Ya reached Changsha and met Fatty and a tall, lean, expressionless man.

Cao Ya joined Fatty and Poker-Face on Wu Sansheng’s expedition to Changbai Mountain, where they traveled by train with Wu Xie, Pan Zi, and Chen Pi A Si. As the group continued north, Cao Ya pondered the Meteorite Jade and the mysteries beyond the Bronze Gate.

• Fatty introduced Cao Ya to Poker-Face and warned him that Wu Sansheng’s crew was heading to Changbai Mountain for a major operation.
• Wu Sansheng’s men took Cao Ya, Fatty, and Poker-Face to the station, and the three boarded a train with sleeper berths.
• Wu Xie, Pan Zi, and Chen Pi A Si joined them on the train, and Fatty recognized Wu Xie while the group exchanged introductions.
• Cao Ya contemplated the Meteorite Jade and planned to claim it after visiting the Cloud Palace.
• Fatty, Wu Xie, and Pan Zi discussed Chen Pi A Si, and Poker-Face gripped Pan Zi’s shoulder when Chen Pi A Si returned to the carriage.