Boat

Story context

Chapter 609 finds Ji Ning elbow-deep in the most stubborn negotiation of his immortal career. He knows the World Prison is a treasure trove of ancient secrets—specifically, methods to upgrade his third-rate Golden Core—but the imprisoned Elder Gods and Ancestral Immortals are veterans of eons. They won’t give up a single chaos oddity without seeing the “World-level” existence at his back. Ji Ning tries every angle: pleading, serving delicacies, offering servants. The answer is always the same: bring Mother Nuwa or a comparable World God. And if they can’t escape those Heavenly Locks, they have no reason to trust a weak True Immortal. The chapter closes with a sharp pivot: Ji Ning approaches a female prisoner and drops a bombshell—the Ninefaced Chaosworld Kingdom has fallen. It’s a classic Xianxia gambit of asymmetric information.

Why it matters

If you’ve been itching for Ji Ning to finally catch a break, this chapter is a masterclass in pacing frustration. The author I Eat Tomatoes knows you want him to level up quickly, but instead we get a brutal lesson in immortal economics: no one gives away a Golden Core upgrade for free. The wild dog and the grimy old man are magnificent in their stillness—they’ve been waiting for eons, and they won’t be swayed by a kid with a wooden tray. But Ji Ning’s final pivot—walking up to that female prisoner and dropping the “your kingdom is dead” bomb—is pure genius. He can’t force them, but he can manipulate their perception of reality. The chapter ends on a delicious cliffhanger: will she believe him? And if she does, what price will she demand? Fellow Daoists, the negotiation arc is just warming up.

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Source novel

Desolate Era