After his acclaimed work Ghost Blows Out the Light, author Tianxia Bachang returns with another dark and atmospheric tale rooted in Chinese folklore and supernatural mystery.
Long ago, the eccentric Taoist Cui became obsessed with obtaining a legendary celestial scripture. But his search goes terribly wrong when he accidentally releases a mysterious treasure-seeking toad. Fascinated by the wealth and chaos of the human world, the creature eventually takes human form and is reborn as Dou Zhanlong.
When a deadly heavenly calamity threatens his existence, the toad attempts to cheat fate by dividing its three souls and seven spirits, creating nine separate versions of Dou Zhanlong. Each incarnation is scattered across a different parallel world, living a separate life and facing its own dangers. Whenever one falls, another takes his place, binding them all to a terrifying cycle of nine deaths and thirteen calamities.
The story follows the first Dou Zhanlong as he enters a world filled with treasure hunters, strange sects, forbidden techniques, and hidden supernatural forces. Surrounded by thirty-six unorthodox sects and seventy-two mysterious paths, he learns that wealth comes with a price—and that every treasure may conceal a deadly secret.
As Dou Zhanlong struggles against enemies, fate, and the mysterious forces controlling his existence, he gradually becomes something far more dangerous than a simple treasure seeker. To escape the cycle and claim his own destiny, he must challenge the heavens themselves and become the most notorious God of Wealth the world has ever known.
