History Literature / WayOfChoices

Way of Choices (Ze Tian Ji) is a ''massive'' (1251 chapters!) Chinese web serial xianxia/xuahhuan novel. It has sometimes been called "Chinese [[Anime/DragonBallZ DBZ.]]"

** 'Changsheng' is Chinese for "live long." Pretty on-the-nose for someone who has to go on an epic quest to escape an early death.

* ApocalypseMaiden: Very very late spoiler.[[spoiler: In the wrong hands, Chen's unique constitution can be used as a sacrifice to bring forth the apocalypse.]]

* AGodAmI: Most of the cultivators who have reached the Divinity stage look upon the rest of humanity as ants.

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: The Empress herself is the strongest person alive, and is the only one to [[spoiler: have reached the legendary Concealing Divinity stage necessary to change fate]].

* HealingHands: It may be easier to list the characters who ''don't'' display healing powers at some point. Most literally when Chen massages illness right out of Luoluo. Chen Changsheng is by far the best at it even aside from his skills as a doctor [[spoiler:even compared to his master.]]

* LaserGuidedKarma: A few instances, most notably Bai Hai, who attacks and captures Xu Yourong when she's wounded, poisoned and weak, so he can drink her blood and steal her power. He dies from the poison in her blood.
** In another instant, [[spoiler: the Cinnabar Pills, originally made by Chen to save others, ultimately saved his life.]]

* MeaningfulName: 'Changsheng' is Chinese for "live long." Pretty on-the-nose for someone who has to go on an epic quest to escape an early death.
** Also Tang 36, who renamed himself after placing only 36th (of a class of 148) on the Qingshin Honor Roll.

* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: The Empress herself is the strongest person alive, and is the only one to [[spoiler: have reached the legendary Concealing Divinity stage necessary to change fate]].

* [[ChekhovsGun Chekhov's Sword]]: Intentionally invoked in a Crowning Moment of Funny: in a moment of childish playfulness, Tang 36 runs around the Orthodox Academy hiding the legendary swords [[spoiler:Chen retrieved from the Sword pool]] in unlikely places, just on the off chance that in a hundred years someone will stumble across one and start a legend. [[spoiler: Chen later ends up using the swords himself.]]

* [[spoiler:ApocalypseMaiden]]: Very very late spoiler.[[spoiler: In the wrong hands, Chen's unique constitution can be used as a sacrifice to bring forth the apocalypse.]]

* [[CheckovsGun Chekov's Sword]]: Intentionally invoked in a Crowning Moment of Funny: in a moment of childish playfulness, Tang 36 runs around the Orthodox Academy hiding the legendary swords [[spoiler:Chen retrieved from the Sword pool]] in unlikely places, just on the off chance that in a hundred years someone will stumble across one and start a legend. [[spoiler: Chen later ends up using the swords himself.]]

* [[CheckovsGun Chekov's Sword]]: Intentionally invoked in a Crowning Moment of Funny: in a moment of rare childish playfulness from the main cast, Chen and Tang 36 run around the Orthodox Academy hiding the legendary swords [[spoiler:Chen retrieved from the Sword pool]] in unlikely places around the Academy, just on the off chance that in a hundred years someone will stumble across one and start a legend. [[spoiler: Chen later ends up using the swords himself.]]

* InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons: Both the book and the show have a dragon in the opening chapter/episode. In the book, the golden dragon who tries to eat baby Chen, in the show, a black frost dragon that attacks the Capital. In the book this event was a background legend. Plus the dragon from the Tong Palace, which in the show is the same that attacked the Capital.

* HealingHands: It may be easier to list the characters who ''don't'' display healing powers at some point. Most literally when Chen massages illness right out of Luoluo.

* TooAwesomeToUse: The Thousand Li Button can only be used once to teleport anyone to anywhere. However, it is also extremely rare and valuable that some people who own one would rather die than use it to escape danger.

* YouCantFightFate: Played With, fate ''can'' be changed, but it's difficult enough that just ascending to godhood is considered an easier way of escaping fate.

** In another instant, [[spoiler: the Cinnabar Pills were made by Chen to help others and ultimately saved his life.]]

* ApocalypseMaiden: Very very late spoiler.[[spoiler: In the wrong hands, Chen's unique constitution can be used as a sacrifice to bring forth the apocalypse.]]

** In another instant, [[spoiler: Chen's Cinnabar Pills were made to help others but ultimately saved his life.]]

The story has also been adapted into a live-action TV show, called ''Fighter of the Destiny''. There is no complete translation available, but you can read up to chapter 104 in English [[http://gravitytales.com/novel/way-of-choices here,]] 105-191 [[http://shiroyukitranslations.com/ztj/?lcp_page1=2#lcp_instance_1 here]] and 192-666 [[http://gravitytales.com/novel/way-of-choices here]]

* BagOfHolding: The scabbard for Chen's Sword is one of these. In the show, it is called Blade-Hidden, in the book it is nameless.

* ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections: As Chen grows used to [[spoiler: his new position as the next Pope]], he becomes very comfortable usng up his position to screw the rules or authorities.

* ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections: As Chen grows used to [[spoiler: his new position as the next Pope]], he becomes very comfortable bringing up his position whenever he wants to defy the rules or authorities.