Chapter Summaries

Qin Yan, Daoist Chen, and Di Feng reached the deep pool and discovered that more than a hundred villagers had been murdered and fed to a powerful Mother-and-Child Corpse Sha. Their talismans failed as the corpses awakened, leaving the three men facing a rushing horde.

• The Ghost Mist attacked Di Feng, but Daoist Chen struck it with his silver sword and drove it back.
• Qin Yan suspected the hidden enemy was using the mist to distract Daoist Chen while targeting the female corpse, so the three men hurried to the deep pool.
• The men found the pool filled with the villagers’ corpses, and Qin Yan spotted the female corpse in red, who appeared to have become a formidable Mother-and-Child Corpse Sha.
• As the corpses began to climb ashore, Daoist Chen gave out Corpse-Subduing Talismans, and Qin Yan and Di Feng helped immobilize them.
• The Ghost Mist soaked the talismans and made them fall away, then a shriek turned the corpses’ eyes red and sent them charging at the three men.

Qin Yan fought the Ghost Mist and the female corpse in red, then discovered that his Sha Qi let him strike evil creatures. He left the battle overwhelming the walking corpses and destroying the Ghost Mist.

• Daoist Chen recited a scripture to free the villagers' souls while Qin Yan guarded him and fought the walking corpses.
• The Ghost Mist bound Qin Yan with mist and hurled him into the pool, where the female corpse in red dragged him underwater and tried to drain his Yang Qi.
• Qin Yan's talisman and Sha Qi drove off the female corpse in red, and he surfaced with black Qi escaping from his body.
• Di Feng told Qin Yan to coat his skin with Sha Qi so he could touch Yin Souls and Fierce Ghosts.
• Qin Yan used his Sha Qi to crush a walking corpse, then drew his Zhangfeng saber and cut through the horde.
• Qin Yan sensed the Ghost Mist and slashed it with his saber, making it scream and vanish.

After defeating the evil entity, Qin Yan recovered from evil Qi and learned that Di Feng worked for the Demon-Suppressing Bureau, which fought the growing threat of demonic forces. Di Feng explained how Daoist cultivation differed from martial arts and why Qin Yan’s killing intent let him fight incorporeal enemies.

• On a fishing boat, the black-robed old woman retrieved the female corpse in red with a thread and led it away with the other two figures.
• Qin Yan gained proficiency in Slaughter, Unlimited Combat, Heart Burst, and the Eight Desolations Six Harmonies Saber after the battle.
• Daoist Chen treated Qin Yan’s evil Qi and explained that the village’s residents had died and hundreds had been killed or injured at Mass Grave Mound.
• Daoist Chen revealed that Di Feng belonged to the Demon-Suppressing Bureau and said demonic forces and evil cults were becoming harder to contain.
• On the way back to Qinghe Town, Di Feng explained the differences between Daoist cultivators and martial artists and described how Qin Yan’s Sha Qi let him fight evil entities.

Di Feng persuaded Qin Yan to join the Demon-Suppressing Bureau, and Qin Yan agreed after learning about its authority, rewards, and local assignments. While awaiting an assessment, Qin Yan studied the first half of the Great Five-Viscera Immortal Abode and discovered it could draw in vital Qi of heaven and earth, especially at a mountain location he had found.

• Di Feng explained the Demon-Suppressing Bureau’s benefits and offered Qin Yan a share of the merit points he would receive for recruiting him.
• Qin Yan agreed to join the Demon-Suppressing Bureau and learned he might be stationed in Qinghe Town after passing an assessment.
• Di Feng sent Qin Yan’s details and intelligence to Youshan Prefecture and promised to provide study materials and an internal cultivation method.
• Qin Yan read the first part of the Great Five-Viscera Immortal Abode and found that its breathing method greatly increased the circulation of his Qi and blood.
• Qin Yan sensed vital Qi gathering around him and realized the mountain forest he had visited held far more of it than his current location.

After advancing his cultivation, Qin Yan prepared his hotpot restaurant for its opening and returned to Clear Water Village, where he gave Qin Qing money for his child. He then hunted a variant silver snake in the mountain forest and gained increases to his maximum attributes by consuming it.

• After a night of cultivation, Qin Yan raised the Great Five-Viscera Immortal Abode to Entry Level and increased his maximum strength, speed, and spirit.
• Qin Yan visited his renovated restaurant, ate hotpot with Zong Xiaoshan and another brother, and confirmed with Lu Cheng that the opening preparations were ready for three days later.
• Back in Clear Water Village, Qin Yan ignored Zhao He and gave Qin Qing fifty taels as a gift for his unborn child.
• Qin Yan went to the mountain forest, found a swift variant silver snake, crushed its head, and roasted it.
• After eating the snake, Qin Yan gained increases to his maximum strength, spirit, and speed.

After a day and a night of cultivation, Qin Yan greatly increased his physical stats and traveled to Mian County to seek Ma Daren’s test for becoming a Demon-Suppression Envoy. Ma Daren received him at the Startling Watchtower and was astonished to learn Qin Yan was only fourteen.

• Qin Yan cultivated in the mountain forest for a day and a night, raising his strength, speed, and spirit stats before his gains slowed.
• Qin Yan returned to town and learned from Di Feng that he needed to find the veteran Demon-Suppression Envoy Ma Daren in Mian County and pass his test.
• Qin Yan rode to Mian County through a region filled with refugees and paid the fee to enter the city.
• Qin Yan found the Startling Watchtower and told its young night watchman that he had come to see Ma Daren.
• Qin Yan presented his document to Ma Daren, who invited him to sit and reacted with surprise when Qin Yan said he was fourteen.

Ma Daren taught Qin Yan why Demon-Suppression Envoys had to conceal their presence and gave him the Panxin Realm manual. He took Qin Yan and Ma Shi'an to a secluded crematorium, where three corpses gave off a deeply unsettling presence.

• Ma Daren explained that evil entities hunted human souls and life energy, making Qin Yan's powerful presence a beacon to them.
• Ma Daren gave Qin Yan the Panxin Realm manual and said learning to conceal his presence was essential to becoming a Demon-Suppression Envoy.
• Ma Daren told Qin Yan that his grandson, Ma Shi'an, would inherit his role, and asked Qin Yan to help him if he ever faced trouble.
• Ma Shi'an joined Ma Daren and Qin Yan, and the three traveled to a crematorium several miles from the county town.
• Qing San led them to a reinforced, talisman-covered room containing three corpses, and Qin Yan sensed a strange presence coming from them.

Qin Yan identified the most dangerous of three gang-member corpses at the Cremation Site and was assigned to burn them with Ma Shi'an. As Qing San explained how corpses transform amid the disaster’s mass deaths, he revealed that some have reanimated even inside the furnaces, though none have escaped.

• Qin Yan identified the burly corpse as the likeliest to transform because it carried strong Blood Sha Qi, and Ma Daren confirmed his judgment.
• Ma Daren left Qin Yan and Ma Shi'an to handle the three corpses, and Qin Yan startled Ma Shi'an with his strength and his claim that he killed evil spirits with his fists.
• Qing San explained that Cremation Sites had recently spread across the Great Li Dynasty and that officials planned to require cremation as corpses piled up from the famine.
• Qing San described how evil Qi, prolonged exposure, or contact with people and animals could trigger corpse transformation, and said some weak Evil Corpses had reanimated while burning but none had escaped a furnace.

Qin Yan deliberately revived three corpses in the morgue to test their strength, then crushed the rising evil entities with ease. He left Ma Shi'an watching as he overwhelmed a newly formed Green-Clothed Walking Corpse, while Dragon Wandering Step advanced to Proficient Level.

• Qin Yan ordered Qing San to lock the morgue door and asked Ma Shi'an about the strength of risen corpses.
• Qin Yan used his blood-red Qi to revive one corpse, then sent it flying with a kick when it lunged at him.
• Qin Yan killed the first corpse with Blood Sha Qi and crushed the neck of a second, destroying the evil Qi within them.
• Ma Shi'an warned Qin Yan that the last corpse was becoming a Green-Clothed Walking Corpse, and Qin Yan sent him to the corner.
• Qin Yan blasted the Green-Clothed Walking Corpse away with a fist and pounded it into the floor as Dragon Wandering Step advanced to Proficient Level.

Qin Yan killed a Green-Clothed Walking Corpse and learned that Ma Daren’s next mission was to investigate a deadly haunting in Wei Family Village. Qin Yan and Ma Daren arrived at the Wei Mansion, where they sensed powerful resentment.

• Qin Yan killed the Green-Clothed Walking Corpse, and Ma Shi'an and the others watched the corpse burners destroy the bodies.
• Ma Daren told Qin Yan about a clever ghost that had killed several people and agreed to take him to investigate it that night.
• Qin Yan cultivated Panxin Realm until he could conceal his presence from those one level higher.
• Qin Yan and Ma Daren reached Wei Family Village, where Qin Yan stopped Wei Zhong's servants from striking a deranged woman searching for her son.
• Qin Yan and Ma Daren arrived at Wei Mansion and sensed powerful resentment there.

Qin Yan and Ma Daren investigated the evil entities haunting the Wei Family and uncovered the family’s role in Cuixiang’s death. Qin Yan chased down the fleeing ghost, which declared it had sought revenge on Wei Youchang, leaving him stunned.

• Wei Youchang and Madam Xu told Qin Yan, Ma Daren, and Master Zhixing that they had sold their maid Cuixiang, who later hanged herself.
• Qin Yan sensed two evil entities around the Wei residence, and Ma Daren used a compass to locate the source of Yin Qi.
• Qin Yan and Ma Daren found dense evil Qi clinging to the unconscious Wei Xu and identified traces of Master Zhixing’s attempt to dispel it.
• Master Zhixing struck at an unseen ghost with his prayer beads, and the wounded figure fled the Wei residence.
• Qin Yan chased the ghost to the edge of the village and nearly shattered it with a blood-patterned palm strike.
• The ghost accused Qin Yan of helping Wei Youchang commit atrocities and said it had only wanted revenge on him.

Qin Yan and Ma Daren learned why Cuixiang had become a Vengeful Ghost, then discovered that Wei Fu’s grave was empty and suspected he was the other evil entity. They left Wei Family Village after accepting Wei Youchang’s reward, expecting the danger to return that night.

• Qin Yan forced Cuixiang to explain that Wei Youchang had assaulted her and Wei Xu had falsely accused her, leading to her sale and death; Cuixiang then destroyed her own spirit rather than reveal where the other evil entity was hiding.
• Qin Yan heard Auntie Li searching for her son and learned from Wei Jiaming that Wei Fu had died after becoming Wei Youchang’s son’s study attendant in the county town.
• Qin Yan and Ma Daren examined Wei Fu’s grave and found that it contained no body, prompting Qin Yan to predict that there would be trouble that night.
• Wei Youchang thanked Qin Yan, Ma Daren, and Master Zhixing for dealing with the female ghost and offered them silver, which they accepted.
• Qin Yan and Ma Daren declined Wei Youchang’s invitation to stay and left Wei Family Village that day.

Qin Yan and Ma Daren confronted the forces behind the Wei family’s deaths: Ma Daren trapped Wei Fu’s ghost, while Qin Yan fought Master Zhixing. Qin Yan battered Zhixing into a monstrous transformation and continued attacking him as Ma Daren emerged with Wei Fu in chains.

• Ma Daren trapped Wei Fu’s ghost in smoke and demanded to know why he hated the Wei family.
• Qin Yan revealed that he had discovered Master Zhixing using a ghost-control technique and confronted him outside the courtyard.
• Master Zhixing transformed into a demon-like creature, but Qin Yan struck him repeatedly and tore off his jaw.
• Qin Yan’s body turned crimson as he overpowered Zhixing, who recovered and attacked with four eerie pupils.
• Ma Daren emerged dragging Wei Fu’s spirit in chains and was shaken by Qin Yan’s blood-red appearance.

Qin Yan and Ma Daren defeated Master Zhixing and learned how Wei Fu had been abused, killed, and controlled as a Fierce Ghost. After bidding farewell to his mother, Wei Fu dispersed with the first sunlight, while Ma Daren warned Qin Yan that the Yinluo Way might seek revenge.

• Qin Yan killed the Divine-Stained Variant and advanced his Body Control skill, then learned Ma Daren had subdued Wei Fu.
• Wei Fu explained that Wei Xu and his fellow students abused him to death, after which Master Zhixing controlled him and forced him to kill and devour others.
• Ma Daren allowed Wei Fu to settle his grudge against the Wei Family, then ordered him to disperse his soul; Wei Fu asked to see his mother first.
• Wei Fu cleaned his mother's home and reunited with Auntie Li, who tearfully tried to hold him as he said goodbye.
• At sunrise, Wei Fu bowed to Qin Yan, Ma Daren, and his mother, then dissolved into the world.
• Ma Daren told Qin Yan that Master Zhixing was connected to the elusive Yinluo Way, an organization that used evil spirits and the Human-Ghost Refining Art.

Ma Daren gave Qin Yan an appointment document for the Demon-Suppressing Bureau and taught him the Qi-Reading Technique before Qin Yan traveled to Youshan Prefecture. After rapidly improving the technique on the river, Qin Yan reached the Bureau and was summoned to meet its Commandant.

• Ma Daren explained the Demon-Suppression Bureau's role and gave Qin Yan an appointment document to deliver to Youshan Prefecture.
• Ma Daren gifted Qin Yan the Qi-Reading Technique and asked him to look after Ma Shi'an.
• Qin Yan studied the manual aboard a cargo boat and raised the Qi-Reading Technique to Entry Level before reaching Youshan Prefecture.
• Qin Yan arrived at the Demon-Suppressing Bureau and presented himself as a candidate with Ma Daren's assessment document.
• Zuo Xiu led Qin Yan to the Commandant's study, where Qin Yan saw the imposing Zhao Zhen.

Qin Yan joined the Demon-Suppressing Bureau and chose to serve in Qinghe Town, where Zhao Zhen assigned him to deal with the Mass Grave Mound and recover stolen burial objects. After receiving his uniform and seal, Qin Yan learned that evil spirits were growing more numerous and powerful, and left his merit points unspent.

• Zhao Zhen praised Qin Yan’s strength and youth, then warned him that Li Wenqing’s Azure Blade Gang could damage his standing in the Bureau.
• Zhao Zhen reviewed Ma Daren’s report about Qin Yan killing the mutated Monk Zhixing and asked where he wanted to serve; Qin Yan chose Qinghe Town.
• Zhao Zhen ordered Qin Yan to eliminate the evil spirits at the Mass Grave Mound and recover the grave robbers’ stolen burial objects and the tomb, promising a Grade C treasure and Grade B book upon completion.
• Zhao Zhen told Qin Yan that Qinghe Town had ancient ties to searches for immortals and warned that evil spirits were becoming stronger and harder to control.
• Zuo Xiu took Qin Yan to collect his magical official uniform and Pixiu seal, and Qin Yan inspected the Treasure Pavilion catalog without spending his merit points.

Qin Yan examined the manuals and magical artifacts he had gained from slaying monk Zhixing, then learned new techniques and advanced his cultivation. He left to visit County Magistrate Jiang after revealing that he had become a Principal Seventh Rank official.

• Qin Yan memorized the Indestructible Diamond, Zen Mind Secret Scripture, and Xuanming Record, then learned the Blood Sha Hand Seal and tested its power on a peach tree.
• Qin Yan examined Zhixing's prayer beads, demon-subduing vajra, cursed jade, and Soul-Nourishing Purification Bottle, and wore the prayer beads as a bracelet.
• Qin Yan cultivated Indestructible Diamond, gained strength and spirit, and discovered that his body glowed with blood-red light instead of becoming golden.
• Qin Yan found that Indestructible Diamond could combine with Body Control or Heart Burst, with Body Control giving him the strongest sustained boost.
• Zong Xiaoshan and Qin Xiaoyi noticed Qin Yan's fairer appearance, and Qin Yan told them he had become a Principal Seventh Rank official.
• Qin Yan said he would visit County Magistrate Jiang to coordinate their work.

Qin Yan learned that Jiang Wan and Madam Chen had been seized, ordered a search for grave robbers, and heard that Li An had injured one of his waiters. At the county yamen, Qin Yan revealed his appointment as a Demon-Suppression Envoy and secured Lu Chi’s promise to help deal with Li An.

• Zong Xiaoshan told Qin Yan that his businesses were thriving and the other brothers were safe.
• Chen Ergou reported that Jiang Wan and Madam Chen had been taken to the county yamen, and Qin Yan ordered him to have Shi Hu and the brothers search for grave robbers in Qinghe Town.
• Chen Ergou told Qin Yan that Li An had eaten at his restaurant without paying and scalded a waiter with hot oil, so Qin Yan promised to cover the waiter’s treatment.
• At the county yamen, Lu Chi questioned Qin Yan’s claim that they were colleagues until Qin Yan showed him an official appointment naming him a Principal Seventh Rank Demon-Suppression Envoy.
• Qin Yan asked Lu Chi to help deal with Li An, and Lu Chi readily agreed.

Qin Yan and Lu Chi entered the county yamen to interrupt Jiang Fuji’s family dispute, where Chu Zhishu turned her hostility on Qin Yan and ordered guards to seize him. Qin Yan killed one guard, and Lu Chi revealed that Qin Yan was the newly appointed Demon Suppression Commandant, leaving Chu Zhishu and Jiang Fuji stunned by the consequences of attacking him.

• Lu Chi explained that he and Qin Yan should interrupt Chu Zhishu’s confrontation with Jiang Fuji to help their colleague out of a predicament.
• Chu Zhishu invited Qin Yan and Lu Chi into the inner hall, where they saw Madam Chen and Jiang Wan being beaten while Jiang Fuji and Chu Zhishu watched.
• Chu Zhishu demanded that Qin Yan kneel and ordered guards to seize him after he refused.
• Qin Yan killed one of the guards with a single blow, shocking everyone in the county yamen.
• Lu Chi announced that Qin Yan was the newly appointed Demon Suppression Commandant and said that attacking him was rebellion punishable by death.

Qin Yan confronted Chu Zhishu after she attacked Jiang Wan and revealed his authority as a Demon Suppression Commandant, then arranged with Jiang Fuji to establish a Cremation Site. The chapter ended with Jiang Fuji rejecting the idea of marrying Jiang Wan to Qin Yan, leaving Jiang Wan shocked that her father thought she could only become Qin Yan’s concubine.

• Qin Yan rebuked Chu Zhishu for ordering her guards to attack Jiang Wan, and Jiang Fuji apologized while ordering Chu Zhishu to remain confined to her room.
• Jiang Fuji agreed to build a Cremation Site under the Demon-Suppressing Bureau and let Qin Yan choose its manager.
• Jiang Fuji proposed that he and Lu Chi address Qin Yan as an equal and call him Brother Qin.
• Jiang Fuji visited Madam Chen and Jiang Wan, promised to protect them, and heard Madam Chen suggest marrying Jiang Wan to Qin Yan.
• Jiang Fuji told Jiang Wan that Qin Yan’s status and future meant she could only be his concubine, and Jiang Wan reacted in disbelief.