Chapter Summaries

Qin Yan confronted a black-robed Gu user in the Pang Family compound after Lang Santong’s walking corpse attacked him. He subdued the man, suspected he belonged to the Yinluo Way, and accused the Pang Family of colluding with an evil cultivator.

• Qin Yan followed Lang Santong into the Pang Family compound and saw a black-robed young man repel the walking corpse.
• The young man used a silver centipede to restrain Lang Santong, while Pang An praised him.
• Qin Yan revealed himself, and the young man claimed he recognized Qin Yan from an earlier battle.
• Qin Yan accused the young man of involvement in Lang Santong’s death and attacked him after the man denied knowing Lang Santong.
• Qin Yan destroyed the young man’s Gu worms, crippled him, and told Pang An the Pang Family was implicated in colluding with an evil cultivator.

Qin Yan uncovered how Pang An had murdered Ye Rou and Lang Santong, then found the Gu insect responsible for Lang Santong’s death. Kong Zhao identified the captured Gu master Jingu as an outer member of the Yinluo Way and tortured him into revealing that two accomplices behind the Guiliu Village massacre had escaped.

• Constable Feng told Qin Yan that Pang An had arranged Ye Rou’s father’s debts, forced himself on Ye Rou, and beaten her to death after learning she had been intimate with Lang Santong.
• Qin Yan found an Air-Pocket Gu inside Lang Santong’s corpse and recognized how it had suffocated him.
• Kong Zhao arrived in Qinghe Town, identified the black-robed prisoner as Jingu, and began torturing him for information.
• Jingu confessed that he belonged to the Yinluo Way and had helped create a Mother-and-Child Corpse Sha in Guiliu Village with a spirit medium and a corpse carrier.
• Kong Zhao told Qin Yan that Jingu’s two accomplices had left Qinghe Town and their whereabouts were unknown.

Qin Yan continued cultivating in Youshan Prefecture and used the Green Zombie he had captured as a sparring partner. He left the zombie beaten and subdued after demonstrating martial arts and teaching Song Bao and the others.

• Qin Yan made further gains in strength, spirit, speed, and body control while avoiding Wen Qinsi’s attempts to recruit him.
• The Green Zombie roared in its cage under the moonlight, prompting Song Bao to ask Qin Yan to quiet it.
• Qin Yan released the Green Zombie and used his magnetic field to remove the nails sealing its limbs.
• Qin Yan evaded the zombie with Dragon Wandering Step, letting Song Bao and the others study the footwork.
• Qin Yan struck the Green Zombie into a wall, then demonstrated martial arts and taught the onlookers their essential techniques as he beat it down.

Qin Yan sought stronger evil creatures to train against, and Red Star Daoist sent him to investigate Misty Sword Mountain with tools to capture Yin Souls. As Qin Yan traveled toward the mountain, two martial artists found him resting in an abandoned temple.

• Qin Yan realized ordinary evil creatures no longer improved his skills and asked Di Feng to find him stronger targets.
• Qin Yan visited Azure Sun Abbey for corpse-suppressing and corpse-immobilizing talismans, where Red Star Daoist summoned him.
• Red Star Daoist asked Qin Yan to capture Yin Souls and gave him a Soul-Binding Bag and a Purple Sun Talisman after learning he had cleared Qinghe Town.
• Qin Yan traveled toward Misty Sword Mountain near Lingyuan County and found shelter in an abandoned mountain temple.
• Zhang Zheyuan and his junior sister arrived at the temple and asked Qin Yan if they could stay the night, and he welcomed them.

Qin Yan, Zhang Zheyuan, and Lu Yunyi took shelter from the rain in an abandoned temple alongside merchants and hunters. After Zhang Zheyuan killed a group of mountain bandits, the slain attackers returned as Vengeful Ghosts and began killing everyone, leaving the disciples trapped in terror.

• Qin Yan shared the abandoned temple with Zhang Zheyuan, Lu Yunyi, traveling merchants, and three hunters as a cold rain fell.
• At midnight, Zhang Zheyuan spotted mountain bandits outside and woke everyone in the temple.
• Zhang Zheyuan killed the bandits as they attacked, earning praise from the merchants and hunters.
• Lu Yunyi mocked Qin Yan for staying out of the fight, but Qin Yan gestured behind them.
• The slain bandits rose again as Vengeful Ghosts and slaughtered the people in the temple.
• Zhang Zheyuan prepared to hold off the ghosts while a skeleton grabbed Lu Yunyi's ankle.

Qin Yan saved Zhang Zheyuan and Lu Yunyi from the resentful spirits in a ruined temple, then explained that they were Changgui left behind by a tiger demon. He defeated the tiger demon and began skinning it alive as the two martial artists watched in shock.

• Zhang Zheyuan and Lu Yunyi begged Qin Yan for help when the skeleton and other resentful souls threatened them.
• Qin Yan revealed his presence and captured more than twenty resentful souls in his Soul-Nourishing Pouch.
• Qin Yan told Zhang Zheyuan and Lu Yunyi that the spirits were Changgui created by a tiger demon, which soon arrived at the temple.
• The tiger demon attacked Qin Yan, who broke its foreleg with one saber strike and then battered it until its bones were smashed.
• Qin Yan cut open the defeated tiger demon and began tearing off its hide while Zhang Zheyuan and Lu Yunyi watched in shock.

After killing a tiger demon, Qin Yan strengthened himself by consuming its flesh and searched Misty Sword Mountain for another place rich in primal Qi. He negotiated three days of use of a weasel clan’s dwelling, discovered a hidden cave abode inside the mountainside, and left with three ancient items.

• Qin Yan skinned the dead tiger demon, shared its nourishing meat with Zhang Zheyuan and Lu Yunyi, and sent them away from Misty Sword Mountain.
• Qin Yan ate tiger meat until dark, increased his strength, spirit, and speed, and found the demon’s inner core among its remains.
• After noticing that his accumulated fortune had been used up, Qin Yan followed the places where primal Qi gathered deeper into the mountain.
• Qin Yan confronted the old weasel and her descendants, then secured permission to use their bamboo dwelling for three days.
• Qin Yan sensed a hidden space inside the mountainside, broke through a boulder blocking its entrance, and found a sword, a jade slip, and a cloud-patterned jade bead in the cave abode.
• Qin Yan left the cave abode and departed the area with the three items.

Qin Yan returned the mission items to Red Star Daoist and received an offer to refine the tiger demon’s inner core into a pill. He awakened the Cloud Luo Pearl, then consumed the finished pill and grew stronger while improving his concealment technique.

• Qin Yan gave Red Star Daoist the Soul-Nourishing Pouch and Talisman Treasure, then showed him the tiger demon’s inner core.
• Red Star Daoist praised Qin Yan and promised to refine the inner core into a pill using materials he supplied.
• Qin Yan restored the Cloud-Pattern Jade Pearl with his blood, discovered its inner space and learned it was the Cloud Luo Pearl, a spiritual artifact.
• Qin Yan found that the jade slip contained unreadable ancient script and decided to seek help learning it.
• Daoist Chen gave Qin Yan the Demon Tiger Origin-Forging Pill, which Qin Yan consumed to increase his strength, spirit, and speed limits and raise Panxin Realm to Proficient Level.

Qin Yan discovered that the Jade Turtle could absorb incense offerings, then learned that Red Star Daoist and Shuyunzi had successfully created one Ghost Cultivator. Red Star Daoist sent Qin Yan to Youzhou Prefecture to coordinate with the Demon-Suppressing Bureau and Imperial City Bureau, where Zhao Zhen agreed to help.

• Qin Yan saw golden incense offerings around Azure Sun Abbey’s statue and discovered that the Jade Turtle could absorb them.
• Daoist Chen told Qin Yan that Red Star Daoist and his senior uncle had begun developing a method of Ghost Dao cultivation, and warned him to keep it secret.
• Red Star Daoist and Shuyunzi explained that they had turned one Yin Soul—the black-bearded merchant from the abandoned temple—into a Ghost Cultivator, and suspected spiritual aptitude was required.
• Red Star Daoist gave Qin Yan a Demon Suppression token and ordered him to contact the Demon-Suppression Commandant of Youshan Prefecture and the Imperial City Bureau about condemned cultivators’ souls.
• Qin Yan brought the orders to Zhao Zhen, who agreed to cooperate and negotiate with the Imperial City Bureau while asking Qin Yan to stay in Youshan Prefecture.

Qin Yan used his Grade B Scripture Repository opportunity to study annotations on ancient script, then translated a jade slip containing the legacy of the Tai Xuan Immortal Sect. He discovered that modern martial cultivation could absorb the same primordial Qi once used for immortal cultivation, and the chapter left him comparing the two eras’ paths.

• Qin Yan exchanged his Grade B book opportunity for permission to read the Scripture Repository’s annotations on ancient script.
• Qin Yan memorized nearly fifty books explaining the ancient era, the disappearance of immortals, and the rise of modern martial cultivation.
• Qin Yan returned to his residence and translated the jade slip, learning that it contained the Tai Xuan Immortal Sect’s legacy and the account of its final-generation disciple, Chen Changsheng.
• Qin Yan translated the Tai Xuan True Scripture and the sect’s arts, formations, talisman techniques, beast taming, artifact forging, and alchemy.
• Qin Yan compared the Tai Xuan True Scripture with modern martial methods and concluded that people who reached the Marrow-Washing Realm could absorb primordial Qi.

Qin Yan studied the Tai Xuan Immortal Sect’s cultivation inheritance, discovered that he could not cultivate immortality, and resolved to develop his Mind-Spirit Power, blood and Qi, and Human Magnetic Field instead. Zhao Zhen and Song Huan then recruited him to escort the prisoner Pi Sanqiu as bait for the criminals who might try to rescue him.

• Qin Yan translated the Tai Xuan Immortal Sect’s records and learned how ancient Ghost Cultivators and modern Innate Dao Cultivators differed.
• Qin Yan tried cultivating the Tai Xuan True Scripture, but the primordial Qi became blood and Qi rather than spiritual power.
• Qin Yan realized he could develop his Mind-Spirit Power and Human Magnetic Field alongside his physical strength.
• Zhao Zhen introduced Song Huan, who offered a crippled First Realm prisoner for the Demon-Suppressing Bureau’s operation.
• Zhao Zhen and Song Huan explained that Pi Sanqiu’s accomplices might attack during his escort because they wanted to save him and recover a hidden treasure map.
• Qin Yan suspected he was being used as bait, learned that three Qi Origin Realm criminals might intervene, and agreed to the mission.

Qin Yan escorted the crippled Pi Sanqiu toward Azure Sun Abbey while refusing to be swayed by his promises about the treasure. When attackers came for Pi Sanqiu, Qin Yan swiftly crippled both of them, leaving the escort in control.

• Qin Yan taunted Pi Sanqiu about his suffering and dismissed his claims that the treasure could make them wealthy.
• Pi Sanqiu tried to tempt Qin Yan and the escorting soldiers with the location of the Treasure Map, but Qin Yan ordered that he be given no food or water.
• A group plotting to seize Pi Sanqiu and his treasure prepared an ambush, while attackers struck Zhao Zhen and Song Huan in the distance.
• Qin Yan sensed two more attackers approaching the prison carts and warned the escorting soldiers to prepare for an attack.
• Peng Ao and Scorpion-Needle Woman attacked Qin Yan, but he blocked Peng Ao's poison and crippled both attackers within three breaths.

Qin Yan joined Zhao Zhen and Song Huan’s battle against three masked fighters, then used close-range tricks and a hidden attack to cripple Xiong Yue. The other fighters were stunned by Qin Yan’s victory as Zhao Zhen praised him.

• Qin Yan crippled the two men who tried to free the prisoners and ordered the escorting officers to guard them.
• Qin Yan reached Zhao Zhen and Song Huan as they fought Mo Zhi and two other men in black, and he told them he had already dealt with the would-be rescuers.
• Zhao Zhen asked Qin Yan to hold off Xiong Yue while he fought Mo Zhi, then unleashed his Black Mountain Barbarian Force against the elder.
• Qin Yan dodged Xiong Yue’s twin axes and used close-range attacks, a dagger, and lime powder to create an opening.
• Qin Yan’s hidden attack injured Xiong Yue, and he followed up by kicking him down and crippling his spine with the dagger.
• The other men in black stared in shock at Qin Yan’s swift victory, while Zhao Zhen praised him.

Qin Yan and his allies defeated Mo Zhi and the short assassin, captured their souls, and returned to camp with Pi Sanqiu. After secretly delivering the prisoners and souls to Red Star Daoist, Qin Yan heard him promise Pi Sanqiu eternal life as a Yin soul.

• Qin Yan helped Song Huan kill the wounded short man in black, while Zhao Zhen defeated Mo Zhi.
• Qin Yan captured the two dead men's souls in the Soul-Nourishing Purification Bottle, then killed the badly injured Xiong Yue and captured his soul on Zhao Zhen's order.
• Qin Yan taunted Pi Sanqiu, who offered his treasure map in exchange for his life, and sewed Pi Sanqiu's mouth shut when he would not stop pleading.
• Zhao Zhen and Song Huan secretly handed the prisoners and captured souls to Red Star Daoist, who praised Qin Yan for killing a Xiantian martial artist.
• Red Star Daoist told Pi Sanqiu to memorize a cultivation technique before he turned him into a Yin soul and granted him eternal life.

Qin Yan investigated the corpse of Lei Hezhou, who revealed that a huge River Demon had wrecked his boat and eaten everyone aboard. He then launched Heavenly Pool Snowflake Salt as a luxury product, and it quickly gained popularity among Qinghe Town’s wealthy families.

• Wang Qing told Qin Yan that a corpse found in the river had strong resentment and might become a Vengeful Ghost.
• Qin Yan awakened Lei Hezhou’s consciousness, and Lei Hezhou recalled that a four- or five-zhang River Demon had smashed his boat and devoured its passengers.
• When Lei Hezhou became violent at the thought of dying, Qin Yan shattered his soul and had the Zheshen Ghost consume its Yin Qi.
• Qin Yan inspected the refined salt at Shi Hu’s workshop and set luxury, medium, and ordinary prices, instructing Shi Hu to keep the operation secret.
• Qin Yan supplied Shopkeeper Wang of the Abundant Harvest Tower, whose promotion helped Heavenly Pool Snowflake Salt find a market among Qinghe Town’s wealthy merchants and prominent families.

Qin Yan’s Heavenly Pool Snowflake Salt brought in nearly ten thousand taels, while a giant fish monster terrorized the Cypress Water River and attacked a cargo ship in Qinghe Town. Officials suspended shipping and fishing as they sought help from a Grandmaster, and Wen Qinsi tried to draw Qin Yan into a business partnership over the salt.

• Qin Yan watched the fish monster smash a cargo ship at the Qinghe Town docks and devour its crew, but he arrived too late to stop it.
• The giant black fish continued hunting people, sinking a fishing boat and eating those who fell into the river.
• Qin Yan told Lu Chi that killing the nearly five-zhang-long monster would require a Grandmaster or stronger, so the officials would need to request an imperial court Attendant.
• Wen Qinsi suspended shipping and fishing along the river until the monster was dealt with, while the officials reported the threat up the chain.
• Wen Qinsi invited Qin Yan to partner with him to sell Heavenly Pool Snowflake Salt throughout Great Li, but Qin Yan claimed his supply was small and he was short of money after paying a Third Realm mighty figure to refine a pill.

After learning that Qin Yan had killed an Innate Martial Artist above his level, Wen Qinsi decided not to provoke him. Qin Yan sought Red Star Daoist’s help against the Cypress Water River monster, but Red Star Daoist lent him the Bloodthirsty Spear instead, leaving Qin Yan wary of the abbey’s Ghost Dao research.

• A raven delivered Wen Qinsi a report that Qin Yan had killed an Innate Martial Artist, so Wen Qinsi ordered his people not to make an enemy of him and to cooperate with the Demon-Suppressing Bureau against the river monster.
• Qin Yan told Daoist Chen about the Cypress Water River monster and asked Red Star Daoist to intervene.
• At Azure Sun Abbey, Qin Yan saw Pi Sanqiu among the Yin Souls being taught the Ghost Dao and learned that Red Star Daoist could not leave his research to fight the monster.
• Red Star Daoist lent Qin Yan the Bloodthirsty Spear, explaining that it could drain the monster’s blood essence if it struck.
• Qin Yan left Azure Sun Abbey uneasy after seeing the criminals’ corpses and reflecting on the abbey’s grim Ghost Dao research.

Qin Yan tested his Bloodthirsty Long Spear and prepared a baited boat to confront the giant black fish in the Cypress Water River. After learning the fish commanded Water Changgui who dragged victims underwater, Qin Yan followed the spirits toward the fish’s location.

• Qin Yan used a pig to test the Bloodthirsty Long Spear and discovered it drained blood and strengthened him.
• Ye Xian told Qin Yan the Cao Gang was losing money while boats remained idle, and Qin Yan asked for boats and bait to hunt the monster.
• The giant black fish killed Li Laosan and used Yin Souls to drag more people underwater, then ordered the spirits to find additional victims.
• Qin Yan learned that fishermen had vanished and suspected the fish had created Water Changgui from the souls of its victims.
• Qin Yan sent a baited boat into the river, but the Water Changgui capsized it and the chain suddenly went slack.
• Qin Yan followed the Water Changgui along the riverbank toward the giant black fish.

Qin Yan and the townspeople hooked a giant black fish and Qin Yan wounded it with the Bloodthirsty Spear, but it devoured the Changgui and broke free. As the fish attacked Qin Yan on the river, he countered with a slash that cut through its scales and exposed its organs.

• Qin Yan found the deep river bend where the water monster was hiding and directed Head Constable Feng and the others to prepare bait.
• The giant black fish swallowed a hooked water buffalo, and the people on the bank pulled the chain while Qin Yan used yang force to drive away the Changgui.
• Qin Yan hurled the Bloodthirsty Spear into the fish's eye, but the wounded fish swallowed the Changgui and grew stronger until it snapped the chain.
• Qin Yan tracked the fish by the spear's magnetic field as it devoured underwater creatures to replenish its strength.
• The giant black fish leaped at Qin Yan, who used Heart Burst and Indestructible Diamond to power an Eight Desolations Slash that cut through its scales and exposed its organs.

Qin Yan killed a giant Nether River Fish and brought its body back to Qinghe Town, where its meat, bones, scales, and inner core became valuable prizes. After confirming the meat was safe to eat, he arranged its sale and pulled a long tendon from the fish to use as a bowstring.

• Qin Yan dragged the slain Nether River Fish ashore and refused the Bloodthirsty Spear's power as it absorbed the creature's Qi and blood.
• Feng Constable and the townspeople praised Qin Yan, and dozens of oxen and horses hauled the fish through Qinghe Town.
• Wen Qinsi and his steward discussed the fish's valuable inner core and Qin Yan's growing reputation.
• Qin Yan refused to sell the inner core to Lu Yunqing and Lu Wanqiu, but asked them to test the fish meat for poison.
• Lu Wanqiu confirmed that the meat was safe and nourishing, and Qin Yan set prices for the meat and bones.
• Qin Yan pulled a long tendon from the fish and decided to have it made into a bowstring.