Recaps

Wang Chen discovered that the Upper Xun Celestial Master Pavilion’s officials had ignored his appointment and learned from Xi Manyun that Wu Jingwei controlled the pavilion through his family’s power and local alliances. Wang Chen was left facing a deeply entrenched rival as he began his new post.

• Wang Chen noticed that Xi Manyun was the only steward to report to him and asked where the others had gone.
• Xi Manyun explained that Wu Jingwei had summoned the other stewards, openly slighting Wang Chen.
• After hesitating, Xi Manyun accepted Wang Chen’s offer of tea and described Wu Jingwei’s control over the pavilion.
• Xi Manyun revealed that Wu Jingwei, a powerful Wu Family elder, commanded the stewards, patrol guards, and local gangs, while enjoying Grand Protector Heavenly Master Luo Han’s support.
• Wang Chen realized that the Upper Xun Celestial Master Pavilion effectively belonged to the Wu Family.

Wang Chen summoned the Upper Xun Celestial Master Pavilion’s stewards after Wu Jingwei rallied them against the newly appointed Protector Heavenly Master. Xiang Yingzhe arrived late to the meeting, leaving Wang Chen’s response to his defiance unresolved.

• At a banquet, Wu Jingwei told the stewards that Wang Chen was a young cultivator from a Rogue Cultivator background and urged them to follow his lead.
• Wu Jingwei warned that Xi Manyun would soon be unable to interfere and told the stewards to keep control of their businesses.
• Wang Chen sent every steward except Wu Jingwei a talisman message ordering them to report to the pavilion the next morning.
• The stewards arrived for the meeting, and Wang Chen waited nearly half a shichen for Xiang Yingzhe, who had not appeared by the hour of the Snake.
• Xiang Yingzhe swaggered into the council hall late, offered a casual greeting, and asked Wang Chen to forgive him.

Wang Chen punished Xiang Yingzhe for deliberately arriving late, then confronted Wu Jingwei, who had ordered the slight. Wu Jingwei failed to pressure Wang Chen and, after Xi Manyun stayed silent, resolved to kill him.

• Wang Chen questioned Xiang Yingzhe about arriving late, declared him guilty of defying orders, and seized him with the Great Capturing Hand.
• Wang Chen crushed Xiang Yingzhe until he was gravely crippled, ignoring a voice that called for mercy.
• Wu Jingwei arrived, greeted Wang Chen, and demanded to know why Xiang Yingzhe had been punished.
• Wu Jingwei challenged Wang Chen to produce evidence and intimidated Xi Manyun, who could not bring herself to testify.
• Wu Jingwei decided that Wang Chen had to die to preserve his control over the Heavenly Master Pavilion and Upper Xun District.

Wang Chen used an Imprint Stone to prove Xiang Yingzhe’s misconduct, then stripped him of his authority and gave his streets to Xi Manyun. After Wu Jingwei backed down and left, Wang Chen questioned Xi Manyun about whether she could manage the territory.

• Wang Chen played an Imprint Stone recording that proved Xiang Yingzhe had defied him and offended his superior.
• Wu Jingwei apologized to Wang Chen but accepted that he could not challenge the evidence.
• Wang Chen reassigned Xiang Yingzhe’s streets to Xi Manyun, and Wu Jingwei left the council hall without objecting.
• Wang Chen sent Xiang Yingzhe home, questioned the other stewards, and ordered them to remain at their posts and work properly.
• Wang Chen kept Xi Manyun behind and asked whether she could handle Xiang Yingzhe’s territory, leaving her conflicted and speechless.

Wang Chen offered Xi Manyun the chance to take over Xiang Yingzhe's lucrative territory, while Wu Jingwei sought Luo Han's help against Wang Chen. After reviewing new information about Wang Chen, Luo Han chose to let the two men clash rather than intervene.

• Wang Chen asked Xi Manyun whether she wanted Xiang Yingzhe's territory and gave her until the next day to decide.
• Xi Manyun left the Heavenly Master Pavilion, and Wu Jingwei went to request an audience with Luo Han.
• Steward Sun told Wu Jingwei that Luo Han knew of the matter, then sent him away without offering help.
• Luo Han criticized Wu Jingwei for trying to use him against Wang Chen and explained that the sect had sent news about the new Heavenly Master.
• Luo Han decided to let Wang Chen and Wu Jingwei fight each other first.

Wang Chen secured Xi Wanhai’s cautious support as he began consolidating control of the Upper Xun Celestial Master Pavilion and Xiang Yingzhe’s former territory. After the local families appeared to accept the transfer without resistance, Wang Chen grew wary of a hidden threat and prepared to investigate the Xun District himself.

• Xi Wanhai told Wang Chen that the Xi Family would support Xi Manyun’s takeover but would not openly risk conflict with the Wu Family or the General Celestial Master Prefecture.
• Wang Chen asked the Xi Family to replace the pavilion’s servants and maids and provide new guards, then finalized their cooperation with Xi Wanhai.
• Xi Wanhai assigned reliable people to support Xi Manyun and privately suggested that she consider becoming cultivation partners with Wang Chen.
• After seven days, Wang Chen finished reorganizing the pavilion as Wu Jingwei and the Xiang Family made no apparent move to oppose the transfer of one ward and five streets.
• Wang Chen suspected the outward calm concealed an undercurrent, so he had the Xi Family gather intelligence and decided to inspect the Xun District personally.

Wang Chen disguised himself as a low-level Rogue Cultivator to inspect Daying City, where he discovered a bustling, densely packed city and drew the attention of two hidden followers. After leading them into an alley, he encountered a boy who urged him to come with him.

• Wang Chen secretly left the Upper Xun Celestial Master Pavilion in disguise to explore Daying City without alerting its residents or the Xi Family.
• Wang Chen bought breakfast and gave two meat sandwiches to a hungry boy despite the stall attendant warning him that the boy's companions might latch onto him.
• Wang Chen wandered through Daying City's crowded streets, inspected shops and prices, and noted the city's rough local character and developed workshops.
• Wang Chen noticed two people following him and entered a deserted alley to confront them.
• A young boy rushed toward Wang Chen in the alley and urgently told him to come with him.

Wang Chen followed Meng Fei into Daying City's hidden underground district and met the orphaned children he cared for. After learning about Meng Fei's hardships and the White Wolf Gang, Wang Chen recognized the boy's dormant cultivation potential and took out a Jade Slip.

• Meng Fei led Wang Chen through a secret passage to the underground Cave Dwelling, escaping the White Wolf Gang.
• Meng Fei brought Wang Chen to his home, where more than ten children gathered around him for food.
• Wang Chen gave Meng Fei's group rice and meat, then learned that Meng Fei had rescued and supported many of the children.
• Meng Fei told Wang Chen about his family's misfortune, life in the Cave Dwelling, and the powerful White Wolf Gang led by Dong Huaishan.
• Wang Chen realized Meng Fei had spiritual talent but had spent five years in Mortal Transformation without advancing, then took out a Jade Slip.

Wang Chen discovered that Meng Fei had an exceptionally rare eight-pattern Spiritual Root, despite years of practicing a flawed technique he had found by chance. He offered to help Meng Fei rebuild his cultivation, leaving him wondering whether the youth was a Child of Fortune and he was the old grandpa.

• Wang Chen used the Heavenly Master Token to test Meng Fei's Spiritual Root and found eight cloud patterns.
• Wang Chen asked about Meng Fei's cultivation technique, and Meng Fei showed him the Xuan Yuan Technique he had taught himself.
• Wang Chen examined the manual and warned Meng Fei that it contained errors and omissions and should no longer be practiced.
• Wang Chen realized Meng Fei might have damaged an even greater natural talent by practicing the counterfeit technique.
• Meng Fei and the children knelt before Wang Chen, who helped Meng Fei up and promised to guide him.

Wang Chen decided to help Meng Fei recover and cultivate, then discovered that most of the orphans under Meng Fei’s care had exceptional Spiritual Roots. After seeing the children’s hardship and generosity, Wang Chen began considering how to nurture their group.

• Wang Chen offered Meng Fei cultivation techniques and told him to replenish his blood and vital essence before beginning formal study.
• Meng Fei asked Wang Chen to test his younger brothers and sisters and offered to give them his share of cultivation resources.
• Wang Chen tested the thirteen children and found that ten had Spiritual Roots, including several with five or six patterns, while the other three had physiques suited to martial arts.
• Second Sister served the children Spirit Rice and beast meat, and Wang Chen noticed her six-pattern aptitude and the children’s poverty.
• Wang Chen decided the children could form a powerful cultivation family if they received sufficient resources and opportunities.

Wang Chen and Meng Fei explored the Cave Dwellings and came upon the ominous entrance to Yinfeng Cave before roaming bandits ambushed them. Wang Chen defeated the bandits and let Meng Fei kill one, then killed the rest himself.

• Wang Chen followed Meng Fei through several Cave Dwellings for two days as Meng Fei's strength visibly improved.
• Meng Fei led Wang Chen to the entrance of Yinfeng Cave, where a sinister wind emerged and left Wang Chen wary of what lay inside.
• Six roaming bandits surrounded Wang Chen and Meng Fei, and one Innate Martial Artist attacked Wang Chen with a saber.
• Wang Chen shattered the attack, immobilized the remaining bandits, and let Meng Fei decide their fate.
• Meng Fei killed one bandit, but Wang Chen stopped him from killing the others and killed the remaining four himself.

Wang Chen returned to Xun Seven Underground Cave with Meng Fei, only to find the White Wolf Gang attacking Meng Fei’s family and seeking revenge on him. After Cao Xiong tried to probe Wang Chen’s strength, Wang Chen summoned Nine Heavens Divine Thunder against the gang.

• Wang Chen let Meng Fei keep the loot from the bandits, and they returned to Xun Seven Underground Cave.
• Wang Chen and Meng Fei found White Wolf Gang members led by Cao Xiong beating Meng Fei’s siblings in their wrecked home.
• Meng Fei confronted the gang, while his Second Sister urged him to escape.
• A White Wolf Gang member recognized Wang Chen as the outsider they had pursued and told Cao Xiong to capture him.
• Cao Xiong secretly probed Wang Chen, but the hidden force vanished without affecting him.
• Wang Chen warned the gang they had brought this upon themselves and summoned Nine Heavens Divine Thunder over them.

Wang Chen killed Cao Xiong and the White Wolf Gang members who threatened the children, then prepared to move Meng Fei and the others elsewhere. After revealing that he was the Upper Xun Celestial Master Pavilion’s Protector Heavenly Master, he left the local cultivators shaken and fearing trouble for Xun District.

• Wang Chen used the Nine Heavens Divine Lightning Method to destroy Cao Xiong and the White Wolf Gang members without harming the children.
• Wang Chen told Meng Fei and the children to pack only what they needed and led them away from their home.
• Zhao Yechen and his group stopped Wang Chen to ask about the White Wolf Gang killings and their fear of retaliation.
• Wang Chen identified himself as a Protector Heavenly Master of the Upper Xun Celestial Master Pavilion and told Zhao Yechen to direct the White Wolf Gang to him.
• Zhao Yechen apologized to Wang Chen, then warned a burly man that he had nearly gotten him killed and predicted unrest in Xun District.

Wang Chen settled Meng Fei and his siblings into the Upper Xun Celestial Master Pavilion, then questioned Xi Manyun about the uneasy calm surrounding Wu Jingwei and the Xiang Family. After preparing Meng Fei to take responsibility for his siblings and promising to teach him immortal arts once he recovered, Wang Chen was told that a group of people had knelt outside the residence.

• Wang Chen ordered Steward Zhang to care for Meng Fei and his younger siblings using the pavilion’s public accounts.
• Xi Manyun reported that her takeover of Xiang Yingzhe’s territory had gone smoothly, but she feared Wu Jingwei and the Xiang Family were secretly conspiring.
• Xi Manyun told Wang Chen that Wu Jingwei had failed to meet Luo Han, who reportedly would not intervene in the pavilion’s internal dispute.
• Wang Chen told Xi Manyun to watch the territory while he handled matters above, then instructed Meng Fei to manage his siblings and promised to begin teaching him immortal arts in half a month.
• Steward Zhang reported that a group of people had arrived and were kneeling at the pavilion entrance.

Wang Chen refused to accept Bai Jingqi’s apology after the White Wolf Gang chief knelt outside the Heavenly Master Pavilion, and ordered his staff to monitor the gang. Meng Fei left inspired to grow stronger, while Wang Chen prepared to teach him immortal Dao techniques once he recovered.

• Steward Zhang told Wang Chen that Bai Jingqi and dozens of White Wolf Gang members were kneeling outside the pavilion.
• Bai Jingqi kowtowed to Wang Chen and pleaded guilty for his subordinates’ offense, but Wang Chen dismissed him and told the gang to leave.
• Bai Jingqi offered a Storage Bag to Steward Zhang, who refused it after receiving Wang Chen’s instruction, and the gang departed.
• Wang Chen explained that the White Wolf Gang had ties to Wu Jingwei and ordered Steward Zhang to watch the gang and drive away any future visitors.
• Wang Chen told Meng Fei to recover and promised to teach him immortal Dao techniques, inspiring Meng Fei to become stronger.

Wang Chen taught Meng Fei and his siblings basic cultivation knowledge, then passed Meng Fei the Five Elements Technique. Meng Fei immediately established his foundation, and Wang Chen began preparing to teach the other children.

• Wang Chen explained basic cultivation knowledge to Meng Fei and his thirteen younger siblings at the Dao Discussion Grounds.
• Wang Chen imparted the Five Elements Technique's Spiritual Light Law Seed to Meng Fei.
• Meng Fei completed Mortal Transformation and established his Dao foundation shortly after receiving the technique.
• Wang Chen congratulated Meng Fei and explained that he could cultivate the Five Elements Technique before choosing another technique.
• Meng Fei declared that he would cultivate the Five Elements Technique through Break Through Apertures and Open the Mansion, and Wang Chen turned to the other children.

Wang Chen arranged cultivation and martial training for Meng Fei and the other children, while promising to recommend Meng Fei and his two sisters to the West Sea Sect. He left Xi Chenlong overseeing the boys without Spiritual Roots and monitoring the patrol guards, then turned to an important task of his own.

• Wang Chen made Meng Fei responsible for supervising his younger siblings’ cultivation and taught him the first three layers of the Five Elements Technique.
• Wang Chen promised to recommend Meng Fei, Meng Lan, and Meng Jiaojiao to the West Sea Sect in three years if they cultivated diligently, and Meng Fei gratefully accepted the challenge.
• Wang Chen arranged for Meng Hu, Meng Bao, and Meng Yan to study martial arts under Xi Chenlong.
• Wang Chen instructed Xi Chenlong to train the boys, recruit capable patrol guards, remove unsuitable personnel, and report any moves by the Wu Family.
• After Xi Chenlong agreed to his orders, Wang Chen prepared to attend to an important task.

Wang Chen entered Yinfeng Cave to investigate the danger lurking beneath the Upper Xun Celestial Master Pavilion. After withstanding the cave’s Yin wind and discovering its vast, ruined depths, he was attacked by hordes of ghosts and demons.

• Wang Chen returned to Xun Nine Underground Cave and entered the secret passage leading to Yinfeng Cave.
• Wang Chen endured the passage’s freezing Yin wind without using Mana to protect himself, testing his Vajra Indestructible Physique.
• Wang Chen reached Yinfeng Cave and found it much larger and deeper than the intelligence had suggested.
• Wang Chen illuminated the ruins with Talismans, revealing countless ghosts and demons that rushed toward him.
• Wang Chen activated the Heavenly Net to Punish Evil as the creatures attacked.

Wang Chen used his Grand Completion Nine Heavens Divine Thunder to clear a path through the Evil Spirits in Yinfeng Cave and force a powerful Black Grudge-level Evil Spirit out of hiding. After the creature attacked him with black light and a swarm of gnats, Wang Chen closed in as their battle turned into close-quarters combat.

• Wang Chen tested his Nine Heavens Divine Thunder on the Evil Spirits, killing them and gaining Human Virtue.
• Wang Chen advanced deeper into Yinfeng Cave and found that the Evil Spirits kept growing in number despite his attacks.
• Wang Chen unleashed the full power of his Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, destroying the ruins and driving a huge Evil Spirit out from underground.
• Wang Chen struck the evil cloud with lightning, but the Black Grudge-level Evil Spirit retaliated with black light and a swarm of black gnats.
• Wang Chen dodged the attack, used a Mystic Fire Flying Crow against the gnats, and rushed toward the Evil Spirit as it lashed out with tentacles.

Wang Chen trapped and weakened a powerful Black Grudge-level Evil Spirit with the Heavenly Net to Punish Evil, but an Evil Cultivator ambushed him from underground. He killed the cultivator with the Primal Gengjin Finger and Crimson Lion Sword while keeping the Evil Spirit trapped.

• Wang Chen cast the Heavenly Net to Punish Evil and caught the Evil Spirit, absorbing its evil power as the net contracted.
• A blood-red strike erupted from a hole in the ground and nearly pierced Wang Chen through his defenses.
• Wang Chen summoned Nine Heavens Divine Thunder into the hole, driving an Evil Cultivator out from underground.
• Wang Chen attacked the Evil Cultivator with the Crimson Lion Sword and Primal Gengjin Finger, killing him and earning 557 Heavenly Merit.

After defeating an Evil Cultivator linked to an Evil Spirit, Wang Chen explored the pit beneath Yinfeng Cave and discovered a cavern filled with human bones and swarming Evil Spirits. He kept fighting them with the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder as his Human Virtue points rapidly increased.

• Wang Chen realized the Evil Cultivator may have shared an Evil Possession with the Evil Spirit he had slain, and the Heavenly Net to Punish Evil absorbed the spirit’s remaining power.
• Wang Chen recovered his Mana using the Heavenly Net to Punish Evil, then descended into the pit where the pair had hidden.
• Wang Chen found an underground cavern carpeted with human bones and riddled with stone tunnels, then saw dark-purple ghostfire appear in the darkness.
• Wang Chen unleashed the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder and destroyed successive waves of lizard-like Evil Spirits crawling from the tunnels.
• Wang Chen continued fighting as his Human Virtue points surged and an unexamined notification flashed across his vision.

Wang Chen swept through the White Bone Cave with Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, refining his technique as he destroyed the underground lair and damaged Yinfeng Cave. He escaped to the surface after hearing a furious roar from the depths, while the deeper threats remained beyond his reach.

• Wang Chen slaughtered the Evil Spirits pouring into the White Bone Cave with Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, and the lightning gradually saturated the cave walls.
• Wang Chen gained a new understanding of the thunder art and sent electric snakes through the cave passages, then overpowered the Evil Spirits with electric pythons.
• Wang Chen smashed through the ground and fled as the White Bone Cave collapsed, burying several dozen Evil Spirits.
• Wang Chen returned to Yinfeng Cave and used Heavenly Dragon Vajra Palm to split the earth before escaping through the passage toward Xun Nine Underground Cave.
• Wang Chen heard an enraged roar from deep within Yinfeng Cave, judged that more powerful beings remained below, and quietly returned to the surface using Spirit Concealment Technique.

Wang Chen spent 100,000 Human Virtue to upgrade the Cultivation Panel, gaining five Divine Soul points and unlocking Global Mode. He tested the new map’s color-coded readings of people nearby and went to investigate the yellow dots.

• Wang Chen confirmed the Cultivation Panel upgrade, spending 100,000 Human Virtue and receiving five Divine Soul points.
• Wang Chen discovered Global Mode and saw a map of nearby people marked with colored dots.
• Wang Chen called Meng Fei and his younger brothers and sisters to test the map, confirming they appeared as green allies and the servant as a white neutral.
• Wang Chen concluded the map revealed nearby people’s inclinations and relative strength, then went to the rear garden to inspect an elderly gardener represented by a yellow dot.

After moving into the Upper Xun Celestial Master Pavilion, Wang Chen exposed and captured a spy disguised as an old gardener. He then discovered that using the Cultivation Panel's global mode rapidly drained his Human Virtue points, forcing him to turn it off.

• Wang Chen recognized that the old gardener was a peak Qi Condensation cultivator concealing his strength and malice.
• The old gardener claimed he had offended Luo Han and was hiding in the pavilion, but Wang Chen did not believe him.
• Wang Chen immobilized the gardener with his Body Immobilization Technique and knocked him unconscious.
• Wang Chen summoned Xi Chenlong and ordered him to take away the spy, holding the Xi Family responsible for recruiting him.
• Wang Chen walked through the pavilion and onto the street, then shut off global mode when he saw it rapidly consuming his Human Virtue points.

After Xi Manyun reported that a longtime spy had been found in the Xi Family, Wang Chen gave her a list of eleven more suspected spies to deal with. He then confronted former Patrol Guard Camp members who gathered at the Heavenly Master Pavilion gates, and his sudden execution of their apparent ringleader left the crowd fleeing in panic.

• Xi Manyun presented Wang Chen with the spy's confession, and he told her he did not blame her for the breach.
• Wang Chen gave Xi Manyun a talisman paper listing eleven suspected spies and ordered her to handle them properly.
• Xi Chenlong reported that former Patrol Guard Camp members had gathered outside the Heavenly Master Pavilion to protest their removal.
• Wang Chen went to the gates and faced the crowd, whose members faltered when they realized they were confronting a Purple Mansion master and Protector Heavenly Master.
• When a cultivator began to shout, Wang Chen's sword killed him and swept through the crowd, sending the remaining troublemakers fleeing.