Chapter Summaries

On the anniversary of entering the Holy Spirit Mountain Realm, Lu Ran welcomed new disciples, organized the Ran Sect’s leadership, and agreed to bring Luo Ying’s children to Yunhai Cliff. After the meeting, he fell asleep at his desk while Jiang Ruyi and Leng Xuanshuang watched him.

• On the anniversary, Lu Ran signed contracts with the new disciples, while Deng Yuxiang silenced the hall when their tearful gratitude weighed on him.
• Jiang Xianzi accompanied Lu Ran to a meeting where he appointed Shangguan Hongfu to lead the thirteen Lantern Disciples in the newly established Fushou Hall.
• Lu Ran agreed to Luo Ying bringing her children to Yunhai Cliff and offered her a Teleportation Mirror to reach her residence safely.
• After opening the mirror for Luo Ying, Lu Ran stretched out on the writing desk and asked Jiang Ruyi to teach him math.

Lu Ran visited Xun Yifei and Luo Ying but frightened their young children with his Sea Realm presence, deepening his worry that he could no longer belong in human society. Back at home, Jiang Ruyi comforted him and discussed Leng Xuanshuang’s cultivation limit, while Lu Ran predicted he would meet his opponent at Thousand Flowers Ridge.

• Lu Ran visited Xun Yifei and Luo Ying’s home, but their children cried from fear of his aura, so he left after briefly speaking with them while invisible.
• Lu Ran sat by the sea cliff and wondered whether he could ever return to ordinary life in Rain Alley City or reconnect with his old friends and family.
• Yan Shuangzi suggested that an artifact might conceal Lu Ran’s aura, and Lu Ran decided to set off south the next morning.
• Lu Ran watched Jiang Ruyi teach Leng Xuanshuang sword dancing, then learned that Leng Xuanshuang had reached the limit of her cultivation talent.
• Lu Ran told Jiang Ruyi that after taking the Eight Desolates Saber and defeating his opponent, he would go north to help Leng Xuanshuang, and he predicted they would meet the other side at Thousand Flowers Ridge.

Lu Ran and his team reached Thousand Flowers Ridge and found Ghost Talisman Dolls hiding among the ruins of the Qianhua Gang. They wiped out the fiends, and Lu Ran gathered their souls as the team prepared to continue its mission.

• Lu Ran’s team arrived at Thousand Flowers Ridge and chose the flower-filled valley as their battlefield while they searched the area.
• Shangguan Hongfu led Lu Ran and the others to ruined buildings, where they detected ghostly presences and identified the attackers as Ghost Talisman Dolls.
• Lu Ran ordered the team to spread out, then used his River-tier Sound of Lamentation to draw the Ghost Talisman Dolls into the open.
• Deng Yuxiang struck down the Ghost Talisman Dolls with Night Beguiler Sabers and Night Wind Assault, overcoming their ability to turn Phantomized.
• Lu Ran collected the fiends’ souls and scolded the others for reacting to his bleating.

Lu Ran’s search for Qin Yanzhi stalled at the deserted Thousand Flowers Ridge, where Jiang Ruyi comforted him as a mysterious challenger approached. The newcomer, Wu Xiao, arrived with a human mount and revealed himself as a Wusheng Believer; Lu Ran recognized that he had come seeking death.

• Lu Ran found Thousand Flowers Ridge abandoned and despaired of finding a trail to Qin Yanzhi, while Jiang Ruyi told him to wait in case Qin Yanzhi came looking for him.
• The Eight Desolates Saber Spirit warned Lu Ran that an approaching opponent was moving toward them.
• Three days later, Wu Xiao arrived on the blood-red horse Huo'er, who was actually a human, and fixed his attention on Lu Ran.
• Lu Ran dismissed his companions, and Jiang Ruyi kissed his cheek before wishing him caution.
• Wu Xiao introduced himself as a Wusheng Believer from Guangyue Province, and Lu Ran told him he had come seeking death.

Lu Ran tried to persuade Wu Xiao to abandon his death wish, but Wu Xiao insisted on fighting and unleashed his Wusheng Divine Techniques. Their battle continued among the falling lightning and flowers, and Wu Xiao finally asked Lu Ran which deity he worshiped.

• Lu Ran told Wu Xiao about a person with a dead heart who had been reborn, then explained that Lihuo worried deeply about him.
• Wu Xiao introduced his horse as Lihuo and asked Lu Ran to protect her without asking her real name if Wu Xiao lost.
• Wu Xiao rejected Lu Ran’s plea to live and attacked with six command banners, summoning a formation of lightning.
• Lu Ran met Wu Xiao’s spear with his saber, and they exchanged attacks while using their techniques to dodge and counter.
• Wu Xiao praised Lu Ran’s martial skill and asked which deity he worshiped as Lu Ran caught a falling petal on his blade.

Lu Ran and Wu Xiao fought fiercely at Thousand Flowers Ridge, where Wu Xiao unleashed the Wusheng Sect’s command flags and ultimate techniques. Lu Ran revealed unexpected abilities, and the chapter ended with him inviting Wu Xiao to join his household as an opera singer.

• Lu Ran and Wu Xiao traded saber and spear blows until Wu Xiao used Xi Hun Qiang, which did not affect Lu Ran.
• Wu Xiao unleashed the Raging Flames Burning Camp Order, but Lu Ran remained unharmed and preserved the flower fields around him.
• Lu Ran told Wu Xiao that drifting petals reminded him of Wu Xiao, prompting Wu Xiao to renew his resolve to fight beside the Black Iron Spear.
• Wu Xiao activated the Gale Pulling Village Order and used Double Hero Face and Luo Xiang Ding Qiankun to gain the advantage over Lu Ran.
• Lu Ran used War Stomp to unleash electricity, surprising Wu Xiao, then said his household already had a sword dancer and needed someone who sang opera.

Lu Ran and Wu Xiao clashed with their Divine Weapon Domains, unleashing overlapping storms of lightning and fire that shattered Lu Ran’s armor. Lu Ran called down the Night Beguiler Evil Saber, but its slash missed Wu Xiao, leaving the outcome unclear.

• Lu Ran used lightning-enhanced speed and Qiansi Line against Wu Xiao, but Wu Xiao’s forms and techniques deflected the attack and unleashed his Annihilation domain.
• Wu Xiao drove his Black Iron Spear into the ground, causing expanding blasts that shattered the mountain and forced Yu Changsheng’s group to retreat.
• Deng Yuxiang carried Lihuo away from the battlefield while Lu Ran plunged into the dust and expanded his Lightning Domain around Wu Xiao.
• Lu Ran and Wu Xiao’s lightning and flame domains overlapped, and the resulting sea of fire shattered Lu Ran’s Water Flow Armor.
• Lu Ran summoned a thousand-meter Night Beguiler Evil Saber and struck, but Deng Yuxiang saw that its slash had inexplicably missed.

Lu Ran defeated Wu Xiao, destroyed the Black Iron Spear, and used Huisheng Carp to restore Wu Xiao’s body, but Wu Xiao remained unwilling to live. Lu Ran confronted him among the flowers, declaring himself the god who would lead him to slaughter the Gods and Devils.

• Lu Ran restrained Wu Xiao with electric currents and struck him with the Celestial Python, then charged into Wu Xiao’s lightning-and-fire domain after his Water Flow Armor shattered.
• Lu Ran emerged with the badly injured Wu Xiao, disarmed him, and split the Black Iron Spear in two with the Eight Desolates Saber.
• Lihuo pleaded for Wu Xiao’s life, and Lu Ran gave her Huisheng Carp to heal his shattered body; Yu Changsheng also sent a golden fish, but Wu Xiao remained motionless.
• Lu Ran asked Lihuo whether she had found out what kind of believer he was, then told Wu Xiao that he was the god Wu Xiao should worship and would lead him against the Gods and Devils.

After Lu Ran spared Wu Xiao, Lihuo cared for him while Jiang Ruyi reunited her with Zhong Rou. Lu Ran urged Wu Xiao to join his campaign against the gods, and Wu Xiao finally agreed, though he still struggled to trust in hope.

• Lihuo washed Wu Xiao's battered body and dressed him in a robe Lu Ran provided.
• Jiang Ruyi reassured Lihuo that she had not been mistreated, then left her to speak privately with Zhong Rou.
• Lu Ran placed Wu Xiao's broken Black Iron Spear beside him and invited him to rebuild its spear spirit and challenge him.
• Wu Xiao said he would follow Lu Ran because he had nothing to lose and had planned to die by Lu Ran's hand.
• Lu Ran offered to bind Wu Xiao to Wusheng's False God Stone Statue so he could inherit Wusheng's power and claim the divine throne.
• After Lu Ran insisted that Wu Xiao's life mattered to him, Wu Xiao turned around and agreed to follow him.

Lu Ran comprehended the Eight Desolates Saber's first Divine Weapon Domain, Bafang Jumie, and returned to River Valley Land. Jiang Ruyi proposed giving Wu Xiao the Purple Thunder Dragon Ji and binding him to the Wusheng Divine Idol, leaving the Black Iron Spear and his former life behind.

• Lu Ran studied Wu Xiao and the Black Iron Spear's technique until the Eight Desolates Saber comprehended its Divine Weapon Domain, creating a Mist Tornado over Thousand Flowers Ridge.
• Si Xianxian, Jiang Ruyi, and the others sensed the Divine Power and cultivated while the domain's effects lasted.
• Lu Ran descended into River Valley Land, where the Ran Sect members congratulated him and Wu Xiao respectfully offered his congratulations.
• Lu Ran named the Eight Desolates Saber's first domain Bafang Jumie, which destroyed everything in all directions from him with a single saber thrust.
• Jiang Ruyi suggested giving Wu Xiao the Purple Thunder Dragon Ji and having him bind with the Wusheng Divine Idol, so he could leave the Black Iron Spear and his former self behind.

Lu Ran welcomed Wu Xiao into the Ran Sect and gave him the Purple Thunder Dragon Ji as his first task, then arranged new assignments and prepared to travel north. He left Yu Changsheng to work with He Yingcai at Yanyu Lake and returned to Yunhai Dwelling, where Leng Xuanshuang declared her resolve to remain by Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi’s side.

• Lu Ran gave Wu Xiao the Purple Thunder Dragon Ji and ordered him to make the Second-Rank Divine Weapon his own, while Jiang Ruyi took custody of his Black Iron Spear.
• Jiang Ruyi told Wu Xiao to focus on the halberd and eventually break his contract with the god Wusheng to join Lu Ran’s Sect.
• Lu Ran chose Luo Ying, Xue Fengchen, Gao Yunyan, and Shangguan Hongfu to accompany him north to meet the Bingmei Yaohou clan, and sent Yu Changsheng to Yanyu Lake to check on Cai Divine General and build ties with the Thousand Boat Alliance.
• Lu Ran visited He Yingcai, learned that Yun Qianzhou remained in seclusion, and returned to Yunhai Dwelling with pastries and Yan Yu Tea.
• Jiang Ruyi reassured Leng Xuanshuang that her cultivation could continue advancing, and Leng Xuanshuang vowed to replace the Evil God and stay with Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi to the end.

Lu Ran and his team found and killed Bingmei Yaohou in the snowy north, then he activated her evil sculpture and used it to bind Leng Xuanshuang to an Inheritance Contract. Leng Xuanshuang gained the chance to improve her cultivation talent, and Lu Ran left after asking her to protect Jiang Ruyi.

• Yan Shuangzi detected Bingmei Yaohou’s plum fragrance, and Lu Ran’s team followed it through the snow while Shangguan Hongfu used the Eight-Sided Lantern for protection.
• Luo Ying shot Bingmei Yaohou with a tracking Water Mist Arrow, piercing her chest and killing her despite the demon’s Ice Sword Qi and evasive technique.
• Lu Ran captured Bingmei Yaohou’s soul and activated her evil sculpture, which reached Stream Realm, third stage.
• Lu Ran returned to Yunhai Cliff and bound Leng Xuanshuang to Bingmei Yaohou’s sculpture with an Inheritance Contract.
• Lu Ran asked Leng Xuanshuang to protect Jiang Ruyi, then departed through the mirror.

After recovering from the strain of helping Leng Xuanshuang transform, Lu Ran went with Jiang Ruyi to Thousand Flowers Ridge, where she performed a sword dance for him. Their private moment ended when a Black-Clothed Youth appeared on the ridge, watched the dance, and vanished.

• Jiang Ruyi comforted Lu Ran after he returned from the battle, and he slept until dusk the following day.
• Lu Ran woke and tested the Ice Plum Yaohou's evil techniques while learning that Leng Xuanshuang had adapted to her transformation.
• Jiang Ruyi invited Lu Ran to Thousand Flowers Ridge, and they traveled there together.
• Jiang Ruyi performed a sword dance for Lu Ran among the flowers.
• A Black-Clothed Youth watched the dance from the mountain ridge before vanishing through a black Other Shore Flower.

Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi failed to catch a Chenying Disciple who teleported away from Thousand Flowers Ridge, then recruited Leng Xuanshuang and the Shadow Guard Team to wait for his return. After watching Leng Xuanshuang perform a sword dance, Lu Ran agreed to slow their journey, cultivate for a month, and help Evil Shadow take revenge before pursuing plans involving the Wusheng Sect.

• A Chenying Disciple teleported away before Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi could question him, and Lu Ran failed to find him around Thousand Flowers Ridge.
• Jiang Ruyi suggested they bring the Shadow Guard Team to watch for the Chenying Disciple, so Lu Ran summoned guards and Leng Xuanshuang and sent the guards to hide in the flowers.
• Leng Xuanshuang performed the Plum Fall Startling Swan sword dance, impressing Lu Ran and captivating Jiang Ruyi.
• Jiang Ruyi urged Lu Ran to rest and cultivate before continuing south, and she proposed avenging Evil Shadow before they dealt with the Wusheng Sect.
• Lu Ran agreed to return and cultivate for a month, while noting that he and Evil Shadow might reach the peak of the Jiang Realm around March or April.

Lu Ran welcomed Gao Yunyan and Xue Fengchen, lent Gao Yunyan a magic tool for her impending breakthrough, and learned that Lihuo wanted to join his command to improve her cultivation aptitude. After Jiang Ruyi explained how Lihuo had learned about the stone statues, Lu Ran considered what to do.

• Lu Ran met Gao Yunyan and Xue Fengchen in his courtyard and made them taste bitter Yan Yu Tea.
• Gao Yunyan reported that she was nearing a cultivation bottleneck, and Lu Ran lent her the Chifengwen Gourd to aid her breakthrough.
• Lu Ran encouraged Xue Fengchen to advance soon, then learned Leng Xuanshuang expected to benefit from Gao Yunyan's breakthrough.
• Jiang Ruyi told Lu Ran that Lihuo wanted to transfer under his command to improve her cultivation aptitude.
• Jiang Ruyi explained that Mad Immortal Dwelling's Sister Xian'er had become Lihuo's confidante and had urged her to ask Lu Ran for help.

Lu Ran helped Lihuo break her contract with the gods and bind herself to the Black Fire Colt, giving her a new identity and the prospect of unlimited cultivation. Jiang Ruyi kept Lihuo by her side and planned for her to return to Wu Xiao if the Ran Sect later gained control of the Wusheng Sect.

• Jiang Ruyi endorsed Lihuo as a suitable candidate for the Black Fire Colt, and Lu Ran summoned Mr. Conglong, Wu Xiao, and Lihuo to Yunhai Dwelling.
• Lu Ran explained that binding with the Black Fire Colt would free Lihuo's cultivation talent but prevent her from becoming a warhorse, and Wu Xiao told her she would not need to roam the world if she followed Lu Ran.
• Lihuo chose to tear up her contract with the gods, and Yu Changsheng and He Yingcai helped her endure the ritual before Lu Ran bound her to the Black Fire Colt.
• Si Xianxian arrived as Lihuo recovered, and Lu Ran ordered Wu Xiao to report to the Nightmare Guardian and protect Yunhai Cliff while Divine General Yan prepared to advance.
• Jiang Ruyi told Lihuo to stay by her side and later explained that she would return to Wu Xiao to help manage the Wusheng Sect if the Ran Sect took control of it.

Lu Ran advanced to the Sea Realm's Second Stage during Gao Yunyan's breakthrough, while Yan Shuangzi completed her own advancement and confronted her complicated feelings about a mountain and Xing Elder. After ten days, the mist began to clear, and Lu Ran emerged stronger and closer to the Tian Realm and Daoji Peak.

• Lu Ran entered the Number One Closed Door Meditation Room with the Yunhai Chenqing Knife and Chifengwen Gourd as Evil Shadow Guardian and Leng Xuanshuang began their breakthroughs.
• On April 12th, Lu Ran drank the Chifengwen Gourd's concentrated divine power, broke through his bottleneck, and entered Advancement Mode.
• Yan Shuangzi completed her advancement at the peak of the River Realm, then went to guard Lu Ran's meditation room as Jiang Ruyi encouraged her to settle her emotions.
• In the tunnel, Yan Shuangzi spoke with the Evil Moon Short Knife about her enemies on a mountain and persuaded it to acknowledge her as its master, whereupon it named itself the Xiao Ling Knife.
• On April 21st, the mist began to disperse, and Jiang Ruyi flew to receive Lu Ran as Xuanshuang and Lihuo followed.
• Lu Ran emerged from seclusion having advanced to the Sea Realm's Second Stage, and Chifengwen Gourd affectionately pressed against his palm.

After completing his advancement, Lu Ran gathered the Ran Sect and planned an expedition to destroy Daoji Peak in revenge for what its people had done to Deng Yuxiang’s girlfriend. He divided the forces into teams and ordered them to prepare to march within a week.

• Lu Ran emerged from closed-door meditation, greeted the Ran Sect members, and shared a moment with Jiang Ruyi.
• Lu Ran agreed to bring Bai YanHui on the expedition so Bai’s predictions could help them on the battlefield.
• At the meeting, Lu Ran warned the Ran Sect not to underestimate Daoji Peak and said he wanted everyone to return alive.
• Lu Ran assigned Deng Yuxiang, Yu Changsheng, and himself and Jiang Ruyi to lead three expedition teams, while Xun Yifei stayed to guard Yunhai Cliff.
• He Yingcai volunteered to join Lu Ran’s team, and Lu Ran ordered everyone to prepare for an assault on Daoji Peak within one to seven days.

Lu Ran led the Ran Sect Generals to Daoji Peak, only to find its headquarters shattered and its disciples dead. Yan Shuangzi broke down when she realized her chance for revenge might be gone, and Lu Ran comforted her while hoping Xing Elder had survived.

• Lu Ran assembled the Ran Sect Generals and led them through the Standing Mirror to Daoji Peak.
• Lu Ran found the peak’s mountains collapsed and discovered that the North Wind Faction had been attacked and its disciples killed.
• Yan Shuangzi vanished after seeing the bodies, while Yu Changsheng and the others searched the ruins for information.
• Lu Ran found Yan Shuangzi at the cave where she had been imprisoned and comforted her as she wept over the possibility that Xing Elder was dead.
• Lu Ran held Yan Shuangzi and silently vowed that Xing Elder would survive, directing his anger at North Wind.

Lu Ran’s search of Daoji Peak revealed a massacre of North Wind Disciples and no obvious attackers, leading him to suspect a Tian Realm being was responsible. The Ran Sect rescued Wu Huan and brought him to Yunhai Cliff, where he began recounting Daoji Peak’s fall.

• Xiong Xiong and the Ran Sect members uncovered 148 corpses at Daoji Peak, mostly North Wind Disciples, and Lu Ran ordered further searches.
• Yan Shuangzi reported finding eight Sea Realm individuals and no sign of Xing Elder, while Lu Ran worried that a Tian Realm being had destroyed the sect.
• Si Xianxian’s team found a Wuya Believer underground, and Gao Yunyan brought the young man, Wu Huan, to Lu Ran.
• Lu Ran opened a Teleportation Mirror and brought Wu Huan and the Ran Sect members back to Yunhai Cliff.
• Wu Huan told Lu Ran that North Wind Believers had captured him and forced him to work at Daoji Peak.
• Wu Huan began explaining that the Peak Master had advanced, gone mad, and started killing everyone.