Chapter Summaries

Yun Yun went to Gu He's courtyard to reconcile, but struggled to face him. Gu He apologized, confessed his feelings, and kissed her; Yun Yun asked for time to think before he let her go and took out a piece of blue soft armor.

• Yun Yun approached Gu He's courtyard intending to resolve their estrangement, but hesitated and turned to leave.
• Gu He appeared and apologized for what had happened in the cave, while Yun Yun said they should pretend nothing had happened.
• Gu He stopped Yun Yun, told her he could not forget their time together, and pulled her into his embrace.
• Gu He kissed Yun Yun and said he would take responsibility, but Yun Yun asked him to give her time to decide.
• Gu He released Yun Yun and took a piece of blue soft armor from his Storage Ring as she prepared to leave.

Gu He gave Yun Yun the Mysterious Ice Sacred Armor and three Earth Fire Lotus Seeds, while their exchange of close-fitting armor deepened Yun Yun’s feelings for him. Yun Yun accepted his gifts and quietly accepted his claim that she was his woman.

• Gu He showed Yun Yun the damaged inner armor she had worn in the Monster Beast Mountain Range and refused to return it, saying it was the only thing she had left him.
• Gu He gave Yun Yun the Mysterious Ice Sacred Armor as an exchange of tokens of affection, and she activated it with Dou Qi to form a protective ice suit around herself.
• Gu He explained that the armor contained several eighth-tier ice-attribute monster cores and offered powerful defense, moving Yun Yun with his generosity.
• Yun Yun thanked Gu He and did not object when he called her his woman.
• Gu He gave Yun Yun three Earth Fire Lotus Seeds and explained that they could restore Dou Qi or help her break through, and she stored them in her Storage Ring.

Gu He misread Yun Yun’s rejection as embarrassment, and she left after reminding him to preside over the Inner Sect Competition in ten days. The next day, Xiao Yi Xian reached the Da Dou Shi realm, and Gu He’s power transmission helped her break through to Two-star Da Dou Shi.

• Gu He offered to visit Yun Yun at night, but she rejected him after he disguised his intentions as a request to share tea and talk.
• Gu He mistook Yun Yun’s refusal for a shy answer, while Yun Yun regretted being too cold; she then reminded him that the Inner Sect Competition was in ten days and he had promised to preside over it.
• The next day, Xiao Yi Xian told Gu He she had broken through to Da Dou Shi after advancing from Eight-star Dou Shi in a month.
• Gu He began transmitting Dou Qi to Xiao Yi Xian, who endured the pressure and guided the power into her Dou Qi vortex.
• Xiao Yi Xian broke through to Two-star Da Dou Shi during Gu He’s power transmission.

Xiao Yi Xian endured Gu He's power transmission and advanced to four-star Great Dou Master before reaching her limit. Gu He gave her Companion Amethyst Crystal Source, while the system rewarded him with ten thousand bottles and he considered seeking stronger disciples.

• Xiao Yi Xian refined Gu He's energy, breaking through from one-star to four-star Great Dou Master before warning him that she had reached her limit.
• Gu He stopped transmitting power and received nine years of cultivation from the system, bringing his accumulated return to ten years.
• Gu He considered leaving the Misty Cloud Sect to recruit stronger disciples and decided to find a place to break through in a few days.
• Xiao Yi Xian thanked Gu He, and he gave her a bottle of Companion Amethyst Crystal Source and warned her to refine it in three portions.
• The system rewarded Gu He with ten thousand bottles of Companion Amethyst Crystal Source, which he suspected would be of little use to him.

Gu He gave Xiao Yi Xian Companion Amethyst Crystal Source and prepared Shadow Poisonous Insect Eggs as her third gift. He passed on an Insect Control Technique so she could hatch and command the insects.

• Gu He drank Companion Amethyst Crystal Source in the System Space and considered mixing it with sweet-and-sour Spirit Liquid.
• Xiao Yi Xian tasted the Companion Amethyst Crystal Source, felt its energy, and celebrated Gu He's promise that she could have more.
• Gu He opened a brocade box and explained that its Shadow Poisonous Insect Eggs could hatch into powerful, stealthy insects.
• Xiao Yi Xian admitted she did not know how to raise insects, so Gu He transmitted the Insect Control Technique into her mind.

Xiao Yi Xian took the Shadow Poison Insect Eggs and learned how to control poisonous insects, while Gu He received eighteen powerful Bloodthirsty Poison Cicada eggs through the system. Meanwhile, Xiao Yan camped near the Monster Beast Mountain Range as Elder Yao laid out a dangerous training journey toward the Tagor Desert, and Xiao Yan renewed his resolve to defeat Nalan Yanran.

• Xiao Yi Xian accepted the Shadow Poison Insect Eggs and hurried away to study the Insect Control Technique.
• Gu He received eighteen Bloodthirsty Poison Cicada eggs from the system, formed a master-servant contract with them, and learned that they could rival Seventh-tier Magical Beasts when fully grown.
• Gu He retrieved the Bloodthirsty Poison Cicada eggs and decided to place them in the valley behind the mountain so they could absorb natural energy.
• Xiao Yan asked Elder Yao about their destination, and Elder Yao explained that they would cross the Monster Beast Mountain Range before continuing to the Tagor Desert.
• Elder Yao estimated that Nalan Yanran had reached the Six-star or Seven-star Dou Zhe level, and Xiao Yan vowed to win their three-year agreement.

Gu He discovered that all eighteen Bloodthirsty Poison Cicadas had hatched and began feeding them magical beast flesh to accelerate their growth. After tending to his medicinal garden, he sensed a powerful unfamiliar aura in the Misty Cloud Sect's back mountain and identified it as belonging to the Soul Hall.

• Gu He inspected eighteen newly hatched Bloodthirsty Poison Cicadas, each as strong as a four-star magical beast, and considered how to mature and multiply them.
• Gu He threw a magical beast corpse into the secret chamber and ordered the cicadas to devour it.
• Gu He sensed that the cicadas' auras had grown more bloodthirsty after feeding and ordered them to stay in the chamber.
• Gu He checked his medicinal garden, where fifteen Sixth-Grade Spirit Medicines were growing, then left the valley.
• Gu He detected a powerful unfamiliar aura in the Misty Cloud Sect's back mountain and recognized it as the Soul Hall.

Gu He pursued Wu Protector, the Soul Hall agent hiding in the Misty Cloud Sect, to prevent him from discovering the secrets in the back mountain. Their battle began in the mountains, where Gu He’s lotus platform stopped Wu Protector’s attack, and Gu He revealed a Heavenly Flame.

• Gu He realized that Wu Protector might have noticed the unusual activity in the back mountain and pursued him with Within Reach, Yet Worlds Apart.
• Gu He intercepted Wu Protector in a remote mountain range while standing on the Green Lotus Sacred Platform.
• Wu Protector identified himself as a member of the Soul Hall and threatened Gu He, but Gu He attacked without answering.
• Wu Protector sent iron chains at Gu He, and the Cyan Sacred Shield repelled them without damage.
• Wu Protector coveted Gu He’s lotus platform, then recognized the purple-red flame in Gu He’s hand as a Heavenly Flame.

Gu He attacked Wu Protector with the Destiny Divine Flame, badly injuring him and disrupting his attempt to strengthen himself by devouring captured souls. Wu Protector unleashed five newly empowered chains at Gu He, and the battle continued.

• Wu Protector's chains melted against Gu He's Destiny Divine Flame, and the resulting blast grievously injured him.
• Wu Protector devoured soul bodies from his soul pouch to restore his strength.
• Gu He used Within Reach, Yet Worlds Apart to reach Wu Protector and struck the soul pouch with a huge fireball, releasing nearly a hundred souls.
• Wu Protector angrily attacked Gu He with chains, but Gu He repelled them with the Destiny Divine Flame.
• Wu Protector summoned five chains filled with denser black mist and sent them toward Gu He.

Gu He unleashed the Vermilion Bird Seal against Wu Protector, and their attacks collided with enough force to devastate the surrounding mountains. The chapter ended as a powerful black-and-crimson energy wave swept across the sky, with the battle’s outcome still unresolved.

• Wu Protector’s iron chains missed Gu He, who reappeared above him on the Green Lotus Sacred Platform.
• Gu He formed the Vermilion Bird Seal and summoned a massive, flame-covered Vermilion Bird Phantom.
• Gu He sent the Vermilion Bird Phantom at Wu Protector, who mistook it for a Heavenly Demon Phoenix and condensed his black mist into an energy sphere.
• Wu Protector launched the black sphere, and it collided with the Vermilion Bird Phantom as both attacks eroded each other for several minutes.
• The clashing energies released a huge black-and-crimson shockwave that snapped trees, destroyed peaks, and sent Magic Beasts fleeing.

Gu He survived the clash with Wu Protector and pressed his attack, while Wu Protector tried to retreat after realizing he was outmatched. Gu He’s fire dragon caught up with Wu Protector, leaving his fate unresolved.

• Gu He escaped the energy collision with Within Reach, Yet Worlds Apart, while Wu Protector was injured by the aftershock.
• Wu Protector questioned Gu He’s identity and tried to negotiate, but Gu He declared that the Soul Hall deserved to be killed.
• Wu Protector attempted to retreat, but Gu He pursued him with a fireball that melted his chain attacks.
• Gu He formed a massive dragon from Destiny Divine Flame and sent it after Wu Protector.
• Gu He distorted the space ahead of Wu Protector, slowing his escape as the fire dragon struck toward him.

Gu He defeated Wu Protector and captured him, discovering that the Soul Hall expert was actually a soul body. As Gu He used the Destiny Divine Flame to interrogate him, Wu Protector learned that the flame could directly harm souls.

• Wu Protector emerged from Gu He's Purple Flame attack and fled, but Gu He caught up and struck him down.
• Gu He trapped Wu Protector in a net of Purple Flame and weakened him until the black mist disappeared, revealing his soul body.
• Wu Protector threatened Gu He and Xiao Yan, but Gu He said he wanted to learn from him and reached into the energy membrane.
• Wu Protector attacked Gu He's hand with a black chain, and Gu He hit his soul with the Destiny Divine Flame.
• Wu Protector screamed as the flame burned his soul and demanded to know what kind of flame could harm it directly.

Gu He captured Wu Protector's soul and interrogated him about the Soul Hall, its strength, branch halls, and his deal with Yun Shan. Wu Protector revealed that Yun Shan had taken a Blood Soul Pill and owed him three favors if he reached Dou Zong, while Gu He was left asking what the pill was.

• Gu He sealed Wu Protector's severely weakened soul in a jade bottle and brought him back to his room.
• Wu Protector escaped the bottle but was trapped by Gu He's invisible flames, recognized Gu He, and demanded to know who he was.
• Gu He forced Wu Protector to describe the Soul Hall's ranks and power, and Wu Protector said he knew of an Iron Protector in the Cloud Mist Empire.
• Under further pressure, Wu Protector revealed two Soul Hall branch locations: Tian Zang Jian in the Tianxin Empire and the Black Corner Region.
• Gu He questioned Wu Protector about his arrangement with Yun Shan, and Wu Protector revealed that Yun Shan had taken a Blood Soul Pill and promised three favors if he reached Dou Zong.

Gu He learned that the Soul Hall’s Blood Soul Pills carried a deadly Blood Curse and could prevent future breakthroughs, prompting him to consider helping Yun Shan remove the curse. He then turned his attention to the captured Wu Protector’s hidden valuables.

• Wu Protector offered Gu He two Blood Soul Pills, and Gu He inspected them and smelled a strong scent of flesh and blood.
• Gu He threatened Wu Protector with flames until he revealed that failed breakthroughs caused the pills’ users to explode and feed their flesh to new pills, while successful users received a Blood Curse that could control their lives.
• Wu Protector explained that the Blood Curse prevented further breakthroughs unless removed, and said a Soul Hall Venerable might know how the pills were made.
• Gu He recalled that Yun Shan had taken a Blood Soul Pill and considered meeting him to see whether Heavenly Flames could remove his curse.
• Gu He stored the pills in his Storage Ring and demanded that Wu Protector reveal the valuables he was still hiding.

Gu He forced Wu Protector to surrender his Advanced Spirit Absorption and searched its vast storage space, taking Wu Protector’s treasures and two Soul Hall secret arts. After discovering the Soul Snatching Technique and Soul Devouring Technique, Gu He stored the scrolls and withdrew the walls of fire around Wu Protector.

• Gu He threatened Wu Protector with closing walls of fire until Wu Protector agreed to hand over his treasure.
• Wu Protector extracted his Advanced Spirit Absorption and gave it to Gu He.
• Gu He entered the Advanced Spirit Absorption space, found Wu Protector’s collection, and took two black scrolls while keeping Wu Protector trapped behind walls of fire.
• Gu He read the scrolls and learned the Soul Snatching Technique and Soul Devouring Technique.
• Gu He stored both secret arts in the System Space and forced back the walls of fire around Wu Protector.

Gu He sealed Wu Protector back inside the jade bottle and reflected on the threat posed by the Soul Hall before studying two soul secret techniques. Three days later, the Misty Cloud Sect’s Inner Sect ranking competition began, and the gathered disciples speculated about its strongest contenders.

• Gu He rejected Wu Protector’s belief that he would be released and sealed him inside the jade bottle, where invisible flames kept his soul severely injured.
• Gu He concluded that the Soul Hall was too powerful to confront and decided to keep a low profile until he gained sufficient strength.
• Gu He studied the two soul secret techniques for three days before the Inner Sect ranking competition began.
• Thousands of Misty Cloud Sect disciples gathered at the Inner Sect plaza, where eight arenas were prepared for the elimination tournament.
• The disciples predicted that Senior Sister Nalan, Senior Brother Yun Luo, and Senior Brother Lin Hao would be the competition’s top three.

Gu He presided over the Misty Cloud Sect’s Inner Sect Competition, where his disciples Liu Ling, Xiao Yi Xian, and Nalan Yanran drew widespread attention. After the three defeated their opponents with ease, the competition ended with Xiao Yi Xian in first place, Liu Ling in second, and Nalan Yanran in third.

• Gu He arrived with Xiao Yi Xian, Nalan Yanran, and Liu Ling, then asked Grand Elder Yun Leng to announce the competition rules and begin the matches.
• Yun Leng organized the numbered draws, and the early matches saw stronger disciples quickly eliminate many one-star Dou Zhe contestants.
• Liu Ling defeated Qu Xiang with a single strike using Wind-Treading Footwork and Extreme Yang Finger, then left the arena as his reputation spread.
• Xiao Yi Xian and Nalan Yanran each defeated their opponents in one move, following Liu Ling’s example.
• Three days later, Xiao Yi Xian took first place, Liu Ling took second, and Nalan Yanran took third, surprising the sect’s disciples and elders.

Over two months, Gu He strengthened Nine-Colored Valley, cultivated his pets and medicines, and gathered Longevity Pearls. His status panel showed that he had reached Peak Nine-Star Dou Zong, leaving him one step from Dou Zun as he prepared to head to the Black Corner Region.

• Gu He rejected elders and deacons who asked him to teach their younger disciples after Xiao Yi Xian and Liu Ling drew attention in the Inner Sect Competition.
• Gu He inspected Nine-Colored Valley, where his herb garden held ten Seventh-Grade Spirit Medicines and twenty Sixth-Grade Spirit Medicines, and collected another Longevity Pearl from Cai'er.
• Gu He found that the Crimson Flame Demonic Flood Dragon had advanced to seventh-tier advanced, the Golden Feather Giant Eagle had reached the seventh tier, and his other creatures were growing stronger.
• Gu He checked the eighteen Bloodthirsty Poison Cicadas and expected them to mature and begin laying eggs soon.
• Gu He viewed his status panel and saw that his cultivation had reached Peak Nine-Star Dou Zong; the author noted plans for him to head to the Black Corner Region.

Gu He decided to leave the Misty Cloud Sect to find stronger disciples and gather enough energy to break through to Dou Zun, while preparing his current disciples to train beyond the sect. After reviewing their progress and his new techniques and treasures, he began arranging matters before his departure.

• Gu He concluded that Power Transmission from his four disciples could not provide enough energy for him to break through from Peak Nine-Star Dou Zong to Dou Zun, so he decided to leave the Misty Cloud Sect.
• Gu He reviewed Xiao Yi Xian's, Liu Ling's, Nalan Yanran's, and Qing Lin's rapid cultivation progress and considered how they could protect themselves while training outside the sect.
• Gu He recalled the techniques, weapons, armor, and high-grade pills he had gained through Ten Thousandfold Return, which gave him confidence to venture out.
• Gu He put away his attribute panel and began arranging matters before leaving the Misty Cloud Sect.

Elder Yao demonstrated the Earth-tier Flame Splitting Wave Ruler for Xiao Yan, who resolved to use it to defeat Nalan Yanran. On the Misty Cloud Sect Main Peak, Nalan Yanran reached the peak of nine-star Dou Shi and prepared to take a Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill to advance further.

• Elder Yao took Xiao Yan's Black Ruler and showed him the terrifying power of the Earth-tier Flame Splitting Wave Ruler by splitting the waterfall and cutting into the cliff.
• Xiao Yan was thrilled by the technique's strength and vowed to defeat Nalan Yanran before the Misty Cloud Sect in one year.
• Nalan Yanran broke through to the peak of nine-star Dou Shi after cultivating with the Seven-Colored Sacred Lotus and Gu He's Power Transmission.
• Nalan Yanran stabilized her cultivation, took out a Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill, and prepared to break through to Da Dou Shi.