Chapter Summaries

Fu Biao and Yue Tong agreed to join forces with other sects against the Heavenly Eye Sect, then sparked a fight at the Welcome Pavilion when Yu Yang ordered outsiders to stay put. As reinforcements closed in, Ning Yufan was sent to deal with the disturbance.

• Fu Biao persuaded Yue Tong to ally with other sects and gamble on dividing the Heavenly Eye Sect's resources.
• Yu Yang delivered the sect master's order that outside cultivators remain in the Welcome Pavilion until the mountain was secure.
• Fu Biao attacked Yu Yang, and Heavenly Eye Sect disciples formed a coordinated formation to resist him.
• Yue Tong and two other Core Condensation cultivators joined Fu Biao, overwhelming the disciples' formation as Yu Yang sent a Sound Transmission Talisman for help.
• True Person Withered Wood read Yu Yang's message and sent Ning Yufan to the Welcome Pavilion.

After destroying the Spirit Spring, Lin Xuan and Tian Xiaojian split up to escape the Heavenly Eye Sect’s pursuit. Lin Xuan killed and impersonated a sect disciple, then hid in the man’s cave residence, where he found an intriguing object.

• Lin Xuan and Tian Xiaojian fled Strange Herb Valley in opposite directions after the Spirit Spring’s destruction alerted Heavenly Eye Sect.
• Lin Xuan ambushed Liu Guang, a Foundation Establishment Early Stage disciple, knocked him unconscious, and used the Soul-Searching Technique to read his memories.
• Lin Xuan killed Liu Guang, took his robe, and used a Hidden Spirit Pill and the Heavenly Demon Appearance Alteration Technique to impersonate him.
• Lin Xuan traveled to Liu Guang’s remote cave residence, intending to hide there until the search died down.
• Lin Xuan searched the cave residence and found an object in Liu Guang’s Storage Bag that caught his interest.

Lin Xuan found an ancient Jade Slip containing powerful earth-rank talisman-crafting techniques, then was summoned to join Heavenly Eye Sect forces amid a crisis at Strange Herb Valley. The valley’s Spirit Spring had been destroyed and its herbs stolen, leaving True Person Withered Wood scrambling to find the culprit and defend the weakened sect.

• Lin Xuan broke the restriction on the ancient Jade Slip and discovered it contained talisman techniques capable of increasing earth-rank spell power to one hundred and fifty percent.
• Gao Yang arrived with more than twenty cultivators and told Lin Xuan that the sect master had ordered him to travel with them.
• Gao Yang told Lin Xuan that trouble had erupted at Strange Herb Valley and that Heavenly Eye Sect cultivators had clashed with guests at the Welcome Pavilion.
• True Person Withered Wood and the other Core Condensation cultivators reached Strange Herb Valley after Lin Xuan and Tian Xiaojian had left, finding the Spirit Spring destroyed and the spiritual herbs stolen.
• True Person Withered Wood resolved to search for the culprit and strengthen defenses because the Cloud Sea Splitting Light Array had lost most of its power.

Lin Xuan slipped away from his patrol to escape Heavenly Eye Mountain through a weak point in the Cloud Sea Splitting Light Array, but Gu Feng caught him at the barrier and demanded to see his order from True Person Withered Wood. The chapter left Lin Xuan facing Gu Feng’s suspicion without a decree to show him.

• Gao Yang encouraged the patrol group as they flew toward the southern foothills.
• The group found a market gorge engulfed in a chaotic battle, and Lin Xuan slipped away while Gao Yang spoke with Deng Xiang.
• Lin Xuan searched for a weak point in the Cloud Sea Splitting Light Array and chose to escape through the southeast.
• Gu Feng appeared behind Lin Xuan and recognized him as Liu Guang, then questioned why he was near the array.
• Lin Xuan claimed he was carrying out a secret mission from True Person Withered Wood, but Gu Feng demanded to see the decree.

Lin Xuan’s disguise failed, forcing him into a fight with Gu Feng, Heavenly Eye Mountain’s strongest second-generation disciple. After their spells clashed, Gu Feng mistook Lin Xuan for a demonic cultivator connected to the Supreme Demon of Extreme Evil.

• Lin Xuan’s disguise expired, and he summoned the Water Cloud Mother-Child Swords as Gu Feng accused him of impersonating a sect disciple.
• Lin Xuan attacked with two child swords while Gu Feng countered with a Short Halberd and an ice spell that began freezing the blades.
• Lin Xuan used the mother sword to break the ice and the Hundred Soul Banner to trap Gu Feng’s Short Halberd in ghost mist.
• Gu Feng set the ghost hand ablaze, freeing his Short Halberd, then stopped the fight to ask whether Lin Xuan was a demonic cultivator.
• Lin Xuan gave an ambiguous answer, and Gu Feng asked what relationship he had with the Supreme Demon of Extreme Evil.

Lin Xuan tried to escape Gu Feng by pretending to be the young master of Extreme Demon Cave, but Gu Feng recognized him as the disciple of Supreme Demon of Extreme Evil and attacked. Gu Feng summoned a powerful Tianlan Bird Beast Talisman, and Lin Xuan prepared to meet its fiery charge with a water dragon.

• Lin Xuan pretended to be the young master of Extreme Demon Cave, and Gu Feng feigned deference while approaching him.
• Lin Xuan sensed danger and dodged Gu Feng’s Thunder Fire Pearl, which shattered after missing him.
• Gu Feng revealed his grudge against Supreme Demon of Extreme Evil and decided to kill Lin Xuan rather than capture him.
• Gu Feng summoned a silver Beast Talisman that transformed into a giant Tianlan Bird resembling the legendary Bi Fang.
• The Tianlan Bird charged at Lin Xuan through a wave of scorching heat, and Lin Xuan formed a water dragon with his swords to defend himself.

Lin Xuan fought Gu Feng and used the Hundred Soul Banner and his sword techniques to counter the Tianlan Bird’s fire. Gu Feng lost his contempt and tried to summon help, but Lin Xuan disrupted him and pressed the attack with Yin Spirits, a Skull Artifact, and a female ghost.

• Gu Feng’s Tianlan Bird dissolved Lin Xuan’s Water Dragon with fiery rain, but Lin Xuan blocked the flames with ghost mist from the Hundred Soul Banner.
• Gu Feng sent the burning Tianlan Bird and his Short Halberd at Lin Xuan, who trapped the bird in a silver net formed by the Sword into Silk Technique and used the Hook Sword to intercept the halberd.
• Lin Xuan wrapped the Tianlan Bird and silver net in ghost mist, then summoned Yin Spirits that formed a Skull Artifact and a seductive female ghost.
• Gu Feng recovered from the female ghost’s soul-shaking music and tried to activate a Sound Transmission Talisman, but Lin Xuan’s Ice Needle Technique forced him to dodge.
• Lin Xuan sent the Skull Artifact and the female ghost’s demonic sound after Gu Feng, who countered with a short-staff spiritual artifact before the ghost’s hair transformed into venomous snakes and reached for him.

Lin Xuan used the Mystic Fire Divine Pearl to absorb the Tianlan Bird’s soul and pursued Gu Feng as he fled. He killed Gu Feng with the pearl’s flames and the Water Cloud Mother-Child Swords.

• Gu Feng used his Brocade Handkerchief to block Lin Xuan’s Gold Brick, but the artifact shattered and he began to retreat.
• Lin Xuan revealed the Mystic Fire Divine Pearl and used it to absorb the Tianlan Bird’s soul.
• Gu Feng fled, but Lin Xuan sent the Water Cloud Mother-Child Swords after him and pursued with the ancient treasure.
• Lin Xuan trapped Gu Feng and attacked him with Fire Snakes and the flying swords.
• Gu Feng lost an arm to the flames, then the swords and Fire Snakes killed him and reduced his corpse to ash.

Lin Xuan escaped Heavenly Eye Mountain with his gains and headed back toward Spirit Herb Mountain to prepare for Core Condensation. On the way, he learned that the Heavenly Eye Sect had lost its Spirit Spring and that the Snow Shadow Sect and its allies had launched an attack to seize its Spirit Vein.

• Lin Xuan escaped the Cloud Sea Splitting Light Array and left Heavenly Eye Mountain after reflecting on his dangerous gains.
• Lin Xuan traveled toward Spirit Herb Mountain, intending to refine the Spirit-Condensing Pill and advance his cultivation.
• Lin Xuan sold items at a market city for nearly ten thousand crystal stones and heard news about the Heavenly Eye Sect.
• True Person Withered Wood mobilized the Heavenly Eye Sect after the Spirit Spring was destroyed, but the search for the culprit and missing herbs failed.
• Fu Biao persuaded the Snow Shadow Sect and its allies to reject True Person Withered Wood's proposal and attack Heavenly Eye Mountain for its Spirit Vein.
• The Heavenly Eye Sect prepared to defend Heavenly Eye Mountain despite the weakened Cloud Sea Splitting Light Array.

Lin Xuan returned to Spirit Herb Mountain amid rising tensions in You Province and focused on preparing for Core Formation. After refining the Mystic Fire Divine Pearl and cultivating with ancient pills, he reached great perfection in the Foundation Establishment Realm, while Yue'er advanced to the late stage.

• Lin Xuan learned that Tian Xiaojian had escaped Heavenly Eye Mountain and sold his spiritual artifacts for unusually high prices amid the growing conflict.
• Lin Xuan returned to Spirit Herb Mountain, read a message from Perfected Master Tongyu urging him to cultivate and form a Golden Core, and found that the beast egg still had not hatched.
• Lin Xuan refined the Mystic Fire Divine Pearl and gathered the ingredients needed for the ancient Spirit-Condensing Pill formula.
• Lin Xuan cultivated with the ancient pills for five years and advanced to great perfection in the Foundation Establishment Realm.
• Yue'er congratulated Lin Xuan after reaching the fifth layer of the Mystic Demon True Scripture and Foundation Establishment Late Stage.
• Lin Xuan said he would deepen his magic power further before attempting to condense a Golden Core.

After seven years of seclusion, Lin Xuan reached False Core and prepared to condense a Golden Core away from Spirit Herb Mountain. Learning that the cultivation world was bracing for war, he traveled to a barren mountain to begin his breakthrough.

• Lin Xuan emerged from seclusion after reaching the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment and bought restrictions to conceal spiritual energy.
• Lin Xuan learned that Extreme Demon Cave had absorbed Fierce Ghost Gang and Yin Baleful Sect, while the righteous sects were organizing for an impending war.
• Lin Xuan packed his belongings and the dormant beast egg, then left Spirit Herb Mountain to avoid interference while forming his core.
• Lin Xuan crossed a wasteland and found a barren mountain with no abnormalities as a place to condense his Golden Core.

Lin Xuan purified three Heaven Dust Pills and used them to prepare for Core Condensation, entering prolonged seclusion to break through. As Yue'er concealed the celestial anomaly signaling his Golden Core was forming, a powerful spiritual force approached the mountain.

• Lin Xuan built a temporary cave dwelling, protected it with an array and illusions, and gave Yue'er a talisman to use if a spiritual-energy anomaly appeared.
• Lin Xuan purified the three Heaven Dust Pills with the Blue Star Sea, then refined them further before taking them to aid his breakthrough.
• Lin Xuan began cultivating with the pills and spent eighty-one days assaulting the Core Condensation bottleneck.
• Yue'er noticed the sky darken and spiritual energy surge, recognized that Lin Xuan was reaching the critical stage of forming his Golden Core, and activated the talisman to hide the mountain.
• Yue'er sensed a powerful surge of spiritual force rapidly approaching the mountain.

Yue'er tried to drive off Zhao Shouguang, who had come to investigate the signs of Core Condensation and planned to kill the cultivator in seclusion. After Zhao attacked Yue'er, she summoned a ghostly fog that transformed into thousands of Poisonous Insects, and the confrontation remained unresolved.

• Yue'er sensed an intruder and flew away from the formation to keep a fight from disturbing her master's Core formation.
• Zhao Shouguang investigated the vanished heavenly phenomenon and decided a cultivator was condensing a Golden Core, making them a tempting target.
• Yue'er met Zhao Shouguang and warned him to stay away from her master's forbidden ground.
• Zhao Shouguang attacked Yue'er with a short sword, but she dodged and brought out a top-grade spiritual artifact.
• Yue'er cast a spell that filled the sky with black qi and transformed the ghostly fog into thousands of Poisonous Insects.

Yue'er fought Zhao Shouguang to keep him from interrupting Lin Xuan's Core Condensation, but both revealed powerful treasures and defenses. Zhao Shouguang chose to press the attack with a talisman designed to restrain yin souls, and Yue'er answered by sending sixteen Jade Snow Rings at him.

• Yue'er sent an insect cloud formed from ghost mist at Zhao Shouguang, but his Cyan Scale Gourd unleashed Jade Nether Spirit Fire that burned the insects and the ghost mist.
• Zhao Shouguang prepared to move toward the strange phenomenon, but Yue'er emerged from the flames with Ghost Shadow Silent and struck at him with a supreme-grade spiritual artifact dagger.
• Zhao Shouguang blocked Yue'er's dagger with an earth-rank talisman, and the two assessed each other's abilities as Yue'er aimed to delay him until Lin Xuan finished Core Condensation.
• Zhao Shouguang chose to keep fighting and began activating a talisman with powerful effects against yin souls and ghost mist.
• Yue'er released the Jade Snow Ring, which split into sixteen rings and charged toward Zhao Shouguang.

Lin Xuan successfully condensed his Golden Core while Yue'er fought Zhao Shouguang outside, keeping the battle away from his secluded chamber. After discovering that his beast egg had awakened, Lin Xuan sensed Yue'er was in danger and flew to her aid.

• Zhao Shouguang activated a Seal Talisman that released a Buddhist statue, and Yue'er summoned a Ghost Immortal remnant to hold off its Buddhist light.
• Lin Xuan used two Heaven Dust Pills to condense spiritual energy into a Golden Core and refined it with Pure Yang Pill Fire.
• Lin Xuan's beast egg absorbed the spiritual power escaping his body and developed a strong life reaction as his Golden Core stabilized.
• Lin Xuan emerged from seclusion, sensed Yue'er fighting Zhao Shouguang several dozen li away, and discovered she was at a disadvantage.
• Lin Xuan flew toward Yue'er to help her.

Lin Xuan arrived after Yue'er was nearly overwhelmed by Life-Snatching Scholar, then killed him effortlessly with his newly formed Golden Core. He decided to return to Spirit Herb Mountain to seek safety amid the growing conflict and pursue the Heaven Dust Pill recipe.

• Zhao Shouguang used an earth-grade spirit talisman to attack Yue'er, but Lin Xuan destroyed the ghost claw with Sword Qi and arrived to protect her.
• Lin Xuan blocked Zhao Shouguang's talismans with a Spirit Power Shield and killed him with a blade formed from spiritual power, then took his Storage Bag and soul.
• Lin Xuan congratulated Yue'er on her cultivation progress, withdrew the Extreme Yin Evil Spirit Array, and buried his temporary cave residence before leaving.
• After two days of travel, Lin Xuan considered whether to return to Spirit Herb Mountain as the righteous and demonic paths neared conflict.
• Lin Xuan chose to return for the protection of the sect and to obtain the Heaven Dust Pill formula, hoping to refine more of the pills.

After returning to Spirit Herb Mountain, Lin Xuan stabilized his new Golden Core realm and strengthened his power by refining the Mystic Fire Divine Pearl. He sorted his possessions and began studying a method to turn the thousand-year Corpse King into a powerful servant.

• Lin Xuan returned to Spirit Herb Mountain and rested for several days after forming his Golden Core.
• Lin Xuan refined the Mystic Fire Divine Pearl with Pure Yang Pill Fire for forty-nine days, allowing it to unleash its full power.
• Lin Xuan kept the Water Cloud Mother-Child Swords and Hundred Soul Banner for Yue'er, then stored an unexplained, key-like object from Life-Snatching Scholar's Storage Bag.
• Lin Xuan decided to cultivate the Mystic Demon True Scripture alongside the Nine Heavens Profound Art and considered using the Heavenly Demon Ghost Corpse Art on the thousand-year Corpse King.
• Lin Xuan spent the day studying the Heavenly Demon Ghost Corpse Art and withdrew his divine sense with a thoughtful expression.

Lin Xuan strengthened his Core Condensation cultivation and uncovered a legendary Battle Armor Technique hidden in a jade slip. He learned that a Jade Pendant from Stream Leap Ravine had awakened the slip, which contained a lost method for refining ancient battle armor.

• Lin Xuan decided not to cultivate the second layer of the Heavenly Demon Ghost Corpse Art because he could not yet control the thousand-year Corpse King, and he began studying the Nine Heavens Spirit Shield instead.
• After a year of cultivation, Lin Xuan stabilized his Core Condensation realm, mastered several secret arts, and decided to buy expensive materials for making earth-grade talismans.
• Lin Xuan tried and failed to open the black jade slip he had bought from Wu Li, even after pouring in spiritual power.
• Lin Xuan noticed that his Jade Pendant resonated with the jade slip and used the pendant's blue light to reveal the slip's emerald-green surface.
• Lin Xuan read the jade slip and discovered that it contained the legendary Battle Armor Technique, a lost method for refining armor that ancient cultivators could nurture within their bodies.

Lin Xuan studied the Battle Armor Technique and chose the growth-type Green Flame Qilin Armor to refine. Before setting out to gather materials, he checked his beast egg, which hatched after absorbing spiritual energy and revealed a startling creature.

• Lin Xuan spent three days studying the Jade Slip and learned about ordinary and growth-type battle armor.
• After three months of studying the technique, Lin Xuan chose the Green Flame Qilin Armor for its power and materials he could mostly obtain in the market.
• Lin Xuan packed spirit stones and went to check the beast egg in the Spirit Beast Room.
• Lin Xuan fed the cracking egg spiritual energy from several crystals, causing seven-colored light to shine across its shell.
• A pillar of white light appeared as the beast hatched, and Lin Xuan stared in shock at the creature inside.

Lin Xuan met with Perfected Master Tongyu, who revealed that Spirit Herb Mountain had chosen him as its young master for reasons he was about to explain. Tongyu confirmed the sect had a Nascent Soul Middle Stage patriarch, and Patriarch Xu appeared as he discussed his strength compared with the Supreme Demon of Extreme Evil.

• Lin Xuan examined the newly hatched white, round beast, put it in his Spirit Beast Bag, and received a summons from Perfected Master Tongyu.
• Perfected Master Tongyu revealed his late Core Condensation cultivation and asked Lin Xuan why he thought he had been chosen as Spirit Herb Mountain’s disciple and young master.
• Lin Xuan honestly described what he knew about the sect’s secrets and Ancestor Tianchen, then asked whether the sect truly had a Nascent Soul Realm patriarch.
• Perfected Master Tongyu confirmed that Martial Uncle Xu had reached the Nascent Soul Middle Stage, shocking Lin Xuan.
• Lin Xuan asked whether Patriarch Xu could match the Supreme Demon of Extreme Evil, and Patriarch Xu answered that the ghost cultivator was likely stronger and had refined a Second Primordial Spirit.