Chapter Summaries

Lin Xuan began refining the Nine Heavens Bright Moon Ring, carefully processing the Southern Bright Separation Fire and preparing its auxiliary materials. The main fire material was successfully transformed, and he began purifying the remaining ingredients.

• Lin Xuan opened a refining chamber, instructed Yue'er, and meditated for a day and night before beginning the work.
• Lin Xuan released the Southern Bright Separation Fire's Demon Spirit and used core fire for forty-nine days to erase its intelligence.
• Lin Xuan merged the unconscious Demon Spirit with the blue stone, producing a transparent blue crystal containing flickering red fire.
• Lin Xuan summoned the Purple Dragon Cauldron and used Earth Vein Fire to preheat it.
• Lin Xuan brought out several dozen auxiliary materials and began purifying a green crystal with the Blue Star Sea's power.

Lin Xuan began refining the Nine Heavens Bright Moon Ring, combining the Southern Bright Separation Fire with the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Crystal despite their opposing attributes. As he continued the process, he recalled how the Mysterious Venerable of the Nine Heavens had discovered the dual-attribute treasure that inspired the ring.

• Lin Xuan stabilized the Purple Dragon Cauldron by feeding it his essence blood and continued heating the blue crystal with the Southern Bright Separation Fire.
• After nine days, the crystal began to melt, and Lin Xuan added the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Crystal, then blocked the spiritual energy drawn toward the cauldron.
• Lin Xuan explained that the Nine Heavens Bright Moon Ring combined supreme yin and supreme yang, an unusual dual-attribute design modeled on Spirit World treasures.
• Lin Xuan recalled that the Mysterious Venerable of the Nine Heavens had been framed by his sect, escaped execution, and created the Nine Heavens Profound Art while seeking revenge.
• The Mysterious Venerable of the Nine Heavens discovered a dying Separation and Union stage expert from the Spirit World and took his ice-and-fire rings.
• The Mysterious Venerable of the Nine Heavens used the rings to gain revenge and later developed the less powerful Nine Heavens Bright Moon Ring before his remaining lifespan ran out.

Lin Xuan spent more than half a year refining a treasure within his own body, exhausting much of his spiritual power as he shaped two ring-like embryos. Two elders from Spirit Herb Mountain arrived at the volcano and learned that Lin Xuan was still in seclusion, leaving them unsure whether to disturb him.

• Lin Xuan refined the Southern Bright Separation Fire, Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Crystal, and other materials, then swallowed the resulting spiritual liquid.
• Lin Xuan used his Golden Core and divine sense to fuse the liquid with his innate true essence and shape it into two ring embryos.
• Lin Xuan carved complex formations into the rings while his dantian’s spiritual power dwindled.
• More than half a year passed without anyone disturbing Lin Xuan, while Lu Ying'er managed the Branch Altar.
• Two elders from Spirit Herb Mountain arrived and confirmed that Lin Xuan was still refining his treasure, prompting one to wonder whether they should interrupt him.

Lin Xuan left the Fallen Region with Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin and waited with other cultivators for Treasure Gathering Pavilion's teleportation formation. A notorious cultivator called the Pink Powder Rogue arrived, and the chapter ended as Lin Xuan recognized him.

• Lin Xuan accepted Perfected Master Tongyu's decree to return to Spirit Herb Mountain and brought Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin along.
• Lin Xuan reached a remote meeting place where Treasure Gathering Pavilion was expected to guide cultivators to an ancient teleportation formation.
• Several dozen cultivators gathered, including the blunt-tongued Black Third, while they waited for the guides.
• A pink bolt of lightning struck Black Third, melting his bones and leaving him in agony after he boasted about his escape skills.
• A strange fragrance heralded a pink cloud, and the cultivators recognized its hidden master as the Pink Powder Rogue.

Lin Xuan and the other cultivators waited in the Fallen Region as the notorious Pink Powder Old Devil arrived, frightening everyone but leaving Lin Xuan and the women beside him alone. A deacon from Treasure Gathering Pavilion eventually appeared and offered to take them to safety for five thousand crystals each, provoking an angry protest.

• Pink Powder Old Devil arrived in a red cloud, and the cultivators recognized the feared Core Condensation expert.
• Pink Powder Old Devil eyed Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin but refrained from acting after looking at Lin Xuan, then sat apart from the others.
• The cultivators waited nearly half a day for Treasure Gathering Pavilion while Lin Xuan overheard them wondering about the delay.
• Sun Haixian arrived with four disciples and explained that Yinhun had forced them to take a detour.
• Sun Haixian demanded five thousand crystals per person for safe passage, and a middle-aged woman objected that the price had risen sharply.

Lin Xuan and the other cultivators paid Sun Haixian to leave the Fallen Region, then traveled aboard a concealed flying magic tool to a remote Ancient Teleportation Array. The chapter ended as Sun Haixian handed out Teleportation Talismans to protect them during the long-distance transfer.

• Sun Haixian lowered the fee to four thousand five hundred spirit stones, and the thirty-seven cultivators paid to leave the Fallen Region.
• Sun Haixian’s disciples used command flags to summon a dark-cloud flying carriage that shielded the passengers from outside view and divine sense.
• Lin Xuan considered probing the Treasure Gathering Pavilion’s secrets but decided to focus on returning to Spirit Herb Mountain’s main altar.
• After flying for nearly half a day, Sun Haixian brought the cultivators to a remote Desolate Mountain and its Ancient Teleportation Array.
• Sun Haixian distributed Teleportation Talismans to protect the cultivators from the force of long-distance teleportation.

Lin Xuan and his companions returned from the Fallen Region to You Province, but he detected the Pink Powder Old Devil following them. The old devil demanded that Lin Xuan trade Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin to him, and Lin Xuan refused; the two faced off as the old devil argued that the weak were prey to the strong.

• Sun Haixian used the Ancient Teleportation Array to send Lin Xuan, Lu Ying'er, Liu Xin, and the other cultivators back to You Province.
• The cultivators scattered from the grove, and Lin Xuan flew away from the nearby town with Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin.
• After flying into a remote area, Lin Xuan confronted the Pink Powder Old Devil, who revealed himself from a red cloud.
• The Pink Powder Old Devil offered spirit stones and materials in exchange for Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin, frightening the two women.
• Lin Xuan refused to treat people as goods, and the Pink Powder Old Devil argued that the weak were prey to the strong.

Lin Xuan refused Pink Powder Old Devil’s offer to trade a High-Grade Spirit Stone for Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin, then attacked him to seize the treasure and protect the women. Pink Powder Old Devil countered with a giant ghost hand as their battle began.

• Pink Powder Old Devil revealed a High-Grade Spirit Stone and offered it to Lin Xuan in exchange for Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin.
• Lin Xuan considered the offer but suspected Pink Powder Old Devil had an ulterior motive for wanting the two women.
• Lin Xuan rejected the exchange, launched the Floating Cloud Falling Snow Sword, and raised the Ancient Shield to protect himself and the women.
• Pink Powder Old Devil angrily conjured a giant ghost hand to meet Lin Xuan’s attack.

Lin Xuan fought Pink Powder Old Devil, surviving his Heaven Crystal Annihilation and turning the battle into a tense standoff. Lin Xuan demanded the High-Grade Spirit Stone as compensation, and Pink Powder Old Devil began preparing another attack.

• Lin Xuan used his immortal sword, Iron-Armored Corpses, and talismans to force Pink Powder Old Devil to reveal a crystal-like defense.
• Pink Powder Old Devil detonated the crystal spikes, destroying many Refined Corpses and shattering Lin Xuan's Runic Ancient Shield before his attack engulfed Lin Xuan and the two women.
• Pink Powder Old Devil took a Blood Baleful Pill and discovered Lin Xuan and the women were unharmed inside a field of ice and fire created with the Nine Heavens Bright Moon Rings.
• Pink Powder Old Devil offered a truce and ten thousand crystal stones, but Lin Xuan demanded the High-Grade Spirit Stone instead.
• Pink Powder Old Devil rejected Lin Xuan's demand and activated the Heaven Crystal Bead as the sky darkened and the ground shook.

Lin Xuan and Yue'er overwhelmed Pink Powder Old Devil with the Nine Heavens Bright Moon Ring and Beast Soul Banner, forcing him to use a Buddhist Prayer Bead. As five-colored Buddhist light enveloped the old devil, Lin Xuan recognized his attempt to escape and prepared to stop him.

• Lin Xuan unleashed ice-and-fire flood dragons that shattered most of Pink Powder Old Devil's red banner defenses.
• Pink Powder Old Devil summoned skulls that transformed into Pink Powder Skeletons and attacked Lin Xuan with bewitching magic.
• Yue'er used her Beast Soul Banner to capture the Pink Powder Skeletons in black silk.
• Lin Xuan's Nine Heavens Bright Moon Ring broke through the old devil's remaining defenses and battered his enormous Demon Monster statue.
• Pink Powder Old Devil crushed a Buddhist Prayer Bead and wrapped himself in five-colored Buddhist light, while Lin Xuan realized he was trying to escape.

Lin Xuan killed Pink Powder Old Devil, collected his spoils, and traveled with Lu Ying'er and her sister toward Spirit Herb Mountain. While waiting for them near a mortal town, he recognized the fleeing Xu Jia of Floating Cloud Valley and turned his attention to the Demon Cultivator pursuing her.

• Lin Xuan burned Pink Powder Old Devil to ashes with the Azure Phantom Nether Fire and collected his Storage Bag and damaged Demon Monster statue.
• Lin Xuan flew with the two women to a mortal town, where Lu Ying'er and her sister went to ask for directions.
• As the women were delayed, Lin Xuan noticed a red-clad Foundation Establishment woman fleeing a pursuing Demon Cultivator and concealed his presence.
• The woman exhausted her magic power while blocking the Demon Cultivator's flying knife and landed beside Lin Xuan.
• Lin Xuan recognized the woman as Xu Jia from Floating Cloud Valley, and the Demon Cultivator approached them.

Lin Xuan rescued Xu Jia, a former fellow disciple from Floating Cloud Valley, and revealed his immense cultivation after killing the Demon Cultivator Shen Yang. He learned that Yanzhou had fallen to the Yinhun, and Xu Jia began recounting how the invasion happened.

• Lin Xuan killed Shen Yang with a sword strike and burned his body to ashes.
• Lin Xuan gave Xu Jia pills that helped her recover, and she recognized him as her former sectmate.
• Lin Xuan asked how Xu Jia had reached You Province, and she explained that Yanzhou had become an Asura ghost domain.
• Xu Jia said the Yinhun army had emerged two years earlier, occupied Guiluo City, and split into forces advancing toward You Province and Yanzhou.
• Xu Jia revealed that fifty Ghost Kings led the Yinhun army that invaded Yanzhou.

Lin Xuan learned how Yanzhou had fallen to the Yinhun and asked Xu Jia about Qin Yan and Floating Cloud Valley. Before leaving, he erased Xu Jia’s memories of their meeting with the Forget-Sorrow Technique and left her several hundred crystal stones.

• Xu Jia explained that fifty Ghost Kings and countless Yinhun had conquered Yanzhou, forcing its surviving sects and clans to flee to You Province.
• Lin Xuan asked after Qin Yan and learned she was in seclusion preparing to condense her Golden Core.
• Lin Xuan questioned Xu Jia about Floating Cloud Valley and recognized that she hoped to gain his favor.
• Xu Jia offered to serve Lin Xuan, but he instead asked her to forget their meeting and struck her between the brows with a Sword Ray.
• Lin Xuan used the Forget-Sorrow Technique to erase Xu Jia’s memories, left her several hundred crystal stones, lifted the restriction, and vanished.

Lin Xuan discussed his feelings for Qin Yan and Ouyang Qinxin with Yue'er while waiting for Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin to return. Xu Jia woke with no memory of being rescued, found her belongings and several hundred spirit stones intact, and flew away just as Lin Xuan arrived near the mortal town.

• Yue'er teased Lin Xuan about liking Qin Yan and suggested Ouyang Qinxin might also have feelings for him.
• Lin Xuan explained that dual cultivation had greater benefits after reaching the Nascent Soul Realm, embarrassing Yue'er when she realized what they were discussing.
• Lin Xuan grew worried because Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin had not returned from the mortal market town.
• Xu Jia awoke, recalled being pursued by a demonic-path cultivator, and found that her Millennium Ginseng and fiery-red immortal sword were safe, along with several hundred spirit stones she did not recognize.
• Xu Jia thanked her unknown rescuer, searched the area, and flew away as Lin Xuan lowered his escape light near the town.

Lin Xuan and his companions met Zhang San, a mortal martial expert who invited them to his master Zhang Youfu’s estate with a promise of unusual benefits. Zhang Youfu began to explain his request and presented a sealed jade box, leaving Lin Xuan waiting to see what it contained.

• Lin Xuan reunited with Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin in Tianyin Town, where they reported that they had dealt with some thieves and identified the town’s location.
• As Lin Xuan and the two women left town, Zhang San revealed himself and asked Lin Xuan to meet his master, claiming the meeting could bring unexpected benefits.
• Lin Xuan agreed to follow Zhang San, and the group traveled to Zhang Youfu’s estate after Lin Xuan confirmed with his divine sense that no cultivators were nearby.
• Zhang Youfu welcomed Lin Xuan and his companions, served them a banquet, and explained that he had invited them to ask for help in return for a reward.
• Zhang Youfu said his ancestors had been cultivators and had a maidservant bring forward a jade box bearing a talisman.

Lin Xuan accepted an ancient Jade Slip from Zhang Youfu in exchange for curing his sick twins, then learned it described a possible route out of You Province through dangerous spatial fissures. He returned to Spirit Herb Mountain and found the sect far busier and more built up than before.

• Zhang Youfu gave Lin Xuan an ancient Jade Slip and asked him to save his ill twin children; Lin Xuan agreed and cured them using precious pills and his magic power.
• Lin Xuan left Zhang Youfu's residence with Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin, then made a temporary cave residence for the night.
• Yue'er asked Lin Xuan about the Jade Slip, and he revealed that its account described an overseas cultivator who had crossed between separated lands through spatial fissures.
• Lin Xuan and Yue'er discussed the possibility of leaving You Province, but Lin Xuan decided to wait and pursue the Heaven Dust Pill formula before risking a dangerous crossing.
• Lin Xuan continued toward Spirit Herb Mountain with Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin, and they encountered no further danger on the journey.
• Lin Xuan arrived at Spirit Herb Mountain and was surprised to find new buildings and many more cultivators than before.

Lin Xuan returned to Spirit Herb Mountain and found the sect sealed and under martial law, with six unfamiliar Law-Enforcement Elders in control. He entered using his Young Sect Master token and went to seek news, deciding to approach Xu Jinqing because he believed the Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivator was protecting the sect.

• Lin Xuan approached Spirit Herb Mountain and discovered its grand formation activated and Foundation Establishment disciples patrolling the gates.
• Zhou Gutian told Lin Xuan the sect had stopped receiving guests a month earlier and that six Law-Enforcement Elders had ordered the lockdown, while Perfected Master Tongyu had not appeared for a long time.
• Lin Xuan revealed his command token, entered the sect with Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin, and returned to his cave residence.
• Lin Xuan reassured Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin that Perfected Master Tongyu was likely safe because of his skill and judgment.
• Lin Xuan left his cave residence to investigate the lockdown and decided to seek Xu Jinqing, whom he believed was guarding Spirit Herb Mountain.

Lin Xuan met Ye Ru at Spirit Herb Mountain and learned that Perfected Master Tongyu had entered seclusion to attempt a breakthrough to Nascent Soul. He gave Ye Ru treasures to cultivate her goodwill, revealing to Yue'er that he was building connections in preparation to steal the Heaven Dust Pill formula.

• Lin Xuan encountered Ye Ru, who told him that her family had returned to Spirit Herb Mountain and joined the sect.
• Ye Ru explained that the sect’s restrictive formation and Tongyu’s absence were meant to mislead outsiders, while over a hundred Core Condensation elders had gathered and Tongyu was attempting a Nascent Soul breakthrough.
• Lin Xuan gave Ye Ru a top-grade spiritual tool and three mid-grade Foundation Establishment Pills, hoping she might help him in the future.
• Lin Xuan told Yue'er that he was cultivating allies rather than seeking a servant or planning a rebellion.
• Lin Xuan revealed that he intended to steal the Heaven Dust Pill formula because Tong Yu would likely refuse to give it to him.

Lin Xuan returned to Spirit Herb Mountain and met Xu Jinqing, who tasked him with keeping watch over the six Enforcement Elders while Tong Yu was in seclusion. Lin Xuan suspected Xu Jinqing had hidden motives, but planned to use his newly granted authority to pursue his own goals, including stealing the Heaven Dust Pill formula.

• Lin Xuan encountered six peak Core Condensation cultivators outside Xu Jinqing's cave, including Shen Aotian, whose appearance resembled the Sword Immortal Taibai Lin Xuan had killed.
• Xu Jinqing welcomed Lin Xuan and explained that Tong Yu and the six Enforcement Elders were heirs to the seven disciples of Ancestor Tianchen.
• Xu Jinqing criticized the six Enforcement Elders for competing for power and asked Lin Xuan to keep an eye on them while Tong Yu was in seclusion.
• Lin Xuan privately doubted Xu Jinqing's explanation, reasoning that he had no allies and Tong Yu would return from seclusion in three months.
• Lin Xuan revealed a command token that gave him authority to mobilize people and resources, and resolved to exploit divisions in the sect to steal the Heaven Dust Pill formula.

Lin Xuan returned to his cave residence, settled Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin nearby, and focused on strengthening the Azure Phantom Nether Fire. Three months passed in secluded cultivation, leaving him prepared to continue building his power as unrest loomed.

• Lin Xuan worried that a man who resembled Zhang Taibai might have a special connection to the dead Sword Immortal and told Yue'er to remain cautious.
• Lin Xuan arranged nearby cave residences for Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin, gave them pills, and used Xu Jinqing's Command Token to make the steward comply.
• Lin Xuan fortified his cave residence with a formation, then examined his cultivation and decided to improve the Azure Phantom Nether Fire while waiting for further advancement.
• Lin Xuan refined an Absolute Poison Pill and used it to cultivate the Azure Phantom Nether Fire.
• Lin Xuan spent the next three months cultivating day and night, while Xu Jinqing and the law-enforcement elders remained occupied or in seclusion.