Chapter Summaries

After Peacock Fairy removed Lin Xuan’s restriction and departed, Lin Xuan discovered that his cultivation had advanced and that his spiritual power could combine orthodox and demonic spells. He remembered the favor he had planned to ask of her and hesitated over whether to pursue her, leaving his decision unresolved.

• Peacock Fairy removed Lin Xuan’s restriction, kept her promise, and flew away.
• Lin Xuan realized he had advanced to the Late Core Condensation Realm and gained remaining Life Essence Light.
• Lin Xuan discovered that his spiritual power had harmonized yin and yang, allowing him to cast orthodox and demonic spells at the same time.
• Lin Xuan took out the Storage Bag he had obtained from the spy surnamed Hu, then remembered the favor he had intended to ask Peacock Fairy.
• Lin Xuan weighed the risks of chasing Peacock Fairy against the importance of his request, but could not decide what to do.

Ghost Emperor Litian led a Yinhun force into You Province through an ancient teleportation array, slaughtering the Bitter Mirror Sect and preparing to attack the righteous and demonic factions from within. The Yinhun revealed their allies and learned that Lin Xuan had destroyed the array they had used before.

• Loose Cultivator Kujing and the Bitter Mirror Sect’s disciples encountered a ghostly teleportation array that brought several hundred Yinhun, including two Ghost Emperors, into their camp.
• The Yinhun pursued and killed the fleeing Bitter Mirror Sect cultivators.
• Ghost Emperor Litian praised Niu for repairing the Ancient Teleportation Array, which had brought their forces deep into the rear of the righteous and demonic factions.
• Niu reported that Ghost Emperors Hao Tian and Miaotian and True Person Qingxiang had gone to Nine Dragon Mountain to delay the leaders of the righteous and demonic factions and Spirit Herb Mountain.
• The burly Ghost Emperor revealed that the Qingxiang Sect was secretly supported by the Yinhun, and Niu identified Lin Xuan as the person who had destroyed their previous Ancient Teleportation Array.

Lin Xuan chased after Peacock Fairy to ask for a few drops of fresh blood from a Transformation Realm Demon Cultivator. She gave him the blood, and as he prepared to leave, she suddenly called him back.

• Lin Xuan decided to risk pursuing Peacock Fairy and caught up with her as she waited in midair.
• Peacock Fairy wondered why Lin Xuan had followed her, then relaxed when he said he needed her help.
• Lin Xuan asked for a few drops of her fresh blood, and Peacock Fairy agreed without requiring an explanation.
• Peacock Fairy collected seven or eight drops of blood in a jade bottle and gave it to Lin Xuan.
• Lin Xuan thanked Peacock Fairy and prepared to leave, but she suddenly told him to wait.

Lin Xuan obtained Peacock Fairy’s jade pendant and revealed to Yue'er that he planned to escape You Province through a dangerous spatial rift before the Yinhun war engulfed the region. As he set out to find the teleportation array, the Yinhun launched a surprise assault on Black Stone City and secretly approached its rear.

• Peacock Fairy gave Lin Xuan a jade pendant that would protect him from Demon Race members in the Transformation Realm and warned him that You Province was in peril.
• Lin Xuan told Yue'er he intended to use a spatial rift to leave You Province, despite the teleportation method having only a half chance of success.
• Lin Xuan explained that the array required Transformation Realm demon blood, a High-Grade Spirit Stone, and a dual-attribute magic treasure, then flew off to locate it.
• At Black Stone City, True Person Withered Wood heard explosions and rushed to defend the city as the Yinhun began a large-scale assault.
• While most of Black Stone City's cultivators fought at the front, several hundred Yinhun silently arrived behind them.

The Yinhun trapped several Nascent Soul cultivators at Nine Dragon Sect with a vast ghost formation while Lin Xuan traveled south through You Province. After confirming that the Yinhun had breached the border restrictions, he realized the entire province was facing disaster.

• The Supreme Demon of Extreme Evil, Taixu Master, Perfected Master Tongyu, and two other Nascent Soul cultivators examined the purple mist around Tianyun Peak and suspected the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul-Locking Array.
• A scouting party returned and reported that the strange mist covered a hundred li and that ghostly creatures had killed most of their fellow disciples.
• Perfected Master Tongyu warned that the Ghost Emperors might be trapping them while the Yinhun pursued another plan, so the cultivators needed to escape quickly.
• Lin Xuan traveled toward southern You Province and heard that the Yinhun had broken through restrictions bordering the Fallen Region.
• Lin Xuan captured a cultivator who claimed to have witnessed the breach and used the Soul-Searching Technique to confirm the report was true.
• Lin Xuan killed the cultivator and concluded that no part of You Province would escape the coming calamity.

Lin Xuan searched Cangling Mountain for the Ancient Teleportation Array but found no trace of it, so he investigated a group of local cultivators for clues. He learned that the Giant Wood Sect was searching for a rare treasure that could let it dominate the Southern Border.

• Lin Xuan reached Cangling Mountain and searched the area described in the Jade Slip, but found nothing despite several days of searching.
• Lin Xuan and Yue'er considered that the landscape might have changed over the tens of thousands of years since the Jade Slip was made.
• Lin Xuan noticed several low-level cultivators searching deep in the dangerous mountains and decided to learn what they were seeking.
• Lin Xuan concealed his aura and approached the cultivators, who revealed that the Giant Wood Sect's master had ordered them to find a secret treasure.
• The Second Senior Brother explained that the Giant Wood Sect hoped the treasure would let it surpass the Divine Water Sect and Holy Shade Sect and dominate the Southern Border.

Lin Xuan learned that the Giant Wood Sect was searching Cangling Mountain for a ten-thousand-year peach tree spirit and suspected it was connected to the Ancient Teleportation Array. After secretly tracking the sect’s cultivators, he found the Peach Tree Spirit fighting two of them and suppressed it with demonic mist.

• Lin Xuan overheard the Giant Wood Sect cultivators reveal the peach tree spirit’s immense value, while a green-robed woman secretly sent the news to the Divine Water Sect.
• Lin Xuan reasoned that a spatial disturbance from the Ancient Teleportation Array might have awakened the peach tree and decided to search for both at once.
• Lin Xuan secretly marked passing cultivators so he could follow them if they found the Peach Tree Spirit.
• Lin Xuan sensed one of his tracking marks and rushed to a small lake, where Second Senior Brother and the bearded cultivator were holding the Peach Tree Spirit with fire talismans.
• Lin Xuan overwhelmed the Peach Tree Spirit’s azure strands with demonic mist and trapped it inside a black cocoon.

Lin Xuan seized the Spirit-Connecting Divine Wood, erased two cultivators’ memories, and used the wood spirit to locate an Ancient Teleportation Array hidden in a canyon. He prepared the array with a High-Grade Spirit Stone and the blood from a jade bottle, beginning its activation.

• Lin Xuan sealed the Spirit-Connecting Divine Wood, knocked out two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, and erased their memories before leaving.
• Lin Xuan used a Soul-Searching Technique on the Peach Tree Spirit and obtained a clue to the Ancient Teleportation Array.
• Lin Xuan followed the clue to a hidden canyon, uncovered a cave entrance with Sword Qi, and found the array in a stone chamber.
• Lin Xuan inspected the warm-jade array and placed a High-Grade Spirit Stone into its center.
• Lin Xuan released the blood from a jade bottle, condensed it into a ball of light, and ignited it with pill fire.

Lin Xuan used the array and Nine Heavens Bright Moon Ring to open a spatial rift and escape You Province, arriving in a lush mountain range. Severely weakened after the teleportation, he began restoring his strength and flew deeper into the mountains to find a safe place to recover.

• Lin Xuan expended his magic power and natal essence blood to activate the array and open a spatial rift.
• Lin Xuan followed the rift's suction out of You Province, and the rift vanished behind him as the array broke apart.
• Lin Xuan arrived safely in an unfamiliar green mountain range but found himself and Yue'er too weak to defend themselves.
• Lin Xuan swallowed medicinal pills and meditated until sunset to recover some strength.
• Lin Xuan flew deeper into the mountains to find a place to establish a temporary cave residence.

After recovering his cultivation and Yue'er, Lin Xuan explored the unfamiliar region and discovered that he was on a small island floating in a vast sea of clouds. He entered Tian Shi disguised as a mortal to learn more about the place.

• Lin Xuan emerged from the mountain wall with his cultivation restored, and found that Yue'er had recovered as well.
• Lin Xuan flew around the island and learned that it was surrounded on every side by an immense sea of clouds.
• Lin Xuan attempted to descend into the clouds, but their growing resistance forced him to give up investigating their depths.
• Lin Xuan decided to seek information from the island's inhabitants and flew toward a nearby city.
• Lin Xuan concealed his spiritual energy, recognized the city as Tian Shi, and approached its gate after confirming that the nearby people were mortals.

Lin Xuan entered a prosperous city in the Cloud Sea of Seven Star Island and questioned local cultivators about the region after pretending to have lost his memory. The short, sturdy cultivator began explaining how the Cloud Sea came to be, leaving Lin Xuan to learn its history.

• Lin Xuan noticed cultivators mingling with mortals and adjusted his Qi Concealment Technique to appear to have mid-stage Spirit Movement cultivation.
• At a teahouse, Lin Xuan overheard cultivators discussing the Yanying Sect's recruitment and its search for male dual-cultivation partners.
• Lin Xuan introduced himself to three cultivators, and they assumed he came from a great sect on another island.
• Lin Xuan claimed he had lost his memory and asked the three cultivators to explain the Cloud Sea's geography, customs, and major powers.
• The short, sturdy cultivator began recounting how the region had once been part of Zhao State before a heavenly disaster split the empire and a strange cloud lifted the province into the sky.

Lin Xuan learned about the Cloud Sea, its islands, and the dangers of Cloud Beasts, then gathered information about Cangcui Island’s cultivation forces. He left the teahouse weighing whether to join a sect, cultivate alone, or travel elsewhere, but found no good option on the island.

• Lin Xuan heard that the Cloud Sea was scattered with islands, including the vast Seven Star Island, and learned that teleportation or flying between islands carried costs and dangers from Cloud Beasts.
• A short, stocky rogue cultivator explained that Cangcui Island was a second-grade island ruled chiefly by the Yanying Sect, whose sect master and nine protector elders were in the Core Condensation Realm.
• Lin Xuan learned that the Yanying Sect was a branch of the Hehuan Sect and specialized in dual cultivation, while the island’s lesser factions controlled its remaining Spirit Veins.
• Lin Xuan left the teahouse and considered joining a sect, cultivating in seclusion, or traveling to another island, but concluded that none of the choices seemed appealing.

Lin Xuan visited a Yanying Sect market and recognized that the young girl Lan'er possessed the ancient Natural Charm cultivation art. He entered the market cautiously, while Lan'er grew wary that he might have seen through her secrets.

• Lin Xuan disguised his cultivation as Foundation Establishment Late Stage and headed to the Yanying Sect market to gather information and shop.
• At the entrance, Lin Xuan saw Lan'er surrounded by men who fawned over her and insulted him when she greeted him respectfully.
• Lin Xuan realized Lan'er's Natural Charm was unconsciously influencing those nearby, but decided not to investigate further in the unfamiliar Cloud Sea.
• Lin Xuan paid one crystal stone and entered the market, leaving Lan'er visibly shaken by how frightening and perceptive he seemed.
• Lan'er revealed to her attendants that she was the Holy Venerable's granddaughter and had come to the small island despite their warnings.

Lin Xuan explored the market on Seven Star Island and entered Huan Shi Pavilion, where he learned it was a branch of a major merchant alliance rather than a Yanying Sect shop. He asked to inspect cultivation methods to gauge the quality available in Cloud Sea, and requested the most precious, highest-grade method the level-two island branch carried.

• Lin Xuan arrived at the market and, impressed by its size and variety, entered the enormous shell-shaped Huan Shi Pavilion.
• A green-clad attendant explained that Huan Shi Pavilion was one of Cloud Sea's top five merchant alliances and had branches across the islands.
• Lin Xuan asked whether the shop sold pills that could increase cultivation, but the attendant said it stocked only ordinary auxiliary pills.
• Lin Xuan asked to see cultivation methods, and the attendant explained that the branch carried Foundation Establishment Realm methods but required a trip to a larger island for Core Condensation Realm methods.
• Lin Xuan told the attendant he would accept a Foundation Establishment method and asked her to bring him the most precious, highest-grade one available.

Lin Xuan bought a top-grade cultivation art and a sea chart before leaving Cangcui Island to seek a remote place to cultivate. After three days at sea, he found an uncharted island with a huge iceberg that continuously erupted magma and flames.

• Lin Xuan paid ten thousand Spirit Stones for a top-grade cultivation art at Huan Shi Pavilion, and the shopkeeper gave him a sea chart.
• Lin Xuan decided to leave Cangcui Island and find an uninhabited island where he could stabilize his Late Core Condensation Realm.
• Lin Xuan flew through the Cloud Sea for three days without encountering any Cloud Beasts.
• Lin Xuan spotted a large crescent-shaped island with varied terrain and a towering iceberg that erupted flames and magma, recognizing it as Ice Fire Island.

Lin Xuan established a secluded cave residence on an uncharted island and spent three years cultivating, refining pills, and studying formations with Yue'er. After Yue'er suggested exploring Ice Fire Mountain, Lin Xuan considered approaching the dangerous-looking peak.

• Lin Xuan found a powerful Spirit Vein on an undiscovered island, built a cave residence near a lake, and set up protective formations.
• Lin Xuan studied a top-tier metal-attribute cultivation method and wondered how Lan'er had learned the ancient Natural Charm art, then set aside his suspicions and began closed-door cultivation.
• Lin Xuan refined pills and studied Xuanji Insights with Yue'er, who quickly proved more talented at formations than he was.
• Lin Xuan discovered that the fluffy beast hatched from the Heavenly Sha Devil Lord's egg was spinning silver threads into a cocoon that emitted strange spiritual fluctuations.
• Three years passed as Lin Xuan and Yue'er cultivated; Yue'er reached the peak of the middle Core Condensation Realm while Lin Xuan made only slight progress.
• Yue'er suggested exploring Ice Fire Mountain, and Lin Xuan considered the idea because he had sensed a dangerous aura from the peak.

Lin Xuan and Yue'er explored the crater of the icy mountain while a group of cultivators searching for a fugitive encountered dangerous Cloud Beasts nearby. The fugitive reached the island with a jade box, and Lin Xuan's sleeping spirit beast suddenly awakened and sensed him.

• Lin Xuan and Yue'er flew to the icy mountain, and Lin Xuan used the Wind Dragon Technique to clear the mist before descending into the crater.
• Geng and the red-clothed woman searched for a fugitive when a Scissor Fish and an Overlord Demon Octopus appeared and attacked their group.
• Geng ordered the cultivators to retreat and form the Three Talents Water Wave Formation against the two Cloud Beasts.
• The sharp-eared, monkey-cheeked fugitive reached the island carrying a jade box, but nearby demon beasts began closing in on him.
• In Lin Xuan's Spirit Beast Room, the little fellow awoke from its three-year sleep and sensed the fugitive and his mysterious box.

Lin Xuan fought through the beasts and the draining Yin-Yang Strange Wind to reach the bottom of Ice Fire Mountain, where he discovered an illusion-hidden array. He prepared to investigate it, but stopped when he sensed something.

• Lin Xuan used the Floating Cloud Falling Snow Sword and devilish Qi to kill two strange birds, then collected two mysterious red beads from their skulls.
• Lin Xuan continued down the iceberg, fighting off vicious beasts as the alternating hot and cold winds drained his magic power.
• Lin Xuan reached a vast lava hall at the mountain's base, where Yue'er found nothing unusual.
• Lin Xuan detected an array concealed beneath an illusion and told Yue'er they would investigate it.
• Lin Xuan stopped his descent when he sensed something.

Lin Xuan and Yue'er fought a Fire Charm that drew power from the magma pool, and Yue'er identified the creature while Lin Xuan worked out how its abilities depended on its fiery surroundings. The Fire Charm summoned a fire giant, but Yue'er ensnared it with her Mandarin Duck Blades as Lin Xuan rushed to attack.

• Lin Xuan summoned an ice Flood Dragon and Iron-Armored Corpses to attack the monster, while it turned magma into fire beasts.
• Yue'er recognized the monster as a Fire Charm, and Lin Xuan recalled that its strength depended on the fire spiritual energy around it.
• The Fire Charm formed a fire giant from the magma pool, and it swung a blazing axe at Lin Xuan.
• Lin Xuan blocked the fire giant's crescent-shaped attack with the Runic Ancient Shield.
• Yue'er used the Mandarin Duck Blades' Sword into Silk Technique to ensnare the fire giant, and Lin Xuan rushed toward the Fire Charm.

A red-clothed Sword Nether Palace cultivator and her companions fought several Cloud Beasts until Master Ku arrived and killed the Overlord Demon Octopus. The group feared why the notorious Nascent Soul cultivator had come, and the chapter ended with his history as a brutal, demonized former Buddhist who served the palace master.

• The red-clothed woman wounded the Overlord Demon Octopus, but it used the Bloodlust Technique and trapped her between its ink and tentacles.
• The woman tried to escape behind her Brocade Handkerchief, but the monster’s ink corroded the treasure and left her in mortal danger.
• Master Ku arrived, shielded the woman, killed the Overlord Demon Octopus with a single cleaver strike, and took its Demon Core.
• The other Cloud Beasts fled, while cultivator Geng, the woman, and the disciples bowed to Master Ku in fear.
• The cultivators recalled that Master Ku had entered the demonic path after a Buddhist cultivation disaster, slaughtered a temple and nearby sects, and was subdued and enlisted by Sword Nether Palace’s palace master.