Chapter Summaries

Lin Xuan forced the Black Wind Bandits’ leaders to submit, killing Scholar of the Sacred Hand when he tried to escape. After binding the surviving Second Leader with the Spirit Restricting Technique, Lin Xuan set out to find a remote island where he could leave the Hundred Herb Sect disciples before raiding the bandits’ lair.

• Lin Xuan demanded that both leaders hand over one soul and one spirit, but Scholar of the Sacred Hand attacked with talismans and Thunder Beads to create a chance to flee.
• Lin Xuan used the Nine Heavens Bright Moon Ring to catch and kill Scholar of the Sacred Hand, leaving him no chance to escape as a Nascent Soul.
• The Second Leader surrendered his soul and spirit, and Lin Xuan bound him with the Spirit Restricting Technique.
• Lin Xuan returned to the Spirit Boat, where the Hundred Herb Sect disciples had witnessed his victory.
• Lin Xuan asked the Second Leader to guide him to a remote deserted island so he could settle the disciples before taking over the Black Wind Bandits’ lair.

Lin Xuan discovered that Black Wind Island hid a powerful Spirit Vein beneath a formation and decided it would suit the Hundred Herb Sect. After learning the bandits’ strength, he disguised himself as Third Brother to infiltrate their lair and launch a surprise attack on Venerable Black Wind.

• Lin Xuan left the Hundred Herb Sect disciples on a remote island and had Second Leader take him to the Black Wind Bandits’ hidden lair.
• Lin Xuan found that Black Wind Island appeared to lack spiritual energy, but Second Leader explained that Venerable Black Wind’s Formation Flags concealed its Spirit Vein.
• Second Leader told Lin Xuan that seven or eight hundred bandits remained, all at Core Condensation Realm or above, and that Venerable Black Wind was nearing the Dongxuan Realm.
• After learning Venerable Black Wind had no spiritual-eye secret arts, Lin Xuan used the Heavenly Demon Appearance Alteration Technique to look and sound like Third Brother.
• Lin Xuan promised Second Leader freedom if he helped defeat the bandits, though he said he would erase some of Second Leader’s memories and judge his performance first.

Lin Xuan and the Second Leader infiltrated the Black Wind Bandits’ stronghold, using the Second Leader’s position to pass through the island without raising suspicion. They reached Water Wave Cave, where Venerable Black Wind’s five trusted guards awaited them, and Lin Xuan prepared to make his move.

• Lin Xuan secured the Second Leader’s help by promising to restore his freedom if he helped destroy the Black Wind Bandits.
• Lin Xuan and the Second Leader crossed the island’s miasma and passed its traps without setting them off.
• The two posed as the Second and Third Stronghold Masters and passed Liu San and his patrol squad without arousing suspicion.
• The Second Leader told Lin Xuan that Venerable Black Wind’s five Nascent Soul Late Stage guards protected Water Wave Cave, and Lin Xuan told him to cooperate with his plan.
• Lin Xuan and the Second Leader reached the cave’s entrance, where the five guards greeted them.

Lin Xuan and the Second Leader entered Water Wave Cave under disguise and met Venerable Black Wind. Lin Xuan poisoned Black Wind’s wine, revealed himself, and struck with a sword as Black Wind struggled to understand what was happening.

• The Second Leader and Lin Xuan passed the Black Wind Bandits’ guards and entered Water Wave Cave.
• Venerable Black Wind welcomed the disguised pair and asked whether they had found a valuable target.
• Lin Xuan told Black Wind a fabricated story about treasure-seeking cultivators and urged him to drink.
• Lin Xuan slipped a potent poison into Black Wind’s wine, and Black Wind drank it without noticing.
• Lin Xuan insulted Black Wind, revealed his hostility, and launched a snow-white sword light at him.

Lin Xuan revealed his identity and joined Second Leader in confronting Venerable Black Wind, who attacked with his Crocodile Scissors. Lin Xuan caught the treasure with his transformed hand, and the Phantom Spirit Heaven Fire melted it away, leaving Venerable Black Wind stunned.

• Lin Xuan revealed his true appearance after Venerable Black Wind recognized that he was an infiltrator.
• Venerable Black Wind accused Second Leader of betraying him, and Second Leader openly sided with Lin Xuan.
• Venerable Black Wind summoned his Crocodile Scissors and attacked Lin Xuan while Second Leader fled toward him for protection.
• Lin Xuan used the Phoenix Dance Nine Heavens Art and Phantom Spirit Heaven Fire to catch the Crocodile Scissors without being injured.
• The Phantom Spirit Heaven Fire melted the Crocodile Scissors, and Venerable Black Wind exclaimed that it had to be an illusion.

Lin Xuan used the Immortal Trapping Pill to cripple Venerable Black Wind, then killed his guards and survived Black Wind’s attempt to self-destruct. The chapter left Black Wind’s intact Nascent Soul exposed as it tried to escape through the smoke.

• Venerable Black Wind realized Lin Xuan had poisoned his wine with the Immortal Trapping Pill, which sent his magic power running wild through his meridians.
• Five Nascent Soul Late Stage guards rushed into the cave, and Lin Xuan killed them with Sword Qi before they could draw their treasures.
• Venerable Black Wind abandoned his physical body and self-destructed, but the pill’s effects kept most of his spiritual power from gathering.
• Lin Xuan escaped the blast with the Mystic Cyan Mother-Child Shield and used his Heavenly Phoenix Divine Eye to spot Black Wind’s surviving Nascent Soul.
• Lin Xuan pursued Venerable Black Wind’s Nascent Soul as it tried to flee through the smoke.

Lin Xuan defeated Venerable Black Wind, searched his soul for information about the Chaotic Sea Region, and destroyed him. He then wiped out the Black Wind Bandits to secure Black Wind Island as the Hundred Herb Sect’s headquarters.

• Venerable Black Wind tried to escape by teleporting, but Lin Xuan caught up with Nine Heavens Micro-Steps and sealed his Nascent Soul’s power and movement.
• Lin Xuan used the Soul Searching Technique on Venerable Black Wind to learn about the Chaotic Sea Region, then destroyed him.
• When the surviving bandits gathered, the Second Leader asked Lin Xuan what to do, and Lin Xuan ordered them all killed.
• Lin Xuan and the Second Leader attacked the Black Wind Bandits, whose scattered forces could not withstand them.
• Lin Xuan used his divine sense to track and kill the bandits attempting to flee or hide, determined to leave no survivors.

Lin Xuan wiped out the Black Wind Bandits and secured their island as a new headquarters for the Hundred Herb Sect. After erasing the Second Leader’s memories of the island, he brought the sect there and left to prepare important matters for Shangguan Muyu.

• Lin Xuan searched Black Wind Island and killed the remaining concealed bandits, leaving none alive.
• Lin Xuan promised to free the Second Leader, then erased his memories of Black Wind Island on a deserted reef.
• Lin Xuan returned to the Hundred Herb Sect’s hiding place and told Shangguan Muyu that the bandits had been eradicated and their island would serve as the sect’s headquarters.
• Lin Xuan brought the Hundred Herb Sect disciples to Black Wind Island, where its buildings and abundant spiritual energy astonished them.
• Lin Xuan directed Shangguan Muyu to settle the disciples and then meet him at his cultivation cave to hear important matters.

Lin Xuan gave Shangguan Muyu the Black Wind Bandits’ formation controls and asked her to assess the Hundred Herb Sect’s disciples’ aptitudes. After she admitted that excellent Spirit Roots were scarce, he prepared to speak frankly about the sect’s prospects.

• The Hundred Herb Sect settled into the Black Wind Bandits’ spacious cultivation grounds, and its disciples grew deeply grateful to Lin Xuan.
• Shangguan Muyu visited Lin Xuan at Hundred Flower Valley and thanked him for his help.
• Lin Xuan gave Shangguan Muyu the island’s Formation Disks and Command Tokens so she could study its defenses.
• Lin Xuan asked about the Hundred Herb Sect’s disciples, and Shangguan Muyu acknowledged that only a few had excellent Spirit Roots.
• Shangguan Muyu invited Lin Xuan to speak plainly, and he prepared to offer his assessment.

Lin Xuan offered Shangguan Muyu the Five Elements True Explanation, a cultivation method that could help the Hundred Herb Sect recover its strength. After studying it, Shangguan Muyu realized it could let cultivators advance through major realms without bottlenecks.

• Lin Xuan asked Shangguan Muyu whether she wanted to revitalize the Hundred Herb Sect, and she knelt to pledge the sect's loyalty if he could help.
• Lin Xuan explained that the sect's incomplete Hundred Herb Insights hindered its disciples and gave Shangguan Muyu a Jade Slip containing the Five Elements True Explanation.
• Shangguan Muyu studied the method for four hours and recognized that cultivators with adequate aptitude and resources could advance without bottlenecks from Foundation Establishment to Lihe.

Lin Xuan explained the Five Elements True Explanation’s severe limits to Shangguan Muyu, who accepted them because the method offered Hundred Herb Sect a future it had never had. He gave Shangguan Muyu a separate cultivation technique and left the sect’s recovery in her hands as he focused on advancing to the Dongxuan Realm.

• Lin Xuan warned Shangguan Muyu that the Five Elements True Explanation’s power was limited and that it could not be cultivated beyond Lihe.
• Lin Xuan explained that anyone who practiced the Five Elements True Explanation could never learn another cultivation method without suffering qi deviation.
• Shangguan Muyu accepted the method’s flaws, saying that reaching Lihe would still be a great benefit to Hundred Herb Sect.
• Lin Xuan gave Shangguan Muyu the Jade Maiden Seven Hearts Technique, which would let her continue cultivating beyond Lihe.
• Lin Xuan left Hundred Herb Sect’s future development to Shangguan Muyu and resolved to focus on reaching the Dongxuan Realm.

Lin Xuan gave the Hundred Herb Sect the mountain bandits’ scattered wealth, then refined the Blood-Transforming Divine Mist into his Phantom Spirit Heaven Fire. He tested the fire’s new red power on a sea beast and watched it rapidly wither, leaving the ability’s strength newly revealed.

• Shangguan Muyu asked whether the Hundred Herb Sect should turn over treasures found in the bandits’ Cultivation Caves, and Lin Xuan gave the wealth to her sect.
• Lin Xuan reflected that the bandits’ true hidden treasure was elsewhere and that he had already learned its location.
• Lin Xuan spent more than half a month refining the Blood-Transforming Divine Mist trapped inside the Phantom Spirit Heaven Fire, which gained a sunset-red color.
• Lin Xuan left Black Wind Island and found a giant octopus attacking an island where its cultivators had fled and its mortal residents were in danger.
• Lin Xuan wrapped the octopus in the red Phantom Spirit Heaven Fire, and it rapidly withered away.

Lin Xuan confirmed that the Phantom Spirit Heaven Fire could devour life force and magical power, then returned to Black Wind Island and began refining the Black Water Leech's soul to strengthen that ability. He imprisoned the leech's soul and sent the four-colored flame toward it.

• Lin Xuan watched the Phantom Spirit Heaven Fire drain the Octopus, confirming its new devouring ability and its four effects.
• Lin Xuan left the island after rescuing its Mortals, who knelt in gratitude after he departed.
• Lin Xuan returned to Black Wind Island, where the Hundred Herb Sect disciples treated him with great respect.
• Lin Xuan examined the damaged Blood-Transforming Demon Sword and decided to fuse its Black Water Leech Artifact Spirit into the Phantom Spirit Heaven Fire.
• Lin Xuan blasted the struggling Black Water Leech soul with Palm Lightning, imprisoned it, and sent the red Phantom Spirit Heaven Fire toward it.

Lin Xuan successfully fused the Black Water Leech's soul into the Phantom Spirit Heaven Fire, discovering that it could transform into the leech and use its abilities. He prepared to enter prolonged secluded cultivation, arranged pills and guidance for the Shangguan Sisters, and revealed his Nascent Soul to reassure them they could seek his help.

• Lin Xuan spent a month refining the Black Water Leech's soul into the Phantom Spirit Heaven Fire and completed the fusion without mishap.
• Lin Xuan tested the fire's transformations, finding that the Black Water Leech form had spiritual sense and could unleash a powerful rosy mist.
• Lin Xuan considered fusing more souls into the fire, then decided to focus on raising his main Nascent Soul's cultivation.
• Lin Xuan summoned the Shangguan Sisters, supplied them with pills and cultivation guidance, and told them his secluded cultivation could last decades or centuries.
• Lin Xuan assured the Shangguan Sisters they could come to him if they faced a crisis, then released his Nascent Soul from his body while continuing to speak.

Lin Xuan began secluded cultivation, testing whether the Blue Star Sea could purify pills into high-grade pills and using the results to accelerate his progress. After a month of experiments, he found that purification could succeed but had only a ten percent success rate, and he chose to give up.

• Lin Xuan explained the Second Nascent Soul to Shangguan Yan and Ling'er, warned them not to disturb his cultivation unless necessary, and activated his cave restrictions after they left.
• Lin Xuan discovered that blue light spots could not purify a mid-grade pill, while silver light spots could turn it into a high-grade pill at the cost of exhausting his silver energy.
• Lin Xuan swallowed the purified high-grade pill and found that one day of cultivation was nearly equal to half a month of his usual progress.
• Lin Xuan repeatedly tried to purify mid-grade pills into high-grade pills, but most attempts failed, so he used mid-grade pills to continue cultivating.
• After a month of experiments, Lin Xuan had succeeded only three times and stopped trying to purify high-grade pills because the success rate was too low.

Lin Xuan spent fifty years cultivating in seclusion while the Hundred Herb Sect grew on Black Wind Island. When Shangguan Yan and Shangguan Ling encountered a large group of displaced cultivators, the group discovered the island and its Spirit Vein, setting up a threat to the sect.

• Lin Xuan focused on cultivation, purifying pills, raising Blood Fire Ants, and strengthening his body with the Qilin Fruit and Dragon-Elephant Demon-Subduing Technique.
• Over fifty years, the Hundred Herb Sect gained many Foundation Establishment cultivators and several Core Condensation cultivators, while Shangguan Yan and Shangguan Ling reached the peak of Foundation Establishment.
• Shangguan Yan and Shangguan Ling spotted hundreds of powerful cultivators approaching and hurried back toward the sect through the miasma.
• The red-haired Lihe Realm ancestor sent cultivators to investigate the island after his followers argued over whether it held a sect headquarters.
• The investigating cultivators found the island and reported that its Spirit Vein was quite good, delighting the ancestor.

Lin Xuan reached the peak of the mid-stage Lihe Realm and began attempting to break through to the late stage, unaware that Black Wind Island was under attack. After the sect’s defenses held for a day and night, Shangguan Yan flew to seek his help despite his seclusion.

• Lin Xuan prepared for his breakthrough by taking high-grade Jade Spirit Pills, Moro Pills, and another pill, then meditated to refine their medicinal power.
• A group led by a Lihe Realm cultivator attacked Black Wind Island while Lin Xuan was in seclusion.
• The Hundred Herb Sect’s improved disciples could not match the attackers, so they relied on Black Wind Island’s powerful defenses.
• After the attackers continued besieging the island for a day and night, Shangguan Muyu decided they had to ask Lin Xuan for help.
• Shangguan Yan accepted that disturbing her master was unavoidable and flew toward Hundred Flower Valley.

Lin Xuan interrupted his bottleneck cultivation by sending out his Second Nascent Soul to defend the Hundred Herb Sect from an attacking sect. He faced the Red-Haired Elder and his forces alone, and the chapter ended as the enemy mocked the unassuming pagoda treasure Lin Xuan revealed.

• Lin Xuan received Shangguan Yan's message and sent his Second Nascent Soul out while his main Nascent Soul and Demon Core continued cultivating.
• Lin Xuan reassured Shangguan Yan and flew with her to confront the attackers, telling her and Shangguan Ling to stay back and watch.
• The Red-Haired Elder stopped his sect's attack and offered to spare the Hundred Herb Sect if Lin Xuan surrendered its headquarters.
• Lin Xuan challenged the Red-Haired Elder over who was hunter and prey, then revealed a seven-level pagoda treasure.
• The Red-Haired Elder and his disciples ridiculed Lin Xuan's treasure, assuming his Nascent Soul body and unimpressive artifact made him an easy target.

Lin Xuan unleashed the Blood Fire Ants he had raised for fifty years against the Red-Haired Elder and the other cultivators. As the enormous swarm overwhelmed their attacks, the Red-Haired Elder retreated from its advance.

• The Red-Haired Elder threatened Lin Xuan, whose Nascent Soul refused to leave the feng shui land.
• Lin Xuan opened the Ten Thousand Soul Tower and released a vast swarm of Blood Fire Ants.
• The Red-Haired Elder and the other cultivators attacked the swarm with treasures and spells, but the ants quickly filled the gaps their attacks made.
• Lin Xuan revealed that he had raised over a hundred Ant Queens and ten million Blood Fire Ants, then commanded the swarm to attack.
• The Red-Haired Elder retreated rather than face the advancing swarm head-on.

Lin Xuan used the Blood Fire Ants and Phantom Spirit Heaven Fire to defeat the Red-Haired Elder’s forces and prevent them from exposing the Hundred Herb Sect’s main altar. The Red-Haired Elder lost his body, leaving only his Nascent Soul suspended before Lin Xuan.

• Two Nascent Soul cultivators were overwhelmed by the Blood Fire Ants and self-destructed, while the other cultivators fled in panic.
• Lin Xuan formed the Blood Fire Ants into spears and killed the fleeing cultivators, leaving only the Red-Haired Elder alive.
• Lin Xuan recalled the Blood Fire Ants, but the Red-Haired Elder tried to escape and Lin Xuan used Teleportation to block his path.
• The Red-Haired Elder attacked Lin Xuan with his golden wheels, but Phantom Spirit Heaven Fire froze and weathered away his lifebound treasure.
• Lin Xuan transformed the Phantom Spirit Heaven Fire into a Black Water Leech, whose red mist drained the Red-Haired Elder’s magic power and destroyed his physical body.