Chapter Summaries

Xia Wantang and Lin Xi hired mercenaries to guide them into the Demonic Beast Desert, with Xia Wantang covering Lin Xi’s share. They entered the mercenary group’s enormous tent to register and meet its leader, where their arrival drew attention from the mostly male mercenaries.

• Zhou Jun explained the dangers of traveling through the Demonic Beast Desert and why cultivators hired experienced mercenaries.
• Xia Wantang agreed to join Li Tao and Zhou Jun’s group for a nighttime expedition, paying fifty thousand spirit stones for each of them.
• Lin Xi admitted he had brought few spirit stones, and Xia Wantang promised to cover his expenses, gaining five favorability points with him.
• Xia Wantang gave Zhou Jun and Li Tao one hundred thousand spirit stones, and they led her and Lin Xi into the mercenary tent to register.
• Xia Wantang and Lin Xi saw the tent’s vast interior and the many mercenaries exercising, eating, and sparring.
• Fu Liu approached Xia Wantang and Lin Xi, introduced herself, and asked them to bear with the tent’s unusual environment.

Xia Wantang and Lin Xi joined the Desert Mercenary Group’s expedition into the Demonic Beast Desert, where they met its leader, He Quan. Two unsettling cultivators, Black Rose and Lei Sha, then paid to join the party, leaving Xia Wantang suspicious of their intentions.

• Xia Wantang introduced Lin Xi as her younger brother and explained their different surnames and appearances to the mercenaries.
• He Quan introduced himself as leader of the Desert Mercenary Group and confirmed Xia Wantang and Lin Xi’s registration for the expedition.
• Xia Wantang noticed that a woman and a man entering the tent both carried Dark Spirit Root auras, and Lin Xi and the four little ones sensed a foul stench from them.
• The woman paid He Quan one hundred thousand spirit stones for two places in the expedition without asking for details.
• The woman gave the clerk her name, Black Rose, and identified her companion as Lei Sha.

Xia Wantang learned that Black Rose was a Devil Race elder and Lei Sha was the Thunder Valley Master, then joined He Quan’s mercenary expedition into the desert. The group set off aboard a Sand Boat, where Xia Wantang sensed someone watching her with a disturbing gaze.

• Xia Wantang recognized Black Rose and Lei Sha, suspected their ties to the Devil Race, and secretly learned from the system that Black Rose was the Devil Race’s Second Elder and Lei Sha was Lei Li’s father.
• Xia Wantang inferred that Black Rose and Lei Sha’s mission was likely guided by the Devil Race, then waited with Lin Xi for the mercenary group to depart.
• He Quan selected nineteen subordinates and assembled a thirty-person group that included Xia Wantang, Lin Xi, Black Rose, Lei Sha, and six caravan members.
• He Quan used a Sand Boat to carry the group into the desert, while Lin Xi and Xia Wantang kept their distance from Black Rose and Lei Sha.
• As Xia Wantang boarded the Sand Boat, she sensed a sticky, sickening gaze following her and looked toward its source.

Xia Wantang and Lin Xi traveled with the Desert Mercenary Group while six suspicious caravan men eyed them and the group’s magical artifacts. At a desert rest stop, one of the men probed the two about whether they had run away from home, and Fu Liu stepped in to protect their privacy.

• Xia Wantang and Lin Xi suspected the six caravan men of targeting them and Black Rose, while Xia Wantang resolved to wait and see what they would do.
• The Sand Boat avoided quicksand as the caravan men admired it, and Fu Liu warned Li Tao not to underestimate their fellow travelers.
• After traveling through the night, He Quan stopped the Sand Boat beside a concealed magical boulder so the group could rest before the demonic beasts’ hunting time.
• Fu Liu offered Xia Wantang and Lin Xi mats, then blocked a lecherous caravan man when he questioned whether they had run away from home.

Xia Wantang rebuffed Liu Wen and overheard Black Rose and Lei Sha plotting through her formation, then watched Liu Wen's group eye Lei Sha's valuable artifact as the caravan set out for the Demonic Beast Desert's core. The mercenaries surrounded Xia Wantang and Lin Xi, while she suspected trouble was coming.

• Xia Wantang stopped Fu Liu from intervening in her dispute with Liu Wen, then secretly sent dust into Liu Wen's mouth with a gust of wind.
• Liu Wen tried to approach Black Rose, but Lei Sha's fierce glare made him back off; Black Rose told Lei Sha through sound transmission that Liu Wen would die soon and that the time to act had not yet come.
• Xia Wantang overheard Black Rose and Lei Sha through her formation and placed another formation on them to detect their use of spiritual energy.
• He Quan announced that the Sand Boat would head for the Demonic Beast Desert's core, and Liu Wen's group eyed Lei Sha's Immortal-grade magical artifact greedily.
• As the caravan departed, the mercenaries kept their distance from Black Rose and Lei Sha and gathered around Xia Wantang and Lin Xi.

As the party reached the Demonic Beast Desert’s core, they discussed its worsening heat and the danger it posed to the mercenaries. Black Rose suspected a hidden object was causing the bizarre temperatures, but the group’s rest was interrupted by the appearance of an unknown demonic beast.

• Li Tao wondered how Xia Wantang, Lin Xi, and Black Rose endured the heat without magical artifacts or spirit pills, and Zhou Jun apologized for his intrusive question.
• He Quan stopped the Sand Boat at an oasis in the desert’s core and explained that demonic beasts gathered there in packs.
• Liu Wen asked why the core region was hotter despite its oases, and He Quan explained that the desert had always been inhospitable and was the hottest area in the West Desert Domain.
• Fu Liu said the desert’s temperature had risen in recent years, while Zhou Jun worried that the heat would drive the Desert Mercenary Group out of business.
• Black Rose concluded that a hidden object was connected to the bizarre heat, but a caravan member cried out when an unknown demonic beast appeared.

Xia Wantang saved the group from a Green Jade Poisonous Snake and discovered Ice Snow Jade beneath the oasis well, whose energy gave the water its cooling effect. As the mercenaries scooped water for everyone, Liu Wen’s group drank a bucket greedily and began plotting to take advantage of the distraction.

• Xia Wantang froze the attacking Green Jade Poisonous Snake and its venom, earning thanks from the mercenaries.
• He Quan led the group to a small oasis well and explained that its water helped people endure the desert heat.
• Xia Wantang found dozens of Ice Snow Jades deep beneath the well and marked the location to return for them later.
• Xia Wantang and Lin Xi declined the well water, while Black Rose and Lei Sha also said they did not need any.
• Liu Wen shoved a mercenary aside, drank a third of the bucket, and passed it to his caravan companions without sharing.
• After the mercenaries began scooping a new bucket, Liu Wen signaled his companions to act.

Liu Wen’s trafficking gang tried to drug the mercenary group with Immortal’s Dream, but Xia Wantang and her companions remained standing while most of the group lost consciousness. Black Rose revealed her formidable power and confronted the gang, whose leader begged for mercy and tried to bargain for Xia Wantang and Lin Xi.

• Liu Wen and his five accomplices secretly used Immortal’s Dream, intending to abduct Xia Wantang, Lin Xi, and Black Rose.
• A strange gust blew the poison back toward the traffickers, but its fumes still weakened the mercenaries and knocked Li Tao and Zhou Jun unconscious.
• Liu Wen dropped his disguise and laughed at the poisoned group, then realized Xia Wantang, Black Rose, and Lin Xi were still standing.
• Xia Wantang pretended that she and Lin Xi had also been weakened, while Black Rose judged that she was the only one able to confront the six men.
• Black Rose’s imposing spiritual power startled the conscious mercenaries, and Liu Wen and his accomplices fell to their knees to beg for mercy.
• Liu Wen offered Black Rose two million spirit stones in exchange for Xia Wantang and Lin Xi.

Black Rose killed Liu Wen and his five accomplices, while Xia Wantang secretly used a spirit pill to help the mercenaries recover from Immortal's Dream. As the group fought off a herd of Earth Camel Beasts, the beasts regrouped into a V-shaped charge aimed at them.

• Black Rose rejected Liu Wen's demand, killed him and his five accomplices with fire, and took their storage pouches.
• Xia Wantang gave the mercenaries a powdered spirit pill mixed into well water, restoring much of their strength and spiritual energy.
• Lin Xi helped Xia Wantang hand out the water, grumbling that she was treating him like a younger brother.
• He Quan explained Liu Wen's betrayal to the newly awakened mercenaries, who thanked Black Rose and Xia Wantang and cursed Liu Wen's group.
• A herd of Earth Camel Beasts charged the group, and He Quan organized the mercenaries to defend and attack.
• The Earth Camel Beast leader called out, and the herd reassembled into a V-shaped formation aimed at Xia Wantang and the others.

Xia Wantang and Lin Xi faced a herd of Earth Camel Beasts, but Black Rose intervened before the beasts could overwhelm the mercenaries. After the herd retreated, Black Rose suggested that He Quan lead the group deeper into the Demonic Beast Desert.

• He Quan steadied the mercenaries as the Earth Camel Beasts gathered earthen mountains and charged, while Black Rose watched to test Xia Wantang and Lin Xi.
• Lin Xi prepared to use his Kirin pressure, but Xia Wantang grabbed his hand, distracting him and preventing him from acting.
• Black Rose summoned thousands of fireballs, driving the Earth Camel Beasts away behind their earthen defenses.
• Xia Wantang secretly helped the beasts retreat, and Lin Xi gave Li Tao a chilling look when he talked about using the beasts for materials.
• He Quan thanked Black Rose for her help, and she suggested that the group investigate powerful demonic beasts deep in the desert’s core region.

He Quan agreed to lead the group toward the central region, where Xia Wantang suspected Black Rose sought a powerful fire-and-dark magic treasure. As the group approached, a pack of Dark Night Nether Wolves surrounded them, stirring the mercenaries’ desire for revenge.

• He Quan accepted Black Rose and Xia Wantang’s request to travel to the central region after his companions agreed to go.
• The group rested, then set out at dusk as the heat intensified near the central region and a strange red glow appeared in the distance.
• Xia Wantang suspected Black Rose was searching for a divine-grade treasure with both fire and dark attributes.
• He Quan identified an approaching pack of forty to fifty Dark Night Nether Wolves, and Li Tao and Fu Liu recalled the mercenaries the wolves had killed.
• The mercenaries drew their weapons as the wolves charged in a coordinated arc and surrounded the group.

Xia Wantang and her companions helped the Desert Mercenary Group defeat a pack of Dark Night Nether Wolves, and Lin Xi earned her appreciation by protecting the others. As the group approached the fiery-red destination, Black Rose grew excited about claiming the Ancient Demon Venerable’s treasure, prompting Xia Wantang to secretly place a formation on her.

• Xia Wantang and Lin Xi joined the mercenary group’s defense and attacks against the Dark Night Nether Wolves, while Lin Xi’s earth wall stopped the pack leader.
• Black Rose burned the wolf leader to ashes, and the mercenaries finished off the remaining wolves.
• He Quan thanked Xia Wantang and her companions and offered to divide the wolf materials; Black Rose and Lei Sha declined their shares.
• Xia Wantang offered Lin Xi some materials, and his favorability toward Tang Wan rose by three points when he accepted her kindness.
• As the group neared the fiery-red destination, Black Rose anticipated claiming the Ancient Demon Venerable’s treasure, and Xia Wantang secretly set up a formation on her.

Black Rose gave the Desert Mercenary Group Snow Cold Pills to help them endure the Demonic Beast Desert’s heat while secretly planning to use them as sacrifices to obtain the Dark Fire Glazed Bead. After Xia Wantang and the others swallowed the pills, the group continued toward the desert’s central area, where Black Rose hoped to claim the artifact.

• As the group entered the increasingly hot desert, He Quan asked Black Rose whether they should press on, and she offered everyone Snow Cold Pills for protection from the heat.
• Black Rose privately revealed that she wanted the Dark Fire Glazed Bead, which was sealed behind a ritual requiring twenty willing human cultivators and twenty demonic beasts as sacrifices.
• Black Rose planned to use the mercenaries as human sacrifices, lure demonic beasts with prepared supplies, and take Xia Wantang and Lin Xi back to the devil race to turn them into evil cultivators.
• Xia Wantang examined a Snow Cold Pill, swallowed it, and discovered that it cooled the body and calmed the mind; Lin Xi trusted her and took one too.
• After the others praised the pills’ effects, Black Rose urged the group onward, eager to reach the central area and obtain the Dark Fire Glazed Bead.

He Quan’s group entered the underground palace, where Black Rose fought a Candle Demon Beast with suspiciously ruthless strikes. As Lei Sha tried to warn her, Xia Wantang silenced him with a strange purple light and knocked him unconscious.

• Black Rose secretly placed Demon Luring Grass and cold jade at the cave entrance, but Xia Wantang noticed and told Lin Xi to remove them.
• He Quan led the group through the tunnel into an underground palace centered around a huge stone stele.
• A Candle Demon Beast attacked from the wall, and Black Rose struck at it with her whip, nearly hitting a mercenary caught in its path.
• Xia Wantang realized Black Rose had a hidden motive, while the mercenaries scattered at He Quan’s command.
• Lei Sha noticed Lin Xi arriving late and tried to warn Black Rose, but Xia Wantang used a purple light to silence him and knock him unconscious.

Xia Wantang killed Lei Sha, dispelled the Candle Demon Beast’s dark spiritual energy, and confronted Black Rose, who revealed her necromantic arts and attacked. Black Rose then announced that Demon Luring Grass would draw more beasts into the underground palace as she pursued her plan to break the Dark Fire Glazed Bead’s seal.

• After confirming Lei Sha was unconscious, Xia Wantang secretly killed him with ice spiritual energy.
• Xia Wantang used the Demon Exorcism Banner to clear the Candle Demon Beast’s dark spiritual energy, then challenged Black Rose’s motives.
• Black Rose revived the Candle Demon Beast with necromantic arts and sent it against the group, but Xia Wantang froze and shattered it.
• Black Rose discovered Lei Sha was dead and unleashed dark needles, while Lin Xi protected the others behind earth walls.
• Black Rose told Xia Wantang that Demon Luring Grass would draw demonic beasts to the underground palace and declared her plan to lift the Dark Fire Glazed Bead’s seal.

Xia Wantang defeated Black Rose in the underground palace, uncovering her demonic powers and saving the Desert Mercenary Group. The group returned their spiritual stones and welcomed Xia Wantang and Lin Xi as honored guests, while the system revealed that the Dark Fire Glazed Bead concealed a major conspiracy.

• Lin Xi admitted he had taken the Demon Luring Grass, enraging Black Rose, who attacked Xia Wantang with her whip.
• Xia Wantang restrained Black Rose with golden runes and struck her with ice blades concealing the Earth Heart Nether Lotus Fire, knocking her unconscious.
• He Quan and the others realized Black Rose had dark spiritual energy, while Lin Xi thanked Xia Wantang and claimed the Demon Luring Grass.
• Lin Xi's Kirin bloodline reacted when he touched Xia Wantang, and his favorability toward Tang Wan increased.
• He Quan returned the hundred thousand spiritual stones and named Xia Wantang and Lin Xi honored guests of the Desert Mercenary Group.
• The system identified the stone tablet's treasure as the Dark Fire Glazed Bead and warned Xia Wantang that it hid a massive conspiracy.

Xia Wantang discovered that the stone tablet held the Ancient Demon Venerable’s soul and that a domain trapped everyone inside the cave. She planned to destroy the tablet with her Spirit Immortal Sealing Talisman, then left the others at the entrance while she went alone to the underground palace.

• Xia Wantang learned that the Ancient Demon Venerable had been taking over successive Devil Race descendants and that Black Rose would have suffered the same fate.
• Xia Wantang froze Black Rose and Lei Sha’s bodies together and left them to be burned to ashes by the Earth Heart Nether Lotus Fire.
• Li Tao reported that a barrier blocked the cave entrance, and Xia Wantang recognized it as a domain that could not be broken by ordinary means.
• Xia Wantang told the group that destroying the stone tablet could release them and eliminate the Ancient Demon Venerable’s soul.
• Xia Wantang decided to use her Spirit Immortal Sealing Talisman on the tablet and asked everyone, including Lin Xi, to guard the cave entrance while she went alone.

Xia Wantang secretly examined the stone tablet and learned that its inscription called for sacrificing twenty human cultivators and fierce beasts to free Han Ming. She pretended to consider his offer while drawing him into giving her a valuable item, and Han Ming offered her Tuo Luo Bone as the chapter ended.

• Xia Wantang set up an isolation formation and used the system to translate the Devil Race inscription on the stone tablet.
• When Xia Wantang reached toward the tablet with Pure World Sacred Lotus Fire, Han Ming spoke from within and claimed he had been framed and sealed there a thousand years ago.
• Han Ming offered Xia Wantang the Dark Fire Glazed Bead and his lifelong cultivation if she freed him, while secretly plotting to possess her and Lin Xi's bodies.
• Xia Wantang challenged Han Ming about the Devil Race inscription and the sacrifices needed to lift his seal, then pretended to consider helping him.
• Xia Wantang asked Han Ming for an advance reward, and he offered her an Immortal Grade Ninth Tier Tuo Luo Bone.

Xia Wantang refused to sacrifice anyone to free Han Ming and used a Spirit Immortal Sealing Talisman to destroy him and the stone tablet. She claimed Han Ming’s treasures, including the Dark Fire Glazed Bead and Míng Lí Sword, then left the underground palace.

• Xia Wantang accepted the Tuo Luo Bone and Thunderous Cloud-Splitting Stone from Han Ming, then revealed she planned to break the seal with a Spirit Immortal Sealing Talisman.
• Han Ming appeared as a soul, attacked Xia Wantang, and explained that a God Race soul restriction forced him to return to the underground palace whenever his body died.
• Xia Wantang activated the talisman, shattering the stone tablet and erasing Han Ming’s soul.
• Xia Wantang found the Dark Fire Glazed Bead among the fragments and retrieved Han Ming’s Divine Grade Third Tier Míng Lí Sword and other treasures.
• Xia Wantang collected the treasures, checked the underground palace, withdrew the isolation formation, and headed toward the cave entrance.

Xia Wantang freed the group from the sealed cavern and left the Desert Mercenary Group with Lin Xi. She revealed that she was leaving so she could avoid interfering in the conflict between humans and demonic beasts, then headed with Lin Xi toward the Short-tailed Crystal Rabbit's habitat.

• Xia Wantang told the group she had destroyed the stele, and Li Tao confirmed everyone could leave the cavern.
• He Quan and the Desert Mercenary Group thanked Xia Wantang before she took Lin Xi away from them at an oasis.
• Xia Wantang explained that she had left because Lin Xi could not bear to watch the group hunt demonic beasts, and Lin Xi gained favorability toward her.
• Xia Wantang pointed out the oasis where the Short-tailed Crystal Rabbit lived and set off there with Lin Xi.