Recaps

Qu Jianlei returned to Eastern Prosperity as Red Leaf Ridge prepared to sell Laser Weapons and improve its detectors. When Tian Yin began attempting Core Formation, the strange tribulation opened a spatial weak point, and Heavenly Demons began to emerge as the gathered cultivators prepared for battle.

• Qu Jianlei asked True Immortal Yongheng about Star Palace treasures, then returned to Eastern Prosperity and arranged for Xiang Xue to sell a small number of Laser Weapons.
• A suspected Nascent Soul Realm Heavenly Demon appeared on Three Rivers Plain, where True Immortal Ke Liang wounded it with a Laser Cannon before Thousand Hands True Immortal escorted samples of its Heavenly Devil Qi to Red Leaf Ridge.
• Qu Jianlei disappeared for two months to improve the detectors and study the dangers surrounding Tian Yin's planned Core Formation.
• Red Leaf Ridge intensified its patrols as Tian Yin prepared to undergo tribulation, and Qu Jianlei warned Zhu Jiayi and other observers to retreat from the unusual tribulation clouds.
• A spatial weak point appeared above Red Leaf Ridge, and Ji Xiaohua ordered the Ji Family descendants to prepare Battle Formation, lightning talismans, and Laser Weapons.
• Frigid energy poured through the violently shaking space, and a divine sense warned the gathered cultivators that a group of Heavenly Demons might be arriving.

As Heavenly Demons broke through space during Tian Yin’s Core Formation, Red Leaf Ridge warned the gathered cultivators to retreat and activated its grand array. The demons ignored the spectators and charged toward Red Leaf Ridge’s Core Area, leaving the nearby forces to decide whether to withdraw or help.

• True Immortal Zhiyuan recognized the Heavenly Demon invasion, while the Green Screen Mountain Li Family and Zhu Family prepared to support Red Leaf Ridge.
• Ji Xiaohua and True Immortal Zhiyuan warned that the Heavenly Demons were breaking open space, and Zhao Sanshui ordered the Nanwan Zhao Family to retreat.
• Li Yuren and Zhu Jiayi led their families forward to fight, but Qu Jianlei told everyone not to provoke the Heavenly Demons and to retreat.
• Red Leaf Ridge activated its grand array and filled the Core Area with dense White Mist as the Heavenly Demons emerged.
• Ji Xiaohua warned the spectators to withdraw their divine senses after the demons’ soul-piercing shrieks injured some Golden Core cultivators.
• The Black Shadows rushed past the surrounding cultivators and headed straight for Red Leaf Ridge’s Core Area, where Tian Yin was forming her Core Formation.

Red Leaf Ridge fought off a growing Heavenly Demon horde with increasingly powerful laser weapons while Qu Jianlei, Jiao Daoren, and Yi He discussed the threat and its possible consequences. The battle escalated as six especially powerful beams appeared, each aimed in groups of three at two targets.

• Onlookers debated whether to help Red Leaf Ridge, but Zhu Jiayi urged them to wait because attacking might scatter the Heavenly Demons across the continent.
• Qu Jianlei, Jiao Daoren, and Yi He discussed the threat to Tian Yin's Core Formation and the danger of a weak point forming in space, while Qu Jianlei declined to perform a divination.
• Red Leaf Ridge began its counterattack with Laser Sniper Rifles, striking the charging Qi Refining Realm Heavenly Demons with growing accuracy.
• As the horde grew and reached the Mountain Protecting Grand Formation, Red Leaf Ridge added hundreds of beams and pushed the attackers back.
• Foundation Establishment Realm Heavenly Demons joined the assault, prompting Red Leaf Ridge to deploy Laser Cannons until more than three hundred were firing.
• Six brighter, thicker beams appeared and targeted two points in groups of three.

Red Leaf Ridge fought off a vast Heavenly Demon assault with its hidden Laser Cannons and array defenses, while the onlookers watched from a growing distance. When three Nascent Soul Realm auras emerged, Qu Jianlei kept the Battalion-Class Ship’s weapons concealed and sent Jing Yuexin, Duo Gan, and Paranoid out to engage one of them under Jiao Daoren’s guidance.

• Red Leaf Ridge’s Laser Cannons destroyed two Golden Core Realm Heavenly Demons, and Yi He explained that one had been executed by its own forces after trying to flee.
• Hundreds and then more than a thousand ship-mounted Laser Cannons joined the defense as the Golden Core Realm Heavenly Demons kept appearing and attacking the grand array.
• The grand array’s Thunder Method struck enemies outside its shield, while Li Yuren and other observers discussed Red Leaf Ridge’s tactics and hidden strength.
• After a day and night of fighting, the spectators retreated at least three hundred kilometers as Heavenly Devil Qi gathered around Red Leaf Ridge.
• Three frigid auras emerged from the cold, sinister presence, and Yi He identified them as the manifestation of one Nascent Soul Realm Illusory Heavenly Demon.
• Qu Jianlei refused to reveal the Battalion-Class Ship’s Laser Cannons and sent Jing Yuexin, Duo Gan, and Paranoid out in a Three Powers Array to attack under Jiao Daoren’s guidance.

Jing Yuexin and the other two True Immortals fought the Heavenly Demons in a battle formation, killing two Nascent Soul clones with help from Red Leaf Ridge’s talismans. After a day of mobile combat, the formation still held, and observers realized the trio might be focused on disrupting the assault rather than killing the remaining Nascent Soul.

• True Immortal Zhiyuan warned nearby cultivators to prepare to withdraw, but Thousand Hands True Immortal insisted Red Leaf Ridge could hold its own.
• Jing Yuexin and the other two True Immortals used their battle formation to kill a Nascent Soul Heavenly Demon clone with lightning attacks.
• A second Nascent Soul Heavenly Demon ambushed Duo Gan, but her Nascent Soul Thunder Dragon Talisman and Paranoid’s Immobilization Talisman let the battle formation kill it.
• The third clone fled instead of returning to the Icy Qi Mass, while Qu Jianlei told Hua Xiezhi to guard her state of mind and refused Bentley’s request to deploy the final reserve force.
• For a full day, the three True Immortals roamed through the Heavenly Demon horde, easing pressure on Red Leaf Ridge’s grand formation as observers suspected they were using mobile warfare to disrupt the assault.

Red Leaf Ridge used its battle formations and overwhelming laser fire to fight off waves of Nascent Soul Realm Heavenly Demons while protecting its grand formation. After a self-destructing demon breached the shield, Qu Jianlei and Bentley’s team secured the gap, and the chapter ended with another assault meeting Red Leaf Ridge’s expanded defenses.

• Jing Yuexin and the other two True Immortals lured Heavenly Demons into the laser cannons’ fire and destroyed wave after wave of attackers.
• Nearly thirty Nascent Soul Realm Heavenly Demons surrounded the three True Immortals as Red Leaf Ridge raised its laser fire to more than two thousand cannons.
• Seven or eight Heavenly Demons attacked the grand formation, and one self-destructed to open a gap through which three demons entered.
• Bentley and five Golden Core Realm cultivators formed a Five Elements Battle Array to guard the breach while Qu Jianlei destroyed the invading demons’ residual Heavenly Devil Qi and repaired the shield.
• Qu Jianlei released more than ten Regiment-level ships as reserves, and Red Leaf Ridge later added more than thirty Regiment-level Laser Cannons as the Heavenly Demons renewed their assault.

After more than half a month of siege, Red Leaf Ridge prepared for a decisive assault as Tian Yin appeared close to forming her Core. The chapter left the defenders facing a huge wave of mostly Golden Core and Nascent Soul Realm Heavenly Demons.

• Qu Jianlei sensed the decisive battle approaching and ordered Lao Ben and the Golden Core Realm cultivators to prepare.
• Hua Xiezhi carried a box of Nascent Soul Realm Heavenly Devil Qi into the Heavenly Demon horde, drawing the demons away as Sunset Glow used it to teleport far from Red Leaf Ridge.
• Hua Xiezhi returned to the Five Elements Array, and Bentley led the squad back through the grand formation under cover from Xiao Hu's Laser Cannons.
• Qu Jianlei warned the squad to recover before the hardest battle began.
• The cold aura doubled, releasing a horde of mostly Golden Core Realm demons and nearly a hundred Nascent Soul Realm Heavenly Demons as Tian Yin neared Core Formation.

Red Leaf Ridge drew most of the Heavenly Demons away from its grand formation with an Out-of-Body Heavenly Demon's fallen crystal, clearing the way for Qu Jianlei to unleash the Broken Blade. The blade expanded and released a terrifying killing aura that became an endless gale of astral wind, leaving the battle poised for his ultimate attack.

• Duo Gan, Jing Yuexin, and Paranoid fought the Heavenly Demons that pursued them while spectators debated whether Red Leaf Ridge could keep the horde from scattering across Dongsheng.
• True Immortal Zhiyuan and Li Yuren urged the assembled Cultivators to help Red Leaf Ridge, and Ji Xiaohua recognized the black object outside the formation as a Heavenly Demon Crystal.
• Sunset Glow carried the Nightmare Transformation Demon Essence away from the grand formation, drawing most of the Heavenly Demons into pursuit and leaving far fewer to attack the formation.
• Jing Yuexin warned the Nascent Soul Realm trio to strengthen their defenses because First One was preparing his ultimate move.
• Qu Jianlei sent out the Broken Blade, which expanded to kilometers in size and transformed its killing aura into an endless gale of astral wind.

The Broken Blade unleashed a vast astral gale that devastated the Heavenly Demons attacking Red Leaf Ridge and weakened the icy qi mass, leaving a faint dot in the sky. After the survivors were hunted down, Qu Jianlei said Red Leaf Ridge would study the remaining danger before acting, and True Immortal Zhiyuan pointed toward the Broken Blade.

• The Broken Blade’s vortex swept through the Heavenly Demons and shrank the icy qi mass to a faint dot.
• The Heavenly Demons stopped attacking and tried to flee, but the Broken Blade’s gale killed nearly all of them.
• Qu Jianlei sent the exhausted nascent souls to rest while Bentley and the others cleared the remaining Heavenly Demons and Heavenly Devil Qi.
• Qu Jianlei told Jing Yuexin that Tian Yin had preliminarily succeeded in Embracing Core and now faced tribulation.
• True Immortal Zhiyuan asked how Red Leaf Ridge would handle the icy dot, and Qu Jianlei said they would first study its mechanism.
• True Immortal Zhiyuan pointed at the Broken Blade and began asking about it.

Qu Jianlei and Red Leaf Ridge debated True Immortal Qi Ya’s request to join them, and Jing Yuexin approved her becoming their Nascent Soul Realm retainer. Qi Ya accepted the arrangement so she could study the Broken Blade, then set out to fight Heavenly Demons.

• True Immortal Zhiyuan asked Qu Jianlei about the Broken Blade, and True Immortal Qi Ya identified its power as Rule Qi before asking to buy it.
• Qu Jianlei told True Immortal Qi Ya she could take the Broken Blade only if it followed her willingly, and she admitted she could not make that happen.
• True Immortal Qi Ya asked to join Red Leaf Ridge, but Qu Jianlei refused; she then offered to become a Nascent Soul Realm retainer.
• Jing Yuexin approved the arrangement after warning True Immortal Qi Ya that Red Leaf Ridge would fight at the front against the Heavenly Demons.
• Qu Jianlei agreed that Qi Ya could come or leave freely, gave her a Nascent Soul-grade light-element defensive talisman, and sent her to clear Heavenly Devil Qi.
• Li Yuren, Ji Xiaohua, and Le Tong arrived with boxes of Golden Core Realm Heavenly Demon Qi and asked Qu Jianlei about accepting Qi Ya.

Qu Jianlei discussed the rare Nightmare Transformation Demon Essence and Red Leaf Ridge’s origins and intentions with True Immortal Zhiyuan, who probed whether the Ridge would aid Central Province. The chapter left the group postponing further talks until the tribulations ended, as Red Leaf Ridge resumed its detector sale amid growing attention across Dongsheng.

• Le Tong considered taking Qu Jianlei’s Broken Blade but declined, then asked about the dark treasure; Qu Jianlei and True Immortal Zhiyuan identified it as an Out-of-Body Heavenly Demon’s Nightmare Transformation Demon Essence.
• True Immortal Zhiyuan questioned Qu Jianlei about Red Leaf Ridge’s origins and whether it had an Immortal Venerable elder, but Qu Jianlei kept his answers vague.
• True Immortal Zhiyuan warned that the treasure could attract the Heavenly Demons and asked about Red Leaf Ridge’s plans; Qu Jianlei said the Ridge had revealed it to protect the Eastern Prosperity Continent.
• True Immortal Zhiyuan raised the possibility of communicating with Central Province and asked whether Red Leaf Ridge had anticipated the battle; Qu Jianlei declined to continue, and Ji Xiaohua pointed toward the unexplained dot in the sky.
• Red Leaf Ridge kept its grand formation active while Golden Core cultivators swept the surrounding areas, and its detector lottery resumed with more than twenty thousand forces participating.

After Red Leaf Ridge’s victory over the Heavenly Demons, Qi Ya settled there with her disciple and freed Carefree True Immortal after warning him not to provoke the Ridge again. The long-awaited tribulation began, and its unusual white lightning and spiritual energy Light Orb left observers astonished.

• Red Leaf Ridge gained renown for using Nightmare Transformation Demon Essence, while diviners warned that the Heavenly Demon calamity would continue and factions sought detectors.
• Qi Ya and Dai Wanwan settled at Red Leaf Ridge, where Qi Ya agreed to serve under Qu Jianlei and Dai Wanwan was allowed to remain and seek another duel with Rhine.
• Qi Ya asked Qu Jianlei about Xiaoyao, and he released Carefree True Immortal after Qi Ya explained the danger of offending Red Leaf Ridge.
• Dai Wanwan alerted Qi Ya when tribulation clouds gathered over Red Leaf Ridge, and Qi Ya sensed that the person undergoing tribulation was advancing to the Golden Core Realm.
• The tribulation lasted half the night and struck seven times with white lightning before a surge of spiritual energy formed a Light Orb, startling those who understood what they saw.

Tian Yin formed a top-tier Golden Core, and the Territory Consciousness sent Territory Joy to repair the spatial weak point above Red Leaf Ridge. Qu Jianlei learned that Tian Yin’s Light Attribute physique had drawn the Heavenly Demons, while Red Leaf Ridge prepared for visitors after her tribulation.

• Tian Yin’s seven-bolt tribulation ended, and shimmering spiritual energy flowed both to her and toward the spatial weak point above Red Leaf Ridge.
• Ji Xiaohua and He Jiuling recognized the phenomenon as Territory Joy and wondered whether Qu Jianlei understood its significance.
• Qu Jianlei told Jing Yuexin that the Territory Consciousness had revealed Tian Yin’s Light Attribute physique and that her Core Formation helped draw the Heavenly Demons.
• Qu Jianlei explained to Red Leaf Ridge’s cultivators that the Heavenly Demons had opened the weak point to stop Tian Yin from forming her core, and that the Territory Consciousness had now favored the weak point.
• Territory Joy lasted a day and a night, and Red Leaf Ridge declined visitors until Tian Yin had time to recover.
• Red Leaf Ridge opened its gates three days later to visiting cultivators, with Qi Ya receiving them.

After Tian Yin emerged from seclusion, five True Immortals returned to Red Leaf Ridge to request Residential Areas and buy Laser Weapons. Qu Jianlei agreed to protect their promising youngsters and sell weapons, and the five families formed a Mutual Aid Team while Red Leaf Ridge kept its warships and most powerful Laser Cannons to itself.

• True Immortal Qi Ya fielded visitors’ questions about selling Laser Weapons and the person undergoing tribulation, while several cultivators left rather than discuss sensitive matters with her.
• Tian Yin emerged from seclusion after stabilizing her realm, and Qu Jianlei advised her to wait before testing her spells and planned to take her to Central Province.
• The five True Immortals returned after waiting nearby for two months and asked to establish Residential Areas and buy more Laser Weapons.
• Qu Jianlei agreed to provide land and protect the visitors’ promising youngsters, and he allowed them to buy ship-mounted Laser Cannons but refused to sell warships or the most powerful cannons.
• The five families each bought more than a hundred Laser Cannons and agreed to provide mobile support to one another, forming the Mutual Aid Team.

After Red Leaf Ridge’s weapons sales surged, Qu Jianlei entered the Void with Duo Gan to investigate the Heavenly Demons and replenish supplies. At a secluded Small World, the Artifact Spirit asked to devour a damaged Spirit Treasure, but Qu Jianlei refused to stay and left it to decide whether to remain alone.

• True Immortal Qi Ya joined the Mutual Aid Team, bringing its membership to six True Immortal factions, and the news sparked another wave of purchases at Su Family Village.
• Qu Jianlei arranged to enter the Void for supplies and an investigation, while refusing the Cultivator Alliance’s offer to send cultivators with his team.
• Qu Jianlei and Duo Gan entered the Void, passed the grand array, and traveled for a month and a half to the Small World where supplies had been buried.
• Qu Jianlei retrieved the supplies and buried another five hundred million spirit stones before the Artifact Spirit asked to devour a damaged Spirit Treasure there.
• Qu Jianlei said he could not stay and told the Artifact Spirit it could remain alone, while Duo Gan refused to stay with it.

After returning from the void, Qu Jianlei learned that Dongsheng had halted laser-weapon sales amid a spirit-stone shortage and traveled to Central Province to check on the Five Friends Alliance’s detector trade. He arranged a remote testing site for Tian Yin, then Claire revealed the Five Friends Alliance had anticipated his arrival.

• The Artifact Spirit urged Qu Jianlei to pursue personal improvement, but he hesitated over putting his own goals ahead of the team.
• Jing Yuexin told Qu Jianlei she had suspended laser-weapon sales because supplies were low and Dongsheng needed spirit stones to circulate into the region.
• Qu Jianlei arranged for a spirit-stone-powered detector to be manufactured and traveled with Tian Yin to Central Province.
• Qinghu explained that the Five Friends Alliance had tightly controlled detector sales, while people attempting to sell them independently had been killed or disappeared.
• Qu Jianlei asked Qinghu to find a wasteland away from Liuguang City where Tian Yin could test spells, and Claire said the Five Friends Alliance had expected him to arrive.

Qu Jianlei met True Immortal Yongheng, who explained that Great Leaf City Lord's Mansion had discovered the Five Friends Alliance’s detector trade and was pressing for contact with Red Leaf Ridge. Qu Jianlei agreed to consider meeting the City Lord’s Mansion, but asked what would happen if they failed to reach an agreement.

• Qu Jianlei learned that Yongheng had divined his return and agreed to stay available for a few days.
• True Immortal Yongheng visited Qu Jianlei and asked what he had learned about the Heavenly Demon invasion and whether a tribulation in Central Province might weaken the infiltration.
• Qu Jianlei said he could not guarantee that another tribulation would help and questioned why Yongheng was worrying about Central Province’s response.
• True Immortal Yongheng revealed that Great Leaf City Lord's Mansion knew the Five Friends Alliance was distributing detectors and had given it distribution rights rather than seizing the goods.
• Yongheng explained that the City Lord's Mansion urgently wanted to meet Red Leaf Ridge, and Qu Jianlei asked what would happen if they could not reach an agreement.

Qu Jianlei met City Lord Huo Jiujian to hear Central Province’s proposal, but made clear that Red Leaf Ridge stood behind the Five Friends Alliance. Huo offered Nascent Soul Techniques after Qu rejected his recruitment terms, then asked about Qu’s Dao Companions while admitting he could not make decisions unilaterally.

• True Immortal Yongheng agreed to arrange a meeting with Huo Jiujian, and Qu Jianlei asked that Huo attend in person.
• Huo Jiujian and True Immortal Yongheng met Qu Jianlei and Jia Shuiqing outside a small town, where Huo asked Red Leaf Ridge to settle in Central Province and sell Laser Weapons.
• Qu Jianlei declared that the Five Friends Alliance was Red Leaf Ridge’s partner and challenged Huo to provide an independent Rank Four Supreme Spirit Vein if he wanted Red Leaf Ridge to come.
• Huo Jiujian offered more than a dozen Jade Tablets containing Nascent Soul Techniques as an apology, and Jia Shuiqing noted that three sets were duplicates.
• Qu Jianlei called Huo a person with intentions, and Huo asked how many Dao Companions Qu had before explaining that he could not act without considering the interests of all parties.

Qu Jianlei and Huo Jiujian negotiated Red Leaf Ridge’s dealings with Great Leaf City, including weapons, cultivation methods, and Restoration Fluid. Huo Jiujian then pressed Qu Jianlei about reaching the upper realm, but Qu Jianlei had no answer about when it would intervene against the Heavenly Demons.

• Qu Jianlei refused Huo Jiujian’s initial demands and said he would only negotiate through the Five Friends Alliance, while Huo Jiujian revealed that Star Palace was searching for Red Leaf Ridge’s foothold in Central Province.
• Qu Jianlei and Huo Jiujian sent the others away and privately discussed a deal, but Qu Jianlei rejected trading Laser Weapons for a tribulation-crossing method.
• Huo Jiujian offered the captured Eight-Armed Ape, but Qu Jianlei asked instead for the Seven Stars Needle Manual and discussed a monthly Restoration Fluid supply.
• Qu Jianlei and Huo Jiujian bundled their other arrangements, then Huo Jiujian urged Qu Jianlei to name the resources he needed and explained that connecting to the upper realm might provide substitutes.
• Qu Jianlei asked whether Star Palace could connect to the upper realm, and Huo Jiujian said it was not yet able to do so and asked when the upper realm would act against the Heavenly Demons; Qu Jianlei admitted he did not know.

Qu Jianlei secured a discreet residence in Great Leaf City through Huo Jiujian and discussed Red Leaf Ridge’s trade, an unusual Stone Jar, and the upper realm with True Immortal Yongheng. After returning to Liuguang City, Qu Jianlei met with Duan Bowen, whose sudden arrival was followed by several Flying Shuttles pursuing one another near the estate.

• Huo Jiujian offered Red Leaf Ridge a secluded courtyard with a Tier 4 Spirit Vein in Great Leaf City, and Qu Jianlei accepted while declining a welcoming banquet.
• Qu Jianlei told True Immortal Yongheng that a Golden Core Realm cultivator from Star Palace had bought the Stone Jar, and Yongheng warned that obtaining it might not be a matter of spirit stones.
• True Immortal Yongheng offered to arrange auction slots, while Qu Jianlei asked him about the upper realm and learned he could seek information from Observer Zhiyuan.
• Three days later, Qu Jianlei and Jia Shuiqing left Great Leaf City under apparent light surveillance and took a long detour back to their estate in Liuguang City.
• Five days later, Duan Bowen arrived at the estate looking pale, and Old Lady Jia told Claire to raise the Defense Array as two Flying Shuttles passed and three more chased after them.

Qu Jianlei helped Duan Bowen evade Star Palace-linked pursuers by drawing them toward a false trace of Heavenly Devil Qi. Duan Bowen identified Star Palace figures behind the pressure and warned that Star Palace might have acted against the Eight-Armed Ape, leaving Qu Jianlei wary of becoming entangled in its schemes.

• Qu Jianlei and Duan Bowen watched inspectors search nearby homes with counterfeit Heavenly Demon Detectors until Qu Jianlei released stored Heavenly Devil Qi in the distance, drawing them away.
• Duan Bowen said another force was likely behind the inspectors, and Qu Jianlei's divination warned that the threat could become serious.
• Duan Bowen revealed that Wu Yao of Star Palace's Weapon Refinement Hall had bought the Stone Jar and served under deputy hall master True Immortal He Gen.
• Duan Bowen reported that Star Palace might have acted against the Eight-Armed Ape, and Qu Jianlei explained his deal with Huo Jiujian to seize bargaining chips from Star Palace.
• Duan Bowen said Huo Jiujian wanted to cut off Star Palace's route and gain leverage before a great upheaval, prompting Qu Jianlei to question whether dealing with True Immortal Zhiyuan was wise.

Qu Jianlei's group tested their Light Arts and talismans at Red Wu Mountain, drawing attention from other cultivators preparing for the Heavenly Demon invasion. After refusing a stranger's offer to trade for their methods, they encountered Zhang Lidong of the Book Pavilion, but Qu Jianlei declined to reveal his identity.

• Duan Bowen told Qu Jianlei about Red Wu Mountain, and the group went there to practice spells and test Jia Shuiqing's talismans.
• Tian Yin sustained a powerful light dragon for over an hour, impressing Duan Bowen and attracting the attention of nearby groups.
• A masked Nascent Soul cultivator offered treasures for Light Arts methods, but Duan Bowen directed him to a future spell exchange conference, and the group departed.
• Zhang Lidong introduced himself as a Book Pavilion Lecturer from Four Sages Mountain and asked Qu Jianlei's name.
• Qu Jianlei pointed to his mask and refused to identify himself, leaving Zhang Lidong visibly displeased.

Qu Jianlei’s group rejected Zhang Lidong’s offer to mediate, and their exchange with the Book Pavilion turned into a series of accusations and arguments. While the Book Pavilion’s representatives bickered among themselves, Qu Jianlei’s group resumed testing and then left by Flying Shuttle.

• Zhang Lidong offered to mediate for Qu Jianlei’s group, but Qu Jianlei said they had no real enemies and held Jingwei in their hearts.
• The Black-Faced Nascent Soul accused Qu Jianlei of being a criminal, and Zhang Lidong rebuked both sides over their remarks about the Book Pavilion.
• Duan Bowen mocked the Book Pavilion, prompting Zhang Lidong and the Black-Faced Nascent Soul to argue over Female Cultivators and Jade Forest Matron.
• Qu Jianlei told his group to ignore the Book Pavilion and continue their testing while the two sides remained apart.
• The Book Pavilion’s representatives continued arguing until Empty Valley True Immortal pointed out that Qu Jianlei’s group had boarded their Flying Shuttle and left.

Qu Jianlei discussed the Book Pavilion’s pursuit of Righteous Qi with Duan Bowen, then agreed to shelter the Duan Family if Central Province fell. He brought Duan Bowen through Red Leaf Ridge’s teleportation array to Dongsheng, where True Immortal Qi Ya discovered him and learned he had come from Central Province by teleportation.

• Zhang Lidong and Black-Faced Nascent Soul let Qu Jianlei’s group leave because the Book Pavilion lacked a justifiable reason to attack in front of witnesses.
• During the journey, Qu Jianlei said the Book Pavilion had taken the wrong path in nurturing Righteous Qi, and Duan Bowen was astonished by his knowledge.
• After waiting at the manor, Qu Jianlei agreed that Red Leaf Ridge could shelter Duan Bowen’s 1,224 family members if Central Province fell.
• Three days later, Qu Jianlei took Duan Bowen and Tian Yin through the underground teleportation array to Red Leaf Ridge.
• Jiao Daoren questioned Qu Jianlei about bringing an outsider through the array, and Duan Bowen left the core area.
• True Immortal Qi Ya recognized Duan Bowen and was stunned when he said he had teleported from Central Province.

Qu Jianlei traded Laser Weapons with Huo Jiujian in Central Province, discussed the delayed Seven Stars Needle Manual, and secured a way to attend Xiangyuan City’s Art exchange conference. He arrived at the conference with Jing Yuexin and Qi Ya, where the commercial event’s rules and displays were introduced.

• Qu Jianlei and Duan Bowen traveled to Central Province, where Qu brought Laser Weapons to complete a transaction with Huo Jiujian.
• Qu Jianlei delivered a batch of weapons to Huo Jiujian and explained that Red Leaf Ridge could produce more, though its supplies of materials and Energy Blocks were limited.
• Huo Jiujian explained that the Eight-Armed Ape had pledged himself to the Art Academy, delaying the return of the Seven Stars Needle Manual.
• Qu Jianlei agreed to attend Xiangyuan City’s Art exchange conference and asked Huo Jiujian to obtain an entry quota without exposing their connection.
• Qu Jianlei transported two more batches of weapons and then arrived in Xiangyuan City with Jing Yuexin and Qi Ya.
• The conference organizers assigned forces exhibition booths and required approval for public-stage demonstrations, though participants could pay to demonstrate if objections were not too strong.