Recaps

Jing Yuexin negotiated with the Art Academy and Bitter Sea over rules, Light Arts, and Restoration Fluid. Bitter Sea offered two rules for five hundred portions, and Jiang Hui’s remarks suggested the fluid was needed for a major repair.

• Jing Yuexin agreed to give the Art Academy Jade Tablets containing improved Light Arts in exchange for rules, with Elder Beihai promising to pursue the Guardian Rule.
• Jing Yuexin offered Bitter Sea the Devouring Rule and discussed Bitter Sea’s request to purchase five hundred portions of Space Repair Fluid.
• Jing Yuexin proposed fifty portions of Restoration Fluid for the Withering Prosperity Rule, and the Bitter Sea elder countered with two rules for five hundred portions.
• Jiang Hui explained that Wither and Flourish involved only Suiyue, a branch of the Time Rule, and asked if the trade was inconvenient.
• Jing Hui agreed to the trade, then said five hundred portions could not be gathered even from a Tier 3 Bubble, leaving Jiang Hui stunned.

After completing the exchange for a Guardian Rule and returning to Red Leaf Ridge, Qu Jianlei consulted the Heroic Spirits about how to use the new rules. They realized Wither and Flourish might activate the Heart of Time, leaving them uncertain which of its many possible uses to pursue.

• Jade Forest Matron returned and explained that the Asuras had used a Tier 3 Bubble to kill an Out-of-Body Realm opponent, while Qu Jianlei negotiated with Bitter Sea's elder and Jiang Hui about rules and Asura Bubbles.
• Five days later, Red Leaf Ridge completed its transaction with Bitter Sea, obtaining a Guardian Rule and delivering the remaining Mortal Warships before its Battalion-Class Ship departed for Central Province.
• After Red Leaf Ridge confirmed the Channel Entrance was sealed, large numbers of settlers moved into West Ox Embrace Province, whose population and prosperity grew over the following years.
• Half a month after returning to Red Leaf Ridge, Qu Jianlei's Broken Axe and its Heroic Spirits recovered, and they advised him to wait before absorbing the second Guardian Rule and to seek a Slaughter Rule for the Broken Blade.
• Qu Jianlei asked about Wither and Flourish, then discovered that it might activate the Heart of Time; the Heroic Spirits recognized the combination's many powerful possible uses.

Qu Jianlei considered modifying the Black Colt Tower with the Withering Prosperity Rule and Heart of Time while Red Leaf Ridge dealt with visitors seeking information about the Forgotten Peninsula. Jia Shuiqing then invited Dongsheng factions to explore the peninsula, and all twelve major factions signed up under the Cultivator Alliance’s protection.

• Qu Jianlei discussed using the Withering Prosperity Rule and Heart of Time to improve the Black Colt Tower, then proposed examining the Portable Abode and its rules.
• Transformation Master Wen Yu visited Red Leaf Ridge with Huo Jiujian and offered information about Forgotten Peninsula Folded Spaces that might contain Small World Ritual Artifacts.
• Jia Shuiqing rejected Wen Yu’s Jade Tablet and asked for information about origins or rules instead; Wen Yu agreed to prepare relevant materials.
• Jia Shuiqing and Jing Yuexin questioned Wen Yu’s motives, while Duo Gan suggested making more allies rather than disturbing Qu Jianlei in seclusion.
• Red Leaf Ridge invited like-minded companions to explore the Forgotten Peninsula, and all twelve major Dongsheng factions registered after the Cultivator Alliance promised patrol support.

Red Leaf Ridge led a large Dongsheng expedition to the Forgotten Peninsula, then sent Claire, Yuanyuan, and Rhine to help maintain order as visitors from Central Province arrived. After Rhine returned to the Ridge, Qinghu reported news from Central Province, and the group discussed Bitter Sea’s plan to raise Heavenly Demons.

• Paranoid and Mu Yu led twelve Nascent Soul Realm cultivators and five hundred Golden Core Realm cultivators from Dongsheng onto the Forgotten Peninsula.
• Ji Xiaohua asked Red Leaf Ridge to help guard Dongsheng as reduced staffing and conflicts with visitors from Central Province strained local oversight.
• Fairy Qi Ya sent Claire, Yuanyuan, and Rhine to assist Ji Xiaohua, and the three quickly settled several disputes.
• Claire and Yuanyuan intimidated troublemakers while Rhine handled the aftermath, restoring order among visitors from Central Province.
• Rhine returned to Red Leaf Ridge and reunited with Bentley as Qinghu came back from Liuguang City with materials and news.
• Rhine and Qinghu told Jing Yuexin that Bitter Sea was raising Heavenly Demons, prompting discussion of the plan and Four Sages Mountain’s divided stance.

Jing Yuexin arranged a collaboration between Red Leaf Ridge, Star Palace, and Book Pavilion to study raising Heavenly Demons using Demon-Corrupted Human corpses and other resources. As Claire was brought into the project, Paranoid and Mu Yu returned from a Secret Realm expedition with losses among the other cultivators.

• Rhine told Jing Yuexin and Qinghu that someone from Hall Master Jiang's faction had suggested Claire could raise Heavenly Demons, and Jing Yuexin agreed to discuss the idea with First One.
• After Dai Wanwan rotated Claire back from her post, Red Leaf Ridge's plan drew Hall Master Jiang and Jade Forest Matron, who offered Star Palace's Demon-Corrupted Human corpses and Book Pavilion's Art of Control.
• Jiang Hui offered Star Palace's Soul Locking Banner, and Jing Yuexin, Jiang Hui, and Jade Forest Matron finalized a three-way collaboration before calling in Claire.
• True Immortal Qi Ya reported that Brother Chaoyun had returned after the expedition suffered losses, and Paranoid and Mu Yu arrived to confirm that none of their people had been lost.
• Paranoid asked Jing Yuexin whether Red Leaf Ridge should see off the departing fellow cultivators.

Jing Yuexin officially announced that Red Leaf Ridge, Star Palace, and the Book Pavilion would cooperate on researching Heavenly Demons, while Paranoid recounted the expedition’s gains. Back at Red Leaf Ridge, Jing Yuexin and Duo Gan agreed to let Tian Yi decide who should receive the Source of Fire, leaving Qu Jianlei to confront the team’s growing competition for advancement resources.

• Jing Yuexin announced the Heavenly Demon research effort to the expedition members and invited objections, information, and participation.
• Paranoid reported that the expedition had gained a Source of Fire, an Earth Source, treasures, and a domesticated Iron Wing Bee swarm, surprising Jiang Hui and Jade Forest Matron.
• Jade Forest Matron and Jiang Hui discussed dividing the work of raising Heavenly Demons before leaving to prepare.
• Jing Yuexin and Duo Gan discussed who should receive the Source of Fire and agreed to leave the decision to Tian Yi.
• Qu Jianlei learned from the Artifact Spirit about the dispute and worried that the team’s many Nascent Soul Realm cultivators would compete for scarce chances to reach the Out-of-Body Realm.

Qu Jianlei helped Red Leaf Ridge establish a formation to raise Heavenly Demons, while searching for the vanished Yi He and wondering whether he had left by choice. After the formation was completed, Jiao Daoren warned that something felt wrong about the project.

• Qu Jianlei ended his secluded cultivation as Red Leaf Ridge prepared to raise Heavenly Demons, and Xing Tong began designing a formation with the Soul Locking Banner.
• Jade Forest Matron brought San He to review Xing Tong’s work, while Dao Palace’s Guan Fei sought to join the project and was rejected.
• Qu Jianlei discovered Yi He and the Nightmare Transformation Demon Essence were missing, then learned that Yi He had flown out of the Portable Abode two or three months earlier.
• Jing Yuexin persuaded Qu Jianlei not to divine Yi He’s whereabouts unless he received signs that Yi He was in danger.
• Xing Tong completed the revised formation with materials from Star Palace, Book Pavilion, and Red Leaf Ridge, and the participants placed Heavenly Devil Qi and Heavenly Demons inside it.
• After the ceremony, Jiao Daoren told Qu Jianlei that he sensed something was wrong and offered to give up Cloud Crown.

Qu Jianlei oversaw Red Leaf Ridge’s new array for raising Heavenly Demons while investigating the motives of True Immortal San He, the Book Pavilion’s Third Pavilion Lord. San He exchanged a Ritual Artifact for information about the Righteous Sect and Righteous Qi, then demanded Qu Jianlei repair or replace the Spring Examination Brush.

• Red Leaf Ridge completed the Encircle Devil Grand Array near its settlement and began receiving sealed Heavenly Demons from cultivators across Central Province.
• True Immortal Guan Fei brought Heavenly Demons to test the array, but True Immortal San He pointed out a flaw in the seal’s array patterns.
• Qu Jianlei recognized San He’s interest in the Dao Stele and confronted him about his concealed identity and earlier divination.
• San He asked about Qu Jianlei’s powerful aura, Claire’s aptitude, and the search for Ritual Artifacts, and Qu Jianlei revealed that Transformation Master Wen Yu had acted against a Ritual Artifact.
• San He gave Qu Jianlei a Sinan that was a Ritual Artifact in exchange for information about the Righteous Sect and Righteous Qi.
• When Qu Jianlei struggled to explain what he knew about web novels and Wang Luoxiao, San He demanded that he repair the Spring Examination Brush or provide a replacement.

Qu Jianlei accepted the Third Pavilion Lord’s damaged Spring Examination Brush for possible repair and received a Ritual Artifact as a meeting gift. Their discussion turned to the Forgotten Peninsula, where Qu Jianlei’s separated soul-body companion was missing, and the Third Pavilion Lord warned him that Wen Yu was not simple.

• Qu Jianlei refused to promise he could repair the Spring Examination Brush, but the Third Pavilion Lord gave him a Ritual Artifact and asked him to try anyway.
• Qu Jianlei accepted the broken Spring Examination Brush and promised to offer another token of goodwill if he could not repair it.
• Qu Jianlei asked why there were no Heavenly Demons in the Forgotten Peninsula’s Folded Space, and the Third Pavilion Lord suspected the upper realm had hidden defenses against outside intrusions.
• Qu Jianlei revealed that his soul-body companion had become separated from the group during an expedition urged by Wen Yu.
• The Third Pavilion Lord said Wen Yu was not simple and dismissed Sanjiang Commander as a muddlehead, prompting Qu Jianlei to consider their relationship.

Qu Jianlei consulted the Heroic Spirits about Sinan, Yi He’s disappearance, and the Spring Examination Brush. The spirits judged Yi He likely safe but argued over the brush’s origins and whether it should be repaired.

• Qu Jianlei warned his companions about Yi He’s disappearance, and they debated whether to trust the Third Pavilion Lord or investigate Wen Yu.
• Qu Jianlei showed Sinan to the Heroic Spirits, who confirmed that its world had collapsed and scheduled the second Guardian Rule for half a month later.
• The Heroic Spirits judged that Yi He had likely been drawn away by vital forces and should be safe unless an Out-of-Body Realm cultivator had set him up.
• An Obsession recognized the Spring Examination Brush, objected to Qu Jianlei repairing it, and revealed that it was an outsider who had once protected Broken Axe.
• Qu Jianlei explained that the brush’s owner was connected to the Righteous Sect, while the Obsession dismissed its supposed descendants and left Qu Jianlei unsure whether to repair the artifact.

Qu Jianlei asked the Ritual Artifact to devour the Forgotten Peninsula, while the Third Pavilion Lord sensed the Spring Examination Brush’s connection vanish without backlash. Red Leaf Ridge, the Book Pavilion, and Star Palace pursued experiments on Heavenly Demons, and the chapter ended as Transformation Master Wen Yu arrived to visit True Immortal Xue.

• Qu Jianlei asked the Ritual Artifact to devour the Forgotten Peninsula after learning it would be difficult to divine the consequences of destroying it.
• The Third Pavilion Lord noticed his bond with the Spring Examination Brush had disappeared and suspected Red Leaf Ridge was concealing heavenly secrets.
• Red Leaf Ridge, the Book Pavilion, and Star Palace launched Heavenly Demon experiments, including a multidimensional castration project led by Yuanyuan.
• The factions struggled to control Heavenly Demons because demonic deviation and Demonic Qi contamination threatened their researchers.
• Claire brought a Golden Core Realm Female Cultivator to help expel Demonic Qi, and Xing Tong and True Immortal Guan Fei recognized her as Po Jun.
• Wu Laoliu told True Immortal Xue that Transformation Master Wen Yu had come to visit.

Transformation Master Wen Yu tried to learn about Red Leaf Ridge’s gains and investigate its guarded grand array, but the team kept him at a distance. Two more Red Leaf Ridge cultivators passed Golden Core tribulations, and the chapter ended with Qi Ya refusing visitors access to the array over alleged hidden dangers.

• Xiang Xue had Qi Ya receive Wen Yu at the mountain gate and accept the sealed Heavenly Demon, where Wen Yu’s questions about Red Leaf Ridge’s Forgotten Peninsula gains were rebuffed.
• Wen Yu met Guan Fei, who praised Senior Jiao’s success taming Iron Wing Bees and shared that Red Leaf Ridge had gained other treasures but no Ritual Artifact.
• Guan Fei mentioned that someone at Red Leaf Ridge might be preparing to undergo tribulation, and Wen Yu decided to wait nearby to witness it.
• More than a month later, a Red Leaf Ridge cultivator passed a Golden Core tribulation, and Qi Ya turned away visitors because another person still needed to undergo tribulation.
• Korona passed her Golden Core tribulation, prompting outsiders to offer congratulations, but Qi Ya refused Beihai and a Bitter Sea elder access to the Encircle Devil Grand Array.

Qi Ya rejected Bitter Sea and Dao Palace's requests for deeper cooperation while asserting Red Leaf Ridge's standards and authority. Qu Jianlei returned the repaired Spring Examination Brush to the Third Pavilion Lord, whose puzzlement over the treasure's attachment to Qu Jianlei lingered as Korona joined the project after reaching the Golden Core Realm.

• Qi Ya refused Bitter Sea's request to exchange observers, explaining that the three-faction research partnership could not be expanded.
• Qi Ya rebuked Wen Yu for his condescending behavior and warned that Guan Fei could be withdrawn from the project.
• Qu Jianlei returned the fully repaired Spring Examination Brush to the Third Pavilion Lord and agreed to keep helping the research team.
• The Third Pavilion Lord sensed that the Spring Examination Brush seemed reluctant to see Qu Jianlei leave and spent days wondering what Qu had done to it.
• Yuanyuan brought Korona, newly advanced to the Golden Core Realm, into the project team, where a Star Palace cultivator asked why she had arrived before stabilizing her realm.

Korona revealed that the stalled project needed Poison-type Cultivation Methods, while Jing Yuexin continued encouraging the project teams. Near dawn, an apparent attack by Claire exposed a Heavenly Demon impersonator, and the cultivators mobilized to secure the array.

• Korona admitted that her Poison-type Cultivation Method could help the stalled project, and Jade Forest Matron recognized the connection to Yuan Fang's method.
• Jing Yuexin visited the Exile Project team to encourage them, then encountered Claire near the grand array before dawn.
• Jing Yuexin struck Claire with the Soul Suppressing Bell's Battle Song and a Light-based Talisman after Claire appeared to recognize Boss Jing.
• Jade Forest Matron restrained Claire, while True Immortal Guan Fei and the others hesitated over which woman was the Heavenly Demon.
• Paranoid struck the restrained Claire, and True Immortal San He sealed her inside a barrier as the real Claire and Tian Yin emerged.
• Claire ordered the cultivators back to their positions, and Duo Gan activated the Small Tripod as Red Leaf Ridge mobilized its combat forces.

After a Heavenly Demon disguised as Claire was captured, Jing Yuexin and the other cultivators investigated its identity and origin while screening the research team for Demonic Qi contamination. Qu Jianlei arrived and began a divination to trace the threat.

• True Immortal San He’s Array Plate contained the disguised Claire after the Heavenly Demon tried to self-destruct, and Jade Forest Matron confirmed it had been destroyed.
• Jing Yuexin halted Tian Yin and led an investigation that identified the intruder as a likely Illusionary Heavenly Devil, though its Demonic Qi was weaker than Nascent Soul Realm strength.
• The cultivators confirmed that the Illusionary Heavenly Devils and Nascent Soul Realm Heavenly Demons inside the grand array were still accounted for, leaving the intruder’s origin unresolved.
• A Golden Core Realm cultivator from Star Palace was found contaminated by Demonic Qi and confined for examination while the rest of the team completed inspections.
• Qu Jianlei arrived after making arrangements to guard against a suspected conspiracy, and then began a divination at Jing Yuexin’s request.

A mutated Heavenly Demon escaped the grand array and tried to control Jing Yuexin, prompting Qu Jianlei and the others to tighten security while investigating how it had advanced. Qu Jianlei suspected the threat might involve heavy karma or pressure from the Heavenly Demon World, and the chapter ended with True Immortal Qi Ya refusing Wen Yu’s request to meet with Qu Jianlei or Jing Yuexin.

• Qu Jianlei divined that the Heavenly Demon had escaped the grand array, then gathered the team to investigate the Kan and Li Positions and discuss the attack on Jing Yuexin.
• Jiang Hui took charge of investigating how a Golden Core Realm cultivator from Star Palace had become tainted by Demonic Qi, while the group agreed to strengthen screenings and use Secret Codes.
• Qu Jianlei told Jade Forest Matron and True Immortal San He that he could not investigate the Heavenly Demon's advancement further because the divination carried a bad feeling and heavy karma; he also admitted that Wen Yu was still at Yan Family Market.
• Paranoid suggested letting something happen to Wen Yu, but Qu Jianlei told him to wait and see how the situation developed.
• Art Academy and Bitter Sea representatives visited Red Leaf Ridge to ask about the attack, while Dao Palace sent no one; several days later, Wen Yu requested an audience, and True Immortal Qi Ya turned him away.

Red Leaf Ridge held a Golden Core Celebration for Korona and Keros, but the gathering was interrupted by an incident at the Encircle Devil Grand Array. As a new aura resembling the Out-of-Body Realm emerged, the guests saw the Soul Locking Banner and a Broken Blade Phantom expand above the array.

• Jia Shuiqing heard Wen Yu urge an investigation into the demonic corruption of a Star Palace Golden Core cultivator, but he had no evidence to offer.
• Jiang Hui dismissed Wen Yu’s warning as an attempt to shift blame, while the investigation remained unresolved and vigilance increased.
• After Keros emerged from seclusion, Red Leaf Ridge held a Golden Core Celebration for the Ke Family Siblings, attended by representatives of allied forces and other guests.
• At the celebration, Qu Jianlei’s Coercive Pressure and warning signaled an incident at the grand array, and Jade Forest True Immortal and other experienced cultivators rushed to respond.
• Jia Shuiqing and Qi Ya organized the remaining guests, while Jia Shuiqing kept Wen Yu from going to the array.
• A powerful aura rose near the array, and the Soul Locking Banner expanded as a massive Broken Blade Phantom appeared in the sky.

The Heavenly Demons inside the Encircle Devil Grand Array began rapidly advancing in cultivation, while the Soul Locking Banner struggled to suppress one near the Out-of-Body Realm. Jing Yuexin directed the forces to focus on that powerful demon, and the Broken Blade struck it back into the array.

• Claire called for High-Grade Spirit Stones as the Encircle Devil Grand Array’s consumption surged.
• True Immortal Xing Tong warned that every Heavenly Demon was advancing in realm, prompting Jade Forest Matron to order attacks on the other four Nascent Soul Realm demons.
• Qu Jianlei authorized Jing Yuexin to command Red Leaf Ridge’s fighters while he held back and deployed Battalion-Class Ships around the array.
• Jing Yuexin chose to focus on the strongest Heavenly Demon and told the Soul Locking Banner to coordinate with the attackers.
• True Immortal Xing Tong signaled the Soul Locking Banner to move aside, and the Broken Blade slashed the Pseudo Out of Body Heavenly Demon back into the array.

Qu Jianlei and his allies forced an Out-of-Body Heavenly Demon out of the grand formation, where Small Tripod began drawing it in. Just as the first wisp of Demonic Qi was about to be absorbed, a huge black tentacle emerged from a split in space and seized the demon.

• Broken Blade held open a passage in the formation while warships fired Laser Beams and Xing Tong loosened the Soul Locking Banner’s blockade to manage the pressure.
• Qu Jianlei ordered Broken Blade to widen the passage, forcing the quasi-Out-of-Body Heavenly Demon out despite its attempts to escape back inside.
• Xiao Hu directed several warships to attack the exposed demon, while Small Tripod expanded and began pulling its shadowy body toward its mouth.
• After Broken Blade’s breach closed, Small Tripod drew the demon closer until a thick black tentacle burst from a split in space and grabbed at the Demonic Qi.

Qu Jianlei and Red Leaf Ridge’s magical treasures fought an Out-of-Body Heavenly Demon tentacle that attacked the encirclement array. The Small Tripod and the Dao Stele’s aura weakened the tentacle, but its main body escaped through space.

• A huge black tentacle attacked the Out-of-Body Devil Qi Cluster, while the Cloud Crown and Small Tripod coordinated to absorb the cluster and engage the tentacle.
• The Small Tripod clashed with the tentacle as the Broken Blade shielded the Encircle Devil Grand Array from the impact.
• The tentacle began retreating, but Qu Jianlei briefly projected the Dao Stele’s aura, causing it to stiffen and begin collapsing.
• The Small Tripod’s spatial tornado swept up the severed tentacle and struck at the closing spatial gap, but it could not reopen the passage.
• The tentacle’s main body escaped, leaving the cultivators to recognize that Red Leaf Ridge had driven it off but failed to pursue and kill it.

After the black tentacles vanished, the Heavenly Demons lost their cultivation boost, allowing the cultivators to subdue them and restore order at Red Leaf Ridge. Qu Jianlei later met Transformation Master Wen Yu, who suggested that humans may have interfered in the attack.

• Paranoid and Jiang Hui noticed that their attacks had become more effective after the tentacles disappeared, and the cultivators defeated the weakened Heavenly Demons.
• Jing Yuexin urged the cultivators to preserve some Heavenly Demons for research, while Qu Jianlei told Jade Forest Matron that he needed more time to investigate.
• The celebration continued, and Transformation Master Wen Yu stayed at Red Leaf Ridge, waiting for Qu Jianlei to emerge from seclusion.
• Qu Jianlei summoned Wen Yu and activated a Nascent Soul-level Defense Array before asking why he had stayed.
• Wen Yu said that he believed Qu Jianlei had verified that human interference may have been involved in the attack.

Qu Jianlei confronted Wen Yu about his hidden motives for sending Red Leaf Ridge to Forgotten Peninsula, and Wen Yu revealed his suspicions that someone was pursuing an illicit path to the Out-of-Body Realm and may have manipulated the Heavenly Demon mutation. He left Qu Jianlei with a warning that Star Palace might be involved, citing its Immortal Remains of a Great Venerable.

• Qu Jianlei pressed Wen Yu to explain why he had encouraged Red Leaf Ridge to explore Forgotten Peninsula.
• Wen Yu admitted he suspected someone was using an evil path to reach the Out-of-Body Realm and might have manipulated the Heavenly Demon mutation.
• Wen Yu explained that his martial uncle had died investigating the matter and his master had vanished, so he had avoided involving the Dao Palace and other major powers.
• Qu Jianlei asked Wen Yu to reveal what he was still withholding, but Wen Yu warned that speaking of an Immortal Venerable could bring danger to them both.
• Wen Yu said someone in Cangwu was responsible and suggested that people in the upper realm might know.
• Wen Yu told Qu Jianlei that Star Palace possessed the Immortal Remains of a Great Venerable and could grant its disciples opportunities at random.

Qu Jianlei questioned Transformation Master Wen Yu about Forgotten Peninsula, the Out-of-Body Star Tapir, and the Heavenly Demon calamity, while revealing that Red Leaf Ridge had lost a True Immortal. Wen Yu suspected Forgotten Peninsula was the calamity’s source and asked about the powerful aura Qu Jianlei had displayed, believing it might restrain the mastermind.

• Wen Yu explained why he considered the Out-of-Body Star Tapir and Forgotten Peninsula suspicious, and Qu Jianlei told him Red Leaf Ridge had lost a True Immortal during the second expedition.
• Qu Jianlei warned Wen Yu that Forgotten Peninsula was closely connected to the Heavenly Demon mutation and said he had once considered making Wen Yu disappear.
• Wen Yu revealed that his Master had vanished nine hundred years earlier, that the Dao Palace’s Life Tablet had shattered seven hundred years ago, and that a diviner he hired had disappeared the next day.
• Qu Jianlei recorded Wen Yu’s statements on an Image Recording Stone and warned him that his treatment would depend on how he conducted himself.
• Wen Yu asked about the powerful aura Qu Jianlei had displayed and suggested that the treasure behind it might restrain the mastermind of the calamity.

Qu Jianlei and the Third Pavilion Lord discussed the strange black tentacle and the possibility that the Heavenly Demon crisis was deliberately engineered. The Third Pavilion Lord pledged the Book Pavilion’s support, but Qu Jianlei raised the possibility that the culprit belonged to the Book Pavilion’s own faction.

• Wen Yu reassured Qu Jianlei that Red Leaf Ridge could handle a potential conflict, then suggested Bitter Sea and the Book Pavilion might possess Ritual Artifacts.
• The Third Pavilion Lord asked Qu Jianlei whether the artifact that ruined the Spring Examination Brush was connected to Luck, and Qu Jianlei confirmed it was.
• The Third Pavilion Lord reasoned that the black tentacle might not have been a Heavenly Demon because the Luck artifact should not strongly restrain one from outside Cangwu.
• Qu Jianlei and the Third Pavilion Lord considered whether the current Heavenly Demon calamity had been engineered, and the Third Pavilion Lord offered the Book Pavilion’s full cooperation.
• Qu Jianlei suggested that the culprit might be an Out-of-Body Great Venerable from the Book Pavilion’s faction, leaving the Third Pavilion Lord stunned and asking whether Wen Yu had said so or Qu Jianlei had divined it.

Qu Jianlei learned more about the Heavenly Demon breach, the destroyed Bitter Sea Ritual Artifact, and dangerous methods for reaching the Out-of-Body Realm. As Red Leaf Ridge kept assisting with demonic disasters, its Expulsion Project Group developed a stable method and sought approval to test it in real conditions.

• Qu Jianlei told True Immortal San He that the breach involved fluctuating Luck and that a Star Palace Golden Core cultivator had unknowingly given a Heavenly Demon coordinates, while concealed secrets prevented further investigation.
• True Immortal San He explained that Bitter Sea had destroyed its Ritual Artifact decades earlier while trying to imitate it, and described the risks of relying on origins or heretical methods to reach the Out-of-Body Realm.
• After Duo Gan reported unusual Heavenly Demons near High Mountain City, Qu Jianlei told him to handle the request and let others believe Red Leaf Ridge remained undaunted, then considered traveling through Central Province incognito.
• Over the next half year, Red Leaf Ridge stayed peaceful while its team helped resolve demonic disasters elsewhere, and the Expulsion Project Group developed a stable expulsion method and applied to test it in real conditions.
• Jiang Hui asked Jing Yuexin whether they should consult Ridge Lord Qu before approving the test.