Chapter Summaries

Chen Ping'an discussed his choice to spare Gu Can and the principles guiding his path with Cui Cheng, then heard Cui Chan reveal the danger facing the continents and Great Li’s preparations for invasion. After Cui Chan left, Chen Ping'an chose to keep walking his own road, drank himself into a stupor, and was carried toward the Bamboo Building by Cui Dongshan.

• Chen Ping'an told Cui Cheng he would still spare Gu Can, explaining that he was watching whether Gu Can would make amends and change.
• Cui Chan arrived and warned Chen Ping'an that the Demon Race could conquer multiple continents, then outlined Great Li’s plan to fortify Treasure Bottle Continent’s southern coast.
• Cui Chan revealed his reasoning about the Demon Race’s invasion and the roles of the old Abbot, A Liang, Qi Jingchun, and Great Li, while questioning how Chen Ping'an would choose his path.
• After Cui Chan left, Chen Ping'an summoned the Sword Immortal, declared that wine was enough, and walked down the mountain drinking until he collapsed near Cen Yuanyi.
• A White Clad Young Man arrived in Longquan County, found Chen Ping'an asleep by the cliff, and carried his teacher toward the Bamboo Building.

Cui Dongshan returned to Luopo Mountain, teased Pei Qian, and challenged Song Yuzhang’s rigid views before reflecting with Pei Qian on how people build their understanding of the world. Chen Ping'an joined them as Cui Dongshan and Pei Qian raced down the mountain, leaving the three to walk together.

• Cui Dongshan told Cui Cheng he would leave soon to honor his bet, then visited Pei Qian and startled her into striking him with her Hiking Staff.
• Cui Dongshan took Pei Qian to watch Cen Yuanyi practice boxing, and Cen Yuanyi pitied him for choosing Chen Ping'an as his teacher.
• Cui Dongshan confronted Song Yuzhang about his conduct as an official and Mountain God, then left after Song Yuzhang returned to his Clay Idol.
• Cui Dongshan explained his metaphor of people building houses from their principles and experiences, and Pei Qian admitted she planned to attend school mainly to reassure Chen Ping'an.
• Cui Dongshan threatened to tell Chen Ping'an that Pei Qian did not want to study, so Pei Qian chased him until Chen Ping'an arrived and caught her.

Chen Ping'an and Cui Dongshan discussed Luopo Mountain’s future, the Great Li court, and Chen Ping'an’s journey north before exchanging farewell gifts. Cui Dongshan departed, and Chen Ping'an climbed the moonlit mountain with Pei Qian, leaving her with advice for the years he would be away.

• Cui Dongshan gave Chen Ping'an four bags of five-colored soil and advised him to wait until the Great Li Song Clan appointed the Four Sacred Mountains before refining it.
• Chen Ping'an and Cui Dongshan discussed mountain treasures, governing Great Li, Wei Xian’s future military role, and the need to proceed carefully with plans concerning Tongye Continent and the Sword Qi Great Wall.
• Chen Ping'an, Cui Dongshan, and Pei Qian planted elm seeds and a Solar-Term Plum pit on Luopo Mountain, then exchanged farewell gifts: Chen Ping'an gave Cui Dongshan an inscribed Bamboo Slips, and Cui Dongshan gave Chen Ping'an a Jade Bamboo Folding Fan.
• Cui Dongshan left Luopo Mountain as a streak of White Rainbow after silently asking Pei Qian to keep something to herself.
• Chen Ping'an took Pei Qian up the mountain, advised her how to act while he was away, and promised to send letters from Northern Juluzhou.

Chen Ping'an confided his deepest doubts about his path to Zhu Lian, who urged him to understand himself and continue north to practice his sword. After preparing for the journey and visiting his parents’ graves, Chen Ping'an boarded a ferry for Bone Beach, while Pei Qian stayed behind with Ruan Xiu.

• Chen Ping'an told Zhu Lian about his broken Natal Ceramic, his uncertain heart, and his fear of being left alone without knowing where to turn.
• Zhu Lian advised Chen Ping'an to examine who he was, correct his mistakes, and travel to Northern Juluzhou to Practice Sword; Chen Ping'an kept Golden Li for the journey.
• Zhu Lian guided Cen Yuanyi in her boxing, then met Cui Cheng on the mountain and briefly revealed his handsome true face before putting his mask back on.
• Chen Ping'an left Luopo Mountain with Pei Qian, visited his parents’ graves, and spent the night at his ancestral home in Mud Bottle Alley.
• Chen Ping'an boarded the Cross-Continent Ferry for Bone Beach with Wei Bo, while Pei Qian remained behind and shared twisted pastries with Ruan Xiu.

Chen Ping'an left his hometown aboard the cross-continent ferry while Pei Qian began attending school and Luopo Mountain welcomed new disciples and guests. The chapter ended with Chen Ping'an meeting the Great Li Empress Dowager, Emperor Song He, and Xu Ruo aboard the ferry, where the Empress Dowager thanked him for looking after Song Mu in Mud Bottle Alley.

• Chen Ping'an reflected on his mother and his childhood as he watched the night sky, then departed his hometown at daybreak with Pei Qian.
• Zhu Lian persuaded Pei Qian to attend school and kept her from skipping lessons until she began settling into her studies.
• Zhu Lian received Liu Xianyang's letter and gifts for Chen Ping'an and Gu Can, including an ink-eating fish for Luopo Mountain to raise.
• Lu Baixiang brought his disciples Yuanbao and Yuanlai to Luopo Mountain, and Zhu Lian arranged for the blind Taoist and his disciples to stay as resident guests.
• Lu Tai reunited with Cao Qinglang in Nanyuan's capital, where Cao Qinglang said he wanted to travel and meet Chen Ping'an.
• Chen Ping'an met the Great Li Empress Dowager, Emperor Song He, and Xu Ruo aboard the ferry, and the Empress Dowager thanked him for caring for Song Mu in Mud Bottle Alley.

Chen Ping'an rebuffed the Great Li Empress Dowager’s attempt to involve him in Longquan’s appointments, while she sternly reminded Emperor Song He of his duties and their family’s past. The Pima Sect ferry reached Bone Beach, where Chen Ping'an explored the local market and encountered Northern Juluzhou’s casual sword duels.

• The Empress Dowager introduced Song He to Chen Ping'an and asked him to recommend Longquan officials and City Gods, but Chen Ping'an declined to favor any candidates.
• After the Empress Dowager and Song He departed, Chen Ping'an weighed their motives and chose to wait; aboard the returning ferry, the Empress Dowager reprimanded Song He for comparing himself to Chen Ping'an and recalled how Song Jixin had been sent away as a child.
• The Empress Dowager reflected on Song Jixin, Song Yuzhang, and the late Emperor, while Xu Ruo and a Mohist elder discussed Great Li's plans and Cui Chan's role in its southern campaign.
• The Pima Sect ferry arrived over Bone Beach, where Chen Ping'an examined the local landscape and browsed the ferry's shop without buying its costly paired swords.
• Chen Ping'an bought several small items at the Xuhen market, learned local customs from the shop manager, and watched two sword cultivators duel in the distance.

Chen Ping'an arrived at Bone Beach, heard Shopkeeper Huang's warnings about Northern Juluzhou, and set out to explore Mural City. After meeting Jiang Shangzhen and intervening in a street scam, Chen Ping'an left two Snowflake Coins for a struggling mother and her children, then chose to keep noticing other people's troubles.

• Shopkeeper Huang explained Bone Beach's sights and warned Chen Ping'an that Northern Juluzhou resented outsiders, especially arrogant cultivators and foreign sword cultivators.
• After Chen Ping'an left, Jiang Shangzhen revealed himself to Shopkeeper Huang, threatened him with a willow leaf, and later met Chen Ping'an at Mural City to discuss private matters before returning to Treasure Bottle Continent.
• Chen Ping'an entered Mural City and stopped a group of scammers from exploiting a woman who had broken a porcelain bottle.
• The woman returned home to her two children, who found two Snowflake Coins outside their door, while Chen Ping'an walked away and reconsidered whether to keep involving himself in others' lives.

Chen Ping'an explored Mural City, bought goddess paintings to resell, and traveled along the Swaying River to its River God shrine. At the ferry to Ghost Realm Valley, he unknowingly rejected a divine maiden’s tests and hurried away, while Jiang Shangzhen recognized his good fortune too late.

• Chen Ping'an bought several boxed sets of Mural City goddess paintings after learning they could sell for high prices elsewhere, and a Pima Sect disciple warned him about dangers around Bone Beach.
• Chen Ping'an drank tea at a riverside stall, avoided a group of travelers who later suspected him of being part of a plot, and reached the Swaying River River God shrine.
• Chen Ping'an spent the night by the ferry crossing, then agreed to share a boat with an old woman who could not afford the fare; he refused to advance her the money and left after crossing.
• The old woman revealed herself as a divine maiden and complained that Chen Ping'an had failed her trials and missed a great opportunity.
• Chen Ping'an ran from the ferry, relieved that he had avoided a potential romantic entanglement, while Jiang Shangzhen returned and praised him.

The old boatman brought the gloomy Deer Riding Goddess toward the River God shrine and learned that a mysterious intruder had entered her mural’s Secret Realm. Pima Sect reacted to the breach while Pang Lanxi was drawn into the unfolding opportunity, and a young swordsman prepared to enter Ghost Realm Valley.

• The old boatman and the Deer Riding Goddess discussed the fate of the ancient murals, the goddess’s failed choice of a companion, and the mysterious Jiang Shangzhen, whom the old boatman suspected of trespassing.
• A wisp of Green Smoke slipped past Pima Sect’s guards and entered the Deer Riding Goddess’s mural, prompting a Golden Core cultivator to alert Pang Lanxi and the sect.
• Pang Lanxi flew to the Patriarch Hall with an ancient sword, and Pima Sect’s Old Ancestor returned to Mural City and confirmed that someone had entered the Secret Realm.
• The Old Ancestor sent Pang Lanxi back to the shop and instructed the Golden Core cultivator to protect him while he returned to the Patriarch Hall.
• A middle-aged man appeared inside the Secret Realm and announced that he could finally admire the Immortal Sisters.
• A young female Daoist hurried south aboard the Flowing Rosy Cloud Boat, while a young swordsman read a guide to Ghost Realm Valley before entering.

Jiang Shangzhen entered Pima Sect’s immortal palace and encountered the Mural goddesses and Immortal Master Guochi, while events elsewhere drew several goddesses toward new masters. The young Daoist priestess left with Deer Riding Goddess for White Bone Ossuary City, determined to settle a great matter despite her unstable Jadepu Realm cultivation.

• Jiang Shangzhen explored Pima Sect’s Secret Realm and met Inkstone Hanging Goddess and Rain Walking Goddess, who challenged him for entering the immortal palace.
• Immortal Master Guochi arrived and threatened Jiang Shangzhen, who answered her hostility with teasing remarks about their past.
• In Mural City, a young woman from Lion Peak called for someone to emerge, while a traveler from another land recognized Inkstone Hanging Goddess in a painting.
• At Swaying River, Deer Riding Goddess recognized the young Daoist priestess as her true master and accused Jiang Shangzhen of trying to divert her Dao fate.
• The young Daoist priestess set out with Deer Riding Goddess for White Bone Ossuary City in Ghost Realm Valley, despite warnings that her cultivation had not stabilized.

Chen Ping'an reached Bone Beach, studied Pima Sect’s guide to Ghost Realm Valley, and prepared to enter the valley as a swordsman. Meanwhile, Mural City’s goddesses departed their paintings, Li Liu directed the Rain Walking Goddess to aid a desperate young man, and a group led by Sect Master He flew toward Guān City.

• Chen Ping'an entered Naihe Pass, examined a prized heroic spirit skeleton, and read about Ghost Realm Valley’s dangers and Pima Sect’s rules for visitors.
• Chen Ping'an reflected on the Sword Immortals who had traveled to the Sword Qi Great Wall and promised the Sword Immortal he would not bring it shame.
• Pima Sect sealed off Mural City’s murals as the Inkstone Hanging Goddess and the Seven-Colored Deer left their paintings.
• Li Liu ordered the Rain Walking Goddess to help a young man avenge his blood-deep vendetta, then told the goddess to find her at Lion Peak in sixty years.
• Sect Master He, the Deer Riding Goddess, and Jiang Shangzhen rode a Flowing Rosy Cloud Boat toward White Bone Ossuary City, where Jiang Shangzhen warned that he would protect them from Guān City.

Chen Ping'an entered Ghost Realm Valley and chose the dangerous route to Qinglu Town. After killing the Skin Cream City ghost Half-Faced Makeup, he faced the arrival of Skin Cream City's lord and refused to be intimidated.

• Chen Ping'an paid the Pima Sect's toll, entered Ghost Realm Valley, and endured the valley's oppressive yin qi.
• Chen Ping'an chose the route to Qinglu Town and left the other travelers behind.
• Chen Ping'an encountered Half-Faced Makeup in a wood, resisted her illusions, and decapitated her with the Sword Immortal, taking her Daoist Robe.
• An old woman accused Chen Ping'an of killing viciously and warned that Skin Cream City's lord was coming for him.
• Skin Cream City's lord arrived in a grand carriage, and Chen Ping'an told the old woman he was not easily frightened.

Chen Ping'an rejected Fan Yunluo’s attempt to buy back the Snowflake robe and attacked Skin Cream City’s forces, forcing her to flee underground. After the White Cage City Lord warned him about the consequences of killing her and the danger of traveling north, Chen Ping'an returned to Crow Ridge with the surviving spoils.

• Fan Yunluo offered Chen Ping'an eight Valley Rain Coins for the Snowflake robe and proposed a trade with Skin Cream City, but he demanded the location of the Earth Immortal Ghost instead.
• Fan Yunluo threatened Chen Ping'an when he refused her terms, so he released his flying swords and killed the surrounding Skin Cream City ghosts and Yin creatures.
• Chen Ping'an charged Fan Yunluo’s carriage, shattered White Jade Square, and pursued her underground with Sword Immortal and his flying swords.
• The White Cage City Lord stopped Chen Ping'an and warned him that killing Fan Yunluo would turn other city lords against him and that nearby lords could spot him if he traveled north.
• Chen Ping'an withdrew to Crow Ridge, where the old woman was gone and the bones of the ghosts he had killed remained.

Chen Ping'an left Crow Ridge after defeating the ghosts and helped a struggling Taoist couple earn money by carrying away skeletons. At Soul-Detaining Stream on Treasure Mirror Mountain, he encountered the West Mountain Old Fox and his daughter, then faced a mysterious man who hinted he might compete for the daughter.

• Chen Ping'an warned a Taoist couple about the ghosts near Crow Ridge and arranged for them to sell five sets of bones, letting them keep the proceeds if he did not return within a month.
• Pu Rang appeared to discuss Chen Ping'an's sword and acknowledged that the dead could still be swordsmen before vanishing.
• Chen Ping'an explored Ghost Realm Valley and reached Soul-Detaining Stream, where the West Mountain Old Fox tried to lure him toward the dangerous water with a tale about his daughter’s Golden Hairpin.
• Chen Ping'an knocked the disguised West Mountain Old Fox unconscious, then struck his daughter with a stone when he mistook her for another trick.
• A mysterious man at the stream revealed that the fox’s daughter was only unconscious, and Chen Ping'an paid the old fox ten Snowflake Coins after apologizing.
• The fox’s daughter asked Chen Ping'an his name and whether he had seen the Golden Hairpin, while the mysterious man warned that competing with him for her could be another matter.

Chen Ping'an explored Treasure Mirror Mountain, learned how its stream consumed souls, and left without finding its hidden treasure. He continued toward Qinglu Town, encountered a Peach Sprite and the secluded masters of the Peach Forest, then reached Bronze-Green Lake, where a young noble and his attendants were fishing.

• The West Mountain Old Fox tried to marry Wei Taizhen to Chen Ping'an for his Snowflake Coins, but Wei Taizhen left after asking whether he had seen a Golden Hairpin in the stream.
• Yang Chongxuan warned Chen Ping'an that Treasure Mirror Mountain's stream secretly devoured souls and explained why its treasures could not be retrieved by ordinary means.
• Chen Ping'an tried fishing and other methods without success, filled his Sword Nurturing Gourd with stream water, and left Treasure Mirror Mountain while Yang Chongxuan prepared to claim its Half-Immortal Weapon mirror.
• Fan Yunluo mourned the damage to her carriage and worried over Skin Cream City's losses, while Granny Chang considered betraying her.
• Chen Ping'an entered the Peach Forest, resisted the Peach Sprite's charms, and dispersed Xu Song's thundercloud with a punch; the temple's Golden Armor Lishi then invited him to meet the True Lord.
• Chen Ping'an continued toward Qinglu Town and reached Bronze-Green Lake, where he recognized the young noble and his attendants preparing to fish.

Chen Ping'an left Bronze-Green Lake for Copper Official Mountain, where he discovered demons hiding from him and followed one toward a gathering of the Six Sages before changing course to pursue a scholar-snatching spirit. Elsewhere, Yang Chongxuan learned that his opportunity had arrived, while the old Abbot's divination drew Lu Chen's attention in White Jade Capital, where Lu Chen threw a young Junior Uncle into the cloud sea.

• Chen Ping'an met Yuan Xuan and Du Wensi at Bronze-Green Lake, learned about the dangers on the road, and set out for Copper Official Mountain.
• Chen Ping'an found no demons on Copper Official Mountain and discovered a Mountain-Moving Ape had sent a rat demon to report his presence to the Great Mountain Moving Sage.
• Chen Ping'an followed the rat demon, then changed course after seeing Peach Fan Gentleman and his companions abducting a scholar for the Summer Avoiding Goddess.
• Yang Chongxuan spoke with the old Abbot of Little Xuan Du Temple, who announced that Yang Chongxuan's opportunity had arrived and warned him of a great fortune in killing.
• The old Abbot traced a thread connecting He Xiaoliang to the young Wanderer and White Jade Capital, then Lu Chen broke the thread and discussed the matter with his Junior Uncle.
• Lu Chen threw his Junior Uncle into the cloud sea after sealing his Spiritual Energy, while an Ascension Realm cultivator rushed to rescue him.

Chen Ping'an and the scholar Mu Mao divided Summer Avoiding Goddess’s hidden treasures, then went their separate ways as Ghost Realm Valley’s demons converged on Earth Gushing Mountain. Chen Ping'an raided the Great Demon Capturing Immortal’s empty treasury and harvested Thunder Whips on Ji Xiao Mountain before an inner voice urged him to kill the scholar; meanwhile, Jiang Qujiang pursued Treasure Mirror Mountain’s opportunity with the Rain Walking Goddess, Shushi.

• Chen Ping'an and Mu Mao negotiated over Summer Avoiding Goddess’s remains and treasures, then split the hidden trove beneath Peeling Mountain.
• Chen Ping'an sensed Mu Mao’s killing intent, lowered his weapons, and parted from him after Mu Mao described Grand Madam Bichen and the other demons’ gathering.
• Mu Mao secretly kept Summer Avoiding Goddess’s demon core and watched the demons assemble at Earth Gushing Mountain while he prepared to act.
• Chen Ping'an killed one rat spirit at Sheep Intestine Palace, spared the other, and found only books in the Great Demon Capturing Immortal’s treasury.
• Chen Ping'an climbed Ji Xiao Mountain, collected five golden Thunder Whips, and turned toward Earth Gushing Mountain after an inner voice told him to kill the scholar.
• Jiang Qujiang and Shushi reached Treasure Mirror Mountain, where the West Mountain Old Fox brought his daughter Wei Taizhen to meet them before a burly youth seized them.

Chen Ping'an and the scholar joined forces to hunt for treasure along the Black River, where they fought the Commanding Thunder God General and the old softshell turtle. After a Golden Arhat took the turtle away to make amends, Chen Ping'an collapsed from his injuries, and the scholar revealed he had also captured Grand Madam Fuhai.

• The scholar revealed his split soul, gave Chen Ping'an the names Yang Mu Mao and Yang Ningxing to consider, and warned that a powerful watcher might be tracking him.
• Chen Ping'an and the scholar traveled to the Black River, disguised themselves, and the scholar dragged Grand Madam Fuhai from the water after defeating her.
• The Black River Great King sent an envoy to negotiate, but he froze the river and called the Commanding Thunder God General while the scholar searched underwater.
• Chen Ping'an fought the golden eagle demon in close combat, then joined the scholar in defeating it and the old softshell turtle when they attacked together.
• A Golden Arhat took the defeated turtle to Great Full Moon Temple after promising it would make amends, and Chen Ping'an collapsed from his injuries as the scholar said he had captured Grand Madam Fuhai.

Chen Ping'an reached Copper Stink City, killed the mountain-chasing hound with Flying Sword Fifteen, and disguised himself as an old Immortal Master to sell treasures in Gold Powder Ward. After earning a Valley Rain Coin and six Little Summer Coins, he left for Qinglu Town to rest and recover.

• Chen Ping'an refined Snowflake Coins into spiritual water for a plum tree, reflected on compassion and righteousness, and carved his thoughts onto Bamboo Slips.
• Chen Ping'an encountered a standoff between the mountain-chasing hound and officials from Copper Stink City, then followed the hound's party and killed the hound with Flying Sword Fifteen.
• Chen Ping'an entered Copper Stink City with his Pima Sect token and brought treasures to Gold Powder Ward, where Tang Jinxiu negotiated with him and bought several items.
• Tang Jinqiu warned Tang Jinxiu not to act recklessly toward Chen Ping'an, revealing that he was the young Sword Immortal who had defeated Fan Yunluo and killed the mountain-chasing hound.
• Chen Ping'an sold more treasures to Tang Jinxiu, gave Zhen Guan the pink porcelain bottle, and left Copper Stink City for Qinglu Town.

After Pima Sect defended Muyi Mountain from Gao Cheng’s attack, Chen Ping'an waited there and helped Pang Lanxi understand Xingzi’s feelings. Zhu Quan returned from the battle, and Chen Ping'an later met Jiang Shangzhen in the mural Secret Realm, where they discussed who had targeted him and Chen Ping'an blamed Lu Chen for his entanglement with He Xiaoliang.

• Gao Cheng’s White Bone Dharma Appearance attacked Pima Sect, but Zhu Quan and the sect’s formations and Golden Body Deities drove it back into Ghost Realm Valley.
• Chen Ping'an persuaded Pang Lanxi to consider Xingzi’s livelihood and feelings before acting, and Pang Lanxi left to ask Pang Shanling to paint new Goddess Paintings.
• Pang Shanling and a Pima Sect Old Ancestor secretly listened to Chen Ping'an, then stopped when they sensed his displeasure.
• Zhu Quan returned to Muyi Mountain, drank with Chen Ping'an, and explained that Pu Rang’s intervention had angered Gao Cheng and left him weakened.
• The old Taoist priest showed Xu Song a Flowing Time Scroll depicting Chen Ping'an’s perilous escape from Ghost Realm Valley and urged him not to measure his cultivation against others.
• Jiang Shangzhen summoned Zhu Quan and Chen Ping'an to the mural Secret Realm, then asked Chen Ping'an who had targeted him; Chen Ping'an identified He Xiaoliang and said Lu Chen had set him up.