Chapter Summaries

Xiang Jie and Du Lu returned to the Sun Temple Keeper with news of God Demon Valley and Fang Xuan, while the Keeper prepared to investigate the threatened Primordial Secret Realm. In Jinjiang City, Fang Xuan learned that his forces were settling in and announced he would travel through Central Province’s ten remaining counties.

• The Sun Temple Keeper healed Xiang Jie and Du Lu, confirmed that the Demon Envoys came from God Demon Valley, and explained that its experts had invaded the Primordial Secret Realm and left the Wall Guardian missing.
• The Sun Temple Keeper refined three captured demons in Du Lu’s Creation Furnace and ordered Xiang Jie and Du Lu to accompany him to the Primordial Secret Realm in half a month.
• Xiang Jie told the Sun Temple Keeper that Fang Xuan had slain an evil demon and was at least a Fifth Rank Martial Venerable; Xiang Jie urged the Keeper to help Fang Xuan unify the Nine Provinces, but the Keeper cited the Martial Temple’s rules.
• One Line Sky reported that Jinjiang City’s systems had been reorganized, recruitment was growing the Dragon Whale Army, and repairs to the East City gate had begun; Fang Xuan reassured him that Xiao Li had driven back the Bei Yue barbarians.
• Fang Xuan told One Line Sky he would leave Jinjiang City soon to visit Central Province’s ten counties and secure the province before Great Qian and the Red Eyebrows could send troops.

Fang Xuan returned to Pan Tai Pass with Lingxi, where Pei Qian showed off the formidable formations he had built to defend it. After discussing the Red Eyebrow Army’s attacks, Fang Xuan announced that he was going to Tai Xuan Sect.

• Fang Xuan told Lingxi that his cultivation had fallen and gave him a pill to help him recover.
• Fang Xuan and Lingxi reached Pan Tai Pass, where Deng Chuan, Pei Qian, and the generals welcomed them.
• Pei Qian explained that he had strengthened Pan Tai Pass with more than thirty formations and demonstrated them against Lingxi, forcing him to reveal his true form.
• Lingxi tried to persuade Pei Qian to teach him a way to cultivate Mystic Sect formations, but Fang Xuan told him to focus on restoring his realm.
• Deng Chuan reported that the Red Eyebrow Army had repeatedly tested Pan Tai Pass, and Fang Xuan said he was going to Tai Xuan Sect.

Fang Xuan challenged the Tai Xuan Sect to stop hiding from the upheaval in the Nine Provinces, and its Sect Master overruled Pei Hongde to welcome him. Meanwhile, Great Qian captured Guangling, ending Great Yang's rule, and Zhai Zhixin ordered tens of thousands of prisoners buried alive as the army marched toward the city.

• Fang Xuan and Lingxi arrived at the Tai Xuan Sect, where Pei Qian greeted them and introduced them to Pei Hongde.
• Pei Hongde warned Fang Xuan that factions across the Nine Provinces wanted him dead and ordered him to leave, but Fang Xuan challenged the sect to stop hiding from the coming conflict.
• Fang Xuan began to leave, and Pei Qian offered to go with him, but Fang urged Pei Qian to stay and shoulder the Tai Xuan Sect's future.
• The Tai Xuan Sect's Sect Master appeared and ordered Pei Hongde to welcome Fang Xuan, declaring that the sect would no longer shrink from the world's upheaval.
• Great Qian's army breached Guangling, Li Yanming hanged himself, and Chu Xin's whereabouts remained unknown, bringing Great Yang's 594-year rule to an end.
• Zhai Zhixin ordered Wei Qiang to have the tens of thousands of prisoners buried alive, and Great Qian's soldiers carried out the order along the road to Guangling.

Fang Xuan learned why Tai Xuan Sect had withdrawn into the Secluded Land and revealed that he had destroyed the ancient thing sealed beneath Pan Tai Pass. Pei Maoyuan went to consult the sect elders, while Pei Qian sneaked into Fang Xuan’s courtyard with a forbidden book.

• Pei Qian demonstrated his unfinished Di Sha Wu Earth Formation, and Pei Maoyuan waived his punishment.
• Pei Maoyuan thanked Fang Xuan for helping Pei Qian commit to studying formations, but said Tai Xuan Sect would not join the struggle over the Nine Provinces.
• Pei Maoyuan explained that Tai Xuan Sect had suffered backlash after participating in Li Yuanzheng’s attempt to reshape the true dragon from Da Yang’s dragon fortune.
• Fang Xuan suspected Tai Xuan Sect’s founding site held something from another era, and Pei Maoyuan confirmed his suspicion after Fang Xuan said he had destroyed the sealed thing beneath Pan Tai Pass.
• Pei Maoyuan left Fang Xuan and Lingxi in a courtyard while he consulted the sect elders.
• Pei Qian sneaked into the courtyard and offered Fang Xuan his father’s book on Nine Provinces Secret History, then left to fetch an Array Scripture; Fang Xuan refused the book, and Lingxi quietly left the courtyard.

Fang Xuan cultivated the Divine Fire Profound Heaven Transformation in the Tai Xuan Sect’s Secluded Land, advancing the technique and nearing its seventh transformation. As dawn came, he suddenly stiffened and hurried inside to set up a barrier.

• Fang Xuan used the Spirit Gathering Cauldron and refined immortal fruits to temper his body with Samadhi True Fire.
• Pei Maoyuan dismissed the elders’ concerns about Fang Xuan’s Spirit Gathering Cauldron draining the Secluded Land’s spiritual energy.
• Pei Qian and Lingxi sneaked into the Scripture Pavilion, where Pei Qian stole classics to give to Fang Xuan.
• Fang Xuan’s Divine Fire Profound Heaven Transformation reached 1300/3000 progress, and purple flames appeared within his azure fire as he approached the seventh transformation.
• At dawn, Fang Xuan’s expression stiffened, and he returned to the cabin to set up a barrier.

Fang Xuan met White-Robed Fang Xuan in the Ancient Battlefield, learned that his name was Di Jun, and received the sources of Essence Fire and People's Fire before unlocking the Heavenly Flame Art. Meanwhile, Pei Maoyuan and the Tai Xuan Sect elders agreed to ally with Fang Xuan, but Pei Maoyuan resolved to reclaim Tai Xuan Mountain and face the Witch God himself.

• White-Robed Fang Xuan warned Fang Xuan that someone had awakened, then recognized his Samadhi True Fire and said the divine fire could slay gods once combined with Essence Fire and People's Fire.
• White-Robed Fang Xuan placed the sources of Essence Fire and People's Fire within Fang Xuan, revealed his name as Di Jun, and vanished from the Ancient Battlefield.
• The black-gold talisman revealed the Heavenly Flame Art, and Fang Xuan absorbed its knowledge until he reached Perfect Mastery.
• Pei Maoyuan and the nine elders agreed to form an alliance with Fang Xuan, while Pei Deyi warned that the Evil Creature beneath the Tai Xuan Sect remained a threat.
• Pei Maoyuan declared that he would reclaim Tai Xuan Mountain and confront the Witch God, telling the elders to choose another leader if he failed to return.

The Dragon Whale Army sent the barbarian army a grisly shipment of noses from the defenders killed in Lanqing City, prompting Tuoba Yangbo to abandon the siege of Ji Province City and march north. As the city’s leaders argued over Fang Li’s influence, Pei Maoyuan recovered stolen treasures from Pei Qian—who secretly kept an illusion-disguised box.

• Barbarian warriors opened a chest from the Dragon Whale Army’s convoy and found it filled with human noses, with more chests waiting to be unloaded.
• A messenger told Tuoba Yangbo that the thirty thousand defenders of Lanqing City had been killed and their noses sent back; enraged, Tuoba ordered the army north and threatened to execute anyone who disobeyed.
• Gu Kaizhi and the commanders saw the barbarian army beginning to withdraw from Ji Province City, while Wang Haoze defended Fang Li against officials who feared the Dragon Whale Army would seize control.
• Pei Maoyuan confronted Pei Qian over stolen Mystic Arts Essentials and Mystic Gold Immortal Glaze, then collected the books and an antique box.
• After Pei Maoyuan left, Pei Qian revealed he had kept another antique box hidden with an illusion array, which transformed into a transparent palm.

The Tai Xuan Sect elders urged Pei Qian to become an Earth Grade Array Master within three years as the sect faced a crisis, while debating whether Fang Xuan could help them. After waking, Fang Xuan promised Pei Maoyuan he would slay the shaman god and help reclaim Tai Xuan Mountain, and Pei Maoyuan agreed to accompany him after making preparations.

• Pei Qian told the elders how Fang Xuan had fought Buddhist Vajras and slain an evil god, then solemnly accepted their demand that he become a qualified Earth Grade Array Master within three years.
• The elders agreed that Fang Xuan had slain a shaman god, but debated whether Tai Xuan Sect could rely on him and worried about the danger to Pei Maoyuan.
• The First Elder ordered the elders to watch over Maoyuan and prevent him from returning to Tai Xuan Mountain until the sect could reclaim it.
• Pei Maoyuan gave Fang Xuan spiritual tea after he awoke, then explained that the shaman god had not been found and the array suppressing it had shattered.
• Fang Xuan pledged to slay the shaman god and restore Tai Xuan Sect, and Pei Maoyuan agreed to join him after making preparations.
• Pei Maoyuan explained the value of the Mystic Gold Immortal Glaze for Fang Xuan's spirit sword and took back the Nine Provinces Secret History, saying its contents could harm Fang Xuan if he learned them too soon.

Fang Xuan used the Tai Xuan Sect’s formation, Mystic Gold Immortal Glaze, and Xiang Jie’s jade to merge a Dragon Core with Ink Abyss and evolve its sword spirit. He forced the violent sword spirit to face his sword intent, while Pei Maoyuan and Pei Zhizhen watched outside, unsure whether Ink Abyss would submit.

• Pei Maoyuan led Fang Xuan to an isolated area and left him to cultivate with Pei Zhizhen nearby.
• Fang Xuan activated the formation and used his divine sense to examine Ink Abyss’s dormant Dragon Soul.
• Fang Xuan shattered Xiang Jie’s jade, revealed its Dragon Core, and forced the Core into Ink Abyss.
• Ink Abyss’s sword spirit awakened, attacked Fang Xuan, and was beaten back with his Whale Tyrant Killing Fist.
• Fang Xuan released his remaining Sword Qi and threatened Ink Abyss with submission or death, while Pei Maoyuan and Pei Zhizhen discussed his formidable sword intent.

Fang Xuan emerged from seclusion after breaking through to Seventh-Rank Martial Venerable and binding the true dragon within Ink Abyss to himself. He joined Pei Maoyuan to prepare for their departure the next day, while Spirit Rhino discovered that Fang Xuan had nurtured a true dragon inside his sword.

• Fang Xuan broke through to Seventh-Rank Martial Venerable, then used Crimson King Eyes to control the true dragon within Ink Abyss and infused the blade with Mystic Gold Immortal Glaze.
• Ink Abyss’s sword cry split the array, and Fang Xuan emerged to thank Pei Maoyuan for helping him cultivate.
• Fang Xuan told Pei Maoyuan he had reached Seventh-Rank Martial Venerable, prompting Pei Maoyuan to order Pei Qian into seclusion until he became a Profound-Rank Array Master.
• Fang Xuan asked whether Pei Maoyuan was prepared to reclaim Tai Xuan Mountain, and they agreed to depart the next day.
• Fang Xuan revealed Ink Abyss to Spirit Rhino and Pei Maoyuan, and Spirit Rhino recognized the true dragon within the sword.

Fang Xuan, Pei Maoyuan, and Lingxi searched the Tai Xuan Sect for the Great Witch, then followed Pei Maoyuan into a hidden Sky Cave beneath a deep pool. There they found a dead former Great Elder and an ominous pattern Pei Maoyuan identified as the Eternal Night Demon Map.

• Fang Xuan and the others arrived at the Tai Xuan Sect and searched the grounds, finding no sign of the Great Witch.
• Pei Maoyuan led Fang Xuan and Lingxi to a deep pool beneath the Back Mountain and revealed that a Sky Cave lay below it.
• The three entered the dark, maze-like Sky Cave, and Pei Maoyuan used an array to guide them through it.
• Pei Maoyuan discovered the corpse of the Tai Xuan Sect's former Great Elder, who had been presumed to be traveling in search of a breakthrough.
• Fang Xuan spotted an octagonal black pattern on the wall, and Pei Maoyuan identified it as the Eternal Night Demon Map.

Fang Xuan, Lingxi, and Pei Maoyuan discovered that the forbidden grounds were trapped in the lifespan-draining Eternal Night Demon Map, then found Pei Maoyuan’s master, the nearly thousand-year-old Old Man Chuiyun, still alive inside five such formations. When the maps attacked, Pei Maoyuan shielded Fang Xuan and Lingxi with formations and prepared to move them away.

• Pei Maoyuan explained that the Eternal Night Demon Map trapped people in illusions until their lifespans ran out and could make surviving victims attack as enemies.
• Fang Xuan, Lingxi, and Pei Maoyuan continued through the forbidden grounds and found three more places where Tai Xuan Sect elders had died in the illusion.
• Pei Maoyuan’s formation detected a figure surrounded by five active Eternal Night Demon Maps, and he identified him as his master, the former Tai Xuan Sect leader Old Man Chuiyun.
• Pei Maoyuan warned Lingxi not to wake Old Man Chuiyun because he might attack, then urged the group to leave without reclaiming Tai Xuan Mountain.
• The Eternal Night Demon Maps suddenly sent black tendrils toward the group, and Pei Maoyuan blocked them with formations before activating another formation beneath their feet.

Fang Xuan, Lingxi, and Pei Maoyuan discovered a hidden space sealed by the long-lost Du Talisman No Form Array, then returned to find Pei Maoyuan’s master, Old Man Chuiyun, awake and under the influence of the Eternal Night Demon Maps. When Fang Xuan tried to kill him at Chuiyun’s request, the maps consumed the attack, and Chuiyun turned on the three.

• Fang Xuan found a force barrier at the end of Sky Cave, and Pei Maoyuan identified it as the Du Talisman No Form Array, which concealed an independent space.
• The three debated whether to enter the hidden space, then Fang Xuan led them back to the place where Old Man Chuiyun was cultivating.
• Old Man Chuiyun opened his eyes and, after briefly regaining clarity, begged Pei Maoyuan to kill him.
• The Eternal Night Demon Maps bound Chuiyun and dragged him into the stone wall, so Fang Xuan struck him with a golden fist seal.
• The maps devoured Fang Xuan’s attack, and Chuiyun pulled free and declared that he would accept the three as blood food.

Fang Xuan, Lingxi, and Pei Maoyuan fought Old Man Chuiyun inside the cramped Sky Cave while Pei Maoyuan worked to open a way out. Fang Xuan took over the battle and landed a powerful blue-flame attack that drove Old Man Chuiyun back, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Lingxi attacked Old Man Chuiyun, but the cavern's cramped space and Old Man Chuiyun's ghostly powers prevented Lingxi from gaining the advantage.
• Fang Xuan asked Pei Maoyuan to find a way out, and Pei Maoyuan began forming incantations to alter the Sky Cave.
• Fang Xuan stepped in to hold off Old Man Chuiyun while Lingxi guarded Pei Maoyuan; Fang Xuan used Ink Abyss to sever Old Man Chuiyun's tentacles.
• Old Man Chuiyun wounded Fang Xuan with a tentacle spike, but Fang Xuan struck back with the Whale Tyrant Killing Fist and sent him flying.
• Old Man Chuiyun's body transformed as blood-red threads covered him, and he launched a black-red torrent at Fang Xuan.
• Fang Xuan countered with Ink Abyss's Sword Qi and blue-flame palm seals, forcing Old Man Chuiyun back as his tentacles recoiled from the flames.

Fang Xuan and Lingxi escaped Sky Cave through the Great Teleportation Array, but Pei Maoyuan disappeared during the journey. In Wan City, Zhao Shanji urged the Xiao Emperor, Li Nan, to secure Jing Province as Great Yang faced growing threats, while Li Nan revealed his distrust of General Gu’s followers.

• Pei Maoyuan activated the Great Teleportation Array, sending Fang Xuan and Lingxi away from Old Man Chuiyun.
• Fang Xuan awoke in a mountain cave with Lingxi, but Pei Maoyuan was missing; Lingxi became sick from the teleportation, and Fang Xuan raised a barrier to recover.
• Zhao Shanji told Hai Qing that they were seeking to restore Great Yang for Emperor Li Nan, not for Gu Chengxuan.
• Zhao Shanji reported to Li Nan that Jinjiang City had fallen and urged him to win Jing Province as an ally against Xuan Yi King.
• After Zhao Shanji left, Li Nan told a figure that he distrusted the people around General Gu and would not feel safe if Great Yang were restored with them in power.

Fang Xuan and Lingsi joined Upper Realm martial artists invited by Dragonwood Island Master to enter a drifting blessed land in search of treasure. After Dragonwood announced that the gateway had opened across the Eastern Sea, the group set out, and Lingsi transformed into a giant azure rhinoceros to carry Fang Xuan onward.

• Fang Xuan and Lingsi learned they had been teleported to Dragonwood Island, outside Nine Provinces.
• Dragonwood Island Master welcomed the gathered Upper Realm martial artists and explained that the blessed land drifted through space and that they must not sabotage one another.
• Dragonwood led the group to the Eastern Sea, where his people announced that the sea boundary wall and the gateway had opened.
• Dragonwood rode an enormous bird-like creature across the sea, while other martial artists traveled by sword, over the water, or along a path of ice.
• Lingsi transformed into a massive azure rhinoceros and invited Fang Xuan to ride on her back.

Dragonwood Island Master and ten martial artists opened a Void Passage into the submerged blessed land, which would remain open for one hour and reopen in three months. Fang Xuan and Lingxi entered to seek opportunities, while Dragonwood stayed outside and watched for trouble.

• Fang Xuan and the other martial artists reached the ruined sea region where the blessed land appeared.
• Dragonwood Island Master and ten martial artists joined forces to pierce the void and create a passage into the blessed land.
• Dragonwood warned that the passage would remain open for one hour and said he would reopen it three months later.
• Lingxi questioned whether Dragonwood was setting a trap, and Dragonwood explained that a terrifying existence inside had marked his aura.
• Fang Xuan entered the passage, followed by Lingxi and other martial artists.
• Dragonwood said the visitors from Dayang could fight among themselves as long as they did not disturb the thing inside, then waited by the passage with the others.

Fang Li rejected Jizhou’s attempt to back away from its agreement with Sea Province and announced that the Dragon Whale Army would withdraw from Lanqing City. Elsewhere in a Blessed Land, an old man sensed the arrival of invaders, and a younger man vowed to destroy them.

• After the Dragon Whale Army crushed Tuoba Yangbo’s forces, the surviving barbarians retreated, and Tuoba Yangbo fell ill.
• At a victory banquet in Lanqing City, Gu Kaizhi thanked Fang Li for saving Jizhou.
• A Jizhou official asked Fang Li to revoke the agreement allowing Dragon Whale troops to station in Dragon City, while Gu Kaizhi stayed silent.
• Fang Li refused to yield on the agreement and said the Dragon Whale Army would withdraw from Lanqing City in three days.
• Gu Kaizhi apologized and promised to discipline the official, but Fang Li had the guests dismissed.
• In a Blessed Land, an old man sensed invaders approaching, and a younger man promised to ensure they would not leave alive.

Fang Xuan and Lingxi entered the Blessed Land and joined Zi Donglai to explore it. As Zi Donglai explained the Spirit Roots and the challenge of opening Acupoints, Fang Xuan wondered whether his unusual cultivation was connected to the Black Talisman.

• The Void Passage shattered after the martial artists entered, leaving them to wait three months before they could return.
• Xing Bei invited newcomers to travel with him, then departed east with three martial artists as the others formed small groups.
• Fang Xuan and Lingxi agreed to team up with the remaining young man, Zi Donglai, and the three began exploring the Blessed Land.
• Zi Donglai explained that Spirit Roots and Mystic Crystal could aid breakthroughs, and that opening more Acupoints could strengthen a Spirit Wandering cultivator.
• Fang Xuan recalled that he had opened the Celestial Pivot Acupoint first and wondered whether the Black Talisman explained his unusual cultivation.

Fang Xuan, Zi Donglai, and Spirit Rhino Brother explored the underground passages of the blessed land and encountered its pale-skinned natives, whom Zi Donglai slaughtered to obtain a Mystic Crystal. Fang Xuan sensed an aura akin to evil demons in the natives’ qi seas, while the three divided the crystal among themselves.

• Zi Donglai explained the surface and underground routes, and Fang Xuan chose to explore underground with him and Spirit Rhino Brother.
• The three traveled through glowing underground passages, where Fang Xuan examined the tough tree roots and used his King's Eye Technique to survey their surroundings.
• They reached a native settlement carved into the mountain walls, and Zi Donglai attacked the inhabitants, killing them all and taking a Mystic Crystal.
• Fang Xuan sensed a familiar, unusually pure aura resembling that of evil demons in the natives’ qi seas.
• Zi Donglai cut the Mystic Crystal into three shares and gave one to Fang Xuan and one to Spirit Rhino Brother.