Chapter Summaries

Ling Xuanxiao stunned the alchemists by refining pills at an extraordinary speed and quality, prompting Miao Zhishun to grant him better facilities. After witnessing his skill, Miao Zhishun reconsidered his objections to Ling Xuanxiao and began considering him as a match for Caishen, though he still planned to test him.

• Ling Xuanxiao ignored warnings about the fierce flames and refined a furnace of pills with living pill patterns, impressing the alchemists.
• Ling Xuanxiao increased his pace over the next two days, refining multiple furnaces at once and producing pills in great numbers.
• Caishen confronted Miao Zhishun about withholding the high-grade earth fire, and he accused her of developing feelings for Ling Xuanxiao and planned to ask him to leave.
• Miao Zhishun learned that Ling Xuanxiao had refined twenty-two furnaces the previous day and ordered that he receive a larger Alchemy Room and whatever he requested.
• Miao Zhishun watched Ling Xuanxiao work, reconsidered whether he was worthy of Caishen, and decided to test him further.

Li Xuanxiao passed Miao Zhishun’s tests of his honesty and conduct in the Alchemy Room, while Miao Zhishun continued evaluating him as a potential husband for Caishen. The chapter ended with Miao Zhishun arranging another test: sending Caishen’s cousin to Li Xuanxiao’s room to see whether he would give in to temptation.

• Li Xuanxiao noticed that Miao Zhishun was secretly watching him as he worked with unregistered precious ingredients, but he left them untouched.
• An alchemist tried to steal some of the unregistered ingredients, and Li Xuanxiao stopped him and brought him before Miao Zhishun.
• Miao Zhishun gave the alchemist a verbal warning and approved of Li Xuanxiao’s refusal to take part in the theft.
• Caishen told Miao Zhishun that she disliked his view of marriage as an exchange of interests and said she wanted pure love.
• Miao Zhishun told Caishen that he had arranged for her cousin to visit Li Xuanxiao’s room as another test.

Li Xuanxiao rejected a woman Miao Zhishun sent to test his character, earning Miao Zhishun’s approval and his plan to make Li Xuanxiao the family’s ideal son-in-law. After refining enough pills for the Xueyin Chamber of Commerce and recovering his strength, Li Xuanxiao prepared to begin the dangerous pill refinement meant to save Di Nüfeng.

• A woman sent by Miao Zhishun tried to seduce Li Xuanxiao, but he avoided her advances and insisted that he would remain faithful to the person in his heart.
• The woman reported back to Miao Zhishun, who praised Li Xuanxiao’s character and said he wanted him to become the family’s ideal son-in-law.
• Miao Zhishun kept giving Li Xuanxiao tests and tasks until Li Xuanxiao had refined enough pills for the Xueyin Chamber of Commerce and recovered to his peak condition.
• Li Xuanxiao told Miao Zhishun he was ready to begin refining the pills, and Miao Zhishun agreed while mentioning that he had an important matter to discuss afterward.
• Caishen told Li Xuanxiao he had passed her father’s test, while Li Xuanxiao focused on the dangerous pill refinement that might save Di Nüfeng.

Li Xuanxiao began refining a dangerous pill to cure Di Nüfeng, whose bluish-purple veins were spreading across her body. As the refinement caused a colossal phantom cauldron and unbearable heat to appear, the Xueyin Chamber of Commerce evacuated its rear mountain and drew the attention of factions across the region.

• Li Xuanxiao examined the spreading veins on Di Nüfeng's body, and she admitted she feared dying while looking ugly as he promised to save her.
• Li Xuanxiao asked Cao Changjing to guard the rear mountain of the Xueyin Chamber of Commerce while he refined the pill, and he prepared defenses and rare ingredients for the attempt.
• Li Xuanxiao began refining the pill at midnight, and Cao Changjing kept watch as the heat around the cave grew over the following weeks.
• Miao Zhishun saw an enormous phantom cauldron and blazing True Fire above the distant mountains, then ordered the rear mountain evacuated as the heat became unbearable.
• Word spread that the Xueyin Chamber of Commerce was refining a pill, drawing curious forces and visitors as Miao Zhishun struggled to manage the situation.

Li Xuanxiao burned his soul and lifespan to refine a pill as a tribulation cloud gathered overhead, while his Self Corpse sensed the cost and traveled with Nangong Wan toward a dangerous gathering place. Elsewhere, Mo Zi killed those who failed to provide answers and ordered his disciples to find the elusive person.

• Li Xuanxiao drew attention to the Xueyin Chamber of Commerce when his enormous phantom cauldron appeared, leaving Miao Zhishun to field probing from other factions.
• Li Xuanxiao stabbed a silver needle into his chest and burned his soul, lifespan, and domain energy to speed the pill refinement.
• A tribulation cloud gathered as Li Xuanxiao added the Ice Poison Toad to the cauldron and intensified the flames.
• The Self Corpse Li Xuanxiao sensed the original body's lifespan burning, and Nangong Wan learned that he had gone to great lengths for Di Nüfeng.
• Li Xuanxiao and Nangong Wan headed for a gathering place of exiles and desperadoes.
• Mo Zi killed a local guardian god and a disciple, then ordered the others to search for the elusive person or die.

Several months after Mo Zi ordered a search for the Shushan Disciples, Li Xuanxiao completed a powerful detoxification pill and secretly brought it to Di Nüfeng. The poison began leaving her body, while Mo Zi’s agents continued closing in on Li Xuanxiao.

• Mo Zi sent a disciple to investigate reports of a supreme alchemist at the Xueyin Chamber of Commerce, suspecting a connection to the Shushan Disciples.
• Li Xuanxiao completed the pill, trapped its fleeing Pill Spirit in a net, and nearly exhausted his strength in the process.
• Four disciples from the Central Continent infiltrated the back mountain, and Li Xuanxiao seized the lone scout who returned and absorbed his soul into a Soul Refining Bead.
• Li Xuanxiao secretly took the pill to Di Nüfeng and told her to guide its power through her meridians.
• Di Nüfeng began expelling bluish-green droplets of Ancient Snake God's poison, which Li Xuanxiao collected in a vessel.

Li Xuanxiao studied the Ancient Snake God's poison after refining an elixir, then met with Miao Zhishun at the Xueyin Chamber of Commerce. Miao Zhishun urged him to recover and stay, while Li Xuanxiao suspected he wanted to keep him there permanently.

• Li Xuanxiao contained the Ancient Snake God's poison in a special vessel and discovered it was potent enough to threaten Body Integration Realm cultivators.
• After Li Xuanxiao withdrew his illusion, Caishen found his courtyard sealed, and Miao Zhishun teased her about her affection for him.
• Several days later, Li Xuanxiao agreed to meet Miao Zhishun despite still being weakened by refining the elixir.
• Li Xuanxiao crossed the garden pond on the Jade Flood Dragon Xiaoxia and joined Miao Zhishun in a pavilion.
• Miao Zhishun told Li Xuanxiao to rest and stay at the Xueyin Chamber of Commerce, while Li Xuanxiao suspected he intended to keep him there.

After recovering from his injuries, Ling Xuanxiao was summoned to meet Miao Zhishun and the Miao family elders, who announced that they intended for him to marry Caishen and join their family. Ling Xuanxiao was left speechless by the surprise proposal.

• Ling Xuanxiao spent two months recovering while the Xueyin Chamber of Commerce supplied him with supplements and Miao Zhishun repeatedly visited.
• After finishing his treatment, Ling Xuanxiao went to the riverside and found Miao Zhishun, Caishen, and dozens of Miao family members gathered there.
• Miao Zhishun repeatedly called Ling Xuanxiao family, while Caishen shyly wore a formal dress and avoided his gaze.
• When Miao Zhishun teased him about a joyous occasion, Ling Xuanxiao offered to become his adoptive son and later guessed he might be made Alchemy Room supervisor.
• Miao Zhishun revealed that the Miao family intended to let Ling Xuanxiao marry Caishen and join their family, leaving Ling Xuanxiao stunned.

Li Xuanxiao rejected Miao Zhishun’s offer to marry Caishen, explaining that he already had a Dao companion and wife. Miao Zhishun reacted with threatening pressure but stopped short of attacking him.

• Miao Zhishun announced in front of the Miao family elders that he wanted Li Xuanxiao to become his son-in-law.
• Li Xuanxiao privately told Miao Zhishun and Caishen that he could not accept the marriage because he already had a Dao companion.
• Caishen challenged Li Xuanxiao’s claim, but he insisted that Di Nüfeng was his wife and said he would not abandon her for the Miao family.
• Caishen left in tears, and Li Xuanxiao offered to refine pills for the Xueyin Chamber of Commerce as thanks for Miao Zhishun’s help.
• Miao Zhishun pressed Li Xuanxiao with his Integrated Body Realm aura and warned that he could kill him, while Li Xuanxiao sensed no killing intent.

Ling Xuanxiao continued refining pills for the Xueyin Chamber of Commerce while Caishen grieved over their broken marriage agreement. He also experimented with the Ancient Snake God's venom and found that a weapon shaped from the god's remains could withstand it.

• Miao Zhishun warned Ling Xuanxiao to leave the Xueyin Chamber of Commerce after finishing his pills, and Ling Xuanxiao continued working without cutting corners.
• Miao Zhishun learned that Ling Xuanxiao had improved the alchemy manuals and was still refining pills faithfully, but refused to keep him because his presence saddened Caishen.
• Miao Zhishun found Caishen heartbroken in her room, read her sorrowful writing, and promised not to drive Ling Xuanxiao out immediately.
• Ling Xuanxiao tested the Ancient Snake God's venom and discovered that a sharp object made from the god's remains could resist being dissolved.

Mo Zi tracked the pills distributed by the Xueyin Chamber of Commerce and went there himself, while Li Xuanxiao continued teaching its alchemists despite his failing health. Mo Zi’s violent arrival led to a fight with the Chamber’s four Spirit Transformation Stage experts.

• A disciple told Mo Zi that the Xueyin Chamber of Commerce had circulated a large number of pills made by Central Continent alchemists, and Mo Zi decided to investigate in person.
• Li Xuanxiao taught the Xueyin Chamber of Commerce’s alchemists pill-refining techniques while feeling his body deteriorate.
• Miao Zhishun and Caishen discussed Li Xuanxiao’s generosity, and Miao Zhishun admitted he had no intention of killing him.
• A guard reported that an unknown intruder had injured the household servants and defeated several guards.
• Mo Zi fought the Xueyin Chamber of Commerce’s four Spirit Transformation Stage experts and overpowered them with a stomp.

Mo Zi confronted the Xueyin Chamber of Commerce and demanded that it hand over a Shushan Disciple. Miao Zhishun agreed to take him to Li Xuanxiao, leaving Caishen worried about what would happen.

• Mo Zi's lightning defeated several Spirit Transformation Stage cultivators before Miao Zhishun blocked it and asked who he was.
• Mo Zi introduced himself as a disciple of Gou Shengzi of Heaven's Secrets Tower and demanded the Shushan Disciple he believed was hiding at the Xueyin Chamber of Commerce.
• Miao Zhishun resisted Mo Zi's threat, but recognized that Mo Zi's description matched Li Xuanxiao.
• Miao Zhishun agreed to take Mo Zi to Li Xuanxiao if he was a Shushan Disciple, despite Caishen's protests.

Mo Zi tracked down Li Xuanxiao and attacked him, while Caishen tried to intervene and Miao Zhishun stopped her. As Mo Zi pressed his advantage, Li Xuanxiao brought out an exquisite box, regarding Mo Zi as though he were already dead.

• Caishen tried to warn Ling Xuanxiao, but Mo Zi ordered his disciples to seal off the area and Miao Zhishun left with him to search for Li Xuanxiao.
• Mo Zi found Li Xuanxiao in a courtyard, snapped the neck of what proved to be a clone, and destroyed the puppets hiding the real Li Xuanxiao and Di Nüfeng.
• Mo Zi overwhelmed Li Xuanxiao’s sword lights with his lightning defenses and struck him with a lightning spear, but Li Xuanxiao used Di Nüfeng as a shield.
• Caishen rose to help Li Xuanxiao, but Miao Zhishun blocked her and insisted that Li Xuanxiao was fated to die.
• Mo Zi shattered several of Li Xuanxiao’s Magic Artifacts, and Li Xuanxiao brought out an exquisite box while looking at Mo Zi as though he were a dead man.

Ling Xuanxiao used the Ancient Snake God's venom to poison Mo Zi during their fight, turning the battle against the Tribulation Crossing cultivator. Mo Zi fell from the sky as the poison destroyed his body and Dao, while Miao Zhishun watched in fear.

• Ling Xuanxiao held Di Nüfeng back from waking and prepared the Ancient Snake God's venom as Mo Zi broke through his defenses.
• Ling Xuanxiao baited Mo Zi into striking him, exposing Mo Zi to the venom and retreating as the poison began to spread.
• Mo Zi severed his injured arm and sealed his meridians, but the poison worsened and spread through his body.
• Mo Zi and Ling Xuanxiao clashed with their dharma avatars, while Mo Zi's exertion accelerated the poison's spread.
• Mo Zi recognized the venom, begged Ling Xuanxiao not to kill him, and fell from the sky as his body and Dao crumbled.
• Miao Zhishun remembered wanting to attack Ling Xuanxiao and felt lingering fear.

Li Xuanxiao killed Mo Zi with the Ancient Snake God's poison, then left with Di Nüfeng as Mo Zi's disciples fled. At Heaven's Secrets Pavilion, Gou Shengzi learned of Mo Zi's death and offered to take as his disciple whoever captured Li Xuanxiao.

• Miao Zhishun realized Li Xuanxiao could have killed him after witnessing Mo Zi's death.
• Li Xuanxiao's Mechanical Puppets stripped Mo Zi of his possessions, and Li Xuanxiao ordered Mo Zi's disciples to leave.
• Li Xuanxiao departed with Di Nüfeng after exchanging farewells with Caishen and Cao Changjing.
• Gou Shengzi calculated that Mo Zi had died and wondered whether Li Xuanxiao had killed him.
• Gou Shengzi refused to meet Heaven's Secrets Old Man's messenger and promised discipleship to anyone who captured Li Xuanxiao.

Li Xuanxiao and Nangong Wan entered the Ghost Domain, where cultivators were forced to kill to survive. After arranging for Nangong Wan to earn a bronze plaque so they could stay at an inn, Li Xuanxiao asked the innkeeper about the missing Ghost King.

• Li Xuanxiao explained to Nangong Wan that the Ghost Domain was a lawless land where cultivators had to survive regular dueling-arena battles.
• Li Xuanxiao killed two cultivators who harassed Nangong Wan, then took her to the largest inn in the area.
• The innkeeper told Li Xuanxiao that he needed a bronze plaque from the dueling arena to stay at the inn.
• Li Xuanxiao sent Nangong Wan to obtain a bronze plaque and asked the innkeeper whether the Ghost King was still at Ghost Manor.
• The innkeeper questioned Li Xuanxiao about his interest in the Ghost King, whom Li Xuanxiao had previously met with the old man.

Li Xuanxiao discovered that the Ghost King parading through the Ghost Domain was an impostor and decided to seek the real Ghost King through the dueling arena. After Nangong Wan obtained a Silver Token, Li Xuanxiao headed for the arena, despite the innkeeper warning that challengers had not returned alive for two hundred years.

• Li Xuanxiao learned that a Supreme Token was required to see the Ghost King and suspected the long-unseen ruler might be dead.
• Li Xuanxiao tested the spell meant to control the Ghost King and realized the figure inside the passing sedan was not the real Ghost King.
• Nangong Wan returned with a Silver Token, and Li Xuanxiao went upstairs to cultivate while an unseen figure listened outside his window.
• Li Xuanxiao told the innkeeper he was going to the dueling arena to seek the Ghost King, and she warned him that past challengers had never returned alive.

Li Xuanxiao dominated the duel arena, winning 130 consecutive battles and earning a Jade Token as he pursued an audience with the Ghost King. His fame spread through the Ghost Domain, and the Innkeeper expected that it might get him killed the next day.

• Nangong Wan tried to stop Li Xuanxiao from entering the duel arena, but he dismissed her and went in alone.
• Li Xuanxiao defeated challenger after challenger, killing them with overwhelming strength and using the fights to temper his fist intent.
• After 130 consecutive victories, Li Xuanxiao returned to the inn with a Jade Token and told the Innkeeper he had come for the Ghost King.
• That night, the Innkeeper told her sister that Li Xuanxiao would probably keep fighting and might die the next day, so they did not investigate him.

Li Xuanxiao dominated the dueling arena until Chen Family Spear forced him onto the defensive, but he shattered the spears and defeated him with his sword. As Li Xuanxiao called for his next opponent, the undefeated Mountain King entered the arena.

• Li Xuanxiao went to the dueling arena and defeated challenger after challenger with his fists.
• Chen Family Spear unleashed his Dharma Form Avatar and drove Li Xuanxiao into a defensive struggle with six pursuing spears.
• Li Xuanxiao drew his sword, destroyed the spears, and defeated Chen Family Spear with Sword Qi and black energy.
• Li Xuanxiao stayed in the arena and called for another opponent while Big Jade Tooth urged the crowd to bet on him.
• Mountain King entered the arena, and Big Jade Tooth recognized the fighter with four hundred and twenty-three consecutive victories.

Li Xuanxiao revealed that he was a Shushan Disciple while Mountain King tried to crush him beneath a talisman-covered mountain. Li Xuanxiao broke free with the Myriad Souls Banner and struck Mountain King, sending him crashing into a stone wall.

• Mountain King attacked Li Xuanxiao with a massive hand and summoned a talisman-covered mountain that pinned him down.
• Mountain King demanded that Li Xuanxiao kneel and beg for mercy, but Li Xuanxiao taunted him about Shu Mountain defeating him in the past.
• Li Xuanxiao declared that he was a Shushan Disciple, shocking the spectators and unsettling Mountain King.
• Mountain King intensified the mountain's pressure and threatened to skin Li Xuanxiao alive, while Nangong Wan nearly intervened and Big Jade Tooth feared Li Xuanxiao would lose.
• Li Xuanxiao unleashed black qi that shattered the mountain, summoned the Myriad Souls Banner, and struck Mountain King in the abdomen.
• Mountain King flew backward and became embedded in a stone wall.