Chapter Summaries

Zhou Leng entered Candlebreak City disguised as a demon to investigate the Ice Snow Divine Cult caravan and found his old friend Jade Wing at the Burning Road Inn. After learning that Mad Prince Aiden was collecting Demonic Candlefire, Zhou Leng proposed protecting the inn district during the counterattack, though Jade Wing worried Aiden would refuse.

• Gao Yunbo reported that the caravan included the Ice Snow Divine Cult, a green dragon, Demon Spirit Masters, and possibly a powerful demonized martial artist, leaving the counterattack plan uncertain.
• Zhou Leng recognized the green dragon might be Jade Wing and persuaded Gao Yunbo to lend him an Innate Demonic Transformation Ring so they could investigate.
• Gao Yunbo and Zhou Leng disguised themselves as Rust-Iron Generals, entered Candlebreak City, and went to the Burning Road Inn, where the caravan had booked every room.
• Zhou Leng revealed himself to Jade Wing, who explained that Mad Prince Aiden and the Ice Snow Divine Cult were gathering Demonic Candlefire to attack Treant World and hunt the Heart of Life.
• Zhou Leng told Jade Wing that Chen Shouhu was secretly protecting the counterattack team, then proposed making the inn district a safe zone and attacking only the other demons; Jade Wing agreed but feared Aiden would object.

Zhou Leng secured Snow Mountain Wolf and Jade Wing’s cooperation to keep Aiden from interfering, then joined Gao Yunbo and Shanhe Yuan in a raid on Candlebreak City. After the teleportation array was sabotaged, Zhou Leng and Shanhe Yuan began looting and burning the demon market while claiming to act in the name of the Despair Patriarch.

• Zhou Leng ordered Snow Mountain Wolf to stay at the inn, lead the Divine Cult team, and keep Aiden from acting, while Jade Wing agreed to help contain him.
• Zhou Leng collected fire and poison Demon Spirit Orbs from Snow Mountain Wolf and Jade Wing, then left the High Priest badge with them and departed as Rust-Iron General.
• Zhou Leng and Gao Yunbo arranged a three-team assault on Candlebreak City, with Zhou Leng and Shanhe Yuan assigned to wreak havoc in the city.
• Zhou Leng and Shanhe Yuan surveyed the demon market and chose shops to loot while avoiding businesses owned by powerful demons.
• After an explosion at the teleportation array went unaccompanied by a warning signal, Shanhe Yuan attacked a shop and Zhou Leng set another ablaze.
• Zhou Leng and Shanhe Yuan slaughtered demons, looted herbs and goods, and set shops alight as they advanced through the market.

Zhou Leng and Shanhe Yuan rampaged through the demon city, killing demons and setting buildings on fire as the defenders gathered elsewhere. Their advance ended when a powerful Flesh Chariot charged them and sent both men flying.

• Zhou Leng killed the Crowfolk Envoy with a single punch while Shanhe Yuan smashed the accompanying soldiers.
• Zhou Leng defeated the Worm Nun, then helped Shanhe Yuan kill the last demon in their attacking group with a thrown spear.
• The pair continued slaughtering demons and burning houses, then killed goblins carrying stolen valuables near the inn.
• Jade Wing stayed inside the inn and sent another team of goblins out after his servants were killed.
• Zhou Leng and Shanhe Yuan confronted a Flesh Chariot, whose charge struck them both and sent them flying as they spat blood.

Zhou Leng and Shanhe Yuan battled the Flesh Chariot until a Martial Arts Brigade squad drove it away, then joined the campaign to clear Candlebreak City. After the siege and a costly ambush ended in victory, the Counteroffensive forces returned to Water Continent Demon City, where Zhou Leng reviewed his choices in battle.

• Zhou Leng and Shanhe Yuan fought the Flesh Chariot across Candlebreak City, suffering severe injuries before a Bone-Tempering fighter and squad arrived and forced the demon to flee.
• Zhou Leng and Shanhe Yuan rested, regrouped with Ancient River Sect disciples, and hunted demons and goblin underlings for treasure.
• The ambush signal went up, and the siege team gathered at the city lord's manor, where they saw wounded fighters and three fallen comrades before heading to support the ambush team.
• Chen Shouhu's forces defeated two demon grandmasters and their reinforcements, then joined the siege team and withdrew to the teleportation point.
• The Counteroffensive returned to Water Continent Demon City, and Zhou Leng wrote a battle report that revealed he should have lured the Flesh Chariot toward allies, though the fight had improved his combat experience.

After recovering from the Counteroffensive, Zhou Leng cultivated the Star Phoenix Restoration Art and learned that Candlebreak City's Radiance of Mingzhu had made a secret pact with Mad Prince Aiden to hunt him and Shanhe Yuan. When an emergency summons called him to Treant World, Zhou Leng set out at speed, passing a large mixed force whose leader took note of him.

• Radiance of Mingzhu used a demon artifact to view the battle and signed a secret contract with Mad Prince Aiden to hunt Treant Hearts and later capture Zhou Leng and Shanhe Yuan.
• Zhou Leng recovered in Mammoth Lake, cultivated four Star Phoenix Feathers, and continued his daily training and true-qi compression.
• After receiving the emergency summons to aid the Treants, Zhou Leng accepted, motivated by the chance to obtain Treant Hearts and improve his healing art.
• Zhou Leng measured his running speed, crossed the Yangtze River on foot, and raced toward the Treant World base in Water Continent Demon City.
• Zhou Leng overtook a large mixed force led by a young man on a Great Earth Lizard, and the young man remarked that Zhou Leng had a good foundation.

Zhao He led his group toward Treant World to test Tong Tianxia, gather resources, seek the White Lake Mother Fruit, and investigate the Zhao family’s missing sixth volume. Lou Feiqiong prepared to follow Zhou Leng, who reached Treant Demon City Base as a Giant Insect attacked its defenses.

• Zhao He discussed the Treants, elves, and human civilization with his companions, then reflected on the differing approaches favored by his grandfather and father.
• Zhao He outlined the group’s plans to lure Tong Tianxia, join the war against the Giant Insect Clan, acquire rare resources, seek the White Lake Mother Fruit, and search for Dongjun’s Six Volumes.
• Zhao He warned his subordinates about threats from the Ancient River Research Bureau and discussed Lou Feiqiong’s prospects and Ma Xingkong’s nephew.
• Lou Feiqiong reviewed reports on Zhou Leng, judged that he had gone to Treant World despite his injuries, and decided to follow him and observe him secretly.
• Zhou Leng entered Treant Demon City Base and saw its Tree of Life, diverse inhabitants, and War Ancient Trees defending the walls.
• A gigantic black Giant Insect charged onto the city wall and pounced at a War Ancient Tree.

Zhou Leng arrived at the Treant city as a Giant Insect assault threatened the War Ancient Tree, and the Tree of Life healed it after Chen Shouhu killed a giant centipede. The Tree of Life’s ancient song deepened Zhou Leng’s understanding of Treant language, and he learned about Ancient Tree Fossils and their potential value for his Star Phoenix Restoration Art as he prepared to join the defense.

• Chen Shouhu killed a giant centipede that had wrapped around and badly damaged the War Ancient Tree, and the Tree of Life restored the tree with its white light.
• Zhou Leng heard the Tree of Life’s ancient song and discovered that he could understand Treant language at a much deeper level.
• Lush Root and other Treants welcomed Zhou Leng, explained that Giant Insects had attacked the city, and offered to help him obtain a cultivation spot beneath the Tree of Life.
• Lush Root told Zhou Leng that the Giant Insects and demons were competing to excavate Ancient Tree Fossils, including Ancient Life Cores that could extend lifespan, and invited him to join a future treasure-hunting team.
• Zhou Leng agreed to join the hunt and considered using Ancient Tree Fossils to advance his Star Phoenix Restoration Art before Chen Shouhu sent him a message.

Zhou Leng cultivated beneath the Tree of Life and discovered that he could draw on its power even outside the fenced area, greatly accelerating his techniques and training. After reaching minor accomplishment in the Heavenly Tide Palm in one day, he experienced a sudden, profound change in his body as Zhang Feng and the others watched.

• Zhou Leng received confirmation from Chen Shouhu that he had a cultivation slot beneath the Tree of Life and was told to recover before taking a mission.
• Zhou Leng cultivated beneath the Tree of Life, condensed Star Phoenix Feathers, and found that he could sense its underground life force even outside the fence.
• Zhou Leng tested several techniques and discovered that the Tree of Life's power improved his cultivation and physical training.
• Zhou Leng practiced the Heavenly Tide Palm for seven hours and advanced it to minor accomplishment.
• Zhang Feng, Ren Yuan, and the other Ancient River Sect disciples approached Zhou Leng, who suddenly sweated heavily and felt strange power flowing through his body.

Zhou Leng achieved Force-Channeling and learned that an Ancient Tree Fossil was about to emerge in the Treant World, making it the likely focus of the war. After sleeping near the Tree of Life and cultivating the Star-Gazing Formula, he formed 720 connected qi and qi-blood starlights.

• Zhou Leng achieved Force-Channeling, and he explained how it united the power of bones, flesh, and tendons.
• Zhang Feng told Zhou Leng about the disciples’ difficult fights against Giant Insects, and Zhou Leng revealed that an Ancient Tree Fossil was about to emerge.
• Zhou Leng asked an Ancient River Sect disciple to return to Shuizhou Base and alert Zhang Xinglie, Elder Song, and the others about the fossil.
• Zhou Leng slept near the Tree of Life, where its power left him refreshed, and Lush Root offered to help him find a house.
• Zhou Leng saw Zhao He cultivating beneath the Tree of Life and practiced the Star-Gazing Formula, forming 360 qi starlights and 360 qi-blood starlights.

Zhou Leng cultivated at the Tree of Life before Lush Root brought him news that the Treants had granted him permanent co-cultivation privileges and a residence in the Tree Root Caverns. As Zhou Leng settled into his new room, Zhao He noticed his connection with the Treants and grew curious about his identity.

• Zhou Leng spent the day cultivating Star-Gazing True Qi and practicing Space-Severing Finger, making his Sword-Finger Qi longer and more condensed.
• Lush Root told Zhou Leng that the Great Elder had granted him Friend of the Treants status, Treant Co-Cultivation Privilege, and a room in the Tree Root Caverns.
• Lush Root led Zhou Leng to obtain his permits and showed him the caverns, where dense spiritual energy and life aura could gradually improve his physique.
• Zhao He saw Zhou Leng leave with the Treants and speculated that he was a resident of the Tree Root Caverns, then asked an attendant to learn more about him.
• Zhou Leng and the Treants entered his spacious new room, which included a bathroom and electricity.

Zhou Leng learned Treant customs and the secrets of the Tree God's Legacy while settling into the Tree Root Caverns. After studying and cultivating through the night, he reflected on the slow progress of his Indestructible Star Body and its vast potential.

• Lush Root gave Zhou Leng books about Treant knowledge, Water of Life, and ways to earn the chance to visit the Mother Tree of Life.
• Lush Root introduced Zhou Leng to Treants, who praised him as their lifesaving benefactor and welcomed him into their community.
• Zhou Leng read about Treant World’s life-related treasures, the dangers and value of Giant Insect Sap, and the history of the Tree God's Legacy.
• Zhou Leng learned that Treant records blamed the Wild Elves for stealing and misrepresenting the Tree God's Legacy, while another portion had passed to the Giant Insect Clan.
• Zhou Leng cleansed himself, dreamed of devouring the Frost Giant Tree, then woke and cultivated in the Tree Root Caverns.
• Zhou Leng cultivated the Indestructible Star Body with Ceres's phantom and wondered how powerful the technique would become once he absorbed its immense power.

Zhou Leng cultivated beneath the Tree of Life’s Life Mist, rapidly strengthening his body and increasing his Star Phoenix Feathers. After befriending Zhao He, he followed Chen Shouhu to train for the coming battle, while Zhao He recognized Zhou Leng’s importance and urged his follower to build ties with him.

• Zhou Leng cultivated beneath the Life Mist, where the Star Phoenix Restoration Art condensed Star Phoenix Feathers at eight per hour and strengthened his body.
• Zhou Leng met Zhao He, who recognized him from the freshman rankings and learned that Zhou Leng had earned the Treants’ trust by saving them at the Youth Battlefield.
• Zhao He befriended Zhou Leng and asked Chen Shouhu to help him enter the Ancient River Sect, but Chen Shouhu said recruitment was not in their hands.
• Chen Shouhu warned Zhao He not to lead Zhou Leng astray, then took Zhou Leng to train at the martial arts ground for the next day’s battle.
• Zhao He told his follower that Chen Shouhu valued Zhou Leng highly and instructed him to treat Zhou Leng well and help him when possible.

Zhou Leng learned from a brutal spar with Chen Shouhu and improved his understanding of two Grandmaster battle methods. Meanwhile, Madam Xi Yan sent Demon-Worshiping Cult members toward Treant Base and ordered Rao Mingxian to kill Zhou Leng within a month.

• Chen Shouhu warned Zhou Leng about Zhao He, praised Chen Shaohuang, and urged Zhou Leng to become Chen Shaohuang’s disciple, but Zhou Leng refused to break his promise to Curator Wang.
• Chen Shouhu dragged Zhou Leng into a private spar and defeated him, leaving him injured but exposing him to the Grandmaster-level No-Return Battle Method and Mountain-Subduing River Battle Art.
• Zhou Leng reviewed the fight, decided to master the No-Return Battle Method first, and noticed the Tree of Life had rapidly healed most of his injuries.
• Madam Xi Yan told her forces to enter the Demon Prison and attack the Treant tribes, while sending several members to infiltrate Treant Base.
• Rao Mingxian pledged loyalty to Madam Xi Yan and chose revenge against Zhang Xiaoxiao over executing Tong Tianxia; Madam Xi Yan then ordered him to kill Zhou Leng within a month.
• Shen Jun led Rao Mingxian and the others toward Treant Base, and Rao Mingxian asked him about White Lake and its Lotus Fruit.

Zhou Leng cultivated in Treant Base’s Life Mist, advanced the Star-Gazing Formula to minor mastery, and considered how to reach True Qi Perpetual Motion. As the prospect of a major battle grew, he borrowed money from Azure-Crimson Flame to buy Origin-Embracing Pills and then encountered two familiar faces with a large group of martial artists.

• Rao Mingxian questioned Shen Jun about the Demon Pouch Garden and Zhou Leng’s past, but Shen Jun told him to stop asking.
• Zhou Leng’s Star-Gazing Formula reached minor mastery, raising his True Qi to nine times the Innate baseline and bringing him closer to True Qi Perpetual Motion.
• Zhou Leng agreed to have dinner with Lou Feiqiong after Zhao He brought them together at Treant Base.
• Zhou Leng met Azure-Crimson Flame, borrowed another one hundred million, and promised to repay his total debt of five hundred and fifty million while helping him pass the Demon Spirit Trial.
• After hearing that a major battle might be coming, Zhou Leng used the loan to order ninety Origin-Embracing Pills from Martial City, then spotted two familiar faces approaching with forty or fifty martial artists.

Zhou Leng reunited with Jax and Tu Rong, learned that Aiden and Radiance of Mingzhu were seeking Ancient Tree Fossils, and asked Jax to investigate them. He also recognized Qiu Lump from a childhood feud and heard about Zhang Xinglie’s past loyalty, before Qiu revealed that Tian Wenhu’s men had found and photographed something in Zhou Leng’s home.

• Jax told Zhou Leng that Aiden and Radiance of Mingzhu had gathered forces to hunt Treants and search for Ancient Tree Fossils, and Zhou Leng asked him to investigate them.
• Jax gave Zhou Leng forty Star Spiral Shells and agreed to help him in exchange for future support.
• Zhou Leng recognized Qiu Lump as a former childhood rival, learned that Zhang Xinglie had once beaten Qiu’s gang to protect him, and told Qiu to live properly.
• After Zhou Leng left, Qiu told Jax and Tu Rong that Tian Wenhu’s men had photographed something in Zhou Leng’s home and that he still had the picture.

Zhou Leng learned more about his connection to Ma Xingkong, spoke with Lou Feiqiong about the coming war, and watched the Giant Insects retreat before he could earn any merits. After strengthening his cultivation and collecting his Origin-Embracing Pills, he returned to find Lush Root and other Treants waiting outside his room.

• Jax and Tu Rong recognized Ma Xingkong in a family photo, and Tu Rong recalled how Ma Xingkong had once saved him from arrest.
• Zhou Leng attended a gathering at Treant Tavern, then went outside with Lou Feiqiong, who discussed Zhou Leng's path, his connection to Ma Xingkong, and the possibility that the Treant War would precede the Second Ten Realms War.
• After recovering for three more days, Zhou Leng applied to join the Giant Insect defense battle, but the insects retreated before he could fight or earn merits.
• Zhou Leng learned that the Giant Insects had completed their objective and suffered heavy losses, then checked on his fellow Ancient River Sect disciples and found no new information about Rao Mingxian or the Huangmeng Sect.
• Zhou Leng studied the Star-Gazing Formula, collected ninety Origin-Embracing Pills, and returned to find Lush Root and several Treants waiting outside his room.

Zhou Leng agreed to join Lush Root and the Treants in pursuing the Giant Insects before searching for the Ancient Tree Fossil, and he reunited with Zhang Xiaoxiao while buying supplies. After setting out with the Treants, he left behind Shen Jun and Rao Mingxian’s group, who prioritized the Calamity Envoy’s orders.

• Lush Root invited Zhou Leng to pursue the Giant Insects and search for the Ancient Tree Fossil, and Zhou Leng accepted while collecting Giant Insect Sap.
• Zhou Leng contacted Azure-Crimson Flame, who agreed to join the pursuit and offered to alter the sap’s flavor with magic.
• Zhou Leng encountered Zhang Xiaoxiao in an alley, urged her to stay safe, and offered to help her get a new identity if she turned herself in, but she left without looking back.
• An unseen speaker accused Zhou Leng of fraternizing with a Demon-Worshiping Cult Innate, and Zhou Leng attacked the speaker’s lingering spell afterimage.
• After reaching the limit of his True-Liquid Innate Realm vitality through cultivation, Zhou Leng left with Lush Root and the Treants to pursue the Giant Insects.
• Shen Jun and Rao Mingxian watched Zhou Leng depart and discussed prioritizing the Calamity Envoy’s will as major forces entered Treant World.

Zhou Leng joined Lush Root and the other Treants to fight a Giant Insect force in the forest, where they ambushed the insects as they fed on fallen Treants. After Azure-Crimson Flame divided the swarm with ice and illusions, Zhou Leng crippled two Giant Locusts by tearing off their hind legs, while the other battles continued.

• Shen Jun told his companions that the Calamity God had sent the Calamity Envoy to the Great Battlefield to search for something special.
• Lush Root explained that the Giant Insects were targeting Treant resources and that the young Treants had turned to guerrilla warfare.
• Lush Root learned that a group of Giant Insects was pursuing wounded Treants, so Zhou Leng, Azure-Crimson Flame, and the Treants went to confront them.
• Zhou Leng chose to fight the Giant-Horned Beetle while Azure-Crimson Flame used Spirit Magic to trap and divide the insects.
• The group entered the forest and attacked the Giant Insects as they ate Treant corpses.
• Zhou Leng tore the hind legs off two Giant Locusts while the Treants fought other insects.

Zhou Leng helped the treants defeat the giant insects, killing a giant-horned beetle after breaking through its shell and repeatedly smashing it into the ground. After the battle, the group harvested the insects’ life-rich sap, and Zhou Leng ate a basin of Giant Insect Jelly.

• Zhou Leng pierced the giant green caterpillar with Space-Severing Finger strikes, while the treants tore open its wounds and crushed it.
• The giant-horned beetle broke through the ice wall and knocked Azure-Crimson Flame unconscious, so Zhou Leng attacked it with Thousand Seas and Space-Severing Finger.
• Zhou Leng used Sea-Shaking Strike to breach the beetle’s shell, tore off part of its elytron, and punched through its body.
• Zhou Leng repeatedly hoisted and smashed the beetle until its horn broke and the insect died, then helped defeat the remaining giant insects.
• Lush Root and the treants harvested the corpses, while Azure-Crimson Flame turned some sap into melon-flavored jelly that Zhou Leng ate.

Zhou Leng and his companions learned of the Brilliant Sap inside a Giant Ant Queen and traveled to raid her nest. They discovered that another force had drawn most of the nest’s defenders away, leaving the group to decide to attack.

• Lush Root told Zhou Leng about Giant Ants and the Brilliant Sap held by their breeding Ant Queen, and Zhou Leng agreed to investigate the nest.
• Zhou Leng roasted and ate Giant Locust legs while the group traveled toward the Giant Ant Nest.
• Mad Prince Aiden and Radiance of Mingzhu led a retreat that drew a massive Giant Ant swarm away, planning to return for the Brilliant Sap and an Ancient Life Core.
• Zhou Leng’s group found the nest lightly defended and spotted signs that experts had recently fought there and lured away its Innate Giant Ants.
• Azure-Crimson Flame detected the wounded defenders remaining inside, and Zhou Leng’s group agreed to raid the nest.