Chapter Summaries

Chen Mu was dragged into Yellow Springs Crossing and swept into the River of Forgetfulness, where its waters stripped away his body before a black sphere transformed him into smoke. Lin Su realized Chen Mu had entered the river rather than the Dragon Trapping Well, while Mo Wuzhou learned the Yin Nether Legion might soon attack Ganhe Lower Courtyard.

• Chen Mu dragged the weakened Jin E into Yellow Springs Crossing, leaving Thousand Lantern City empty.
• Lin Su told Tantai Zong that the Primordial Embryo Human Pillars had entered the Dragon Trapping Well, but the Green Jade Disk showed that Chen Mu had not arrived.
• Lin Su realized Chen Mu had followed Yellow Springs Crossing into the River of Forgetfulness, alarming Tantai Zong.
• The River of Forgetfulness dissolved Chen Mu's body, then a black sphere transformed him into humanoid black smoke that drifted to the riverbed.
• Mo Wuzhou worried that Chen Mu had been taken by the Yin Nether Legion, and Tu warned that the Legion might attack Ganhe Lower Courtyard.

Chen Mu awakened in the River of Forgetfulness and emerged in the underworld, where he encountered a group who called themselves Yinling. While hiding his living body with the Heavenly Demon True Form, he learned that his power could influence others and avoided trouble with a horned enforcer.

• Chen Mu struggled to control his smoke-like body in the River of Forgetfulness, surfaced, and collapsed on the bank when someone found him.
• Three days later, Chen Mu woke beside a campfire looking like his younger self and heard Shi Dechun explain that they were Yinling in the underworld.
• Chen Mu sensed that his original body was still alive inside his mind and questioned whether he had truly died.
• A horned man ordered the Yinling to practice the Dew Gathering Incantation and demanded Jade Dew Beads from them.
• When the horned man confronted him, Chen Mu praised his horns and used the Heavenly Demon True Form to briefly bewitch him.

By the River of Forgetfulness, Chen Mu learned that drowned Yinlings could become Yin Nether Insects, then focused on practicing the Dew Gathering Incantation instead of helping retrieve them. He condensed a gourd of Jade Dew and used it to satisfy Niu Sanmiao, planning to earn enough travel money to reach Jigu City.

• Shi Dechun explained that Yinlings who stayed at the riverbed long enough lost their past-life imprints and became Yin Nether Insects that flew away toward reincarnation.
• Chen Mu recognized the Yin Nether Insect as resembling the creature from Jilong Mountain and suspected the black shadows in the river were Yin Soul Monsters.
• Chen Mu hid behind Shi Dechun while pretending to search for Yinlings, and he practiced the Dew Gathering Incantation throughout the day.
• After Chen Mu spent four days grinding the incantation, he condensed a gourd of Jade Dew and handed it to Niu Sanmiao.
• Niu Sanmiao exchanged the Jade Dew for a Jade Dew Bead and told Chen Mu to keep gathering it the next day.

Chen Mu learned that Yinling with unusual appearances could awaken Divine Abilities and become Ghost Soldiers, while he secretly trained the Dew Gathering Incantation. After a one-eyed Yinling awakened a green-beam ability, Shi Dechun warned Chen Mu that Yin Liu might use the man to extort Jade Dew from their group.

• Niu Sanmiao collected Jade Dew from the group and whipped Yin Liu for failing to gather enough, while Chen Mu teased him about the reason.
• Shi Dechun explained that unusually gifted Yinling could cultivate Divine Abilities and be recruited as Ghost Soldiers by cities such as Jigu City.
• Chen Mu gathered and drank Jade Dew, then spent the following days secretly training the Dew Gathering Incantation while learning about the Netherworld from Shi Dechun.
• A one-eyed Yinling awakened a Divine Ability that emitted a green beam, drawing praise from the camp as Chen Mu privately compared it to a traffic light.
• Shi Dechun suspected Yin Liu planned to use the one-eyed man to pressure their group into handing over Jade Dew, and the man began looking toward them.

Yin Liu pressured the camp to surrender Jade Dew for Haiyuan’s advancement, and Chen Mu avoided open resistance while keeping his own strength hidden. At the River of Forgetfulness, Chen Mu discovered that the power behind the Dew Gathering Incantation was similar to Hundred Mile Qi Seal, making him eager to investigate Jigu City.

• Yin Liu urged the Yinlings to give Haiyuan an extra half gourd of Jade Dew each day in exchange for possible protection and advancement.
• Shi Dechun complained to Chen Mu about the demand and tried to persuade him to oppose Yin Liu.
• When Yin Liu threatened Chen Mu, Chen Mu handed over his gourd and blamed Shi Dechun for asking him to praise Yin Liu, forcing Shi Dechun to surrender his own Jade Dew too.
• The camp accepted Haiyuan’s ongoing exploitation, while Chen Mu stopped gathering excess Jade Dew and kept practicing the Dew Gathering Incantation.
• At the River of Forgetfulness, Chen Mu realized the Dew Gathering Incantation and Hundred Mile Qi Seal drew on the same Yin Soul Monster power, and he resolved to investigate how Jigu City trained Ghost Soldiers.

Chen Mu continued practicing the Dew Gathering Incantation while waiting for Niu Sanmiao to lead the group toward Jigu City. After reaching the incantation’s limit, he awakened Yinling power and restored Hundred Mile Qi Seal.

• Chen Mu discussed the group’s delayed departure with Shi Dechun and suspected Niu Sanmiao wanted them to gather more Jade Dew.
• Niu Sanmiao offered to sell Moon Burdock Beads for Jade Dew and told the group that Jigu City was seven days away if they traveled in the direction he pointed.
• Chen Mu and Shi Dechun suspected the road was dangerous and that Niu Sanmiao relied on his status as a Ghost Soldier to keep the travelers with him.
• Chen Mu practiced the Dew Gathering Incantation until the Gray Wall showed it had reached its limit.
• Chen Mu awakened Yinling power, used it to activate Hundred Mile Qi Seal, and realized the incantation also helped Yinlings cultivate their power.

Chen Mu discovered that Niu Sanmiao had used a Black Wind Curse to frighten the group and collect their Jade Dew, so he retaliated by unleashing the Five Ghosts and stealing Niu Sanmiao’s Qi Eating Bag. Niu Sanmiao, furious over his lost beads and unable to rely on his Moon Burdock Beads, ordered the group to leave for Jigu City the next morning, while Shi Dechun began suspecting Chen Mu.

• Chen Mu sensed a Black Wind approaching and saved Shi Dechun before Niu Sanmiao drove the attack away with his Red Lantern.
• Niu Sanmiao counted the Jade Dew he had collected from the travelers and considered ways to take Haiyuan’s beads.
• A second Black Wind struck the camp, and Chen Mu secretly unleashed Five Ghosts that tossed Niu Sanmiao into the air and stole his Qi Eating Bag.
• Haiyuan beat Yin Liu after believing Yin Liu had caused his Jade Dew Beads to be lost in the campfire.
• Chen Mu watched from a distant campfire with the stolen Qi Eating Bag and Black Leather Pouch, and Niu Sanmiao ordered everyone to depart for Jigu City the next morning.
• Shi Dechun grew suspicious that Chen Mu had caused the strange attacks.

Chen Mu settled into Jigu City and learned that Yinlings could cultivate Yin Spirit Divine Power to awaken Divine Abilities and serve as Ghost Soldiers. At Guyue Zhai, he investigated the silver mark between his brows, but the Goatee Shopkeeper dismissed it as a birthmark and told him to save for the Flying Flame Scripture and a Ghost Pattern Talisman Seed.

• Chen Mu used the Dew Gathering Incantation to collect Jade Dew and nourish the Moon Bark Trees in his courtyard.
• Chen Mu learned about the tight costs of living in Jigu City and considered cultivating Yin Spirit Divine Power to find a way back to the Mortal World.
• Shi Dechun explained that Ghost Soldiers cultivated Yin Spirit Divine Power before awakening Divine Abilities, and that awakened Ghost Soldiers gained Supernatural Ability Ghost Marks and their original appearances.
• Chen Mu decided to keep cultivating Yin Spirit Divine Power but postpone becoming a Ghost Soldier until he understood Supernatural Ability Ghost Marks.
• Chen Mu visited Guyue Zhai to ask about the silver mark between his brows, and the Goatee Shopkeeper called it a birthmark and mentioned the Flying Flame Scripture and Ghost Pattern Talisman Seed.

Chen Mu saved enough Jade Dew Beads to buy the Flying Flame Scripture and disguised himself before heading out. Meanwhile, Niu Sanmiao hired an informant to watch a list of Yinling and identify anyone spending lavishly.

• Chen Mu explored Jigu City's bustling Market, decided against robbing Niu Sanmiao, and admired the female ghosts at Yicui Tower while pretending to train his courage.
• Niu Sanmiao suspected that one of the Yinling he had guided had set him up, so he paid a round-faced man to watch a list and report anyone spending extravagantly.
• After two months of gathering Jade Dew, Chen Mu accumulated 1,932 Jade Dew Beads, enough to buy the Flying Flame Scripture.
• Chen Mu changed his appearance with the Shape Shift Technique, put on a wig, and painted a fiery red flower over his birthmark to conceal his identity.

Chen Mu obtained the dangerous Flying Flame Scripture and became suspicious of its risks, then entered Imperial Quality Pavilion and reunited with Le Yang'an. Outside, Zhang Wuqing searched for Chen Mu but failed to notice the shop where he was meeting his old acquaintance.

• Chen Mu traded Jade Dew Beads to the Goatee Shopkeeper for the Flying Flame Scripture and learned that failed cultivation could cripple him or destroy his soul.
• A round-faced man learned that Chen Mu had bought the scripture and sent a Brown-clad Youth to keep watch for him.
• Chen Mu reconsidered his decision to cultivate the dangerous scripture but decided to try it, then entered Imperial Quality Pavilion.
• Le Yang'an recognized Chen Mu, and Chen Mu remembered their past meetings and welcomed the reunion.
• Zhang Wuqing followed Chen Mu through the market but could not find him or notice Imperial Quality Pavilion.

Chen Mu learned about the dangers of the Flying Flame Scripture from Le Yang'an, then tried cultivating it and nearly burned away his hand. His body regenerated at the cost of much of his Yin Spirit Divine Power, while Niu Sanmiao arranged to have newcomers sent to the Auxiliary Soldier Camp.

• Le Yang'an told Chen Mu that the Flying Flame Scripture was difficult and dangerous, explained that a Supernatural Ability Ghost Mark was a Dao Foundation for Yinling, and directed him to the Bridge of Helplessness to return to the living world.
• Zhang Wuqing told Niu Sanmiao that the newcomers had behaved normally, but Niu paid him to alter their registration records so they could be conscripted into the Auxiliary Soldier Camp.
• Chen Mu recited the Flying Flame Scripture and conjured a black flame on his fingertip, but an emotional shift made it spread and consume much of his hand.
• Chen Mu doused the flame with River of Forgetfulness Water, then watched his hand regenerate as more than half of his Yin Spirit Divine Power vanished.
• Chen Mu considered the danger and limited potential of the Flying Flame Scripture, then decided to keep cultivating it until it was mastered.

Chen Mu learned that Jigu City was conscripting auxiliary soldiers for a war, but Le Yang'an told him that recent arrivals were exempt. Two officials then informed Chen Mu that his name was on the Conscription Order, while Niu Sanmiao was ordered to report to the North Camp or face the Netherflame Camp.

• Chen Mu's Flying Flame Scripture cultivation went awry, burning away his forearm before he restored it with Yinling Divine Power and considered saving Jade Dew for a safer Secret Art.
• At Imperial Quality Pavilion, Le Yang'an told Chen Mu that Jigu City was conscripting longtime residents as auxiliary soldiers for a war outside the Netherworld and the Thirteen Prefectures of the Living.
• Le Yang'an said Chen Mu was exempt because he had only recently arrived, but two black-clothed men came to Chen Mu's courtyard and told him his name was on the Conscription Order.
• Niu Sanmiao celebrated the conscription, hoping Chen Mu would be sent to the Netherflame Death Warrior Camp if he fled.
• Two black-clothed men ordered Niu Sanmiao to report to the North Camp, warning that he would go to the Netherflame Camp if he refused.

After learning that Jigu City’s Soul Summoning Banners could force its residents to join the expedition, Chen Mu prepared to strengthen himself and discovered a way to replenish his Yin Spirit Divine Power with Yin Nether Jade Dew. He left determined to cultivate the Supernatural Ability Ghost Mark before the expedition so he could escape the summons.

• Chen Mu learned that Jigu City’s Red Lantern marked residents for the Soul Summoning Banners, and Le Yang'an explained that the Ghost Mark could free them from the summons.
• Le Yang'an showed Chen Mu his collection of Paper Men and demonstrated how one could transform into a lifelike Yellow Turban Warrior, but refused to sell his prized figure.
• Chen Mu possessed five paper effigies with the Five Ghosts Paper Figure, creating powerful vessels he could use to protect himself without revealing his true form’s magical power.
• Chen Mu tested Soul Seizing Yuan Returning and found that Yin Nether Jade Dew replenished the Yin Spirit Divine Power he lost when his body was damaged.
• Chen Mu realized that Jade Dew and River of Forgetfulness Water would let him cultivate the Flying Flame Scripture without interruption, and hoped to master the Ghost Mark before the expedition.

Chen Mu bought River of Forgetfulness Water and learned why it required refinement, then spent a month cultivating Azure Flame and strengthening his foundation. As Jigu City’s summons approached, he accepted that he would have to report to North Camp but felt prepared with his new escape technique and other defenses.

• Chen Mu bought the remaining River of Forgetfulness Water from Le Yang'an, who explained that it vanished unless isolated and refined with a secret method.
• Le Yang'an told Chen Mu that newly arrived Yinling were unlikely to be sent into dangerous combat and might instead gather Jade Dew as auxiliary soldiers.
• Chen Mu ate a meal in Jigu City, then returned to secluded cultivation, hoping to avoid the coming campaign.
• Over the next month, Chen Mu mastered control of Azure Flame but failed to awaken the Ghost Mark supernatural ability.
• When the Soul Summoning Banners appeared and the departure order was announced, Chen Mu realized he had to answer the summons at North Camp.
• Chen Mu discovered that the Five Elements Evasion Technique had reappeared on his Heavenly Demon True Form and concluded that his defensive and escape abilities could keep him safe.

Chen Mu and Shi Dechun were transported with the other Yinlings from Jigu City to Camp Hai, where they learned that new arrivals would be sent to the Blood River Bank to clean battlefields and carry corpses. The chapter left Chen Mu stunned by his dangerous assignment and Shi Dechun accusing him of passing along unreliable information.

• Chen Mu parted from Le Yang'an, who headed to Flag C, while Chen Mu and Shi Dechun traveled toward Camp Hai.
• At Camp Hai, the Soul Summoning Banners drew the Yinlings through enormous Shadow Gates and transported them to a new camp.
• After arriving, Chen Mu felt an urge to attack, but the Soul Summoning Banner restored his clarity before Ghost Soldiers led the newcomers away.
• Chen Mu assured Shi Dechun that newcomers would remain safely in camp, but their escort ordered them to begin cleaning battlefields and transporting corpses at the Blood River Bank the next day.
• Shi Dechun reproached Chen Mu for his false information, and Chen Mu was left wondering why his intel had been wrong.

Chen Mu was assigned to haul Red-Eyed Water Ape corpses for military merit after discovering that someone had tampered with his registry and forced him into Flag B3. When he ambushed a group of corpse thieves to take half their haul, he mistakenly claimed to be Hong Xiu after learning he had robbed Fei Yong.

• Shi Dechun told Chen Mu that someone had replaced their names in the registry for the dangerous Jade Dew gathering assignment, and Chen Mu decided to earn military merit so he could learn a secret art and transfer units.
• Chen Mu watched Ghost Soldiers depart from Camp Hai, then spent more than ten days hauling Red-Eyed Water Ape corpses back to camp for military merit.
• Shi Dechun warned Chen Mu that Fei Yong, Niu Chengzong, and Hong Xiu’s groups robbed auxiliary soldiers of half their Water Apes, while the camp authorities ignored such conflicts.
• Chen Mu ambushed a convoy of corpse thieves with five clouds of Black Smoke, defeated its leader, and demanded half the Water Apes.
• The defeated leader identified himself as Fei Yong of Flag A2, and Chen Mu awkwardly claimed he was Hong Xiu of Flag C5.

Chen Mu returned to Camp Hai after robbing bandits of Red-Eyed Water Apes, then learned that other flags had been robbed and that Xiao Jinquan was arranging protection payments. He found a way to leave his team without standing out and used his strange power to make Shi Dechun refuse the fee, before turning his attention to the others.

• Chen Mu collected most of the Red-Eyed Water Apes from Fei Yong's group but found the rest gone when he returned, and resolved to find a better excuse to act alone.
• Chen Mu lied to Shi Dechun about avoiding bandits and learned that Hong Xiu's group had robbed Flag C5 using Pottery Figurine Ghost Soldiers.
• Shi Dechun suspected the Ghost Soldiers had tacitly approved the raids because the raiders offered them benefits and did not harm auxiliary soldiers.
• Xiao Jinquan proposed that the group hand over thirty percent of their Red-Eyed Water Apes to Hong Xiu in exchange for protection.
• Chen Mu decided to use the protection fee dispute as an excuse to leave the team, compelled Shi Dechun to say he would not pay, and turned toward the other soldiers.

Chen Mu used his Vermilion Feather Sword to watch the Flame Marching Flags and ambushed Hong Xiu’s convoy, then struck a deal for information about other robbers. After returning to Flag B3 Camp with his porters, he checked his military merit and planned to earn enough to transfer units and remain inside the camp.

• Chen Mu failed to control the old ghosts with Divine Bewilderment, but gathered newly born Yinling to serve as porters.
• Chen Mu tracked the transport teams with the Vermilion Feather Sword and spotted Hong Xiu collecting a cut from a convoy.
• Chen Mu ambushed Hong Xiu’s group, seized control of his Pottery Figurine Ghost Soldier, and demanded half the goods.
• Hong Xiu offered information on rival robbers in exchange for sparing his teams, and Chen Mu concealed his identity by claiming to be Hong Xiu.
• Chen Mu returned to Flag B3 Camp with Shi Dechun and the others, restoring their memories of the trip and crediting their military merit.
• Chen Mu checked his Ghost Face Bronze Token, saw that he had 1,005 merit, and planned to reach 3,000 so he could transfer units and stay inside the camp.

Chen Mu learned that Hong Xiu had used his reputation to unite raiders and collect tolls, then confronted Hong Xiu, Fei Yong, and Niu Chengzong. He looted their Water Apes and Qi Eating Bags before leaving, while the three men were left to reckon with the encounter.

• Chen Mu collected Red-Eyed Water Apes and heard from Shi Dechun that Hong Xiu's group had united raiders and begun demanding tolls.
• Chen Mu realized Hong Xiu had used his name to frighten raiders and expand his gang, and decided to confront him.
• Hong Xiu, Fei Yong, and Niu Chengzong discussed a plan to have Flag Commander Hu kill Chen Mu.
• Chen Mu ambushed the group, mistook Hong Xiu for Niu Chengzong, and learned that Hong Xiu had been impersonating his own identity.
• Hong Xiu surrendered the group's goods, and Chen Mu took nearly half their Red-Eyed Water Apes and the leaders' Qi Eating Bags before leaving.

Chen Mu stole the Yellow Springs Guide and a Water Ape Soldier Figurine from Hong Xiu, then learned to condense River of Forgetfulness Water while serving at the river. After spotting a terrifying Water Ape and retreating to safety, he learned Hong Xiu was still plotting to identify and take revenge on him.

• Chen Mu examined the Soldier Figurines and discovered that Hong Xiu’s bamboo tube contained Soul Departure Soup, which gave him the Yellow Springs Guide Secret Art seed.
• Chen Mu secretly cultivated while transporting Water Apes and successfully condensed a droplet of River of Forgetfulness Water, advancing the Yellow Springs Guide.
• Chen Mu encountered a small, cold-eyed Water Ape in the river and moved away from the riverbank after it vanished.
• Hong Xiu, Fei Yong, and Niu Chengzong planned to identify Chen Mu by watching auxiliary soldiers who left the Flame Carriage Department.
• Chen Mu spotted Hong Xiu and his companions but drove away, deciding to let Hong Xiu’s stolen goods replenish before robbing him again.