Chapter Summaries

Chen Mu investigated how the Iron Ring controlled the dangerous black thread and continued hiding his lack of one while serving food to the Bai Family's young lady. As the Tangshan Camp army departed north, he learned that officials checked both each Iron Bracelet and its wearer, raising fears that his infiltration would be exposed.

• Chen Mu discovered that an Iron Ring restrained the black thread housed inside it and wondered what other safeguards controlled the thread.
• The girl in the emerald-green dress invited Chen Mu to cook for her, but he refused to avoid drawing attention to himself.
• The burly woman warned Chen Mu to keep his Iron Ring on because the army would soon inspect identities, and Chen Mu realized the woman was Bai Miaojin.
• On February 11, 642, Chen Mu boarded a ship with Dingyou Camp as the Tangshan Camp army set out north.
• A Lean Old Man struck down a man who tried to board wearing another person's Iron Bracelet, and Zheng Yuan explained that officials recognized both the bracelet and its wearer.
• Chen Mu feared the old man could detect the black thread and expose that he wore no Iron Ring.

Chen Mu passed an inspection at Fenxi Ferry Crossing and joined the Tangshan Army’s northbound expedition, where he continued hiding his abilities while serving in the Cook Army. At Crescent Lake, he stayed in camp and planned to advance his cultivation and skills rather than risk encountering Yin Soul Monsters.

• Chen Mu passed the jade-pendant inspection at Fenxi Ferry Crossing, then convinced Zheng Yuan not to report his secretly grilled fish.
• Chen Mu and Zheng Yuan rowed aboard the Tangshan Army fleet, and Chen Mu suspected the parasitic black threads were strengthening the soldiers for some sinister purpose.
• After traveling by river and overland, the army reached Yunzhan Mountain and camped beside Crescent Lake.
• Chen Mu worked as a cook in Civilian Labor Dingyou Camp and refused Zheng Yuan’s request to sneak out for grilled fish.
• Unable to sleep, Chen Mu reviewed his skill levels and decided to practice the Five Ghosts Moving Mountains Incantation.

Chen Mu broke through the Five Ghosts Moving Mountains Incantation and discovered the Yinhun form of his Paper Figure while continuing to serve in the labor camp. When the Tangshan Army activated the Black Threads, he killed the Lean Old Man who came to drain him for Yin Nether Silk.

• Chen Mu advanced the Five Ghosts Moving Mountains Incantation, gained control of the Yinhun form, and quietly used it to help Zheng Yuan with his radishes.
• Zheng Yuan told Chen Mu that soldiers had died after encountering something unclean and that laborers were rumored to be running away.
• Chen Mu used Spirit-Disturbing Smoke to quiet Zheng Yuan, but the sudden activation of the Black Threads made the sleeping men leap up and sent their threads shooting from the tent.
• Chen Mu's parasitized fish released a weak Black Thread that hopped only one-meter-two before the Lean Old Man arrived to inspect the tent.
• The Lean Old Man judged Chen Mu unfit to raise Yin Nether Silk and prepared to drain him, but Chen Mu's Five Ghosts Moving Mountains attack killed him.

Chen Mu concealed the Lean Old Man’s artifacts and used the Five Ghosts to mislead the search for the killer, but the Shangguan family kept tightening its watch on the Dingzi Section. After five days, Chen Mu found that Yin Nether Silk could drain a Silver Thread Fish of something vital and feared what it might do to the laborers.

• Chen Mu hid the Tripod Incense Burner and Gold-thread White-jade Ring, then sent the Five Ghosts to scout the camp and spread the Lean Old Man’s scent across his patrol area.
• Shangguan Yu and Shangguan Ji searched the camp; Shangguan Ji ordered twice-daily inspections, group collections of Yin Nether Silk, and an ambush around the camp perimeter with Bai Miaojin’s support.
• Cui Cui wondered whether Sun Dawang had killed the Lean Old Man, but Bai Miaojin warned her not to cause trouble.
• Chen Mu kept his cover during inspections and passed off a parasitized Silver Thread Fish as a fish he had caught, promising Zheng Yuan dried fish.
• After five days of searches, Chen Mu suspected his hidden artifacts were still traceable and removed them from the Five Ghosts Bag.
• Chen Mu released the Yin Nether Silk, which immediately drained the Silver Thread Fish, and realized it might be able to drain people as well.

Chen Mu tried to shake off Shangguan Yu’s group by abandoning the Gold-thread White-jade Ring, but Bai Miaojin and Cui Cui found him and fought him. They left after recognizing him as a kindred spirit, leaving Chen Mu confused about their nature and intentions.

• After six nights of watching Crescent Lake, Shangguan Yu’s Gold-thread White-jade Ring resonated, and he led his group in pursuit of Chen Mu’s Paper Effigy Yinhun.
• Chen Mu led the pursuers around Crescent Lake for eight laps, discarded the Gold-thread White-jade Ring, and returned home believing he had escaped them.
• Cui Cui confronted Chen Mu, and Bai Miaojin attacked him; Chen Mu defended himself with his Ebony short sword and began to summon Five Ghosts Moving Mountains.
• Cui Cui stopped the fight and pulled Chen Mu’s Autumn Paper Man Yinhun out of its invisible state, while Bai Miaojin praised his strength.
• Cui Cui called Chen Mu a kindred spirit and left with Bai Miaojin, telling him not to die; Chen Mu remained bewildered by their actions and Cui Cui’s illusory body.

Chen Mu learned that Cui Cui and Bai Miaojin mistook him for someone symbiotically linked to a Yin Soul, then kept his cover in the Laborer Camp while secretly feeding Yin Nether Silk with fish. After years of training, he formed an Armor Soul.

• Chen Mu reflected on the possibility that the previous owner of his body had been possessed by a Yin Soul and decided to keep lying low in the Laborer Camp.
• Chen Mu secretly used Yin Nether Silk to drain four buckets of fish, then shared grilled fish with Cui Cui and Bai Miaojin.
• Zheng Yuan and the other cooks revealed that they had all stayed awake to cover for Chen Mu, and Chen Mu gave them fish.
• Chen Mu continued training while working in the Dingyou Camp Cooks, and his Cloud Mirage Body Tempering Technique formed an Armor Soul.

Chen Mu continued building his strength while the Tangshan Army trained, then learned that its next destination was Qingshan County, now a Ghost City. He discovered Cui Cui and Bai Miaojin were helping the Shangguan Family search for a Thousand Mechanism Token and ended the journey weighing Cui Cui’s offer to help him find one for eleven White Jade Coins.

• Chen Mu tested his new Armor Soul by crushing Iron Lotus Seeds and resisting his Sleeve Sword, then resolved to stay cautious around the Tangshan Army.
• After half a month, the Tangshan Army left Yunzhan Mountain and headed north, with Chen Mu traveling in the Dingyou Camp Cooks' convoy alongside Cui Cui.
• Cui Cui told Chen Mu that Qingshan County had become a Ghost City, prompting him to suspect that she and Bai Miaojin were searching there for a Thousand Mechanism Token.
• Chen Mu tried to make Cui Cui distrust the Shangguan Family, but she explained that Shangguan Ji had promised her and Bai Miaojin ten White Jade Coins for their help.
• Cui Cui offered to help Chen Mu find a Thousand Mechanism Token first if he paid eleven White Jade Coins, and Chen Mu changed the subject to dinner.

Chen Mu returned to the outskirts of Qingshan County, learned of the disaster that had turned it into a Ghost City, and focused on strengthening his Cloud Mirage Body Tempering Technique before entering. As Tangshan Army advanced cautiously, Zhang Ye and Kui Tuo spotted Chen Mu fishing and planned to capture him for merit.

• Chen Mu saw that an earthquake had collapsed part of Little East Mountain and heard that fire and Malevolent Spirits had driven Qingshan County’s residents away.
• Chen Mu resolved to improve his Cloud Mirage Body Tempering Technique before entering Qingshan County and sent out two Little Paper Men to scout.
• Cui Cui told Chen Mu that Tangshan Army’s gradual purge of Malevolent Spirits could take months, and Chen Mu was relieved it would not quickly reach the Thousand Mechanism Token.
• Zhang Ye led Kui Tuo and several men through the reed marsh to scout Tangshan Army’s camp, claiming his familiarity with the area would make the mission easy.
• Zhang Ye and Kui Tuo saw Chen Mu fishing alone at night and decided to capture him for merit, while Chen Mu recognized them and smiled.

Chen Mu repeatedly ambushed Zhang Ye’s Jinghong Gang team, then delivered them a detailed Tangshan Army camp defense map. The chapter ended with Zhang Ye’s men debating whether to report the map despite suspecting Chen Mu’s motives.

• Chen Mu knocked out Zhang Ye and Kui Tuo’s men, looted them, and left Zhang Ye on the muddy riverbank while keeping Kui Tuo’s Gold Cakes.
• Cui Cui told Chen Mu that more factions would come to Qingshan County seeking the Thousand Mechanism Token, and Chen Mu decided he needed to disrupt their plans.
• At the Jinghong Gang camp, Zhang Ye gave Ancestral Radiance Talismans to Kui Tuo and Zhen Fan, who complained that Chen Mu kept targeting them.
• Chen Mu entered their tent using Spirit-Disturbing Smoke, left a sack containing a Tangshan Army camp defense map, and stole Kui Tuo’s talisman.
• Zhang Ye and Zhen Fan recognized the map’s value, and Zhang Ye reluctantly agreed that they should report it.

Chen Mu planted a falsified deployment map with the Jinghong Gang, hoping to provoke an attack on the Tangshan Army and buy time. Zuo Sheng passed the map to Cheng Yi, who considered using it to set Chao Fang against Sikou Qing over the Thousand Mechanism Tokens.

• Zhang Ye gave Zuo Sheng the deployment map and explained that it had appeared mysteriously after he was drugged in the reed marsh.
• Zuo Sheng suspected Chen Mu was hiding in the Tangshan Army and wanted to weaken it while pursuing the Thousand Mechanism Token.
• Chen Mu celebrated with the Cook Army, confident that his altered map would steer any attack away from the Laborer Camp.
• Zuo Sheng met Cheng Yi near Qingshan County's northern gate and offered the Jinghong Gang's map, saying they would act in five days.
• Cheng Yi recognized the plan to pit Chao Fang against Sikou Qing and decided the opportunity was worth taking.

Chen Mu realized that the deployment map he sent had set the Tangshan Army, Chao Fang, and the Jinghong Gang on a collision course, while he unlocked a lock-on effect for his throwing skill. At the Jinghong Gang headquarters, Zhang Ye secured permission to take his men to the Laborer Camp instead of joining the operation.

• Chen Mu reached the limit of his Flying Locust Stone skill and gained Lock-on, which let him accurately hit a target by throwing a stone.
• Bai Miaojin and Cui Cui told Chen Mu that Cheng Yi had given Shangguan Ji a deployment map and urged him to ambush Chao Fang's camp.
• Chen Mu realized that Chao Fang planned to ambush the Jinghong Gang and that the Jinghong Gang would likely attack the Tangshan Army, creating a three-sided conflict.
• Jin Wuduan praised Zhang Ye's deployment map, and Zhang Ye asked to take his newly assigned men to the Laborer Camp instead of joining the next night's operation.
• Jin Wuduan approved Zhang Ye's request and told him to go with Sheng'er to the Tangshan Army's Laborer Camp.

Chen Mu expected the Jinghong Gang to raid the Tangshan Army camp, but they attacked the Laborer Camps instead, forcing him and the Cook Army soldiers to hide underground. Zhang Ye’s gang assault went disastrously wrong when a powerful Black Cloak appeared, and Kui Tuo and Zhen Fan fled with Zhang Ye.

• Chen Mu reassured himself that a nighttime raid would probably target the Tangshan Army camp, while Zhang Ye persuaded Kui Tuo to attack the Laborer Camp.
• An explosion and fires erupted at the Tangshan Army camp and the Laborer Camps, where Jinghong Gang fighters attacked and killed laborers.
• Chen Mu learned through his Little Paper Men that the raiders had blocked the camp’s escape route, so he revealed a hidden hole and took the Cook Army soldiers underground.
• Zhang Ye watched his men rush into the camp, but a Black Cloak crushed one attacker and threatened the rest.
• Kui Tuo and Zhen Fan carried Zhang Ye away as the gang members fled, while Zhang Ye wondered if his pockets were too deep to reach.

Chen Mu watched the attack on Ding Camp while Zuo Sheng fought a Black-cloaked Figure using the Unbound Ring. The attacker fled underground before Chen Mu could let him land near the cooks, and Zuo Sheng urged his hidden senior brother to join him in pursuing the Thousand Mechanism Token.

• Chen Mu observed the Black-cloaked Figures attacking the camp and hoped the Tangshan Army could withstand the first wave.
• A Black-cloaked Figure tried to crush Zuo Sheng with the Unbound Ring, but Zuo Sheng’s Soul Force let him endure the attack and repel the man.
• The Black-cloaked Figure drained nearby Yin Nether Silk to strengthen the ring, but Zuo Sheng’s translucent black barrier dispersed its force and sent him flying.
• The wounded figure escaped by launching himself away with the ring, then vanished underground near the cooks; Chen Mu withdrew the Five Ghosts Moving Mountains Incantation to protect them.
• Zuo Sheng thanked his hidden senior brother and proposed that he, Master Cheng Yi, and Zuo Sheng cooperate to obtain the Thousand Mechanism Token.
• Chen Mu dismissed Zuo Sheng’s claim to be an ordinary person because of the Protective Spiritual Light covering him.

After the three factions’ clashes left heavy casualties, Chen Mu avoided further trouble and focused on training. He finally raised his Cloud Mirage Body Tempering Technique’s Armor Soul and discovered it could advance into the Cloud Mirage Spirit Armor Technique as the factions continued toward Qingshan County.

• Zuo Sheng left the underground space after urging his senior brother to join forces, while Chen Mu and the Cook Army soldiers dismissed him as crazy.
• The Tangshan Army, Jinghong Gang, and King Chao paused their fighting to reorganize after suffering heavy losses, and Chen Mu resolved to train and find the Thousand Mechanism Token.
• Chen Mu slipped out of the tightly guarded laborer camp and went to the Bailang River to continue cultivating.
• After consuming his last White Jade Fasting Pill, Chen Mu successfully raised the Armor Soul of the Cloud Mirage Body Tempering Technique, causing Soul Force from all seven of his Body Tempering Techniques to surge.
• Chen Mu saw the Gray Wall list the Cloud Mirage Spirit Armor Technique at 3/10000/6th Rank and realized the technique could develop further.

Chen Mu watched the Tangshan Army destroy a Yinhun and considered how to steal the Thousand Mechanism Token, but Cui Cui refused to help him evade the hunters. He continued secretly scouting the army while his Cloud Mirage Spirit Armor Technique slowly gained proficiency.

• A black-cloaked figure used a White-jade Ring and Teardrop Jade Pendant to destroy a massive Black Smoke Ball, collapsing himself and dozens of Tangshan Army fighters.
• Chen Mu observed the Tangshan Army’s squads and judged that taking the Thousand Mechanism Token would be difficult without Spiritual Light.
• Chen Mu checked his Cloud Mirage Spirit Armor Technique and realized its breathing method could accumulate experience automatically.
• Cui Cui explained that Yinhuns naturally gathered toward the center and that the Thousand Mechanism Token would eventually appear.
• Chen Mu asked Cui Cui to turn a blind eye to his plans, but she refused because she had already been paid and demanded White Jade Spirit Coins.
• Cui Cui wondered how Chen Mu coexisted with the Autumn Paper Man’s Black Smoke, and Chen Mu joked that he could eat a lot.

Chen Mu watched the Jinghong Gang and King Chao’s group search Qingshan County for the Thousand Mechanism Token, but abandoned one opportunity after the Ocher-armored fighters sensed and chased him. He returned to Dingyou Camp to serve dinner, where the Cook Army’s unease around him showed that they had noticed his unusual behavior.

• Chen Mu observed the Jinghong Gang destroy Yin Soul Monsters and planned to steal the Thousand Mechanism Token using his invisibility and teleportation.
• The Ocher-armored Jinghong Gang fighters demolished the Watchtower and chased Chen Mu after sensing his presence, so he fled toward King Chao’s group.
• Chen Mu spotted King Chao’s small team, including Cheng Yi and a powerful muscular man, and decided to watch their methods before attempting to take the token.
• Chen Mu gained eleven points of Spirit Armor Technique proficiency and noticed that the cultivation made him hungrier.
• Chen Mu brought two rabbits to the camp kitchen and served dinner while Sun Enqi and Zheng Yuan worried that his daily outings would put him in danger.
• Chen Mu realized the Cook Army had noticed his odd behavior, but decided that living peacefully with them was good enough.

Chen Mu secretly watched Chao Fang’s group and seized the Thousand Mechanism Token when it appeared as an emerald jade gourd. He tried to escape using the Yinhun, but found that the Nurturing Yin Strategy formation was still blocking him.

• Chen Mu noticed Sun Enqi looked older and realized the Yin Nether Silk was draining the laborers’ vital essence.
• Chao Fang explained to Tushan that deaths could make a Thousand Mechanism Token reveal itself, and the two waited for the right moment to act.
• An emerald gourd appeared within the Twelve Heavenly Generals’ formation, but Chen Mu snatched it before Chao Fang and Tushan could claim it.
• Chen Mu wrapped himself in Yinhun Black Smoke and managed to float only a few centimeters above the ground.
• Chen Mu tried to leave, slammed into an invisible barrier, and realized the Nurturing Yin Strategy formation was still active.

Chen Mu escaped with the Thousand Mechanism Token after evading Chao Fang and Tushan, but Chao Fang tracked him down beside the Bailang River and revealed that he could command Yinhun. When Chao Fang tried to take the token, Chen Mu transformed and prepared to fight.

• Chen Mu stayed hidden in the Nurturing Yin Strategy until Chao Fang and Tushan withdrew at sunset, then carried the Thousand Mechanism Token toward the Tangshan Army camp.
• At the Bailang River, Chao Fang confronted Chen Mu, explained how he had tracked the Soul Stabilizing Stake, and demanded the token.
• Chen Mu offered to join Chao Fang and keep the token as a signing bonus, but Chao Fang refused and summoned more than a dozen Yinhun.
• Chao Fang admitted he meant to keep the token for himself and threatened to kill Chen Mu in the wilderness.
• Chen Mu revealed his transformed, muscular form and challenged Chao Fang to a fight.

Chen Mu defeated Chao Fang’s Yin Soul Monsters and forced him to flee, though Chao Fang escaped after striking Chen Mu with the monsters. Chen Mu returned to Dingyou Camp, where the cook soldiers had been wondering what happened to him.

• Chao Fang sent his Yin Soul Monsters to attack Chen Mu, but Chen Mu discovered their weakness and destroyed one with Five Ghosts Moving Mountains.
• Chao Fang fled, and Chen Mu pursued him before Chao Fang knocked him aside with the Yin Soul Monsters.
• Chen Mu threw the Soul Stabilizing Stake at Chao Fang, breaking bones, but Chao Fang escaped.
• Chen Mu secured the Thousand Mechanism Token, then concealed himself and left the ravaged riverbank.
• The cook soldiers in Dingyou Camp speculated about Chen Mu’s disappearance and joked about paying his way out of trouble.
• Chen Mu entered the tent with a roasted pork leg and teased the cook soldiers about offering him money.

Cheng Yi killed Chao Fang and took control of the Nurturing Yin Strategy, while Chen Mu obtained a Thousand Mechanism Token and considered leaving camp. Cheng Yi and Tushan agreed to raid the Jinghong Gang the next day and divide the spoils.

• Chao Fang fled toward camp after being injured by Chen Mu, but Cheng Yi confronted him and revealed that he knew about the broken ribs and Yinhun mark.
• Cheng Yi used a Bronze Bell to expose and immobilize Chao Fang's eleven Yinhun, then stabbed Chao Fang with a poisoned dagger until he died.
• Chen Mu retrieved a Thousand Mechanism Token from the Cook Army tent and considered how to leave without causing trouble for the soldiers.
• Tushan learned that Cheng Yi had killed Chao Fang, but lowered him after Cheng Yi claimed control of the Nurturing Yin Strategy.
• Cheng Yi secured one Thousand Mechanism Token from Tushan and agreed to raid the Jinghong Gang with him the next day.