Recaps

Chen Qing and Ruan Lingxiu arrived in Blackwater Great City, where Chen Qing traded for swords, Void Gold Stone, and a mysterious piece of withered wood. After returning to the Ruan Family courtyard, he found that the purple light in his Sea of Consciousness had entered the wood and brought it to life.

• Ruan Lingxiu brought Chen Qing and Gong Nansong to a Ruan Family courtyard in Blackwater Great City, where she experienced unexplained cold pain in her left arm and fatigue that Gong Nansong could not diagnose.
• Chen Qing and Ruan Lingxiu visited Eight Treasures Tower, where Chen Qing negotiated with Chu Nan for eighteen superior treasure-artifact swords, Void Gold Stone, and a seemingly useless piece of withered wood.
• Chen Qing used precious herbs, treasures, pills, and two Thunder Profound Fruits to complete the exchange, while Chu Nan gifted him the withered wood.
• On the walk back, Ruan Lingxiu continued to insist that her pain and weariness came from exhaustion, then returned to her room to rest.
• Chen Qing examined the withered wood in his room, and the purple light cluster in his Sea of Consciousness entered it, causing the lifeless wood to fill with vitality.

Chen Qing obtained Soul Nurturing Wood, cultivated the Great Void Annihilation Divine Light, and continued advancing his cultivation. Meanwhile, Qi Yu planned to capture the Mysterious Dark Ox, while Chen Qing and his allies prepared to draw the Cloudwater Supreme Sect into Misty Marsh to contain the Demonic Sect.

• The Soul Nurturing Wood entered Chen Qing’s Sea of Consciousness, nourishing and strengthening it as the Purple Light stirred and revealed a figure resembling the founding patriarch.
• Chen Qing refined Void Space Yuan Magnetism and Nine Nether Yin Sha to cultivate the Great Void Annihilation Divine Light, then resumed refining the Azure Profound King Snake’s essence.
• Qi Yu refused Lei Hong’s advice to leave Misty Marsh and revealed her plan to use the Soul Taming Bead and Nine Nether Soul Devouring Art to subdue the Mysterious Dark Ox and claim its Seven-Leaf Golden Lotus.
• Shi Xuan reported that the Demonic Sect had remained in Misty Marsh, and Chen Qing proposed spreading urgent rumors of a great treasure to provoke the Cloudwater Supreme Sect into acting against them.
• Gong Nansong ordered Shi Xuan to spread the rumor discreetly and monitor the Cloudwater Sect, while Chen Qing and Ruan Lingxiu prepared to wait near Misty Marsh’s Outer Perimeter.

The rival sects converged on Misty Marsh after rumors spread of a Mysterious Dark Ox and a nearly mature Seven-Leaf Golden Lotus. Qi Yu drove off the Cloudwater Supreme Sect disciples, Chen Qing killed the weakened Zhou Qianjun, and Cloudwater elders arrived to find Zhou’s Life Tablet shattered.

• Zhou Qianjun, Li Muyun, and Liu Hanyan entered Misty Marsh and discovered Qi Yu and Lei Hong near the Mysterious Dark Ox and Seven-Leaf Golden Lotus.
• Chu Jiang ordered Chu Nan to investigate the treasure and the movements of the gathered factions while preserving Blackwater Great City’s strength.
• Gong Nansong sent Chen Qing to scout Misty Marsh, and Chen Qing used the Star Vortex Dragon Luring Technique to sense experts through the fog.
• Chen Qing witnessed Qi Yu battle Zhou Qianjun and Li Muyun, then merge her five Concentric Demons into a Ghost King that forced the Cloudwater disciples to flee.
• Chen Qing ambushed the injured Zhou Qianjun, killed him, took his valuables, and destroyed his corpse.
• Zhao Songtao and Sun Jingyi arrived, learned Zhou Qianjun had been killed, and vowed to investigate as Cloudwater Supreme Sect experts gathered at Dragon Marsh Lake.

After killing Zhou Qianjun, Chen Qing hid in Misty Marsh, sent intelligence to his allies, and avoided revealing his role when questioned by Song Shuhuai. Tianbao Supreme Sect reinforcements arrived, and Chen Qing led them toward the battle at Black Stone Reef, where Cloudwater Supreme Sect and the Demonic Sect were fighting over Qi Yu, the Mysterious Dark Ox, and the Seven-Leaf Golden Lotus.

• Chen Qing examined Zhou Qianjun's spoils, including a Crimson Soul Burning Origin Pill, Azure Cloud Life Breath Pills, a mid-grade spiritual treasure, and a Calming Heart Jade Pendant, then sent a report to Gong Nansong and Ruan Lingxiu by Golden Feather Eagle.
• Chen Qing sensed reinforcements gathering and denied knowing anything about Zhou Qianjun's death when Song Shuhuai and Sun Jingyi questioned him.
• After Li Muyun reported that Qi Yu and Lei Hong were attempting to subdue the Mysterious Dark Ox and seize the Seven-Leaf Golden Lotus, Song Shuhuai led Cloudwater Supreme Sect experts toward Black Stone Reef.
• Gong Nansong arrived with Zhuang Wenbin, Neng Yan, and Cheng Danqin; Chen Qing told them where Qi Yu was and agreed to lead them there.
• Chen Qing and the Tianbao Supreme Sect elders reached Black Stone Reef, where Song Shuhuai's Cloudwater Supreme Sect group was fighting Qi Yu, Lei Hong, and Demonic Sect subordinates.

During the battle over Qi Yu and the Seven-Leaf Golden Lotus, Chen Qing secretly took the lotus while the rival factions fought. The chapter ended with Chu Nan framed for its disappearance and surrounded by furious Cloudwater elders.

• Zhuang Wenbin tried to capture Qi Yu, but Song Shuhuai blocked him, and the Tianbao and Cloudwater Supreme Sects clashed over who would claim her.
• Gong Nansong and Chen Qing raced for the Seven-Leaf Golden Lotus, while Zhao Songtao and Sun Jingyi moved to stop them.
• Sun Jingyi fought Chen Qing, then drove off four opportunists who tried to seize the lotus, including Chu Nan.
• Chen Qing used the Mountain River Seal to injure Sun Jingyi, then secretly stored the Seven-Leaf Golden Lotus and its spiritual soil in the Myriad Phenomena Diagram of the Heavenly Cycle.
• Chen Qing accused Chu Nan of stealing the lotus and attacked him, leading Zhao Songtao and Sun Jingyi to turn their fury on Chu Nan.

Chu Nan escaped the Cloudwater Supreme Sect elders after they accused him of stealing the Seven-Leaf Golden Lotus, while Chen Qing let the blame stand. On Black Reef Island, Qi Yu completed her subjugation of the Mysterious Dark Ox and ordered it to attack the besieging experts.

• Zhao Songtao, Sun Jingyi, and Chen Qing attacked Chu Nan over the missing Seven-Leaf Golden Lotus, but Chu Nan broke free and fled into the fog with his Evasion Technique.
• Chu Nan suspected Chen Qing had taken the Golden Lotus and framed him, then concealed his aura and headed toward Blackwater Great City.
• Chen Qing warned Zhuang Wenbin and the others that Qi Yu was using the Corrosive Fire and a Soul Taming Bead to subdue the Mysterious Dark Ox.
• Qi Yu completed the subjugation as Lei Hong burned his Essence Blood to hold off Zhuang Wenbin, and the Mysterious Dark Ox awakened its Profound Nether True Water.
• Qi Yu mounted the Mysterious Dark Ox and ordered it to kill the besieging experts, forcing Zhuang Wenbin and Song Shuhuai to retreat from its attack.

The experts battled Qi Yu and the Mysterious Dark Ox on Black Stone Reef, while Luo Ping made his way through Misty Marsh to join the fight. Qi Yu tried to escape, but Luo Ping captured her and subdued the ox, leaving the Tianbao Supreme Sect’s forces victorious on the reef.

• Chen Qing and the other experts attacked the Mysterious Dark Ox, but its Profound Nether True Water drove them back and inflicted heavy damage.
• Zhuang Wenbin, Song Shuhuai, and the others shifted their attacks toward Qi Yu, but the Mysterious Dark Ox protected her and counterattacked.
• Luo Ping passed three Cloudwater Supreme Sect elders who chose to let the Tianbao Supreme Sect deal with Qi Yu rather than risk provoking the Wuji Demonic Sect.
• Qi Yu ordered Lei Hong to retreat, but Chen Qing seized her momentary distraction and wounded her with a spear strike.
• Qi Yu fled into the mist as the Mysterious Dark Ox held off the experts, but Luo Ping appeared, immobilized her, and captured her.
• The Mysterious Dark Ox lost its ferocity and collapsed after Qi Yu was captured, and the Tianbao Supreme Sect experts welcomed Luo Ping.

The Tianbao Supreme Sect captured Qi Yu and brought her to Prison Peak, where Master Qiku revealed her true appearance. Chen Qing returned to True Martial Peak, refined the Azure Profound King Snake’s remaining inner-core essence, and completed his second True Essence Tempering.

• Luo Ping led the Tianbao Supreme Sect group back with the unconscious Qi Yu, while Chen Qing secretly took Essence Blood and Profound Nether True Water from the Mysterious Dark Ox and claimed that Chu Nan had taken the Seven-Leaf Golden Lotus.
• During a rest stop, Qi Yu awoke and glared at Chen Qing as he ate beast jerky; he took away her dry ration after she refused to stop complaining.
• Luo Ping brought Qi Yu to Prison Peak, where Master Qiku used Buddhist light to reveal her beautiful true appearance beneath her disguise.
• Chen Qing returned to his courtyard, greeted Qing Dai, Zi Su, Bai Zhi, and Lan Zhi, then entered seclusion with the Seven-Leaf Golden Lotus and other spoils.
• Chen Qing refined the remaining Azure Profound King Snake inner-core essence for seven days and completed his second True Essence Tempering.

Qi Xunnan responded to Qi Yu’s capture by ordering the Demonic Sect to investigate a mysterious ally and seek support from Great Snow Mountain. Meanwhile, Chen Qing exchanged his merit for Heavenly Yang Righteous Water, began developing a True Martial Demon Purging Spear Array, and prepared to claim more Spirit Nourishing and Soul Calming Pills.

• Qi Xunnan rejected the white-clad man's assurances, ordered Sikong Hui to discover his identity, and told him to send a letter to Great Snow Mountain while the Demonic Sect kept a low profile.
• Chen Qing received 100,000 Contribution Points for his work at Dragon Marsh Lake and exchanged 80,000 of them for Heavenly Yang Righteous Water.
• Chen Qing used the water to purify his true essence, then realized that a spear array would suit his abilities better than the True Martial Demon Purging Sword Array.
• Luo Zhixian's old servant gave Chen Qing eighteen matching low-grade spirit treasure spears that Luo had prepared for him.
• Chen Qing began cultivating the True Martial Demon Purging Spear Array and made progress controlling the spears and imbuing them with True Martial Spear Intent.
• He Zhi told Chen Qing that a new batch of Spirit Nourishing and Soul Calming Pills would be available in three days, and Chen Qing resolved to claim his share.

Luo Chengxuan planned to secure Spirit Nourishing and Soul Calming Pills for Shen Jiuhe’s birthday while eyeing Qu He’s sixth-place True Disciple rank. Chen Qing volunteered to attend the pill allocation, mastered the Azure Nether Startling Swan Spear, and arrived at Danxia Peak as the pill furnace neared completion.

• Luo Chengxuan told Shen Xinrou that he intended to obtain extra Spirit Nourishing and Soul Calming Pills for Shen Jiuhe’s birthday and threatened to challenge Qu He for his rank if Qu obstructed him.
• Chen Qing reassured Qu He that he valued the True Martial lineage, then insisted on representing it at Danxia Peak’s pill allocation.
• Chen Qing trained in the Quiet Room and advanced the Azure Nether Startling Swan Spear to Mastery.
• Chen Qing arrived at Danxia Peak, where Luo Chengxuan, Yan Chi, and Huo Qiushui had gathered with him for the allocation.
• Elder Zhang Yi, Elder Li, and Elder Wu intensified their work at the pill furnace as the gathered disciples watched it tremble and glow.

Chen Qing challenged the proposed distribution of the Spirit Nourishing and Soul Calming Pills and demanded six for himself. When Luo Chengxuan attacked, Chen Qing defeated him in front of the gathered disciples and elders, leaving the pill allocation unsettled.

• Elder Zhang Yi and Elder Li completed the refinement, producing twenty-three superior-quality pills.
• Yan Chi claimed eight pills, while Huo Qiushui and Luo Chengxuan each claimed six, leaving only three for Chen Qing.
• Chen Qing objected to the allocation and demanded six pills, prompting Luo Chengxuan to challenge his strength.
• Chen Qing evaded Luo Chengxuan's first attacks and countered with the Nine Heavens Thunder Finger, breaking through his Heavenly Mountain Blazing Sun Palm.
• Chen Qing activated his Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body and shattered Luo Chengxuan's sword with one punch, forcing him back injured as the hall fell silent.

Chen Qing defeated Luo Chengxuan at the Pill Condensation Hall, securing six Spirit Nourishing and Soul Calming Pills for the True Martial lineage and rising to seventh among the True Disciples. After learning of next year’s fierce contest for the Xuan Yang Spirit Merging Pill, he began cultivating with his pills as Ji Yunliang judged him a rising talent but not yet a threat to Nan Zhuoran.

• Chen Qing defeated Luo Chengxuan with a punch, claimed six Spirit Nourishing and Soul Calming Pills, and replaced him as the seventh-ranked True Disciple.
• Elder Zhang Yi warned Chen Qing that Luo Chengxuan’s senior, Ji Yunliang, might hold him responsible, then told him that the sect would compete for the rare Xuan Yang Spirit Merging Pill next year.
• Chen Qing gave three pills to Qing Dai to deliver to Qu He, then consumed one and strengthened his divine sense while advancing his True Martial Demon Purging Spear Array.
• Qu He learned of Chen Qing’s victory, accepted three pills from him, and resolved to train harder before sending one pill back.
• Luo Chengxuan reported his defeat to Ji Yunliang, who dismissed retaliation and called the contest ordinary competition between disciples.
• Ji Yunliang and Gongyang Ming discussed Chen Qing’s rise, concluding that he was still far from threatening Nan Zhuoran or restoring the True Martial lineage’s former glory.

Chen Qing visited Blackwater Abyss Prison to seek Master Qiku’s advice on using the Seven-Leaf Golden Lotus, while Qi Yu revealed a disturbing account of Qiku’s past and his Evil Fruit. After leaving the prison, Chen Qing was invited to a banquet by Nan Zhuoran.

• Chen Qing left his courtyard for Prison Peak after setting aside an invitation to Shen Jiuhe’s birthday banquet.
• Chen Qing entered the prison’s third level, where Qi Yu asked to be freed from poor meals and he requested to study her Concentric Demon Seeding Great Law.
• Qi Yu claimed that Qiku had killed his beloved wife to pursue Arhat fruition and was suppressing an Evil Fruit within himself.
• Master Qiku explained how Chen Qing could use the Seven-Leaf Golden Lotus in medicinal baths to temper his body.
• Chen Qing left Prison Peak unsettled by Qi Yu’s claims and Qiku’s words, then accepted an invitation to meet Nan Zhuoran at Guanyun Pavilion.

Chen Qing refused Nan Zhuoran’s offers for the Nine Nether Yin Sha, prompting Nan to suspect he had found the founding Patriarch’s legacy and to arrange pressure on the True Martial lineage. Chen Qing absorbed one leaf of the Seven-Leaf Golden Lotus and advanced his Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body, while rumors and resource threats spread through the sect; the chapter ended with Qu He warning him about the Nine Heavens Vein’s plans.

• Nan Zhuoran offered Chen Qing one hundred thousand Contribution Points and a Xuan Yang Spirit Merging Pill for the Nine Nether Yin Sha, but Chen Qing refused.
• After Chen Qing left, Nan Zhuoran suspected his interest in the Nine Nether Yin Sha might be connected to the founding Patriarch’s legacy and ordered Zhong Yu to handle true disciple resource allocations.
• Chen Qing bought rare auxiliary herbs, absorbed one leaf of the Seven-Leaf Golden Lotus, and raised his Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body to the fifth layer.
• Rumors spread that Chen Qing had insulted Nan Zhuoran, while Nan Zhuoran’s faction threatened to deny the True Martial lineage Xuan Yang Spirit Merging Pills next year.
• Qu He told Chen Qing that Zhong Yu had declared no pills would go to the True Martial lineage, then warned him to avoid giving the Nine Heavens Vein an excuse to suppress them.

Chen Qing cultivated to strengthen himself after learning that Zhong Yu planned to leave the True Martial lineage without any Xuan Yang Spirit Merging Pills, while Sect Leader Jiang Lishan refused to interfere in the disciples’ competition. Four months later, Chen Qing formed his second Spear Intent and continued seeking ways to improve his movement abilities.

• Chen Qing learned that Zhong Yu would reserve all next year’s Xuan Yang Spirit Merging Pills for the Nine Heavens Vein and decided to build his strength before the pill contest.
• Chen Qing used a golden leaf from the Seven-Leaf Golden Lotus to advance his Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body and continued cultivating.
• Luo Ping reported the Wuji Demonic Sect’s retreat and Zhong Yu’s pill decision to Jiang Lishan, who said the sect would not interfere in the True Disciples’ competition.
• Chen Qing spent four months in intensive cultivation, perfected the Azure Nether Startling Swan Spear, and formed Jinghong Spear Intent.
• Chen Qing advanced his body and true essence cultivation, strengthened his divine sense, and decided to seek a powerful evasion technique such as Shrink Ground to Inch.

Chen Qing left the Tianbao Supreme Sect and returned to the Wutai Sect, where he reunited with its leaders and learned that the real Heart Eater might still be alive. After giving Sect Master He Yuzhou a bottle of True Essence Pills, Chen Qing went to visit Master Li at the Qingmu Institute.

• Chen Qing declined to attend Danxia Peak’s pill refinement, heard Zhu Yu’s reports about the Shen Family, the Demonic Sect, and departing disciples, then prepared to return to Yunlin Prefecture.
• Chen Qing flew to the Wutai Sect on his Golden Feather Eagle and was warmly welcomed by He Yuzhou, Sang Yanping, and the sect’s disciples.
• Chen Qing told the Wutai Sect leaders that Nie Shanshan was well and had reached the Gang Strength Mid-stage, while He Yuzhou warned him not to trust the Shen Family completely.
• He Yuzhou revealed his suspicion that Zhou Nianchu had been a puppet and that the real Heart Eater might have survived, asking Chen Qing to investigate if he could.
• Chen Qing gave He Yuzhou a bottle of True Essence Pills, then went to the Qingmu Institute and announced his return to Master Li.

Chen Qing went to Ten Thousand Poisons Swamp to retrieve Nine-Bend Grass for Li Baichuan in exchange for movement and evasion secret techniques. While searching the swamp, he found and killed a Hundred-Legged Golden Centipede guarding a valuable Golden Thunder Bamboo, then stored the plant in his Myriad Phenomena Diagram of the Heavenly Cycle.

• Chen Qing brought Li Baichuan the requested medicinal materials and asked to learn movement and evasion secret techniques, and Li Baichuan sent him to retrieve Nine-Bend Grass from Ten Thousand Poisons Swamp.
• Li Baichuan gave Chen Qing a detailed map, and Chen Qing flew to the swamp on the Golden Feather Eagle and followed a marked route into its core region.
• Chen Qing returned to a poisonous pool where he had previously noticed a golden glimmer and discovered a Golden Thunder Bamboo growing among the rubble.
• A Hundred-Legged Golden Centipede emerged from its underground nest and attacked Chen Qing, who killed it with his Mysterious Dragon Spear.
• Chen Qing harvested the centipede's venom sac, pincers, and shell, then dug up the Golden Thunder Bamboo and stored it in his Myriad Phenomena Diagram of the Heavenly Cycle.

Chen Qing found the Nine-Bend Grass in the Ten Thousand Snake Cave and killed Tianxing Alliance elder Wei Shanze after Wei tried to ambush him. Chen Qing left the swamp, while a veiled woman and two elders arrived at the scene and recognized that Wei had been killed.

• Chen Qing followed Li Baichuan's map to the Ten Thousand Snake Cave and spotted the Nine-Bend Grass as Wei Shanze and two disciples fought three giant pythons.
• Chen Qing seized the herb and blocked Wei Shanze's lethal claw with a powerful punch, then introduced himself as Chu Nan of Blackwater Great City.
• Wei Shanze pretended to yield the herb and departed with his disciples, but secretly planned to summon Brother Chang and reclaim it.
• Chen Qing pursued them, killed the two disciples before they could fire the Starbeam Arrow, and defeated Wei Shanze with the True Martial Seal and Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body.
• Chen Qing searched the bodies, burned the evidence, and left the swamp; two hours later, a veiled woman and two elders arrived and departed after discovering signs of Wei's death.

Chen Qing returned to Wutai Sect, delivered the Nine-Bend Grass, and received Li Baichuan’s Nine Shadows Evasion Technique before heading back to Tianbao Supreme Sect. He cultivated the technique and advanced the Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body to its Sixth Layer, then planned to master his increased Qi and Blood and pursue his third True Essence Tempering.

• Chen Qing examined and stored the pills, poison treasures, and rare herbs he had taken from Wei Shanze, then flew to Wutai Sect to return the Nine-Bend Grass to Li Baichuan.
• Li Baichuan taught Chen Qing the Nine Shadows Evasion Technique, explained its demands, and gave him a Jade Pendant for receiving messages from afar.
• Chen Qing bid farewell to He Yuzhou, Sang Yanping, and the Wutai Sect elders before flying back to Tianbao Supreme Sect and reuniting with Qing Dai.
• Chen Qing entered the Quiet Room, practiced the Nine Shadows Evasion Technique until he formed a brief phantom, then focused on advancing his body cultivation.
• Chen Qing broke through to the Sixth Layer of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body and resolved to master his increased Qi and Blood and complete his third True Essence Tempering.

Chen Qing sought Meng Qianxue’s help obtaining True Essence Pills and learned that Qu He had been injured in a clash with Zhong Yu over the True Martial lineage’s pill allocation. He left Qu He’s courtyard determined to handle the looming fight over the Xuan Yang Spirit Merging Pill himself.

• Chen Qing decided to seek True Essence Pills through Meng Qianxue and went to Yu Chen Peak to ask for help.
• Meng Qianxue agreed to consult the Meng Family elders about arranging pills, then told Chen Qing that Qu He had fought Zhong Yu over the Primordial Yang Pure Gang Pill allocation and had been injured.
• Chen Qing visited Qu He and learned that Zhong Yu had tried to cut the True Martial lineage’s allocation by another thirty percent.
• Qu He urged Chen Qing to consider yielding the Xuan Yang Spirit Merging Pill to avoid a damaging conflict with the Nine Heavens Vein, but Chen Qing refused to decide in advance.
• Chen Qing assured Qu He that he would handle the pills and left after confirming Qu He’s foundation was unharmed.

Chen Qing resumed cultivation and secured a steady monthly supply of True Essence Pills from Meng Qianxue, aiming to reach his third True Essence Tempering. Meanwhile, Zhong Yu gained the Ruan Family’s support and ordered You Lan to monitor Ruan Lingxiu after hearing that she seemed unusually fatigued.

• Chen Qing learned that rumors blamed him for leaving Qu He to face Zhong Yu, dismissed them, and returned to cultivating with True Essence Pills.
• Meng Qianxue visited Chen Qing and arranged for the Meng Family to provide him with five True Essence Pills each month at the sect’s official exchange price.
• Chen Qing accepted the pills and resolved to reach his third True Essence Tempering as quickly as possible.
• At Cloudy Sky Tower, Zhong Yu told Ruan Hongchang that he had injured Qu He to warn the True Martial lineage and discussed his plans for Chen Qing.
• Ruan Hongchang pledged the Ruan Family’s support to Zhong Yu, who accepted the alliance.
• You Lan reported that Ruan Lingxiu seemed fatigued; Zhong Yu ordered her to keep watching and report any abnormalities.

Chen Qing sought Luo Zhixian’s guidance on his spear array, then entered the Cave Heaven’s core region to temper his divine sense with Soul-Eroding Netherfire. Through relentless cultivation, he completed his third True Essence Tempering as the new year arrived.

• Chen Qing visited Luo Zhixian with Silver-Scaled Treasure Fish, demonstrated a spear array combining eighteen spirit treasure spears and two spear intents, and received advice to strengthen his divine sense.
• Luo Zhixian identified Chen Qing’s divine sense as the spear array’s main weakness and recommended tempering it in the Cave Heaven’s core region.
• Chen Qing entered the core region, met Zhang Baicheng, and used Soul-Eroding Netherfire to temper and expand his divine sense.
• Chen Qing devoted himself to cultivation over the following days, improving his spear array and advancing the Great Void True Scripture until its second layer was nearly complete.
• Chen Qing broke through the final barrier, completed his third True Essence Tempering, and emerged from the Quiet Room to find snow falling as the new year began.

After emerging from seclusion, Chen Qing received the Gu Family’s goodwill and visited Master Qiku at Blackwater Abyss Prison, where he learned that the prison’s Killing Intent was tied to a prisoner on its fifth level with a connection to Great Snow Mountain. He tried to trade food for Qi Yu’s demonic cultivation art, but recognized that she had given him a fake formula and left with the food.

• Chen Qing learned that Qing Dai had gone home and received an invitation to a True Martial Peak gathering, then welcomed Gu Hai and Gu Qing, who brought gifts and asked him to look after her at the sect.
• Gu Hai explained to Gu Qing that the Gu Family sought ties with Chen Qing because of his master, Luo Zhixian, and the True Martial lineage’s remaining influence.
• Chen Qing delivered holiday gifts to Luo Zhixian and Pei Tingchun, then visited Master Qiku at Blackwater Abyss Prison and learned the Killing Intent was linked to a person imprisoned on the fifth level with ties to Great Snow Mountain.
• Chen Qing offered Qi Yu Eight Treasure Precious Chicken in exchange for the opening verses of the Concentric Demon Seeding Great Law, but noticed the formula was false and took the food away.
• Qi Yu cursed Chen Qing for seeing through her deception, while he resolved to remain wary and deal with her again later.

As the Xuan Yang Spirit Merging Pills neared completion, Zhong Yu secured Peak Master Xing Han’s support by promising him a pill, while Chen Qing learned how fiercely the Four Veins and powerful elders were watching the distribution. Danxia Peak successfully completed the pills and announced that the furnace would be opened in three days, setting the contest in motion.

• Peak Master Xing Han asked Zhong Yu for a Xuan Yang Spirit Merging Pill, and Zhong Yu agreed in exchange for Xing Han’s promise to support his advancement to a Diheng Seat.
• Ruan Lingxiu worried that Zhong Yu had promised too many pills, but Zhong Yu insisted the Nine Heavens Vein would have enough and said he would suppress Chen Qing if he competed.
• Chen Qing summoned Zhu Yu, who reported that elders including Xing Han had approached Zhong Yu and that the Xuan Yang lineage might resist another loss in the pill contest.
• Nan Zhuoran had traveled to Cloudwater Supreme Sect, reportedly in connection with a banquet hosted by the Human Emperor in Jade Capital City.
• Chen Qing spent half a month consolidating his cultivation and training his spear formation.
• Gongye Zhuo and the Danxia Peak elders completed the Xuan Yang Spirit Merging Pills and announced that they would open the furnace in three days.

As the Xuan Yang Spirit Merging Pill furnace neared its opening, Chen Qing chose to attend despite warnings that Zhong Yu intended to suppress the True Martial lineage. After the furnace yielded eleven pills and Zhong Yu claimed the six remaining after the Xuan Yang and Jade Empyrean lineages took their shares, Chen Qing challenged his claim.

• Ji Yunliang told Zhang Baicheng that the Xuan Yang lineage would claim three pills, divided among Ji Yunliang, Zhang Baicheng, and Luo Chengxuan.
• Huo En discussed the Huo Family's planned cooperation with the Chen Family, while Huo Qiushui worried about Zhong Yu's threat to the True Martial lineage's share.
• After He Zhi delivered Zhang Yi's message about the furnace opening, Chen Qing told Qing Dai he would attend the contest and then prepared for the confrontation.
• Zhong Yu, Huo Qiushui, Zhang Baicheng, and other figures gathered at Danxia Peak as Gongye Zhuo opened the furnace and revealed eleven pills.
• Zhang Baicheng collected three pills for the Xuan Yang lineage, and Huo Qiushui accepted two after Zhong Yu blocked her request for three.
• When Zhong Yu moved to take the remaining six pills for the Nine Heavens Vein, Chen Qing stepped forward and objected.