Chapter Summaries

After helping Awesome Duck withdraw from school, the narrator encouraged him to pursue his ambitions. Ming Yue then asked whether gods and celestials existed, and the narrator challenged the ideas that had confused her, urging her to trust her own discernment and recognize that such beings were manifestations of human understanding.

• The narrator cursed out the people who had looked down on Awesome Duck, then completed Awesome Duck’s withdrawal procedures properly.
• On their way back to the Wuji Sword Sect, Awesome Duck vowed to become powerful and return to defeat the people who had mocked him, and the narrator encouraged him.
• The narrator watched Awesome Duck leave, then met Ming Yue in his courtyard when she came to ask him questions.
• Ming Yue asked whether gods and celestials were people and whether celestials had created the world before Buddhas existed.
• The narrator argued that humans had created the concepts of gods and celestials, warned Ming Yue that persuasive ideas had clouded her thinking, and told her to look within herself rather than believe blindly.

The narrator explains to Ming Yue that cultivation depends on turning inward, questioning fixed assumptions, and changing one’s perspective rather than blindly accepting others’ answers. Ming Yue listens as he argues that mastering the mind can transform emotions and outcomes, and the conversation ends with Xue Pan singing nearby.

• Ming Yue asks the narrator what truth is and how one should seek inward.
• The narrator tells Ming Yue to revisit her own experiences and change her perspective instead of clinging to fixed ideas of right and wrong.
• The narrator compares beliefs to changing ideas about sweet potatoes and technology, urging Ming Yue to test claims for herself and continually reinvent herself.
• The narrator argues that changing one’s habitual perspective can transform anger and other emotions, and gives the example of a disabled person who recovered by believing in himself.
• Xue Pan sings a song called “Night” in the neighboring courtyard, and Ming Yue and the narrator laugh at the coincidence.

The narrator teased Ming Yue until she laughed and her melancholy lifted, then returned to his cottage to heal. When Xue Pan asked how to stop overthinking dreams, the narrator taught him a short Dream Breaking Art.

• The narrator joked about his ass, and Ming Yue pinched him before laughing as their horseplay drove away her gloom.
• Ming Yue left the narrator's courtyard, and he reflected that he would protect her from anything troubling her heart.
• The narrator prepared cushions in his thatched cottage and explained to Xue Pan why he preferred a simple dwelling and a flexible approach to cultivation.
• Xue Pan asked how to stop dwelling on dreams, so the narrator taught him the Dream Breaking Art and explained how to treat good dreams as auspicious and nightmares as practice.

The narrator guided Xue Pan through cultivation by scolding and beating him whenever he failed to understand how to act on the lessons. Xue Pan grasped that words could change meaning with their circumstances, and the narrator encouraged him to focus on understanding what was right in the present.

• Xue Pan asked what he should do if he understood the narrator's guidance but still could not carry it out, and the narrator kicked him for being lazy.
• Xue Pan joked that the narrator's lesson about not biting a dog might apply to him, so the narrator beat him until he reflected on his words.
• Xue Pan explained that the same words could carry different meanings depending on the circumstances, and the narrator approved of his insight.
• The narrator observed that Xue Pan had grown tougher and was recovering quickly from the beating.
• Xue Pan thanked the narrator and vowed not to look down on himself, and the narrator told him that worth came from understanding and doing what was right in the present.

Xiao Ling'er returned after studying with an elderly traditional Chinese doctor, but her awareness had regressed because she felt intimidated and entangled by his treatment and probing. The narrator comforted her and urged her to reclaim her awareness, then wept after she left.

• Xiao Ling'er visited the narrator and described an old doctor who treated her illnesses and hinted that she could learn traditional Chinese medicine from him.
• The narrator realized that Xiao Ling'er’s awareness had stopped appearing and asked why she felt afraid around the doctor.
• Xiao Ling'er explained that she feared the doctor had divined her private past, and she recounted how his mysterious remedies had quickly eased her symptoms.
• The narrator concluded that the doctor’s methods had made Xiao Ling'er dependent and undermined her confidence, and he urged her to restore her awareness and trust her own heart.
• Xiao Ling'er called the narrator her master for the first time and left after he reassured her that he would support her.
• After Xiao Ling'er left, the narrator wept over her setback and reflected on how habits and choices shaped a person’s fate.

After grieving that Xiao Ling'er had neglected the awareness he taught her, the narrator reunited with Wuyou, Liao Chen, and Xie Wuchen, who helped him accept that awakening could not be forced. He returned to the Wuji Sword Sect, left his brothers a final teaching, and scattered into dust.

• The narrator spent eight months alone, saddened that Xiao Ling'er had cast aside the awareness he had painstakingly taught her.
• He met Wuyou, Liao Chen, and Xie Wuchen, who urged him to keep teaching others while accepting that each person had to awaken through their own effort.
• The narrator admitted he would not awaken those who refused to cherish awareness again, except for people bound to him by fate.
• He drank with his three incarnations, sang the Primordial Divine Song, and bid them farewell.
• At the Wuji Sword Sect, the narrator told Xiao Ling'er not to lose her way again and left his brothers a teaching about knowing one's original heart before dissolving into dust.

Chan Xin traveled to Huangmei County to study Buddhism and spent years serving the Bodhi Fifth Patriarch, who later asked his disciples to write verses revealing their understanding. After Shen Liu’s verse was praised and displayed, the other disciples admitted they could not match his insight.

• A guest gave Chan Xin money to travel to Huangmei County and study Buddhism, and Chan Xin left the funds with his mother before setting out.
• Chan Xin reached the Fifth Patriarch, waited at the entrance, and was allowed to stay and work while listening to the Dharma.
• Chan Xin worked diligently, sent money home, and told the Fifth Patriarch that he believed he could learn despite being unable to read.
• Three years later, the Fifth Patriarch asked his disciples to compose verses, and Shen Liu submitted the Formless Verse.
• The Fifth Patriarch praised Shen Liu’s verse as good but incomplete and ordered it displayed, while the other disciples said they could not write one as insightful.

Zen Heart composed a verse that impressed the Fifth Patriarch, who secretly summoned him to teach him after pretending to reject his work in public. When asked what he wanted to learn, Zen Heart insisted on skills that could bring wealth and honor, frustrating the Fifth Patriarch.

• Zen Heart read Shen Liu’s verse, criticized it as incomplete, and composed his own verse declaring that there was no Bodhi tree, mirror stand, or dust.
• The Fifth Patriarch publicly erased Zen Heart’s verse and struck his head to conceal his approval from the others.
• Zen Heart waited outside the Fifth Patriarch’s room at night, and the Fifth Patriarch acknowledged that he had recognized Zen Heart’s insight and meant to teach him privately.
• The Fifth Patriarch offered to teach Zen Heart several ordinary jobs, but Zen Heart rejected them because they could not bring wealth and honor.
• The Fifth Patriarch grew angry, struck Zen Heart three more times, and ordered him to leave.

Chanxin learned the Fifth Patriarch’s Way of Transformation and used its Mystic Arts to strengthen others and himself. He returned home to care for his mother, then, after her death, set out to find the Fifth Patriarch again but had not yet learned where he was.

• Chanxin misread the Fifth Patriarch’s three knocks and visited him again the next afternoon, where he rejected several teachings and asked for practical skills.
• The Fifth Patriarch taught Chanxin a mnemonic for the Way of Transformation, and Chanxin cultivated it diligently for three years.
• Chanxin mastered the Way of Transformation and secretly used its Mystic Arts to improve his fellow disciples’ Jing Qi Shen.
• Chanxin asked to return home to care for his mother, and the Fifth Patriarch told him that filial piety was also the Way.
• Chanxin supported and cared for his mother for eight years while continuing to cultivate, but she eventually died after illness.
• After arranging his mother’s funeral, Chanxin set out to find the Fifth Patriarch again, though everyone he asked was unable to point him toward his master.

Chan Xin recovered his memories and discovered that the Fifth Patriarch and several people from his past had been his own clones. Back at the Wuji Sword Sect, he explained to Xiao Ling'er why her departure had stirred his feelings and continued discussing her awakened awareness and his teachings.

• Chan Xin peered into the secrets of heaven, regained his memories, and realized Liao Chen, Wuyou, and Xie Wuchen had been his clones who staged much of his past.
• Chan Xin returned to the Wuji Sword Sect and met with his brothers, who asked why he had left without a word.
• Chan Xin asked his brothers to leave him alone, and Xiao Ling'er stayed beside him to ask whether he was angry with her.
• Chan Xin explained that he had invested much of his mental strength in teaching Xiao Ling'er, so her changes affected him deeply.
• Xiao Ling'er described improvements in her awakened awareness, and Chan Xin explained how his teachings let people hold contradictory beliefs and control their thoughts.

Big Brother explained to Xiao Ling'er how manifested awareness relates to the Three Souls, the Seven Emotions, and control of the Seven Po. The lesson ended with the two joking and teasing each other.

• Xiao Ling'er asked whether Big Brother would mind if she studied traditional Chinese and Daoist medicine, and he warned her that cultivating the Dao could cost her awakened manifestation.
• Big Brother explained that Xiao Ling'er's awakened manifestation was her Earthly Soul and described the Heavenly Soul, Awakening Soul, and Human Soul.
• Big Brother said manifested awareness could guide the little self, regulate emotions and the Seven Po, and help maintain stillness and alter one's fate pattern.
• Xiao Ling'er praised Big Brother's teachings and joked that he was Peppa Pig, while Big Brother teased her about treating him like a servant.
• Xiao Ling'er pretended to demand that Big Brother shit his pants, and they continued joking about whether he would hit her.

Big Brother explained Manifest Awareness, the Three Souls, and his path of cultivation to Xiao Ling'er, urging her to master herself and follow the righteous path. After boasting so enthusiastically that he lifted off the ground, he came back down and told her the coordinates to remember when flying.

• Xiao Ling'er asked Big Brother how to cultivate after Manifest Awareness, and he described his goal of controlling the Three Souls and building another Wuji Sword Sect.
• Big Brother explained how Manifest Yin Spirit differed from Manifest Yang Spirit and said merging with the Dao again came after completing one's task in life.
• Big Brother described how uncontrolled emotions could leave people vulnerable to ghosts and compared ordinary life to cycling through the Three Realms and Six Paths.
• Big Brother declared that he would prioritize helping his own disciples and followers, while refusing to ferry the greedy who sought to take advantage of him.
• Xiao Ling'er hugged Big Brother's leg and reminded him that his work and his brothers still needed him after he began lifting off the ground.
• Big Brother descended and told Xiao Ling'er to remember the coordinates: Wuji Realm, Wuji Sword Sect Headquarters.

Chan Xin wrote a playful letter to his future self, joking across time and space before offering sincere advice to take care of himself and preserve his original heart. His future self answered through time and space, leaving Chan Xin and Xiao Ling'er shocked by the connection between them.

• Chan Xin decided to write a letter to his future self, and Xiao Ling'er watched as he began.
• Chan Xin teased his future self about being his ancestor, and cracks appeared in the void as the future self reacted.
• Chan Xin paused to calm himself, then resumed writing and realized his future self was laughing at him across time and space.
• Chan Xin stopped joking and urged his future self to take care of himself, enjoy life, and retain his innocence and kindness.
• Chan Xin signed the letter as his future self's most awesome ancestor, and the future self replied aloud that he was waiting for him.
• Chan Xin nearly drew his sword at the reply, while Xiao Ling'er was left sweating in shock.

Big Brother explained to Xiao Ling'er how writing to his future self could build spiritual and cultivation wealth over time, then taught her how to turn past experiences into lessons and focus on the present. He left her with advice on learning from others selectively and steadily developing skills for the future.

• Xiao Ling'er asked why Big Brother was writing letters to his future self, and he explained that he was accumulating spiritual and cultivation wealth for his future self.
• Big Brother described how he could change his qi and aura, and Xiao Ling'er recalled seeing his temperament shift when his eyes changed.
• Big Brother taught Xiao Ling'er to refine painful past experiences, discard their impurities, and keep the lessons without becoming trapped by the past.
• Big Brother urged Xiao Ling'er to focus on present responsibilities, keep learning, and build experience for her future self.
• Big Brother explained that she could learn useful strengths from other people without copying their flaws, and said that cultivation methods came from experience and reaching the necessary level.

Big Brother taught Xiao Ling'er that cultivation began with becoming a genuine person and living according to oneself instead of fearing others' judgment. He lectured a crooked tree to show her how to face adversity and urged it to grow upright and wild, leaving Xiao Ling'er inspired by his lesson.

• Xiao Ling'er asked whether other people could invent cultivation methods, and Big Brother explained that only those who had cultivated themselves and had the talent could do so.
• Big Brother taught Xiao Ling'er to become a true person, care for her body and mind, and fulfill her duties without letting others control her.
• Xiao Ling'er agreed with Big Brother, who carried her to a crooked tree and said he would show her a special trick.
• Big Brother lectured the crooked tree about fearing the wind and rain, groveling for their approval, and blaming others for its own choices.
• Big Brother urged the tree to face the wind and rain, straighten its back, and grow wild and lush as itself.

After suppressing the Samadhi True Fire that flared from his head, the master kept in touch with Xiao Ling'er while she recovered at an old man's home and warned her not to lose her manifest awareness. She remained impressed by the old man despite the master's objections, but promised she would never forget to manifest awareness again.

• The master meditated for three days and nights to suppress the Samadhi True Fire that leaked out when he became worked up.
• Xiao Ling'er told the master she was visiting an old man for acupuncture and described how manifest awareness made strangers eager to befriend her.
• The master urged Xiao Ling'er to keep manifesting awareness, hold on to her confidence, and focus on recovering and studying medicine.
• Xiao Ling'er admitted she had been intimidated by the old man's reputation and divination, while the master argued that she was letting outward appearances unsettle her.
• The master scolded Xiao Ling'er for praising the old man and forgetting what she had learned, but she insisted she would keep reminding herself to manifest awareness.

Big Brother explained to Jin Buque that he was arranging for Xiao Ling'er to meet and learn from a worthy master, while letting her choose her own path. He accepted that helping her might loosen their bond and said he would not resent her if it eventually ended.

• Jin Buque noticed Big Brother was troubled and asked him what was on his mind.
• Big Brother explained that Xiao Ling'er wanted to find a worthy teacher of Daoist medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, but her pride and reluctance to lower her head had kept her searching.
• Big Brother said he had helped Xiao Ling'er manifest her awareness so an accomplished old man would notice her and want to take her as a disciple.
• Big Brother told Jin Buque that he had calculated the old man's curiosity and desires would lead him to teach Xiao Ling'er, but that he would respect her wishes rather than force her.
• Big Brother said he would remain her good master, though their fated bond might grow less frequent and could end if she came to doubt or forget him.

Big Brother told Jin Buque about the limits imposed by the Heavenly Dao, reincarnation, and his plans to prepare strength for his future self. Later, he advised Xiao Ling'er that Gou Dan could learn martial arts from the old woman but should guard his heart against becoming bound by her kindness.

• Big Brother explained to Jin Buque that even a chess player remained subject to the laws of the Heavenly Dao and described how his present self was preparing for his future self.
• Big Brother described cultivation across successive lives and said he did not normally need to return, though awakening again was exhausting.
• Xiao Ling'er told her master that an old man wanted to take her as a disciple, and her master explained that her awakening let her perceive what lay beyond living and dead things.
• Xiao Ling'er asked about Gou Dan's martial-arts teacher, who treated him kindly and wanted him to marry her niece, and her master warned that kindness could also bind him through emotional obligations.
• Xiao Ling'er's master said Gou Dan could keep learning if he wanted, but should accept kindness without obsessing over repayment and sever the influence of emotional ties over his choices.

Big Brother advised Gou Dan to leave the old lady’s household and reclaim control of the situation, but Gou Dan chose to stay and keep up appearances. Big Brother then told his disciple to resist social pressures, trust their own judgment, and become self-reliant.

• Big Brother told his disciple that Gou Dan should leave the old lady’s household and wait to see whether she reconsidered.
• The disciple reported that Gou Dan refused to leave because he wanted to keep up appearances among the household’s many people.
• Big Brother said Gou Dan was letting concern for others’ approval restrict him and warned that such behavior would bring him further frustration.
• Big Brother urged his disciple not to give advice to people who would not listen and to learn from Gou Dan’s situation.
• Big Brother explained that people should reflect, change harmful patterns, and rely on their own strength rather than bowing to external pressures.

Big Brother explained awakening revealed and warned Ling'er against losing confidence in her own awareness by chasing external methods. After Ling'er said an old man had tried to control her and threatened that she could never become an immortal, Big Brother ordered her to return home and resolved to end their dealings.

• Big Brother described awakening revealed as a state of clear awareness that could weaken when someone became obsessed with outside teachings and methods.
• Big Brother explained that awakening let a person see the causes of others' conflicts and ease their resentments before they grew into inner demons.
• Ling'er told Big Brother that an old man had kept her late, tried to prevent her from leaving, and declared she would never cultivate into an immortal.
• Big Brother realized the old man had tried to frighten Ling'er into submission by claiming he could sever her immortal root and plant a heart-anchor.
• Big Brother flew into a rage, told Ling'er to go home, and said they were done dealing with the old man.