Chapter Summaries

After half a month of work, Chu Mu refined the Divine Wind Boots into a Top-Grade Magical Artifact that he had designed himself. Excited by his success, he tested the boots and then turned to materials for another project: a puppet based on formulas from his Puppetry inheritance.

• Chu Mu completed the Divine Wind Boots formula, though he still sensed unexplained flaws in it.
• Chu Mu spent nearly three days refining the boots and completed the final Artifact Inscription, creating a Top-Grade Magical Artifact.
• Chu Mu tested the boots’ improved spirit-gathering, reduced Mana consumption, short-distance evasion, and Wind-Thunder Burst.
• After recording his test results, Chu Mu prepared Crimson Flame Iron, Returning Spring Liquid, and other materials to make a puppet using a formula from his Puppetry inheritance.

Chu Mu survived a month of hunts in East Lake, learned through Soul Search that the Longevity Sect and allied Lineages could predict where the Mysterious Fog would appear, and discovered their Joint Enforcement Team guarded its arrival. He and Wangcai set out for Lotus Root Lake, where the Mysterious Fog was expected in half a month.

• Chu Mu defeated a cultivator who had attacked him, destroyed his dantian, extracted his Divine Soul, and used Soul Search before a blood-colored Fleeting Light emerged and vanished under his Slash.
• Chu Mu examined the captive's memories and learned that the man was a Sun Family descendant serving in a Joint Enforcement Team that sealed off the Mysterious Fog's waters.
• Chu Mu learned that six Foundation Establishment experts and hundreds of Qi Refining Realm cultivators formed the Joint Enforcement Team, which seemed to know the Fog's appearance time and location in advance.
• Chu Mu healed in a reef cave while Wangcai recovered, then identified Lotus Root Lake as the Fog's next location, expected in half a month.
• Ten days later, Chu Mu and Wangcai left the cave and traveled northwest along the lake bottom toward Lotus Root Lake.

Chu Mu broke through the chaos surrounding the Lotus Root Lake and entered the Secret Realm, where he found himself in a mountain valley filled with dense Spirit Energy. After scouting the valley, he avoided a battle-scarred pool and headed toward the apparently safe exit.

• Chu Mu prepared his Giant God Arm and circled the Lotus Root Lake while rival cultivators gathered and scattered battles broke out.
• As thick fog spread over the lake, Chu Mu joined the rush toward it, struck down a Longevity Sect disciple, and narrowly escaped a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s attack.
• Chu Mu was swept into the fog and teleported into the Secret Realm, where he checked his injuries and had Wangcai scout the surroundings.
• Chu Mu released two Bamboo Dragonflies to survey the valley and saw signs of a fierce battle beside a deep pool.
• Chu Mu judged the pool too dangerous and led Wangcai toward the valley’s exit.

Chu Mu reasoned that the Secret Realm had been visited before and discovered a Xie Family group fighting a powerful giant snake at the end of the Mountain Valley. The snake broke their formation, and a cultivator unleashed a Talisman Treasure as the battle reached a turning point.

• Chu Mu harvested a century-old Cangtong Tree and became more certain that cultivators had previously explored the Secret Realm.
• Chu Mu noticed Monster Beasts gathered outside the peaceful Mountain Valley and suspected a powerful beast or treasure lay within.
• A roar and rumble came from the valley, so Chu Mu sent the Bamboo Dragonflies to scout and hid with Wangcai near the exit.
• Chu Mu saw nine Xie Family cultivators bind a Second Order giant snake while another cultivator charged a Talisman Treasure.
• The giant snake spat venom that killed three cultivators, shattered the formation, and sent the others flying.
• The Xie Family cultivator released a gigantic silver sword from the Talisman Treasure toward the rampaging snake.

Chu Mu watched the Two-Headed Giant Snake recover from a grievous wound and slaughter the Xie Family Cultivators, then cautiously stole its severed head while it slept. An Image Recording Stone revealed that the snake’s hidden cavern contained Bell Stone Spiritual Milk, which likely explained its astonishing recovery and left Chu Mu facing the secret behind its transformation.

• The Two-Headed Giant Snake regrew its heads, unleashed wind and fire, and killed the fleeing Xie Family Cultivators.
• Chu Mu confirmed the snake was alive but asleep, then used four Bamboo Dragonflies to haul away its severed head and store it.
• Chu Mu sent two Bamboo Dragonflies into the pool’s underground passage, where one disappeared and the other returned with a recording of a hidden cavern.
• The recording showed Bell Stone Spiritual Milk collecting in a stone trough beneath a stalactite.
• Chu Mu realized the spiritual milk had likely nourished the Two-Headed Giant Snake and enabled it to survive and transform after its head was severed.

Chu Mu risked sneaking past the transforming Two-Headed Giant Snake to steal Bell Stone Spiritual Milk and spiritual stalactites, then continued through the Secret Realm in search of the Ancient Cultivator's Cave Abode. After two days of travel, he had found no other cultivators and remained lost in unfamiliar terrain.

• Chu Mu decided to brave the pool and underground passage while the Two-Headed Giant Snake slept, reasoning that rare cultivation resources were worth the danger.
• Chu Mu entered the cavern, filled two Jade Bottles with Bell Stone Spiritual Milk, took five Second Order Spirit Mine stalactites, and escaped without waking the snake.
• Chu Mu checked Zhao Shuang's Jade Slips and learned that the Ancient Cultivator's Cave Abode lay beneath a great lake northwest of Sword Edge Peak.
• Two days later, Chu Mu and Wangcai killed a wounded White Tiger with twin wings, and Chu Mu kept its wings while Wangcai ate the beast.
• Chu Mu realized that he had encountered many Demon Beasts but no cultivators, and that the unfamiliar terrain left him unable to locate his destination.

Chu Mu saved Chang Hongyi from two Sun Family brothers and traded her safety for information about the Secret Realm. After learning that thousands of cultivators had died there and suspecting the realm was at the center of rising conflict between sects and clans, he heard Chang Hongyi propose another transaction.

• Chu Mu recognized Chang Hongyi as she fled the Sun Family brothers and rescued her from Sun Xiao’s ghostly skull attack.
• Chang Hongyi swore to keep Chu Mu’s presence secret and told him about the Sun brothers and the Secret Realm.
• The Sun brothers withdrew after Chu Mu identified Chang Hongyi as an old acquaintance and made them swear Oaths of the Dao Heart.
• Chang Hongyi gave Chu Mu copies of her Secret Realm information and explained that thousands of cultivators had died there over the years.
• Chu Mu concluded that the Secret Realm was likely driving the conflict between the sects and clans.
• Chang Hongyi asked Chu Mu to help sell an item from a jade box in exchange for one tenth of the Spirit Stones.

Chu Mu bought Chang Hongyi’s Crimson Flame Iron and learned from her Jade Slip that the Secret Realm held far more cultivators than he expected. As he continued toward Sword Edge Peak, an ambush confirmed how dangerous the central region had become.

• Chu Mu bought Chang Hongyi’s Second Order High Grade Crimson Flame Iron, and she gave him ten percent of the Spirit Stones back as promised.
• Chang Hongyi left to heal and planned to wait at the Temporary Passage, while Chu Mu studied her detailed Secret Realm information.
• Chu Mu learned that about a thousand cultivators had entered through the Temporary Passage and continued toward the central region on foot with Wangcai.
• A day later, four cultivators ambushed Chu Mu and Wangcai, but Chu Mu killed them with the Giant God Arm.
• Chu Mu searched the surviving Storage Talismans, took their Spirit Herbs, Mineral Materials, and Jade Slips, then headed toward Sword Edge Peak.

Chu Mu searched Sword Washing Lake for the Ancient Cultivator's Cave Abode, but blood from his battles drew swarms of Monster Beasts and forced him to flee. While retracing the marked route, he found a ruined Puppet containing a rare Soul Condensing Stone and realized it could give Puppets a measure of intelligence.

• Chu Mu and Wangcai descended to the lakebed, where dense spiritual energy suggested a Spirit Vein and possible danger from powerful Monster Beasts.
• Wangcai killed a water snake, and the blood scent drew repeated attacks that forced Chu Mu to fight and then flee from a swarm of First Order Demon Beasts.
• After losing the pursuing beasts, Chu Mu concealed his presence and used Zhao Shuang's information to resume searching for the Ancient Cultivator's Cave Abode.
• Chu Mu found a broken sword still held by a severed Puppet palm and uncovered more corroded weapons and Puppet parts nearby.
• Chu Mu discovered a Soul Condensing Stone inside a broken Puppet head and sealed it away, recognizing its value for creating Puppets with logical intelligence.

Chu Mu explored the lakebed battlefield and investigated the Ancient Cultivator's Cave Abode, where a terrifying aura had kept him from approaching. After his Bamboo Dragonflies revealed that the aura belonged to a First Order Late Stage White Ribbon Fish, he decided to head toward the cave abode despite his confusion.

• Chu Mu collected battlefield remnants and Soul Condensing Stones, then encountered a Black Robe Man who silently greeted him before retreating into the darkness.
• Chu Mu spent several days searching the lakebed and watching the Ancient Cultivator's Cave Abode, where he sensed a Monster Beast with an aura more terrifying than the Two-Headed Giant Snake.
• Chu Mu sent Bamboo Dragonflies toward the cave abode from a safe distance, and they returned damaged without causing any apparent disturbance in the lake.
• Chu Mu viewed the recordings and saw a slender white Ribbonfish destroy one Bamboo Dragonfly near the cave entrance.
• Chu Mu confirmed that the Ribbonfish's aura matched the terrifying aura but its cultivation was only at the First Order Late Stage, then decided to approach the cave abode with Wangcai.

Chu Mu discovered that the glowing Ribbonfish could imitate the aura of a far stronger creature, but it committed suicide after he captured it. He found the Ancient Cultivator's Cave Abode, opened its portal with Zhao Shuang's jade slip, and entered alone after Wangcai was unable to follow.

• Chu Mu realized the Ribbonfish's intimidating aura far exceeded its actual strength, but it died by suicide before he could try to tame it.
• Chu Mu sealed the Ribbonfish's corpse in a Jade Box and continued toward the cave abode described by Zhao Shuang.
• Chu Mu's three Secret Realm Tokens revealed a recess in the shell-covered stone wall, and he inserted Zhao Shuang's jade slip to open a glowing portal.
• Chu Mu tested the portal with a stone and the Bamboo Dragonfly, whose recording showed only white mist, reminding him of the Mysterious Fog at East Lake.
• Chu Mu stepped through the portal, but Wangcai struck an unseen barrier and remained outside as the portal disappeared.

Chu Mu entered a white-mist space where his divine sense, body, and Mana were suppressed by increasing pressure, revealing a trial of Essence, Qi, and Spirit. He pushed onward until he neared his true limit and realized that continuing could damage the origins of all three.

• Chu Mu sensed that Wangcai remained outside the portal at the bottom of Sword Washing Lake and began examining the white-mist space.
• Chu Mu took a step forward and suffered pressure that restricted his divine sense, body, and Mana.
• Chu Mu recognized the space as a trial testing Essence, Qi, and Spirit, and advanced because all three aspects of his cultivation were strong.
• Chu Mu struggled through hundreds of steps as the pressure tore his skin, damaged his meridians, and nearly erased his sense of Spirit.
• Chu Mu realized he was close to his limit and that pressing onward could damage the origins of his Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

Chu Mu endured a crushing trial of pressure, broke through its final barrier, and recovered in a Green Mist that healed his Essence, Qi, and Spirit while bringing his Foundation Establishment opportunity into focus. He reached the Immortal Path Pavilion, learned that the secret realm had once belonged to the Immortal Path Sect, and stepped onto its towering jade stairs.

• Chu Mu advanced through the white mist despite the pressure wrecking his Essence, Qi, Spirit, and body, then shattered the barrier ahead and escaped the pressure.
• Green Mist enveloped Chu Mu, rapidly healed his injuries, and allowed him to collect three Jade Bottles of it.
• Chu Mu sensed his Essence, Qi, and Spirit had been restored and saw his Foundation Establishment opportunity more clearly than before.
• Chu Mu checked his Light Screen Panel and saw the Basic Blade Technique, Blazing Fire Art, and Bull Strength Art had reached perfection.
• Chu Mu discovered the Immortal Path Pavilion and recognized that the secret realm had once been ruled by the Immortal Path Sect.
• Chu Mu took a deep breath and stepped onto the pavilion's jade stairs.

Chu Mu discovered an enormous Heavenly Mark Crystal Stone at the top of the Immortal Path Pavilion and touched it with his Divine Sense. After a sudden sensation of being transported, he found himself in an immaculate duplicate hall with two doors marked “Law” and “Art,” then stopped in alarm as he tried to approach the Law door.

• Chu Mu recognized the giant pale-blue stone as a rare fourth-order high-grade Heavenly Mark Crystal Stone and studied its restriction array.
• Chu Mu calmed himself and reached toward the crystal with his Divine Sense, triggering a sensation of heaven and earth spinning.
• Chu Mu found himself in an apparently identical Immortal Path Pavilion, but the Heavenly Mark Crystal Stone had vanished and doors marked “Law” and “Art” had appeared.
• Chu Mu used Spirit Radiance Blessing and sensed that the hall was unnaturally clean, as though its traces had been erased.
• Chu Mu stepped toward the Law door, abruptly halted, and reacted with disbelief.

Chu Mu realized the great hall was an illusory world so realistic it could reproduce objects and their properties, and he entered the Methods doorway to claim a cultivation inheritance. After receiving the Great Sun True Scripture, he was expelled and wondered whether he could enter the Techniques doorway next.

• Chu Mu used the pull in his Divine Soul to move between the real great hall and its illusory counterpart, then tested the world’s reality with spells, his Illusory Long Blade, a Ribbonfish corpse, and Jadeite Ginseng.
• Chu Mu concluded that the Heavenly Mark Crystal Stone and the Ribbonfish’s simulation talent could create an illusory world from recorded information, and he decided the great hall contained more than cultivation inheritance.
• Chu Mu entered the Methods doorway and sensed countless cultivation inheritances, finding that Fire Attribute methods resisted him less than others.
• Chu Mu received the Great Sun True Scripture, after which an invisible force expelled him and the Methods doorway would no longer open.
• Chu Mu turned his attention to the Techniques doorway and wondered whether he could enter it.

Chu Mu entered the Artifact Refining inheritance room and passed its examination by refining the Water Drop, a spirit-stone-powered weapon usable even by mortals. He recognized that its design blended artifact refinement with puppetry, while the inheritance ground’s interest in him might stem from his Divine Soul Blade.

• Chu Mu chose Artifact Refining over Alchemy and entered the room marked Artifact Refining.
• Chu Mu received an artifact formula, operating instructions for the Earth Fire Platform, and spirit materials, then realized the examination required him to refine a Dharma Artifact.
• Chu Mu used the Earth Fire Platform to refine the Water Drop, a weapon that fired spirit-energy attacks without needing a cultivator to control or power it.
• Chu Mu tested the Water Drop and found that one Low-Grade Spirit Stone fueled twenty attacks comparable to First Order Low-Grade spells.
• Chu Mu concluded that the Water Drop could threaten an Early Qi Refining cultivator under the right circumstances and likely incorporated concepts from Puppet creations.

Chu Mu passed the First Order Artifact Refiner assessments and successfully refined the Second Order Low-Grade Azure Cloud Banner, but failed all three attempts at the Immortal Path Sect’s Yellow-Grade Prison Warden Enforcement Puppet. The assessment ended with his grade recorded as Second Order Low-Grade and his aptitude as Heaven-Rank Top Grade.

• Chu Mu refined the Water Drop, Moon Frost Robe, Profound Darkness Shield, and Wind Cloud Shuttle, passing the First Order Artifact Refiner assessments.
• After a twelve-hour break, Chu Mu studied the Azure Cloud Banner and failed twice before successfully refining it on his third attempt, passing the Second Order Low-Grade assessment.
• Chu Mu studied the Yellow-Grade Prison Warden Enforcement Puppet formula and recognized that his Qi Refining Realm cultivation could not support its Foundation Establishment-level refinement.
• Chu Mu failed all three attempts at the puppet, and the wall recorded his Artifact Refiner Grade as Second Order Low-Grade and his Artifact Refiner Aptitude as Heaven-Rank Top Grade.

Chu Mu received the complete upper volume of the Weapon Refinement Grand Summary and spent twenty days studying and experimenting with unlimited materials. After leaving the illusory refinement space, he encountered a girl who asked whether he was a cultivator from outside Great Heng, leaving him puzzled about where he was.

• Chu Mu received the Weapon Refinement Grand Summary, a complete inheritance covering weapon refinement from the First to Third Order, and learned he could remain in the space for twenty days.
• Chu Mu used Spirit Radiance to calm himself, studied the First and Second Order techniques, and began refining with the unlimited spiritual materials.
• Chu Mu spent all his Spirit Radiance and nearly exhausted the room’s materials, also using rare Spirit Herbs to practice Alchemy before his twenty-day stay ended.
• Chu Mu tried the wooden door but could not move it, then heard footsteps approaching the Ninety-ninth Step.
• A girl in a pale green gauze skirt appeared and asked Chu Mu whether he was a cultivator from outside Great Heng, leaving him confused about the place’s name.

Chu Mu encountered a curious girl from Great Heng in the illusory Immortal Path Pavilion before being pulled back to reality, while she activated the pavilion’s Heavenly Mark Crystal Stone. At Sword Washing Lake, Wangcai had grown to First Order Completion and defeated two cultivators with Chu Mu’s help, and the pair left as others approached.

• Chu Mu asked the girl about Great Heng and learned she came from a distant cultivation realm, but a sudden pull separated them before he could ask more.
• The girl appeared in the real Immortal Path Pavilion and used a Heavenly Mark Spirit Stone token to activate the Heavenly Mark Crystal Stone, which then vanished.
• At Sword Washing Lake, Wangcai hunted a demon fish and drove away nearby Monster Beasts with his First Order Completion aura.
• Two cultivators discussed the lake’s missing Second Order Demon Beast and decided to notify their Lineage about a possible Immortal Path Sect relic.
• Wangcai fought two Qi Refining Completion cultivators underwater, killing both with Chu Mu’s assistance.
• Chu Mu realized Wangcai had grown stronger during his absence, then led him away after sensing someone approaching.

After killing two Xie Family core disciples, Chu Mu discovered that their metal eyes had secretly recorded and transmitted information, so he destroyed them and kept their spoils. He then studied a Monster Beast guide that explained how Wangcai might improve its bloodline through ancestral-return transformation, and led it toward the mountains in search of an opportunity.

• Chu Mu realized the two Xie Family cultivators had carried metal eyes that monitored and transmitted information, and that they had used shields to conceal their gains.
• Chu Mu took the cultivators’ accumulated spirit materials, herbs, Monster Beast corpses, Soul Condensing Stones, Spirit Stones, and other items, then crushed both metal eyes.
• Chu Mu emerged from the lake with Wangcai and decided to avoid further conflicts during the few days remaining in the Secret Realm.
• Chu Mu identified Wangcai as a Black Mountain Cang Wolf and learned from a Monster Beast Illustrated Guide that a higher-level Blood Essence could improve its chance of ancestral-return transformation.
• Chu Mu resolved to look for a suitable Monster Beast or Blood Essence for Wangcai and led it toward the mountains across the lake.