Chapter Summaries

Chu Mu used the White Serpent’s underestimation to wound it and defeat its Double-Bladed Giant Beast, but the serpent escaped with its spatial treasure, the Clarity Mirror. Injured and wary of their next encounter, Chu Mu collected the giant beast’s corpse as Golden Core cultivators arrived from the Demon Suppression Islands.

• Chu Mu overwhelmed the White Serpent with his Blade Intent Domain and true fire, forcing it to freeze itself inside a protective ice sculpture.
• The White Serpent used its Clarity Mirror to escape the Nine Dragons Divine Fire Grand Array and redirect Chu Mu’s attacks through spatial portals.
• Chu Mu shifted his assault to the Double-Bladed Giant Beast and used the concealed Blade War Puppet to break through its soul defense and kill it.
• The White Serpent fled after losing its giant beast, and Chu Mu realized it had underestimated him and would be better prepared next time.
• Chu Mu recovered from his injuries, stored the giant beast’s corpse, and watched several Golden Core cultivators arrive from the Demon Suppression Islands.

Chu Mu spent ninety-nine days refining the Nine Dragons Suppressing Prison Tower with rare fire materials and the Azure Purple Crystal, raising it to a Superior Grade Magic Treasure with Size As One Wishes. He then inspected the enormous Demon Corpse, recognized the rare materials wasted in its construction, and concluded that the Dark Serpent Clan had abundant resources but lacked skilled Artifact Refiners.

• Chu Mu used the resources he had gathered to further refine the Nine Dragons Suppressing Prison Tower and merge the Azure Purple Crystal into it.
• After ninety-nine days, the tower transformed into a Superior Grade Magic Treasure that could change size and be stored in his dantian for continual nurturing.
• Chu Mu sensed that the upgraded tower could counter the Dark Serpent's Void Clarity Realm and ease his concern about facing it again.
• Chu Mu examined his many stored resources and brought the enormous Demon Corpse into his quiet room.
• Chu Mu identified valuable materials in the Demon Corpse and judged its modification to be wasteful, concluding that the Dark Serpent Clan lacked capable Artifact Refiners.

Chu Mu received a fist-sized piece of Nine Heavens Profound Gold through True Understanding Pavilion, bringing his Blade Intent Treasure closer to being possible. While examining a modified Monster Beast corpse, he discovered its flesh and blood had been altered by a vicious process.

• Chu Mu received the spiritual materials gathered by True Understanding Pavilion and found a fist-sized piece of Nine Heavens Profound Gold among them.
• Chu Mu learned that a disguised Qi Refining cultivator had traded the ore at the True Understanding Main Pavilion in Red Glow City for pills, a Puppetry construct, and two Top-Grade Spiritual Artifacts.
• Chu Mu viewed recordings of the cultivator and suspected he was a young Immortal Path disciple fleeing the Longevity Sect, but decided not to pursue him.
• Chu Mu examined the modified Monster Beast corpse and found its hide unusually tough even after death.
• Chu Mu cut into the corpse and identified Mithril Blood Infusion and Iron Essence Marrow Infusion as the cause of its altered flesh and blood.

Chu Mu dissected a powerful demon corpse and reverse-engineered the body-refinement method that had fused spirit materials into its flesh. He decided to consider refining the corpse as a puppet, but worried that a corpse puppet might eventually turn on him.

• Chu Mu spent nearly a month analyzing the demon corpse and recorded the secrets of its blood, bones, and organs in a Jade Slip.
• Chu Mu realized the refinement method was likely based on a remarkable Body Refining cultivation art that fused different spirit materials into a body without conflict.
• Chu Mu concluded that the Azure Ice Flame heart would be most useful as a complete spirit material rather than as a source of flame.
• Chu Mu considered turning the demon corpse into a corpse puppet using a refinement method he had acquired from a Golden Core Corpse Cultivator.
• Chu Mu weighed the corpse puppet’s superior ability to preserve and enhance the demon body against its danger of devouring its master, and considered using Great Sun True Fire or Blade Intent as countermeasures.

Chu Mu investigated the Chen Family’s sudden mobilization and learned that the Demon Suppression Islands’ teleportation arrays had been sealed amid growing unrest in the Vast Ocean Cultivation Realm. He formed an alliance with He Fengshan and Chi Shan, then returned to studying the Demon Corpse as he weighed how to prepare for the coming upheaval.

• Chu Mu manifested his Blade Intent Battle Puppet and considered using blade intent to control the Demon Corpse’s vulnerable divine soul.
• Chu Mu saw Chen Family forces gathering on Heavenly Hero Island and learned they had headed toward the Inner Sea while the teleportation array was shut down.
• Chi Shan suspected a crisis in the Inner Sea or Southern Border Region, and He Fengshan proposed that the three Golden Core cultivators protect one another.
• Chu Mu, He Fengshan, and Chi Shan signed a Divine Soul Contract establishing an offensive and defensive alliance.
• Chu Mu reviewed his cultivation resources, considered the risks of remaining in the region, and resumed focusing on refining the Demon Corpse.

Chu Mu used a vast collection of corpses and the battlefield’s accumulated Killing Intent to complete the final stage of refining a powerful corpse puppet. He reunited with Wangcai, whose recent advancement to the Third Order and Adamantine Wolf King Bloodline had surpassed his expectations, while the war continued to strain the Hanhai Chen Family’s defenses.

• The chapter described how the Demon Suppression Islands and the Hanhai Chen Family’s inner island defenses were being threatened by enemies outside and dangers within.
• Chu Mu fed more than sixteen hundred Demon Corpses and fifty-eight cultivator corpses into the Blood Pool to nourish the corpse puppet with blood and Killing Intent.
• Chu Mu inspected the transforming puppet, which had a reconstructed body, integrated blades, and inscriptions that absorbed the Blood Pool’s power; he estimated it would be ready in three days.
• Wangcai arrived, and Chu Mu gave it a Third Order Demon Corpse to eat while reassuring it that the Blood Pool’s Blood Food belonged to it.
• Chu Mu recalled that Wangcai had advanced to the Third Order after gaining the Adamantine Wolf King Bloodline and that it seemed to be developing a Bloodline Divine Ability.

Chu Mu watched his corpse puppet finish emerging from its blood cocoon and forced it to submit with his Blade Intent and Slave Seal. He brought the Heaven Rank High Grade puppet to Earthly Fiend Island, where He Fengshan and Chi Shan were stunned by its power.

• Chu Mu considered how difficult Golden Core cultivation had become and wondered whether studying Wangcai's Bloodline Divine Ability or the Longevity Sect's Scripture Pavilion could help improve his aptitude.
• As the corpse puppet began to stir with the urge to devour its master, Chu Mu suppressed it with Blade Intent and relied on the Slave Seal and his safeguards to keep it controlled.
• The blood cocoon merged into the corpse puppet, revealing its Azure Ice Flame enhancements and immense potential; it ultimately knelt in submission to Chu Mu.
• Chu Mu rode the corpse puppet to Earthly Fiend Island and brought it to the True Understanding Pagoda, while Wangcai followed him inside.
• He Fengshan and Chi Shan assessed the puppet and concluded that even together they would likely struggle to defeat it.

Chu Mu learned from Zhao Zuoxun’s intelligence that the Chen family’s authority was collapsing as anti-Chen forces rose across the Vast Ocean Cultivation Realm. With the region engulfed in turmoil and the Beast Tide raging around the Demon Suppression Islands, he remained wary of what might come.

• Zhao Zuoxun delivered a Jade Slip to the True Understanding Stronghold while enduring the corpse puppet’s terrifying aura.
• Wangcai returned from hunting with a bloody serpent and frightened Zhao Zuoxun before Chu Mu called it inside.
• Chu Mu scolded Wangcai for bullying cultivators, gave it Spirit Stones, and warned it not to leave the island because the outside was unsafe.
• Chu Mu read intelligence describing how a Heretical Cultivator force had killed a Chen Family Golden Core cultivator and publicly executed a Chen Family Nascent Soul.
• The Heavenly Star Alliance and other forces rose against the Chen family as the Black Serpent kept the family occupied, leaving the Vast Ocean Cultivation Realm in widespread disorder.

Chu Mu questioned the motives behind the Dark Serpent Clan’s invasion and realized the closed Teleportation Hall trapped low-level cultivators on the Demon Suppression Islands. He learned that three Golden Core cultivators who had left the islands had been attacked, deepening fears that either demon beasts or people were killing them.

• Chu Mu examined the Dark Serpent Clan’s prolonged war against the Chen Family and suspected that hidden interests were driving the conflict.
• Chu Mu concluded that the Chen Family was keeping the Teleportation Hall closed to prevent cultivators from leaving, leaving low-tier cultivators trapped amid the demon-infested Forbidden Sea.
• Chu Mu received messages that Mingyu Real Person’s Life Soul Lamp had gone out and that Lieshan Real Person’s and Huagu Real Person’s lamps had shattered after the three left the islands.
• He Fengshan, Chi Shan, and Chu Mu wondered whether demon beasts or people had attacked the three Golden Core cultivators, then hurried to a gathering on Heavenly Leader Island.

Chu Mu, He Fengshan, and Chi Shan attended a Chen Family gathering for Golden Core cultivators, discussing the profits and dangers of supporting the clan. The meeting began under the unexpected presence of a powerful Nascent Soul expert, leaving Chu Mu alarmed about the Chen Family’s intentions.

• He Fengshan and Chi Shan discussed the Chen Family’s efforts to recruit them and the risks of fighting its enemies, while Chu Mu weighed the benefits against his ties to the Longevity Sect.
• Qing Ling, a newly arrived Golden Core cultivator, welcomed Chu Mu, He Fengshan, and Chi Shan into a hall where Golden Core cultivators gathered.
• Chu Mu received numerous Divine Sense Transmissions from cultivators who sought his expertise in pills and weapons as the hall filled.
• A gray-haired Chen Family elder appeared on the platform, and the assembled cultivators bowed to him.
• Chu Mu sensed that the elder’s cultivation surpassed the Nascent Soul experts he had encountered and feared what the gathering would bring.

Qing Cang announced the Chen family’s new campaign against heretical cultivators, offering rewards for cooperation and death for resistance. As Chu Mu considered leaving the Demon Suppression Islands, he accepted a commission from Li Yue and was approached by Qing Ling for a favor.

• Qing Cang thanked the Golden Core cultivators, distributed gifts, and ordered them to re-register their Merit Tokens under the revised system while warning that the Demon Subjugation Hall would kill anyone colluding with heretical cultivators.
• Chu Mu exchanged his high-grade spirit stones with He Fengshan, while Chi Shan said he planned to return southwest and join the Heaven Bamboo Alliance.
• Chu Mu decided the Demon Suppression Islands had become too dangerous and considered leaving through the Heavenly Mystery Island Teleportation Hall, though it remained closed.
• Li Yue asked Chu Mu to improve an incomplete weapon formula for Superior Grade Magic Treasure robe armor, and Chu Mu agreed to study it for a month.
• Qing Ling approached Chu Mu and asked him to help with a small favor.

Qing Ling revealed that she could cultivate as a human and transform into a pure-blooded Jiaolong, and asked Chu Mu to devise a Lifebound Magic Treasure suited to both forms. Chu Mu agreed to discuss the refinement at True Understanding Stronghold in a month, while Qing Ling would investigate when travel to Red Cloud Island could resume.

• Qing Ling took Chu Mu to a private room and swore him to secrecy before revealing her Half-Human Half-Jiaolong bloodline.
• Qing Ling demonstrated that she could cultivate pure immortal Dao magic power in human form and become a pure-blooded Jiaolong in dragon form.
• Qing Ling asked Chu Mu to devise a Lifebound Magic Treasure compatible with both aspects of her nature, and Chu Mu said he would need her full cooperation and suitable materials.
• Qing Ling explained that interference in the teleportation routes around the Demon Suppression Islands made returning to Red Cloud Island dangerous for now.
• Chu Mu asked Qing Ling to inquire about repairs and arranged to meet her at True Understanding Stronghold on Earthly Fiend Island in one month.

Chu Mu returned to Crimson Clouds after escaping turmoil in the Demon Suppression Islands and expanded his automated Spirit Planting Garden. Unable to understand Qing Ling Fairy’s Half-Human Half-Jiaolong nature, he turned his attention to designing her Lifebound Magic Treasure.

• Chu Mu considered refining pouches to conceal Wangcai and his corpse puppet, but lacked the rare materials needed to make them.
• Over several months, the Chen Family drew more than half of the independent Golden Core cultivators in the Demon Suppression Islands into its revised merit system, while Chu Mu avoided the turmoil.
• Chu Mu returned to Crimson Clouds through Qing Ling Fairy after the islands’ Teleportation Array was repaired, using treasure refinement as his excuse to leave.
• Chu Mu inspected his expanded Spirit Planting Garden, where linked puppet cores and a Heavenly Mark Crystal Stone tracked spirit-plant conditions across the fields.
• After nearly half a year of studying Qing Ling Fairy without discovering how her human and jiaolong forms coexisted, Chu Mu stopped investigating and focused on designing her Lifebound Magic Treasure.

Chu Mu learned that the Ba Zhou Alliance would auction a genuine, human-head-sized piece of Nine Heavens Profound Gold at its thousandth-anniversary celebration. He decided he had to obtain it, while Chang Hongyi prepared to manage True Understanding Pavilion amid mounting pressure from competing factions.

• Chang Hongyi turned away Hu Yunjiang, who had come on Shan Yan Real Person’s orders to meet Chu Mu, explaining that Chu Mu was in seclusion.
• Chu Mu reassured Chang Hongyi that True Understanding Pavilion could reduce its influence if necessary and gave her flawless pills, then showed her the Ninth True Inheritance Token and said the Vast Ocean’s chaos began with the Longevity Sect.
• Chang Hongyi told Chu Mu that the Ba Zhou Alliance had listed Nine Heavens Profound Gold in an auction held during its year-end thousandth-anniversary celebration.
• Chang Hongyi explained that the Ba Zhou Alliance had recently lifted its blockade of Ba Province and that rumors said Ba Dao Real Person might return as a Nascent Soul Great Expert.
• Chu Mu confirmed from the auction catalog that the human-head-sized Nine Heavens Profound Gold was genuine and decided to attend in True Understanding Pavilion’s name to obtain it.

Chu Mu discussed a design for Qing Ling’s Lifebound Magic Treasure, and she approved his proposal and agreed to stay at his residence while they refined it. After Qing Ling admired his Spirit Planting Garden, Chu Mu asked what she knew about the Ba Zhou Alliance, and she explained that its thousand-year celebration was actually for Ba Dao Real Person’s Nascent Soul formation.

• Chu Mu showed Qing Ling his proposed Lifebound Magic Treasure design, and she agreed to proceed with it.
• Qing Ling chose to stay at Chu Mu’s residence so they could discuss the treasure’s design without delays.
• Chu Mu let Qing Ling inspect his Spirit Planting Garden, where she recognized how its puppets and formations worked together.
• Chu Mu asked Qing Ling about the Ba Zhou Alliance because he wanted to learn about the force before dealing with it.
• Qing Ling said Ba Dao Real Person had reportedly formed his Nascent Soul long ago and that the Alliance’s thousand-year celebration marked that achievement.

Chu Mu learned that Ba Dao Real Person, a newly advanced Nascent Soul blade intent cultivator, could disrupt the Ba Zhou Alliance's Millennial Celebration. Qing Ling revealed that the Nine Heavens Profound Gold at the upcoming auction came from an unidentified Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator who had wounded a Golden Core pursuer, and Chu Mu quietly probed for clues about him.

• Qing Ling explained that Ba Dao Real Person was a rare blade intent cultivator whose strength could rival much higher-ranked Nascent Soul experts.
• Chu Mu considered whether Ba Dao Real Person was included in the Longevity Sect's plans and worried that the Millennial Celebration might become troubled if he was not.
• Qing Ling revealed that the Chen Family had a special intelligence file on Chu Mu and invited him to join her clan, but Chu Mu declined.
• Qing Ling told Chu Mu that the auction's Nine Heavens Profound Gold had come from a Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator who had wounded a Golden Core True Person and escaped.
• Chu Mu asked whether the rogue cultivator's combat methods or cultivation arts offered clues to his identity.

Chu Mu and Qing Ling investigated the mysterious cultivator who escaped Ba Zhou with Nine Heavens Profound Gold, and Chu Mu realized the man had traded away treasures he had personally refined. After Qing Ling moved into True Understanding Pavilion, Chu Mu focused on designing her Lifebound Magic Treasure, finally completing its conception in the height of summer.

• Qing Ling showed Chu Mu surveillance footage of the mysterious Foundation Establishment cultivator and asked whether he recognized anything about the man's puppet and Spirit Artifacts.
• Chu Mu recognized that the puppet and Spirit Artifacts had been made by him, including treasures he had once traded from the True Understanding Pavilion for Nine Heavens Profound Gold.
• Chu Mu lamented that the cultivator had traded elsewhere instead of returning to the True Understanding Pavilion, then concealed his thoughts from Qing Ling.
• Qing Ling said she would stay at True Understanding Pavilion while preparing her Cave Abode, and Chu Mu resumed studying the design of her Lifebound Magic Treasure.
• Qing Ling moved into the rear courtyard, and after months of discussion and design work, Chu Mu completed the treasure's conception in the height of summer.

Chu Mu completed the refinement of Qing Ling’s Lifebound Magic Treasure, the Sun Moon Golden Wheel, which suited both her immortal cultivation and jiaolong bloodline. Qing Ling accepted the treasure and learned how its power could later be strengthened with Sun Moon or Yin Yang spiritual materials.

• As Red Glow City declined, Chu Mu replenished the True Understanding Main Pavilion’s stock while preparing to refine Qing Ling’s Lifebound Magic Treasure.
• Qing Ling delivered the rare materials for the treasure less than half a month after receiving its formula.
• Chu Mu guided Qing Ling through blood-refining the two crescent wheels in human and jiaolong forms, then watched her completely refine the Sun Moon Golden Wheel.
• Chu Mu explained that Qing Ling could strengthen the treasure later by fusing compatible Sun Moon or Yin Yang spiritual materials after stabilizing its attributes.
• Qing Ling offered Chu Mu her help in the future, and he accepted her offer.

Chu Mu tested his newly crafted space-piercing flying boat and refined a Spiritual Beast Pouch, putting Wangcai inside it. While Chu Mu explored the pouch’s small inner world, the corpse puppet attacked it from outside, and the chapter left Chu Mu pondering the hierarchy and origins of worlds.

• Chu Mu flew from Red Glow North Port aboard his concealed space-piercing boat and considered how its abilities might be improved, while judging it sufficient for Golden Core Realm threats.
• Chu Mu decided to refine a Spiritual Beast Pouch for Wangcai and realized the corpse puppet could share it, then spent a month crafting the pouch aboard the boat.
• Chu Mu entered the finished pouch with Wangcai, and the corpse puppet resisted its Slave Seal and attacked the pouch with corpse qi.
• Chu Mu’s cold snort forced the corpse puppet to collapse in pain, and Wangcai appeared and lunged at it.
• Chu Mu explored the pouch’s self-contained space and reflected on how Storage Space, secret realms, and the wider cultivation world formed a hierarchy of worlds.

Chu Mu suppressed his rebellious corpse puppet and reviewed his progress while planning his journey from Crimson Clouds to Ba Prefecture. He estimated the trip would take about two months, then began cultivating aboard the Flying Boat.

• Chu Mu named the cloth pouch the Qiankun Pouch and hung it at his waist.
• Chu Mu stopped Wangcai from tearing apart the corpse puppet, punished it through the Slave Seal, and drew it into the Qiankun Pouch.
• Chu Mu traced a route across the Sea Chart and estimated that his journey to Ba Prefecture would take about two months.
• Chu Mu reviewed his Light Screen Panel, noting his progress in formations, Blade Intent, and Golden Core cultivation.
• Chu Mu decided to cultivate after settling the matter and swallowed an Alchemical Pill.