Chapter Summaries

Lu Sheng left the Yuan Devil Sect’s secret passage, killed the Wandering God guard, and returned toward the school. Meanwhile, the Grand Elder fought two Wandering God members in the Secret Arts Hall and faced a dangerous attack.

• Lu Sheng opened the secret passage and found Wandering God, Bear blocking the exit.
• Lu Sheng crushed Bear’s saber, struck him into a wall, and killed him by tearing off his head.
• Lu Sheng took Bear’s elastic black garment and belongings, then hurried back through the passage.
• The Grand Elder fought two Black-Clothed Men, who identified themselves as Wandering God and revealed they had once invited Liu Shanzi to join them.
• One Black-Clothed Man began charging a red-glowing halberd attack, and the Grand Elder recognized its distinctive opening stance and tried to shield himself with black fire.

Lu Sheng defeated the invading Black-Clothed Men and captured Hong Qing, learning that a stronger Wandering God remained nearby. After deciding to send that foe a greeting gift, he turned toward the distant presence while the Grand Elder lay unconscious.

• The Grand Elder retreated from the divine-weapon-lit halberd, and Lu Sheng emerged, snapped the weapon, and protected his unconscious teacher.
• Lu Sheng overwhelmed the three Black-Clothed Men with his speed and strength, killing two and capturing the short one, Hong Qing.
• Lu Sheng bound Hong Qing with the Yin Crane Net and Red Zenith Nine Fiends Skill, then learned that the last Wandering God was one of the three great giants.
• Hong Qing identified the defeated men as heads of the Rear Banner School, and Lu Sheng decided to send a greeting gift toward the distant powerful presence.
• A black-clothed man walked along the Yuan Devil Sect's main road and saw Lu Sheng's disciples fighting Lotus Fragrance Zi in the distance.

Lu Sheng returned after driving off the attackers and found Lotus Fragrance Zi and the Grand Elder badly injured. As the group considered what to do next, the Grand Elder woke and took charge.

• The black-clothed man caught the Crimson Halberd thrown from afar and ordered his three disciples to retreat, leaving Lotus Fragrance Zi alive.
• Lu Sheng returned and comforted the bloodied Lotus Fragrance Zi, who finally recognized him and fell asleep in his arms.
• Lu Sheng carried Lotus Fragrance Zi to her cave and checked on the unconscious Grand Elder while Song Zi'an explained that White Face Senior Apprentice Sister was an Anomaly.
• Lu Sheng and Song Zi'an saw White Face Senior Apprentice Sister standing outside without ringing the usual bell, and Lu Sheng suggested they focus on recovering and seek help from Clear Garden School.
• The Grand Elder woke, rebuked Song Zi'an for mentioning his past with Clear Sky Granny, and told Lu Sheng and Song Zi'an that he would handle matters from then on.

Zhan Kongning explained the Central Plains Nine Families’ role in suppressing Chaotic Divine Weapon Devil Blades, while Lu Sheng considered the threats facing the Yuan Devil Sect. The Grand Elder brought Lu Sheng to see the sect’s Saint Weapon fragments, and Lu Sheng cautiously approached their power.

• Zhan Kongning told Lu Sheng that the Central Plains Nine Families suppressed Chaotic Divine Weapon Devil Blades and that the Hundred Veins mattered little to their upper ranks.
• Lu Sheng asked Grand Elder Liu Shanzi how to protect the Yuan Devil Sect, and Liu Shanzi warned that the Wandering Gods might attack again.
• Liu Shanzi offered to show Lu Sheng the remains of the sect’s Saint Weapon so he could experience its power.
• Liu Shanzi led Lu Sheng into a cavern, where he showed him Maru, a giant egg-like creature, and a pool holding Saint Weapon fragments.
• Lu Sheng approached the pool and felt an immense, terrifying force in the air before slowly reaching toward it.

Lu Sheng tested the power of a Saint Weapon fragment and learned from the Grand Elder why human cultivation could not resist Divine Weapon Devil Blades. As the Yuan Devil Sect prepared for the alliance meeting, Lin Beikai confronted Lin Huandao over losses among the Wandering Gods, including casualties tied to several schools.

• Lu Sheng combined Yin-Yang Fusion with Qi-Liquid Burning to touch the Saint Weapon fragment, but its power withered his finger and erased the qi-liquid within it.
• The Grand Elder explained that Divine Weapon Devil Blades wield Source Level dharma power, which ordinary vital energy and secret arts could not overcome.
• The Grand Elder warned Lu Sheng to act within his means at the coming alliance meeting and protect himself and He Xiang rather than risk their lives for resources.
• In Lonely Smoke City, Lin Beikai demanded an account of the Wandering Gods' losses from Lin Huandao and rebuked him for calling them minor.
• Lin Huandao read the casualty report, noted that nine people had been lost in the Hundred Refinements School operation, and defended the plan as remaining within Lin Beikai's tolerance.

Lin Beikai and Lin Huandao planned to use the Saint Weapon to ambush the schools returning from the alliance gathering, then learned that Shangyang Fei had passed Mu Shan Brush’s test. Meanwhile, Lu Sheng advanced the No Cause Ghost Face Art and formed the Spirit Communication Gate, whose first activation made Poison Mist River shudder.

• Lin Huandao offered to attack personally, and Lin Beikai agreed while warning him about Shangyang Fei and the Huang Family’s White Princess.
• Lin Huandao proposed intercepting the schools after the alliance gathering with the Saint Weapon, then revealed that Shangyang Fei had passed Mu Shan Brush’s test.
• Lu Sheng returned to Poison Mist River and used Deep Blue to raise the No Cause Ghost Face Art to its Fourth Layer.
• Lu Sheng noticed faint Poison Mist Fire burning over his Yang Extremity State body and decided to continue cultivating.
• Lu Sheng formed the Spirit Communication Gate inside his chest and poured devil qi into it, sending ripples across Poison Mist River.

Lu Sheng completed Spirit Communication, discovered a faint golden power from a hidden bloodline, and used the Modifier to advance his Devil Heart Path. He formed a second Yin Devil Intent and now possessed both the human-faced snake and the new heart.

• The Grand Elder reviewed the Yuan Devil Sect's records of experts killed by Divine Weapon Devil Blades and Saint Weapons, then regarded Lu Sheng as the sect's future successor.
• Lu Sheng absorbed Poison Mist River water during Spirit Communication, rapidly converted devil qi into Yuan Devil Qi, and found it had little effect on his existing martial arts.
• Lu Sheng noticed a faint golden power in his footprint and realized his bloodline might contain a trace of Divine Weapon Devil Blade power.
• Lu Sheng used the Modifier to raise the Spirit Communication Art, causing a black heart to form as a second Yin Devil Intent.
• Lu Sheng inspected his progress and saw that his Devil Heart Path had reached the Second Layer, with two Yin Devil Intents now present.

Lu Sheng used God-Entrusting Power to condense all nine devil-intent hearts before beginning the required adaptation period. In White Bell City, Yan Kai and Xiao Qin met Ying Ying, but Lu Sheng arrived and took Ying Ying away, leaving Yan Kai shaken by his presence.

• Lu Sheng spent most of his remaining God-Entrusting Power condensing nine devil-intent hearts and grew exhausted.
• Lu Sheng learned that he needed to rest for a day before he could condense the final devil heart.
• In White Bell City, Xiao Qin introduced Yan Kai to her friend Ying Ying, who was Red Workshop Bai in disguise.
• Yan Kai and Xiao Qin discussed the upcoming Hundred Veins Assembly and Young Master Bai Xiu of Ten Thousand Shun Palace.
• Lu Sheng arrived and ordered Ying Ying to return with him, and Yan Kai recognized the Yuan Devil Sect emblem and warned Xiao Qin not to approach.
• Yan Kai recalled Lu Sheng's terrifying reputation and the lasting impression he had left during the trial.

Yan Kai told Xiao Qin how his encounter with Lu Sheng and the Three Saints Gate left him badly injured and terrified of Lu Sheng’s strength. Meanwhile, Lu Sheng prepared for the alliance gathering in White Bell City, where Lotus Fragrance Zi reunited with an old ally.

• Xiao Qin noticed Yan Kai’s scars, demanded an explanation, and took him to a wine shop to hear his story.
• Yan Kai recounted the Red Dragon Calamity, the Unsmiling Master’s illusion realm, and the Gate of Pain, revealing that he had barely escaped after facing Lu Sheng at half strength.
• Lu Sheng reviewed the alliance roster with Lotus Fragrance Zi and Ying Ying while keeping his Devil Intent Hearts’ unsettling influence under control.
• Lotus Fragrance Zi explained the gathering’s organizers and opponents, then pointed out the Kaiyang School and its leader, Yi Chengshan.
• Chen Yunxiang arrived with members of the Jade Echo Gate, greeted Lotus Fragrance Zi, and met Lu Sheng, the Yuan Devil Sect’s candidate.

Lu Sheng and the Yuan Devil Sect’s disciples settled in White Bell City ahead of the alliance gathering, where Lotus Fragrance Zi explained the contest and warned that Li Du would likely be their first opponent. Lu Sheng declined an offer to meet a powerful contact and went out alone, while Zhan Hongsheng complained about him to Fang Tan, who quietly remembered his name.

• Chen Yunxiang comforted Lotus Fragrance Zi after Li Du of the Different Cavity Sect mocked her and recalled that he had defeated her at the previous gathering.
• Zhan Kongning and Zhan Hongsheng arrived with the Clear Garden School’s group, and Lu Sheng sent the Red Whale Gang members away from the disciples’ gathering.
• Lotus Fragrance Zi explained the alliance gathering’s three stages and said the Yuan Devil Sect would likely face Li Du first; Lu Sheng calmly offered to draw with him.
• Lu Sheng refused Zhan Kongning’s invitation to meet Fang Tan and left the inn to find more food and nutrition pills.
• Zhan Hongsheng criticized Lu Sheng to Fang Tan, who concealed his interest and memorized Lu Sheng’s name.

Lu Sheng and Lotus Fragrance Zi traveled to Jade Intent Palace for the alliance gathering, where they represented the last-ranked Yuan Devil Sect with only two participants. After registering, they were assigned lodgings and were left to face the gathering largely on their own.

• Lu Sheng and Lotus Fragrance Zi rode with the School convoys toward the Silent Mountain Range and learned that the Yuan Devil Sect had ranked sixty-fourth among the Hundred Veins.
• The two entered the mountains on foot, declined a coachman's offer to guide them for a Black Coin, and reached Jade Intent Palace.
• At the palace gate, Lu Sheng told the registrar that only he and Lotus Fragrance Zi were participating, and they received their stage token.
• Chen Yunxiang greeted Lotus Fragrance Zi and offered to arrange shared lodging, but other acquaintances soon pulled her away.
• The registrar assigned the Yuan Devil Sect to District Five's Graceful Orchid Garden and sent Ti Sheng to guide them there.

Lu Sheng and Lotus Fragrance Zi arrived at Jade Intent Palace for the alliance tournament, where Lu Sheng stayed behind to cultivate and was interrupted by Li Du’s challenge. Lu Sheng tested his Human-Faced Snake and discovered its mind-confusing power was strong enough to make Li Du and his junior apprentice sister mutilate themselves before crawling away.

• A guide led Lu Sheng and Lotus Fragrance Zi to Graceful Orchid Garden and explained the tournament districts and rules.
• Lu Sheng sent Lotus Fragrance Zi to the alliance assembly while he searched the courtyard and prepared to hatch his second Devil Intent Heart.
• Fighting broke out near Graceful Orchid Garden, and Lu Sheng resumed cultivating after the disturbance ended.
• Li Du arrived with his junior apprentice sister and demanded that the Yuan Devil Sect withdraw from the alliance.
• Lu Sheng released the Human-Faced Snake, causing Li Du and his junior apprentice sister to gouge out their eyes and lose their legs before crawling out of the courtyard.

Lu Sheng incubated a second devil intent heart and gained a physical Wrathful Lion, while the schools in Jade Intent Palace prepared for their internal struggle. He learned that Yuan Devil Sect had to rise from sixty-fourth to at least sixtieth place, and Lotus Fragrance Zi resolved to help despite Lu Sheng telling her to rest.

• Jade Intent Palace recorders watched Li Du and another Different Cavity Sect disciple crawl out of Yuan Devil Sect's compound with serious injuries, and Different Cavity Sect took them away to recover.
• Huang Sicheng ordered Kaiyang School to avoid Yuan Devil Sect for now and focus on Ice Serenity Valley, while the other schools shut their gates.
• Lu Sheng incubated his second devil intent heart, producing a corporeal Wrathful Lion with antelope-like horns that he could sustain with his replenishing Yuan Devil Qi.
• Lu Sheng met Yue Shengya, Ice Serenity Valley's second seat, who offered to help Yuan Devil Sect and then headed toward Kaiyang School.
• Lotus Fragrance Zi returned with provisions and explained that Yuan Devil Sect needed to reach sixtieth place to stabilize its ranking; Lu Sheng reassured her, but she privately resolved to bear some responsibility herself.

Lu Sheng demonstrated overwhelming strength against the Yellow Sand Sword School, securing the Yuan Devil Sect’s standing and teaching Lotus Fragrance Zi how to use its secret art. Elsewhere, Shangyang Fei left the New Moon Spirit Grotto furious after the Shangyang Family’s Venerable Elders defended their interference with her deployment of the Seventy-Two Judges.

• Lotus Fragrance Zi returned severely wounded from gathering information, and Lu Sheng healed her before deciding to display Six-Mark strength.
• Lu Sheng faced the Yellow Sand Sword School’s challenge, blocked Jian Yi’s sword attack, and explained how to use devilish qi against opponents.
• Lu Sheng destroyed the Yellow Sand Sword School nobleman’s Sandstorm attack with a single palm strike, prompting the school to admit defeat.
• Lotus Fragrance Zi watched Lu Sheng’s demonstration and grew excited by his explanation of the No Cause Ghost Face Art.
• Shangyang Fei confronted the three Venerable Elders over their intervention in the deployment of the Seventy-Two Judges, then left considering the need to transform the Shangyang Family.

After sharing a meal with a ragged old Taoist in Graceful Orchid Garden, Lu Sheng prepared to face Huang Sicheng and three Kaiyang School fighters. The Kaiyang group began using its coordinated secret art against him, leaving the contest’s outcome undecided.

• Lu Sheng cooked a wild goose with medicinal pills, and an old Taoist arrived claiming the bird was his before joining Lu Sheng and Lotus Fragrance Zi for soup.
• The old Taoist left after Lu Sheng finished the entire pot, and Lu Sheng predicted that someone would soon come to challenge him.
• Huang Sicheng arrived with three Kaiyang School fighters and challenged Lu Sheng, while Lotus Fragrance Zi stayed behind because of her injuries.
• Huang Sicheng and the three fighters surrounded Lu Sheng and began using the Kaiyang School’s coordinated secret art, Flying Cry.

Lu Sheng helped the Yuan Devil Sect secure first place in his division, then declined to help Kaiyang School while accepting Ice Serenity Valley’s offer of a Red Sun Iron Mine for one future intervention. At Separate Sky Hall, Peacock Mountain’s Shu Xian challenged the gathered schools to face her all at once.

• Lu Sheng forced Huang Sicheng and the other Kaiyang School challengers to concede, and the schools agreed to finalize the division rankings with the Yuan Devil Sect in first place.
• Huang Sicheng proposed that Lu Sheng help the remaining schools compete beyond the division, but Lu Sheng refused.
• Li Xiuying offered Lu Sheng a small Red Sun Iron Mine for one chance to intervene, and he accepted after warning her about his limitations.
• Lu Sheng and Lotus Fragrance Zi rested and trained before guiding Daoists led the victorious disciples to Separate Sky Hall.
• Yue Shengya relayed Li Xiuying’s suggestion that Lu Sheng challenge Peacock Mountain’s Bai Qing Tang, but Shu Xian arrived and challenged all the schools at once.

Lu Sheng joined the second-stage sect battles but chose to conserve the Yuan Devil Sect’s strength and focus on keeping Bai Qing Tang occupied. As he headed toward Peacock Mountain, former rivals watching from the pavilions were astonished that he had survived his district.

• The arriving sects found Shu Xian isolated from Peacock Mountain, and she fought Yuan Ba until a Heavenly Lotus School Daoist stopped them to explain the group-based battle rules.
• Li Xiuying won two matches, while Lu Sheng and Lotus Fragrance Zi watched the chaotic battles and noticed the Great Tortoise suppressing secret arts across the square.
• Lu Sheng conceded to Zhao Cheng of the Great Yin Yang Yun Tao Sect and explained that the Yuan Devil Sect’s ranking mattered less than the threat posed by the Wandering Gods.
• Lu Sheng identified Bai Qing Tang of Peacock Mountain and set out to keep her occupied as promised to Li Xiuying, while Lotus Fragrance Zi followed him.
• Chen Yunxiang, Zhan Kongning, and Zhan Hongsheng spotted Lu Sheng from the pavilions and wondered how he had advanced when they had been eliminated.

Lu Sheng challenged Bai Qing Tang to delay her while Yuan Ba defeated Shu Xian, fulfilling Li Xiuying’s request. After the competition, Lu Sheng declined an offer to travel with Fang Tan’s group, despite warnings that Shu Xian might target him.

• Fang Tan judged that Lu Sheng would not last thirty moves against Bai Qing Tang and criticized his challenge.
• Lu Sheng fought Bai Qing Tang with his Six-Mark strength, then admitted defeat after holding her back long enough for Yuan Ba to defeat Shu Xian.
• Bai Qing Tang realized Lu Sheng had helped Yuan Ba, and the Yuan Devil Sect finished tied for last as Sea Dawn Sect, Peacock Mountain, and Ten Thousand Maple Valley advanced.
• Li Xiuying thanked Lu Sheng and promised to send the agreed items, while Yue Shengya proposed joining his group on a later trip to White Bell City.
• Chen Yunxiang warned that Shu Xian might retaliate, and Zhan Kongning suggested traveling with Fang Tan’s group, but Lu Sheng refused.
• Fang Tan warned Lu Sheng that alliance rules would not stop Shu Xian from targeting him.

After the alliance’s internal strife phase ended, Lu Sheng passed the waiting days in secluded cultivation and wandered into Jue Rong Cave, where a white-haired youth from the Ye Faction approached him. The youth offered protection and greater cultivation in exchange for joining, but Lu Sheng declined for the moment and left the offer open.

• The schools gathered at Wonderful Sound Hall while they awaited the final rankings and resource allocations, and Lotus Fragrance Zi learned that the Yuan Devil Sect had secured enough victories to place well.
• Lu Sheng found the ranking matches uninteresting and spent several days cultivating before wandering along the river behind Wonderful Sound Hall.
• Lu Sheng followed faint clinking sounds along an overgrown path and discovered Jue Rong Cave, where a white-haired youth told him it had once been the home of the Heavenly Lotus Twin Saints.
• The youth identified Lu Sheng and warned that the Three Saints Gate had targeted him and endangered his family and forces in the Northland.
• The youth invited Lu Sheng to join the Ye Faction, promising broader cultivation and protection, but Lu Sheng doubted its ability to oppose a Weapon Master and declined for now.

Lu Sheng watched the alliance gathering conclude and learned that the Yuan Devil Sect had risen to fifty-ninth place. As the sect prepared to return, he and Liu Shanzi chose to travel alone and stay concealed, while Lin Beikai’s preparations against the Shangyang Family continued in the background.

• Lu Sheng returned from Jue Rong Cave, reflected on the Ye Faction, and cultivated while observing cracks form in his third devil intent heart.
• After the tournament matches ended, Lu Sheng declined to join the others for dinner and left Lotus Fragrance Zi with them.
• Lin Beikai enlisted two Yan God women to monitor the Shangyang Family and stand ready to assist Lin Huandao if needed.
• The alliance gathering ended, and Lotus Fragrance Zi told Lu Sheng that the Yuan Devil Sect had risen to fifty-ninth place after Liu Shanzi defeated three school masters.
• Lu Sheng and Liu Shanzi decided the Yuan Devil Sect would travel home alone to move faster and keep their tracks concealed.