Chapter Summaries

Shen Lin learned that Great Wei planned to combine Great Ming and Great Gan’s methods, using Demon Race corpses to create a force capable of opposing Candle Dragon. He agreed to let the others test their plan while promising to intervene if necessary, then left to deal with the Fire Worship Cult, believing the Wraith Clan would send a Saint Realm expert rather than a Venerable.

• Yuwen Fengxian explained that the Demon Swallowing Spirit Condensation Array could refine Blood Qi Power and Demon Qi from Demon Race corpses into spiritual power.
• Prime Minister Zhang revealed that Great Wei planned to combine Great Ming and Great Gan’s methods to create an existence capable of contending with Candle Dragon, and asked Shen Lin to become that person.
• Shen Lin refused to use the method and warned that it was dangerous, but Yuwen Fengxian and Prime Minister Zhang insisted the Human Race needed to gather strength rather than rely on him alone.
• Ji Nan questioned why they would risk their lives when Shen Lin could lead them away, and Shen Lin agreed to let the others gain experience while he promised to handle any enemies they could not defeat.
• Shen Lin left the prime minister’s residence to deal with the Fire Worship Cult and reasoned that the Wraith Clan would likely send a Saint Realm expert, against whom he still had some confidence.

After Shen Lin left, the Human leaders realized he could grow stronger by killing demons and worried about what might happen if he turned against the Human Race. Prime Minister Zhang urged them to trust Shen Lin for now and focus on escaping their cage, and he ordered the formations activated in one month.

• Ji Zhanxie said Prime Minister Zhang’s guess that Shen Lin grew stronger by killing demons was probably correct, and the leaders discussed the danger of Shen Lin gaining power by killing humans.
• Ji Nan asked whether Shen Lin’s method worked only on demons, and Yuwen Fengxian said Shen Lin would not harm his own race even if it did.
• Ji Zhanxie warned that Shen Lin might change, but Yuwen Fengxian admitted he could not defeat him.
• Prime Minister Zhang argued that they should not worry over a future threat when Shen Lin had helped them defeat the Myriad Demon Kingdom and uncover secrets of the previous dynasty.
• Prime Minister Zhang ordered the others to monitor the formations in the prefectural cities and activate them in one month, while leaving the Fire Worship Cult to Shen Lin.

Shen Lin traveled to Central Prefecture to investigate the Fire Worship Cult and learned of a suspicious village near Wulin County. The Central Prefecture Demon Suppression Division arranged for the Xiao Family to guide him there, while Yang Li reacted with displeasure upon learning he was coming.

• Shen Lin arrived in Central Prefecture and met Thousand-Household Officer Luo Bei Xiao and Deputy Thousand-Household Officer Luo Bei Chen.
• Luo Bei Chen told Shen Lin that the Xiao Family's Third Young Master had reported strange rituals in a village near Wulin County, where the village chief was a Fire Worship Cult member.
• Luo Bei Xiao offered to have the Xiao Family send someone to guide Shen Lin and host a welcome banquet, and Shen Lin agreed to visit.
• The Xiao Family's Third Young Master told Xiao Bai Lian that Luo Bei Xiao was bringing an esteemed guest to their home.
• Yang Li dismissed the visit until Xiao Bai Lian told her that Shen Lin was the guest, prompting her to ask whether he was the one who had annihilated the Myriad Demon Kingdom.

Shen Lin visited the Demon Suppression Division’s altar and considered the danger of using demonic cultivation to steal other races’ fortune. At the Xiao Family estate, he recognized Xiao Bai Lian as the Fire Worship Cult’s Cult Master, turning his search for clues into a direct encounter.

• Yang Li complained to Xiao Bai Lian about Shen Lin killing the demon children, and Xiao Bai Lian sent her to the rear courtyard.
• Xiao Bai Lian reviewed Shen Lin’s background, suspected he was an outsider whose knowledge could help Great Wei escape its confinement, and resolved to eliminate Great Wei’s Dharma Aspect Realm experts after completing his current task.
• Shen Lin inspected the Demon Suppression Division’s altar with Luo Bei Xiao and warned himself that the Human Race must not use demonic methods to steal other races’ fortune in the Chaos Sea.
• Shen Lin answered Luo Bei Xiao and Luo Bei Chen’s cultivation questions on the way to the Xiao Family estate.
• Xiao Bai Lian led the Xiao Family members in welcoming Shen Lin, who recognized him as the Fire Worship Cult’s Cult Master.

Shen Lin recognized Xiao Bai Lian as the Fire Worship Cult's Cult Master and let him host a banquet while the Sea Burning Flame sensed hidden Spirit Void Cattail Flames around the Xiao Residence. When Shen Lin exposed Xiao Bai Lian, Yang Li intervened, but Shen Lin killed seven Xiao Family youths and drew flames from their bodies, forcing Xiao Bai Lian's secret further into the open.

• Shen Lin recognized Xiao Bai Lian through the Sea Burning Flame's reaction and entered the Xiao Residence, where the flame sensed Spirit Void Cattail Flame traces in at least seven locations.
• At the banquet, Shen Lin answered cultivation questions and gave Luo Bei Xiao several Visualization Diagrams before revealing that Xiao Bai Lian was the Fire Worship Cult's Cult Master.
• Xiao Bai Lian denied the accusation, while the Xiao Family ancestor threatened Shen Lin and Luo Bei Xiao struggled to believe the charge.
• Yang Li arrived and challenged Shen Lin for accusing the Xiao Family, but Shen Lin ignored her and waited for something.
• Shen Lin dragged seven Xiao Family youths through the wall and killed them, causing Spirit Void Cattail Flames to emerge from their bodies as he challenged Xiao Bai Lian to stop hiding.

Xiao Bai Lian revealed himself as the Fire Worship Cult Master and challenged Shen Lin after demonstrating his power. Shen Lin declared that he had come to kill him, and the two began fighting.

• Xiao Bai Lian killed the Xiao Family Ancestor with a Heaven Grade Spiritual Flame and revealed seven Spirit Void Cattail Flames.
• Xiao Bai Lian exposed his Dharma Aspect Realm cultivation, and Luo Bei Xiao and Yang Li realized he was the Fire Worship Cult Master.
• Xiao Bai Lian asked Shen Lin how he had discovered him, then offered to work together, but Shen Lin refused and said he had come to kill him.
• Xiao Bai Lian's aura destroyed the area around the pavilion, so Luo Bei Xiao led his brother and Yang Li away while Shen Lin advanced with his All-Self Aspect.
• Xiao Bai Lian struck at Shen Lin with a hidden attack, then summoned flames that swallowed him whole.

Shen Lin survived Pu Bai Lian’s Formless Flame Cage with the help of his Heavenly Dao Profound Flame, the Sea Burning Flame. Pu Bai Lian tried to seize it and kill Shen Lin, but Shen Lin defeated him with the Taowu Saber.

• Xiao Bai Lian’s Formless Flame Cage vanished after Shen Lin’s Sea Burning Flame devoured it, revealing Shen Lin unharmed.
• Pu Bai Lian recognized Shen Lin’s Heavenly Dao Profound Flame and recalled how the Golden Body Clan had destroyed the Firefly Clan, leaving him intent on revenge.
• Pu Bai Lian attacked Shen Lin after the Sea Burning Flame began devouring his incomplete Formless Flame, but Shen Lin’s flaming swords burned away his shadows.
• Shen Lin drew the Taowu Saber and struck Pu Bai Lian with a Flame Saber Qi, setting him ablaze.

Shen Lin unleashed more of the Taowu Saber’s power against Pu Bai Lian, whose Faith Condensing Flame had restored and strengthened him. The Taowu overwhelmed Pu Bai Lian and swallowed the Faith Condensing Flame, forcing Shen Lin to seal it before its stolen power could erupt.

• Luo Bei Xiao ordered Luo Bei Chen to prepare for evacuating Central Prefecture City as the battle threatened to escalate.
• Pu Bai Lian drew power from the Faith Condensing Flame, healing his injuries and raising his cultivation close to the peak of the Dharma Aspect Realm.
• Shen Lin released the Taowu Saber’s restrictions, and it transformed into a Taowu divine beast that attacked Pu Bai Lian.
• The Taowu swallowed Pu Bai Lian’s flame cage and struck him hard despite his strength and the Faith Condensing Flame’s support.
• The Taowu bit into and swallowed the Faith Condensing Flame, so Shen Lin sealed it back into saber form before its stolen power could erupt.

Shen Lin fought Pu Bai Lian, who revealed himself as a Firefly Clan member from outside the continent, and overcame him after the Taowu Saber swallowed the Faith Condensing Flame. Shen Lin destroyed Pu Bai Lian with Flame Coil and Thunder Pool, absorbing his lifespan as Ji Zhanxie and Yuwen Fengxian arrived nearby.

• The Taowu Saber swallowed Pu Bai Lian’s Faith Condensing Flame, leaving him unable to use his strongest fire techniques.
• Shen Lin trapped Pu Bai Lian’s scattered shadows in a cage of fire and attacked with Flame Coil.
• Pu Bai Lian transformed into a swarm of fireflies and pierced Shen Lin’s flaming tornado, triggering a huge explosion above Central Prefecture City.
• Ji Zhanxie and Yuwen Fengxian arrived and discussed Pu Bai Lian’s strength and possible origins beyond the continent.
• Shen Lin summoned Thunder Pool and killed Pu Bai Lian, absorbing his lifespan.

Shen Lin defeated Pu Bai Lian, the Fire Worship Cult's master, and discovered how he had gathered faith to create the Faith Condensing Flame. The recovered Divination Plate taught Shen Lin the Heaven Cutting Heart Sutra before crumbling, leaving him with a new cultivation art to pursue.

• Shen Lin's Sea Burning Flame swallowed Pu Bai Lian's Formless Flame, and Shen Lin learned that Spirit Void Cattail Flames were scattered seeds of the Formless Flame.
• Shen Lin told Yuwen Fengxian and Ji Zhanxie that Pu Bai Lian was dead and left them to deal with the remaining Fire Worship Cult members.
• Shen Lin, Yuwen Fengxian, and Ji Zhanxie explored the underground chamber, where they found insect demons imprisoned in cages and forced to generate faith energy.
• Shen Lin recognized fragments of the Divination Plate, and they joined his damaged plate to form a whole one.
• The Divination Plate imparted the Heaven Cutting Heart Sutra to Shen Lin and revealed that it was the life's work of an old man on Heavenly Mystery Island before crumbling to dust.

Shen Lin used his new divination technique to plan a search for hidden Demon Race members before Great Wei's coming battle with Candle Dragon. A month later, Lin Sinian reached the Primal Chaos Realm, gathered thirteen Dharma Aspect Realm sea beasts, and led them toward the coast, where he confronted Shen Lin.

• Shen Lin killed the imprisoned Demon Race members with lightning and told Yuwen Fengxian he would search the continent for more; Yuwen reminded him to return to the Imperial Capital in a month for the battle against Candle Dragon.
• Lin Sinian broke through to the Primal Chaos Realm and resolved to avenge his father by defeating Shen Lin.
• Lin Sinian used his conch horn to summon thirteen Dharma Aspect Realm demon beasts from the Eastern Sea and led them toward the coast.
• Shen Lin appeared before the approaching beasts and shattered their towering wave with a single palm.
• Lin Sinian recognized Shen Lin and vowed to avenge his humiliation.

Shen Lin hunted down Lin Sinian, the last demon beast above the Star Realm on the continent, and killed him despite his resurrection ability. After collecting Lin Sinian’s conch horn, Shen Lin returned toward the Great Wei Imperial Capital as the Flesh and Blood Sacrifice Array was due to be activated.

• Lin Sinian confronted Shen Lin with thirteen Dharma Aspect Realm demon beasts, furious that Shen Lin still treated him as insignificant.
• Shen Lin killed the demon beasts with twelve lightning swords, then tore off Lin Sinian’s head, but Lin Sinian’s body vanished before a system notification appeared.
• Shen Lin used Heaven-Cutting Tracing to locate Lin Sinian in the Ice Sea beneath the Extreme North Ice Plains and pursued him through a Starry Sky Gate.
• Lin Sinian resurrected inside a Conjoined Mussel and began planning a comeback, but Shen Lin soon found him and killed him again.
• Shen Lin collected Lin Sinian’s conch horn and set off for the Great Wei Imperial Capital, where the Flesh and Blood Sacrifice Array was about to be activated.

Yun Junyou, Prime Minister Zhang, and Great Wei’s experts prepared to move the Human Race beyond their world’s cage, with Yuwen Fengxian set to confront the demon serpent and Shen Lin held in reserve. As the sacrifice began, the Candle Dragon sensed the disturbance and lowered its enormous head over the continent.

• Yun Junyou praised Prime Minister Zhang for strengthening Great Wei, and the Imperial Uncle affirmed how their cooperation had brought the country to this point.
• Yuwen Fengxian promised to cut off the Great Serpent’s head, while Prime Minister Zhang assured Yun Junyou that Shen Lin would intervene if the plan went wrong.
• The people of Great Wei gathered at altars after learning the truth about their world and the demon serpent that had kept them captive.
• At the appointed time, Ji Zhanxie launched a firework signal as the Flesh Sacrifice Altars broke down demon corpses and sent their spiritual power and destiny aura through the Spirit Veins toward the Dragon Vein.
• The Candle Dragon opened its eyes, sensed the disturbance, and lowered its enormous head over the continent, darkening the sky.

Candle Dragon appeared over Great Wei and targeted the newly ascended Yuwen Fengxian, while Shen Lin prepared to intervene. Yuwen Fengxian resisted Candle Dragon’s attack with Great Wei’s sacrificial power and reached the Enlightenment Realm, leaving the two facing each other in the sky.

• People across Great Wei took comfort in rumors of Shen Lin’s strength as they watched Candle Dragon’s phantom loom over the continent.
• Candle Dragon located its target and pressured the Dharma Aspect Realm experts in the imperial capital with a glance.
• Yuwen Fengxian used the modified Heaven Grade Mysterious Weapon and power gathered through Great Wei’s Dragon Vein to break into the Spirit Nurturing Realm.
• Candle Dragon tried to seize Yuwen Fengxian, but a mysterious force resisted it and drove his cultivation toward the peak of the Spirit Nurturing Realm.
• Candle Dragon recognized Great Wei’s method from an earlier battle and sent a massive sword formed from one of its fangs down at Yuwen Fengxian.
• Yuwen Fengxian shattered the sword with the Myriad Battle Halberd and, empowered by the Flesh Sacrifice Altars and Demon corpses, reached the Enlightenment Realm.

Yuwen Fengxian used the borrowed power of the Enlightenment Realm to fight the Candle Dragon, then broke free of the continent’s sealing array and began ascending by absorbing Dao Principles. The chapter leaves him continuing his transformation while attacking, as the Candle Dragon realizes it has misjudged him.

• Yuwen Fengxian knocked out one of the Candle Dragon’s poisonous fangs, but Shen Lin explained that his body and soul could not withstand the borrowed power without ascending.
• Yuwen Fengxian drove the Candle Dragon away from the continent, breaking the Six-Pointed Star Hidden Path Array and revealing the boundless sea and the Candle Dragon’s full form.
• The Candle Dragon warned that Yuwen Fengxian could only attack once more, while Prime Minister Zhang urged the Great Ming side to trust him.
• Yuwen Fengxian saw the Dao Principles for the first time and began absorbing them to temper his physical body.
• The Candle Dragon attacked to interrupt Yuwen Fengxian’s ascension, but he hurled the Myriad Battle Halberd while continuing to absorb Dao Principles, and an illusory figure merged with his Dharma Aspect.

Yuwen Fengxian completed his ascension to the second stage and fought Candle Dragon using the power of the Flesh and Blood Sacrifice Array. Just as the fight seemed to turn in his favor, Shen Lin warned that Yuwen Fengxian would not last much longer, and Candle Dragon suddenly reversed the battle.

• Yuwen Fengxian repaired the Myriad Battle Halberd, struck Candle Dragon, and revealed that he had completed his ascension to the second stage.
• Shen Lin and the others recalled how Yuwen Fengxian had unknowingly trained his body and willpower before his breakthrough.
• Yuwen Fengxian used the sacrifice array to form a giant energy phantom and fought Candle Dragon to a seeming draw.
• Shen Lin warned the others to prepare for the impact because Yuwen Fengxian would not hold out much longer.
• Candle Dragon blasted Yuwen Fengxian away, broke the Myriad Battle Halberd in two, and shattered his armor.

Yuwen Fengxian’s borrowed power failed to overcome Candle Dragon’s mastery of the laws, leaving Great Wei on the brink of despair. As panic spread, people across the land began offering their lives to the Flesh and Blood Sacrifice Array to strengthen him.

• Candle Dragon struck Yuwen Fengxian down and used its understanding of the Great Dao to suppress his strength despite the power of the Flesh and Blood Sacrifice Array.
• Shen Lin explained to Ji Zhanxie, Prime Minister Zhang, and the others that Yuwen Fengxian had broken through to the Enlightenment Realm without gaining the experience needed to contend with Candle Dragon’s control of the laws.
• As Yuwen Fengxian struggled, despair and chaos spread through Great Wei, and many people begged Candle Dragon for mercy.
• Old Beggar approached a Flesh Sacrifice Altar and offered his life to provide power to Yuwen Fengxian.
• Li the Rascal and people from many walks of life joined Old Beggar, volunteering to sacrifice themselves across Great Wei.

As Great Wei’s people prepared to sacrifice themselves to help Yuwen Fengxian fight the Candle Dragon, Shen Lin revealed a power beyond their understanding and entered the battle. He broke the Candle Dragon’s cage-like Dao, freed Yuwen Fengxian from its effects, and struck the Saint Realm beast with its own attack.

• Prime Minister Zhang saw Great Wei’s people charging toward the Flesh Sacrifice Altars and feared how many would die, but Ji Zhanxie and Yun Junyou assured him they had chosen to help Yuwen Fengxian.
• Yun Junyou revealed his Dharma Aspect Realm cultivation, and Shen Lin told Prime Minister Zhang he was ready to handle the Candle Dragon.
• Shen Lin appeared in the Chaos Sea, blocked the Candle Dragon’s tail, and shattered its cage-shaped Dao attack, recognizing its power as the Dao of the cage.
• Shen Lin revealed the iron cages restricting Yuwen Fengxian and explained how he could use his Dharma Aspect to resonate with the Dao Laws.
• The Candle Dragon attacked Shen Lin with another cage, but Shen Lin’s scarlet flame dissolved it and turned it into a rod that struck the beast at its seven-inch point.

Shen Lin revealed his Enlightenment Realm strength and taught Yuwen Fengxian how to use Dao rules, allowing him to break the Candle Dragon’s seal and awaken his Battle Dao. The Candle Dragon demonstrated his mastery of the Cage Dao, but Shen Lin countered with the Fire Refining Dao and left him riddled with holes.

• Shen Lin’s effortless strike against the Candle Dragon stunned the onlookers, who realized he had reached the Enlightenment Realm through his own strength.
• Shen Lin explained that Enlightenment Realm Dao-rule attacks could only be countered with Dao rules, and Yuwen Fengxian used the Battle Dao to break the Candle Dragon’s cage around his shoulder.
• Shen Lin warned Yuwen Fengxian that he was still weaker than the Candle Dragon, who had gained some mastery over the Cage Dao.
• The Candle Dragon locked the distance between himself and Shen Lin to attack at close range, but Shen Lin dodged and recognized how the Cage Dao had accelerated him.
• Shen Lin used the Fire Refining Dao to refine part of the Chaos Sea into blades of vapor, riddling the Candle Dragon’s body with holes.

After Shen Lin and Great Wei celebrated Candle Dragon’s apparent defeat, he exposed its shed skins and faced seven true bodies that had sealed away the Great Dao Power. Shen Lin remained confident and refined the cage into a pill, leaving the seven Candle Dragons to confront him without their seal.

• Great Wei celebrated Candle Dragon’s apparent death, and Ji Zhanxie and Prime Minister Zhang credited Shen Lin with enabling their victory and hope of escaping the continent.
• Old Daoist Thousand Evolutions sensed that Candle Dragon was still alive, and a snakehead lunged at Shen Lin from the sea.
• Shen Lin cut the attacking snakeskin in half with the Taowu Saber, then recognized that the bodies Candle Dragon had shed were hollow decoys.
• Seven true Candle Dragons emerged and surrounded Shen Lin, who deduced that each had been imprisoned inside a snakeskin through the Prison Dao.
• The seven Candle Dragons sealed the area against the use of Great Dao Power, but Shen Lin explained that a cultivator above the Integration Realm could break the cage.
• Shen Lin enveloped the cage in flames and refined it into a pill.