Chapter Summaries

Qin He and Ma Er traveled toward the cave while Great Gold Tooth, Liu Shan, and Ge Yanbing were trapped by the Vengeful Spirit Wall. The three were near collapse as they waited for Qin He to arrive.

• Ma Da explained that the costly slip only let Qin He leave Pass City first when its gates opened, and he stayed behind while Ma Er guided Qin He into the wilderness.
• Qin He and Ma Er raced toward a different Cave Dwelling entrance, and Qin He dealt with several evil creatures along the way.
• Great Gold Tooth and his companions fought an endless tide of dead souls and vicious ghosts while the Vengeful Spirit Wall wore them down.
• Great Gold Tooth used his last Thunder Pill to clear a path, and the three retreated to recover before one final fight.
• Liu Shan and Ge Yanbing despaired as Da Yajin urged them to hold on because Qin He might arrive soon.

Qin He arrived and used his Lion's Roar to destroy the Vengeful Spirits and White Silk wall threatening Liu Shan, Ge Yanbing, and Great Gold Tooth. After Great Gold Tooth confirmed he would take Qin He along, the group prepared to continue toward the depths of the Netherland, with Liu Shan and Ge Yanbing exhausted.

• A thunderous roar destroyed the Vengeful Spirits and shattered the White Silk wall, clearing the passage.
• Qin He emerged carrying Four-Unlike, and Liu Shan and Ge Yanbing collapsed with relief.
• Great Gold Tooth promised Qin He a place on the way out and explained that he was seeking a rare formation material in the Netherland's depths.
• Great Gold Tooth said the group had about sixty li to travel through the cave, which had formed during eruptions from the Demon Abyss.
• Qin He asked what Liu Shan and Ge Yanbing would do next and whether they could keep going.

Qin He raced through the cave carrying Da Yajin and used a precise hidden-needle attack to bring down three Ghost Wings. He continued accelerating toward a level-five Mutated Underworld Wolf, hurling the Four-Unlike at it.

• Qin He carried Da Yajin through the cave with talismans concealing their auras as they sped deeper inside.
• Three Ghost Wings attacked, but Qin He used three glints to conceal a fine needle that pierced all three of their wings.
• Great Gold Tooth marveled at Qin He's speed, strength, prediction, and technique.
• A level-five Mutated Underworld Wolf blocked the path, and Qin He accelerated and hurled the Four-Unlike at it with all his strength.

Qin He wounded the Netherworld Wolf and carried Da Yajin deeper into the cavern as Sin City imposed a sudden City Purge Decree. City Lord Hu Tiancheng and the city’s senior officials gathered to await the early arrival of Divine Envoy Zhang Xiu, escorted by the Fu Family.

• Qin He’s Four-Unlike shattered the Netherworld Wolf’s hindquarters before Qin He pulled it free and rushed deeper into the cavern with Da Yajin.
• Sin City’s patrol soldiers announced a City Purge Decree, cleared the streets, and killed anyone who resisted.
• Residents watched from indoors as White Yama, Shen Gonglan, Lei Ze, Qi Heng, Gong Cang, Zhuang Lou, and City Lord Hu Tiancheng assembled in the sky.
• Hu Tiancheng said a message from the Fu Family’s thunderbird had announced the Divine Envoy’s early arrival and ordered the city to await him.
• The officials identified the arriving Divine Envoy as Zhang Xiu, the criminal apprehension envoy of the Divine Punishment Department, and Lei Ze voiced concern about the Fu Family’s reputation.

Sin City's leaders discussed the Divine Envoy Zhang Xiu and the Divine Punishment Department's failed strike against a false god before receiving news of a Thousand-Eyed Demonic Soul nest in the Netherworld. Shen Gonglan claimed credit for the discovery and named his younger cousin Shen Gongjin as the scout, leaving the truth of who earned the merit unresolved.

• Zhuang Lou asked about Zhang Xiu, and Gong Cang and Lei Ze explained that the Divine Punishment Department had reportedly been punished after its Heaven Punishing Divine Thunder failed to kill a false god.
• Hu Tiancheng urged caution about the unusual inspection and asked whether the city's preparations were complete; Shen Gonglan said the city was cleaned up but Netherworld scouting results were still pending.
• A six-winged wasp delivered Ye Tai's report that Thousand-Eyed Demonic Souls had nested a hundred li into the Netherworld and gathered into a tide.
• Shen Gonglan reported the discovery to Hu Tiancheng, who praised him and offered merit to the commander responsible for the scouting.
• Shen Gonglan named his younger cousin Shen Gongjin as the commander who had scouted the Netherworld.

Da Yajin and Qin He reached the depths of the Cave Dwelling, where they surveyed a vast Nether Soil swamp teeming with evil creatures. When Great Gold Tooth explained that Nether Jade grew where Yin Energy was strongest, Qin He spotted a nearby passage with dense Yin Energy.

• Da Yajin celebrated how quickly he and Qin He had explored the Cave Dwelling and anticipated a reward from Shen Gonglan.
• Qin He warned Da Yajin that his luck was poor, but Da Yajin dismissed the warning as soot on his face.
• Qin He and Da Yajin surveyed the enormous Nether Soil swamp and saw evil creatures gathering within it.
• Great Gold Tooth explained that Nether Jade grew in places with the strongest Yin Energy.
• Qin He pointed out a nearby cave passage with dense Yin Energy, and Great Gold Tooth questioned whether he was sure.

Qin He and Great Gold Tooth entered the Nether Soil's perilous heartland to find Nether Jade. After Great Gold Tooth struggled to harvest it, Qin He snapped off more than a dozen pieces with ease, leaving his companion astonished.

• Qin He warned Great Gold Tooth that he would flee if a formidable creature appeared, and Great Gold Tooth agreed to be cautious.
• The two took a winding path around an evil creature nest, avoiding a fight that could draw a tide of monsters.
• Qin He and Great Gold Tooth found Nether Jade glowing in a swirling Yin wind inside a remote dead-end cave.
• Great Gold Tooth failed to break the hard Nether Jade and prepared a saw to harvest it.
• Qin He easily snapped the Nether Jade apart by hand and harvested more than a dozen pieces, shocking Great Gold Tooth.

Qin He and Great Gold Tooth harvested Nether Jade while a formidable procession from the Divine Court arrived over Sin City. The Divine Envoy announced plans to stay for several days, and Hu Tiancheng agreed to arrange accommodations.

• Qin He shoved Nether Jade into Da Yajin's arms and continued harvesting it with Great Gold Tooth.
• A huge force of armored soldiers on airborne horse beasts approached Sin City beneath a golden, seven-colored sky.
• The soldiers parted to reveal a Golden War Chariot drawn by four Kirin Beasts, which passed through Sin City's defensive formation.
• Hu Tiancheng and Sin City's defenders welcomed the Divine Envoy with a formal chant.
• The Divine Envoy thanked the defenders and said he would stay for several days, and Hu Tiancheng promised to make arrangements.

Divine Envoy Zhang Xiu ordered North Pole Sin City to search for an Interworld Sky Demon, offering merit and a place in the Divine Court as rewards. He warned that the demon was dangerous and demanded a thorough search, leaving Hu Tiancheng and the city leaders bound to obey.

• Zhang Xiu announced that the Divine Court wanted the Interworld Sky Demon captured and promised rewards for clues or capture.
• Zhang Xiu gave Hu Tiancheng three Demon Revealing Mirrors to detect Sky Demons among the city's people.
• Gong Zang asked about rumors of a hundred thousand Sky Demons, and Zhang Xiu dismissed them as exaggerated while confirming that one dangerous demon had crossed through a spatial rift.
• Zhang Xiu ordered the mirrors used to search all of North Pole Sin City, especially places where yin energy gathered, and said Fu Family generals would help patrol.
• Zhang Xiu warned that anyone who shirked the search or sheltered a Sky Demon would become an enemy of the Divine Court, and Hu Tiancheng and the other leaders agreed to comply.

Shen Gongjin’s team learned that Ye Tai’s group had reached the depths of the Netherland first and mapped them in just two days. Shen Gongjin decided they had to kill Ye Tai’s team to protect the credit his Big Brother had assigned them, especially with a Divine Court envoy in Sin City.

• Shen Gongjin killed a two-headed fiendish beast outside a mountain cave with a spear.
• Shen Gongjin’s team received a message that Ye Tai’s team had reached the Netherland’s depths and identified the intelligence first.
• Shen Gongjin said his team would interrogate Ye Tai’s group to check for cheating and then kill them.
• Shen Gongjin explained that his Big Brother had assigned his team the credit for being first, so they could not allow another team to claim it.
• Shen Gongjin rejected the Yellow-faced Armored Soldier’s suggestion to buy off Ye Tai’s group because the Divine Court envoy’s arrival made any risk unacceptable.

Qin He and Great Gold Tooth emerged from a cave just as Shen Gongjin and other City Patrol guards prepared to cover up a disturbance before a Divine Envoy arrived. Great Gold Tooth tried to shift the investigation’s credit to Qin He, but Shen Gongjin attacked him, declaring that he had to die.

• The guards agreed that any disturbance had to be cleaned up before the Divine Envoy arrived, even if people had to die.
• Qin He burst from the cave carrying Great Gold Tooth and encountered Shen Gongjin and four other guards.
• Great Gold Tooth recognized Shen Gongjin and flattered him, while Shen Gongjin asked whether the investigation was finished.
• Great Gold Tooth credited Qin He as the primary investigator, then claimed they had succeeded by working together when Shen Gongjin pressed him.
• Qin He declined to object, but Shen Gongjin said he was sorry and thrust his spear toward Great Gold Tooth’s forehead.

Qin He intervened when Shen Gongjin tried to kill Da Yajin, then fought off Shen Gongjin’s attacks and escaped with Da Yajin. With Shen Gongjin determined to silence them, Da Yajin agreed they had to fight back.

• Shen Gongjin attacked Da Yajin, but Qin He blocked the spear strike with Four-Unlike.
• Qin He challenged Shen Gongjin’s decision to kill them, and Shen Gongjin revealed that a Divine Envoy’s arrival meant he could tolerate no mistakes or witnesses.
• Shen Gongjin attacked Qin He with his spear, but Qin He countered with three powerful strikes that nearly broke through his defense.
• Shen Gongjin summoned black chains to bind Qin He, but Qin He smashed them and moved away with Da Yajin.
• Qin He asked Da Yajin whether they would stay or flee, and Da Yajin said they had to fight back.

Qin He killed Shen Gongjin’s four subordinates with a rapid volley of needles, then dodged Shen Gongjin’s spear attack while pushing Da Yajin out of its path. The fight continued with Shen Gongjin still standing and Qin He and Great Gold Tooth thrown off balance.

• Qin He launched dozens of needles at Shen Gongjin and his four subordinates before they could mount a proper defense.
• Shen Gongjin blocked seven golden needles with his Spirit Treasure shield, but Qin He’s needles pierced the other four men’s barriers and killed them.
• Enraged by his subordinates’ deaths, Shen Gongjin attacked Qin He with a powerful spear strike.
• Qin He dodged the spear radiance and shoved Da Yajin aside, while the blast sent Great Gold Tooth flying and cost him two more teeth.

Qin He fought Shen Gongjin, whose masterful Spear Technique: Dragon's Charge kept him on the defensive until Shen Gongjin unleashed his cultivation power. After Qin He broke Shen Gongjin's panther attack, Shen launched a concentrated spear thrust at Qin He's face.

• Qin He dodged Shen Gongjin's relentless spear attacks until Shen's weakening force let him knock the spear aside and retreat, ending their first exchange in a draw.
• Qin He teased Shen Gongjin about learning his spear technique from his master's wife, and Shen declared that Qin He would die.
• Shen Gongjin summoned a black panther Illusory Shadow and slammed a massive panther paw down, but Qin He leaped clear of the crater it made.
• Shen Gongjin sent the panther charging at Qin He, who smashed it apart with Four-Unlike and was hurled backward.
• Shen Gongjin rushed in with Spear Technique: Dragon's Charge, driving a lethal thrust straight at Qin He's face.

Qin He fought Shen Gongjin and learned his spear technique during their battle. He sent Shen Gongjin flying and thanked him for teaching him, while Shen Gongjin reeled from the impossible sight.

• Qin He caught Shen Gongjin's spear barehanded, wounded his palm, and escaped by distracting Shen Gongjin with Four-Unlike.
• Shen Gongjin launched a fiercer spear attack, and Qin He blocked and evaded the strikes despite being cut and having his clothes pierced.
• Qin He began counterattacking with Shen Gongjin's own spear technique, having learned most of it during the fight.
• Qin He struck Shen Gongjin with Four-Unlike and sent him flying more than a dozen steps.
• Qin He praised the spear technique's trace of Dao resonance and thanked Shen Gongjin for teaching him.

Qin He killed Shen Gongjin with a Broken Blade Fragment after revealing his overwhelming advantage. Da Yajin feared Shen Gonglan would retaliate, and Qin He suggested killing him too.

• Qin He flicked a Broken Blade Fragment through Shen Gongjin's white jade shield and fatally wounded him.
• Shen Gongjin fell from midair and died, while Qin He retrieved the fragment and stored it in the Purple Gold Alms Bowl.
• Da Yajin confirmed Shen Gongjin was dead and feared Shen Gonglan had sent him to silence them.
• Qin He asked whether they should kill Shen Gonglan too, leaving Da Yajin frightened and unsure whether he was joking.

Qin He and Da Yajin covered up Shen Gongjin’s death and burned the corpses while planning how to avoid Shen Gonglan’s retaliation. As Shen Gongjin’s ashes fell, Qin He learned the Coiling Dragon Spear Art from the Shadow Play Performance.

• Qin He considered killing Shen Gonglan or silencing witnesses, but put those plans aside to deal with the corpses first.
• Qin He and Da Yajin collected the bodies and spoils, erased their traces, and scattered powder to lure evil creatures.
• Da Yajin left to protect his city businesses before Shen Gonglan could react, while Qin He found firewood and began burning the corpses.
• Qin He burned Shen Gongjin first and watched a shadow play recount how the gifted spear cultivator was sent to Sin City and forced into a conflict that led to his death.
• The Black Robed Man judged Shen Gongjin’s life and awarded Qin He the Coiling Dragon Spear Art.

While burning Shen Gongjin’s corpse, Qin He discovered that the silver spear and Coiling Dragon Spear Art resonated with his blood qi, allowing him to bind and wield the spear. After disposing of all four bodies, he turned his attention to finding a way to confront Divine Bridge Realm experts before Shen Gonglan’s side noticed anything was wrong.

• Qin He found that the silver spear’s dragon patterns resonated with the Coiling Dragon Spear Art and showed him a vision of a white-robed old man wielding a silver spear.
• Qin He used his blood qi to activate the spear and realized it could be wielded without Origin Power.
• Qin He fed a drop of essence blood to the spear, which transformed into a crimson light and entered his body, forming a connection he could direct with a thought.
• Qin He finished burning the four corpses and decided he needed a way to deal with Divine Bridge Realm experts before Shen Gonglan’s side discovered the situation.

Qin He traveled across the Icefield after collecting rewards tied to the heretical ways, burning corpses to survive the cold. Three days later, he reached Da Yajin’s rendezvous town and wondered what dangers awaited there.

• Qin He put the demon crystals and talismans into the Purple Gold Alms Bowl and headed toward Da Yajin’s rendezvous point without committing to joining the Fugitive of Sin.
• Qin He found a Night Watchman frozen to death on the Icefield and took the corpse to burn for warmth.
• Over the next three days, Qin He hunted two evil creatures and found two more corpses, including a Fugitive of Sin and someone torn apart by an evil creature.
• Qin He reached the sheltered town Da Yajin had designated and suspected that powerful Fugitive of Sin members protected it.

Qin He approached Blackstone Town, where guards were suspicious of anyone connected to Sin City. He proved he was a fugitive by presenting City Patrol Division tokens and was allowed to enter as Evernight approached.

• Qin He arrived at Blackstone Town and saw a warning barring Sin City's lackeys, along with three corpses hanging nearby.
• Three Blackstone Town guards surrounded Qin He and questioned him about his origins and purpose.
• Qin He offered the guards Spirit Stones, but their leader accused him of trying to bribe them and demanded proof that he had fled Sin City.
• Qin He presented three City Patrol Division tokens taken from Shen Gongjin's subordinates and said he had killed their owners.
• The leader accepted Qin He's story, returned the tokens, and welcomed him into Blackstone Town to trade supplies before Evernight.