Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Qing encounters an old shepherd with a flock of sheep, some of which are transformed humans.
• Xu Qing and Xuan Yu attack the shepherd, who is revealed to be a demonic cultivator using the Beast Creation technique.
• The shepherd dies, but the sheep don't revert to humans. Xu Qing examines the shepherd's life to find a solution.

Character Developments

• Xu Qing demonstrates his combat skills and determination to save the transformed humans.
• Xuan Yu showcases its stealth and speed, aiding Xu Qing in the attack.
• The shepherd, Chen Mancang, is revealed to have been a transformed human himself, who later learned to break the spell by drinking water.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of demonic cultivation and the enslavement of humans.
• The power of determination and perseverance in the face of adversity (seen in Chen Mancang's struggle to please the shepherd and eventually break the spell).

Character Interactions

• Xu Qing and Xuan Yu work together to defeat the shepherd.
• The flock of sheep, once they realize the shepherd is defeated, turn against him, isolating an old ewe who was the shepherd in disguise.
• Xu Qing interacts with the flock, trying to convince them to expose the shepherd to regain their freedom.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Mancang, the shepherd, discovers the secret of the Prince's appetite for human flesh.
• Chen Mancang learns the Beast Creation secret method from the old shepherd and uses it to transform people into sheep.
• Xu Qing encounters Chen Mancang and uses the Method of Water Command to free the transformed people.
• Chen Mancang is killed by Xu Qing, and his knowledge of the Beast Creation method and Yin Burning Method is absorbed by Xu Qing.

Character Developments

• Chen Mancang: Initially a kind shepherd, he becomes a villainous figure using the Beast Creation method to transform people into sheep for the Prince. He is killed by Xu Qing.
• Xu Qing: Xu Qing demonstrates his power and knowledge, freeing the transformed people and killing Chen Mancang. He gains the Beast Creation method and Yin Burning Method.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of greed and corruption (the Prince's appetite for human flesh).
• The power of knowledge and its misuse (Chen Mancang's use of the Beast Creation method).
• The theme of transformation and change (people transformed into sheep and back, Xu Qing's absorption of new methods).

Character Interactions

• Xu Qing and Chen Mancang: Xu Qing confronts Chen Mancang, frees the transformed people, and ultimately kills him.
• Xu Qing and Xuan Yu: Xu Qing offers to teach Xuan Yu the Beast Creation method to turn sheep into people.
• Xu Qing and Old Man Huang Xu: Xu Qing greets Old Man Huang Xu, who is curious about the events that transpired.
• Xu Qing and the Old Black Crow: The Old Black Crow, curious about the events, lands near Xu Qing.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Qing, the Grand Master of the Cat Immortal Hall, delegates the tasks of a Spirit Medium Disciple to Sun Erniang, possessed by Xuan Yu, to manage the hall and perform Spirit Medium tasks.
• Xu Qing learns about the Infant-Saving Old Mother at the Temple for Wishing Children, who is cultivating nine generations of resentful infants to nurture her own child.
• Xu Qing decides to intervene in the matter and begins to escort the rescued children and adults back to their villages with the help of various Immortal Families and Spirit Medium Disciples.

Character Developments

• Xu Qing: Becomes more involved in the affairs of the Cat Immortal Hall and takes on the responsibility of helping the rescued children and adults.
• Xuan Yu: Possesses Sun Erniang to manage the Cat Immortal Hall and perform Spirit Medium tasks, showing diligence and dedication.
• Old Man Huang Xu: Reveals his knowledge about the Temple for Wishing Children and the Infant-Saving Old Mother, showing his connections and experience.

Significant Themes

• The relationship between immortals and humans, and the need for intermediaries like Spirit Medium Disciples.
• The power of incense offerings and their significance for immortals and cultivators.
• The consequences of wicked deeds and the need for intervention and justice.

Character Interactions

• Xu Qing and Xuan Yu: Xu Qing delegates tasks to Xuan Yu, and they work together to manage the Cat Immortal Hall and help the rescued people.
• Xu Qing and Old Man Huang Xu: They discuss the Temple for Wishing Children and the Infant-Saving Old Mother, with Old Man Huang Xu providing valuable information.
• Xu Qing and the Sorrowful Immortal: Xu Qing confronts the Sorrowful Immortal about her past actions and forces her to confess.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Qing interrogates the Female Ghost, who confesses to deceiving villagers and acting as a broker between the shepherd and the Temple for Wishing Children.
• Xu Qing burns the sheepskins as a symbol of the Female Ghost's actions, and she is eventually consumed by the fire.
• Xu Qing, accompanied by Xuan Yu and the Old Black Crow, infiltrates the Temple for Wishing Children to investigate its activities.

Character Developments

• Xu Qing: Demonstrates his power and justice by interrogating and punishing the Female Ghost. He also shows empathy and understanding towards Xuan Yu.
• Xuan Yu: Gains confidence and trust in Xu Qing, allowing him to carry it and use the Bird's Eye Technique.
• The Female Ghost: Reveals her true nature and is ultimately punished for her actions.
• The Old Black Crow: Assists Xu Qing by acting as a scout and providing information.

Significant Themes

• Justice and Punishment: Xu Qing's actions reflect his commitment to justice and the punishment of wrongdoers.
• Trust and Empathy: The relationship between Xu Qing and Xuan Yu deepens as they work together, with Xu Qing showing understanding and care towards the cat.
• Deception and Truth: The Female Ghost's deception is ultimately exposed, leading to her downfall.

Character Interactions

• Xu Qing and the Female Ghost: Xu Qing interrogates and punishes the Female Ghost for her actions.
• Xu Qing and Xuan Yu: Xu Qing carries Xuan Yu and uses the Bird's Eye Technique, showing trust and care towards the cat.
• Xu Qing and the Old Black Crow: The Old Black Crow assists Xu Qing by acting as a scout and providing information.
• Xu Qing and the old nun: Xu Qing infiltrates the Temple for Wishing Children by posing as a woman seeking to offer incense.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Qing, disguised as a woman, infiltrates the Temple for Wishing Children to investigate its practices.
• He discovers that the temple's nuns are responsible for the deaths of many infants and mothers, as they strangle newborns and blame the mothers' lack of virtue.
• Xu Qing sets the temple on fire and eliminates those responsible for the crimes.
• The temple keeper, an old nun, tries to stop Xu Qing but fails and is eventually captured.

Character Developments

• Xu Qing: He shows empathy for the victims and determination to expose and stop the temple's evil practices. He also demonstrates his power and ruthlessness in dealing with the guilty.
• Xuan Yu: The cat shows loyalty and concern for Xu Qing, following him and supporting his actions.
• The Temple Keeper (Old Nun): She is revealed to be the mastermind behind the temple's crimes, driven by greed and a desire for power. She shows desperation and panic when faced with Xu Qing's wrath.

Significant Themes

• The corruption of power and the abuse of religious authority.
• The consequences of one's actions and the idea of karma.
• The struggle between good and evil, and the necessity of justice.

Character Interactions

• Xu Qing and Xuan Yu: They show a strong bond, with Xuan Yu supporting Xu Qing's actions and Xu Qing considering Xuan Yu's feelings.
• Xu Qing and the Temple Keeper: Their interaction highlights the power dynamic between them, with Xu Qing holding the upper hand and the temple keeper becoming increasingly desperate and afraid.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Qing, a Corpse Driver and Sect Leader of the Cat Immortal Hall, aims to eradicate the heretical Temple for Wishing Children.
• He encounters a Corpse Infant and its creator, a Shaman who used the temple to induce abortions and kill infants to cultivate a Medicine Corpse vessel.
• Xu Qing destroys the Infant Locking Pagoda, releasing trapped infant spirits, and confronts the Shaman.
• The Shaman, a Bronze Armored Corpse, engages in combat with Xu Qing, who reveals his Corpse Driver abilities and the power of the Duren Sutra.

Character Developments

• Xu Qing demonstrates his strength and resolve in dealing with the Shaman and the Corpse Infant.
• The Shaman's true form and past actions are revealed, showing his deceit and manipulation.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of unchecked ambition and corruption of power.
• The struggle between life and death, and the lengths one might go to avoid death.
• The theme of reincarnation and rebirth, both literal and metaphorical.

Character Interactions

• Xu Qing interacts with the Corpse Infant, the Shaman, and the Temple Keeper, displaying his resolve and power.
• The Shaman interacts with the nuns and the Temple Keeper, manipulating them for his own ends.
• Xu Qing's Black Cat, Xuan Yu, assists him in combat against the Shaman.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Qing learns and uses the Heaven Concealing Technique to hide his Zombie identity.
• He receives three rewards: Heaven Concealing Technique, Yin Pupil Technique, and Medicinal Corpse Cultivation Method.
• Xu Qing helps the Ghost Infant transcend and obtains a Fetal Gloom Pearl.
• He performs a transcendence ritual for over a hundred fetuses at the Temple for Wishing Children.
• The old nun is killed as a sacrifice to help the infants rest in peace.

Character Developments

• Xu Qing becomes more cautious about hiding his Zombie identity, using the Heaven Concealing Technique.
• Xuan Yu, the Cat Immortal, shows compassion by providing incense for the infants' transcendence.
• The old nun's sinister nature is fully revealed, leading to her demise.

Significant Themes

• The power of concealment and deception, as seen in the Heaven Concealing Technique.
• The consequences of unnatural death and the importance of proper funeral rites, as experienced by the fetuses.
• The theme of compassion and redemption, shown by Xuan Yu's actions and Xu Qing's performance of the transcendence ritual.

Character Interactions

• Xu Qing and Xuan Yu's relationship deepens as they work together to help the infants.
• Xu Qing confronts and ultimately kills the old nun, bringing justice to the infants.
• The Old Black Crow assists Xu Qing and Xuan Yu, showing a sense of camaraderie among the immortals of the Cat Immortal Hall.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Emperor Longping dies, and Zhao Rong ascends the throne as Emperor Jingxing.
• Zhao Rong eliminates potential threats, including remnants of the former Crown Prince's and Fourth Prince's factions.
• Zhu Huai'an, disguised as a monk, travels north with Gongsun Jin and Wang Liang. They encounter bandits and refugees, facing hardships due to their lack of money.
• Xu Qing trains the Golden Rooster, Jin Luan, in the Corpse Driver's Shop, teaching it not to swear.
• Zhao Zhonghe and his nephew visit the Corpse Driver's Shop to arrange Shi Quan's burial.

Character Developments

• Emperor Jingxing (Zhao Rong): Becomes paranoid and ruthless in eliminating perceived threats, living in his own world of prosperity.
• Zhu Huai'an: Struggles with the harsh realities of life on the run, experiencing hardship and loss.
• Gongsun Jin: Maintains his composure and wisdom despite their predicament, teaching Zhu Huai'an about the importance of understanding the world.
• Xu Qing: Continues to develop his relationship with the Golden Rooster, Jin Luan, and demonstrates his understanding of the bird's behavior.
• Zhao Zhonghe: Shows remorse and gratitude for Shi Quan's sacrifice, arranging his burial.

Significant Themes

• The harsh reality of life on the run for Zhu Huai'an and his companions.
• The corrupt and paranoid nature of Emperor Jingxing's rule.
• The importance of understanding and experiencing the world, as taught by Gongsun Jin to Zhu Huai'an.

Character Interactions

• Emperor Jingxing interacts with his ministers, showing his paranoia and ruthlessness.
• Zhu Huai'an, Gongsun Jin, and Wang Liang face hardships together, with Gongsun Jin providing guidance and wisdom.
• Xu Qing interacts with the Golden Rooster, Jin Luan, demonstrating his understanding of the bird's behavior.
• Zhao Zhonghe and his nephew visit the Corpse Driver's Shop to arrange Shi Quan's burial, showing remorse and gratitude for his sacrifice.

Plot Points and Events

• Xu Qing helps arrange Shi Quan's funeral, using his hair for a spellcasting material.
• Xu Qing visits various shops in Jingxia Street, searching for hair and interacting with the proprietors.
• On the way to the burial site, Xu Qing, Zhao Zhonghe, and Zhao Yuan encounter a Jingmen Diviner at Tanggu Bridge.
• The Diviner makes cryptic remarks about Zhao Zhonghe's fate, leading to a confrontation.

Character Developments

• Xu Qing: Shows responsibility in arranging Shi Quan's funeral, demonstrating his compassionate nature. He also displays his resourcefulness and determination in finding spellcasting materials.
• Zhao Zhonghe: Exhibits his stubborn and straightforward personality, willing to confront the Jingmen Diviner despite the latter's cryptic remarks.
• The Jingmen Diviner: Remains calm and collected in the face of Zhao Zhonghe's anger, hinting at possible hidden abilities or confidence in his divination skills.

Significant Themes

• The power of divination and fortune-telling, and the uncertainty surrounding their authenticity.
• The consequences of offending others, as seen through the lens of Zhao Zhonghe's profession and the potential dangers it poses.
• The importance of understanding and respecting taboos and superstitions in society.

Character Interactions

• Xu Qing and Zhao Zhonghe: Their interaction shows a growing camaraderie, with Zhao Zhonghe treating Xu Qing with more respect and friendliness.
• Xu Qing and the shop proprietors: Xu Qing's interactions with the shop proprietors reveal his polite and considerate nature, as well as his ability to navigate social situations with ease.
• Zhao Zhonghe and the Jingmen Diviner: Their interaction highlights the tension between those who believe in divination and those who dismiss it as superstition.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Captain Zhao Zhonghe gets his fortune told by a diviner at Tanggu Bridge, asking about his child's future.
• The diviner reveals that Zhao Zhonghe's child will gain great fame but die young, likening his life to that of a silkworm.
• Zhao Zhonghe becomes enraged, but the diviner reveals he knows about Zhao Zhonghe's advance salary, surprising him.
• Zhao Yuan and Xu Qing also get their fortunes told. Xu Qing asks about the Yin River Ancient Path, and the diviner reveals it buries cultivators seeking immortality and the Dao.
• After the divination, the diviner's appearance changes drastically, and he flees, leaving behind a destroyed tree struck by lightning.

Character Developments

• Captain Zhao Zhonghe: Starts off aggressive and skeptical but becomes more contemplative and cautious after the divination.
• Diviner: Initially appears mysterious and knowledgeable but later shows fear and urgency, hinting at a secret.
• Xu Qing: Shows curiosity and determination in seeking answers about the Yin River Ancient Path.
• Zhao Yuan: Remains curious and eager to achieve fame, despite the diviner's vague response about his future.

Significant Themes

• Fate and destiny: The diviner's predictions raise questions about fate and whether it can be changed or accepted.
• The path to immortality: The Yin River Ancient Path is revealed to be a passage to the Underworld, connecting the mortal realm to immortality.
• The consequences of curiosity: The diviner's overreliance on his divination skills leads him to face dire consequences.

Character Interactions

• Captain Zhao Zhonghe and the Diviner: Their interaction highlights the tension between Zhao Zhonghe's skepticism and the diviner's claims of knowledge.
• Xu Qing and the Diviner: Xu Qing's persistence in asking about the Yin River Ancient Path reveals the diviner's limits and fears.
• Zhao Yuan and the Diviner: Zhao Yuan's eagerness for fame contrasts with the diviner's vague response, leaving him dejected.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Qing and his companions hear an explosion in the city, but Xu Qing refuses to go investigate.
• Xu Qing posts a notice about his Corpse Driver's Shop's services on the city wall.
• Sun Er Zhuang, a man whose mother was killed by a tiger, hires Xu Qing to perform a ceremony for her.

Character Developments

• Xu Qing demonstrates his business acumen by posting a notice about his shop and offering free services to Sun Er Zhuang.
• Zhao Zhonghe shows respect for Xu Qing's profession after seeing the hard work involved in a funeral procession.

Significant Themes

• The importance of respecting the dead and performing proper funeral rites.
• The contrast between the bustling city and the close-knit village community.

Character Interactions

• Xu Qing interacts with the gatekeeper and Sun Er Zhuang, demonstrating his professionalism and kindness.
• Zhao Zhonghe and Zhao Yuan express their respect for Xu Qing's profession after helping with a funeral procession.

Plot Points and Events

• Xu Qing arrives at Gate-Closing Village near Old Terrace Mountain to perform a ritual.
• Villagers are afraid to help Xu Qing due to their fear of Sun Er Zhuang's mother, Guanhua Po, who was a Spirit Medium.
• Xu Qing finds Sun Er Zhuang's house empty, and his mother's body is missing.
• Sun Er Zhuang is at the Yi Zhuang temple, where his mother's body is, and encounters a mysterious, muscular man who warns him about a demon called 'Biao'.

Character Developments

• Xu Qing: Shows determination and persistence in finding Sun Er Zhuang to perform the ritual.
• Sun Er Zhuang: Struggles with his mother's death and the villagers' fear of his mother, showing resilience and bravery.
• The Mysterious Man: Reveals knowledge about the 'Biao' demon, hinting at possible supernatural abilities.

Significant Themes

• Fear and Superstition: Villagers' fear of Guanhua Po and the 'Biao' demon.
• Resilience and Bravery: Sun Er Zhuang's determination to bury his mother despite the villagers' fear and the potential danger from the 'Biao' demon.
• Mystery and the Supernatural: The appearance of the muscular man and his knowledge about the 'Biao' demon.

Character Interactions

• Xu Qing interacts with villagers, trying to find information about Sun Er Zhuang but encountering fear and reluctance.
• Sun Er Zhuang interacts with the muscular man, who warns him about the 'Biao' demon and advises him to stay in the temple.
• The muscular man's true intentions and identity remain unclear, adding intrigue to his interaction with Sun Er Zhuang.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sun Er Zhuang, a stout man, experiences a series of eerie events at the temple where he's keeping his mother's corpse.
• He hears a donkey braying, sees a ghostly figure resembling his mother, and finds a rope that he believes his donkey used to hang itself.
• Xu Qing, the Funeral Master, arrives at the temple. Sun Er Zhuang, frightened, attacks him but is subdued.
• A thin, tiger-like creature attacks Xu Qing, and they engage in a fierce battle, resulting in the creature being forced out of the temple.

Character Developments

• Sun Er Zhuang: Initially fearful and superstitious, he becomes more determined and brave as he faces the supernatural events.
• Xu Qing: Demonstrates his power and skill as a Funeral Master, protecting Sun Er Zhuang from the creature.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural elements and their influence on characters.
• Courage and determination in the face of fear and uncertainty.

Character Interactions

• Sun Er Zhuang and Xu Qing: Initially distrustful, Sun Er Zhuang comes to rely on Xu Qing for protection.
• Sun Er Zhuang and the supernatural entities: Sun Er Zhuang's interactions with the ghostly figure and the thin tiger creature drive the plot and his character development.

Plot Points and Events

• Xu Qing encounters a thin, injured tiger (Guan Xiao Hu) outside the incense hall.
• Guan Xiao Hu is revealed to be a demon tiger, a brother to Sun Er Zhuang, and the one who killed Sun Er Zhuang's mother.
• Guan Da Zhuang, another brother, arrives and reveals their shared past with Guanhua Po, the temple's medium.
• Guan Xiao Hu admits to eating people but denies killing Sun Er Zhuang's mother.
• Sun Er Zhuang, with the help of the Mountain Lord possessing Guan Da Zhuang, kills Guan Xiao Hu.

Character Developments

• Xu Qing: Shows kindness to small animals, remains calm and collected throughout the incident.
• Sun Er Zhuang: Struggles with the revelation of his demonic brother, ultimately avenges his mother.
• Guan Da Zhuang: Remains loyal to Guanhua Po, helps Sun Er Zhuang kill Guan Xiao Hu.
• Guan Xiao Hu: Reveals his past, expresses resentment towards Guanhua Po, and is killed by Sun Er Zhuang.
• Guanhua Po: Appears as a ghost, influences Guan Xiao Hu, and indirectly helps Sun Er Zhuang kill him.

Significant Themes

• Family and brotherhood: The complex relationships between the three brothers and Guanhua Po drive the plot.
• Good vs. evil: Despite being demons, Guan Da Zhuang and Guan Xiao Hu have distinct moral alignments.
• Revenge: Sun Er Zhuang's desire for revenge is a significant driving force.

Character Interactions

• Xu Qing and Sun Er Zhuang: Xu Qing guides Sun Er Zhuang, helping him confront and kill Guan Xiao Hu.
• Guan Da Zhuang and Guan Xiao Hu: The brothers' interactions reveal their differing personalities and upbringings.
• Guanhua Po and the brothers: Their relationship is central to the story, influencing the brothers' actions and motivations.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sun Er Zhuang and Guan Da Zhuang avenge their mother but feel no lighter in their hearts.
• Guanhua Po's spirit appears and leaves the temple, dissolving in the rain.
• Xu Qing prepares Guan Xiao Hu's body for burial and recites a sutra for rebirth.
• Guanhua Po's past life is revealed through a spirit lantern, showing her being abandoned as a child and later adopting two tiger cubs, Guan Da Zhuang and Guan Xiao Hu.

Character Developments

• Sun Er Zhuang: Struggles with his mother's death and feels guilty for not being there for her.
• Guan Da Zhuang: Shows remorse for his past actions and is more understanding towards his brother.
• Guanhua Po: Revealed to have been abandoned as a child and later adopted two tiger cubs, displaying her compassion and maternal instincts.
• Xu Qing: Shows empathy and understanding towards the brothers and their mother's past.

Significant Themes

• Abandonment and adoption: Guanhua Po was abandoned as a child and later adopted two tiger cubs, highlighting the theme of family and belonging.
• Motherhood: Guanhua Po's maternal instincts are emphasized, showing her love and care for her adopted sons.
• Guilt and redemption: Both Sun Er Zhuang and Guan Da Zhuang feel guilty for their past actions and seek redemption.

Character Interactions

• Sun Er Zhuang and Guan Da Zhuang: The brothers share a moment of grief and understanding after their mother's death.
• Guanhua Po and her sons: Their relationship is explored through flashbacks, showing her love and care for them despite their difficult upbringing.
• Xu Qing and the brothers: Xu Qing shows empathy and understanding towards the brothers, helping them through their grief and providing guidance.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Qing receives rewards from the Duren Sutra: Mother-Child Needle Technique and Filial Son's Cudgel.
• Xu Qing uses the Mother-Child Needle Technique to repair the damaged wall of the incense hall.
• Xu Qing uses the Filial Son's Cudgel to sew up Guan Da Zhuang's wounds, revealing that Guan Da Zhuang had a habit of bringing things home, similar to some pets raised by humans.
• Xu Qing learns from Guan Da Zhuang that Sun Er Zhuang was not abandoned but left behind after his parents were killed by bandits, and his mother committed suicide. Guan Da Zhuang found the infant and left him at the temple.
• Xu Qing decides to handle Guan Xiao Hu's corpse, planning to use it to aid his cultivation of the Furred Corpse transformation.

Character Developments

• Xu Qing demonstrates his skill and kindness by repairing the wall and sewing up Guan Da Zhuang's wounds.
• Guan Da Zhuang reveals his past actions and regrets, showing a more complex character than initially thought.
• Sun Er Zhuang is shown to have a tragic past but remains resilient.

Significant Themes

• The complexity of human nature and actions, as seen in Guan Da Zhuang's past deeds.
• The consequences of one's actions, as seen in Guan Da Zhuang's regret and the tragic fate of Sun Er Zhuang's parents.
• The importance of kindness and compassion, as shown by Xu Qing's actions.

Character Interactions

• Xu Qing and Guan Da Zhuang have a conversation where Guan Da Zhuang reveals his past actions and regrets.
• Xu Qing shows kindness and skill towards Guan Da Zhuang, sewing up his wounds.
• Xu Qing decides to handle Guan Xiao Hu's corpse, showing his determination and resourcefulness.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Qing helps Sun Er Zhuang bury his mother, Guanhua Po, and her donkey.
• Xu Qing offers Guan Da Zhuang and Sun Er Zhuang positions as Circle Hall Masters in his Cat Immortal Hall.
• Xu Qing presents a bill of 120 taels of silver for the funeral services, with an option for an interest-free funeral loan.
• Xu Qing proposes to transform the Lord's Temple into a branch of the Cat Immortal Hall to attract incense offerings.

Character Developments

• Sun Er Zhuang shows filial piety and respect for his mother and her donkey.
• Guan Da Zhuang demonstrates his dignity and reluctance to serve under others.
• Xu Qing displays his business acumen and strategic thinking in growing his Cat Immortal Hall.

Significant Themes

• Filial piety and respect for the deceased.
• The importance of incense offerings for Immortal Families and their halls.
• The business aspect of the funeral industry and the Cat Immortal Hall.

Character Interactions

• Xu Qing interacts with Sun Er Zhuang and Guan Da Zhuang, offering them positions and discussing the future of the Cat Immortal Hall.
• Sun Er Zhuang and Guan Da Zhuang discuss and decide on their roles in the Cat Immortal Hall and the transformation of the Lord's Temple.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Qing helps Sun Er Zhuang secure a livelihood and establishes a Cat Immortal Hall branch in Guan Family Village.
• He sets up an altar, teaches Sun Er Zhuang the Helping Soldier Technique, and establishes a connection with Guan Da Zhuang.
• Xu Qing invites various Immortals and Spirit Mediums to an Immortal gathering and sends invitations for the branch's grand opening.
• He uses the Golden Rooster feathers to communicate with the Corpse Driver's Shop about the branch's opening.
• An Immortal banquet is held, attended by representatives from various Immortal Halls, Incense Children, and Spirit Mediums.
• Xu Qing asks Old Man Huang Xu to send his grandson to manage the Transmit Hall for his Cat Immortal Hall.

Character Developments

• Xu Qing demonstrates his benevolence and wisdom in handling the affairs of the Cat Immortal Hall and its branches, earning respect from other Immortals and Spirit Mediums.
• Sun Er Zhuang shows his loyalty and gratitude towards Xu Qing, accepting the responsibility of managing the Circle Hall.
• Old Man Huang Xu, initially hesitant, agrees to send his grandson to work under Xu Qing, showing his trust in Xu Qing's capabilities.

Significant Themes

• Benevolence and wisdom in leadership: Xu Qing's actions demonstrate that a good leader should be benevolent and wise, earning respect and loyalty from their followers.
• The importance of connections and alliances: Xu Qing's network of Immortal Halls and Spirit Mediums shows the importance of connections and alliances in gaining power and influence.
• The power of might: The strength of an Immortal Family hall ultimately comes down to power and connections, as seen in the Immortal Families' eagerness to foster good relations with the Cat Immortal Hall.

Character Interactions

• Xu Qing interacts with various Immortals and Spirit Mediums, earning their respect and trust through his actions.
• Xu Qing and Old Man Huang Xu discuss the matter of the Transmit Hall, with Xu Qing successfully persuading Old Man Huang Xu to send his grandson to work under him.
• Sun Er Zhuang expresses his gratitude and loyalty towards Xu Qing, accepting the responsibility of managing the Circle Hall.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Qing visits the grave of the hunter, where he meets a pregnant woman in mourning.
• He encounters a commotion in Jiugou Village, where a woman is in labor and a Spirit Medium Disciple is inviting an Immortal for assistance.
• Xu Qing learns that the woman is carrying conjoined twins and the delivery is difficult. He decides to help using his Midwifery skill.
• The delivery is successful, but a neighbor, Li Shan, arrives with a bowl of soup for the new mother, which Xu Qing intercepts, revealing Li Shan's ill intent.

Character Developments

• Xu Qing: Demonstrates his Midwifery skill and saves the life of the mother and her twins. He also exposes Li Shan's malicious intent.
• Midwife Liu: Assists Xu Qing in the delivery and is impressed by his knowledge and skills.
• Li Mugen: The husband of the woman in labor, desperate to save his wife and child.
• Li Shan: Revealed to be a poisonous woman, attempting to harm the new mother and her babies.

Significant Themes

• The power of Immortals and their connection to the living world.
• The struggle between good and evil, as seen in Xu Qing's actions and Li Shan's malicious intent.
• The importance of timing and proper action, as seen in the delivery process and the danger of consuming soup too soon after childbirth.

Character Interactions

• Xu Qing and Midwife Liu: Work together to deliver the twins, with Xu Qing providing guidance and Midwife Liu performing the physical tasks.
• Xu Qing and Li Mugen: Xu Qing reassures Li Mugen and helps save his wife and children.
• Xu Qing and Li Shan: Xu Qing exposes Li Shan's ill intent and prevents her from harming the new mother and her babies.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Qing assists in a difficult childbirth and helps expose a woman's attempt to harm the mother and child.
• Li Mugen's sister-in-law, who had given birth to twins, was targeted by a peasant woman who intended to harm her.
• Xu Qing writes a manual on childbirth assistance and postpartum care for Liu Wenpo to distribute.
• Xu Qing learns of Li Shan's wife's suicide and goes to investigate, finding her corpse and obtaining a reward from the Duren Sutra.
• Xu Qing returns to Linhe and encounters a lightning-struck elm tree, obtaining a mysterious black chess piece.
• Jiang Banxian, the Northern Divine Calculator, experiences heavenly punishment and loses his money pouch.
• Jiang Banxian arrives in Luojing and witnesses a strange celestial phenomenon, which turns out to be heavenly punishment striking him again.

Character Developments

• Xu Qing demonstrates his medical skills and compassion in assisting childbirth and helping expose the harmful intentions of others.
• Li Mugen shows his love for his wife and children by protecting them and punishing those who intend to harm them.
• Jiang Banxian faces heavenly punishment for his actions, leading him to lose his money and experience misfortune.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of harmful actions and the importance of compassion and kindness.
• The power of heavenly punishment and divine retribution.
• The interconnectedness of life and the impact of one's actions on others.

Character Interactions

• Xu Qing interacts with Li Mugen, Liu Wenpo, and the peasant woman, exposing her harmful intentions and helping to protect the mother and child.
• Jiang Banxian interacts with the inn worker and lodgers in Luojing, experiencing heavenly punishment and being misunderstood by others.