Chapter Summaries

Ye Zhen joined a Sun Moon Divine Cult hunting squad to help capture a Shadowless Mountain-Piercing Beast and obtain the Gen Earth Spirit Pearl. After traveling to Black Beard Mountain, the group began searching for the beast.

• Zhu Ling told Ye Zhen that a squad had found a pure Earth Element Monster Beast, but warned its Earth Escape ability made the hunt risky.
• Ye Zhen offered to join the hunt because his Soul Shocking Heavenly Lightning might paralyze the beast, and Zhu Ling gave him a Talisman Signal to contact the squad.
• Ye Zhen informed Feng Qingyue and Tian Guizhang, declined Feng Qingyue's offer to come along, and visited Bai Zizai before departing.
• Ye Zhen met Hou Ba, Fu Lang, and Yu Xian, then flew with them toward Black Beard Mountain on an Iron Tail Golden Eagle.
• After roughly fourteen days of travel, Hou Ba slowed the Iron Tail Golden Eagle and announced that Black Beard Mountain had come into view.

Ye Zhen joined Hou Ba's hunting squad to track the Shadowless Mountain-Piercing Beast into its underground lair. After Ghost Shadow was struck by a hidden beast and knocked Ye Zhen forward, Ye Zhen found himself surrounded by at least ten pairs of glowing eyes.

• Hou Ba paid the filthy intelligence dealer, who said the Shadowless Mountain-Piercing Beast had appeared only twice in the past month.
• Hou Ba's squad covered themselves in Black Beard Mountain wormwood juice and followed Ghost Shadow into the dry underground tunnels.
• Ghost Shadow found a cavern ahead and warned the group that two Shadowless Mountain-Piercing Beasts might be inside, while Hou Ba asked Ye Zhen to use his Soul Shocking Heavenly Lightning to paralyze them.
• Ye Zhen crept toward the lair with Hou Ba, Ghost Shadow, and Yu Xian close behind, preparing to unleash two bolts of lightning.
• A hidden beast struck Ghost Shadow and sent him crashing into Ye Zhen, who stumbled into the lair and saw at least ten pairs of yellowish-brown eyes surrounding him.

Ye Zhen was trapped in a cave by twelve Shadowless Mountain-Piercing Beasts and used the Demon Cloud Fruit, Soul-Capturing Jade Skull, and Heart Sword to defeat them. He killed the Beast King just as the cave collapsed, leaving him buried beneath the mountain.

• Ye Zhen faced eleven Mid-grade Heaven-tier Shadowless Mountain-Piercing Beasts and their High-grade Heaven-tier Beast King in a cramped cave.
• Ye Zhen released the Soul Shocking Heavenly Lightning and crushed the Demon Cloud Fruit, shielding himself as the beasts attacked with stone spears.
• Ye Zhen activated the Soul-Capturing Jade Skull, whose Skull Demon Sound injured the beasts’ souls and killed two of them.
• Ye Zhen used the Heart Sword to kill nine more beasts, then struck at the Beast King as it escaped underground and triggered a cave-in.
• Ye Zhen’s Heart Sword pinned the Beast King beneath the earth, but the collapsing mountain shattered his Demon Cloud Barrier and buried him.

Ye Zhen escaped the collapse beneath Black Beard Mountain and returned to the Shadowless Mountain-Piercing Beast's lair to collect monster cores. He risked another collapse to reach the buried Beast King and began extracting its essence soul.

• Ye Zhen used his Storage Rings to clear dirt and rocks, then dug himself out of the collapsed tunnels.
• Ye Zhen suspected Hou Ba's hunting party had deliberately caused his predicament, but confirmed no one was nearby.
• Ye Zhen returned to the lair and found two Shadowless Mountain-Piercing Beast corpses, collecting their pure earth-element Monster Cores.
• Ye Zhen decided to dig out the buried Shadowless Mountain-Piercing Beast King, despite being buried alive again during the attempt.
• Ye Zhen used the two beasts' skeletons as supports, reached the Beast King, and pressed his palm against its forehead as radiance burst forth.

Ye Zhen absorbed the Shadowless Mountain-Piercing Beast King’s power, formed its Essence Soul Pearl, and gained the Earth Evasion Technique. After recovering, he suspected the Internal Affairs Hall had arranged the plot against him and found the supposedly dead Hou Ba, Fu Lang, and Yu Xian waiting for proof of his death.

• Ye Zhen absorbed the beast king’s power, advanced to the peak of the second level of the Pulse Forging Realm, and completed its Essence Soul Pearl despite being buried in the collapse.
• Ye Zhen gained earth evasion, tested the ability, and nearly suffocated after exhausting his spirit energy underground.
• Ye Zhen recovered, concluded that the three hunters had survived and that someone had plotted against him, and suspected the Internal Affairs Hall and Zhu Ling.
• Ye Zhen returned to the dead Shadowless Mountain-Piercing Beasts, collected their monster cores, and cautiously followed Fu Lang’s marks through the tunnels.
• Ye Zhen discovered Hou Ba, Fu Lang, and Yu Xian discussing how to fake their deaths and retrieve Ye Zhen’s corpse, then watched them freeze as he appeared.

Ye Zhen confronted Hou Ba, Ghost Shadow Fu Lang, and Yu Xian after surviving their trap and learned they had acted for Zhu Ling. He killed Yu Xian and Fu Lang and left Hou Ba helplessly suppressed, again demanding the place where they were to meet Zhu Ling.

• Ye Zhen emerged from the cave, revealed he had overheard the trio discussing Zhu Ling’s plot, and demanded to know where they had arranged to meet him.
• Hou Ba, Fu Lang, and Yu Xian surrounded Ye Zhen, but he used his Illusion Soul Divine Eyes to wound Yu Xian and revealed his true peak second-level Pulse Forging Realm cultivation.
• Ye Zhen attacked with the Soul-Capturing Jade Skull and Great Force Hammer, smashing Yu Xian to death while Fu Lang escaped the soul attack and launched Ghost Shadow Flash.
• Ye Zhen’s Heart Sword Intent exposed Fu Lang’s true body, and his sword pierced Fu Lang’s heart; Ye Zhen then used Soul Shocking Heavenly Lightning to stop Fu Lang’s attempt to perish with him.
• The Soul-Capturing Jade Skull overwhelmed Hou Ba, leaving him unable to intervene as Ye Zhen asked again where he and Zhu Ling planned to meet.

Ye Zhen interrogated Hou Ba about Zhu Ling, but Hou Ba sent a signal before Ye Zhen could stop him, forcing Ye Zhen to use the Soul Searching Technique. The signal reached Lu Xiao, who learned Ye Zhen was near Black Beard Mountain and set out to find a helper.

• Ye Zhen subdued Hou Ba and asked where he would meet Zhu Ling, but Hou Ba said he did not know and revealed he carried a sealed Jade Talisman with the next arrangement.
• Hou Ba crushed the talisman’s seal, sending a purple signal into the sky before Ye Zhen’s Soul Shocking Heavenly Lightning struck him.
• Ye Zhen ordered Little Cat to guard the area and used the Soul Searching Technique on Hou Ba, successfully extracting a torrent of information.
• The signal reached Lu Xiao at the Profound Moon Sect, and he recognized Ye Zhen’s name and location near Black Beard Mountain.
• Lu Xiao sent urgent messages to Gu Bufan, received no reply, and set out to find another helper.

Ye Zhen survived his first Soul Searching Technique and discovered that Ghost Shadow Talisman Fu Lang had marked him with tracking seals, but he found no details about the second stage of the plan against him. As Ye Zhen cleared Hou Ba’s memories, Bian Daqian and Lu Xiao arrived near Black Beard Mountain, searching for Ye Zhen because Lu Xiao believed he carried multiple Demon Cloud Fruits.

• Ye Zhen completed the soul search on Hou Ba, killed him, and endured the dangerous process of sorting through his memories.
• Ye Zhen learned that Fu Lang had planted tracking talisman seals on his clothing and hair, then burned his belongings and checked his possessions for traces.
• Ye Zhen discovered details about Zhu Ling’s history, trusted followers, secret bases, and crimes, but found no information about the second stage of the plan against him.
• Bian Daqian and Lu Xiao stopped near Black Beard Mountain after the tracking seal’s aura disappeared, and Bian Daqian warned that the anonymous signal might be a trap.
• Lu Xiao revealed that Ye Zhen might possess multiple Demon Cloud Fruits and explained how he had concealed that information from the sect.
• Bian Daqian ordered himself and Lu Xiao to search Black Beard Mountain from opposite sides and signal each other if they found Ye Zhen.

Ye Zhen recognized Lu Xiao as an advance scout sent by Zhu Ling’s plan and killed him with the Great Force Hammer before the main force arrived. Lu Xiao’s master, Yu Daqian, attacked with overwhelming power, but Ye Zhen survived his first barrage as Yu Daqian began preparing a heavier technique.

• Ye Zhen spotted Lu Xiao approaching and realized the Profound Moon Sect had found him through the purple Jade Talisman Hou Ba sent.
• Lu Xiao was shocked by Ye Zhen’s concealed cultivation, and Ye Zhen killed him with a Great Force Hammer strike.
• Yu Daqian arrived too late to save Lu Xiao and swore to kill Ye Zhen.
• Yu Daqian unleashed the Sea Dragon Capture Hand, while Ye Zhen countered with Heart Sword light enhanced by Zi Ling.
• Yu Daqian’s barrage failed to injure Ye Zhen, and Yu Daqian shifted to a slower, heavier aura as he prepared his next attack.

Ye Zhen used Earth Escape to evade Yu Daqian’s Torrential Vortex Scattering Hand and hid underground while Yu Daqian searched in vain. When Yu Daqian finally moved to claim the Great Force Hammer, Ye Zhen launched a surprise attack from beneath him.

• Yu Daqian trapped Ye Zhen’s Great Force Hammer in his Torrential Vortex Scattering Hand and drove Ye Zhen toward the ground with his attacks.
• Ye Zhen escaped underground using Earth Escape Art, leaving Yu Daqian baffled as he searched the air and earth for him.
• Ye Zhen watched Yu Daqian’s search from more than thirty meters underground and considered how to exploit the vortex’s weakness.
• After searching for half an hour, Yu Daqian decided to leave and wait for Ye Zhen to emerge, then bent down to pick up the Great Force Hammer.
• Ye Zhen unleashed a sharp golden sword aura from the ground between Yu Daqian’s legs.

Ye Zhen killed Yu Daqian and escaped Black Beard Mountain, then spent days studying the Mirage Dragon Pearl without discovering a new ability. He decided to cultivate outside the Profound Moon Sect’s territory and began preparing to break through, condensing the Martial Intent of the Kun Yuan Divine Palm before starting Pulse Forging.

• Ye Zhen ambushed Yu Daqian with a golden sword aura, disrupted his spiritual energy with Soul Shocking Heavenly Lightning, and beheaded him.
• Ye Zhen took the Great Force Hammer and the Storage Rings of Yu Daqian and Lu Xiao, then fled Black Beard Mountain with Xiao Mao and collected the corpses of Hou Ba, Fu Lang, and Yu Xian along the way.
• After flying for days beyond the Profound Moon Sect’s sphere of influence, Ye Zhen studied the Mirage Dragon Pearl’s expanded Third Layer Space but found no new ability.
• Ye Zhen decided to undergo Pulse Forging outside and return after advancing to the Pulse Forging Realm Third Layer, hoping to cultivate the Kun Yuan Divine Palm to improve his defense.
• Ye Zhen condensed the Martial Intent within the Kun Yuan Divine Palm in less than a month and prepared to begin Pulse Forging.

Ye Zhen forged his pulse using his Third Talent Bloodline, drawing Monster Beasts to his secluded cultivation while Xiao Mao fought to keep them away. After Ye Zhen completed Pulse Forging, he empowered Xiao Mao, who turned the battle against the Three-Eyed Demonic Wolf.

• Ye Zhen manifested his Third Talent Bloodline and used Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to condense the Martial Intent of the Kun Yuan Divine Palm into a martial seed.
• The exposed blood-energy smoke from Ye Zhen's Talent Bloodline attracted waves of Monster Beasts, and Xiao Mao fought them while Ye Zhen continued Pulse Forging.
• Xiao Mao faced the Low-grade Heaven-tier Three-Eyed Demonic Wolf and, despite being wounded, blocked it from reaching Ye Zhen.
• Ye Zhen completed Pulse Forging, then used the Battle Soul Blood Banner to boost Xiao Mao's power.
• Xiao Mao charged the Three-Eyed Demonic Wolf at doubled speed and slammed into its throat.

Gu Bufan emerged from seclusion and discovered that Lu Xiao and Yu Daqian had disappeared and been found dead, prompting the Profound Moon Sect to identify Ye Zhen and send Gan Rusong after him. Meanwhile, Ye Zhen watched Zhu Ling’s dock from above Clearwater River, preparing to retaliate against her.

• Gu Bufan learned from Lu Xiao’s talisman messages that Ye Zhen had appeared, then discovered Lu Xiao and Yu Daqian were missing and could not be reached.
• The Profound Moon Sect found Lu Xiao and Yu Daqian’s bodies beneath Black Beard Mountain, and Zuo Muyang ordered an investigation and revenge against Ye Zhen.
• Gan Rusong identified Ye Zhen as a member of the Sun Moon Divine Cult in Qinglan Martial Capital and agreed to lead a group there to capture him.
• Ye Zhen appeared above Clearwater River, six thousand li from Qinglan Martial Capital, and vowed to make Zhu Ling pay for plotting against him.

Ye Zhen infiltrated Clear Water Wharf, Zhu Ling’s stronghold, and killed its chief steward Zhu Zhong and the henchman Bald Eagle. The discovery of their bodies threw the wharf into chaos, while Ye Zhen examined the vast wealth he had taken.

• Ye Zhen chose to strike Zhu Ling’s Clear Water Wharf rather than wait for Zhu Ling to make another move against him.
• Ye Zhen used Earth Evasion to enter the wharf’s rear courtyard and killed Zhu Zhong, then searched his room and took two high-grade Storage Rings.
• Ye Zhen infiltrated Bald Eagle’s courtyard and killed him as he slept.
• Ye Zhen woke the captive female martial artist, gave her a Storage Ring, and urged her to flee before Zhu Ling could question her.
• The wharf’s stewards discovered Zhu Zhong’s body, leaving them unable to manage its finances and plunging Clear Water Wharf into chaos.
• Ye Zhen stared at the mountain-like piles of Spirit Crystals inside several Storage Rings.

Ye Zhen returned to the Sun Moon Divine Cult with a fortune in Spirit Crystals and the Gen Earth Spirit Pearls, then reported the hunting squad’s deaths to Zhu Ling. Zhu Ling tried to accuse him of wrongdoing, but a Talisman Signal arrived just as Ye Zhen warned that Zhu Ling would soon have plenty to keep him busy.

• Ye Zhen counted more than 2.8 million Mid-grade Spirit Crystals among his spoils, including the wealth seized from Zhu Zhong and the others.
• Ye Zhen flew back to the Sun Moon Divine Cult and went to the Internal Affairs Hall to report the hunting squad’s fate.
• Zhu Ling learned that Ye Zhen had returned alone and questioned how he had survived while obtaining the Gen Earth Spirit Pearls.
• Ye Zhen claimed Hou Ba and the others had died protecting him, then dismissed Zhu Ling’s threats to involve the Law Enforcement Hall.
• Zhu Ling left the Internal Affairs Hall to report Ye Zhen, but a Talisman Signal arrived and left him nearly collapsing after he read it.

Ye Zhen returned to his Spirit Courtyard while Zhu Ling struggled with the loss of Clear Water Wharf and the fallout from his private business. Feng Qingyue then revealed that Beast Taming Sect Elder Yang Yiguan had repeatedly sought Ye Zhen out.

• The Heavenly Net Sect seized Clear Water Wharf, and Zhu Ling's attempt to reclaim it was driven back by reinforcements.
• Cult Master Jian Qianxiong ordered Zhu Ling to resolve the dispute, forcing the Sun Moon Divine Cult to accept the loss and apologize for its attack.
• Merchants demanded compensation from Zhu Ling, who paid out more than one million Mid-grade Spirit Crystals as losses mounted.
• Experts ruled that only a powerful Palace Opening Realm King could have silently killed the Pulse Forging Realm martial artists, leaving Zhu Ling to suspect Ye Zhen had connections to one.
• Ye Zhen returned to his Spirit Courtyard, where Feng Qingyue welcomed him and revealed that Yang Yiguan had come looking for him more than once.

Yang Yiguan told Ye Zhen that his failed search for the Five Elements Blood Fusion Pill had cost seven disciples their lives and left three crippled, then explained the Beast Taming Sect’s history and the origins of Myriad Beasts Valley. He began recounting how a chance discovery ten years earlier had finally advanced his search, but had not yet revealed what he found.

• Ye Zhen met Yang Yiguan and saw that the elder had aged dramatically and lost much of his cultivation after the failed expedition.
• Yang Yiguan said seven disciples had died and three had been crippled, and explained that the group had returned without the Five Elements Blood Fusion Pill.
• Yang Yiguan asked Ye Zhen to join forces with him to obtain the pill, and Ye Zhen challenged him before agreeing to hear his account.
• Yang Yiguan explained that Niu Xiaotian had built Myriad Beasts Valley as the Beast Taming Sect’s Land of Revival, and that dying elders had left clues to its name after the sect was destroyed.
• Yang Yiguan described searching for Myriad Beasts Valley for nearly a century after discovering a secret record that mentioned it but gave no location.
• Yang Yiguan said an accidental encounter ten years earlier had finally brought a breakthrough in his search.

Ye Zhen agreed to join Yang Yiguan’s expedition into Myriad Beasts Valley and chose Feng Qingyue to accompany him. Before they set out, Ye Zhen attended the Sun Moon Divine Cult’s monthly worship to investigate the connection between the divine statue and his Mirage Dragon Pearl.

• Yang Yiguan explained that he needed Ye Zhen and the Cloud Winged Tiger King to pass a checkpoint in Myriad Beasts Valley, and promised a Five Elements Blood Fusion Pill or its formula in return.
• Ye Zhen agreed to cooperate, insisted on bringing one trusted companion, and arranged to meet the group at the valley in half a month.
• Ye Zhen asked Feng Qingyue to accompany him, and she accepted before fleeing after he kissed and touched her.
• Ye Zhen received Feng Qingyue’s signal confirming she would join him, then delayed the expedition so he could attend the Sun Moon Divine Cult’s worship.
• Ye Zhen met Feng Qingyue on the first day of the ninth month and went with her to the altar, where Cult Leader Jian Qianxiong appeared and Grand Commander Ji Yuanxiu announced the worship.

During worship, Ye Zhen discovered that the Mirage Dragon Pearl feared the Sun Moon Divine Lord’s aura and sensed immense power within the deity’s statue, leaving him eager for the Divine Sacrifice. Afterward, Jian Qianxiong revealed he knew Ye Zhen’s true Four Meridians talent and urged him to use influence to gain cultivation resources, leaving Ye Zhen puzzled by the leader’s apparent interest in nurturing him.

• Ye Zhen tested the Mirage Dragon Pearl during worship and found that it reacted with terror when the Sun Moon Divine Lord’s aura entered his soul sea.
• Ye Zhen sensed formidable power in the Divine Statue and considered the opportunity the upcoming Divine Sacrifice might offer, but avoided trying to break the Mirage Dragon Pearl’s seals.
• Jian Qianxiong kept Ye Zhen behind, learned that Ye Zhen had obtained the Gen Earth Spirit Pearl, and condemned the Internal Affairs Hall for sending him into a Shadowless Mountain-Piercing Beast lair.
• Jian Qianxiong discussed Ye Zhen’s cultivation and future post, then explained how influence could provide resources needed to advance along the martial path.
• Jian Qianxiong revealed that he knew Ye Zhen had Four Meridians and offered him authority after he reached the second level of the Pulse Forging Realm.
• Ye Zhen left the altar puzzled by Jian Qianxiong’s favorable attention, met Feng Qingyue, and departed on Cloud Winged Tiger King Xiao Mao.

Ye Zhen and Feng Qingyue traveled toward the Beast Taming Sect ruins, where Yang Yiguan had arranged to meet them about Myriad Beasts Valley. They arrived and met Yang Yiguan and his companions, but two of the newcomers shocked them.

• Ye Zhen and Feng Qingyue traveled together toward the Beast Taming Sect ruins, and Ye Zhen tried to chase a richly dressed old man who had insulted them before Feng Qingyue persuaded him to let it go.
• Zhu Ling reported the settlement of the Clear Water Wharf dispute to Cult Master Jian Qianxiong, who questioned the Earth Camp's report about the Gen Earth Spirit Pearl and assigned Nian Xinghe to take command of the camp.
• Zhu Ling left the meeting troubled by his loss of authority but remained intent on avenging his son's death.
• Two days later, Ye Zhen and Feng Qingyue arrived at the vast Beast Taming Sect ruins and marveled at their size.
• Yang Yiguan arrived with Ma Yue and two other helpers, and Ye Zhen and Feng Qingyue recognized one of them with surprise.