Chapter Summaries

Zhang Lingshan encountered Buddha Pity Chan Master and his followers emerging from the Mist Realm, then learned that Xiahou Ge's junior disciples had disappeared. He joined Xiahou Ge and the Demon Suppression Division in searching for them, while asking about the Light Dissolution Sect.

• Zhang Lingshan found no trace of the mountain god aberration, but Buddha Pity Chan Master and four followers emerged from the golden light and drove him from the Mountain God Temple.
• The Mountain God Temple vanished after Zhang Lingshan left, and he warned Wu Qi, Dongfang Hua, Yan Zheng Gang, and the others about the powerful hidden sect disciples inside.
• Xiahou Ge returned and told Zhang Lingshan that Guo Meijun, Jian Shao, and Ye Yitong had disappeared; Monk Pu Xin emerged from the temple and said Buddha Pity Chan Master would not meet Xiahou Ge.
• Xiahou Ge explained that the Dao Light Sect and Golden Light Sect had been founded by two old friends, and agreed to help Zhang Lingshan rescue his father from Golden Light Temple after the auction.
• Zhang Lingshan and Xiahou Ge set out to search for Xiahou Ge's missing junior disciples with Wu Qi and Nie Ji, who began inspecting the Mountain God Temple for traces.
• Zhang Lingshan asked Xiahou Ge what the Light Dissolution Sect was.

Zhang Lingshan learned why the hidden sects had come to Jiang City and helped Xiahou Ge search for his missing companions. They found that Guo Meijun and the others were staying at Si Kong Inn, while Kong Dagui gave Sikong Wanjin a golden paper that astonished him.

• Xiahou Ge told Zhang Lingshan about Guangjie Mountain, Buddha Pity Chan Master, and the South Sea Sandalwood auction.
• Wu Qi and Nie Ji concluded that Xiahou Ge’s three companions had left voluntarily, so Zhang Lingshan invited him back to Jiang City with them.
• Kong Dagui learned from a City Guard that Guo Meijun had injured a guard and identified the Hidden Guard commander as the person who could locate her.
• Kong Dagui brought Zhang Lingshan and Xiahou Ge to Si Kong Inn, where Sikong Wanjin revealed that Guo Meijun and the others were staying.
• Xiahou Ge hurried to find his companions, while Sikong Wanjin reacted with shock and delight when Kong Dagui handed him a sheet of golden paper.

Zhang Lingshan and Xiahou Ge decided that killing Guo Meijun was the only way to prevent her accusation from ruining them, and Zhang Lingshan took Xiahou Ge to a mysterious red-gated compound. He left Xiahou Ge unsettled by the place’s strange effect on his body.

• Sikong Wanjin gave Zhang Lingshan Sand River Void Qi Powder in exchange for Kong Dagui’s Profound Gold Paper.
• Xiahou Ge confronted Jian Shao, who warned that Mu Hongwei would hear about his alleged molestation of Guo Meijun.
• Xiahou Ge told Zhang Lingshan, Sikong Wanjin, and Kong Dagui that Guo Meijun had accused him of trying to molest her in the Mist Realm.
• Zhang Lingshan proposed silencing Guo Meijun, then argued that Jian Shao and Ye Yitong could be framed as Green Lotus Sect moles.
• Zhang Lingshan took Xiahou Ge to a red-gated compound, where Xiahou Ge felt something strange happening to his body.

Zhang Lingshan recruited Xu Zhongyin, Mister Cang, Night Zi, and Xiahou Ge to ambush Guo Meijun’s group and enter the Mist Realm. The team captured Guo Meijun, Jian Shao, and Ye Yitong, though Zhang Lingshan changed the plan after sensing Ye Yitong was not truly injured.

• Zhang Lingshan brought Xiahou Ge to Xu Zhongyin and asked for Night Zi’s help killing Guo Meijun and the other Dao Light Sect disciples.
• Mister Cang agreed to lead the operation, and Xiahou Ge promised future favors in exchange for their help.
• Mister Cang’s group traveled unseen to Si Kong Inn, where Xu Zhongyin used a model of the inn to shift them into Guo Meijun’s room.
• Zhang Lingshan smashed a Bright Jade Pearl, opening a Mist Realm entrance, and suddenly chose to capture Ye Yitong himself.
• Night Zi and Xiahou Ge swept Guo Meijun into the vortex, while Mister Cang carried Jian Shao inside.
• Ye Yitong revealed her emerald eyes and resisted, but Zhang Lingshan trapped her in a cage of growing bones and brought her into the Mist Realm.

Zhang Lingshan exposed Ye Yitong as a Green Lotus Sect infiltrator and learned that the sect’s secret technique was the Azure Lotus Heart Sutra before her soul was destroyed. He then joined Xu Zhongyin and reached Night Zi and Xiahou Ge, where he killed Guo Meijun as she threatened them.

• Xu Zhongyin escaped a false call in the swamp and encountered Zhang Lingshan, who was holding Ye Yitong in a Bone Cage.
• Zhang Lingshan exposed Ye Yitong’s identity as a wandering ghost inhabiting Ye Yitong’s body and linked her to the Green Lotus Sect’s interest in Wu Fangfang.
• Ye Yitong revealed that the Green Lotus Sect’s secret technique was the Azure Lotus Heart Sutra, but she died without divulging its cultivation method.
• Zhang Lingshan took Xu Zhongyin along to find Night Zi and Xiahou Ge, who were confronting Guo Meijun on a floating yellow cloth.
• Guo Meijun threatened to make them die together, but Zhang Lingshan seized her by the throat and killed her.

Zhang Lingshan led the group through the Mist Realm, drove off Scalping Grass, and reunited with the wounded Mister Cang. After Jian Shao died without revealing his secrets, Zhang Lingshan reached the Two Viscera Realm, but the group’s attempt to leave brought them into the Mountain God’s attack, which struck the connection point into the Mountain God Temple.

• Zhang Lingshan exposed the Scalping Grass disguised as thickets and drove them away with Cutting Intent after Xiahou Ge explained how to handle them.
• Mister Cang returned wounded with Jian Shao, who died before anyone could learn his hidden allegiance or mission.
• The group divided the spoils, and Xu Zhongyin used his Metal Box to clean the markings from weapons while Zhang Lingshan gave him more weapons to process.
• Zhang Lingshan swallowed Sikong Wanjin’s concentrated Sand River Void Qi Powder and refined it with Heart Fire Qi, reaching the Two Viscera Realm.
• Mister Cang’s poison forced the group to abandon further exploration, but the Mountain God attacked as they escaped through a nearby connection point.
• The Mountain God smashed the connection point into the Mountain God Temple, where Buddha Pity Chan Master threw his red kasaya up to protect his four martial nephews.

After Buddha Pity Chan Master drove Zhang Lingshan and the others from the Mountain God Temple, he pursued Zhang to clarify what he called a misunderstanding and attacked him with the Great Compassion Mantra. Zhang resisted the mantra and struck back, and the chapter ended with Buddha Pity trying to crush him while Zhang began to demonize.

• The Red Kasaya expelled Zhang Lingshan, Mister Cang, Xu Zhongyin, Night Zi, and Xiahou Ge from the Mountain God Temple, and the injured group fled while Xu Zhongyin vowed revenge.
• Buddha Pity used his Soul-Reaping Brahma Sound on Xu Zhongyin, then chased after Zhang Lingshan to insist that it was the Great Compassion Mantra.
• Zhang Lingshan endured Buddha Pity's mantra, broke free, and charged him, breaking Buddha Pity's right hand.
• Buddha Pity pinned Zhang beneath a leaf with Ten Thousand Jun Weight Unstoppable, then sent black beetles and wild dogs to attack him.
• Buddha Pity's further attack failed to kill Zhang, whose body began growing and sprouting scales.

Zhang Lingshan escaped Buddha Pity Chan Master’s attack and returned to Xu Zhongyin’s residence, where he refined his lungs and discovered he could absorb magic power sent into his body. He realized Demonization could counter Daoist and Buddhist mages, then prepared to seek useful treasures at the South Sea Auction in two days.

• Buddha Pity Chan Master poisoned and pinned Zhang Lingshan with Steel Nails, then fled with Ye E and the others when he could not defeat him.
• Zhang Lingshan broke free of the Steel Nails but failed to catch Buddha Pity Chan Master, and he resolved to find a way to defend his Spiritual Consciousness.
• Zhang Lingshan returned to Xu Zhongyin’s residence, used Lung Metal Meridian Dredging Nails to refine his lungs, and asked Xiahou Ge to help him cultivate hollow qi.
• Zhang Lingshan absorbed Xiahou Ge’s magic power during the experiment, startling Xiahou Ge and revealing a new way to frighten and counter mages.
• Zhang Lingshan concluded that Demonization could neutralize magic power and planned to save South Sea Jade for the South Sea Auction in two days.

Zhang Lingshan sold the Five Elements Turtle Shell, gathered South Sea Jade, and followed Mei Yuhuan out of Jiang City, where he discovered her ties to the Esoteric Sect. He killed the Bronze Mask Guard's Shen Monkey and left Mei Yuhuan at his mercy while questioning her about the Demon God's power.

• Zhang Lingshan sold the Five Elements Turtle Shell to the South Sea Auction House for 251 pieces of South Sea Jade after the Evil-warding Insect revealed its evil qi.
• Zhang Lingshan learned Xu Zhongyin needed another day and a half to finish refining the seized weapons, then resolved to raid the Qin and Yuchi families for money.
• Mei Yuhuan lured Zhang Lingshan into a forest outside Jiang City, where she revealed that she had joined the Esoteric Sect and called out Shen Monkey.
• Shen Monkey attacked Zhang Lingshan with Iron Hooks, but Zhang Lingshan overpowered and stomped him to death.
• Mei Yuhuan told Zhang Lingshan that the Demon God Statue could grant a Four Viscera Realm breakthrough, then urged him to join the Esoteric Sect for protection from Jiang Chenyu.
• Zhang Lingshan told Mei Yuhuan that he knew she had guessed he was Heart Fire Young Master.

Zhang Lingshan questioned Mei Yuhuan about the Demon God Statue, learned more about the Esoteric Sect, and watched her die when she tried to reveal the statue’s location. Back at the Three Yang Society, he sought ways to obtain South Sea Jade and began considering hostages after learning River Wind Teahouse was backed by Jiang Chenyu.

• Zhang Lingshan found a Bronze Mask Guard token on Shen Monkey’s corpse and questioned Mei Yuhuan about the Demon God Statue and her history with the Esoteric Sect.
• Mei Yuhuan explained that White-Robed Lord had recruited her, but she died when the Demon God Statue’s mental restriction punished her for trying to reveal its location.
• Zhang Lingshan collected 123 pieces of South Sea Jade from Mei Yuhuan and Shen Monkey, then returned to the Three Yang Society and received more than 300 pieces from Zhao Huanyang and the others.
• Xu Dongmei identified Li Ziming’s powerful backing and warned that River Wind Teahouse was protected by Jiang Chenyu; Zhang Lingshan showed her Shen Monkey’s token and revealed that Hou Yan had been Shen Monkey of the Twelve Zodiacs.
• Zhang Lingshan abandoned the idea of seizing Li Ziming at River Wind Teahouse and asked the Three Yang Society to help identify other potential hostages from the Yuchi and Qin families in exchange for South Sea Jade.

Zhang Lingshan captured Yuchi Liushen and Qin Buyin to use as hostages, then went to River Wind Teahouse to meet the Yuchi Family. He uncovered their attempt to distract him, killed the Yuchi Family agents sent to attack the Three Yang Society, and returned with their heads as negotiations continued.

• Xu Dongmei told Zhang Lingshan where Yuchi Liushen and Qin Buyin met, and he captured them at Clear Water Garden.
• Zhang Lingshan ordered Zhao Huanyang to demand payment from the Yuchi and Qin Families for the hostages; the Yuchi Family summoned him to River Wind Teahouse, while Qin Zhengjue denied Qin Buyin had been captured.
• Zhang Lingshan left Yuchi Liushen and Qin Buyin at the Three Yang Society and went to River Wind Teahouse, where Yuchi Guan led him toward Yuchi Wenmin and Yuchi Wenfeng.
• Zhang Lingshan noticed the ruse and returned to the Three Yang Society, killing Yuchi Bing and another Yuchi Family elder who had been sent there.
• Zhang Lingshan presented their heads to Yuchi Wenmin and Yuchi Wenfeng, and Yuchi Wenfeng denounced the dead men as traitors before inviting him upstairs to negotiate.

Zhang Lingshan met Yuchi Wenfeng at River Wind Teahouse to negotiate Yuchi Liushen’s release, but left with more than a hundred pieces of South Sea Jade without provoking Jiang Chenyu. Yuchi Wenmin confronted Jiang Chenyu, who revealed he had held back because of nearby threats and his cultivation, then promised to kill Zhang Lingshan after the auction.

• Zhang Lingshan demanded food and a ransom for Yuchi Liushen while waiting for Jiang Chenyu to appear, but Yuchi Wenfeng offered only three pieces of South Sea Jade.
• Zhang Lingshan threatened Yuchi Wenfeng, discovered a pouch containing more than a hundred pieces of South Sea Jade, took it, and left River Wind Teahouse.
• Yuchi Wenmin berated Yuchi Wenfeng, then stormed into Jiang Chenyu’s room and demanded to know why he had not attacked Zhang Lingshan.
• Jiang Chenyu revealed his beautiful transformed appearance, changed back into his usual form, and comforted Yuchi Wenmin.
• Jiang Chenyu explained that he was avoiding trouble from the nearby Loves Gutter Water Beggar King and protecting his cultivation, then promised to kill Zhang Lingshan after the auction.

Zhang Lingshan learned from Kong Dagui how the Organ Nourishing Realm led to the Aperture Opening Realm and what separated martial artists from mages. After Zhang revealed that he was only sixteen, Kong Dagui offered to recommend him for the Demon Suppression Envoy selection before his seventeenth birthday.

• Zhang Lingshan returned to the Three Yang Society and told Yuchi Liushen to gather one hundred and twenty-five pieces of South Sea Jade to redeem Qin Buyin.
• Zhang Lingshan left Qin Buyin in the Society's care and went to Kong Dagui to ask about the Organ Nourishing Realm.
• Kong Dagui explained the stages of nourishing the six viscera, breaking the Qi Membrane Cocoon, and opening acupoint apertures to become a Qi Refining Martial Practitioner.
• Kong Dagui warned Zhang Lingshan not to underestimate mages and described the prodigious young Buddha Pity Chan Master.
• Zhang Lingshan told Kong Dagui he was still sixteen, and Kong Dagui offered to recommend him for the Demon Suppression Envoy selection before his seventeenth birthday.

Zhang Lingshan learned how Organ Nourishing cultivation worked and decided to prepare for the Demon Suppression Envoy selection while concealing his identity at the upcoming auction. After watching Wu Fangfang for signs of the Green Lotus Sect envoy and having weapons refined, he headed to the South Sea Auction House in disguise to exchange for South Sea Jade.

• Kong Dagui explained the required order for nourishing the organs, the secrets of Organ Nourishing Cultivation Methods, and how the Demon Suppression Envoy selection could grant access to teachers and the Skill Transmission Pagoda.
• Kong Dagui told Zhang Lingshan that Jiang Chenyu came from Sea Province's Northern Darkness Sect and had children with Yuchi Wenmin, prompting Zhang to plan to attend the auction under a new identity.
• Zhang Lingshan visited Yu Yun and Wu Fangfang, sensed that Wu Fangfang's Azure Lotus Heart Sutra scent had grown stronger, and suspected she had recently met the Green Lotus Sect's Skill Transmission Holy Envoy.
• Zhang Lingshan made a wooden mask, listened for the envoy without finding a trace, and left after overhearing Yu Yun's romantic hopes about him.
• Zhang Lingshan brought Shen Monkey's and Mei Yuhuan's weapons to Xu Zhongyin for refinement, then cultivated while waiting for them to be finished.
• After Xu Zhongyin finished the weapons the next day, Zhang Lingshan disguised himself as a noble young master and went to the South Sea Auction House to exchange for South Sea Jade.

Zhang Lingshan arrived at the South Sea Auction in disguise, ready to spend the South Sea Jade he had accumulated. After Gong Xiping officially opened the auction and announced the entrances for guests, Zhang Lingshan realized he could sell his extra Contract Tokens.

• Zhang Lingshan collected 666 South Sea Jade from weapon exchanges, then accepted 125 more from Yuchi Liushen in exchange for Qin Buyin and promised to stop abducting them.
• Zhang Lingshan told Zhao Huanyang to guard the Three Yang Society while he attended the auction under a different identity, and Zhao Huanyang briefed him on the auction items.
• Zhang Lingshan reached the auction venue and spotted Song Qingyu, Yu Si Si, Qing Ming, Bai Jun, Ran Jinru, Li Ziming, Yan Zhaoyuan, and a powerful old man among the crowd.
• Li Ziming told Qing Ming he planned to bid on the Spirit Void Three Purities Jade, while Qing Ming avoided revealing which item she wanted.
• Jiang Chenyu welcomed the crowd, and Gong Xiping announced that the auction had officially begun and directed guests with Contract Tokens to the north gate.
• Zhang Lingshan heard someone offering to sell Contract Tokens and decided he could sell his extras too.

Zhang Lingshan exposed Heavenly Corpse Sect members posing as Contract Token scalpers and watched Jiang City’s distinguished guests arrive for the auction. The arrival of White Cloud Daoist Temple and Little Thunder Sound Temple reminded him of the Black Box and the Wordless True Scripture, leaving him intent on investigating the Black Box further.

• Zhang Lingshan noticed corpse qi on the scalpers’ Contract Tokens, sold two cheaply to Qing Ming and Yu Si Si, then lured the sellers into attacking him and threw them to Yan Zheng Gang and Ouyang Han.
• Yan Zheng Gang recognized the scalpers as Heavenly Corpse Sect members, and Ouyang Han bound them while Zhang Lingshan slipped away.
• Buddha Pity Chan Master of Golden Light Sect arrived, and Gong Xiping escorted him to the North Gate; Mu Hongwei of Dao Light Sect arrived soon after with Xiahou Ge and was led in by Jiang Chenyu.
• Zhang Lingshan recognized White Cloud Daoist Temple’s name from Hong Zhengdao’s story about the Black Box and decided he would retrieve it from his master to study it again.
• Little Thunder Sound Temple arrived for the auction’s consigned Wordless True Scripture, which onlookers identified as an opportunity to comprehend a Mystical Power.

Zhang Lingshan entered the auction hall with Xu Zhongyin and settled into a private room, where Xu secretly warned him to be cautious. The auction began with the Blade Demon's Manual, whose newly written first page supposedly contained Cutting Intent without side effects.

• Experts from Great Zen Temple arrived, and Thunder Sound Venerable's voice threatened the crowd until Cattle Herding Old Man warned people to cover their ears.
• Cattle Herding Old Man identified himself to two Lu Clan siblings, while Zhang Lingshan noticed a woman with the Azure Lotus Heart Sutra and planned to refine her into energy after the auction.
• Kong Dagui, Sikong Wanjin, Taishu Yan, Yuan Tu, and Zhao Junshan arrived, followed by Xu Zhongyin, whom Zhang Lingshan persuaded to give him the adjoining private room.
• Zhang Lingshan paid ten pieces of South Sea Jade for the third-floor room and discovered its vapor increased his Energy Points.
• Xu Zhongyin sent Zhang Lingshan a fleeting warning through the wall, and Zhang suspected the South Sea Merchant Guild had a hidden purpose behind the auction.
• The auction began, and the first item announced was the Blade Demon's Manual, featuring a newly written page said to contain Cutting Intent without side effects.

Zhang Lingshan won the Spirit Void Three Purities Jade at auction and used his Panel to convert it into spiritual power, upgrading his Spirit level. After his enhanced senses let him overhear Yuchi Wenmin’s group and they detected his spying, he prepared to strengthen himself further before they could identify him.

• An old man bought Zhang Lingshan’s Blade Demon's Manual for nineteen pieces of South Sea Jade and left the auction immediately.
• Zhang Lingshan outbid Li Ziming for the Spirit Void Three Purities Jade, paying one hundred and sixty-one pieces of South Sea Jade.
• Zhang Lingshan comprehended the jade, converted its spiritual power through his Panel, and upgraded his Spirit to Level One with 1139 points.
• His improved senses let Zhang Lingshan see Xu Zhongyin next door and overhear Yuchi Wenmin’s group searching for Heart Fire Dog.
• Yuchi Liuxiang sensed someone spying, and Yuchi Wenmin’s explosive sphere hurt Zhang Lingshan’s ears and alerted him that the group might identify him.
• Zhang Lingshan decided to strengthen himself by bidding on the upcoming Geng Metal Void Sand.

Zhang Lingshan won Geng Metal Void Sand and profited from his consigned weapons while the auction moved on to the coveted South Sea Sandalwood. A dispute between Buddha Pity Chan Master and Thunder Sound Venerable disrupted the bidding, but Mu Hongwei won the first piece, and the Dao Light Sect remained to pursue the rest.

• Zhang Lingshan bought Geng Metal Void Sand for thirty South Sea Jade, began refining it, and calculated a net profit of thirty-nine South Sea Jade from his auctioned items.
• The auctioneer introduced South Sea Sandalwood with a starting bid of one thousand South Sea Jade, and Mu Hongwei, Thunder Sound Venerable, and Buddha Pity Chan Master began bidding.
• Buddha Pity Chan Master’s words halted the auctioneer, and Thunder Sound Venerable accused him of manipulating the bidding before attacking his private room and injuring guests with the attack’s lingering force.
• Gong Xiping intervened, demanded that the dispute stop, and promised compensation for the injured guests; the auction resumed with Mu Hongwei winning the South Sea Sandalwood for sixteen hundred South Sea Jade.
• Xiahou Ge doubted Mu Hongwei’s courage and wanted the Dao Light Sect to leave, but Mu Hongwei declared that the next pieces of South Sea Sandalwood would also belong to them.

Zhang Lingshan used the auction to acquire materials for Organ Refining while provoking Yuchi Wenmin, who recognized the Three Treasures Meteor Hammer as Yuchi Family property and vowed to kill him. After buying several refining items, Zhang Lingshan combined their medicinal effects and began Demonizing to absorb the overwhelming power as he pushed toward a breakthrough.

• Zhang Lingshan let Yuchi Wenmin win South Sea Coral Paste for an inflated price, then she realized he could spy through walls and suspected he was Heart Fire Young Master.
• Zhang Lingshan bought the Three Treasures Meteor Hammer, which Yuchi Wenmin recognized as Yuchi Family property, and she angrily vowed to kill him despite Yuchi Dian's warning.
• Zhang Lingshan earned South Sea Jade by selling the hammer and later acquired more Geng Metal Void Sand, South Sea Coral Paste, and South Sea Spirit Wood Cream.
• Zhang Lingshan refined his second bottle of Geng Metal Void Sand, then applied two pieces of South Sea Coral Paste to his kidneys and drank Kidney Water Strengthening Tendons Powder.
• Zhang Lingshan swallowed Liver Wood Qi Boosting Pills and South Sea Spirit Wood Cream when the combined medicinal effects overwhelmed him, then began Demonizing to absorb the excess power.