Chapter Summaries

Meng Zhao gained new martial insight from the Fire Cloud Tree's heart, and his group continued through the Guardian Forest. Deep beneath Lishou Mountain, the Emperor Stele trembled and briefly released two demonic characters, while the Fire Cloud Tree began restoring itself.

• Meng Zhao accepted the Fire Cloud Tree's heart from Gan Mingfeng and gained insight into martial paths beyond the Red Flag Order.
• Peng Haibing suggested searching for more Fire Cloud Trees, but Min Tao, Wu Chen, and the others opposed leaving Gan Mingfeng's tested route, so the group continued onward.
• A crimson torrent weakened the formation surrounding the Emperor Stele, causing it and Lishou Mountain to shake and unleashing ghosts, fiends, beasts, and insects across the mountain.
• Two demonic characters escaped the Emperor Stele as ink-black snakes, but its inscription and the five elemental lights restored the formation and subdued the remaining demonic patterns.
• The Fire Cloud Tree regrew its vitality and began nurturing a new heart as two little snakes settled on it and formed a symbiotic bond.

After a massive tremor shook Lishou Mountain, Meng Zhao suspected it was connected to the group taking the heart of the Fire Cloud Tree, which he believed was a node in a vast formation. The group debated whether to investigate further, leaving them eager to pursue the opportunity while uncertain what the disturbance meant.

• Wu Chen speculated that the Pai Gang and its Grandmaster had caused the tremor by obtaining the opportunity hidden in Lishou Mountain.
• Xu Tingyun argued the upheaval could have been a natural event, then asked Gan Mingfeng for his view.
• Meng Zhao linked the tremor to the Fire Cloud Tree’s heart, explaining that his ocular art had revealed the tree was a node in a great formation.
• Gan Mingfeng backed Meng Zhao, and the group grew excited at the possibility that taking the tree’s heart had given them an early connection to the formation’s secret.
• Peng Haibing urged them to enter the mountain and find the tremor’s center, while Meng Zhao cautioned that the formation was vast and the tree only one small node.

Meng Zhao and the others learned that Lishou Mountain’s formation might be suppressing the severed head of the ancient War God Xing Tian, making their search for an opportunity potentially dangerous. They chose to continue into the mountain, but another great change interrupted their discussion.

• Gan Mingfeng confirmed that tremors had altered Lishou Mountain and likely weakened its great formation.
• Meng Zhao said he could not locate the formation’s center and warned that a flaw might let Xing Tian’s Head make a move.
• Xu Tingyun urged the group to investigate the legend, and Wu Chen identified Xing Tian as the demon and Shaohao as the emperor who had fought him.
• Peng Haibing suggested withdrawing to report the danger, but Gan Mingfeng and Meng Zhao argued that they should continue cautiously and seek opportunities to advance their martial arts.
• Another great change occurred before the group could continue their discussion.

A Beast Tide swept through the Guardian Forest, forcing Meng Zhao and the others to evade the raging beasts and venomous insects. The ordeal inspired Meng Zhao to create a new martial art and advance his Martial Dao, while Peng Haibing remained missing.

• Wu Chen warned the group that the landslide had triggered a Beast Tide, and everyone climbed trees for shelter.
• Countless ferocious beasts surged through the forest as venomous insects attacked, and Meng Zhao carried Gan Mingfeng to safety while killing the insects in their path.
• After the tide passed, Meng Zhao reflected on the power of accumulated strength and entered enlightenment, creating a martial art that advanced his cultivation.
• Gan Mingfeng recognized Meng Zhao's enlightenment and considered investing in him, but knew that fleeing would risk Meng Zhao's retaliation.
• Xu Tingyun, Wu Chen, and Min Tao regrouped with Meng Zhao, while Peng Haibing was nowhere to be found.

After Peng Haibing returned injured from the Beast Tide, Meng Zhao sensed that something had changed in him and suspected a connection to the danger on Lishou Mountain. Meng Zhao decided to keep Peng Haibing close for now, but Xu Tingyun and the others questioned whether he should remain with the group.

• Meng Zhao woke from his brief enlightenment, and the group wondered why Peng Haibing had not returned.
• Peng Haibing arrived with a bleeding shoulder wound and claimed a venomous insect had injured him while he hid from the Beast Tide.
• Meng Zhao sensed that Peng Haibing was newly shielded from spiritual perception and had an altered aura, and considered whether he was tied to a larger scheme.
• Meng Zhao chose not to expose Peng Haibing, hoping to use the change to learn more about the formation on Lishou Mountain.
• Xu Tingyun voiced his suspicions, while Min Tao and Wu Chen considered sending the injured Peng Haibing away.

Peng Haibing’s Demonic Runes-fueled ambitions and altered temperament drew suspicion from the group, but Meng Zhao arranged for him to stay. The group decided to rest until dawn before entering Lishou Mountain, leaving Peng Haibing eager to press on despite their doubts.

• Peng Haibing considered killing the others after Min Tao and Wu Chen tried to force him out, while the Demonic Runes’ influence on his greed and judgment was revealed.
• Gan Mingfeng defended Peng Haibing after Meng Zhao secretly asked him to protect him.
• Xu Tingyun agreed to let Peng Haibing remain, recognizing Meng Zhao’s intention and deciding to watch him for useful information.
• Gan Mingfeng proposed that the group rest until dawn before entering Lishou Mountain, and the others approved.
• Peng Haibing urged everyone to enter the mountain overnight, increasing Min Tao and Wu Chen’s suspicions, but he ultimately had to accept the delay.

After Lishou Mountain shook and unleashed several Beast Tides, Lu Hou'er’s demonic taint deepened and turned him against the Tan-surnamed man. Lu Hou'er killed his companion and left the body to be devoured, while the cause of the mountain’s disturbance remained unknown.

• Lu Hou'er and the Tan-surnamed man escaped their collapsing hut and survived three Beast Tide attacks in Lishou Mountain.
• The Tan-surnamed man urged Lu Hou'er to report the disturbance to the Heavenly Wolf Alliance Leader, suspecting it might involve Xingtian's Head.
• Demonic Nature heightened Lu Hou'er's desires and made him resent involving the Alliance Leader and the Old General.
• Lu Hou'er attacked the Tan-surnamed man with a lethal burst of radiance, shattering his defenses and internal organs.
• Lu Hou'er struck the dying Tan-surnamed man again, left his corpse for beasts to devour, and drifted away.

After the upheaval in Lishou Mountain, Mr. Yue explained that the changed terrain and vital energy had ruined the three Demonic Caves they had found and urged Lu Hou'er to prepare for Young Master's early arrival. Lu Hou'er agreed outwardly while suspecting Min Tao, Wu Chen, Peng Haibing, and Xu Tingyun had entered the mountain and caused the disturbance.

• After emerging from Lishou Mountain, Lu Hou'er met Mr. Yue, who asked what had happened inside.
• Lu Hou'er described the earthquake and Beast Tides, and Mr. Yue concluded that Xingtian's Head had disturbed the sealing formation.
• Mr. Yue explained that the upheaval had altered the mountain's formations and vital energy, rendering their three discovered Demonic Caves useless.
• Mr. Yue decided to report the situation to Young Master and prepare to enter the mountain early, possibly recruiting unconnected martial artists as cannon fodder.
• Mr. Yue ordered Lu Hou'er to identify who caused the disturbance, and Lu Hou'er suspected Min Tao, Wu Chen, Peng Haibing, and Xu Tingyun.

Third Master Bai had a young woman finish half of the Blood Sacrifice Diagram tattooed across his body and explained that it came from the God of Slaughter Diagram, a secret art attributed to Bai Qi. He dismissed her warnings about Qi Deviation and remained determined to risk it for a chance at extraordinary transformation.

• The young woman finished half of Third Master Bai’s Blood Sacrifice Diagram and reminded him of his promise to help her mother.
• Third Master Bai assured her that her mother had received secret medicine, then warned her never to pass on the diagram or tattoo it on anyone else.
• The young woman asked why a powerful man from the Bai Family would tattoo a vicious diagram on himself, and Third Master Bai revealed its connection to Bai Qi’s God of Slaughter Diagram.
• The young woman warned that the diagram’s poisonous pigments could seep into Third Master Bai’s body and cause Qi Deviation.
• Third Master Bai said he welcomed the risk, believing Qi Deviation could bring him Rebirth and Transformation and grant him extraordinary abilities.

Third Master Bai planned to use an Evil Artifact sealed in Lishou Mountain to complete his Blood Sacrifice Diagram and strengthen himself enough to challenge Shen Tianci. He had learned of the artifact through a recovered portion of the Record of Exorcising Heresy and had set his plans in motion to claim it.

• Third Master Bai recalled how Shen Tianci had defeated him in three moves and left him with a lasting scar and humiliation.
• Third Master Bai pursued the Blood Sacrifice Diagram and sought a hidden opportunity in Lishou Mountain to improve his foundations.
• Emperor Yang Guang of Sui had brought an Evil Artifact back from Goguryeo, and the Sui Imperial Preceptor had sealed it within Lishou Mountain.
• The Imperial Preceptor's youngest disciple recorded the artifact and its suppressing array in the Record of Exorcising Heresy.
• The Bai Family obtained part of the record, and Third Master Bai planned to use the Evil Artifact's demonic power and Killing Intent to complete his secret art.

Third Young Master Bai learned that outsiders had entered Lishou Mountain and triggered the grand array suppressing War God Xing Tian, disrupting his plan to find Goguryeo's Evil Artifact. He decided to enter the mountain at once, while the intruders remained an unknown threat.

• Mr. Yue urged Third Young Master Bai to kill Lian Qiao because she knew about the Blood Sacrifice Diagram, but Bai chose to control her through her mother instead.
• Third Young Master Bai explained that he planned to use Goguryeo's Evil Artifact to merge himself with the Blood Sacrifice Diagram and conceal his secret.
• Mr. Yue reported that outsiders had likely triggered the grand array, causing a massive tremor and shifting the Demonic Caves.
• Third Young Master Bai learned that the three Demonic Caves they had found were no longer useful and angrily accepted that their search had to start over.
• Mr. Yue urged Third Young Master Bai to enter Lishou Mountain immediately before the intruders could reach the Evil Artifact.

Third Young Master Bai and Mr. Yue discussed the dangers of retrieving the Goguryeo Evil Artifact from Lishou Mountain and how to improve their chances. Bai proposed a deadly array as a fallback, and Mr. Yue agreed to find the people it required as they prepared to depart.

• Mr. Yue urged Third Young Master Bai to recruit people through Lu Hou'er and argued that they could still seize the Goguryeo Evil Artifact successfully.
• Third Young Master Bai warned that War God Xing Tian's presence in Lishou Mountain could disrupt the Nine Heavens Jade Scenery Cloud Array and leave them unable to escape.
• Third Young Master Bai explained that the Great Sui Imperial Advisor had left fallback measures, but they had failed, increasing the risks of the expedition.
• Third Young Master Bai revealed that he possessed Array Flags that could imitate the sealing array, but activating them required three virgin boys and three virgin girls who would all die.
• Mr. Yue agreed to use the Pai Gang's influence to find suitable people and told Third Young Master Bai to prepare to set out.

After reaching the depths of Lishou Mountain, the group weighed three possible routes and chose to investigate a strange cloud-shrouded peak rather than risk a passage associated with Yin Soldiers Borrowing Passage. Meng Zhao sensed chaotic, ominous black qi throughout the mountains but could not identify its source.

• The group left the Guardian Forest and reached a point where three routes led toward a cloud peak, a southern forest, and a barren northwestern passage.
• Xu Tingyun and Gan Mingfeng warned that the northwestern passage resembled the place where Yin Soldiers Borrowing Passage had nearly killed them, so the group ruled it out.
• Min Tao drew attention to the cloud peak, and the group discussed whether it might be connected to the Nine Heavens Jade Scenery Cloud Array and an Imperial Sui inheritance.
• Meng Zhao used his Purple Origin Dragon Body and Myriad Heavens Imperial Dragon Ziwei Emperor Scripture to seek dragon qi, but found the mountain's qi tangled and a strange black aura spreading through the terrain.

Meng Zhao and the others chose the Cloud Peak route through Lishou Mountain, but a mysterious drumbeat at a waterfall revealed that Yin Soldiers Borrowing Passage had found them. After Gan Mingfeng described two ways to survive it, the group leaned toward fleeing in the opposite direction.

• Xu Tingyun asked Meng Zhao to compare the paths, and Meng Zhao detected a human-made formation along the route to Cloud Peak.
• The group prepared and headed toward Cloud Peak, hoping to approach the formation without confronting the dangers deeper in Lishou Mountain.
• At a waterfall between two gorges, the group heard drumbeats that stirred their blood and overwhelmed the sound of the falling water.
• Xu Tingyun recognized the ominous signs of Yin Soldiers Borrowing Passage, and Gan Mingfeng recalled how it had nearly killed their group two years earlier.
• Gan Mingfeng described hiding by the roadside or fleeing in the opposite direction, and the group leaned toward fleeing.

Meng Zhao led the group west to escape the Yin Soldiers Borrowing Passage, but the drumbeats returned and a lethal white mist surrounded them. As Xu Tingyun asked Meng Zhao to use his treasure, Meng Zhao sensed that using Evil Calamity would cause an unknown change.

• Gan Mingfeng asked Meng Zhao which direction they should flee, and Meng Zhao chose west while warning that the apparent path of life might be an illusion.
• Xu Tingyun ordered the group to stay together, and they followed Meng Zhao through the forest as the drumbeats faded.
• The drumbeats returned louder, unsettling the group's true qi and Blood Qi, while Wu Chen and Peng Haibing considered their options.
• A white mist engulfed them, and Wu Chen threw a mouse into it, where it rapidly rotted into a skeleton.
• Xu Tingyun asked Meng Zhao to use his treasure against the yin spirits, and Meng Zhao prepared to open Evil Calamity before sensing that doing so would trigger an unknown change.

Meng Zhao avoided using Evil Calamity and used a drop of his Purple Origin Dragon Blood to burn a path through the white mist of Yin Soldiers Borrowing Passage. After the group escaped, Xu Tingyun questioned whether he had ever truly been in control of the expedition and wondered how to treat Meng Zhao and Gan Mingfeng.

• Meng Zhao decided not to use Evil Calamity and forced out a drop of his Purple Origin Dragon Blood instead.
• Meng Zhao sent the blood into the white mist, where it became purple flame and burned open a path.
• Xu Tingyun, Min Tao, Wu Chen, Gan Mingfeng, and the others ran through the opening and escaped the mist.
• Min Tao and Wu Chen underestimated the danger, while Xu Tingyun recognized the power Meng Zhao had revealed.
• Xu Tingyun reconsidered his assumptions about controlling Meng Zhao and Gan Mingfeng and wondered whether to change his approach.

Peng Haibing and Wu Chen pressed Meng Zhao about his extraordinary purple blood, while Gan Mingfeng and Xu Tingyun defended him. Min Tao called on everyone to cooperate or split up, leaving Wu Chen and Peng Haibing to decide whether to back down or risk breaking the group apart.

• Peng Haibing asked whether Meng Zhao had a Special Physique after seeing his blood break the Yin Soldiers Borrowing Passage.
• Gan Mingfeng rebuked Peng Haibing for prying into Meng Zhao's secrets, and Wu Chen claimed that understanding Meng Zhao's blood could help them face danger.
• Xu Tingyun sided with Meng Zhao and argued that everyone had secrets they should be allowed to keep.
• Min Tao urged the group to work together and secure benefits, or separate and stop coveting one another's shares.
• Wu Chen recognized that he and Peng Haibing were isolated, but he struggled to swallow his pride and give up his interest in Meng Zhao's blood and Heavenly Evil Battle Casket.

Meng Zhao and the others faced a fast-spreading cloud and mist at Cloud Peak after narrowly escaping the Yin Soldiers Borrowing Passage. Meng Zhao suspected the events were connected to the Great Sui Imperial Advisor’s array and chose to enter the mist, while the group weighed whether to follow.

• Wu Chen asked Peng Haibing to settle the dispute, and Peng Haibing promised to stop investigating Meng Zhao’s physique and bloodline.
• Strange white clouds spread from Cloud Peak, leaving the group trapped between the mist ahead and the Yin Soldiers Borrowing Passage behind.
• Wu Chen urged retreat, while Min Tao opposed turning back and Peng Haibing suggested relying on Meng Zhao’s blood to escape the soldiers.
• Meng Zhao linked the spreading mist to the Yin Soldiers Borrowing Passage and the Great Sui Imperial Advisor’s array, then announced he would enter the mist to investigate.
• Min Tao, Gan Mingfeng, and Xu Tingyun agreed to follow Meng Zhao, while Wu Chen remained unwilling and Peng Haibing hesitated.

Meng Zhao led the group into the white mist, which proved harmless and distinct from the Yin Soldiers’ corrosive fog. Inside, he discovered that the person he had been carrying as Gan Mingfeng had become a savage ape-like beast, leaving him unsure whether he had been deceived or trapped in an illusion.

• Meng Zhao charged into the white mist with Gan Mingfeng, followed by Min Tao, Xu Tingyun, Wu Chen, and Peng Haibing.
• The Yin Soldiers’ fog receded, and the soldiers turned toward the route taken by Third Young Master Bai, Mr. Yue, and the Pai Gang group.
• Meng Zhao used the Emperor's Qi Gazing Technique and sensed that the white mist complemented the black qi beneath the ground.
• Meng Zhao entered the mist and found that it dampened his skin and lifted his spirits without harming him.
• When Meng Zhao asked Gan Mingfeng how he felt, he got no answer and discovered that the figure in his grasp was a savage ape-like beast.

Meng Zhao discovered that the white mist and black earthly qi altered how people perceived one another without changing their true forms. He realized the Nine Heavens Jade Scenery Cloud Array could make intruders mistake allies for fiendish beasts and slaughter each other, while leaving Gan Mingfeng vulnerable to an endless sleep.

• Meng Zhao suspected his perception had changed when the white mist and black earthly qi intertwined, then investigated the mist while keeping Gan Mingfeng restrained.
• Meng Zhao determined that mysterious vapors had altered the forms of visible objects, making Gan Mingfeng appear to be an ape-like fiendish beast while remaining unchanged in essence.
• Meng Zhao connected the effect to the Nine Heavens Jade Scenery Cloud Array and realized that intruders might mistake one another for monsters and kill each other.
• Meng Zhao concluded that Gan Mingfeng might remain asleep indefinitely if no one woke him.