Chapter Summaries

Lin Fan began his life as a Menial Disciple of the Blood Demon Sect, where copying books earned him a surprising lifespan reward and survival depended on an Everlasting Lamp. The chapter left him trapped in a room with Wang Biao, who revealed that his friendly attention had been driven by desire.

• Lin Fan accepted his assignment to copy books in the Hidden Scripture Pavilion on Blackwood Cliff and learned that failed work could mean execution.
• Wang Biao explained the pavilion's copying duties and warned Lin Fan that Menial Disciples needed Contribution Points to obtain Everlasting Lamps and survive the night.
• Lin Fan copied the Record of Flying Birds and gained ten years of lifespan through his Pre-emptive Dao Fruit talent.
• Wang Biao hurried Lin Fan to the disciples' residence before nightfall and explained that an Everlasting Lamp warded off the demons and evil spirits outside.
• Wang Biao told Lin Fan he desired him and promised to keep him alive if Lin Fan agreed to be with him.

Lin Fan resisted Wang Biao’s coercion and forced him to explain the fiends that emerged at night. After surviving a fiend’s attack on their room, Lin Fan saw two Menial Disciples’ mangled bodies removed at dawn and entered the Hidden Scripture Pavilion.

• Wang Biao tried to force Lin Fan to sleep with him, but Lin Fan threatened him with a dagger and demanded answers.
• Wang Biao explained that fiends rose from the cliffs at night and that rooms and Everlasting Lamps kept them at bay.
• A fiend pounded on the door, and Wang Biao braced it while Lin Fan kept him at knifepoint until the attack ended.
• At dawn, Wang Biao told Lin Fan to leave their shared room and warned him to replace his Everlasting Lamp.
• Two Formal Disciples dragged out the mangled corpses of two Menial Disciples, and Lin Fan entered the Hidden Scripture Pavilion.

Lin Fan used the lifespan earned from copying books to cultivate the Basic Demonic Art and enter the First Grade of Spirit Gathering Realm. After Feng Ling warned him about Wang Biao and the dangers facing Menial Disciples, Lin Fan agreed to share her room and bed for the night.

• Lin Fan copied two books of strange tales, gained lifespan, and used fifteen years to preempt the Basic Demonic Art to the Initiate stage.
• Lin Fan cultivated the Basic Demonic Art, entered the First Grade of Spirit Gathering Realm, and realized that greater strength was essential to survive.
• Feng Ling invited Lin Fan to share her room, warned him that Wang Biao's former roommates had died, and explained the costs and dangers facing Menial Disciples.
• Lin Fan agreed to live with Feng Ling, and she explained that the sect offered little chance to save Contribution Points or recover from injuries.
• Lin Fan and Feng Ling moved into an unoccupied room, shared her Everlasting Lamp, and Feng Ling invited him to sleep beside her.

Lin Fan advanced the Basic Demonic Art to mastery and discovered its fist technique rapidly strengthened his cultivation, but he feared the sect would notice his progress. With a Monthly Test scheduled in three days, he worried about concealing his true realm and resolved to avoid further advancement for now.

• Feng Ling told Lin Fan that menial disciples could become Formal Disciples by reaching the fifth grade of the Spirit Gathering Realm, and suggested Dual Cultivation as one possible path.
• After copying five books, Lin Fan spent twenty years of lifespan to advance the Basic Demonic Art to mastery, practiced its fist technique, and reached the second grade of the Spirit Gathering Realm.
• Feng Ling informed Lin Fan that the menial disciples would undergo a Monthly Test in three days, where a Formal Disciple would assess them using a Spirit Testing Stone.
• Lin Fan worried the test would reveal his rapid cultivation progress and decided not to use the panel to advance further before it.
• Lin Fan saw that Wang Biao's roommate looked sallow and lifeless, and privately felt relieved he had refused Wang Biao's advances.

Lin Fan and Feng Ling endured a night of demonic entities and Blood Mist before a Blood Soul Peak disciple tested the Hidden Scripture Pavilion’s Menial Disciples. After Lin Fan passed the test, he spent lifespan to advance Basic Demonic Art and practiced until his Internal Force grew stronger, leaving him ready to inspect his updated status.

• Feng Ling told Lin Fan that demonic entities might be Bloodthirsty Demonic Insects born from an ancient battlefield’s Killing Intent, and they took turns keeping watch through the Blood Mist.
• A Blood Soul Peak Formal Disciple tested the Menial Disciples with a Spirit Testing Stone, beating those who performed poorly; Wang Biao and Feng Ling each produced two rays of light.
• Lin Fan passed the test by channeling Internal Force into the stone, and Feng Ling expressed surprise at his rapid progress before dismissing his suggestion of Dual Cultivation.
• Lin Fan gained thirty years of lifespan from transcribing books, bringing his total to 210, and spent thirty years to advance Basic Demonic Art to minor mastery.
• Lin Fan practiced the improved boxing techniques in a deserted corner, strengthened his Internal Force, and summoned his panel to inspect his changes.

Lin Fan broke through to the Spirit Gathering Realm Third Grade and worried that the sect would discover his rapid cultivation. After Feng Ling refused his offer of Dual Cultivation and they parted ways, Zhou Wanqing sought his protection, and Lin Fan agreed to let her follow him as cover.

• Lin Fan returned to the Hidden Scripture Pavilion after advancing, and Feng Ling noticed that he seemed different.
• Feng Ling told Lin Fan that a Formal Disciple might personally inspect the Menial Disciples' cultivation, prompting him to propose Dual Cultivation as a possible explanation for his progress.
• Feng Ling refused and told Lin Fan to move out, so they left separately the next morning and stopped sitting together.
• Zhou Wanqing fled from a man pursuing her and asked Lin Fan to let her live with him, explaining that she wanted to follow someone with a chance of becoming a Formal Disciple.
• Lin Fan sent the man away and accepted Zhou Wanqing, telling her to do more and talk less as she misunderstood his meaning.

Lin Fan continued copying books to gain lifespan while concealing his rapid cultivation and adapting to life on Blackwood Cliff with Zhou Wanqing. After half a month, he watched for a possible trap in the rumored marketplace and observed that the Blood Mist brought increased danger, just as someone called out to him.

• Lin Fan copied books for more lifespan, worried that the Blood Demon Sect might discover his status panel and sought a way to conceal his cultivation.
• Lin Fan chose a house with Zhou Wanqing, and after they practiced Dual Cultivation, he kept watch while she slept.
• Over the next half-month, Lin Fan gained 450 years of lifespan and grew stronger through occasional Dual Cultivation, while Zhou Wanqing became weaker.
• Zhou Wanqing told Lin Fan about the marketplace and offered him her four Contribution Points, but Lin Fan waited to see whether the old Menial Disciples would go before deciding to visit.
• Lin Fan observed that the Blood Mist appeared every five or six days and brought a surge in monster and evil-spirit activity, then heard someone call, "Junior Brother Lin."

Lin Fan became suspicious when Wu Hai invited menial disciples to the Market Below the Mountain, while Feng Ling warned him not to trust anyone on the trip. Wu Hai revealed his monstrous nature by draining the disciples he had led away, then killed Qi Hui as well.

• Wu Hai invited Lin Fan and other menial disciples to visit the market, but Lin Fan and several older disciples declined.
• Qi Hui told Lin Fan that she had invited female disciples to join Wu Hai’s group, and Zhou Wanqing also declined her invitation.
• When Wu Hai and the others failed to return by nightfall, Feng Ling warned Lin Fan to distrust people on trips to the market and return before noon.
• In a secluded place, Wu Hai transformed his arm into tentacles and drained the menial disciples he had taken to the market, growing stronger with each victim.
• Wu Hai praised Qi Hui for helping him recruit disciples, then killed her after saying he had grown tired of her.

Lin Fan mastered the Basic Demonic Art, rapidly strengthened his cultivation, and waited for a safer chance to visit the Market Below the Mountain. After Wu Hai returned alone from an ambush that killed the other Menial Disciples, Lin Fan reached the market and bought Foundation Replenishing Pills while searching for a way to conceal his cultivation.

• Lin Fan advanced the Basic Demonic Art to mastery, grasped Fist Momentum, and reached the Spirit Gathering Realm Fourth Grade.
• Qiao'er sensed a powerful gathering of spiritual energy near Lin Fan's home, then watched the disturbance disappear.
• Wu Hai returned from the market road claiming that everyone else in his group had been killed in an ambush.
• Lin Fan waited until Wang Biao and the other veteran Menial Disciples returned from the market before setting out himself.
• Lin Fan bought Foundation Replenishing Pills for 3 Contribution Points and headed to another stall to search for a cultivation-concealing method.

Lin Fan bought and mastered Blood Gathering Art to conceal his cultivation, then killed Wu Hai when he tried to ambush him. He returned to Blackwood Cliff with a Foundation Replenishing Pill, while Wang Biao assumed Lin Fan’s spending would weaken his chances of becoming a Formal Disciple.

• Lin Fan bought Blood Gathering Art and used his Pre-emptive Dao Fruit to advance it, concealing most of his aura.
• Wu Hai approached Lin Fan under the pretense of searching for missing disciples, then attacked him with black tentacles.
• Lin Fan dodged Wu Hai’s attack, punched through his chest, and killed him before burying the remains and taking his cloth bag.
• Lin Fan returned to Blackwood Cliff with a Foundation Replenishing Pill and told Wang Biao he had bought it.
• Wang Biao praised Lin Fan’s conscience but privately thought the purchase would make him less of a rival for a Formal Disciple slot.

Lin Fan returned safely to Zhou Wanqing and gave her a Foundation Replenishing Pill, while investigators discovered that Wu Hai had been a spy from the Thousand Hands Sect. That night, Lin Fan examined Wu Hai’s belongings and found stolen Contribution Points, the Blood Swallowing Demonic Art, and a booklet of daily observations.

• Zhou Wanqing worried until Lin Fan returned, then embraced him, and he gave her a Foundation Replenishing Pill.
• Feng Ling and the Delicate Girl saw Lin Fan comfort Zhou Wanqing, and the Delicate Girl called him a demonic-sect whelp despite his conscience.
• Lin Fan copied books and gained 23 years of lifespan.
• A Golden Mask Formal Disciple and a Tall Thin Man examined Wu Hai’s remains, identified him as a Thousand Hands Sect spy, and decided to report the discovery to the sect.
• Lin Fan found 250 Contribution Points in Wu Hai’s bag and kept Wu Hai’s token rather than risk exposing himself.
• Lin Fan found Wu Hai’s Blood Swallowing Demonic Art and a booklet titled “Daily Observations,” which described the sect and its Blood Worms.

Lin Fan burned Wu Hai’s cultivation manual, identified the nighttime threat as Blood Worms, and advanced to the Spirit Gathering Realm Fifth Grade while concealing his true cultivation. The next day, a masked Formal Disciple began an early inspection at the Hidden Scripture Pavilion to expose spies, and Feng Ling’s turn came under suspicion.

• Lin Fan destroyed the Blood Swallowing Demonic Art manual and learned from Wu Hai’s diary that Blood Worms haunted Blackwood Cliff and required Spirit Gathering Realm Fifth Grade to face.
• Lin Fan used sixty years of lifespan to perfect the Basic Demonic Art, broke through to Spirit Gathering Realm Fifth Grade, and hid his aura at Second Grade with the Blood Gathering Art.
• Qiao'er sensed a disturbance in the spiritual energy and warned Feng Ling that the Blood Demon Sect might have discovered them.
• A masked Formal Disciple announced an early monthly test at the Hidden Scripture Pavilion and exposed a menial disciple as a spy from the Thousand Hands Sect.
• The Formal Disciple inspected the menial disciples and used a Soul Searching Secret Technique on the captured spy, while Lin Fan stayed calm and concealed his cultivation.
• Feng Ling stepped forward for inspection, and the Formal Disciple noticed that she and Qiao'er appeared unusually healthy despite the veteran disciples’ recent gains.

Lin Fan passed the Blood Demon Sect’s examination and learned that Menial Disciples had six months to reach Spirit Gathering Realm Fifth Grade for the Final Assessment. He obtained the Intermediate Demonic Arts at the marketplace and used his Pre-emptive Dao Fruit to advance his cultivation, reaching Spirit Gathering Realm Sixth Grade.

• The Dark-Robed Disciple examined the Menial Disciples, killed the exposed spy, and announced the Final Assessment would take place in six months.
• Lin Fan worried that he lacked a stronger cultivation art and decided to search for one at the marketplace.
• The Golden Masked Man told the Dark-Robed Disciple to list suspicious targets and test them individually for more spies.
• Lin Fan bought the Intermediate Demonic Arts from a masked woman for twenty-five Contribution Points.
• Lin Fan preempted the Intermediate Demonic Arts to entry level, increased his Internal Force, and reached Spirit Gathering Realm Sixth Grade.

Lin Fan learned that the Blood Demon Sect had received the captured relatives of several Princes, including Wang Shiyun, and resolved to become strong enough to control his fate. As danger continued on Blackwood Cliff, the Delicate Girl decided to seek clues about someone she was searching for, while Lin Fan kept his distance from Feng Ling.

• Lin Fan advanced his cultivation and Blood Gathering Art, then saw captured nobles arriving at the marketplace, including Wang Shiyun.
• Lin Fan told Zhou Wanqing what he had seen, and she grieved that Princess Anyang's capture likely meant Linzi had fallen before urging him to become a Formal Disciple.
• The Delicate Girl told Feng Ling she intended to use the arrival of the Princes' relatives to find clues about someone, and proposed that they separate for safety.
• Lin Fan and Zhou Wanqing found blood outside an open room at dawn, then went to copy books at the Hidden Scripture Pavilion.
• Zhou Wanqing suggested Lin Fan invite Feng Ling to share their room, but Lin Fan declined to get entangled with her.

Lin Fan discovered that his Blood Gathering Art could conceal him from the Bloodthirsty Demonic Insects, then followed a mysterious spy and learned she was Feng Ling. Feng Ling escaped after her senior sister sacrificed herself, but the Demon Sect Formal Disciple found the dead spy’s mind protected by a restriction, severing the clues.

• Lin Fan drugged Zhou Wanqing into a deep sleep, went outside, and learned that concealing his aura with the Blood Gathering Art stopped the Bloodthirsty Demonic Insects from sensing him.
• Lin Fan followed a mysterious night-clad figure, while the figure tracked prison carts toward the Demon Sect’s rear-mountain Forbidden Land and was wounded by a Dark Robe Formal Disciple.
• Lin Fan recognized the mysterious figure as Feng Ling when she met the injured Qiao'er, who gave her a note containing the intelligence she had gathered.
• Qiao'er stayed behind to protect Feng Ling, and Lin Fan secretly knocked aside a flying needle so Feng Ling could escape.
• The Formal Disciple tried to search Qiao'er's soul, but a restriction killed her before he could uncover the escaped spy’s identity.

After Qiao’er’s murder, Lin Fan strengthened his cultivation while keeping a low profile, and Feng Ling secretly avenged her senior sister. Six months passed, and the Menial Disciples’ assessment arrived with Zhou Wanqing anxiously hoping Lin Fan would qualify as a Formal Disciple.

• Feng Ling changed into a Menial Disciple’s uniform, grieved for her murdered senior sister, and vowed to avenge her while wondering who had saved her from the flying needle.
• Lin Fan and Zhou Wanqing found Qiao’er’s headless corpse displayed as a warning, while Feng Ling hid her grief under the scrutiny of a Dark Robe Formal Disciple.
• Lin Fan copied books to gain lifespan, advanced Intermediate Demonic Arts to mastery, and used its insights to reach the Seventh Grade of the Spirit Gathering Realm.
• Over three months, Wang Biao and other veteran Menial Disciples preyed on newcomers, while Feng Ling killed Fang Jie after he tried to force himself on her and claimed Bloodthirsty Demonic Insects had taken him.
• Zhou Wanqing grew anxious about Lin Fan’s upcoming assessment and urged him to drain her, but another three months passed before the assessment day arrived.

Lin Fan passed the Final Assessment and became a Formal Disciple alongside Feng Ling and Wang Biao, while Bao Tong was killed for failing. As Zhao Wang led the new disciples to their cave dwellings, Lin Fan learned more about the dangers and cruelties of the sect and arranged to bring Zhou Wanqing to live with him.

• Feng Ling and Wang Biao passed the assessment, but Zhao Wang killed Bao Tong when he failed to reach Spirit Gathering Realm Fifth Grade.
• Lin Fan concealed his true cultivation, passed the assessment, and earned Zhao Wang's approval by explaining that he had given his Dual Cultivation partner a Foundation Replenishing Pill.
• Lin Fan, Feng Ling, and Wang Biao were promoted to Formal Disciples of Blood Soul Peak and warned to remain on Blackwood Cliff.
• Zhao Wang explained the disciples' ranks and identity tokens, and told them that recent clashes with the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect had killed several Formal Disciples.
• Zhao Wang offered the new disciples cauldrons and Infatuation Pills, while Lin Fan asked to bring Zhou Wanqing from the Hidden Scripture Pavilion to serve in his cave dwelling.
• Zhao Wang agreed that Lin Fan could register Zhou Wanqing as a servant, allowing Lin Fan to fulfill her hope of leaving the Hidden Scripture Pavilion.

Lin Fan passed the examination and brought Zhou Wanqing from the Hidden Scripture Pavilion to his new cave dwelling, where he found a bound woman sent to him as a furnace cauldron. After giving her an Infatuation Pill, he learned she was Wang Yuyao, King of Linzi’s royal sister, and heard that King of Linzi’s forces may have sought help from the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect.

• Zheng Tai told Zhou Wanqing that Lin Fan had passed the examination and mocked her with the claim that Lin Fan had forgotten her.
• Zhou Wanqing waited in despair until Lin Fan returned, called for her, and took her to change her status and move into his new cave dwelling.
• Lin Fan found a bound woman in the dwelling and learned from Zhou Wanqing that she was Princess Anyang, Wang Yuyao.
• Lin Fan gave Wang Yuyao an Infatuation Pill, untied her, and promised not to touch her unless she was willing.
• Wang Yuyao told Lin Fan that King of Linzi and his forces may have retreated to the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect to seek aid from a Royal Ancestor.

Lin Fan advanced his cultivation to the Meridian Condensing Realm after mastering the Intermediate Demonic Arts through sword practice. The next morning, he met Feng Ling and Wang Biao, and Zhao Wang gave the new Formal Disciples their cultivation and talisman manuals.

• Wang Yuyao succumbed to the Infatuation Pill, but Lin Fan left Zhou Wanqing to watch over her and went to sleep in another room.
• Lin Fan used the panel to master the Intermediate Demonic Arts, practiced sword moves, and transformed his Internal Force into Internal Breath, reaching the Meridian Condensing Realm First Grade.
• Feng Ling gave the Heir of Prince Guangling an Infatuation Pill and knocked him unconscious to cover her revenge against Senior Sister.
• Lin Fan and Feng Ling exchanged remarks the next morning, while Wang Biao greeted them before they headed to the Transmission Hall.
• Zhao Wang gave Lin Fan, Feng Ling, and Wang Biao the Intermediate Demonic Arts and the Talisman Secret Tome.

Lin Fan and the other newly promoted formal disciples received cultivation manuals and chose sect missions, then were forced to swallow Bone-Gnawing Pills. After learning the Talisman Secret Tome through his ability, Lin Fan decided to visit the Market Below the Mountain to buy talisman materials.

• Zhao Wang explained the Intermediate Demonic Arts, the Talisman Secret Tome, and the yearly missions required of formal disciples.
• Feng Ling chose the mission at Mingyang Marketplace, Wang Biao chose to guard the Spirit Beast Garden, and Lin Fan accepted the remaining mission at the Hidden Scripture Pavilion.
• Zhao Wang made all three disciples swallow Bone-Gnawing Pills, warning that they needed the monthly antidote to survive.
• Lin Fan warned Feng Ling that leaving to purchase supplies could be dangerous, but she said she had her own plans.
• Lin Fan used ten years of lifespan to advance the Talisman Secret Tome to Novice and practiced drawing talismans.
• Lin Fan decided to go to the Market Below the Mountain to buy talisman materials.