Chapter Summaries

Lin Fan defeated the Blood Demon Sect’s new master and uncovered the schemes and threats behind the sect’s upheaval. After killing a Thousand Hand Demonic Sect monster, he assembled several maps into a treasure map of the secret realm beneath the Demon Vein Desolate Land.

• Lin Fan explained how his new power had overcome the sect master’s restraints and poisons, then killed her when she transformed into a black creature.
• At Ghost Mother Wuji’s suggestion, Lin Fan kept the sect master’s corpse so he could control the Blood Demon Sect from behind the scenes.
• A blue-eyed strange man slaughtered Sword Sect cultivators until the Sword Sect Great Elder helped the survivors retreat.
• The strange man took a Bronze Token from a figure beneath an Oil-Paper Umbrella, but Lin Fan revealed himself, reclaimed the token, and killed the monster with the Startling Swan Sword.
• Lin Fan examined the strange man’s storage artifact and joined its map to two others, revealing a complete map of the secret realm beneath the Demon Vein Desolate Land.

The Flowing Cloud Sword Sect withdrew from Qilian Marketplace after its losses, while Lin Fan strengthened his cultivation and managed the weakened Blood Demon Sect. Ghost Mother Wuji reported the Sword Sect’s retreat and received permission to recruit disciples under limits, as Lin Fan prepared for threats and the secret realm opening in six months.

• The Great Elder blamed Lin Fan’s false intelligence for the Sword Sect’s losses, ordered its disciples to withdraw from Qilian Marketplace, and planned to reclaim Great Jin by supporting a Feudal Prince’s descendant.
• Lin Fan advanced the Desolate Heaven Dharma Form to Grand Accomplishment and reached the second grade of the Mountain Splitting Realm.
• Lin Fan assessed threats from the Thousand Hand Demonic Sect, the Ghost King Sect, and the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect, then advanced the Desolate Heaven Dharma Form to perfection and rose to the third grade of the Mountain Splitting Realm.
• Ghost Mother Wuji tried to seduce Lin Fan, but he rejected her advances.
• Ghost Mother Wuji reported that the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect had handed over Qilian Marketplace, and Lin Fan ordered her to take control of it.
• Lin Fan permitted Ghost Mother Wuji to recruit disciples so long as she did not wantonly harm living beings, while he stayed with the Blood Demon Sect and awaited the secret realm’s opening in six months.

Wang Bin reluctantly became Great Jin’s new emperor while Flowing Cloud Sword Sect cultivators disagreed over their assignment. At the Blood Demon Sect, Lin Fan mastered new Blood Demon Talismans, advanced the Sky Swallowing Demonic Art, and eliminated the mutation it caused at the cost of a thousand years of lifespan.

• Wang Bin ascended the throne as Great Jin’s new emperor after an old official urged him to consider the people and his adoptive parents.
• Feng Ling criticized the sword sect’s decision to install a child emperor, then flew away and left her senior brother behind.
• Lin Fan crafted Black Wind Demonic Eagle and Dark Blood Dragon Turtle talismans and considered seeking a stronger Talisman Inheritance in the approaching secret realm.
• Lin Fan used his Pre-emptive Dao Fruit to advance the Sky Swallowing Demonic Art, then absorbed demon beast corpses and reached the fourth grade of the Mountain Splitting Realm.
• Black matter spread across Lin Fan’s left hand, and he used the Indestructible Dao Fruit to erase the mutation by spending a thousand years of lifespan.

Lin Fan advanced the Sky Swallowing Demonic Art, endured a worsening mutation, and learned that a secret realm had opened earlier than expected. He rushed toward the Demon Vein Desolate Land as the mutated Moon Raven carried his orders to Ghost Mother Wuji.

• Lin Fan copied Rune Patterns to increase his lifespan, received ancient books from Elder Du, and found cryptic notes about mutations, divine statues, and a vast world beyond Wei and Jin.
• The Blood Demon Sect Master killed Elder Du for offering to provide women for Lin Fan, insisting that her master belonged only to her.
• Lin Fan used demon beast corpses to advance the Sky Swallowing Demonic Art to its second layer, but the resulting mutation spread across half his arm before the Indestructible Dao Fruit cured it at a cost of 1,200 years of lifespan.
• A tremor caused Lin Fan's Bronze Token to emerge from his exploding storage bag, and he realized the secret realm had opened early.
• Lin Fan hurried toward the Demon Vein Desolate Land while the mutated Moon Raven delivered his orders to Ghost Mother Wuji.

Lin Fan entered the secret realm and used Blood Demon Talismans to scout through its deadly terrain, eventually reaching the bronze palace where King Yan had found the Talisman Inheritance and Cracked Stone Statue. As he prepared to enter, someone familiar emerged from the Blood Mist and called him Senior Brother Lin.

• Lin Fan followed the Secret Realm Treasure Map southeast, sending Moon Ravens and a Vajra Demonic Ape ahead to scout.
• A Mutated Divine Statue resembling Lin Fan’s Divine Statue killed the Vajra Demonic Ape and pursued him, but Lin Fan distracted it with four talisman-made demonic beasts and escaped.
• Lin Fan used more Blood Demon Talismans to navigate deadly traps and reached the secret realm’s core, losing seven or eight more talismans along the way.
• Lin Fan arrived at the bronze palace where King Yan had obtained the Talisman Inheritance and Cracked Stone Statue, and summoned a Dark Blood Dragon Turtle Talisman.
• A familiar voice called Lin Fan Senior Brother Lin from the Blood Mist, and Lin Fan turned in shock to recognize the speaker.

Lin Fan met Shi Tao and Han Yan in the secret realm, where Shi Tao tried to bargain for help retrieving a Dragon Pattern Ancient Cauldron from the Ancient Bronze Hall. When Lin Fan refused to cooperate, Shi Tao attacked him with the power of a Demonic Tree, but a golden phantom suddenly appeared and shattered its branches.

• Lin Fan recognized Shi Tao and discovered that Han Yan and Shi Tao had powerful, unusual auras.
• Shi Tao offered Lin Fan a Talisman Inheritance and Dao Pills in exchange for retrieving a Dragon Pattern Ancient Cauldron from the Ancient Bronze Hall.
• Han Yan warned Lin Fan that Shi Tao had taken root throughout the secret realm and was nearly immortal as long as his origin remained intact.
• Shi Tao revealed his Demonic Tree form and attacked Lin Fan, whose eight Blood Demon Talisman beasts were drained and destroyed.
• As Shi Tao's branches closed in on Lin Fan, a golden phantom appeared and shattered them into fragments.

Lin Fan destroyed the Demonic Tree’s avatar and accepted Han Yan’s offer to join him in exchange for her knowledge and the secret realm’s greatest opportunity. Han Yan revealed that the Ancient Bronze Hall was one of several sealed regions, leaving Lin Fan to suspect the secret realm concealed other idols and a deeper truth.

• Lin Fan feigned weakness before destroying the Demonic Tree and pinning its blood-red branch, which disintegrated when he tried to search its soul.
• Han Yan thanked Lin Fan and offered him the Secret Records of Rune Fusion along with everything she knew about the secret realm.
• Han Yan asked to become Lin Fan’s dao companion or maidservant, explaining she wanted a reliable backer, and Lin Fan agreed to let her follow him.
• Han Yan told Lin Fan that the Ancient Bronze Hall was a sealed region and that several other halls with similar sealing power existed in the secret realm.
• Lin Fan considered whether other idols were hidden in the secret realm and suspected it concealed a terrifying truth.

Lin Fan explored the secret realm with Han Yan, failed to penetrate the Ancient Bronze Hall, and cultivated in the Nirvana Blood Pool, which helped repair his ruined divine statue. After parting from Han Yan, the story shifted to the Great Jin Imperial Palace, where a mysterious attacker killed a Sword Sect man who pitied the young emperor.

• Lin Fan's Black Wind Demonic Eagle and Dark Blood Dragon Turtle were swallowed by demonic insects after entering the Ancient Bronze Hall, and Han Yan explained that the Mutated Divine Statue patrolled the secret realm.
• Han Yan led Lin Fan to the Nirvana Blood Pool, where its energy increased their strength and soul power while also repairing cracks in Lin Fan's ruined divine statue.
• Lin Fan absorbed most of the blood pool's energy, broke through to the sixth stage of the Mountain Splitting Realm, and spent two days cultivating there.
• Han Yan chose to remain in the secret realm, and she and Lin Fan spent time together before he left, promising they would meet again.
• In the Great Jin Imperial Palace, a Sword Sect man watched the young emperor work late and felt sorry for him, then a mysterious figure seized and turned the man to dust.

After failing to uncover the Ancient Bronze Hall’s secrets, Lin Fan left the secret realm with demon blood from Han Yan and used the Secret Records of Rune Fusion to create an Ancient Demon Talisman. As he completed the talisman, a lightning bolt descended on the Talisman Pavilion, leaving Lin Fan wondering whether he had triggered heavenly retribution.

• Lin Fan gave up exploring the Ancient Bronze Hall, and Han Yan gave him more than a dozen bottles of demon blood before he left the secret realm.
• Lin Fan returned to the Talisman Pavilion and used the Secret Records of Rune Fusion to learn the Ancient Demon Rune for the Crimson-Eyed Thunderflame Lion.
• Lin Fan recognized the bottles as Ancient Demon Blood and prepared to craft an Ancient Demon Talisman.
• Lin Fan completed the Crimson-Eyed Thunderflame Lion talisman, and dark clouds gathered as a massive bolt of blue lightning struck toward the Talisman Pavilion.

Lin Fan restored and mastered the Ancient Demon Talisman, while the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect investigated the disappearance of its disciples at the Great Jin Imperial Palace. Ghost Mother Wuji sensed that an unknown group had arrived, and Lin Fan prepared for what was coming.

• The Green-Eyed Flood Dragon emerged from the ruined Talisman Pavilion after shielding Lin Fan from Heaven's lightning, and Ghost Mother Wuji arranged a cave dwelling for him.
• Lin Fan discovered that the Ancient Demon Talisman could devour other talismans to repair and strengthen itself, then suppressed its backlash and took control of the Crimson-Eyed Thunderflame Lion.
• Lin Fan advanced the Blood Gathering Art to minor mastery to prevent his aura from leaking when he changed his appearance.
• The Flowing Cloud Sword Sect's Great Elder learned that disciples and investigators sent to the Great Jin Imperial Palace had disappeared, and suspected Ghostly Creatures from the north.
• Lin Fan learned that the Ancient Demon Talisman's physical ancient demons could use their former abilities and possess resistance to divine-soul techniques.
• Ghost Mother Wuji sensed that they had arrived, and Lin Fan opened his eyes in alarm.

Lin Fan learned that Ghost cultivators from the Ghost King Sect might be moving south and considered using their ignorance of his Soul Slave and second Dao Fruit to gain an advantage. Meanwhile, a Flowing Cloud Sword Sect group was wiped out in Great Jin, and Lin received a letter whose signature surprised him.

• Ghost Mother Wuji warned Lin Fan about approaching Ghost cultivators and described the mysterious altar that had once devoured thousands in the Ghost King Sect.
• Lin Fan recognized the information gap between himself and the Ghost King Sect, while Ghost Mother Wuji suggested fleeing and threatening to consume the Blood Demon Sect's disciples.
• Elder Zuo sent his Azure Sky Puppet into the deserted Great Jin imperial city, but black-smoke bats destroyed it and killed the group of Flowing Cloud Sword Sect cultivators.
• Lin Fan copied Rune Patterns from ancient books and gained 42 years of lifespan in one morning.
• An Inner Disciple delivered Lin Fan a letter, and Lin Fan reacted strangely when he saw the signature.

Lin Fan investigated the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect after suspecting something had happened there and uncovered its secret abduction of young men. After replacing Jiang Ping, he delivered the captives to the sect and was summoned by Elder Qiu.

• Lin Fan read a letter warning him to abandon darkness and suspected that something had happened to the sect.
• In Guancheng Sword City, Lin Fan learned that Jiang Ping had been capturing young men for the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect, where they disappeared.
• Lin Fan defeated Jiang Ping, used Soul Search to learn about the abductions, and had the Green-Eyed Flood Dragon consume and impersonate him.
• Several days later, Lin Fan, disguised as Jiang Ping, brought more than a hundred young men to the sword sect.
• Senior Brother Guan praised Jiang Ping for the deliveries, dismissed his concern for the captives, and said Elder Qiu wanted to see him.

Disguised as Jiang Ping, Lin Fan investigated the Sword Sect’s forced recruitment of young men and learned its troubles began after Elder Zuo encountered an incident in Great Jin’s imperial capital. He lured the ghost cultivators toward Qilian Marketplace with an auction of the Mysterious Finger Bone, where the masked winner was ambushed and recognized that they had arrived.

• Lin Fan appeased the Great Elder, accepted pills, and was ordered to return to Guanxin City and send 150 able-bodied men each day.
• Lin Fan learned that the Sword Sect’s Great Elder was collecting young men under the Sect Master’s decree, while rumors claimed the Sect Master needed their blood to sustain his cultivation.
• A sword-robed senior asked Lin Fan to find Golden Cloud Iron Ore, and Lin Fan agreed before deciding the Sword Sect’s changes were linked to events in Great Jin’s imperial capital.
• Lin Fan summoned Ghost Mother Wuji, told her to leave one elder at Qilian Marketplace, and ordered her to announce an auction of the Mysterious Finger Bone.
• The finger bone auction drew cultivators to Qilian Marketplace, and a masked bidder won it before leaving and being attacked by several figures.
• The masked man’s strange aura swallowed his first attackers, but a pale Ghost Hand pierced his chest; he remained alive and asked whether they had come.

Lin Fan defeated and captured a ghost cultivator, then learned of a Ghost King Sect threat and an alliance between the ghost cultivators and the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect. He advanced the Sky Swallowing Demonic Art to its third layer, but his mutation worsened, requiring more lifespan to eliminate.

• Lin Fan transformed into a lightning-wreathed beast, defeated the ghost cultivator, and had a flying sword pin him down before taking him away.
• Ghost Mother Wuji tortured the captive with a Soul Devouring Worm until he revealed that another powerful ghost cultivator was coming, the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect had allied with the ghost cultivators, and the Ghost King Sect sought its stolen Divine Bone.
• Lin Fan let Ghost Mother Wuji devour the captive's soul and suspected the alliance would bring serious trouble.
• Lin Fan spent one hundred and forty years of lifespan to advance the Sky Swallowing Demonic Art to the third layer and absorbed baleful essence.
• Lin Fan discovered that black blood vessels had spread across his chest and agreed to spend one thousand one hundred years of lifespan to eliminate the worsening mutation.

Lin Fan worried that the mutations from the Sky Swallowing Demonic Art would outpace his lifespan, then returned to the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect disguised as Jiang Ping and secured work at its pillhouse. Elder Xin angrily confronted him over Jiang Ping’s conduct after Elder Zuo’s death, but softened at the end, saying he should not have been angry.

• Lin Fan obtained the incomplete inheritance techniques of Blood Bone Peak and Blood Fiend Peak, then resolved to seek a powerful inheritance from the sword sect.
• After several days, Lin Fan gave Senior Brother Fan Golden Cloud Iron Ore and Spirit Jades, earning a position at the pillhouse.
• Lin Fan passed the Origin Mirror’s inspection and entered the pillhouse island.
• Lin Fan met Elder Xin, who accused Jiang Ping of bullying commoners and abandoning Elder Zuo’s memory.
• Lin Fan stayed silent and said his master had taught him not to be rude to his elders, prompting Elder Xin to admit he should not have been angry.

Lin Fan became Master Xin’s disciple and learned of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect’s corruption and suppression of dissent. Later, he strengthened the Ancient Demon Talisman and let his Soul Slave attempt to transmit information she could not reveal aloud.

• Master Xin tested Lin Fan’s knowledge of medicinal herbs, then taught him alchemy and accepted him as his disciple.
• Master Xin told Lin Fan that the sect was suppressing dissent, including Feng Ling, and lamented its decline.
• Lin Fan made Green-Eyed Flood Dragon Talismans and fed them and other talismans to the Ancient Demon Talisman, which grew stronger.
• Lin Fan considered briefly fusing with the Ancient Demon Talisman but decided the risk was too great.
• Lin Fan’s Soul Slave said she had gathered information but could not speak it because of an Upper Sect restriction, and Lin Fan allowed her to transmit it to him once.

Lin Fan discovered that the repaired divine statue could temper his True Essence and divine soul, while its strange voice hinted that an upcoming opening would bring a harvest. At the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect, Master Xin praised Lin Fan’s talent and sent him to the Hall of Bestowing Merit to pursue the sword path.

• Ghost Mother Wuji told Lin Fan that the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect had attacked Blood Demon Sect strongholds, and Lin Fan told her to handle it as she saw fit.
• Lin Fan entered the divine statue’s mysterious space, where a hideous figure spoke of the next opening being the time of harvest before vanishing.
• Lin Fan found that the statue had strengthened his True Essence and divine soul, improving his ability to control Avatar Talismans.
• Lin Fan answered Master Xin’s questions about pill refinement, then demonstrated his sword technique.
• Master Xin praised Lin Fan’s sword talent and gave him a token to visit the Hall of Bestowing Merit.

Lin Fan visited the Sword Sect’s Transmission Hall and received the dangerous Flowing Cloud Sword Scripture from Old Man Zhang instead of the safer method Master Xin had intended. He chose to practice it despite warnings, leaving Master Xin worried about the risk.

• Xu Xiaomeng confronted Lin Fan in the Transmission Hall over Jiang Ping’s role in the disaster in Guanxin City, and Lin Fan silently accepted her accusations.
• Lin Fan presented Master Xin’s transmission token to Old Man Zhang, who gave him the Flowing Cloud Sword Scripture after asking whether he feared death.
• Old Man Zhang warned Lin Fan that the scripture’s cultivation path had caused many practitioners to suffer cultivation deviation or die.
• Lin Fan returned to Master Xin and revealed that Old Man Zhang had given him the Flowing Cloud Sword Scripture instead of the Kunyuan Sword Codex.
• Master Xin asked whether Lin Fan wanted to practice the dangerous scripture, and Lin Fan’s silence made clear that he intended to proceed.

Disguised as Jiang Ping, Lin Fan mastered the first layer of the Flowing Cloud Sword Scripture and formed the embryonic Sword Seed. More than a month later, while treating wounded disciples amid the war between the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect and the Blood Demon Sect, he discovered Xu Xiaomeng was injured and began treating her.

• Lin Fan studied the Flowing Cloud Sword Scripture and used the Pre-emptive Dao Fruit to cultivate it to the first layer, forming the embryonic Sword Seed.
• Lin Fan realized his pure True Essence and powerful soul let him cultivate the sword scripture unusually quickly, and he planned to nurture the seed into a Sword Heart.
• More than a month later, Lin Fan continued treating wounded disciples while Master Xin was away and the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect fought the Blood Demon Sect.
• Xu Xiaomeng brought her gravely wounded senior sister to Lin Fan, who gave her healing pills and helped her treat the wound.
• After Xu Xiaomeng accused Lin Fan of hiding from the fighting, she revealed a small wound on her back and collapsed; Lin Fan caught her and began treating it, prompting her to scream.

Master Xin defied the Great Elder’s order and sent Lin Fan away to help the Zuo Household in Great Jin, warning him that staying in the Sword Sect would be dangerous. Lin Fan received Master Xin’s alchemy insights and continued building his lifespan before a woman arrived at the Talisman Pavilion.

• Master Xin rejected the Great Elder’s demand, insisting he would rather die than obey, and left the main hall.
• After Lin Fan treated the injured women, one invited him to join the war effort, but he refused and said he wanted to study alchemy.
• Master Xin returned and ordered Lin Fan to go to Great Jin’s martial world to help the Zuo Household, explaining that he had offended someone and that Lin Fan would be in danger if he stayed.
• Master Xin gave Lin Fan a jade slip containing his lifetime of alchemy insights and warned him not to reveal it if Master Xin died.
• Lin Fan copied rune patterns at the Talisman Pavilion, raised his lifespan to 4162, and reflected that his earlier guess had been right.
• A graceful figure entered the Talisman Pavilion as Lin Fan sat at his desk.