Chapter Summaries

Zhao Kuang ordered his trusted Daoist and eunuch to secretly poison his siblings during their vigil, fearing his father might seize one of their bodies. Meanwhile, the Hidden Spy Bureau offered Li Musheng information about strange phenomena at Azure Profound Temple to secure his help finding its missing Director, and Li heard that even the temple master and Great Xuan’s God-Catcher had found no human interference.

• Zhao Kuang abandoned his plan to visit Li Musheng and asked whether he should kill his brothers, explaining that his father might use the Soul-Seizing Technique to take one of their bodies.
• Zhao Kuang ordered the purple-robed Daoist and the old eunuch to poison the princes and princesses during their vigil, and both agreed to carry out the plan secretly.
• The Hidden Spy Bureau agents debated how to persuade Li Musheng to help find their missing Director, and one agent proposed telling him about Azure Profound Temple.
• A Hidden Spy Bureau agent went to Li Musheng’s inn room and described the temple’s full-moon lights, churning pool, and mysterious singing that caused listeners to faint.
• The agent said Azure Profound Temple’s master and Great Xuan’s God-Catcher had investigated but found no signs of human interference or poisoning.

Li Musheng refused to help the Hidden Spy Bureau rescue its missing chief, while the Great Xuan royal family plunged into rebellion after Zhao Kuang attacked his brothers. The chapter ended with Zhao Muning arriving at the inn with a gravely weakened young man.

• A Hidden Spy Bureau agent told Li Musheng about a dangerous pool at Azure Profound Temple and asked him to help find the bureau chief, but Li Musheng refused without a greater reward.
• Li Musheng warned Big Black Cat against pursuing the martial treasure, and the cat stayed put.
• Troops flooded Grand Profound City after Zhao Kuang killed or attacked twelve of the fifteen princes, prompting forces in the capital to rebel against him.
• Zhao Muning entered the inn in disguise with a frail young man, requested two rooms, and heard him say he would only drag her down before he collapsed toward sleep.

Zhao Muning and her injured younger brother took refuge at Li Musheng’s inn while Zhao Kuang’s purge plunged Grand Profound City into civil war. As the righteous and demonic sects prepared to open the Demon Origin, Li Musheng assured Zhao Muning’s group that they would be safe in the inn.

• Zhao Muning brought her poisoned younger brother to Li Musheng’s inn after escaping Zhao Kuang’s palace forces, and her two injured Martial Uncles soon reported that Zhao Kuang had slaughtered members of the imperial family and was fighting the Third Prince and Fifth Prince.
• Zhao Muning decided to hide at the inn and postpone her revenge, while Li Musheng and Daoist Qingyu took little notice of her group.
• Grand Profound City descended into bloody civil war as Zhao Kuang killed officials, experts from the seven great sects arrived, and demonic cultivators took advantage of the chaos.
• The Sect Master of the Ten Thousand Wraith Demon Sect and Blood River Ancestor told Wen Yue they would open the Demon Origin the following night, and Wen Yue warned them to beware of the Sun-Moon Demon Empress.
• Li Musheng told Zhao Muning that she and her companions would be safe at the inn, easing her worries and allowing her Martial Uncles to focus on recovering while she treated her brother.

The Thief Saint White Shadow learned where Li Musheng was and went after him, while Li Musheng left the inn with Big Black Cat after sensing an approaching disturbance. At Azure Profound Temple, the three demonic sects gathered the nine Demon Origins and began opening their patriarch’s inheritance near a mysterious pool.

• The Treasure-Gathering Association's head shopkeeper told White Shadow that Bai Xiaotang’s sought-after person had been found, and White Shadow vowed to capture him that night.
• The head shopkeeper returned to his room to suppress his poison and planned to monitor Li Musheng, whom he believed might be able to kill the Great Xuan Emperor.
• Li Musheng sensed something outside the inn, took Big Black Cat with him, and vanished; White Shadow arrived moments later and followed his trail.
• Wen Yue accompanied Blood River Ancestor, the Sun-Moon Demon Empress, and the Ten Thousand Wraith Demon Sect's leader to Azure Profound Temple to open the Demon Origin.
• The demonic sect leaders reached a strange deep pool where the temple Daoists and some of their own disciples lay scattered, then approached as a seven-colored halo formed over the water.

Blood River Ancestor, the Ten Thousand Wraith Demon Sect Master, and the Sun-Moon Demon Empress activated the nine Demon Origins to release the demonic power left by an ancient patriarch. The two men began absorbing it but discovered it was draining their cultivation, while the Sun-Moon Demon Empress revealed she had been waiting for this outcome.

• Blood River Ancestor, the Ten Thousand Wraith Demon Sect Master, the Sun-Moon Demon Empress, and Wen Yue combined their nine Demon Origins and activated the formation beside the deep pool.
• The Demon Origins broke open and fused into a vortex of demonic qi, whose eruption destroyed the surrounding cliffs and forest and killed nearby demonic path experts.
• Blood River Ancestor and the Ten Thousand Wraith Demon Sect Master attacked the Sun-Moon Demon Empress, then focused on absorbing the vortex’s power; she avoided their strike and questioned Wen Yue, who countered with Thousand-Fragrance Tendon-Softening Powder.
• As Blood River Ancestor and the Ten Thousand Wraith Demon Sect Master grew stronger, black veins spread across their bodies and began consuming their demonic cultivation, forcing them to flee the vortex.
• The Sun-Moon Demon Empress told the weakened men that they had made wedding clothes for her.

The Sun-Moon Demon Empress revealed that the Earth Demon Spider Veins were consuming Blood River Ancestor and the Ten Thousand Wraith Demon Sect's sect master, then captured Blood River Ancestor as they fled. Daoist Qingyu and Wen Yue restrained the other sect master, while Big Black Cat appeared by the pool and indicated that Li Musheng was coming.

• The Sun-Moon Demon Empress evaded Blood River Ancestor and the Ten Thousand Wraith Demon Sect's sect master's attacks and explained that the Demon Dao Patriarch's inheritance was meant for his inheritor, not them.
• Blood River Ancestor and the Ten Thousand Wraith Demon Sect's sect master tried to flee as the Earth Demon Spider Veins spread through their bodies, but the Sun-Moon Demon Empress caught Blood River Ancestor and revealed that she was the Great Xuan Emperor.
• Wen Yue used her poison to immobilize the Ten Thousand Wraith Demon Sect's sect master, and Daoist Qingyu appeared beside him.
• Daoist Qingyu addressed an unseen young master, but Big Black Cat was the only one who appeared near the pool, prompting Wen Yue to recognize it.
• Big Black Cat gestured that Li Musheng would arrive shortly and warned the others not to harm it, while the Sun-Moon Demon Empress saw that the Earth Demon Spider Veins had nearly covered Blood River Ancestor's head.

Daoist Qingyu and the Sun-Moon Demon Empress competed to absorb the Demonic Dao Patriarch’s cultivation, while the Big Black Cat plunged into the mysterious pool. White Shadow tried to lose Li Musheng in a chase, but Li Musheng caught up unnoticed, leaving the Thief Saint shocked.

• The Sun-Moon Demon Empress took the Blood River Ancestor into the demonic energy vortex to use him as her grand medicine, and Daoist Qingyu followed with the Ten Thousand Wraith Demon Sect’s sect master.
• Daoist Qingyu began absorbing the vortex’s demonic cultivation and manifested seven and a half devouring demon vortices, startling the Sun-Moon Demon Empress.
• The Sun-Moon Demon Empress tried to bargain for Daoist Qingyu’s Demonic Scripture, but Daoist Qingyu refused and mocked her comparison with the Eighth Prince of Great Li.
• The Big Black Cat leapt into the deep pool, while Wen Yue watched without approaching it.
• White Shadow fled from Li Musheng, believing his movement technique had shaken off his pursuer, but Li Musheng appeared beside him without warning.

Li Musheng tested his movement skills against Saint Thief White Shadow and repeatedly caught up with him despite White Shadow’s illusions and hidden escape technique. White Shadow fled toward Azure Profound Temple and challenged Li Musheng to find him within ten breaths, while a vortex of demonic qi churned above the temple.

• Li Musheng asked White Shadow why he was following him, then recognized the Saint Thief’s movement technique and challenged him to show its limits.
• White Shadow filled the night with phantoms, but Li Musheng appeared beside him and tracked his real position.
• White Shadow used a hidden technique to vanish, and Li Musheng said the display had not impressed him before disappearing himself.
• White Shadow reappeared before Azure Profound Temple, saw a vast vortex of demonic qi above it, and challenged Li Musheng to find him within ten breaths.

Li Musheng reached Azure Profound Temple ahead of White Shadow and faced the Sun-Moon Demon Empress as she prepared to complete her demonic art. When the seven great sects’ experts begged him to stop her, Li Musheng revealed a shocking demonic-path aura.

• White Shadow realized Li Musheng had appeared above Azure Profound Temple without him sensing his movements, and Li Musheng mocked his boastful lightness skills.
• White Shadow mistakenly suspected Li Musheng had improper intentions toward Bai Xiaotang and challenged him, but Li Musheng ignored him.
• The seven great sects’ experts arrived and warned Li Musheng about the demonic fiends, while Moon-Inviting Palace elders checked on Wen Yue.
• The Sun-Moon Demon Empress unleashed her oppressive aura from the demonic-energy vortex, trapping the seven great sects’ experts as she prepared to devour their cultivation.
• The seven great sects’ experts saw that Li Musheng remained unaffected, pleaded for his help, and then recoiled as a powerful demonic-path aura rose from him.

Li Musheng revealed his demonic aura and was identified as the Eighth Prince of Great Li, while the Sun-Moon Demon Empress challenged him and White Shadow. Daoist Qingyu emerged with ten demonic vortices and asked Li Musheng to withdraw, leaving the Sun-Moon Demon Empress facing a powerful new rival.

• Li Musheng unleashed his demonic aura, shocking the seven great sects, Wen Yue, and White Shadow; the Sun-Moon Demon Empress identified him as the Eighth Prince of Great Li.
• Li Musheng blasted the seven great sects’ experts away from the Sun-Moon Demon Empress’s aura, allowing them to survive their fall.
• The demonic-energy vortex collapsed, revealing Daoist Qingyu and the Sun-Moon Demon Empress, both enveloped in demonic energy.
• The Sun-Moon Demon Empress confronted White Shadow over Yuan Qing, then declared she would fight him and Li Musheng together.
• Daoist Qingyu revealed ten demonic vortices and asked Li Musheng to withdraw, while the Sun-Moon Demon Empress urged her to kill him.

Li Musheng revealed that he cultivated the true Heaven-Devouring Demon Art and devoured the Sun-Moon Demon Empress, then drained the demonic cultivation and vitality from more than a hundred experts of the three demonic sects. Daoist Qingyu questioned why he had not fallen into demonhood, leaving Li Musheng’s state uncertain.

• The Sun-Moon Demon Empress attacked Li Musheng with a demonic palm and nine devouring storms, but his void abyss swallowed them all.
• Li Musheng pulled the Sun-Moon Demon Empress into the void abyss and devoured her, explaining that she had become his Human-Demon Great Elixir.
• Li Musheng used the void abyss to drain the cultivation and blood vitality of more than a hundred fleeing demonic experts, leaving them as husks.
• Li Musheng turned his attention toward the Great Xuan Imperial Palace, knowing he could take the true Great Xuan Emperor’s life through the marks he had placed on him.
• Daoist Qingyu asked Li Musheng how he had avoided falling into demonhood and wondered whether he was merely forcing himself to endure it.

Li Musheng resisted Daoist Qingyu’s demonic music and swallowed her cultivation, leaving her crippled at Azure Profound Temple. The seven great sects fled Grand Profound City, fearing Li Musheng’s growing power, while White Shadow realized even a Martial Saint would be no match for him.

• Daoist Qingyu’s demonic music stirred wicked thoughts in the experts of the seven great sects, but Li Musheng remained unaffected.
• Li Musheng seized Daoist Qingyu with a void abyss that swallowed her demonic vortices and cultivation, then safely lowered her beside the deep pool.
• The seven great sects saw Daoist Qingyu crippled and cautiously retreated, concluding that Li Musheng had become an unprecedented great demon.
• The Blood Heaven Palace elder urged the sects to leave Grand Profound City and report the night’s events, and the experts departed into the night.
• White Shadow watched from hiding and realized Li Musheng could effortlessly suppress even a Martial Saint.

Li Musheng crippled Daoist Qingyu’s cultivation and learned that the treasure in the pool, Dream of a Thousand Autumns, belonged to her ancient clan. Daoist Qingyu revealed that the Dream Clan had been destroyed decades earlier, leaving her its sole surviving descendant.

• White Shadow decided to watch Li Musheng from hiding rather than risk confronting him.
• Li Musheng crippled Daoist Qingyu’s meridians and dantian, then pulled Big Black Cat from the pool.
• Daoist Qingyu identified the pool’s treasure as Dream of a Thousand Autumns and claimed it as her clan’s heirloom.
• Daoist Qingyu explained that the Dream Clan lived on Mount Qi alongside two other ancient clans and a group of Divine-Natured People.
• Daoist Qingyu recounted how Great Qi’s attack weakened the clans, the other clans allied with the Divine-Natured People, and they eventually destroyed the Dream Clan.
• Daoist Qingyu revealed that she was the Dream Clan’s only descendant to escape Mount Qi.

Daoist Qingyu revealed that she had planned to reclaim the Meng Clan’s treasure and use the Demon Origin to pursue revenge, but after Li Musheng defeated her, she gave him the Dream Jade. Li Musheng retrieved Dream of a Thousand Autumns from the pool, and Daoist Qingyu warned him that the other Mount Qi families would pursue it; he then asked what the treasure could do.

• Daoist Qingyu explained that she had hidden and secretly restored the Meng Clan’s treasure beneath Azure Profound Temple while planning to reclaim it and obtain the Demon Dao Patriarch’s inheritance.
• Daoist Qingyu admitted that her desire for revenge had led her down the demon path and gave Li Musheng the Dream Jade after her foundation was destroyed.
• Li Musheng returned the Dream Jade, drew Dream of a Thousand Autumns from the pool, and stopped Big Black Cat from touching it.
• Daoist Qingyu explained that Dream of a Thousand Autumns was an ancient exotic treasure and warned Li Musheng that the two remaining Mount Qi families were searching for it.
• Li Musheng dismissed the danger posed by the families and asked Daoist Qingyu what Dream of a Thousand Autumns could do.

Li Musheng learned the Dream Clan’s secret art, Great Dream of a Thousand Autumns, from Daoist Qingyu and used it to unleash the jade pillow’s power across Grand Profound City. Daoist Qingyu remained trapped in an illusion of revenge, while Big Black Cat appeared to be greedily gathering imagined treasures.

• Daoist Qingyu explained that Dream of a Thousand Autumns required the Dream Clan’s Great Dream of a Thousand Autumns to unleash its full power, then offered the secret art to Li Musheng.
• Li Musheng rejected Daoist Qingyu’s request for revenge but accepted the secret art and began studying the jade pillow.
• Li Musheng quickly mastered Great Dream of a Thousand Autumns and activated the jade pillow, enveloping Grand Profound City in seven-colored light.
• Daoist Qingyu was drawn into an illusion where the two great families lay dead, and Dream Jade restored her ability to recognize that the scene was false.
• Daoist Qingyu remained unable to escape the illusion and gazed at her imagined revenge, while Li Musheng watched Big Black Cat paw at what seemed to be treasures.

Li Musheng used the Dream of a Thousand Autumns to trap everyone in Grand Profound City, then kept the jade pillow and went to the Great Xuan Imperial Palace to eliminate the Great Xuan Emperor. There, he found the Emperor’s true body with Zhao Kuang and a white-haired ancestor, and left all three unable to move.

• Li Musheng saw Wen Yue and White Shadow trapped in illusions above Azure Profound Temple, then took the jade pillow and confirmed the Dream of a Thousand Autumns had ensnared everyone in Grand Profound City.
• Li Musheng decided to keep the jade pillow rather than let it fall into the outside world, and set out to deal with the Great Xuan Emperor.
• Li Musheng found the Great Xuan Emperor’s true body in a palace alongside Zhao Kuang and a white-haired old man, while all three were trapped in illusions.
• Li Musheng awakened the three but left them unable to move; the Great Xuan Emperor identified him as the Eighth Prince of Great Li, and the old man rebuked the Emperor for demanding that he attack.

Li Musheng took control of the Great Xuan Emperor and the palace’s old ancestor, then declared that Zhao Muning should take the imperial throne. Zhao Kuang pleaded to retain his claim and offered an alliance with Great Li, leaving the succession unresolved.

• Li Musheng told the Great Xuan Emperor he had come to kill him, and the emperor begged for his life.
• Li Musheng asked the withered old man whether the emperor could be killed, and the old man agreed that the emperor’s life was his to dispose of.
• Li Musheng said someone else should take Great Xuan’s throne, and the old man condemned Zhao Kuang as unfit to rule.
• The old man asked Li Musheng whom he favored, and Li Musheng named Zhao Muning.
• Zhao Kuang objected that Zhao Muning was a woman and begged Li Musheng to support him, promising to withdraw troops and ally with Great Li.

Li Musheng killed the Great Xuan Emperor after the emperor urged the imperial ancestor to protect Great Xuan rather than submit for his own survival. He spared the ancestor but placed a Life-Death Seal on him, leaving Zhao Muning with his support to claim the throne.

• Zhao Kuang offered to support Zhao Muning's succession, and the white-haired, withered old man agreed to back her at Li Musheng's request.
• Li Musheng released the old man's restraints and turned to the Great Xuan Emperor, who defended his rule and warned the ancestor against abandoning Great Xuan.
• The Great Xuan Emperor gave up resistance, and Li Musheng killed him with a finger strike while the ancestor watched without intervening.
• The ancestor asked whether Li Musheng had caused his earlier sleep and dream, and Li Musheng confirmed it before placing a Life-Death Seal inside him.
• Li Musheng explained that he had spared the ancestor to prevent Great Xuan from falling into chaos and to help Zhao Muning secure the throne.

After leaving the Great Xuan Imperial Palace, Li Musheng returned to Azure Profound Temple and brought Daoist Qingyu and Big Black Cat out of their illusions. He pointed Wen Yue toward Zhao Muning as a possible ally in finding her younger sister, while the Great Xuan ancestor took control of the palace.

• Li Musheng left the Great Xuan Imperial Palace, and the ancestor failed to remove the Life-Death Seal or undo Zhao Kuang’s restraint.
• The ancestor declared that he would take control of the Great Xuan Imperial Palace and seized Zhao Kuang to quell the rebellion.
• Li Musheng returned to Azure Profound Temple and dispelled Dream of a Thousand Autumns, waking Daoist Qingyu and Big Black Cat.
• The First Palace Mistress of Moon-Inviting Palace asked Daoist Qingyu about her younger sister, and Daoist Qingyu said the Great Xuan Emperor had taken her.
• Li Musheng told the First Palace Mistress that someone could help her find her sister, then left for the inn with Daoist Qingyu and Big Black Cat; Wen Yue followed.
• White Shadow woke from the illusion and found himself drenched in cold sweat.

White Shadow fled after witnessing Li Musheng's terrifying demonic power, then returned to find the Treasure-Gathering Association's chief shopkeeper dead. He beat Bai Xiaotang while learning she had taught Li Musheng his prized lightness skill, warned her to stay away from the now-dangerous prince, and left Grand Profound City with her.

• White Shadow abandoned his plan to question Li Musheng and hurried back to the Treasure-Gathering Association after witnessing the demon's power.
• White Shadow learned the chief shopkeeper had died and concluded the Great Xuan Emperor's death had also killed the man through the Gut-Walking Demon Worm.
• White Shadow found Bai Xiaotang and beat her while demanding that she explain her dealings with Li Musheng.
• Bai Xiaotang revealed she had taught Li Musheng White Shadow's prized lightness skill, prompting White Shadow to beat her more severely.
• White Shadow warned Bai Xiaotang that Li Musheng's demonic nature would eventually consume him, but she asked if White Shadow could no longer beat him.
• White Shadow beat Bai Xiaotang again, then grabbed her and vanished into Grand Profound City's night.