Chapter Summaries

At the Dark Star Bureau, Chen Changrui warned Big Head to stay out of conflicts between people from Pro State and assigned Qin Minghui to him. Disguised as Zhou Changhong, He Jiaqing learned that his identity had been exposed and encountered a Green Water Beggar as he tried to leave Green Water City.

• Chen Changrui told Big Head that He Jiaqing and Xiao Zhengong were beyond the Bureau's reach and should be left to deal with each other.
• Chen Changrui introduced Qin Minghui, and Big Head accepted him as a new trainee under the codename Chuunibyou.
• Disguised as Zhou Changhong, He Jiaqing watched Blood Blade Detective and spoke with Lu Maoxian, who praised the film and said Liang Chunjie's role should have gone to Zhou Changhong.
• Big Head contacted He Jiaqing and reported that Xiao Zhengong had exposed Zhou Changhong's identity.
• He Jiaqing decided to return to Outer State and wondered whether Lu Maoxian had recognized him or was connected to Xiao Zhengong.
• A Green Water Beggar repeatedly blocked He Jiaqing, who recognized him and told Big Head through his chest button to stay silent and remain in contact.

He Jiaqing escaped Green Water Beggar’s hidden home, but Green Flower’s disease left him with a ruined hand. He decided to return to Outer State because Zhou Changhong’s situation had been exposed and feared news would leak from his family, while He Haiqin learned that Jiaqing had secretly returned to Pro State.

• Green Water Beggar trapped He Jiaqing in his hidden home, but He Jiaqing used his techniques and a pocket watch to reach Green Water Beggar and escape with A Farewell of Ten Thousand Miles.
• Green Water Beggar suspected He Jiaqing possessed Mystical Empty Hand and wondered whether to tell an old acquaintance about his double Ninth Layer cultivation.
• He Jiaqing reached Wan Jinxian in the mountains, then transferred Green Flower’s relentless hiccups into his left hand and cut it off before burning it to ashes.
• He Jiaqing told Wan Jinxian that Zhou Changhong’s side had been exposed and said he needed to return to Outer State, fearing someone in his family would leak the news.
• At the He Family estate, He Haiqin told He Yuxiu that Jiaqing had secretly returned to Pro State despite everyone believing he was hospitalized in Outer State.

Li Banfeng realized He Jiaqing had once tried to lure him into a deadly trap, while He Jiaqing’s return to Pro State drew his father and the Lu Family into the affair. After helping Zhou Changhong escape, He Jiaqing learned that Old Wan expected Zhou’s hidden attack to take effect.

• He Haiqin rejected He Yuxiu’s suggestion to send Third Brother and traveled to Outer State himself to see He Jiaqing.
• Li Banfeng read reports exposing He Jiaqing’s identity, suspected he had been the Zhou Changhong who tried to lure him off the train, and learned He Haiqin was on his way.
• Lu Yuanshan suspected Lu Maoxian had exposed He Jiaqing under orders from his master, and the white-clothed youth confirmed that the Sage wanted He Jiaqing kept from gaining a foothold in Pro State.
• He Jiaqing gave Zhou Changhong a train ticket and Travel Permit and sent him away with Zhu Junlong, but Zhou escaped the hotel and used a concealed identity to reach his apartment.
• Zhou Changhong’s body broke apart into dust, and Old Wan told He Jiaqing that the attack had taken effect and nothing would remain.

He Haiqin visited the unconscious He Jiaqing in Yuezhou and recognized him as his son, while the Dark Star Bureau struggled to manage his outburst. In Pro State, Lu Maoxian received the Sage’s orders to watch He Jiaqing and suppress Ma Wu’s shadow plays, as He Jiaqing remained under guard in the hospital with a hidden plan.

• He Haiqin arrived at the hospital, dismissed Xiao Zhengong, and recognized the bedridden He Jiaqing as his son before erupting in grief and anger.
• Chen Changrui and Xiao Zhengong waited outside as He Haiqin shook the building, while Qin Minghui tried to intervene and Big Head stopped him.
• The Ling Family and Lu Family published competing reports about the reunion, and the Lu Family’s commentary pushed Lu Maoxian into danger.
• Lu Maoxian sought the Sage’s help, received three Golden Essence Pills, and was ordered to keep watch on He Jiaqing and curb rebellious shadow plays.
• Lu Maoxian decided to target Ma Wu and his backers, while He Haiqin left Yuezhou and He Jiaqing remained under He Haisheng’s watch, smiling faintly when no one was looking.

After opening three new lands, Li Banfeng and Ma Wu faced a campaign by the Qingshou Association to stop screenings of “Blood Spear Detective.” They traveled with a group of allies to Black Stone Slope, preparing to confront the association and win the opening battle.

• Li Banfeng opened three new lands with Ma Wu and Little Genzi, who each overcame Qiu Luoye’s tests in different ways.
• Li Banfeng told Ma Wu to prepare several new films, but Ma Wu learned that the Qingshou Association had smashed two cinemas in Black Stone Slope for showing “Blood Spear Detective.”
• Ma Wu explained the Qingshou Association’s influence and planned to seek a connection, but Li Banfeng insisted they confront the matter together.
• Li Banfeng and Ma Wu secretly traveled to Black Stone Slope with more than thirty companions, including writers, the Street Scolding Woman, Aqin, and Little Genzi.
• Little Genzi complained that the train’s toilets disrupted his cultivation, and Li Banfeng told the group they had to win the opening battle upon reaching Black Stone Slope.

Li Banfeng settled his group in an abandoned factory in Black Stone Slope and learned how the city’s newspapers and magazines attracted readers. He started the Night-Blooming Jasmine newspaper and then went to buy the threatened Sanfu Cinema, leaving its owner stunned.

• Li Banfeng arrived in industrial Black Stone Slope, where Little Chuanzi took the group to a large abandoned factory with rooms for them to stay in.
• Li Banfeng visited a newsstand, bought sensational newspapers and magazines, and learned that the local press relied on invented stories and editorially written profiles.
• Li Banfeng agreed with Bai Qiusheng and Yuwen Qi to start a newspaper and magazine, and they named the evening paper Night-Blooming Jasmine.
• Little Chuanzi returned with an inexpensive hand-cranked printing press, and the writers and Ma Wu began preparing stories and photographs.
• Li Banfeng went to Sanfu Cinema, offered the owner money to screen Blood Spear Detective again, and then asked to buy the cinema when the owner refused.

Li Banfeng bought Sanfu Cinema and helped launch the popular Night Fragrance newspaper to promote Blood Spear Detective, drawing opposition from the Qingshou Association and the Green Fire Gang. When Tang Peigong led an attack on the cinema, Li Banfeng turned the crowd and the attackers’ own tactics against them, leaving Tang Peigong and Ai Chixiang covered in a foul substance as the confrontation escalated.

• Li Banfeng bought Sanfu Cinema for two hundred silver dollars and assigned Little Chuanzi to repair it while Tang Peigong sent Ai Chixiang to warn the workers against screening films.
• Bai Qiusheng, Yuwen Qi, and Ma Wu published Night Fragrance, which sold out quickly and expanded to a large print run alongside a magazine promoting Blood Spear Detective 3.
• Zeng Wenbing and Green Fire Gang thugs wrecked the newspaper workshop’s deliveries, beat workers, and extorted twenty thousand from Bai Qiusheng, which Li Banfeng told him to pay for now.
• Tang Peigong arrived with over a hundred Qingshou Association disciples to destroy Sanfu Cinema, but Li Banfeng ordered his people to stage a counterattack as photographers recorded the clash.
• A Street Scolding Woman grappled with Ai Chixiang, whose attack on her enraged the crowd and forced Tang Peigong’s group to retreat.
• Little Genzi dropped buckets of Ten Li Fragrance onto Tang Peigong and Ai Chixiang as Li Banfeng and Little Chuanzi prepared to continue the attack.

After exposing the Qingshou Association in the press, Li Banfeng beat Zeng Wenbing and used the Green Fire Gang’s newspaper offices to spread the story. He discovered the gang leader was a weak Nightmare Cultivator and entered the factory to confront him.

• Li Banfeng ordered the cinema to open, then sent Bai Qiusheng to prepare newspaper stories condemning the Qingshou Association.
• Li Banfeng beat Zeng Wenbing, while Zuo Wugang subdued his men and Bai Qiusheng arranged for the gang’s newspaper offices to publish the story.
• Bai Qiusheng and Zuo Wugang forced Zeng Wenbing to take them to the Green Fire Gang’s hall after visiting its newspaper offices.
• Li Banfeng spotted two Ghost Servants guarding the factory, wounded them, and sent them into the Portable Abode.
• Li Banfeng slit a young thug’s throat when he tried to stop him, and an older thug offered to lead him to the Head of the House.

Li Banfeng forced the Green Fire Gang and other gangs to spread news about the cinema incident, and the scandal damaged Tang Peigong’s reputation. Elder Wu arrived at Tang Peigong’s residence and set out to visit the newspaper office.

• Li Banfeng threatened Han Xianrong into printing news stories, summoning gang leaders, and gathering newspapers under the Green Fire Gang’s control.
• Li Banfeng subdued Han Xianrong and his Ghost Servants, then brought them to the Portable Abode, where Hong Ying and the phonograph consumed their souls.
• Zuo Wugang persuaded six gang leaders to publish the news and sign contracts, while Li Banfeng quietly watched.
• Newspapers, especially Night-Blooming Jasmine, spread accounts of the cinema battle and allegations about Tang Peigong, and the paper sold out again.
• Tang Peigong fell ill and raged over the scandal until Elder Wu arrived; after identifying Night-Blooming Jasmine as the newspaper behind it, Elder Wu went to visit its office.

Li Banfeng negotiated an arena match with Wu Decheng, who secretly arranged for Tang Peigong to face him in a Scholar Arena. The contest began as a brawl, with Zuo Wugang beating Tang Peigong and Li Banfeng believing Wu Decheng had deliberately handed him the first victory.

• Wu Decheng visited Li Banfeng and agreed to an arena match, giving Li Banfeng the first win in their private arrangement.
• Wu Decheng persuaded Tang Peigong to lead a Scholar Arena against Li Banfeng, while Tang gathered four disciples and arranged witnesses.
• Tang Peigong and his disciples entered the arena, and Li Banfeng sent Zuo Wugang, Cao Zhida, Zhen Jincheng, and two recruits to face them.
• After Tang Peigong began insulting Zuo Wugang, Zuo Wugang punched him, then kicked him off the arena and left him badly injured.
• Cao Zhida, Zhen Jincheng, and the others beat Tang Peigong's disciples as the crowd cheered, while Li Banfeng and Wu Decheng exchanged knowing salutes.

After Night Fragrance defeated the Qingshou Association in their first arena match, Li Banfeng faced Wu Decheng’s fighters in a second contest. Li’s disguised allies swept the arena, and Little Genzi struck Wu Decheng with a ladle as Li demanded that he explain his accusation of cheating.

• Night Fragrance’s victory over Tang Peigong spread across Black Stone Slope, while Wu Decheng arranged a second match and secretly ordered his disciples to kill Li Banfeng and his people.
• Li Banfeng brought three workers to the arena, and Wu Decheng’s side entered with four fighters before agreeing to a three-on-three match.
• The Street Scolding Woman, disguised by the pendulum, tripped and battered Wu Rongjin, while Aqin defeated Rao Shaofeng and helped drive the remaining fighters from the arena.
• After the match ended, Wu Decheng accused Li Banfeng of cheating, and Li demanded that he say exactly what he had been deceived about.
• While Wu Decheng argued with Li, Little Genzi flung the contents of a ladle into Wu Decheng’s face.

After defeating Wu Decheng at the arena, Li Banfeng captured him when he came to seek revenge and learned more about the Qingshou Association and Lu Maoxian. Li Banfeng’s wife consumed Wu Decheng’s soul, the Blood-Containing Pendulum took his spirituality, and Red Lotus began refining his corpse before sensing a mysterious thought inside the Portable Abode.

• Wu Decheng retreated from the arena after deciding that Li Banfeng had prepared a trap, and Li Banfeng left with his people.
• Li Banfeng celebrated the victory with his companions, then waited for Wu Decheng to come looking for revenge.
• Wu Decheng entered Li Banfeng’s Portable Abode, where Li Banfeng subdued him and questioned him about the Qingshou Association, Lu Maoxian, and the Sage.
• Wu Decheng tried to use a technique to persuade Li Banfeng to spare him, but Li Banfeng rejected the offer and had his wife consume Wu Decheng’s soul.
• The Blood-Containing Pendulum took Wu Decheng’s spirituality, and Red Lotus ate his corpse and began refining a pill.
• Red Lotus sensed an indistinct thought inside the second room of the Portable Abode.

Li Banfeng discovered that the greasy yarn glove taken from Wu Decheng was an intelligent Travel Cultivator artifact named Fly with the Wind. After learning about its fifth-layer skill, Ride a Horse and Admire Flowers, Li Banfeng accepted that the glove might be difficult to control and kept it sealed for later questioning.

• Li Banfeng found a yarn glove among Wu Decheng's torn clothes and had Wife and Red Lotus test it.
• The glove evaded Red Lotus's whirlwinds, and Wife captured and sealed it after discovering its deep spirituality.
• The glove identified itself as Fly with the Wind, a Travel Cultivator artifact, and Wife nearly burned it because of her hatred of Travel Cultivators.
• Li Banfeng questioned the glove about Ride a Horse and Admire Flowers, learning that it required extreme speed and unwavering eyesight to make a target's flesh and blood explode.
• The glove began to reveal the sixth-layer skill but tried to escape, so Wife sealed it again and warned Li Banfeng that it could be dangerous to control.

Lu Yuanshan and Lu Yuanhai plotted with He Haiqin to ambush Lu Maoxian on his way to Black Stone Slope. Lu Maoxian was trapped beneath a powerful Spiritual Object, and Lu Yuanshan prepared to kill him as Lu Yuanhai fled to keep watch.

• Lu Maoxian decided to travel to Black Stone Slope alone, while Monkey Qiu warned Lu Yuanshan and Lu Yuanhai against taking advantage of his absence.
• Lu Yuanshan told Lu Yuanhai that Lu Maoxian would leave by train and revealed that He Haiqin had agreed to help ambush him.
• The following night, Tan Fucheng diverted Lu Maoxian's rickshaw into an alley and overturned it, pinning him beneath a powerful Spiritual Object.
• Lu Maoxian tried to escape with his Literary Cultivator techniques, but his advanced writing brush and a Word Worth a Thousand Gold failed to free him.
• He Haiqin urged Lu Yuanshan and Lu Yuanhai to finish the attack; Lu Yuanhai refused and went to watch the alley entrance as Lu Yuanshan drew his sword and addressed Lu Maoxian.

Lu Yuanshan died after being forced to stab himself, while He Haiqin saved Lu Maoxian and secured his cooperation in exchange for helping him pursue the Lu Family leadership. Lu Maoxian learned he had misunderstood the Saint’s target, and Qiu Zhiheng was left to face the aftermath of the attack on the Lu brothers.

• Lu Yuanshan stabbed himself with his own sword, then his body and Lu Yuanhai’s limbs exploded; Tan Fucheng broke Lu Yuanhai’s control with sugar and escaped with him.
• He Haiqin overturned the carriage, freed Lu Maoxian, questioned him about the Saint and He Jiaqing, and made him sign a contract supporting their cooperation.
• Lu Maoxian learned from his white-clad junior brother that the Saint had meant to target the shadow play “Blood Blade Detective,” not “Blood Spear Detective,” and paid him to conceal the mistake.
• The junior brother warned Lu Maoxian to avoid Black Stone Slope and blame Tang Peigong and Wu Decheng for the trouble.
• Tan Fucheng reported the attack to Qiu Zhiheng; Duan Shaoxia learned Lu Yuanshan was dead and wept over Lu Yuanhai’s condition.

Monkey Qiu held Lu Maoxian at bay while arranging care for Lu Yuanhai and setting out for Medicine King Gully to seek a cure. Meanwhile, Li Banfeng distributed Mystic Scarlet Pills, left Evening Primrose in Bai Qiusheng and Yuwen Qi’s hands, and stayed at Black Stone Slope to explore its new land.

• Tan Fucheng told Monkey Qiu that Lu Maoxian’s eldest young master had died after his body shattered, and that He Haiqin had been brought in to help trap Lu Yuanhai.
• Monkey Qiu kept Duan Shaoxia from confronting Lu Maoxian, then refused to let him see the two young masters and persuaded him to leave with an invitation to an opera gathering.
• Monkey Qiu collected samples from Lu Yuanhai, put Tan Fucheng in charge of the estate, and told Duan Shaoxia he was going to Medicine King Gully to find a cure.
• He Haiqin told He Yuxiu that Lu Maoxian had survived their attempted attack and that He Jiaqing’s left hand was badly injured.
• Li Banfeng distributed Mystic Scarlet Pills to his people, and Little Chuanzi collapsed after eating three at once while Little Genzi hesitated to take his share.
• Li Banfeng agreed to let Bai Qiusheng and Yuwen Qi keep running Evening Primrose, then stayed at Black Stone Slope with Chuanzi to oversee business and explore the new land.

Li Banfeng tried to reach the New Land in Black Stone Slope, but a powerful old man who pretended to be a train carried him to Decency Village. There, he found Ma Wu filming Blood Spear Detective and Bai Qiusheng already back in the village.

• Li Banfeng took a map from Bai Qiusheng and rode several Small Trains, then got lost while trying to find the New Land.
• A crane driver gave Li Banfeng directions to a New Land entrance, leading him to an abandoned railway station.
• An old man who pretended to be a train carried Li Banfeng along the tracks, charged him for a ticket, and left him in a forest.
• Li Banfeng fled when the old man returned, then recognized the area and reached Decency Village, where Qiao Cui asked him to tell Fifth Son to visit her.
• Li Banfeng found Ma Wu filming Blood Spear Detective by the lake and saw Bai Qiusheng revising the script.

Li Banfeng realized that the Decency Village around him was a dream and was challenged by a white-clad woman to find her without guessing wrong. After searching unsuccessfully, he worked out that she could only appear within his line of sight and began to notice the people around him.

• Li Banfeng recognized that the villagers' mistaken forms of address meant he was not in the real Decency Village and concluded he had entered an illusion.
• Li Banfeng found details in his house that only he could know, then realized the changing writing on his bedsheet showed he was dreaming.
• A white-clad woman told Li Banfeng that finding her would pass the trial, but guessing wrong would trap him forever.
• Li Banfeng searched the village for the woman, tried to wake himself, and eventually relieved himself and ate at a restaurant in the dream.
• Ma Wu, Zuo Wugang, and Aqin appeared with correct forms of address and changed clothes, leading Li Banfeng to realize he needed to look for the woman within his line of sight.
• When Little Genzi and Little Chuanzi approached, Li Banfeng told them not to speak.

Li Banfeng identified the dream intruder as Little Genzi and escaped the dream by chasing her into the woods. He woke in a strange building called Dream Tether Tower, where a man from Chunshen City said entry could cost millions.

• Li Banfeng tested the people in the restaurant and realized their answers could not expose the intruder because some information had already been revealed.
• Li Banfeng questioned Little Genzi about why he had chosen Metal Cultivation, exposing him as the intruder, who transformed into a woman and fled.
• Li Banfeng chased the woman out of Decency Village and into the woods, where the scenery warped and he woke up.
• Li Banfeng explored the dark corridor, followed a sleepwalking man, and learned that he was in the Outer State.
• The man took Li Banfeng to a cafeteria and told him the place was Dream Tether Tower, an exclusive destination that could cost millions to enter.

Li Banfeng escaped Dream Tether Tower after meeting its owner, Meng Qian, and suspected she could use dreams to control the guests. Train Grandpa caught him again and insisted Li Banfeng had not woken up, claiming he was still dreaming because Train Grandpa himself had not awakened.

• Zhao Dajun told Li Banfeng about leaving his job and spending his savings to live in Dream Tether Tower, where guests received free lodging, food, and pleasant dreams.
• Li Banfeng tried to leave the tower, but Meng Qian appeared; he burned her clothes, introduced himself as Night Seven, and left after she gave him directions.
• Li Banfeng ran through the mountain forest and reasoned that Meng Qian could manipulate guests' dreams and control their actions.
• After running for over an hour, Li Banfeng heard Train Grandpa's whistle and was carried off on his back again.
• Train Grandpa told Li Banfeng he had not woken up and said he was dreaming of being a train because he missed the train he had sold to the Peddler.