Chapter Summaries

Xu Yi used Incense Spirit Essence to purify his original corpse and the Crimson Flame Thunder Monkey’s corpse as he broke through toward the Ghost Immortal Realm. When his consciousness reached Heaven and Earth’s will, he passed the immortal tribulation with astonishing ease, leaving Huang Mei stunned.

• Xu Yi’s original corpse survived purification by the incense and transformed into a clear stream.
• Xu Yi used extra Incense Spirit Essence Beads made from plundered essence to purify the Crimson Flame Thunder Monkey’s corpse.
• The two purified streams merged with the turbid Qi from Xu Yi’s flesh and blood, forming an intertwined yin-yang fish.
• Xu Yi witnessed scenes from his previous life and this life as his consciousness spread toward Heaven and Earth’s will.
• Xu Yi’s consciousness penetrated Heaven and Earth’s will within moments, while Huang Mei marveled at how quickly it accepted him.

Xu Yi broke through to the Ghost Immortal Realm and received an extraordinary amount of starlight, lighting his dragon’s tail almost immediately. The heavenly signs reached the Jinling Guard, where Qin Guang and his forces debated whether Xu Yi was undergoing tribulation nearby.

• Xu Yi formed a new body, connected with Heaven’s will, and began receiving the starlight that shaped his Dragon of Stars.
• After an unusually long stream of starlight gathered, Xu Yi’s dragon turned golden and its tail lit up.
• Heavenly flowers and golden lotuses appeared, astonishing Huang Mei with the speed and scale of Xu Yi’s breakthrough.
• Qin Guang halted the Jinling Guard less than thirty miles from Nine Canals Thunder Dragon Mountain and ordered the unseen cultivator to come forward.
• A blue-robed old man searched the ground within thirty miles but found no one, while Qin Guang questioned how the tribulation’s signs could reach so far.
• Cao Qing and Chen Shen joined the formation, and Cao Qing suggested that Xu Yi was behind the extraordinary signs.

Qin Guang led the Jinling Guard to Nine Canals Thunder Dragon Mountain to capture Xu Yi, who used the heavenly phenomenon to attempt a breakthrough. When two Dragons of Stars appeared within Xu Yi, Qin Guang ordered an attack, but Xu Yi's thunder destroyed the Jinling Guard's assault.

• Qin Guang dismissed Chen Shen and the others' warnings, then led the army and eight hundred Yellow Turban Strongmen toward Nine Canals Thunder Dragon Mountain.
• Yan Zhongqing pinpointed the heavenly blossoms and golden lotuses thirty-three li northwest, while Xu Yi sensed the army approaching and focused on breaking through to the Spirit Communication Stage.
• The underground chamber opened as the heavenly phenomenon ceased, and Qin Guang mistook Xu Yi's cultivation for a Ghost Immortal breakthrough.
• Starlight poured into Xu Yi and formed a second Dragon of Stars, astonishing Huang Mei and the Jinling Guard.
• Qin Guang ordered Chen Shen and five others to attack Xu Yi, then had the Jinling Guard strike while the Yellow Turban Strongmen sealed the area and suppressed the Gold Order Talisman's power.
• Xu Yi unleashed a storm of thunder that blasted the Jinling Guard's attack into dust.

Xu Yi fought Qin Guang, whose Spirit Endowment Supernatural Ability had reached the Spirit Communication Stage, while Xu Yi gathered immense star power and transformed. When Qin Guang and the others broke through Xu Yi’s thunderstorm, Xu Yi called on Huang Mei for help and Huang Mei covered him with his corpse overlord.

• Qin Guang revealed his golden scales and attacked Xu Yi with Spirit Communication Stage power, sending him flying and wounding him.
• Xu Yi transformed into a Crimson Flame Thunder Monkey and unleashed a vast thunderstorm that temporarily held Qin Guang back.
• Qin Guang feared Xu Yi was gathering enough star power to advance and ordered the Jinling Guards, Chen Shen, and the others to combine their attacks.
• The combined barrage shattered Xu Yi’s thunderstorm, and Qin Guang followed with a powerful silver wave while the others stood down.
• Xu Yi found the Ding Yuan Technique useless and asked Huang Mei to use his corpse overlord for protection.
• Huang Mei spat out his corpse overlord, turned it colorless, and spread it over Xu Yi.

Xu Yi survived Qin Guang’s assault, reached the Second Realm’s Spirit Communication Stage, and killed Qin Guang and eighteen other Ghost Immortals. After the battle, Desolate Charm pressed Xu Yi to explain his breakthrough and the strange weapon he had manifested.

• The Thunder Monkey Dragon’s tail lit up, healing Xu Yi as he connected part of his consciousness to the Heaven and Earth Will.
• Qin Guang summoned his Dragon of Stars and unleashed a vast watery attack, but Xu Yi answered with a thunderstorm that kept the curtains away.
• Xu Yi manifested a Maxim Machine Gun that fired Thunder Pearls, destroyed Qin Guang’s Dragon of Stars, and killed him.
• Xu Yi trapped Chen Shen and the other fleeing Ghost Immortals in the Thunder Cage Net and refined all eighteen into smoke.
• Desolate Charm absorbed Qin Guang’s clear Qi and demanded that Xu Yi explain how he reached Spirit Communication and what the manifested weapon was.

Xu Yi explained how Qin Guang's attack helped him reach the Spirit Communication Stage and manifest a powerful Maxim heavy machine gun, then used a purple wind talisman to travel with Desolate Charm. At a banquet in the Eastern Judgment Prefecture, Young Emissary Chen performed and challenged Judge Luo after he withheld praise.

• Xu Yi told Desolate Charm that Qin Guang's Spirit Communication-level attack had helped him understand the realm and manifest the Maxim heavy machine gun.
• Xu Yi used the purple wind talisman to set off with Desolate Charm, whose questions were drowned out by the gale.
• At the Grand Heaven Hall, Young Emissary Chen danced and sang before the assembled officials.
• Su Che, Tong Kun, and Yin Zhao praised Chen's performance, easing Luo Dongyang's wariness.
• Chen noticed Luo Dongyang had not commented and accused him of having standards higher than the Eastern Underworld Lord's.

Luo Dongyang learned that Xu Yi had killed Qin Guang and the Jinling Guard, then enlisted Young Emissary Chen’s help to stop him. Chen ordered the borders sealed for three days and revealed that his white Yin Official Seal was a Roving Official Seal from the Yin Court.

• Luo Dongyang flattered Young Emissary Chen’s music and dance, and Chen called him a kindred spirit.
• Heavenly Supervisor Shi Liangfa reported that every Life Soul Tablet of the Jinling Guard, including Qin Guang’s, had shattered.
• Tong Kun contacted Xiong Kun, who confirmed that Xu Yi had killed Qin Guang, Chen Shen, and the others, and had become a Ghost Immortal.
• Luo Dongyang told Young Emissary Chen about Xu Yi, and Chen authorized him to mobilize forces to capture Xu Yi.
• Young Emissary Chen ordered Zuo Mingbo to seal the borders for up to three days using his Yin Official Seal.
• Chen revealed that his white seal was a Roving Official Seal bestowed by the Eastern Underworld Lord, leaving Luo Dongyang and the others stunned.

Xu Yi entered the Eastern Judgment Prefecture and killed Su Che before battling Luo Dongyang and the others. Young Emissary Chen chose to stay and fight, but Xu Yi’s enhanced gunfire overwhelmed the protector and killed Chen.

• The Heavenly Supervisor divined that Xu Yi was inside the Eastern Judgment Prefecture, just as Xu Yi walked into the hall.
• Su Che attacked Xu Yi, who killed him immediately with a storm of Thunder Bullets.
• Luo Dongyang, Tong Kun, Yin Zhao, and the shadow protector fought back, but Xu Yi’s Maxim heavy machine gun held off Luo Dongyang’s Flame Giant.
• Yin Zhao urged Young Emissary Chen to stay and help defend the prefecture, and Chen ordered everyone to kill Xu Yi.
• Xu Yi wrapped a Body Dragon around the machine gun, blasted apart the shadow’s funnel, wounded the protector, and killed Young Emissary Chen.

After killing Young Emissary Chen, Xu Yi defeated the shadow, Luo Dongyang, Tong Kun, and Yin Zhao with his Thunder Monkey Dragon. He escaped the encircling armies by using a mysterious treasure to behead nearly ten thousand cultivators, then argued with Desolate Charm Old Ancestor over the corpse aura and his reward.

• After Young Emissary Chen died, the shadow attacked Xu Yi while Luo Dongyang sent the Flame Giant against him.
• Xu Yi summoned the Thunder Monkey Dragon, overwhelmed the shadow and Flame Giant, and killed the shadow, Luo Dongyang, Tong Kun, and Yin Zhao.
• As the armies closed in, Xu Yi used a clear-light treasure to behead nearly ten thousand cultivators and fled, causing the remaining armies to break apart.
• Desolate Charm Old Ancestor scolded Xu Yi for leaving behind the corpse aura, but Xu Yi refused to turn back because he feared the demon would become too powerful.
• Xu Yi offered Desolate Charm Old Ancestor three Immortal Spirit Beads, prompting him to complain that his efforts deserved more.

After escaping the Eastern Judgment Prefecture, Xu Yi rested on a sea island and learned that a rare Roving Official Seal could secure his future in the Underworld Court. A sudden cultivation phenomenon forced him to refine Incense Beads for three days and nights, with its outcome still unknown.

• Xu Yi fled more than ten thousand li to a sea island, where he rested while Huang Mei slept and absorbed Clear Light.
• Xu Yi explained that the treasure in his neck had fallen silent and that Incense Spirit Essence Beads could not reliably activate it.
• Huang Mei revealed that one of Xu Yi's Yin Official Seals was an unused Roving Official Seal belonging to Young Emissary Chen.
• Xu Yi recognized the seal's potential but said he was not ready to seek a post in the Underworld Court.
• Xu Yi was struck by the phenomenon he called "Unusual Phenomenon: Phoenixes Returning to the Palace," and Huang Mei urged him to temper his Immortal Body with Incense Beads.
• Xu Yi refined Incense Beads continuously for three days and nights as he sensed something inside him nearing emergence.

Xu Yi formed an Immortal Body and discovered three unusual phenomena, then followed Huang Mei’s advice to secure his Roving Official Seal and plan his cultivation. While studying the relationship between incense and faith, he received a request from Li Jinhuan to repay an old favor and agreed to meet him.

• Xu Yi’s ghost immortal breakthrough brought back Cloud Crane Pure Qi, a strange vortex, and the fisherman’s hair, which he tested but stored away as too dangerous to use.
• Huang Mei advised Xu Yi to refine his Roving Official Seal, replenish his Incense Beads, and gather Star Spirit Essence and high-grade Incense Beads for his next breakthrough.
• Xu Yi transformed into the Crimson Flame Thunder Monkey and refined the Roving Official Seal, but its markings could not accept his last ten or so Incense Spirit Essence Beads.
• Xu Yi stayed on the island to settle his unsettled immortal heart, and Huang Mei gave him The Way of Incense and Becoming a God to read.
• Li Jinhuan contacted Xu Yi and asked him to repay an old favor; despite Huang Mei’s warning that it might be a trap, Xu Yi agreed to go.

Xu Yi agreed to help Li Jinhuan negotiate with the Old Yellow Dragon Demons of Yueshi Ridge, who had demanded a fifty-percent increase in their annual Incense Beads. After learning that the Eastern Underworld Prefecture had blamed the catastrophe on a fabricated Old Demon Kongxu, Xu Yi arrived at Yueshi Ridge with Li Jinhuan for a banquet.

• Li Jinhuan told Master Wu he hoped Xu Yi could resolve the dispute with the Old Yellow Dragon Demons, and Xu Yi arrived in disguise at Jingchen Hall.
• Li Jinhuan explained that the demons had raised their tribute demand while the higher-ups were distracted by the catastrophe in Eastern Judgment Prefecture.
• Master Wu said the authorities had attributed the catastrophe to Old Demon Kongxu, and Xu Yi realized they had used one of his old demonic names to conceal his role.
• Xu Yi agreed to accompany Li Jinhuan to Yueshi Ridge, and Li Jinhuan arranged a banquet with the Old Yellow Dragon Demon for the following day.
• Xu Yi and Li Jinhuan arrived at the demons’ grand mountain compound, where a supernatural power formed a bluestone path before them.

Xu Yi accompanied Li Jinhuan to negotiate with Old Yellow Dragon Demon, who used a gathering of demons to intimidate them. The negotiations were interrupted when Old Yellow Dragon announced that Old Demon Kongxu was arriving, and Xu Yi was left facing the approach of his own feared identity.

• Xu Yi forced his way past the guards with Li Jinhuan and entered Sacred Treasure Hall, where Old Yellow Dragon Demon’s guests accused them of causing trouble.
• Old Yellow Dragon threatened to keep Xu Yi as a hostage if Li Jinhuan continued demanding a reduction in tribute, and Xu Yi told Li Jinhuan to agree.
• A messenger announced that Old Demon Kongxu had been invited and was already on his way, startling Xu Yi.
• Old Yellow Dragon led the assembled demons outside to welcome Old Demon Kongxu, who appeared on the northern horizon with Huang Quan following behind.

Old Demon Kongxu arrived at Huang Long’s gathering, where Huang Long used his reputation to intimidate Li Jinhuan and Xu Yi. Xu Yi cast doubt on the scholar’s identity, and the chapter ended with the assembled demons questioning whether he was truly Kongxu.

• Old Demon Kongxu arrived and Huang Long introduced him to the gathered demons, including Li Jinhuan and Xu Yi.
• Huang Long pressured Li Jinhuan to increase his tribute by two tenths, and Li Jinhuan left Xu Yi behind while promising to send it.
• Xu Yi accused Huang Long of using Kongxu’s name to threaten others, prompting Huang Long to offer Kongxu thirty Incense Beads as an apology.
• Xu Yi pretended to receive a report that Kongxu was fighting elsewhere, making the crowd suspect the scholar in blue robes was an impostor.
• Huang Long questioned Huang Quan about how he had confirmed the scholar’s identity, and Huang Quan said the man had claimed to be Kongxu.

Xu Yi exposed and killed an impostor posing as Old Demon Kongxu, then revealed himself as the real Kongxu and forced the assembled demon lords to surrender their resources. He ended by demanding that they swear an oath to maintain their connection, leaving their fate in his hands.

• The scholar in green robes attacked Xu Yi with thunder, but Xu Yi killed him and collected his resources.
• Zhao Chusheng recognized Xu Yi as Old Ancestor Yiling, the real Old Demon Kongxu, and explained how he knew him.
• Huanglong and the assembled cultivators apologized and bowed to Xu Yi after realizing his identity.
• Xu Yi demanded the demon lords hand over their Starry Sky Rings, and Huanglong surrendered his rings.
• Two cultivators attacked as Huanglong tossed over the rings, but Xu Yi cut them down with his Maxim heavy machine gun and took the group's resources.
• Xu Yi returned the emptied rings and demanded that the demon lords swear an oath to keep their bond alive.

Xu Yi left Huang Longdao to make amends with Li Jinhuan, then continued his journey into the mortal world to temper his incomplete state of mind. Aboard a boat bound for Tokyo City, he spoke with Master Cen, whose company and learning impressed him.

• Xu Yi ordered Huang Longdao to go to Jiangbei Earth God Palace and then departed.
• Li Jinhuan refused Master Wu's advice to abandon Xu Yi, fearing the consequences of betraying him.
• Huang Longdao apologized to Li Jinhuan, promised to move away, and revealed that Xu Yi had already left.
• Xu Yi explained that his unease after becoming a ghost immortal came from an incomplete state of mind that could not be remedied by simply traveling through nature.
• Xu Yi traveled among ordinary people and boarded a boat to Tokyo City with Master Cen, who admired Xu Yi's vast knowledge.

Xu Yi arrived at Tokyo City after bidding farewell to Master Cen, then struggled to survive after choosing to live as an ordinary man. He found work hauling goods at the Sanggan River, but ended the day hungry and dreaming of meat buns.

• Xu Yi and Master Cen parted at Huaiyang Ferry, and Xu Yi sang a farewell poem that moved Master Cen.
• Xu Yi waited outside Tokyo City's closed gates, bought baked cakes, and accepted free spicy pepper soup from an old vendor.
• Xu Yi helped the old vendor bring his cart into the city and set up his stall before leaving to seek work.
• Local thugs repeatedly smashed Xu Yi's writing stall, and he spent nearly all his remaining money on food.
• Xu Yi found work hauling goods by the Sanggan River, earned twenty copper coins after the foreman took part of his pay, and bought seven meat buns.
• Still hungry after eating, Xu Yi drank river water and fell asleep beneath the southern wall, dreaming of enormous meat buns.

Xu Yi found comfort in his modest life among ordinary people, and a moment of inner change began to open his heart. He joined the crowd beneath the old locust tree to hear stories, where Mr. Jiang paid local people to share tales.

• Xu Yi earned a living as a tally-stick clerk and then an accountant, while his calligraphy and poetry earned him a growing reputation among local families and scholars.
• Xu Yi declined Teacher Jiang’s offers to introduce him to other scholars and spent his evenings enjoying wine and neighborhood life.
• Xu Yi felt something crack open in his heart as he reflected that he cultivated the Dao because he cherished the mortal world.
• Xu Yi went to Shortcoat Alley and joined the crowd gathered beneath the old locust tree at Mr. Jiang’s storytelling stall.
• Mr. Jiang stopped Mr. Cui from performing the familiar piece Gan Ye Temple, but Mr. Cui stayed to share his sad life story before the crowd escorted him down.
• A graying man told a story about a hunter that encouraged wicked people to turn toward goodness, and Mr. Jiang rewarded him with three large coins.

An old man told Mr. Jiang the tragic true story of Liu Sheng, Zhang Sheng, and the demon Xiu Niang, leaving Xu Yi and the crowd moved. Before Liu Sheng could reveal Zhang Sheng’s identity, a powerful black-robed man arrived and drove everyone away, leaving only Mr. Jiang, Liu Sheng, and Xu Yi.

• An elderly man asked Mr. Jiang to record his story, and Mr. Jiang agreed to consider it if it proved worthwhile.
• The old man recounted how Zhang Sheng and Liu Sheng saved a rabbit that later became Xiu Niang, and how Zhang Sheng married her while Liu Sheng hid his feelings.
• The old man told how Zhang Sheng and Xiu Niang eventually separated, Zhang Sheng prospered with a new family, and Xiu Niang grew old and frail.
• Mr. Jiang asked whether the tale had happened in Tokyo City, and the old man revealed that he was Liu Sheng.
• A black-robed middle-aged man on a red divine steed interrupted Liu Sheng and ordered the crowd to leave, leaving Mr. Jiang, Liu Sheng, and Xu Yi behind.

Xu Yi was summoned to the Zhang household to write a document for Zhang Zhongxing’s family as the old man lay gravely ill. Liu Sheng arrived and confronted Madam Zhang, but Zhang Zhongxing’s faint voice called for his old friend Yukun.

• Zhang Sheng’s son found Xu Yi and brought him to the Zhang household, where Madam Zhang offered him ten taels of gold to write a document.
• Liu Sheng argued with Zhang Sheng’s son and hurried to the household after hearing that Zhang Zhongxing was near death.
• Madam Zhang ordered Zhang Sheng’s Old Six to slap himself for threatening Liu Sheng, then received Liu Sheng with the family.
• Liu Sheng berated Madam Zhang and demanded to know whether Zhang Zhongxing was dead.
• Zhang Zhongxing coughed behind the bed curtains and faintly asked whether Brother Yukun had arrived.