Chapter Summaries

Xu Yi recognized the woman in white as Xia Zimo, but she believed she was Guanyin Bi from Tianchan Temple and had no memory of him. When she opened a booklet from her old Sumeru Ring, its words caused her head to hurt.

• Xia Zimo shielded Beichen from the silver orb, and Jiuru struck Xu Yi while he was distracted.
• Xu Yi healed Xia Zimo and confronted Jiuru, who stopped attacking after sensing Xu Yi's killing intent.
• Xia Zimo defended Beichen and warned Xu Yi that her master Jiuru would capture him.
• Xu Yi remembered his past with Xia Zimo and realized that, despite her changed memories, she was the same person.
• Xu Yi gave Xia Zimo her old Sumeru Ring, and she found a flying shuttle and booklet inside.
• Xia Zimo read the booklet's opening words about love and suddenly complained that her head hurt.

Xu Yi found Xia Zimo under Jiuru’s control but withdrew when Jiuru claimed she needed Buddhist secret arts to survive. Jiuru revealed that he had implanted false memories in her and ordered Beichen to keep his distance from her.

• The woman in white returned to Liao Chen’s room, while Xu Yi confronted Jiuru about his lies and threatened him if Xia Zimo was harmed.
• Jiuru claimed his sect’s secret arts were keeping Xia Zimo alive, so Xu Yi left the Office of Foreign Affairs and asked the Third Prince’s servant to clear Xiong Kui and the others’ charges.
• Beichen demanded the Sumeru Ring, notebook, and silver shuttle from Xia Zimo, but Jiuru ordered him to return them and summoned him outside.
• Jiuru rebuked Beichen for being unable to distinguish truth from illusion and explained that he had used the Illusory Mirage Pearl to implant fabricated memories in Xia Zimo.
• Jiuru recognized Xu Yi as a threat to his plans and ordered Beichen to keep his distance from Xia Zimo.

Jiuru received a mysterious visitor who left him a green bead, while Xu Yi went to Jade Dai Lake and witnessed a monstrous event. A red archway formed above the lake, and Xu Yi recognized the crimson bead at its center.

• Jiuru ordered Beichen to search southeast for the Yin Extremity Bead and avoid disturbing the woman who was rejecting the Illusory Mirage Pearl.
• Jiuru admitted that Xu Yi's abilities and rank troubled him, then agreed to meet a visitor who claimed he could cure Jiuru's heart's affliction.
• The white-robed young man dropped a green bead for Jiuru and left, causing Jiuru to laugh as chilly yin energy filled the air.
• Xu Yi reached Jade Dai Lake, regained his confidence, and ate thirteen pots of Three Emperors Pot.
• The lake churned without wind as fish and shrimp rushed into blood-red water and were consumed.
• A crimson archway rose above the lake with a bead at its center, and Xu Yi stared at it in shock.

Xu Yi watched the Yin Extremity Bead transform into Yin Dragon Marrow and draw cultivators and lake creatures into a deadly struggle. When the bead flew to shore, he seized it, drove it into a red carp’s mouth, and left the pursuers chasing the fish into the depths while Beichen fled.

• The old Daoist in hemp clothes identified the blood-red bead as Yin Dragon Marrow, and Xu Yi realized the Yin Extremity Bead had broken through its seal after absorbing the lake creatures’ bloodlines.
• Cultivators and lake creatures swarmed the bead, fighting violently as Xu Yi chose not to reclaim it until Beichen appeared and stirred his anger.
• When the bead reached shore, Xu Yi caught it, blasted the old Daoist in hemp clothes and Shanshan Buddha with Heavenly Thunder Pearls, and confronted Beichen.
• Xu Yi guided the bead into a Little Red Carp, which escaped a larger fish and plunged toward the lakebed as the cultivators pursued it.
• Beichen recognized Xu Yi but feared his strength and fled.

Xu Yi escaped the pearl hunters, collected the red carp’s gift, and returned to Marquis Anqing’s estate. At the lake, an effeminate young man incapacitated Beichen and left him changed before vanishing into the night.

• Xu Yi evaded his pursuers with a towering curtain of water, and the red carp thanked him and offered him thousands of pearls, which he collected before heading to Marquis Anqing’s estate.
• Beichen brooded over his repeated defeat by Xu Yi and began considering taking revenge on a woman close to him.
• An effeminate young man at a lakeside tavern guessed that Beichen was troubled by someone dressed in green and invited him to drink.
• The young man seized Beichen’s hand, sent a bone-chilling force through him, and caused green light to rise in his eyes before Beichen left without a word.
• The young man vanished into the night, and a waiter’s hand began to rot after he touched Beichen’s cup.
• Xu Yi arrived at Marquis Anqing’s banquet, where Xiong Kui and the others welcomed him with concern.

Xu Yi reassured Xiong Kui and the others that he would work with Marquis Anqing and the Third Prince to secure his younger sister from Zen Master Jiuru without worsening her condition. He then received the auction proceeds from Marquis Anqing, including more than 3,200 Precious Medicines and two Leaking Pills.

• Xu Yi told Xiong Kui and the others that their younger sister had lost her memory and that he would seek help from Marquis Anqing and the Third Prince to persuade Zen Master Jiuru to let her go.
• Xiong Kui agreed not to take his younger sister by force, and Xu Yi left to meet Marquis Anqing.
• Marquis Anqing praised Xu Yi for helping Xiong Kui and the others, then gave him a Sumeru Ring containing more than 3,200 Precious Medicines from the auction.
• Marquis Anqing gave Xu Yi a second Sumeru Ring containing two Leaking Pills, which pleased Xu Yi.

Xu Yi accepted Marquis Anqing’s gifts and agreed to accompany the Gao Family’s young talent in search of the Hidden Mountain. After Xu Yi returned the Boundary Plaque and departed, Marquis Anqing learned that Third Young Master had arrived.

• Marquis Anqing gave Xu Yi a Sumeru Ring filled with pills and Heavenly Thunder Pearls, and Xu Yi accepted the gifts with gratitude.
• Marquis Anqing asked Xu Yi to take his nephew along to find the Hidden Mountain, and Xu Yi agreed while warning that the journey could end in death.
• Xu Yi returned the Boundary Plaque to Marquis Anqing, who wept as he held the object his family had pursued for seven generations.
• Marquis Anqing showed Xu Yi a ledger of the gold transactions, and Xu Yi destroyed it before the two shared tea and parted.
• After Xu Yi left, Marquis Anqing heard that Third Young Master had arrived and ordered the young man brought to him.

Gao Zuyuan revealed himself as an impostor and seized the Boundary Tablet from Marquis Anqing, while Xu Yi returned to Green Flat and inventoried his resources before preparing for a dangerous journey. The chapter left Xu Yi reconsidering how the Boundary Tablet had passed through the Fierce Rhinoceros's possession and helped him survive the Yin Tribulation.

• Marquis Anqing punished Gao Zuyuan for losing faith in the Seven Generations' Plan, then revealed that he had obtained the Boundary Tablet.
• The impostor posing as Gao Zuyuan took the Boundary Tablet and seized Marquis Anqing by the throat, then forced down his mind and ordered the Head Butler to take him away.
• Xu Yi returned to Green Flat and told Yan Zi to enjoy the snow, giving her Sumeru Rings from the Third Prince's Mansion.
• Yan Zi dwelled on Xu Yi's remark about her clothes while he went to the alchemy room and inventoried his supplies for the coming search of Dark Mountain and journey through the Imperial Tomb.
• Xu Yi reviewed how Zhou Daogan's Blue Extreme Shield had come into his hands and inferred that the Fierce Rhinoceros had risked entering the Yin Tribulation to retrieve the Boundary Tablet.

Xu Yi studied how to enter the Soul Sensing Realm and recognized his advantages, but postponed the breakthrough to focus on breaking the bald monk’s curse and finding the Dark Mountain. He then visited the still-sleeping Auspicious Duck and shocked Yan Zi by suggesting they sell it to Marquis Gao.

• Xu Yi read several notebooks and learned that opening the Dragon Gate required washing the Qi Sea with killing intent while guiding the Yin Soul to strike the spiritual platform.
• Xu Yi realized his immense Qi Sea and powerful Yin Soul gave him an advantage in reaching the Soul Sensing Realm, but he decided he had no time to pursue the breakthrough yet.
• Xu Yi considered the difficulties of refining the Soul-Summoning Banner and comprehending the sorrow state of mind, then calmed himself with the Still Water Art and positive thinking.
• Xu Yi went to the cultivation room, where Yan Zi tended the unconscious Auspicious Duck in a basin of medicinal liquid and worried that it had not awakened.
• Xu Yi suggested that Yan Zi notify Marquis Gao and sell him the Auspicious Duck, leaving Yan Zi staring at him in disbelief.

Xu Yi discovered that Auspicious Duck had been pretending to be unconscious, then returned to refining blood artifacts. Meanwhile, Ancestor Yuan prepared to break the Imperial Tomb’s formation and revealed that he was the Ghost Master, who had made a breakthrough and become interested in the Boundary Tablet.

• Auspicious Duck woke up, cursed Xu Yi for betraying it, and argued with Yan Zi after she accused it of faking its illness.
• Xu Yi left Auspicious Duck and resumed refining blood artifacts to prepare for forging the Soul-Summoning Banner.
• Li Xiuluo reported to Ancestor Yuan that the formation around the Imperial Tomb was ready for an attempt to break it during the Double Ninth Festival.
• Ancestor Yuan revealed that he had only begun to control small creatures through the External Manifestation Divine Method and warned that Xu Yi could obstruct his plans.
• The chapter revealed that Ancestor Yuan was the Ghost Master, who had escaped Xu Yi’s trap, advanced his cultivation, and turned his attention toward finding the Boundary Tablet.

Ghost Master recounted how he used his incarnations and careful planning to obtain the Boundary Tablet and prepare a trap for Xu Yi. After Li Xiuluo reported that the Thousand Machine Formation was ready, Ghost Master ordered him to capture one of Xu Yi’s maids, leaving Li Xiuluo alarmed and questioning the purpose.

• Ghost Master traced Xu Yi’s connections, possessed Ancestor Yuan, and learned of the Gao Family’s Seven Generations’ Plan.
• Ghost Master took the Boundary Tablet from Marquis Anqing, then seized control of Marquis Anqing’s body and made eliminating Xu Yi his priority.
• Ghost Master exploited Jiuru’s conflict with Xu Yi and used Ancestor Yuan’s guise to investigate and intercept Beichen by the Yudai River.
• Li Xiuluo reported that the Thousand Machine Formation had been set up, and Ancestor Yuan rewarded him with thirteen Yin Pills.
• Ancestor Yuan showed Li Xiuluo an image of Xu Yi’s maid on Futuo Mountain and ordered him to capture her; Li Xiuluo recognized her and questioned why she was needed.

Ancestor Yuan ordered Li Xiuluo to keep Xu Yi’s maid as a trump card, while the Ghost Master, disguised as Beichen, maneuvered Jiuru toward a confrontation with Xu Yi at the Qionglin Banquet. The chapter ended with the Ghost Master realizing that Guanyin Bi had entered the palace and reacting to the news that Xia Zimo was there.

• Ancestor Yuan rejected Li Xiuluo’s suggestion to use the captured woman to replenish his strength and ordered him to preserve her as leverage against Xu Yi.
• Ancestor Yuan confronted Li Xiuluo about his connection to Xu Yi, then sent him off with the Green-eyed Toad to handle the woman.
• Beichen told Jiuru that Xu Yi had stolen the Yin Dragon Marrow and revealed Xu Yi’s official identity and ties to Marquis Anqing.
• Beichen proposed using the upcoming Qionglin Banquet to provoke Xu Yi into a capital offense, and Jiuru ordered his disciples to study the audience protocol.
• Jiuru said Guanyin Bi had entered the palace, and the Ghost Master recognized that Xia Zimo was there from Beichen’s memories.

Beichen raged after Jiuru sent Guanyin Bi to the Department of Propaganda and Education, while Ji Lie emerged from a disastrous refining session in the Ice Soul Palace. Ji Lie refused his mother’s offer of palace attendants, but wondered whether a new woman had made Consort Ciyi feel threatened.

• Jiuru implanted a tragic memory in Xia Zimo and gave her an object before the Department of Propaganda and Education escorted her away.
• Beichen blamed Jiuru for ruining his chance to capture Xia Zimo and lamented that he could not reach her inside the palace.
• Eunuch Feng entered the Ice Soul Palace despite warnings that Ji Lie was in seclusion, then approached the Phoenix Stone barrier around the refining chamber.
• The barrier collapsed, and Eunuch Feng was pierced by flying debris as Ji Lie emerged from the chamber amid death qi; the master refiners inside had died.
• Eunuch Feng relayed Consort Ciyi’s offer of serving girls, but Ji Lie refused and asked whether an exceptional woman had appeared.

Ji Lie became captivated by Xia Zimo’s beauty after seeing her image, while Xu Yi decided to remove her from the Heavenly Buddha Kingdom’s lodging and sought help from Marquis Anqing. The Marquis was away, but a messenger arrived with a letter from Old Cangtou for Xu Yi.

• Eunuch Feng showed Ji Lie an image of Xia Zimo, and Ji Lie was stunned by her beauty and asked where she was.
• Xu Yi decided Xia Zimo could not remain at the Office of Foreign Affairs and planned to seek Marquis Anqing’s help before consulting Old Cangtou or the Ghost Master.
• Xu Yi left Futuo Mountain and went to Marquis Anqing’s residence, where the Head Butler told him the Marquis had gone to the palace for the Imperial Birthday Ceremony.
• A burly messenger arrived with a letter from Old Cangtou for Xu Yi and demanded the promised thousand gold pieces.

Xu Yi received a red box sent by Old Cangtou and grew suspicious that Marquis Anqing had turned against him. After overhearing the Marquis order the Head Butler to intercept Xu Yi’s message, Xu Yi mistook the Ghost Master’s explanation about their alliance for proof that the Marquis had abandoned him.

• Xu Yi recalled Old Cangtou asking whom he had borrowed a book-viewing token for and accepted a red box from a messenger in exchange for a thousand gold.
• Xu Yi heard Old Cangtou mutter that it was not his fault, then learned the Marquis had summoned the Head Butler.
• Xu Yi returned to the residence and overheard the Head Butler admit that he had been told to intercept a letter meant for Xu Yi.
• The Head Butler said the letter had come from Old Cangtou at the Imperial Library, and Marquis Anqing regretted missing a chance to learn about Xu Yi’s cultivation.
• Marquis Anqing told the Head Butler that his alliance with Xu Yi depended on shared interests and that he might abandon Xu Yi for a better deal, while Xu Yi overheard and believed the explanation.

Xu Yi grew suspicious of Marquis Anqing and hurriedly sent Xiong Kui and his companions away, while Li Xiuluo arrived at Xu Yi’s cave and attacked Yan Zi under orders from the voice in his sleeve. Xu Yi remained focused on protecting Xia Zimo, and the intruders departed without searching the cave.

• Xu Yi returned to Marquis Anqing’s estate, claimed Xiong Kui’s trouble had been settled, and left with the Xiong brothers’ group to keep them out of a suspected trap.
• Marquis Anqing concluded that Xu Yi had not uncovered his plans and ordered the Head Butler to send Xiong Kui and his companions away.
• Li Xiuluo arrived at Xu Yi’s cave, and Yan Zi opened the formation after recognizing him as someone Xu Yi trusted.
• Li Xiuluo struck Yan Zi unconscious, but the voice in his sleeve told him not to inspect the cave and they prepared to leave.
• Xu Yi set aside his suspicions about Marquis Anqing and decided to focus on Xia Zimo’s safety, considering the Third Prince a stronger alternative.

Xu Yi discovered Old Cangtou’s final gifts and learned of his imperial lineage and desire for revenge against Ji Lie. He then tried to reach Guanyin Bi, but found she had been taken into the palace and had to wait for the Qionglin Banquet to see her.

• Xu Yi opened Old Cangtou’s box and found a jade token marked with a drop of red and a booklet detailing how to refine the Soul-Summoning Banner.
• Xu Yi read Old Cangtou’s final letter and learned that Old Cangtou was a survivor of the Great Yue imperial bloodline, seeking revenge for his murdered family, and had given Xu Yi a token that could help him enter the Imperial Tomb.
• Xu Yi realized Old Cangtou was dead and worried that he could no longer ask how to break the spell tormenting Xia Zimo, so he decided to rescue her first.
• Xu Yi went to the Third Prince’s Mansion and asked for help reaching Guanyin Bi, but learned that the Department of Propaganda and Education had already taken her into the palace.
• The Third Prince’s aide told Xu Yi that Guanyin Bi and the other candidates would perform at the Qionglin Banquet the next day, so Xu Yi gave up on storming the Imperial City.

Xu Yi returned to Futuo Mountain and discovered that Yan Zi had vanished after a bloody attack, while Auspicious Duck revealed he had foreseen the calamity. Xu Yi found a hidden warning identifying the Ghost Master as the culprit and realized Li Xiuluo had left it for him.

• Xu Yi visited Zimo Xuan but decided not to tell Yuan Qinghua about the danger awaiting him.
• Xu Yi returned to Futuo Mountain and found blood at Yan Zi's cave, but Yan Zi was gone.
• Xu Yi reviewed the travel office's Imprint Pearl and saw an unfamiliar visitor with a lion's nose and ringed eyes.
• Auspicious Duck said he had predicted the calamity and that Yan Zi had refused his offer to help her escape.
• Xu Yi found the character "Ghost" hidden on the wall and concluded that Li Xiuluo had left the warning about the Ghost Master.

Xu Yi prepared to rescue Xia Zimo and Yan Zi, then studied Old Cangtou’s Soul Splitting Art to strengthen himself before the crisis ahead. He successfully fused a wisp of his Yin Soul with his bloodline, gaining extraordinary control and sharper vision.

• Xu Yi calmed himself and decided to enter the palace the next day to assess Xia Zimo’s situation, while postponing his concern over Yan Zi and Marquis Anqing.
• Xu Yi concluded that he needed to strengthen himself and studied Old Cangtou’s Soul Splitting Art for nearly three hours.
• Xu Yi recited the art and split a wisp of his Yin Soul, enduring intense pain as it entered his bloodline.
• Xu Yi guided the warm current through his meridians and discovered that it let him control the Yin Soul without further pain.
• Xu Yi sent the warm current into his eyes and gained vision sharp enough to see people’s faces from more than eight hundred zhang away.

Xu Yi tested the Soul Splitting Art’s enhanced hearing before Lu Shanren summoned him to attend the Emperor’s birthday and imperial examinations at the palace. He prepared a plan for the coming crisis, then placated the Auspicious Duck with Precious Medicines.

• Xu Yi used the Soul Splitting Art to extend his hearing, then sent the warm current into his dantian and felt exhausted.
• Lu Shanren visited Green Flat and asked whether Xu Yi still considered him his Senior Brother before delivering the order for Xu Yi to attend the palace the next morning.
• Xu Yi agreed to meet Lu Shanren outside East Origin Gate before the mao hour, but declined to travel with him.
• Xu Yi visited the Third Prince’s Mansion and forced its people to hand over a booklet, then spent hours preparing a plan and burned his notes.
• Xu Yi offered the hungry Auspicious Duck several Precious Medicines, calming its anger.