Recaps

Xu Yi visited Old Cangtou, who revealed that Dark Mountain was in the Imperial Tomb and explained the advantages of Soul Sensing Ancestors. After parting from the old man, Xu Yi headed north toward Marquis Anqing’s estate.

• Old Cangtou identified Xu Yi as the nameless stranger from the Void Divine Palace battle and told him Dark Mountain was in the Imperial Tomb.
• Xu Yi accepted that seeking Dark Mountain would bring him into conflict with Ji Jiu and said he would not hold back if they met.
• Old Cangtou explained that Soul Sensing Ancestors surpassed peak Liquid Condensation cultivators in physical defense, speed, power, experience, and resources.
• Xu Yi asked about magical artifacts, and Old Cangtou said he knew little about them and believed they required looking beyond this world.
• Xu Yi thanked Old Cangtou, told him Marquis Anqing was an old friend, and then left the Imperial Library for the Marquis’s estate.

Xu Yi used the soldiers Marquis Anqing had gathered to flood his body with True Qi and crack the Vengeful Embryo further. As the western and northern ranks joined the effort, his meridians swelled grotesquely, and the attempt reached its most dangerous point.

• Xu Yi arrived at Marquis Anqing's residence and learned that the marquis had prepared a training structure and a thousand Black Tiger Army reservists for him.
• Xu Yi explained that he intended to break open the Vengeful Embryo by absorbing the soldiers' True Qi.
• Xu Yi ordered the eastern ranks to send him their True Qi, and he drew the streams into his Qi Sea.
• Xu Yi called on the southern ranks, replenishing the flow and making the Vengeful Embryo spin faster as its cracks spread.
• Xu Yi ordered the western and northern ranks to release their True Qi together, and his meridians swelled beneath his skin.

Xu Yi broke apart his Vengeful Embryo, reached the peak of Liquid Condensation, and fully merged with his body before leaving Marquis Anqing's residence. He wandered through the snowy Imperial City and encountered a procession led by a blue-robed official.

• Xu Yi liquefied the Gang Malice of Fire, reached the peak of Liquid Condensation, and completed his union with the body's Seven Souls.
• Xu Yi tested his strengthened Demonic Ox Great Strength Fist and formed a powerful red spear from his Gang Malice.
• Xu Yi gave the Head Butler a hundred-thousand-gold note to distribute among the exhausted soldiers, then left Marquis Anqing's residence.
• Xu Yi walked through the snow-covered city, bought spicy braised dishes at Cai Lin Ji, and ate as he wandered.
• A petty official rang a gong to clear the street for a blue-robed official riding a tall horse.

Xu Yi rescued Xiong Kui and his fellow disciples from arrest by invoking the Third Prince’s authority. He learned that Xia Zimo had disappeared a month earlier and was spotted in the Heavenly Buddha Kingdom’s tribute delegation, giving him a new lead on her whereabouts.

• Xu Yi recognized Xiong Kui and four fellow disciples being arrested for allegedly spying on the Imperial Palace and broke their chains.
• Xu Yi used the Third Prince’s golden token to stop the soldiers and take Xiong Kui and the others away.
• Xiong Kui asked Xu Yi for help and explained that Xia Zimo had left a letter and disappeared about a month earlier.
• Xiong Kui revealed that his third brother had spotted Xia Zimo in a flower carriage in the Heavenly Buddha Kingdom’s tribute delegation three days earlier.
• Xu Yi was shocked to learn where Xia Zimo might be after his search and the Auspicious Duck’s continued unconsciousness had brought him no answers.

Xu Yi learned that Xia Zimo was traveling with a Buddhist tribute delegation and promised to help Xiong Kui and his brothers. He left them safely at Marquis Anqing’s residence and went to Buzi Hutong to seek the Third Prince’s help.

• The Lion-faced Man used an Imprint Pearl to show Xu Yi an image of Xia Zimo riding in the Heavenly Buddha Kingdom’s tribute procession.
• Xiong Kui explained that he and the others had been arrested while searching for Xia Zimo, who was traveling with Zen Master Jiuru of Tianchan Temple.
• Xu Yi assured the brothers he would clear their records and investigate Xia Zimo’s situation, then shared a meal with them.
• Xu Yi took Xiong Kui and the others to Marquis Anqing’s residence, where the Head Butler agreed to shelter them.
• Xu Yi traveled to Buzi Hutong and went to the Third Prince’s mansion, intending to rely on him for help.

Xu Yi visited the Third Prince’s Mansion, where the Third Prince welcomed him with an elaborate trap and a group of powerful fighters. Xu Yi was bound by the Heavenly Net and Earthly Snare as the Third Prince threatened him and a masked man offered to perform Soul Extraction and Spirit Refining.

• Xu Yi found the Life-Death Gu mark and entered the Third Prince’s Mansion after identifying himself as an old acquaintance from Monster Hunting Valley.
• The Third Prince ordered his servants to welcome Xu Yi with a lavish ceremony, and the two men met in the main hall.
• The Third Prince sprang back and triggered iron chains and a silver net that trapped Xu Yi.
• More than a dozen powerful fighters entered the hall as the Third Prince taunted his captive.
• A masked man urged the Third Prince to let him take Xu Yi for Soul Extraction and Spirit Refining.

Xu Yi escaped the Third Prince’s elaborate ambush and crushed the assembled fighters with his Gang Malice of Fire. He captured the Third Prince alive and began punishing him for his crimes.

• The Third Prince ordered Master Ku to seal Xu Yi’s Niwan Palace, but Xu Yi’s spiritual power destroyed the cloth doll and injured Master Ku.
• The Third Prince charged at Xu Yi, who shattered his chains and silver net with Gang Malice of Fire.
• Xu Yi killed the thirteen gathered fighters with a single attack, sweeping away the Third Prince’s ambush.
• Xu Yi seized the Third Prince and crushed his ankle, making him wake and beg for mercy.

Xu Yi forced the Third Prince to arrange his entry into the Office of Foreign Affairs, then searched the Heavenly Buddha Kingdom embassy for Xia Zimo. He found her in the western wing, where an unexpected cloud-qi attack struck him as he entered the courtyard.

• Xu Yi threatened the Third Prince into sending an attendant to guide him to the Office of Foreign Affairs.
• After Xu Yi left, the Third Prince endured repeated agony as supreme-grade pills repaired his damaged meridians, and he resolved to obey Xu Yi.
• The Third Prince's attendant used the prince's gold token and status to get Xu Yi through the Office of Foreign Affairs and to the Heavenly Buddha Kingdom embassy.
• Xu Yi spread his perception through the embassy and recognized Xia Zimo's familiar aura in the western wing's third room.
• Xu Yi leaped onto the rooftop, took a powerful blow of cloud qi, and drifted into the courtyard.

Xu Yi confronted Jiuru over Xia Zimo, then offered to return the Yin Extremity Bead to honor Liao Chen’s final wish. Beichen attacked Xu Yi over the bead, but Xu Yi effortlessly deflected his Great Hand Seal and asked Jiuru whether he considered the bead evil.

• Xu Yi visited Jiuru and showed him Xia Zimo’s image, but Jiuru claimed she was his second disciple and refused to let Xu Yi meet her.
• Xu Yi revealed his connection to Liao Chen and offered to help Jiuru with his dealings at court.
• Beichen burst in, insulted Liao Chen, and demanded that Xu Yi accept punishment.
• Xu Yi said Liao Chen had died and offered Jiuru the Yin Extremity Bead as Liao Chen’s last wish.
• Beichen seized the bead and attacked Xu Yi, who used Stars Shift and Heavens Turn to make the Great Hand Seal vanish.
• Xu Yi ignored Beichen’s shock and asked Jiuru whether he also considered the bead evil.

Xu Yi confronted Jiuru and Beichen over their attempt to keep the Yin Extremity Bead, then threw the bead into Jade Dai Lake and fought them when they attacked. After Xu Yi badly injured Beichen, a woman from the western wing took a blow meant for him and pleaded with Xu Yi not to hurt her Brother Chen.

• Jiuru called the Yin Extremity Bead an evil object that should be suppressed, and Xu Yi seized it from Beichen and threw it into Jade Dai Lake.
• Xu Yi revealed his Deputy Hundred Households ring and warned Jiuru to stop, but then rushed toward the western wing.
• Jiuru and Beichen trapped Xu Yi with the Demon Subduing Kasaya and staff, but Xu Yi cut the kasaya with the Fierce Rhinoceros horn.
• Xu Yi took Beichen's staff, struck him into the bricks, and twisted the staff into a ball before hurling it at him.
• A woman in white jumped in front of Beichen, was hit by the silver ball, and begged Xu Yi not to hurt her Brother Chen.

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.