Chapter Summaries

After Old Zhang was killed, Lei Dong helped Captain Qian track the surviving enemies underwater and won the team’s trust by submitting his share of the spoils. The team debated becoming an elite squad, and Lei Dong proposed that Captain Qian become their first Golden Core cultivator.

• The two surviving enemy cultivators killed Old Zhang, then escaped by diving underwater as Lei Dong and Captain Qian’s team pursued them.
• Lei Dong stopped Captain Qian from diving after them and suggested using Original Form Revealed to track their position; Captain Qian found them descending two hundred zhang below the surface.
• The team waited above the water while Lei Dong handed Captain Qian all his spoils, earning his trust and prompting Qing Niangzi and the Zhao-surnamed cultivator to submit theirs as well.
• Lei Dong asked Captain Qian to send Old Zhang’s belongings and share of the voyage’s profits to his family, and Captain Qian vowed to honor the request.
• Qing Niangzi proposed turning the team into an elite squad by investing in Top Grade Spirit Items, while Captain Qian suggested Lei Dong take over as captain.
• Lei Dong declined the captaincy and proposed that Captain Qian remain leader and be the first among them to advance to Golden Core.

Lei Dong proposed helping Captain Qian gather the resources needed to reach the Golden Core realm with an Ascension Pill. The team pledged funds toward the attempt, and Lei Dong offered five million Spirit Stones, bringing their planned total to eighteen million.

• Lei Dong explained that an Ascension Pill and rare treasures could raise Captain Qian’s chance of reaching Golden Core to around sixty percent.
• Captain Qian revealed that an Ascension Pill had recently sold for sixteen million Spirit Stones, far beyond what he could save alone.
• Lei Dong suggested that Qing Niangzi and the others lend Captain Qian money in exchange for repayment with interest and his continued service on the team.
• Qing Niangzi pledged three million Spirit Stones, while Old Zhao offered a little over two million and Shangguan offered three million.
• Lei Dong counted Captain Qian’s own funds and Old Zhang’s belongings toward the goal, then pledged five million Spirit Stones, bringing the total to eighteen million.

Lei Dong and his companions invested their spoils in Captain Qian’s attempt to break through to the Golden Core, while arranging safeguards and gathering the necessary resources. After Captain Qian began his breakthrough, the team rested on Canglan Island and Lei Dong entered seclusion to cultivate.

• Lei Dong persuaded Captain Qian and the others to pool resources for Captain Qian’s Golden Core breakthrough, and Captain Qian agreed to honor their terms if he succeeded.
• Captain Qian led the group in killing the two exhausted Foundation Establishment cultivators who surfaced from the sea, and the team divided spoils worth nearly twenty million Spirit Stones along with a seized Flying Boat.
• The group returned to Canglan Island, where Captain Qian sold his old boat and arranged to buy an Ascension Pill and rare breakthrough materials.
• A masked Golden Core cultivator sold Captain Qian an Ascension Pill for his offered price of eighteen million Spirit Stones.
• Captain Qian began his Golden Core breakthrough while the others recuperated on Canglan Island, and Lei Dong entered brief seclusion to improve his cultivation.

Lei Dong assessed Canglan Island’s prices and chose an extravagant cultivation regimen using Top Grade Spirit Stones and Transformation Pills. After beginning his secluded training on a remote island, he completed his first day-and-night cycle with a noticeable gain in cultivation, though he had not yet advanced.

• Lei Dong compared prices in Canglan Island’s markets, exchanged ten Top Grade Spirit Stones, and considered which pills would support his cultivation without harming his future Golden Core breakthrough.
• After calculating his fortune and expenses, Lei Dong bought thirty Transformation Pills and ordered sixty more for a trial of intensive cultivation.
• Lei Dong traveled to an isolated island, dug a secret chamber, and stationed his ghost guards and puppets to protect his seclusion.
• Lei Dong activated Heavenly Devil Transformation, exhausted himself attacking the surrounding waters, then returned to the chamber in severe pain.
• Lei Dong swallowed a Transformation Pill and cultivated with a Top Grade Spirit Stone for a day and a night, emerging refreshed and surprised by his substantial progress.

Lei Dong spent three months training on a secluded island before reuniting with his teammates after Qian Luo reached the Golden Core Stage. He bought four Golden Core Monster Beasts to help evolve his Critical Hit Ghost Guard and joined the group’s return to the deep sea, where he began a speed wager with Qian Luo.

• Lei Dong used one Transformation Pill each day and burned off its remaining power with Heavenly Devil Transformation, raising his cultivation while spending heavily on pills and Top Grade Spirit Stones.
• After three months, Lei Dong met Qian Luo and the others on Canglan Island and congratulated Qian Luo on reaching the Golden Core Stage.
• Lei Dong asked Qian Luo to procure four Golden Core Monster Beasts so the Critical Hit Ghost Guard could advance toward becoming a Ghost General.
• Lei Dong learned that Dragon Turtle Incense could strengthen the soul, but Dragon Turtles were too rare for him to pursue.
• Qian Luo obtained four Golden Core Monster Beasts for seven million Spirit Stones, and the group set out for the deep sea aboard their Flying Boat.
• Lei Dong challenged Qian Luo to a hundred-li flying race for a Top Grade Spirit Stone; Qian Luo took the lead, and Lei Dong summoned his Asura Wings.

Lei Dong demonstrated his strength to Qian Luo, and their team hunted Golden Core Demon Beasts across the Endless Sea. After Lei Dong’s Critical Hit Ghost Guard advanced into a Critical Ghost General, he prepared to test it against a Dragon Turtle, leaving the battle about to begin.

• Lei Dong outpaced Qian Luo with his wings, earned his respect as an equal, and reminded him that he owed eleven million Spirit Stones.
• Qian Luo and the others traveled to the Endless Sea, where their team defeated a One-Eyed Sea Demon and later hunted five more Golden Core Demon Beasts.
• Lei Dong’s Critical Hit Ghost Guard emerged from its cocoon as a powerful Critical Ghost General.
• Lei Dong asked Qian Luo to let him fight the next Golden Core Demon Beast alone so he could test the Ghost General.
• Lei Dong lured the beast to the surface with a Netherflame Bullet, and Qian Luo recognized it as a Dragon Turtle.

Lei Dong lured a Golden Core Dragon Turtle into Old Zhao’s formation and trapped it, then revealed that he could control a Ghost General. The chapter left the Ghost General fighting the Dragon Turtle inside the formation while Lei Dong’s companions watched in amazement.

• The Dragon Turtle ambushed Lei Dong, but his Blood-colored Cloak absorbed the bite and his Asura Wings carried him out of reach.
• Lei Dong drew the Dragon Turtle after him, provoking it with Netherflame Bullets while keeping his companions concealed in Old Zhao’s formation.
• The Dragon Turtle pursued Lei Dong into the trap and became trapped when it collided with the formation’s barriers.
• Lei Dong summoned his Critical Ghost General, startling his companions, who had believed Foundation Establishment Cultivators could not control one.
• The Critical Ghost General charged the Dragon Turtle and fought it blow for blow inside the formation.

Lei Dong and his team killed a Dragon Turtle, and Lei Dong acquired its soul-benefiting incense. The team ventured deeper into the Endless Sea, where a powerful hurricane drove them to stop as an impressive Flying Boat approached.

• Lei Dong's Ghost General overpowered the Dragon Turtle, and the team joined the attack when it tried to escape the Mist Shadow Formation.
• The team killed the Dragon Turtle before it broke through the formation, and Qian Luo found Dragon Turtle Incense among its remains.
• Lei Dong bought the incense at market price, while Qian Luo awarded him an extra tenth of the spoils for luring the beast.
• The team resumed hunting and agreed to venture farther into the Endless Sea, where they encountered increasingly dangerous conditions.
• A hurricane battered the team's Flying Boat, and Qian Luo ordered Qing Niangzi to stop and Old Zhao to prepare a defensive formation.
• A large, well-built Flying Boat appeared in the distance, leaving the team uncertain about the cultivators aboard.

Qian Luo and Lei Dong sized up a rival crew led by a Golden Core Cultivator and decided to lure him close enough to kill. After days of waiting through a storm, Qian Luo baited the rival with a supposed treasure deal, leaving both sides poised to make their move.

• Qian Luo halted the approaching Flying Boat at a distance, and its Golden Core Cultivator claimed his crew needed healing pills.
• Qian Luo and Lei Dong secretly agreed to probe the rival crew and kill its Golden Core Cultivator if he was their only one.
• Qian Luo and the rival crew waited out a seven-day storm while their formation masters set up formations.
• After the storm, Qian Luo offered pills at three times the market price, then used a proposed treasure trade to draw the rival closer.
• Qian Luo claimed he had brought only four Foundation Establishment Cultivators to hunt, while privately planning to ambush the other crew.

Lei Dong and Qian Luo lured a Golden Core Cultivator and his followers into a fight, then used the Critical Ghost General to turn the battle in their favor. Lei Dong intercepted the fleeing Golden Core Cultivator and bluffed that he was a Nascent Soul Cultivator, but the man saw through the deception and attacked.

• Qian Luo and the Golden Core Cultivator lowered their Flying Boat shields, and both groups gathered between the boats under the pretense of negotiating.
• Qian Luo and the Golden Core Cultivator attacked at once, while Lei Dong sent the Critical Ghost General to kill a female Foundation Establishment Cultivator and seal her Living Soul.
• The Golden Core Cultivator fled over the open sea, and Lei Dong used his Asura Wings to catch up with him while Qian Luo stayed to fight the others.
• The Golden Core Cultivator mistook Lei Dong for a Nascent Soul Cultivator, but after Lei Dong bluffed him for several exchanges, he recognized the deception and attacked with red flame and light.

Lei Dong used his Ghost General, puppets, ghosts, and escape techniques to hold off a Golden Core Cultivator until Qian Luo arrived. After the two joined forces, the wounded enemy fled with a blood escape technique, but Lei Dong caught up and killed him.

• Lei Dong combined the Critical Ghost General, Golden Puppet, Myriad Ghost Banner, and his own attacks to wear down the Golden Core Cultivator while avoiding his strikes.
• The Golden Core Cultivator tried to flee and destroy the Ghost General, but Lei Dong kept the Ghost General retreating and continued harassing him until Qian Luo arrived.
• Lei Dong and Qian Luo joined forces with the Ghost General and puppets, overwhelming the Golden Core Cultivator and blocking his escape attempts.
• The wounded Golden Core Cultivator spent Essence Blood to flee as blood mist, and Lei Dong pursued him with his Asura Wings.
• Lei Dong caught the exhausted Golden Core Cultivator and killed him with the Crimson Refinement Flying Sword.

Lei Dong and Qian Luo killed a Golden Core Cultivator, and Lei Dong reflected on what he needed before attempting the dangerous journey back to Kang Prefecture. After distributing the spoils and strengthening his Soul Devouring Shadow Tiger with the Living Soul, the group discovered a fortune inside the Golden Core Cultivator’s Storage Bracelet.

• Lei Dong captured the Golden Core Cultivator’s Living Soul while the Ghost General devoured the corpse, then considered his limits and resolved to reach the Foundation Establishment Late Stage and become strong enough to defeat a Golden Core Cultivator alone before seeking a way home.
• Lei Dong fed the Golden Core Living Soul to the Soul Devouring Shadow Tiger, sent the Ghost General to recover, and collected the fallen cultivator’s treasures.
• Lei Dong returned to Qian Luo and the others, claimed the remaining Foundation Establishment Cultivators’ Living Souls for the Myriad Ghost Banner, and reminded Qian Luo to account for his share of the spoils.
• Qian Luo removed the spiritual sense from the Golden Core Cultivator’s Storage Bracelet, revealing a vast space containing more than ten preserved Golden Core Monster Beasts.

Lei Dong’s crew counted the enormous profits from their robbery and searched the sea for more targets, while Myriad Ghost Ancestor learned that Lei Dong was still missing. Ding Wanyan received permission to leave seclusion with Dongfang Fu and lead Myriad Ghost Cave’s disciples into battle against Tianyin Palace.

• Qian Luo and his team estimated the spoils from Lei Dong’s crew’s battle at forty-seven million Spirit Stones, and the crew began searching for more targets.
• Myriad Ghost Ancestor berated his disciples for failing to find Lei Dong, who had disappeared alongside Tantai Bingyun.
• Ding Wanyan told Myriad Ghost Ancestor that the Heavenly Devil Lord had gone to search for Lei Dong and asked to join the front lines against Tianyin Palace.
• Myriad Ghost Ancestor approved Ding Wanyan’s request and agreed to secure treasures for her and Dongfang Fu as the Twin Yin Sha Heroes emerged from seclusion.
• Myriad Ghost Ancestor ordered Ding Wanyan to lead her fellow disciples into battle, and they pledged to follow her.

Over five years, Lei Dong built his team into a formidable force in the Endless Sea, with every member reaching Foundation Establishment Late Stage and his Ghost General and Soul Devouring Shadow Tiger advancing to Golden Core level. After the team defeated another group of cultivators, Lei Dong reflected on how he had earned their loyalty, which he needed for the dangerous journey to Kang Prefecture.

• Lei Dong watched from his Flying Boat as Qian Luo, Qing Niangzi, Shangguan, and Old Zhao overwhelmed a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators.
• Lei Dong's Critical Ghost General and Soul Devouring Shadow Tiger reached Golden Core level, making him capable of contending with Golden Core Early Stage cultivators.
• Qian Luo and the other teammates grew stronger with Lei Dong's support and came to revere him as their true leader.
• Qing Niangzi trapped a fleeing dark-faced cultivator and killed him with her Soul Breaking Needle, but Lei Dong remained lost in thoughts of his wife.
• Lei Dong's team finished the battle and gathered the spoils; Lei Dong recalled how he had feigned a grave injury two years earlier to secure his teammates' loyalty for the journey to Kang Prefecture.

Lei Dong mapped out a dangerous route from the Chaotic Archipelago through Zhao Prefecture, the Great Desert of Death, and the Hengduan Mountain Range to return to Kang Prefecture. He prepared his teammates and the Soul Devouring Pagoda’s Ghost Servants for the journey, intending to strengthen the group before they left Zhao Prefecture.

• Lei Dong learned that reaching Kang Prefecture required crossing Zhao Prefecture and the Great Desert of Death, since crossing the Endless Sea was too dangerous.
• Lei Dong bought a detailed Jade Slip map and planned a safer route through Zhao Prefecture that would take more than two million li.
• Lei Dong reviewed his teammates’ backgrounds and found Qian Luo, Shangguan Hong, Zhao Ge, and Qing Niangzi willing to stay with him despite their different ties and obligations.
• Lei Dong urged his teammates to exchange their Spirit Stones for Top Grade Spirit Items and to stockpile Foundation Establishment Living Souls and flesh.
• Lei Dong planned to raise his Ghost Servants’ strength, acquire Upper Grade Spirit Ghosts for his teammates, and investigate the Fierce Ghost Sect’s ghost-taming techniques.

Lei Dong gathered his squad and the Mute Girl to travel from Zhao Prefecture toward Kang Prefecture, stopping at Fisherman Island to invite her along. Their journey through the Chaotic Archipelago began with two large flying boats surrounding them.

• Qian Luo, Shangguan, Zhao Ge, and Qing Niangzi agreed to follow Lei Dong on the dangerous journey to Kang Prefecture.
• Lei Dong led the group toward Fisherman Island and found the Mute Girl still cultivating and fishing for Golden Spirit Fish.
• Lei Dong invited the Mute Girl to travel with him, and she eagerly accepted.
• The squad welcomed the Mute Girl aboard and gave her Spirit Stones, pills, and other cultivation supplies.
• As the group crossed the Chaotic Archipelago, two large flying boats surrounded them.

Lei Dong's group encountered White Bone Hall and agreed to pay its protection fee, but the collectors recognized Qing Niangzi as a possible fugitive and she fled. As Black Iron Tower and Duoqing Shusheng pursued her, Lei Dong ordered Qian Luo's group to kill them, leaving the confrontation about to erupt.

• Lei Dong told Qian Luo to avoid a fight if White Bone Hall's toll was reasonable, and Qian Luo agreed to pay 1.91 million spirit stones.
• After scanning the Flying Boat, Duoqing Shusheng accused Qing Niangzi of disguising herself and suggested she might be Red Ji, a fugitive from White Bone Devil Lord.
• Qian Luo demanded that Qing Niangzi remove her disguise, but she instead fled from the Flying Boat using her flying spirit item.
• Qian Luo, Lei Dong, and the others chased Qing Niangzi, while Black Iron Tower and Duoqing Shusheng raced ahead after her.
• Lei Dong sent Qian Luo a telepathic command to kill Black Iron Tower and Duoqing Shusheng before they could escape.

Lei Dong's group ambushed Duoqing Shusheng and Black Iron Tower, using a sealing talisman and an overwhelming array of summoned beasts, puppets, and ghosts to turn the fight against White Bone Hall. The battle left Duoqing Shusheng under heavy pressure as Lei Dong's side killed three Foundation Establishment reinforcements and more enemies hesitated to advance.

• Lei Dong's group launched a coordinated ambush, and Qian Luo trapped Black Iron Tower with a Demon-Sealing Curse before attacking Duoqing Shusheng with a giant golden seal.
• Lei Dong summoned a Soul Devouring Shadow Tiger, a ghost general, puppets, and a spell-black dragon, forcing Duoqing Shusheng to defend himself against the combined assault.
• Lei Dong unleashed five commander-class evil ghosts and strengthened them with the Netherworld Great Law as White Bone Hall's reinforcements approached.
• The five evil ghosts surrounded and killed one late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator while Qing Niangzi trapped another and killed him with her Soul Breaking Needle.
• Lei Dong and his allies joined forces to kill the last of the first three late-stage Foundation Establishment reinforcements, causing those still approaching to hesitate.

Lei Dong and his allies defeated Duoqing Shusheng and the White Bone Hall cultivators, then captured Black Iron Tower. When Lei Dong tried to recruit him, Tantai Bingyun confirmed that Black Iron Tower carried a Ghost Gu and greeted Lei Dong.

• Lei Dong and the others overwhelmed Duoqing Shusheng while the remaining Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators hesitated to help.
• Tantai Bingyun intercepted and destroyed the white skull signal, then killed Duoqing Shusheng with her Green Lotus Sword Tune.
• Lei Dong and his allies killed the fleeing Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators and freed Black Iron Tower from the Demon-Sealing Curse.
• Qian Luo confiscated Black Iron Tower's Storage Bracelet and soul-refined treasures, while Lei Dong offered him a place in his group.
• Black Iron Tower explained that the White Bone Devil Lord had planted a Ghost Gu in him, and Tantai Bingyun confirmed it before greeting Lei Dong.

Tantai Bingyun proposed a temporary alliance with Lei Dong so they could travel safely back to Kang Prefecture, and the two agreed to an oath-bound pact. After Black Iron Tower warned Lei Dong about the danger of taking her along, Tantai Bingyun asked him to use his soul fusion technique to make Black Iron Tower her loyal subordinate.

• Tantai Bingyun gave Lei Dong the spoils from Duoqing Shusheng and asked him to ally with her on the journey back to Kang Prefecture.
• Tantai Bingyun revealed her Golden Core-level Red Luan and puppet to demonstrate her strength and the value of working together.
• Lei Dong and Tantai Bingyun negotiated their oath terms, swore not to betray each other during the pact, and sealed the alliance with three palm slaps.
• Black Iron Tower warned Lei Dong that White Bone Devil Lord had taken Tantai Bingyun as a disciple and might retaliate, but Lei Dong said he already knew the risk and trusted her.
• Tantai Bingyun thanked Lei Dong and asked him to use his soul fusion technique to subdue Black Iron Tower and make him her loyal subordinate.