Chapter Summaries

Zhang Hongxi reunited with Ye Xingyun in Lingxiao Immortal City and asked why he had refused the Zhang Family’s protection. Ye Xingyun explained his reasons and promised to ask for her hand in marriage after surviving the danger, but Zhang Hongxi ended by offering him access to powerful cultivation and crafting inheritances if he married into her family.

• Zhang Hongxi met Ye Xingyun in a soundproofed room at the Disaster-Free Inn and confronted him for ignoring her plea to seek shelter with the Zhang Family.
• Ye Xingyun said he had refused because he would not entrust his life or freedom to the Zhang Family, and he suspected Zhang Xuanchen had taken the Star Emperor’s inheritance.
• Ye Xingyun explained that his innate talent warned him of danger, helped him read people, and had led him to trust Zhang Hongxi and believe Zhang Xuanchen meant him no harm.
• Ye Xingyun said he had come to Lingxiao Immortal City because its dangers made it the safest place to hide, then promised to ask the Zhang Family for Zhang Hongxi’s hand after surviving the ordeal.
• Zhang Hongxi asked whether Ye Xingyun would marry into the Zhang Family for the chance to study a seventh-tier cultivation art and higher-tier spirit talisman and array inheritances.

Ye Xingyun accepted Zhang Xuanchen’s offer to join the Zhang Family, but he refused to enter its protection until he had dealt with the kill orders against him. He planned to travel to the Azure Sea Domain, where he suspected a secret realm would appear, and Zhang Hongxi agreed to go with him alongside other Zhang Family members.

• Ye Xingyun eagerly accepted the Zhang Family’s offer of a seventh-grade cultivation method and inheritance, and Zhang Hongxi promised he would be treated well if he protected the lineage’s interests.
• Ye Xingyun refused to return to the Zhang Family until he had resolved the kill orders against him, and he said he wanted to prepare a gift for Zhang Hongxi.
• Ye Xingyun told Zhang Hongxi that the Azure Sea Domain’s spiritual energy had grown denser and predicted a secret realm would manifest there within a few years.
• Ye Xingyun said he would leave for the Azure Sea Domain in three days and lie low while waiting for the secret realm to open.
• Zhang Hongxi agreed to report the matter to the Zhang Family and travel with Ye Xingyun alongside other family members to conceal their connection.

Nascent Soul True Lords gathered at the Xuanxiao Merchant Guild auction, where Zhang Chongxian’s late-stage Nascent Soul strength stunned the other factions. As the auction reached its final lots, Yin Qianhui sought to build ties with the Zhang Family, and Blazing Plains True Lord made a huge offer for their Demon-Seeking Pearls.

• Zhang Chongxian silenced the auction hall with his Nascent Soul pressure, and Blazing Plains True Lord and Guiyuan True Lord recognized that he had reached the late stage and surpassed them in strength.
• Zhou Qingwu opened the auction, and cultivators bid on the first lots while the Yin Family’s Yin Qianhui discussed an alliance with Hua Yuan True Lord.
• Yin Qianhui ordered Xiao Qian to buy thirty percent of the Zhang Family’s auction items at high prices to show goodwill.
• After one hundred and five lots sold, Zhou Qingwu presented ten boxes of Demon-Seeking Pearls and explained their ability to locate demonized creatures.
• Blazing Plains True Lord offered one hundred and fifty thousand mid-grade spirit stones for the pearls, adding that he could raise the offer by another fifty thousand.

At the Zhang Family’s auction, Zhou Qingwu announced that each power could buy at most two Demon-Seeking Pearls, prompting a challenge to the family’s motives. Zhang Chongxian killed the challenger and warned the hall that anyone who provoked the Zhang Family would die, after which Zhou Qingwu resumed the auction.

• Zhou Qingwu told Blazing Plains True Lord that the Zhang Family would auction Demon-Seeking Pearls in batches and limit each power to two.
• A Golden Core cultivator accused the Zhang Family of using the auctions to profit and demanded that it reveal how to make the pearls.
• Zhang Chongxian called the challenger an idiot, seized him with a hand of spiritual energy, and crushed him to death.
• Zhang Chongxian warned the auction hall that the Zhang Family would not tolerate provocation, then ordered Zhou Qingwu to continue the auction.
• Auction attendees praised Zhang Chongxian’s actions, and the powers seeking to pressure the Zhang Family abandoned their demands.

The Zhang Family auctioned Demon-Seeking Pearls as Nascent Soul factions negotiated and competed over them. Xiao Yan revealed that he had returned with his new master, Yao Qinghe, and left Yao Qinghe astonished by how quickly the Zhang Family had risen to power.

• Blazing Plains True Lord persuaded the other Nascent Soul True Lords to coordinate their bids, and Guiyuan True Lord won the first Demon-Seeking Pearl for fifteen thousand mid-grade spirit stones.
• Guiyuan True Lord used his Nascent Soul pressure against a bidder in VIP Room Twenty-Six, but Zhang Chongxian shattered it and warned him not to intimidate anyone.
• Guiyuan True Lord bid fifteen thousand mid-grade spirit stones for the second pearl and secured it after Zhang Chongxian's warning.
• Xiao Yan thanked Silent Void True Lord for intervening, then told Yao Qinghe that the Zhang Family had saved the Xiao Clan and that he was close to its patriarch.
• Yao Qinghe questioned how Xiao Yan could have learned only recently that the Zhang Family was a Nascent Soul faction, and Xiao Yan explained that it had been a Golden Core faction twenty years earlier.

Xiao Yan learned that Yao Qinghe had no intention of targeting the Zhang Family, while the auction drew fierce bids for the Zhang Family’s Monkey Wine and ended by revealing a valuable Red Origin Barrier-Breaking Peach. Yao Qinghe urged Xiao Yan to bid on the peach for the chance to refine profitable pills in the Central Continent.

• Yao Qinghe confirmed that he would not seize the Zhang Family’s opportunity and reminded Xiao Yan that they would leave for the Central Land Immortal Continent in three months.
• With Xiao Yan’s help, the four Nascent Soul powers each bought two Demon-Seeking Pearls for fifteen thousand mid-grade spirit stones apiece.
• Zhou Qingwu presented Monkey Wine brewed by the Zhang Family’s Sacred Ancestor, and Blazing Plains True Lord won the three-jin bottle with a bid of thirty thousand mid-grade spirit stones.
• Zhou Qingwu revealed a fourth-grade mid-rank Red Origin Barrier-Breaking Peach as the final auction item.
• Yao Qinghe identified the peach’s value and told Xiao Yan to bid so he could refine Barrier Breaking Pills for profit in the Central Continent.

At the auction, Guiyuan True Lord and Hua Yuan True Lord competed for the Red Origin Barrier-Breaking Peach until someone in Private Room Twenty-six bid one hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones. Their bold bid made both Nascent Soul cultivators hesitate over whether to seize the peach, and Yin Qianhui advised Hua Yuan True Lord to wait and learn their background.

• Yao Qinghe promised to protect Xiao Yan after the auction and encouraged him to bid freely.
• Guiyuan True Lord and Hua Yuan True Lord outbid each other for the Red Origin Barrier-Breaking Peach, while Qingming True Lord withdrew.
• A bidder in Private Room Twenty-six offered one hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones, shocking the auction hall.
• Zhang Little Dragon excitedly praised the daring bidder, then was mocked by other guests for being a showy rogue cultivator.
• Guiyuan True Lord wondered whether to seize the peach, while Yin Qianhui told Hua Yuan True Lord not to act before learning the bidder's identity.

Yin Qianhui persuaded Hua Yuan True Lord to abandon the Red Origin Barrier-Breaking Peach and leave the auction, while revealing that he had reincarnated with memories of his former life as a Mahayana cultivator. After the auction, Xiao Yan collected the peach with his master Yao Qinghe, said farewell to the Zhang Family, and prepared to leave for the Central Continent.

• Yin Qianhui urged Hua Yuan True Lord to accept losing the peach and return to the Yin clan, and Hua Yuan agreed.
• Yin Qianhui, Hua Yuan True Lord, and Xiao Qian left the Xuanxiao Merchant Guild without responding to Guiyuan True Lord's taunts.
• Xiao Yan introduced his master, Yao Qinghe, to Zhang Hongkai and received the fourth-grade Barrier-Breaking Peach.
• Xiao Yan learned that Xuan Chen was in seclusion and asked Zhang Hongkai to protect his father and the Xiao Clan while he was away.
• Xiao Yan gave Zhang Hongkai a Storage Bag containing a hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones and said he would leave for the Central Continent within three months.
• After Xiao Yan and Yao Qinghe departed, Zhang Hongkai warned Zhou Qingwu not to reveal Yao Qinghe's identity or strength.

Zhang Hongkai reported that Xiao Yan was traveling with Yao Qinghe, a fifth-grade mid-rank Pill King, and Zhang Chongxian ordered the Zhang Family to avoid trouble while seeking Golden Core pill ingredients. Little Flame left to watch the danger around Yao Qinghe, who killed the Golden Core cultivators ambushing him and Xiao Yan and gave their Storage Rings to his disciple.

• Zhang Hongkai told Zhang Chongxian that Xiao Yan planned to follow Yao Qinghe to the Central Continent and asked the Zhang Family to protect the Xiao Clan.
• Zhang Chongxian ordered the Zhang Family and merchant association to stay inside the city for three days and gather Golden Core pill ingredients.
• Little Flame urged Zhang Chongxian to attack Yao Qinghe for his fifth-grade pills, then left to watch the confrontation while concealing himself with Xuanjing.
• Several Golden Core cultivators surrounded Xiao Yan and Yao Qinghe outside Lingxiao Immortal City, but Yao Qinghe killed them all.
• Yao Qinghe gave the attackers' Storage Rings to Xiao Yan as a gift for the Xiao Clan.

Yao Qinghe crippled Guiyuan True Lord for threatening Xiao Yan, revealing himself as a Spirit Transformation cultivator and alarming onlookers in the South Sea. Three days later, the Zhang Family prepared to travel to the Azure Sea Domain, but Zhang Dexiao’s attempt to sneak aboard was discovered and stopped by Luo Lingshuang.

• Xiao Yan accepted Yao Qinghe’s gift, and Yao Qinghe confronted Guiyuan True Lord, severed his right arm, and departed with his disciple.
• Guiyuan True Lord accepted his defeat and flew toward the White Tiger Sea Domain, while Hua Yuan True Lord and Yin Qianhui discussed the danger of a Spirit Transformation Venerable in the South Sea.
• Three days later, Lin Wanqing and seventy-seven others prepared to leave Xuanxiao Mountain aboard the Azure Cloud for the Azure Sea Domain, and Zhang Detian urged them to stay cautious.
• Zhang Xuanbing found Zhang Dexiao hiding aboard the Azure Cloud after detecting his spatial ability and explained that he had gained insight into the Dao of space.
• Luo Lingshuang took Zhang Dexiao from Zhang Xuanbing and spanked him for sneaking aboard, while Zhang Dexiao protested that what did not kill him would make him stronger.

Three years after the Zhang Family’s auction, Ice Cold Palace captured Dou Bi, a Demon Seed who had secretly killed hundreds and whose father, Dou Yuan, had concealed his crimes. As Ling Yun killed Dou Bi, the dying Demon Lord bewitched Dou Yuan into approaching him, leaving Dou Yuan in danger.

• After the auction, the Zhang Family developed steadily, while Zhang Zujun devoted himself to alchemy and the Dark Hall and Xuanxiao Merchant Guild expanded.
• Three years later, Ice Cold Palace gathered to judge Dou Bi, whom Ling Yun accused of killing 372 people while possessed by a Demon Seed.
• Dou Bi revealed his demonic form and taunted Dou Yuan for hiding his crimes and protecting him.
• Ling Yun struck Dou Bi with the Ice Sword, mortally wounding him.
• Dou Bi used the Bewitching Art to draw Dou Yuan toward him, and Dou Yuan shook off Ling Yun and knelt beside his dying son.

Hei Chuanwu revealed that he had possessed Dou Bi and devoured Dou Yuan to advance, while Xue Feifei arrived to help him destroy the Ice Cold Palace. The chapter ended with Xue Feifei turning Ling Yun into her blood servant.

• Dou Bi revealed himself as Hei Chuanwu of the Blackwing Devil Race and used the Black Demon Devouring Art to drain Dou Yuan’s cultivation and Nascent Soul essence.
• Ling Yun and the Ice Cold Palace elders attacked Hei Chuanwu, but Xue Feifei appeared and summoned seven Blood Demon Tiger Kings and a formation that drove the disciples into a demonic frenzy.
• Xue Feifei and Hei Chuanwu fought the elders while discussing her possession of Yan Jin and her arrival after receiving Hei Chuanwu’s message.
• Xue Feifei cut off Ling Yun’s arm, drained his blood energy, and transformed him into her blood servant.

Xue Feifei seized control of Ling Yun and ordered Hei Chuanwu to conquer the Ice Plain while she prepared to use Ling Yun as an escape route. A year later, Zhang Xuanchen broke through to Nascent Soul, only to be pulled into the Inner Demon Tribulation in the form of a familiar village.

• Xue Feifei killed the seven Ice Cold Palace elders, turned Ling Yun into her blood servant, and told Hei Chuanwu to build a Black Demon Army and unify the Ice Plain.
• Xue Feifei left to implant a subsidiary seed in Ling Yun, while Hei Chuanwu absorbed the blood essence of the Ice Cold Palace cultivators.
• Demon seekers began hunting demonized creatures for major factions, with the Zhang Family paying well for their corpses.
• After four years of seclusion, Zhang Xuanchen shattered his perfected Golden Core and endured the pain of merging star, wind, and fire spiritual powers.
• Half a month later, Zhang Xuanchen formed his Nascent Soul and was immediately struck by the Inner Demon Tribulation.
• Zhang Xuanchen found himself in Little Village, a rustic place from his memories.

Zhang Xuanchen overcame an inner demon trial built from the deaths of Zhang Qingqing and Little Village, accepting that he would have made the same choice to leave while regretting how events unfolded. With his nascent soul complete, he headed to Panyang Ridge to face the sixty-nine thunder tribulation.

• Zhang Xuanchen saw an illusion of Zhang Qingqing alive and struggled with the temptation to stay, before breaking the scene with his sword.
• Zhang Xuanchen confronted the wronged souls of Little Village as his inner demon accused him of causing their deaths and his body began to collapse.
• Zhang Xuanchen admitted he would still have chosen to leave, though he wished he had handled things better, and the villagers’ souls faded away.
• Zhang Xuanchen emerged from the inner demon trial with his nascent soul fully formed and went to Panyang Ridge as his sixty-nine thunder tribulation gathered.
• Zhang Chongxian, Great Sage, and the others watched Zhang Xuanchen fly toward the ridge, confident that he would survive the tribulation.

Zhang Xuanchen began his Nascent Soul tribulation at Panyang Ridge, drawing the attention of the Heavenly Dragon Sea Domain’s factions. He endured the early lightning bolts to temper his Divine Dragon Tyrant Body, then invoked a defensive art as the remaining tribulation grew more dangerous.

• Zhang Chongxian, Great Sage, and Sleeping Turtle went to Panyang Ridge to guard Zhang Xuanchen while the others stayed to defend the Lineage.
• Nascent Soul cultivators across the Heavenly Dragon Sea Domain sensed the tribulation over the Penglai Islands, and Hua Shisan identified Zhang Xuanchen as the one breaking through.
• Hua Shisan warned the Nine Splendor Sword Sect not to contend with the Zhang Family and ordered it to support their rise as overlords.
• Hei Chuanwu absorbed the blood essence of corpses in the Ice Cold Palace and vowed to use future Nascent Soul cultivators as blood offerings to break the devil race’s seal.
• Zhang Xuanchen rejected Shuoxing’s help and used the falling lightning and a Nine-Jiao Ginseng to temper his body toward the Divine Dragon Tyrant Body’s fourth transformation.
• As the tribulation intensified, Zhang Xuanchen activated the Starry Body and formed a barrier using the Star River Burning Wind Myriad Transformations Art.

Zhang Xuanchen survived heavenly tribulation, broke through to the nascent soul realm, and declared his Daoist title Starflame True Lord. He welcomed the Zhang Family Alliance’s growth while warning its members that betrayal would be punished without mercy.

• Zhang Xuanchen endured the heavenly lightning and broke through to the early stage of the fourth transformation, reassuring Zhang Deling and Luo Lingshuang as Zhang Dexiao tried to comfort them.
• Zhang Xuanchen combined stellar, wind, and fire powers to withstand the final bolt, then received the Heavenly Dao’s radiance as his wounds healed.
• Zhang Xuanchen formed a nascent soul, announced his Daoist title as Starflame True Lord, and received congratulations from Xuanjing, his family, and allied forces.
• Zhang Chongxian praised Zhang Xuanchen, who credited the Immortal Ancestor’s protection and asked him to keep guiding him.
• Zhang Xuanchen told the affiliated forces that the Zhang Family would not suppress their advancement, but warned that betrayal would bring destruction and declared that merit would be rewarded and wrongdoing punished.

After returning to Xuanxiao Mountain, Zhang Xuanchen caught up with Luo Lingshuang and disciplined Zhang Dexiao for proposing to trade essence blood. He then learned that Zhang Chongxian and other clansmen had gone to explore a newly emerged secret realm in the Azure Sea Domain, while Ye Xingyun had agreed in principle to marry into the Zhang Family.

• Zhang Xuanchen returned home with Luo Lingshuang, while Little Peach stopped Great Sage from challenging him so he could spend time with her.
• Zhang Dexiao asked Zhang Xuanchen for essence blood to awaken his Divine Dragon Tyrant Body and suggested exchanging blood with Zhang Detian.
• Zhang Xuanchen beat Zhang Dexiao and explained that human essence blood could not awaken the Divine Dragon Tyrant Body.
• Zhang Detian told Zhang Xuanchen that Zhang Chongxian, his grandfather, and nearly eighty clansmen had gone with Ye Xingyun to explore a secret realm in the Azure Sea Domain.
• Zhang Detian said Ye Xingyun had agreed to marry into the Zhang Family, though not immediately, and Zhang Xuanchen urged the family to respect his choice.

Zhang Xuanchen discussed the Zhang Family’s future and told Luo Lingshuang he would visit the Dragon Court Secret Realm before traveling to the Central Continent to complete her clan’s trial and pursue a major opportunity. Meanwhile, Venerable Nine Radiances broke through to Void Refinement at the Horizon Pavilion, drawing the attention of the Central Land’s powerful cultivators as her heavenly tribulation began.

• Zhang Xuanchen praised Zhang Detian for managing the Zhang Family and urged him to cultivate and have a child with Qingya.
• Zhang Xuanchen declined to hold a Nascent Soul ceremony and said he would explore the Dragon Court Secret Realm with Long Zhantian before heading to the Central Continent with Luo Lingshuang.
• Zhang Xuanchen told Luo Lingshuang he would complete the Luo Clan’s trial and prove himself to her family, then the two spent the night together.
• Venerable Nine Radiances broke through to Void Refinement above the Hanging Immortal Mountain, drawing Spirit Transformation cultivators from across the Central Land.
• The gathered cultivators recognized Venerable Nine Radiances as the first person to break the Xuanqiong Cultivation World’s Spirit Transformation ceiling, and a powerful heavenly tribulation formed around her.

Venerable Nine Radiances endured the nine layers of heavenly tribulation and broke through to Void Refinement, becoming Sage Lord Nine Radiances. Her breakthrough proved the Xuanqiong Realm’s path to higher cultivation was open, even as she warned that rising power would bring demon-spirit calamities.

• Venerable Nine Radiances used the God-Locking Art and layered void shields to withstand the first three layers of tribulation.
• Venerable Nine Radiances invoked the Thousand Calamities Body-Condensing Art to devour the fourth through sixth layers and reshape her body.
• Luo Qianchen challenged Venerable Shen Xu after Shen Xu questioned the Luo Clan about its surge in destiny, and Shen Xu backed down upon learning Luo Qianchen had reached peak Spirit Transformation.
• Venerable Nine Radiances used the Seven-Star Sky-Sealing Diagram to endure the ninth layer, a golden lightning dragon that shattered and reforged her body.
• Venerable Nine Radiances announced her breakthrough to Void Refinement as Sage Lord Nine Radiances, urged cultivators to advance, warned of demon-spirit calamities, and vanished.

Xuanqiong Realm broke free of the shackle that had limited its inhabitants, while Jun Tongtian and Little White prepared to infiltrate the Devil Race during the Great Annihilation. The pair set off in disguises, planning to sow chaos behind enemy lines.

• Xuanqiong Realm’s invisible shackle snapped, and golden light empowered its native inhabitants and helped them break through cultivation bottlenecks.
• Jun Tongtian observed Xuanqiong Realm’s sublimation from the Spirit Realm and said it was the only world that could withstand the Great Annihilation.
• Little White urged Jun Tongtian to retaliate after the Devil Race smashed the gates of their Divine Calculations Sect.
• Jun Tongtian transformed himself to resemble Mo Mietian, and Little White transformed into a graceful young man.
• Jun Tongtian and Little White agreed to exploit their disguises and secret arts to infiltrate the Devil Race and disrupt its forces.
• Jun Tongtian told Little White to transform into the Unrepentant Devil Emperor, and they prepared to leave.