Chapter Summaries

Konan visited the Ninja Nation and questioned Bai Ye about whether his new era could bring lasting equality and peace. After reporting back, she saw Nagato reconsider the Akatsuki’s plan, and he asked her to return to Konoha to investigate further.

• Bai Ye invited Konan to stay in the Ninja Nation and explained that he wanted people to be as equal as possible, though complete equality was unrealistic.
• Konan described how wars between great nations had devastated small countries like the Rain Country, and Bai Ye urged her to help protect the peace he had established.
• Konan left the Ninja Nation with Zetsu and reported to Nagato that all nine Tailed Beasts had been gathered in Konoha, where Bai Ye planned to free them without harming their Jinchuriki.
• Nagato rejected the idea of attacking Konoha, and Obito agreed that the Akatsuki should keep gathering intelligence and wait for an opportunity.
• After hearing Konan’s account of Konoha, Nagato questioned whether the Akatsuki still needed to carry out its plan and asked her to return there to observe the village and learn more from within.

Konan stayed in Konoha and became one of Bai Ye’s secretaries, while Orochimaru investigated how to revive the Fourth. Jiraiya learned that the prophecy appeared to have failed, but the Sage of Six Paths told the Great Toad Sage that changed circumstances had diverted the original plan involving Ashura and Indra.

• Konan told Bai Ye she wanted to remain in Konoha and take noncombat work, so he offered her a place in his Secretariat.
• Bai Ye introduced Konan to the other secretaries: Samui, Kurotsuchi, Shizune, Chiyo, and Genji.
• Orochimaru concluded that the Fourth could not be revived without freeing his soul from the Shinigami, and Zetsu explained how to do it.
• Jiraiya told the Great Toad Sage that Bai Ye had unified the Shinobi World, and the two concluded that the prophecy seemed to have failed.
• After Jiraiya left, the Sage of Six Paths told the Great Toad Sage that the prophecy was not wrong and explained that the original plan for Ashura and Indra had changed.

Hagoromo Otsutsuki and the Great Toad Sage discussed Bai Ye as an uncontrollable variable and decided to watch him for now. Bai Ye took Ren Tingting and their spirit beasts down the mountain, where they encountered Daoist Saimu, who invited them to his home.

• Hagoromo Otsutsuki told the Great Toad Sage that Bai Ye was not part of his plans and discussed the danger he might pose, but decided to observe him before acting.
• The Byuyas in the group chat teased Zombie Byakuya about teaching Ren Tingting, and he insisted he was a proper master.
• Bai Ye offered to take Ren Tingting down the mountain to gather supplies and gain experience, and she agreed to go with him.
• Bai Ye, Ren Tingting, Big Yellow, and Little Black left the mountain after securing its gate and activating the Array Formations.
• Daoist Saimu warned Bai Ye about traveling at night, recognized him as a Shenxiao Sect Daoist, and invited him to stay at his nearby home.
• Bai Ye accepted Daoist Saimu's invitation after considering Ren Tingting's fatigue.

Daoist Saimu hosted Bai Ye and Ren Tingting, then spent the day and night discussing the Dao with Bai Ye. Master Yixiu joined them with Qingqing, and by dawn Qingqing had impressed the cultivators while Jia Le had slept through the discussion.

• Daoist Saimu scolded Jia Le for admiring Ren Tingting and lamented his disciple’s lack of discipline.
• Daoist Saimu and Bai Ye discussed the Dao until nightfall while Ren Tingting listened; Jia Le left to visit Master Yixiu.
• Master Yixiu decided to visit Bai Ye with Qingqing and Jia Le, then accepted Bai Ye’s invitation to join the discussion.
• Ren Tingting listened intently, Qingqing followed parts of the discussion and impressed the three cultivators, while Jia Le fell asleep.
• At dawn, Daoist Saimu kicked awake Jia Le and ordered him to make breakfast.

Bai Ye warned that an Evil Path ritual would use Yin Thunder to free the Border Imperial Clan Jiangshi, so he and his companions followed Daoist Qianhe's procession. When the storm weakened the Ink Line and the Jiangshi was about to break free, Bai Ye controlled the lightning and destroyed it, changing Daoist Qianhe's fate.

• Master Yixiu asked Qingqing if she wanted to cultivate, and Bai Ye told her that her talent was decent.
• Daoist Qianhe arrived with a coffin carrying a powerful Border Imperial Clan Jiangshi, and Bai Ye warned that sunlight would not be a safe way to suppress it if rain ruined the Ink Line.
• Bai Ye predicted that Evil Path cultivators would use Yin Thunder to release the Jiangshi, so Daoist Saimu and Master Yixiu followed Qianhe's procession.
• As rain washed away the Ink Line and Yin Thunder struck the coffin, Bai Ye summoned a greater bolt of lightning that reduced the emerging Jiangshi to ash.
• Bai Ye received a lottery draw for changing Daoist Qianhe's fate, while Ren Tingting and Qingqing admired his lightning power and Daoist Saimu lamented the contrast with his own abilities.

Bai Ye drew a Small Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land and prepared to return to the Shenxiao Sect, while Master Yixiu asked him to take Qingqing as a disciple. Qingqing joined Bai Ye and Ren Tingting, and Jia Le resolved to cultivate after watching them leave.

• Bai Ye used a lottery draw to obtain a Small Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land that could provide abundant Spiritual Energy for cultivation.
• The Evil Path Daoists blamed Bai Ye for destroying the Royal Zombie and planned to target his disciples instead of confronting him directly.
• As Bai Ye prepared to leave, Master Yixiu asked him to accept Qingqing as his disciple, and Bai Ye agreed after asking Qingqing what she wanted.
• Qingqing thanked Master Yixiu for saving her, and Ren Tingting welcomed her as a junior sister after learning they shared the Ren surname.
• Bai Ye received another lottery draw chance when Qingqing's fate changed, while Jia Le decided to cultivate diligently after seeing her leave with Bai Ye.

Bai Ye took Ren Tingting and Ren Qingqing to a ghost inn, where he taught them about the dangers of the cultivation world and learned that Evil Cultivators had been stealing souls from the Underworld. After leaving, he considered the threat and agreed to act if he encountered them, while the innkeeper promised to contact him about a Shore Flower.

• Bai Ye changed course for a nearby town and restored Ren Qingqing's energy after she grew tired on the journey.
• Bai Ye entered a ghost inn with Ren Tingting and Ren Qingqing, released Big Yellow and Little Black, and received Samadhi True Fire from a draw.
• Bai Ye revealed that the inn sent its guests to Yomi, but the shop waiter let them stay because Bai Ye was the Sect Master of the Shenxiao Sect.
• Bai Ye taught Ren Tingting and Ren Qingqing to be wary of strange inns and warned that careless mistakes could destroy their souls.
• The shop waiter told Bai Ye that Evil Cultivators had been stealing souls from the Underworld, and Bai Ye offered to act if he encountered them in exchange for a Shore Flower.
• Bai Ye gave the shop waiter a way to contact him, then left the inn with Ren Tingting and Ren Qingqing.

Bai Ye agreed to help the Underworld search for the evil cultivators stealing souls, then joined Uncle Jiu on the way to Renjia Town to deal with the Jiangshi Ren Tian Tang. Ren Tingting introduced them to her relatives, who were wary of Maoshan because a Maoshan Daoist had caused Ren Tian Tang’s transformation.

• A ghost officer offered Bai Ye the Shore Flower if he helped the Underworld find the evil cultivators, and Bai Ye agreed to cooperate.
• Bai Ye met Uncle Jiu, who was traveling to Renjia Town to handle the Jiangshi created after Mama Di lost a corpse; Bai Ye agreed to go with him.
• Uncle Jiu identified the Jiangshi as Ren Tian Tang, Ren Tingting’s granduncle, and Ren Tingting led the group to the Ren Residence.
• Ren Tingting reunited with Master Ren and Ren Zhuzhu, who told her that Ren Tian Tang had suffered an accident and become a frightening Jiangshi.
• Master Ren reacted angrily to Uncle Jiu’s Maoshan affiliation, but Ren Tingting vouched for him and introduced Bai Ye as the Shenxiao Sect’s Sect Master and Ren Qingqing as her junior sister.

Bai Ye agreed to deal with Ren Tian Tang after Master Ren arranged for Mama Di and his disciples to be released. When Uncle Jiu lured the Jiangshi to the residence, Bai Ye displayed Samadhi True Fire, leaving Uncle Jiu stunned.

• Master Ren agreed to release Mama Di and his disciples after Uncle Jiu promised Maoshan would handle the Jiangshi, and Bai Ye accepted responsibility for dealing with it that day.
• Bai Ye warned Ahao with a bolt of lightning when he approached the girls, then identified himself as being from the Shenxiao Sect.
• Mama Di described Ren Tian Tang's resistance to Daoist arts and explained that Ren Zhuzhu's Music Box had stopped him before.
• Uncle Jiu performed a ritual to lure Ren Tian Tang to the residence, where Bai Ye held lightning in one hand and breathed flames.
• Uncle Jiu recognized Bai Ye's flames as Samadhi True Fire and exclaimed in disbelief.

Bai Ye burned Ren Tian Tang to ashes with Samadhi True Fire, resolving Mama Di’s Jiangshi problem. Ren Zhuzhu chose to follow Bai Ye and seek initiation into the Shenxiao Sect instead of leaving with Ahao, earning Bai Ye two draw opportunities; Mama Di went with Uncle Jiu, while Ahao departed resentful.

• Bai Ye used Samadhi True Fire to burn Ren Tian Tang to ashes, and Ren Zhuzhu accepted the ashes for burial.
• Mama Di thanked Bai Ye and invited him to a meal, then decided Ahao and Aqiang were unsuited to cultivation and expelled them.
• Ahao invited Ren Zhuzhu to leave with him and go gold prospecting, but Ren Tingting urged her cousin to join Bai Ye on the mountain instead.
• Bai Ye told Ren Zhuzhu she would need to pass the Patriarch’s test, and Ren Zhuzhu agreed to seek initiation into the Shenxiao Sect.
• Bai Ye received one draw opportunity for changing Mama Di’s fate and another for changing Ren Zhuzhu’s fate.
• Mama Di decided to accompany Uncle Jiu, and Ahao left swearing he would someday make them regret rejecting him.

After Ahao left Mama Di, an Evil Path cultivator recruited him and urged him to pursue power so he could defeat Bai Ye. Ahao murdered Aqiang and agreed to a dangerous transformation, while Bai Ye and the others found Aqiang’s body and wondered what had happened to Ahao.

• Ahao rejected Aqiang’s suggestion to apologize to Mama Di, and an Evil Path cultivator offered to teach Ahao his arts.
• Ahao agreed to follow the old man, then stabbed Aqiang when he tried to leave and let the old man burn away Aqiang’s soul.
• The old man brought Ahao to a gathering of Black-robed Men and proposed remaking him with Corpse Poison, evil souls, and other dangerous materials.
• Ahao accepted the transformation, hoping to gain the power to defeat Bai Ye and claim Ren Zhuzhu, Ren Tingting, and Ren Qingqing.
• Mama Di, Bai Ye, Uncle Jiu, Ren Zhuzhu, and Ren Tingting found Aqiang’s corpse; they suspected an Evil Path cultivator had taken Ahao, while Mama Di and Uncle Jiu dismissed Bai Ye’s idea that Ahao had killed Aqiang.

Bai Ye received the Soul Summoning Banner and Shushan Sword Art, then joined Uncle Jiu and Mama Di on their journey to confront the Horse Bandit Wang Po. They met Xuehua, a Miaojiang Shrine Maiden hunting Wang Po, and Bai Ye left them amazed and terrified as he carried the group there by Sword Flight.

• Bai Ye received the Soul Summoning Banner and Shushan Sword Art from the lottery and agreed to bury Aqiang before the group continued on.
• Uncle Jiu invited Bai Ye to investigate reports of Wang Po, and Bai Ye noticed Xuehua following them with her Gu Worms.
• Xuehua introduced herself as a Miaojiang Shrine Maiden sent to kill the Miaojiang Traitor Wang Po, and the group agreed to travel with her.
• Bai Ye used Sword Flight to carry everyone toward Wang Po, alarming the group with his unsteady control before they grew more comfortable in the air.
• Xuehua enthusiastically urged Bai Ye to fly faster, and Bai Ye announced they had arrived.

Uncle Jiu’s group arrived in town and learned from Ah Wei that the Horse Bandits would attack that night. They prepared to defeat the bandits and question Wang Po about the Evil Path cultivators as the bandits charged toward town.

• Xuehua praised Bai Ye’s Sword Flight after the group landed, and Ah Wei reunited with Uncle Jiu and Ren Tingting before reporting that the Horse Bandits would come that night.
• Uncle Jiu told Ah Wei to prepare the town, while Bai Ye warned Xuehua not to trust strangers and learned she hoped to become Miaojiang’s Saintess by completing her mission to kill Wang Po.
• Ah Wei teased Ren Tingting about Bai Ye and Xuehua being a match, but Uncle Jiu stopped him and announced they would eliminate the Horse Bandits and question Wang Po about the Evil Path cultivators.
• Xuehua explained sorcerer-fighting taboos, prompting jokes about Uncle Jiu’s virgin boy’s urine, and the group prepared with her help.
• At night, the Horse Bandits rode openly toward the town, unaware that Uncle Jiu’s group was ready for them.

Bai Ye and his allies ambushed Wang Po’s Horse Bandits, captured her, and uncovered the Evil Path’s plans before a mental restriction destroyed her soul. After burning the bandits’ bodies to prevent them from becoming dangerous ghosts, Bai Ye learned the group planned to detonate the Jiangshi in Tengteng Town, and Xuehua asked him to accompany her to her Saintess ceremony.

• Uncle Jiu warned Ah Wei and Bai Ye to avoid unnecessary deaths and keep Wang Po alive as the Horse Bandits approached.
• The militia ambushed the Horse Bandits, while Xuehua fought Wang Po with Gu Worms and Bai Ye burned away Wang Po’s poisonous attack.
• Bai Ye stopped Wang Po from killing herself, searched her memories, and learned that the Evil Path planned to detonate the Jiangshi in Tengteng Town; a restriction then shattered Wang Po’s soul.
• Bai Ye burned Wang Po and the dead Horse Bandits, explaining that their souls would otherwise become dangerous ghosts, and discussed the threat in Tengteng Town with Uncle Jiu and Mama Di.
• Xuehua asked Bai Ye to testify for her after he burned Wang Po, then revealed that she wanted her friends to attend her Saintess ceremony.

Bai Ye revealed that the Evil Path sought to gather the nine fragments of the Dragon Vein and that someone in Miaojiang was connected to Wang Po. The group traveled with Xuehua to Miaojiang, where her Grandma began the Saintess ceremony after learning the mission was complete.

• Xuehua invited Bai Ye and the others to Miaojiang, and Bai Ye agreed after exposing her hope of returning by Sword Flight.
• Bai Ye told Uncle Jiu and the others that the Dragon Vein beneath Tengteng Town retained a trace of life and could be restored with its nine fragments and the Eight Formation Diagram.
• Bai Ye revealed that Wang Po's memories suggested someone in Miaojiang was connected to the Evil Path, but a restriction destroyed her soul before he could learn more.
• Bai Ye and the others followed Xuehua through Miaojiang's Array Formation and met her Grandma, who questioned them about the Struggle Between Good and Evil.
• Xuehua confirmed that Wang Po was dead, and her Grandma ordered the Saintess ceremony to proceed.

Bai Ye accompanied Xuehua and his companions to Miaojiang’s Lantern Festival, where exchanging masks revealed Xuehua’s feelings for him. After Xuehua inherited the position of Saintess and prepared to stay in Miaojiang, Bai Ye gave her a dagger that would let her summon him, making clear that he returned her affection.

• Xuehua reassured Bai Ye and his companions about her grandma’s cold welcome, then took them to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Ancient City.
• At the festival, Bai Ye removed Xuehua’s mask without understanding its romantic meaning, and Xuehua removed his in return.
• Xuehua’s grandma urged her to use a Love Gu on Bai Ye and warned her about the Saintess’s duties, but Xuehua refused and chose to accept the risk of loving him.
• Xuehua inherited the Saintess’s position and told Bai Ye she might never leave Miaojiang again.
• Bai Ye gave Xuehua a dagger that would let her summon him, explained that he had learned their mask exchange was a declaration of love, and promised not to let her lose.
• Xuehua joyfully told Bai Ye to visit soon, while he left with his companions as they teased him about his new cultivation partner.

When Sadako appeared to claim Miko and Bai Ye’s lives, Bai Ye trapped her with a Soul Summoning Banner and teased her until she tried to flee. He then offered Sadako a job at his Agency, leaving Miko to suspect he was building a harem at work.

• Miko visited Bai Ye after learning it was the seventh day since she watched Sadako’s videotape, and Bai Ye told her to set up two televisions as a trap.
• Sadako crawled between the televisions, then emerged and struck them aside, only to find Bai Ye waiting with a Soul Summoning Banner.
• Bai Ye taunted Sadako, asked whether she offered special services, and frightened her into trying to escape back through the television.
• Bai Ye pulled Sadako out of the television and asked whether she could have children, making her insist she would never agree to such a request.
• Bai Ye offered Sadako a job at his Agency with food and lodging but no salary, and Miko suspected he was using the company to build a harem.

Bai Ye forced Sadako to join his Agency for seven years, marked her so she could not escape, and set rules for her feeding on souls. Meanwhile, Gin decided to pursue cooperation with Bai Ye and ordered Vermouth to contact him, while Shiho Miyano remained confined by the Organization.

• Bai Ye pressured Sadako into signing a seven-year employment contract, photographed her V-sign, and carved a Flying Thunder God mark onto her.
• Bai Ye told Sadako not to devour souls without his permission, but allowed her to consume evil spirits; he then teased her before Gin's message interrupted them.
• Bai Ye replied to Gin's request to meet with a question mark, while Gin complained that he could find no suitable recruits in The Distillery.
• Vermouth reported that she could find no background information on Bai Ye, and Gin decided to bring him into the Organization despite suspecting he might be a plant.
• Gin ordered Vodka to keep Shiho Miyano locked up and told Vermouth to arrange contact with Bai Ye about finding the gem.

Gin hired Bai Ye for a mission involving weapons and arranged for Vermouth to make contact with him. At the Agency, Bai Ye assigned Miko and Sadako work, while his planned date with Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri shifted into a visit to the absent Katou Megumi.

• Bai Ye agreed to Gin's mission after negotiating payment, a discount, and a separate fee for the requested item.
• Gin told Vermouth the meeting was set for the following night at eight, and Vodka learned that Bai Ye had supposedly sent a code for her to decipher.
• Bai Ye left Miko and Sadako at the Agency to monitor unusual activity and promote the business, while Sadako eagerly pursued the Outstanding Employee title.
• Bai Ye met Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri, joked with them, and asked why Katou Megumi was not with them.
• Eriri said Katou Megumi had taken leave, so Bai Ye, Kasumigaoka Utaha, and Eriri decided to visit her.

Katou Megumi told Bai Ye, Eriri, and Kasumigaoka Utaha that an app had given her the power to travel to an Otherworld and awaken a Persona. Bai Ye revealed his knowledge of the supernatural world and proposed forming a Phantom Thieves group, leaving the others intrigued by the idea.

• Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha visited Katou Megumi, who explained that she had taken leave because she felt unwell and had something troubling her.
• Katou Megumi showed them the app and brought them into a space created by her consciousness, proving that the Otherworld existed.
• Bai Ye believed Katou Megumi and admitted that he already knew about Personas, Otherworlds, and the app.
• Katou Megumi and Kasumigaoka Utaha revealed that they had suspected Bai Ye was the Phantom Thief because they recognized his habits and mannerisms.
• Bai Ye suggested forming a Phantom Thieves group, and Katou Megumi and Kasumigaoka Utaha expressed interest in joining.