Chapter Summaries

Shen Changchuan killed Zhou Lingyun before he could activate a Jade Talisman containing a Spirit Wandering realm strike, then reunited with Shen Chong, who claimed Zhou Lingyun’s head. After erasing the evidence, Shen Changchuan resumed the convoy’s journey, resolved to cultivate cautiously.

• Shen Changchuan reflected that his perfected spells had fueled a decisive strike that killed Zhou Lingyun before he could use the Jade Talisman, and he took the talisman as spoils.
• Shen Chong arrived after the fighting and acknowledged Shen Changchuan’s strength, while Shen Changchuan thanked him for dealing with Zhou Lingyun’s protector.
• Shen Chong asked for Zhou Lingyun’s head, and Shen Changchuan gave it to him without asking why.
• Shen Chong severed Zhou Lingyun’s head and departed with it, leaving Shen Changchuan to reflect on the dangers of cultivation.
• Shen Changchuan destroyed Zhou Lingyun’s corpse, erased the surrounding traces, withdrew the formation, and led the convoy onward.

Shen Changchuan learned that Shen Chong had claimed responsibility for killing Zhou Lingyun and survived a deadly battle with the Shen Family Old Ancestor, stirring rumors about the mysterious power behind him. After visiting his family in Great Bay Village, Shen Changchuan returned to the Dragon Firmament Sect determined to cultivate in seclusion.

• Shen Chong brought Zhou Lingyun's head to Tiannan City and fought the Shen Family Old Ancestor, escaping unharmed despite the Old Ancestor's killing intent.
• Cultivators reported that Shen Chong had relied on an expert's soul power and a possession secret art, prompting widespread speculation about his mysterious backer.
• Shen Changchuan felt relieved and grateful when he learned Shen Chong had publicly claimed to kill Zhou Lingyun, and he had Han Yue'er order their companions to keep their own information secret.
• Shen Changchuan and Han Yue'er arrived in Great Bay Village, where Han Qinhu welcomed his daughter with emotion.
• After spending time with his family and taking a portion of the village's profits, Shen Changchuan flew to the Dragon Firmament Sect, resolved to avoid unnecessary risks and cultivate in seclusion.
• Shen Changchuan returned to his small courtyard and stayed inside with the doors closed.

After a year of training and failed attempts to understand his Divine Ability Seed’s transformation, Shen Changchuan sought guidance from You Longzi. He learned that cultivating many spells nourished the seed, and realized his own broad studies may have helped trigger its early evolution.

• Shen Changchuan spent a year refining his spiritual power and studying the transformation of his Divine Ability Seed, but could not reproduce the insight he had gained during his life-and-death crisis with Zhou Lingyun.
• Shen Changchuan demonstrated the change in his Three Azure Luo Sword Array seed to You Longzi, who was astonished that he had begun evolving a Divine Ability Seed so soon after entering the Out of Body Stage.
• You Longzi explained that each Divine Ability Seed evolved according to its cultivator’s individual experience and understanding, and that cultivating spells provided nourishment for its growth.
• Shen Changchuan realized that his many Wood Element and Sword Element spells, along with completing the Basic Formation Master inheritance, may have supplied enough nourishment for his seed to evolve.

Shen Changchuan reflected on how his Progress Bar Panel had helped him survive and grow, then spent a year building up his spell arsenal and tempering his spiritual power until he reached the First Layer Mid Stage. With his Spirit Stones exhausted, he wondered how he could afford to keep cultivating at the same pace.

• Shen Changchuan recognized that his Progress Bar Panel had enabled him to gather Heavenly Treasures, form a Divine Ability Seed, and defeat Zhou Lingyun.
• After bidding farewell to You Longzi, Shen Changchuan spent about half a year cultivating spells in deserted mountain forests.
• A year after returning to the sect, Shen Changchuan had perfected nearly two hundred First-tier Spells and two Second-tier Spells.
• Repeatedly exhausting and restoring his spiritual power strengthened his control, spiritual power, and Spiritual Sense, and he advanced to the First Layer Mid Stage.
• Shen Changchuan used up his accumulated Spirit Stones and worried that his cultivation would slow without a new source of funds.

Shen Changchuan worried that his cultivation consumed Spirit Stones faster than Great Bay Village could provide them, so he considered using his perfected Basic Alchemy to build a steady income. He formed a rough plan to sell low-grade pills through Great Bay Village, but a visitor interrupted him with an invitation to team up.

• Shen Changchuan reflected on the enormous Spirit Stone costs of cultivation and the difficulty of earning enough to cover them.
• Shen Changchuan decided he could not give up his method of exhausting and restoring his spiritual power because it strengthened his cultivation and foundation.
• Shen Changchuan considered returning to pill refinement and selling low-grade pills to the growing population of cultivators in the Border Wasteland Forest.
• Shen Changchuan settled on Great Bay Village as a possible sales platform, but a visitor arrived and invited him to form a team.

Wu Tianhao invited Shen Changchuan to join a sect mission to rescue an Out of Body Stage family’s Old Ancestor and Alchemist, who had gone missing in the depths of the Yao Beast Mountain Forest. Shen Changchuan agreed, and learned the reward was 150,000 Spirit Stones plus an Alchemist inheritance and three Pill Recipes if both were rescued.

• Wu Tianhao explained that an Out of Body Stage family’s Old Ancestor and Alchemist had gone missing while searching the Yao Beast Mountain Forest for water-attributed Heavenly Treasures.
• Wu Tianhao asked Shen Changchuan to join the search, citing his Beast Taming Secret Art and the dangers posed by Demon Beasts in the forest.
• Shen Changchuan agreed to help Wu Tianhao, partly out of gratitude for his past care and partly because he needed Spirit Stones.
• Wu Tianhao revealed that finding the missing people would earn 150,000 Spirit Stones, and rescuing both would also earn the family’s First Order Alchemist inheritance and three Pill Recipes.

Shen Changchuan accepted a dangerous escort mission with Wu Tianhao for a lavish reward, and the two searched the Yao Beast Mountain Forest for half a month. After Shen Changchuan demonstrated his formidable spell mastery, their search remained at a deadlock, with their target still missing.

• Shen Changchuan agreed to accompany Wu Tianhao on an escort mission after learning it offered 150,000 Spirit Stones, an Alchemy Legacy, and a Pill Recipe.
• Wu Tianhao explained that the endangered lineage offered its foundation to the Dragon Firmament Sect because its Old Ancestor had disappeared and it needed protection.
• Shen Changchuan and Wu Tianhao accepted the mission at the External Affairs Hall, where they learned Hong Yang had left on another assignment, then departed for the Yao Beast Mountain Forest.
• During their half-month search, Shen Changchuan killed a giant ape with a powerful sword strike and impressed Wu Tianhao with his perfected spells.
• Wu Tianhao and Shen Changchuan remained unable to find their target, and Wu Tianhao recognized that the mission had reached a deadlock.

Shen Changchuan and Wu Tianhao searched the Monster Beast Mountain Range, where Shen found valuable Monkey King Wine, but the Rainy Season made tracking impossible. They abandoned the mission and prepared to leave, with Shen deciding the risks of hunting in the forest outweighed its unreliable rewards.

• Shen Changchuan found Monkey King Wine hidden inside a tree and collected it after killing a giant ape.
• Wu Tianhao declined Shen Changchuan’s offer to share the wine, saying the spoils belonged to Shen.
• After ten more days of searching, Shen Changchuan and Wu Tianhao encountered the Rainy Season and dense Mountain Leeches.
• Shen Changchuan and Wu Tianhao decided to stop the search because the rain impaired the Blood Talisman’s tracking accuracy.
• Shen Changchuan weighed their gains against the danger of the forest and concluded that exploring it for profit was not worthwhile.

Shen Changchuan and Wu Tianhao extended their search for the mission target, and Shen Changchuan spotted a suspicious prisoner escort that seemed immune to the Rainy Season’s Mountain Leeches. He recognized his former subordinate Guo Cheng among the prisoners and decided to investigate, hoping the group might lead them to the mission’s Alchemist.

• Shen Changchuan persuaded Wu Tianhao to search for another three to five days before giving up on the mission.
• Shen Changchuan sent his Dark Soul Crows through the forest and used the Concentric Vision Technique to search through their perspectives.
• After three more days, Shen Changchuan spotted a group escorting prisoners deeper into the forest while the Mountain Leeches ignored them.
• Wu Tianhao agreed the group was suspicious because no known method could protect people from the Mountain Leeches.
• Shen Changchuan recognized Guo Cheng, a former subordinate who could produce Refining Alchemical Charcoal, among the prisoners and suggested rescuing him.
• Shen Changchuan and Wu Tianhao set out to investigate the escort, hoping it would reveal a clue to the mission target.

Wu Tianhao and Shen Changchuan discovered that Hong Yang had infiltrated the escort team while investigating Devil Cultivators abducting cultivators in the Border Wasteland Forest. After the group’s surprise attack disrupted Hong Yang’s plan, he recruited them to pursue the Devil Cultivators’ lair, though a warning talisman had already alerted it.

• Wu Tianhao and Shen Changchuan found Hong Yang in the ruined Temporary encampment and learned that he had disguised himself as a beggar to infiltrate the escort team.
• Hong Yang scolded Wu Tianhao and Shen Changchuan for disrupting his investigation, then asked why they had come to the encampment.
• Wu Tianhao explained that they had followed suspicious people while searching for their missing target and attacked to rescue any captives.
• Hong Yang revealed that he had been investigating Devil Cultivators who were abducting people in the Border Wasteland Forest and invited the two Nascent Soul cultivators to join him.
• Hong Yang found a shattered warning Jade Talisman on a corpse and urged the group to leave at once before the Devil Cultivators escaped.

Hong Yang and Shen Changchuan raced toward the Devil Cultivators’ lair after discovering its location, while Guo Cheng considered making a deal with Shen. At the lair, the Devil Cultivators prepared to use the three arrivals as sacrifices, but a furious figure in the darkness ordered them to kill the intruders.

• Hong Yang seized and soul-searched the encampment leader, learned where the Devil Cultivators were hiding, and flew there with Wu Tianhao and Shen Changchuan.
• The rescued cultivators debated whether to wait or flee, while Guo Cheng recognized Shen Changchuan and resolved to approach him about a dangerous matter.
• In Black Mist Valley, Devil Cultivators watched a giant worm produce the Mountain Leeches and fed it the blood of captive cultivators.
• The Devil Cultivators learned Hong Yang and two Dragon Firmament Sect cultivators were approaching, and planned to hold Hong Yang back while killing the other two and sacrificing all three.
• A figure with scarlet eyes attacked one of the Devil Cultivators and ordered the others to kill the intruders, insisting they were after his little treasure.

Hong Yang confronted Seven Absolute Sect disciples in the Border Wasteland Forest and learned that their Master, Seven Absolute Old Ancestor, had long planned something there. After Shen Changchuan and Wu Tianhao were separated by the Formation, Hong Yang unleashed a dangerous secret technique to break through and reach them, while they faced Deng Xin.

• Hong Yang realized that four of Seven Absolute Old Demon’s True Disciples had gathered in the valley and suspected Shen Changchuan and Wu Tianhao had been transferred elsewhere by the Formation.
• A Seven Absolute Sect disciple claimed Seven Absolute Old Ancestor had claimed the Border Wasteland Forest and sent them to challenge the Dragon Firmament Sect.
• Hong Yang activated Blazing Sun Disintegration, raising his cultivation to Half-Step Spirit Wandering and attacking the Formation with Great Crimson Sun Flame Fist.
• Shen Changchuan and Wu Tianhao faced a bandage-wrapped opponent whose aura was at least the Out of Body Stage Fourth Layer.
• Wu Tianhao identified the opponent as Deng Xin, the fourth-ranked True Disciple under Seven Absolute Old Demon, whom You Longzi had defeated years earlier.

Wu Tianhao and Shen Changchuan faced Deng Xin, a disciple of the Seven Absolute Old Demon, while trying to understand why so many of his fellow disciples had gathered in Black Mist Valley. When a burst of Blazing Sun Qi signaled trouble for Hong Yang, Deng Xin abandoned his delay and struck at the two men.

• Wu Tianhao and Shen Changchuan recognized Deng Xin as one of the Seven Absolute Old Demon's disciples and feared that the gathered forces were pursuing a larger plan.
• Wu Tianhao and Shen Changchuan suspected Deng Xin was waiting for Hong Yang's fight to conclude, so they chose to stall rather than attack.
• A surge of Blazing Sun Qi erupted from the direction of Hong Yang's battle, causing Deng Xin to turn his attention back to Wu Tianhao and Shen Changchuan.
• Deng Xin vanished and reappeared behind Wu Tianhao and Shen Changchuan, slashing at their heads with pitch-black claws.

Deng Xin ambushed Wu Tianhao and Shen Changchuan with deadly force, but Shen Changchuan’s White Jade Heart Protection Mirror shielded them from his first attack. Deng Xin followed with a powerful black lightning spell that damaged the mirror, leaving Shen Changchuan to ask Wu Tianhao to hold him off while they faced an enemy beyond their strength.

• Deng Xin vanished and struck at Wu Tianhao from behind, but Shen Changchuan activated the White Jade Heart Protection Mirror to protect them.
• Deng Xin recognized the mirror as a valuable Treasure Artifact and attacked the two men with a perfect Second-tier black lightning spell.
• Wu Tianhao hurled an azure spear that transformed into a dragon, but Deng Xin’s black lightning overwhelmed it.
• Shen Changchuan raised the mirror to block the lightning, which sent both men flying and left the mirror cracked and nearly exhausted.
• Shen Changchuan asked Wu Tianhao if he had a way to hold Deng Xin back for a moment.

Shen Changchuan and Wu Tianhao fought to survive Deng Xin’s repeated Black Baleful Fierce Lightning attacks, then coordinated a counterattack using Shen Changchuan’s Divine Ability. The chapter ended with Shen Changchuan freezing Deng Xin for an instant, leaving the opening for the Three Azure Luo Sword Array.

• Shen Changchuan told Wu Tianhao that he could use a powerful move if Wu Tianhao restrained Deng Xin, and they agreed to fight back rather than wait to be worn down.
• Shen Changchuan used the Bronze Bell to protect himself and Wu Tianhao from another Black Baleful Fierce Lightning strike.
• Wu Tianhao promised to freeze Deng Xin for one breath, while Shen Changchuan agreed to follow with his attack.
• Deng Xin’s next Black Baleful Fierce Lightning strike dimmed the Bronze Bell and left the two men exposed.
• Shen Changchuan unleashed the Divine Ability Three Azure Luo Sword Array, One Sword Ten Thousand Images, after its crimson eye froze Deng Xin’s thoughts and body for an instant.

Shen Changchuan used his transformed Divine Ability to kill Deng Xin with a strike that consumed most of his spiritual power. He and Wu Tianhao survived the battle, though both were left unable to fight.

• Shen Changchuan unleashed a peak sword strike that pierced Deng Xin and destroyed his body and divine soul.
• Shen Changchuan reflected that he had needed to use nearly all his strength to ensure the powerful Mid Out of Body Stage cultivator could not survive and retaliate.
• Wu Tianhao flew over and confirmed that Deng Xin was dead, then admitted he had no strength left after binding the enemy.
• Wu Tianhao praised Shen Changchuan for achieving Divine Ability Metamorphosis and killing an Out of Body Stage Fourth Layer Devil Cultivator while at the first level.
• Shen Changchuan credited Wu Tianhao's binding technique for creating the chance to land the fatal strike.

After Shen Changchuan and Wu Tianhao killed Deng Xin, they reunited with Hong Yang, who urged them to escape the valley and send for help. A Half-Step Spirit Wandering enemy appeared and trapped them behind the Formation, so Hong Yang punched through it and hurled the two younger cultivators outside.

• Shen Changchuan took Deng Xin's Storage Bags and burned his corpse to ashes while he and Wu Tianhao decided to retreat rather than burden Hong Yang.
• Hong Yang arrived, praised the two for defeating Deng Xin, and told them to escape and use a Communication Talisman to summon their master.
• A Half-Step Spirit Wandering enemy appeared and covered the valley in black demonic light, while Mountain Leeches streamed power into a black tornado.
• Hong Yang swept Shen Changchuan and Wu Tianhao away from the enemy, but the Formation blocked their escape.
• Hong Yang punched a hole through the Formation barrier and hurled Shen Changchuan and Wu Tianhao through it.

Hong Yang stayed behind to hold off a powerful enemy while Wu Tianhao and Shen Changchuan escaped, but he was quickly overwhelmed. After Shen revealed a powerful Jade Talisman, the two brothers flew back to help as the enemy prepared to deliver a final blow to Hong Yang.

• Hong Yang faced the black-storm enemy alone while Wu Tianhao and Shen Changchuan retreated, then fought back as the enemy attacked with a vast black hand.
• Wu Tianhao urged Shen Changchuan to summon reinforcements while he returned to help Hong Yang, but Shen insisted on joining him and revealed a powerful Jade Talisman.
• Wu Tianhao sensed that the Jade Talisman held power beyond the Spirit Wandering realm, and he and Shen Changchuan flew toward the valley together.
• The enemy overwhelmed Hong Yang in a brief clash, sending him crashing into a crater as he coughed up blood and struggled to stand.
• The black-storm enemy advanced on Hong Yang and formed another massive hand to strike him as he faced it without backing down.

You Longzi arrived at Black Mist Valley and crushed the valley with a powerful palm strike, rescuing Hong Yang and the surviving captives. The Mountain Leech creature escaped, and You Longzi left the others to save the remaining prisoners and return to the sect.

• As Hong Yang faced death, You Longzi's Sky Covering Great Hand struck Black Mist Valley and the creature fled as Mountain Leeches.
• You Longzi protected Hong Yang with a Golden Bell Shield, healed him, and praised him for standing by his fellow disciples.
• You Longzi said the creature had escaped, told Hong Yang, Wu Tianhao, and Shen Changchuan to rescue the captives, and departed.
• The three searched the vast handprint and dug out several dozen surviving cultivators who had been captured and drained of blood to feed the monster.
• The rescued cultivators told Shen Changchuan that Devil Cultivators had abducted Alchemists to keep prisoners alive while feeding their blood to the Mountain Leeches.

Wu Zhen delivered the Yuqing Immortal Sect’s order for the Dragon Firmament Sect to attack the Southern Yue Land within three months, and You Longzi realized it was an attempt to force him out of the Seven Sons of Yuqing. Meanwhile, Shen Changchuan and Wu Tianhao returned from their perilous mission after rescuing the Alchemist and their Lineage’s Old Ancestor.

• Wu Zhen presented You Longzi with the sect’s order to launch an attack on the Southern Yue Land within three months.
• Hong Yang protested that the newly founded Dragon Firmament Sect lacked the strength for the campaign, but You Longzi told him to recover and leave the matter to his master.
• You Longzi concluded that his rivals were targeting his position among the Seven Sons of Yuqing and vowed not to give it up.
• Shen Changchuan and Wu Tianhao returned to the Dragon Firmament Sect after surviving the mission and defeating the Seven Absolute Old Demon’s Personal Disciple, who escaped as a remnant soul.
• Shen Changchuan and Wu Tianhao had completed their mission by rescuing the Alchemist and their Lineage’s Old Ancestor.