Chapter Summaries

Shen Changchuan defeated the Bald Giant by combining two perfected Second-tier Spells to shatter his Buddhist bead attack, then killed him with a sudden strike. The battle ended with the Bald Giant dead and Shi Miaoqing and the others driven back by the collision.

• The Bald Giant unleashed his strongest technique, sending eighteen Blood-Colored Buddhist Beads crashing toward Shen Changchuan.
• Shen Changchuan fused Blazing Dragon Burning World with Swift Wind Wandering Dragon Sword, creating a Flame True Dragon that smashed the Buddhist beads and shattered their formation.
• The collision’s shockwaves forced Shi Miaoqing and the other two to retreat over a thousand zhang, while the Bald Giant spat blood and stood stunned.
• Shen Changchuan used Lightning Shadow Swift Step to appear before the dazed Bald Giant.
• Shen Changchuan struck the Bald Giant’s forehead with Divine Ability · One Sword Ten Thousand Images and extinguished his consciousness.

Shen Changchuan killed the Bald Giant and the three other robbery cultivators who had targeted him, then erased the evidence and left. He later found their loot disappointingly poor and regretted killing the group before they had made any money.

• Shen Changchuan reflected that the Bald Giant had died because he was careless and reminded himself to stay vigilant against stronger cultivators.
• Shen Changchuan attacked the remaining three while they were still recovering from his spells, killing Shi Miaoqing and the others before she could threaten him with her background.
• Shen Changchuan took the four robbers’ valuables, destroyed their corpses, erased the traces, and departed on Little Wind.
• Half a day later, Shen Changchuan opened the four Storage Bags and complained that the group’s Devil Artifacts and other possessions were worth only fifty or sixty thousand Spirit Stones.
• Shen Changchuan realized Shi Miaoqing’s group might have targeted him because he left Fangxian City early, then consoled himself that killing them had saved lives.

After killing Shi Miaoqing and her companions, Shen Changchuan found a worn map pointing to a place in the Nanyue Kingdom and returned to the sect while planning a large-scale Gu-breeding project. He discovered the sect had grown desolate because many disciples had been sent to the front lines of the war against the Nanyue Kingdom.

• Shen Changchuan searched the dead cultivators' belongings for clues about their possible ties to the Nanyue Kingdom's Devil Dao but found only a worn map in Shi Miaoqing's Storage Bag.
• Shen Changchuan noticed the map marked a location within the Nanyue Kingdom but decided to postpone investigating it and focused on studying Gu techniques during his journey home.
• After five uneventful days, Shen Changchuan returned to the Border Wasteland Forest region and planned to raise Gu worms in Great Bay Village while refining pills.
• Shen Changchuan went to the External Affairs Hall to report his extended stay in Great Bay Village and found Wei Yuting handling its work.
• Wei Yuting told Shen Changchuan that Senior Brother Hong Yang and Wu Tianhao had led many disciples to the front lines, where other major powers of the Tiannan Domain were also mobilizing.

Shen Changchuan stayed behind while the Dragon Firmament Sect sent most of its forces to the looming war, taking charge of the Law Enforcement Hall and settling in Great Bay Village to cultivate and raise Gu worms. Three years later, his large-scale breeding project succeeded in producing a Second Order High Grade Centipede King.

• Shen Changchuan learned that Senior Brother Hong Yang had arranged for him to remain at the sect and grow stronger instead of joining the front lines.
• You Longzi appointed Shen Changchuan acting Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, and Shen chose to station himself in Great Bay Village.
• Shen Changchuan organized large-scale Gu breeding while refining pills and cultivating spells to improve his realm.
• Three years later, Shen Changchuan controlled the newly advanced Centipede King and stored it in a White Jade Gourd.

Shen Changchuan completed three years of Gu cultivation and produced a powerful Second Order High Grade Centipede King. A message from Senior Sister reported that another Devil Cultivator had infiltrated and caused trouble, and Shen Changchuan left to respond.

• Shen Changchuan assessed the Centipede King's power and cautioned himself that it could not reliably defeat Out of Body Stage Late-stage cultivators.
• Shen Changchuan reviewed his progress, noting that his First Order Gu Refining Technique had reached 100% and his Second Order technique had reached 71%.
• Shen Changchuan recalled that the Centipede King had been raised from tens of millions of Centipedes over three years at a cost of roughly eight thousand Spirit Stones.
• Shen Changchuan considered having his subordinates cultivate more Gu worms before a Communication Talisman from Senior Sister interrupted him.
• Shen Changchuan learned that another Devil Cultivator had infiltrated and caused trouble, then vanished to confront the situation.

Two Demonic Cultivators slaughtered a large village to strengthen their Soul Refining Banner, then learned they had invaded the Dragon Firmament Sect’s territory. After discovering the sect’s strongest forces were away and its young defender was only at the peak of the Out of Body Stage Third Layer, Xiong Banqing dismissed the danger and prepared to face him.

• Xiong Banqing and his gaunt younger brother used the Soul Refining Banner to drain a village’s vital essence and slaughter its remaining cultivators.
• Xiong Banqing celebrated as the Soul Refining Banner grew stronger, while his younger brother urged caution about operating in Righteous Path territory.
• The younger brother revealed that the village was in the Dragon Firmament Sect’s territory, ruled by You Longzi, a powerful member of the Yuqing Immortal Sect Seven Sons.
• Xiong Banqing panicked at the prospect of You Longzi’s retaliation, but his younger brother explained that most of the sect’s strongest cultivators were guarding Barbaric City.
• The younger brother said a junior at the peak of the Out of Body Stage Third Layer had been suppressing infiltrators, and Xiong Banqing laughed off the threat and vowed to capture him.

An unidentified cultivator ambushed Xiong Banqing and his brother, then overwhelmed their Soul Refining Banner and its domain with a Black and Gold Patterned Centipede. Xiong Banqing and his brother died, leaving the attacker standing over them.

• A sudden azure sword strike hit Xiong Banqing and his brother, leaving them badly injured despite the Soul Refining Banner's defense.
• Xiong Banqing activated the Soul Refining Banner and trapped the attacker inside a domain filled with Vengeful Souls and Black Smoke Skulls.
• The attacker swept away the first wave of spirits with four magical power swords, but Xiong Banqing claimed the spirits would keep resurrecting.
• The attacker summoned a Black and Gold Patterned Centipede, which tore open the domain and caused the Soul Refining Banner to crack.
• The attacker pierced Xiong Banqing through the chest with a lightning-fast strike, and Xiong Banqing's brother collapsed as well.

Shen Changchuan killed two Out of Body Stage cultivators who had slaughtered a village, then returned toward the sect while reflecting on his increased strength and stalled cultivation. He concluded that the bottleneck at the Third Layer Peak might be a natural difficulty of advancing through the Out of Body Stage rather than a flaw in his foundation.

• Shen Changchuan ambushed and killed the two cultivators after confirming their strength, though they had already wiped out the village's defenders.
• Shen Changchuan left the ruined village and flew toward the sect, praising Little Gold for breaking through the Soul Refining Banner's domain.
• Shen Changchuan assessed how three years of cultivation had made him capable of fighting stronger opponents, especially with Little Gold's help.
• Shen Changchuan considered why he had remained stuck at the Third Layer Peak for six months despite repeated attempts to break through.
• Shen Changchuan ruled out a weak foundation and suspected that advancing through the Out of Body Stage was simply difficult.

Shen Changchuan remained stuck at the Out of Body Stage Third Layer Peak and sought ways to break through before the war worsened. After deciding to pursue both a rare Gu and Wu Tianhao’s breakthrough secret art, he returned to the sect, where Wei Yuting assigned him an urgent mission to the front lines.

• Shen Changchuan recalled Senior Sister Wei’s advice that the bottleneck at the Out of Body Stage Third Layer Peak was normal and might take years to overcome.
• Worried about the escalating war, Shen Changchuan considered using pills or a secret technique to break through, but the Golden Wind Jade Dew Gu remained difficult to refine without a Gold Devouring Spirit Butterfly.
• Shen Changchuan remembered that Wu Tianhao had used a secret technique to reach the Out of Body Stage Fourth Layer and decided to ask him about it while also asking Master You Longzi to help find the butterfly.
• Five days later, Shen Changchuan returned to the sect to submit his mission and inquire about You Longzi and Wu Tianhao before visiting Great Bay Village to sell the spoils from two Devil Cultivators.
• After Wei Yuting finished handing over the mission, she urgently assigned Shen Changchuan another mission to the front lines.

Shen Changchuan accepted a Dragon Firmament Sect mission to escort new disciples and hired cultivators to Barbaric City, where he hoped to meet his Master and ask Wu Tianhao about a cultivation breakthrough secret art. He spent ten days preparing for the journey and studying the dangerous Nanyue Kingdom, a region dominated by powerful Devil Dao forces.

• At the External Affairs Hall, Wei Yuting assigned Shen Changchuan an escort mission to Barbaric City, and he accepted it without resentment.
• Shen Changchuan learned that similar transport missions were routine and usually safe, though a few had suffered deadly Devil Cultivator ambushes.
• Shen Changchuan planned to use his trip to find You Longzi about the Gold Devouring Spirit Butterfly and ask Wu Tianhao about a secret method for breaking through cultivation realms.
• Shen Changchuan spent ten days gathering intelligence on Nanyue Kingdom, studying the route, and preparing contingencies for attacks.
• Shen Changchuan reviewed the Nanyue Kingdom's perilous wilderness and its major Devil Dao powers, including the Seven Absolute Sect, the White Bone Sect, and the Four Great Tribes.

Shen Changchuan considered the powerful factions shaping the Southern Yue Land conflict and resolved to focus on increasing his cultivation. After receiving part of the proceeds from the devil cultivators’ spoils, he arrived to escort a group of eight hundred cultivators traveling to Barbaric City.

• Shen Changchuan reviewed the Four Great Tribes, the Netherworld Sect, and other factions, and wondered whether the Yuqing Immortal Sect’s silence was connected to its order for the Dragon Firmament Sect to invade the Southern Yue Land.
• Shen Changchuan decided to set aside those concerns and focus on breaking through to the Out of Body Stage Fourth Layer.
• Shen Changchuan received one hundred thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones and three hundred Mid-grade Spirit Stones from selling part of the devil cultivators’ spoils.
• Shen Changchuan arrived at the plaza and confirmed that the eight hundred cultivators bound for Barbaric City had assembled, including three hundred Dragon Firmament Sect outer disciples and five hundred rogue cultivators.
• Shen Changchuan surveyed the gathered cultivators and reflected on how much harder it was for rogue cultivators born as mortals to access cultivation and inheritances.

Shen Changchuan reflected on his limited attachment to the Shen Family before leading the group south toward the battlefield. At the southernmost city, he reunited with the Song Family Old Ancestor and met Pei Yong'an, then departed with them aboard three flying vessels.

• Shen Changchuan recalled that he did not resent the Shen Family for Madame Zhou's attempt on his life, but felt little belonging and would only offer the family limited help if it declined.
• Shen Changchuan led the group onto a flying vessel, and they traveled for five days to the southernmost great city of the Tiannan Domain.
• The Song Family Old Ancestor greeted Shen Changchuan and humbly acknowledged his fame and strength, while regretting that he had not firmly supported him in the past.
• Shen Changchuan met Pei Yong'an, a rogue cultivator hired by the Myriad Spirits Pavilion to escort two thousand Qi Gathering realm cultivators.
• Shen Changchuan, the Song Family Old Ancestor, and Pei Yong'an departed south aboard three flying vessels.

Shen Changchuan led a convoy of three flying boats carrying nearly five thousand reinforcements through the dangerous wilderness toward Barbaric City, gaining insights from the Song Family Old Ancestor along the way. Just three thousand li from their destination, the convoy was ambushed by a swarm of black birds.

• Shen Changchuan kept watch as the flying boats crossed stormy, fog-shrouded regions and survived lightning strikes and attacks by Demon Beasts without casualties.
• Shen Changchuan discussed Out of Body Stage cultivation with the Song Family Old Ancestor and learned how much a Spirit Body improved cultivation and the chances of reaching the Spirit Wandering Realm.
• The Song Family Old Ancestor and Shen Changchuan noted that the convoy was nearing Barbaric City but agreed to remain vigilant.
• A violent impact rocked the leading flying boat, and Shen Changchuan steadied it with his strength.
• Black birds poured from the dark clouds and swarmed the three flying boats, while the Song Family Old Ancestor returned to organize the Song Family elites' defenses.

Hundred Schemes ambushed a Righteous Path transport convoy near Barbaric City, confident that he and his brother could destroy its three flying boats and escape to Nanyue Kingdom. He planned to kill Shen Changchuan, a Dragon Firmament Sect prodigy, and claim the Seven Absolute Old Ancestor’s favor.

• Hundred Schemes explained that attacking near Barbaric City would surprise the convoy and let the Devil Cultivators retreat quickly afterward.
• Black Fiend Birds tore through the shields of the two rear flying boats, leaving their Nascent Soul cultivators struggling to defend them.
• Hundred Schemes told his brother that intelligence showed the convoy had only three Righteous Path cultivators, including Shen Changchuan, and that killing the prodigy could earn them a reward.
• Hundred Schemes and his brother prepared to attack Shen Changchuan and return to Nanyue Kingdom.

Shen Changchuan ambushed and killed Hundred Schemes and his companion, ending the attack on the Dragon Firmament Sect flying ships. With the Black Fiend Birds scattering, he urged the ships to reach Barbaric City before nightfall.

• Shen Changchuan emerged from concealment and struck Hundred Schemes and the other Devil Cultivator with a powerful sword spell.
• Shen Changchuan used the Instant Shadow Kill Array to reduce the two wounded Devil Cultivators to bones and burned their remains.
• The Black Fiend Birds fled after Hundred Schemes died, ending the crisis around the three flying ships.
• The Song Family Old Ancestor watched Shen Changchuan’s sword attack in shock and recognized his terrifying strength.
• Shen Changchuan told everyone to pick up the pace and try to reach Barbaric City before nightfall.

Shen Changchuan arrived in Barbaric City but found that both Wu Tianhao and his master, You Longzi, were away. While exploring the city, he sold his accumulated Devil Artifacts, bought cultivation resources and knowledge inheritances, and began to feel slight progress against his bottleneck.

• Shen Changchuan learned that Wu Tianhao was away on a mission, left a message at his Cave Abode, and then discovered that You Longzi was also absent.
• Shen Changchuan decided to rest in Barbaric City and explored its markets, streets, and surroundings while learning about the Nanyue Kingdom.
• Shen Changchuan discovered that Devil Artifacts could be traded and used in Barbaric City because the front lines accepted them as spoils and useful weapons.
• Shen Changchuan sold his accumulated Devil Artifacts for more than five thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones and bought cultivation resources and Jade Slips containing various inheritances.
• Shen Changchuan spent several days cultivating and studying his purchases, and he sensed slight progress in stirring his bottleneck.

Wu Tianhao told Shen Changchuan about a cunning Devil Cultivator threatening Barbaric City's supply route, only to learn that Shen Changchuan had already killed the attacker. Wu Tianhao realized the ambush had been thwarted and the frontline had been spared a serious blow.

• Shen Changchuan visited Wu Tianhao and asked what was troubling him.
• Wu Tianhao explained that Hundred Schemes Kong Yuan planned to attack Barbaric City's transport fleet while Tiannan's strongest cultivators fought at the front.
• Shen Changchuan revealed that his group had been ambushed on the way to Barbaric City and had killed their attackers.
• Wu Tianhao recognized the dead ambusher as Kong Yuan and concluded that his elaborate plan had failed because he encountered Shen Changchuan.

Shen Changchuan obtained Wu Tianhao’s Qi Absorption Returning Origin Secret Technique and learned that its dangerous side effects could damage his meridians and dantian. He chose not to use it for a quick breakthrough and planned to rely on cultivation and the Golden Wind Jade Dew Gu instead while seeking information about the Gold Devouring Spirit Butterfly.

• Wu Tianhao gave Shen Changchuan the Qi Absorption Returning Origin Secret Technique without asking for payment and explained its risks.
• Wu Tianhao advised Shen Changchuan to build his cultivation and break through naturally rather than suffer lasting injuries for speed.
• Shen Changchuan studied the technique for a day and concluded that its explosive method could cause severe damage to his dantian and meridians.
• Shen Changchuan decided against using the technique and placed his hopes in the Golden Wind Jade Dew Gu to increase his cultivation speed.
• Shen Changchuan planned to wait for his Master, seek information about the Gold Devouring Spirit Butterfly at the trading market, and continue cultivating.

Shen Changchuan reconsidered the dangerous Qi Absorption Returning Origin Secret Technique and used the Nine Essences Spirit Refining Technique as a template to alter it. After a month of study and cultivation, he successfully purified his spiritual power, increased his strength, and saw hope of breaking through.

• Shen Changchuan decided the original Qi Absorption Returning Origin Secret Technique was too dangerous to cultivate, then realized its compression method might be adapted to refine spiritual power.
• Shen Changchuan recalled the Nine Essences Spirit Refining Technique and resolved to use it to revise the secret technique.
• Shen Changchuan studied the technique in seclusion, drawing on his extensive knowledge of Perfect Level Spells while Wu Tianhao left Barbaric City on a mission.
• After a month, Shen Changchuan successfully cultivated his altered technique, reducing his spiritual power by one-fifth while increasing its quality and spell strength by thirty percent.
• Shen Changchuan sensed that further purification could help him break through within several months, but decided not to pursue creating new techniques yet.

Shen Changchuan stayed in Barbaric City rather than risk going to the Soul Severing Mountain front line, and arranged to seek news of a Gold Devouring Spirit Butterfly. He began a long seclusion to refine his spiritual power, hoping to overcome the bottleneck at the Third Layer Peak of the Nascent Soul realm.

• Shen Changchuan learned that You Longzi was still fighting on the Soul Severing Mountain front line and decided not to go there himself.
• Shen Changchuan sent You Longzi a Communication Talisman asking about the Gold Devouring Spirit Butterfly and posted a task seeking one or information about it.
• Shen Changchuan spent more than three thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones on Heavenly Treasures for Nascent Soul cultivators.
• Shen Changchuan realized his rapid cultivation had left his spiritual power without sufficient accumulation, which he believed was holding him back at the Third Layer Peak.
• Shen Changchuan began secluded cultivation to repeatedly compress and refine his spiritual power, aiming to loosen his bottleneck and approach the Out of Body Stage Fourth Layer.