Chapter Summaries

Shen Changchuan purified and compressed his mana until he broke through to the Out of Body Stage Fourth Layer. He also learned that the Gold Devouring Spirit Butterfly might live among the Spirit Race or in Jinfeng Valley, but he lacked enough information to pursue it safely.

• Shen Changchuan spent more than three thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones on Heavenly Treasures to temper and replenish his mana.
• You Longzi reported that an elder of the Lieyang Sword Sect had heard a Spirit Race priest mention the Gold Devouring Spirit Butterfly, and promised to search for it after the front-line conflict settled.
• Shen Changchuan visited the injured Wu Tianhao, who described Jinfeng Valley's mineral-rich terrain and dangerous golden winds but had never heard of the Gold Devouring Spirit Butterfly.
• Shen Changchuan exhausted his Heavenly Treasures and remaining Mid-grade Spirit Stones, then broke through from the Out of Body Stage Third Layer Peak to the Fourth Layer.

After stabilizing his cultivation, Shen Changchuan learned that Wu Tianhao’s unexplained illness had become life-threatening and suspected a sinister Gu worm was responsible. He began examining Wu Tianhao with Little Gold, hoping to identify the cause.

• Shen Changchuan ended his secluded cultivation after stabilizing at the Out of Body Stage Fourth Layer and hurried to Wu Tianhao’s courtyard.
• Wu Tianhao told Shen Changchuan that his condition had steadily worsened since his return from Jinfeng Valley, despite examinations by an elder and an alchemist.
• Wu Tianhao explained that he had delayed contacting You Longzi because the battle at Soul Severing Mountain was deadlocked and he feared distracting his Master.
• Shen Changchuan offered to examine Wu Tianhao, saying his studies of alchemy and Gu technique led him to suspect a hidden sinister Gu worm.
• Shen Changchuan tested Wu Tianhao’s blood, released Little Gold, and watched the Golden Centipede taste the blood and hiss at him.

Shen Changchuan used Little Gold to draw the unknown Gu worm from Wu Tianhao and absorb the poison afflicting him. After discovering a technique fluctuation connecting the worm to someone nearby, Shen Changchuan attacked a house with One Qi Capture Hand.

• Shen Changchuan told Wu Tianhao he could not identify the Gu worm but proposed using Little Gold to counter it.
• Wu Tianhao swallowed Little Gold and let it move through his body until it forced a dark-red Gu worm out through his wound.
• Little Gold absorbed the poison in Wu Tianhao's body, leaving him weak but recovered.
• Shen Changchuan noticed the Gu worm was linked to someone nearby and launched One Qi Capture Hand at a house.

Shen Changchuan pursued a mysterious Gu-user who had escaped Barbaric City, relying on Little Gold to track him. When Shen Changchuan tried to retreat after reaching the lakeside, the enemy trapped him by restricting the space and prepared to attack.

• The scrawny figure tried to flee after Shen Changchuan’s palm shattered his attack and destroyed his hut, but his Gu-based escape left no trace.
• Shen Changchuan realized the fugitive had used a Gu worm and summoned Little Gold to track him beyond Barbaric City.
• Little Gold led Shen Changchuan to a lake several miles outside the city, while Barbaric City raised an alert barrier after discovering the intruder.
• Shen Changchuan decided to retreat and summon help, but an invisible force restricted the space around him.
• The scrawny figure rose from the lake and threatened Shen Changchuan for pursuing him.

After Shen Changchuan exposed an infiltrator who had tried to ambush his disciple, Barbaric City went under martial law and its cultivators rushed to investigate a huge disturbance outside the city. They found Shen Changchuan holding the defeated Out of Body Stage Sixth Level enemy, leaving the Shen Family Third Elder shaken by his strength and worried about his past allegiance to First Madam.

• Daoist Friend Zheng told the Shen Family Third Elder that a spy had infiltrated Barbaric City and that Shen Changchuan had exposed the plot.
• The Ancient Sword Sect First Elder ordered the city sealed after learning the infiltrator had targeted You Longzi's disciple.
• A massive disturbance erupted outside the city, and Daoist Friend Zheng and the Shen Family Third Elder flew to investigate.
• Shen Changchuan emerged from a vast crater holding the defeated Out of Body Stage Sixth Level enemy despite being at the Out of Body Stage Fourth Layer.
• The Shen Family Third Elder hid among the crowd and regretted joining First Madam's faction, fearing Shen Changchuan's growing power.

Shen Changchuan captured the Devil Cultivator Shadow Ghost after he infiltrated Barbaric City, then learned from Wu Tianhao why the man had been hunted. Wu Tianhao revealed Shadow Ghost was suspected of possessing fragments of the Ming Huan Gu Jing, and that the enemy’s true cultivation was far higher than reported.

• Shen Changchuan modestly deflected the senior cultivators’ praise and noticed the Shen Family Third Elder watching from behind the crowd.
• The Shen Family Third Elder realized Shen Changchuan had seen him and grew anxious.
• In the dungeon, Wu Tianhao recognized the captured man as Shadow Ghost, a notorious rising Devil Cultivator from Nanyue Kingdom.
• Wu Tianhao explained that the Ming Huan Gu Jing shattered during the battle over a Mysterious Pill realm True Person’s Ruins, and Shadow Ghost was suspected of finding fragments.
• Wu Tianhao recounted how he had investigated Shadow Ghost near Jinfeng Valley while seeking ways to counter Gu techniques on the front lines.
• Wu Tianhao revealed that Shadow Ghost had been rumored to be at the Out of Body Stage Fourth Layer but was actually at the Sixth Level.

After Shen Changchuan saved Wu Tianhao from Shadow Ghost, Wu Tianhao reflected on the kindness that had led them to become allies. Shen Changchuan assessed his newfound strength in seclusion and discovered that Shadow Ghost’s Void Escape Gu recipe was the second fragment of the Ming Huan Gu Jing he had encountered.

• Wu Tianhao realized Shadow Ghost had concealed his Out of Body Stage Sixth Level cultivation and secretly targeted him, and he felt grateful that Shen Changchuan had intervened.
• Two days later, Shen Changchuan returned to his rented Cave Abode to avoid social gatherings and review his gains.
• Shen Changchuan concluded that his refined spiritual power and perfected Second-tier Spells let him contend with ordinary Out of Body Stage Sixth Level cultivators.
• Shen Changchuan examined the Void Escape Gu refinement method found in Shadow Ghost’s Storage Bag and recognized it as the second fragment of the Ming Huan Gu Jing.
• Shen Changchuan recalled that the first fragment, containing the Golden Wind Jade Dew Gu recipe, had come to him three years earlier through a Jade Slip.

After learning that the Ming Huan Gu Jing came from a Profound Pill True Person, Shen Changchuan grew confident that the Golden Wind Jade Dew Gu was real and resolved to focus on refining it. He set aside the more demanding Void Escape Gu for later, then sorted through Shadow Ghost's spoils and replenished his fortune.

• Shen Changchuan recalled Wu Tianhao's account and concluded that the Golden Wind Jade Dew Gu was credible because the Ming Huan Gu Jing had come from a Profound Pill True Person.
• Shen Changchuan reflected on the power and status of the Mysterious Pill realm, then decided to focus on practical goals: refining the Golden Wind Jade Dew Gu and reaching the Out of Body Stage Sixth Layer Peak.
• Shen Changchuan planned to seek information about the Gold Devouring Spirit Butterfly and the Spirit Race rather than rely solely on You Longzi's help.
• Shen Changchuan decided to postpone refining the Void Escape Gu because its materials would be difficult to gather and he was already occupied with the Golden Wind Jade Dew Gu.
• Shen Changchuan sorted through Shadow Ghost's Storage Bag and found precious treasures, many Mid-grade Spirit Stones, and three High-grade Spirit Stones.

After using Shadow Ghost’s spoils to stabilize his cultivation at the Out of Body Stage Fourth Layer, Shen Changchuan went to the City Lord’s Mansion to collect information about the Gold Devouring Spirit Butterfly. There, he met the cultivator who had answered his request and recognized them as an acquaintance.

• Shen Changchuan used Shadow Ghost’s spoils, including three High-grade Spirit Stones, to stabilize his cultivation and advance toward the peak of the Fourth Layer’s initial stage.
• A message arrived that someone had submitted information in response to Shen Changchuan’s task seeking news of the Gold Devouring Spirit Butterfly, so he left secluded cultivation.
• The Ancient Sword Sect First Elder welcomed Shen Changchuan at the City Lord’s Mansion and was astonished by his rapid cultivation progress.
• The First Elder led Shen Changchuan into a side hall, where Shen Changchuan recognized the cultivator who had submitted the information.

Guo Cheng told Shen Changchuan how he acquired the Golden Wind Jade Dew Gu Jade Slip and explained that he had traced a Gold Devouring Spirit Butterfly to the Wu surname clan. After seeing Shen Changchuan’s task notice in Barbaric City, Guo Cheng approached him with the information.

• Shen Changchuan recognized Guo Cheng, an old acquaintance who had risen to the Ninth Layer Qi Gathering Peak, and asked him about the Gold Devouring Spirit Butterfly.
• Guo Cheng recounted fleeing Wu Family Market, killing a mortally wounded Wu surname clan youth in the Nanyue Kingdom, and finding the Golden Wind Jade Dew Gu Jade Slip in his Storage Bag.
• Guo Cheng explained that Shen Changchuan’s reward had helped him advance, and that he had since investigated how to refine the Golden Wind Jade Dew Gu.
• Guo Cheng learned that the Wu surname clan had acquired a Gold Devouring Spirit Butterfly at a market in the Nanyue Kingdom about half a year earlier.
• After returning to Barbaric City, Guo Cheng heard of Shen Changchuan’s power and found his task notice, prompting him to seek Shen Changchuan out.

Shen Changchuan learned that obtaining the Gold Devouring Spirit Butterfly from the distant Spirit Race and Wu surname clan would be extremely dangerous, then agreed to help Gu Xuanqing treat cultivators afflicted by Gu worms. He followed Gu Xuanqing to the courtyard where the injured cultivators were recuperating.

• Shen Changchuan weighed the dangers of entering the Spirit Race's territory and decided to seek his master's advice while strengthening himself.
• Shen Changchuan thanked the Ancient Sword Sect First Elder for publicizing his mission, and Gu Xuanqing asked him for help with Gu-afflicted cultivators.
• Gu Xuanqing explained that Devil Dao Gu techniques had tormented and killed cultivators on the Soul Severing Mountain front, while local treatments offered little relief.
• Shen Changchuan agreed to help dispel the Gu worms and investigate a way to deal with them.
• Gu Xuanqing led Shen Changchuan to a western district courtyard where severely afflicted cultivators were being treated.

Shen Changchuan found he could not identify antidotes for the many Gu afflicting cultivators in Barbaric City, but proposed using Little Gold to drive the worms out instead. After five days of treatment, he had removed Gu from hundreds of people, though many remained beyond his help.

• Shen Changchuan told Gu Xuanqing that he could expel Gu worms without antidotes, but warned that the process could worsen injuries and could not be done for everyone.
• Gu Xuanqing asked Shen Changchuan to save as many cultivators as possible and promised Barbaric City’s support and a reward from the Alliance.
• Over five days, Shen Changchuan used Little Gold to remove Gu worms from 393 cultivators, and 21 died when their bodies were found hollowed out by the worms.
• Shen Changchuan could not remove the microscopic Gu afflicting 68 cultivators, so he ordered Penicillium purified with alcohol injected into their blood as a desperate attempt to help them.

After driving Gu from hundreds of cultivators, Shen Changchuan found Little Gold exhausted and possibly on the verge of a breakthrough. Realizing he needed a way for others to treat Gu infestations without relying on him or Little Gold, he decided to improve the Beast Taming Secret Art by combining it with Gu techniques.

• Shen Changchuan rested for three days after spending five days using Little Gold to drive Gu from cultivators.
• Shen Changchuan observed Little Gold curled up and nearly lifeless, and suspected that consuming hundreds of Gu worms had left it preparing to break through.
• Shen Changchuan built Little Gold a temporary nest near the Spirit Spring Eye so it could rest safely outside the Spirit Beast Pouch.
• Shen Changchuan decided to breed aggressive Gu Kings and teach others to use them to drive Gu from afflicted cultivators.
• Shen Changchuan realized others would need a way to control Gu Kings and turned to improving the Beast Taming Secret Art with Gu techniques.

Shen Changchuan made preliminary progress on the Gu Control Secret Art and began preparing to breed centipede Gu Kings. He continued treating afflicted cultivators and improving the secret art, while the high mortality among those infected with microscopic Gu worms remained unresolved.

• Shen Changchuan used his accumulated spell understanding to combine the Beast Taming Secret Art with Gu techniques, forming a workable framework for the Gu Control Secret Art.
• He tested the secret art while treating a small number of Gu-infected cultivators returning from the front lines, and found it could let cultivators control and communicate with Gu worms.
• Shen Changchuan decided to focus on breeding centipede Gu Kings and planned to ask Senior Gu for workers to build breeding houses before his maternal grandfather and village cultivators arrived.
• He recalled that only forty-three of the sixty-eight cultivators infected with microscopic Gu worms had survived after treatment with penicillin, and considered suggesting that healers improve and purify it.
• Shen Changchuan contacted city lord Gu Xuanqing about constructing buildings and visited the trading market to seek unusual Gu worms and Gu Dao secret techniques.

Shen Changchuan completed his centipede-focused Gu Control Secret Art and prepared to use Barbaric City's new breeding houses to raise Gu Kings and expel Gu. After praising his disciple, You Longzi revealed that the Dragon Firmament Sect had been barred from the Immortal Sect Grand Competition for twenty years and offered to recommend Shen Changchuan to another master so he could enter the Yuqing Immortal Sect.

• Shen Changchuan stopped improving the Gu Control Secret Art, accepting that it worked well on centipede-type Gu worms but poorly on other kinds.
• Gu Xuanqing expanded the centipede breeding houses, and Han Qinhu and experienced cultivators from Great Bay Village arrived to help Shen Changchuan begin raising Gu Kings.
• You Longzi returned and praised Shen Changchuan's cultivation, spell talent, and progress toward a way to remove Gu worms.
• You Longzi told Shen Changchuan that the Immortal Sects had denied the Dragon Firmament Sect access to the Immortal Sect Grand Competition assessment for twenty years.
• You Longzi offered to recommend Shen Changchuan to a friend in the sect so he could become that friend's disciple and enter the Yuqing Immortal Sect.

You Longzi told Shen Changchuan that the Dragon Firmament Sect had lost its qualification for the Yuqing Immortal Sect's entrance tournament and offered to arrange for him to join another sect. After weighing the opportunity against his own path, Shen Changchuan chose to stay, leaving You Longzi surprised and urging him to reconsider.

• You Longzi explained that the Dragon Firmament Sect had been stripped of its qualification for the Yuqing Immortal Sect's entrance tournament and suggested Shen Changchuan join another sect.
• You Longzi told Shen Changchuan the decision was his own and asked him to consider the offer carefully.
• Shen Changchuan continued his work for three days while weighing the Immortal Sect's resources against what the Dragon Firmament Sect offered him.
• Shen Changchuan asked Wu Tianhao about life and benefits within the Yuqing Immortal Sect, then decided to consult You Longzi once more.
• Shen Changchuan asked whether reaching Spirit Wandering would let him enter as an Inner Sect disciple and learn that, as You Longzi's disciple, he could become a Yuqing Gate Disciple.
• Shen Changchuan declared that he would remain in the Dragon Firmament Sect, and You Longzi asked whether he had truly considered the risks.

Shen Changchuan explained why he had chosen to remain in the Dragon Firmament Sect, and You Longzi accepted his decision and promised to obtain a Gold Devouring Spirit Butterfly for him. After Shen Changchuan shared intelligence about the Spirit Race, You Longzi set out to seize the Spirit Item.

• You Longzi warned Shen Changchuan that staying in the Dragon Firmament Sect would limit his cultivation opportunities and asked if he had truly considered his choice.
• Shen Changchuan reaffirmed that he wanted to stay, reasoning that his Progress Bar Panel, You Longzi's guidance, and his existing foundation made it the better path for him.
• You Longzi agreed to support Shen Changchuan and said he would try to nurture him to the Spirit Wandering realm.
• You Longzi revealed that the Spirit Race possessed a Gold Devouring Spirit Butterfly and said he would go to obtain it while the Soul Severing Mountain front was under truce.
• Shen Changchuan shared the intelligence he had gathered from Guo Cheng, giving You Longzi a clearer target.
• You Longzi told Shen Changchuan to wait half a month in Barbaric City, then left that day to seize the Spirit Item.

After three years of focused cultivation, Shen Changchuan broke through to the Out of Body Stage Sixth Layer Peak with the help of the Golden Wind Jade Dew Gu fused into his Great Dragon Spine. He celebrated his rapid progress and reflected on how You Longzi had obtained the Gu’s final ingredient and helped him refine it.

• Three years after the allied forces' victory, Barbaric City had grown quiet, while Shen Changchuan continued cultivating there.
• Shen Changchuan absorbed spiritual energy through his Golden Wind Jade Dew Gu and broke through to the Out of Body Stage Sixth Layer Peak.
• Shen Changchuan rejoiced at advancing through three cultivation layers in three years and credited the Gu and Master’s focused nurturing.
• Three years earlier, You Longzi had raided the Spirit Race Wu clan's headquarters, seized the crucial Gold Devouring Spirit Butterfly, and brought it to Shen Changchuan.
• Shen Changchuan refined the Golden Wind Jade Dew Gu using the butterfly and other ingredients, then fused it into his Great Dragon Spine, greatly increasing his cultivation speed.

Shen Changchuan reflected on how the Golden Wind Jade Dew Gu and three years of abundant support from You Longzi had raised him to the Out of Body Stage Sixth Layer Peak. He ended his secluded cultivation to stabilize his progress and prepare for the Seventh Layer, while hoping You Longzi would succeed in breaking through to the Mysterious Core.

• Shen Changchuan credited the Golden Wind Jade Dew Gu with more than tripling his cultivation speed and You Longzi’s resources with enabling his rapid advancement.
• Shen Changchuan recalled that his Gu Control Secret Art and Gu King had helped turn the battle at Soul Severing Mountain in favor of the Tiannan Domain coalition, earning him further support from other powers.
• Shen Changchuan concluded that staying with You Longzi had brought him greater benefits than joining an immortal sect, and suspected his Master was preparing to challenge the Mysterious Core Realm.
• Shen Changchuan resolved to cultivate harder so You Longzi could focus on his breakthrough, then left his Cave Abode to stabilize his cultivation and prepare for the Out of Body Stage Seventh Layer.

The Yuqing Immortal Sect decided to resume its unfinished war against the Tianmo Sect after reviewing the situation in Nanyue Kingdom. At a blood-soaked altar, Old Demon Bones confronted the Netherworld Sect over its lack of support for the demonic forces.

• True Person Xuanfeng and the Yuqing Immortal Sect elders discussed You Longzi’s position in Nanyue Kingdom and the need to monitor Pingcheng Domain.
• True Person Xuanfeng declared that the Yuqing Immortal Sect had recovered and ordered its campaign against the Tianmo Sect to resume.
• The Blood Robe Figure watched a Blood Crystal absorbing the essence of the blood sea and questioned whether it had enough power.
• Old Demon Bones and the Seven Absolute Old Demon arrived at the altar, where Old Demon Bones accused the Netherworld Sect of withholding reinforcements and trying to withdraw a Spirit Wandering realm cultivator.