Chapter Summaries

Lin Taichu harvested a green crystal and two powerful spiritual-energy eyeballs from the White Bear, then took its hide to a sand cave. After recovering, he faced a choice between continuing deeper into the desert and returning to find water and supplies.

• Lin Taichu found a glowing green crystal inside the White Bear and drove off a Sand Bear that tried to take it.
• Lin Taichu removed the White Bear's two unusually powerful eyes and realized their spiritual energy had drawn magical beasts and formed the sandstorm.
• Lin Taichu skinned the White Bear, hid its corpse in a crevice, and carried its hide and the spiritual treasures to a sand cave.
• Lin Taichu failed to absorb the energy from the eyeballs and stored them and the crystal in his backpack for later.
• After resting, Lin Taichu considered whether to continue deeper into the desert or return to replenish his water and food.

Lin Taichu found a hidden oasis deep in the desert and met the people who lived there. The chief revealed that an ancient tree called the King of the Forest protected the oasis, and that Lin Taichu had helped them by killing the White Bear.

• Lin Taichu followed a fissure to a small oasis, replenished his water, and rested while his wounds continued to heal.
• Lin Taichu explored farther and found a much larger oasis, where a wary youth confronted him by the lake.
• Lin Taichu told the youth that he had killed the White Bear, and the youth escorted him to the chief.
• Lin Taichu met the chief beneath an enormous ancient tree and explained that he had come from the capital to train.
• The chief explained that the White Bear had threatened the oasis and that the ancient tree, the King of the Forest, had protected it and its inhabitants for centuries.

Lin Taichu cultivated beside the King of the Forest in the desert oasis, recovering and strengthening his inner force before leaving to continue his journey. After walking deeper into the desert, he sensed a powerful, familiar aura ahead.

• The Chief invited Lin Taichu to stay in the oasis and cultivate near the King of the Forest, and Amu brought him food and water.
• Lin Taichu cultivated beside the ancient tree, restoring his damaged meridians and growing stronger as the spiritual energy also nourished his crystal.
• The King of the Forest welcomed Lin Taichu, and he decided to leave the oasis after thanking its people and the ancient tree.
• Amu and the children saw Lin Taichu off with food, and he walked deeper into the desert.
• Lin Taichu sensed an aura stronger than the White Bear's that felt strangely familiar.

Lin Taichu discovered that the Black Scaled Beasts were following the demonic energy left from the White Bear’s blood toward the oasis, and he realized they posed a danger to its people. He raced back to warn them, but arrived to hear that a battle had already begun.

• Lin Taichu found a mother Black Scaled Beast guarding her young in a cave and withdrew without disturbing them.
• Lin Taichu realized that White Bear blood on his clothes had left a trace of demonic energy that the Black Scaled Beasts could follow.
• The mother Black Scaled Beast led her young toward the oasis, while three Sand Centipedes and two Sand Bears joined the pursuit.
• Lin Taichu chased after the beasts but could not stop them, then sprinted toward the oasis despite his aching shoulder.
• Lin Taichu reached the oasis and heard roars and breaking trees, realizing that the beasts had already begun fighting.

Lin Taichu fought the demonic beast horde attacking the oasis and killed the flying wolves, Sand Centipedes, and one Sand Bear while the barrier protecting the King of the Forest continued to crack. He faced the Mother Black Scale Beast as it charged at him, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Lin Taichu ignored the old man's warning and attacked the flying wolves, killing two and driving the others back.
• Lin Taichu killed all three Sand Centipedes by exploiting their vulnerable eyes and abdomen.
• Lin Taichu killed one Sand Bear, then bound the other with an iron chain and burned it after it wounded his arm.
• Lin Taichu saw that the Mother Black Scale Beast had nearly broken the barrier and rushed to confront her.
• The Mother Black Scale Beast turned from the barrier and charged at Lin Taichu.

Lin Taichu defeated the Mother Black Scale Beast, spared its young, and helped the oasis recover. After several days, the old man rewarded him with a rare Crimson Spirit Fruit for saving everyone.

• Lin Taichu used the green crystal to strengthen his Short Blade and killed the Mother Black Scale Beast.
• Lin Taichu let the Young Black Scale Beast flee after warning it not to harm people.
• Lin Taichu helped the oasis residents and used the green crystal to restore the King of the Forest's spiritual energy.
• Lin Taichu's wound healed while he stayed in the oasis and helped repair the damage.
• The old man gave Lin Taichu a Crimson Spirit Fruit, and Lin Taichu initially refused because it was so precious.

After absorbing the Crimson Spirit Fruit with King of the Forest’s help, Lin Taichu grew much stronger and learned of the hidden nation of Atlantis. He set out across the desert to find it and encountered a swarm of Sand Ants.

• Lin Taichu accepted the Crimson Spirit Fruit and began absorbing its spiritual power, but its full force overwhelmed his body.
• King of the Forest explained that Lin Taichu had absorbed the entire fruit and guided him as he endured the painful process of digesting it.
• Lin Taichu successfully absorbed the fruit’s power, greatly increasing his strength, and thanked King of the Forest for helping him.
• King of the Forest told Lin Taichu about the hidden nation of Atlantis and suggested he travel there to improve his strength.
• Amu and the children said farewell to Lin Taichu, and Amu gave him a sturdy wooden staff before Lin Taichu set out into the desert.
• Lin Taichu encountered dozens of Sand Ants, drew his Short Blade, and prepared to fight them.

Lin Taichu crossed the desert and reached Atlantis, where the merfolk distrusted him until he showed them a token from the King of the Forest. Aze escorted him to the Royal Palace, and the King summoned him inside.

• Lin Taichu fought off Sand Ants and Yellow Sand Poison Tongues as he traveled through the desert.
• After three days, Lin Taichu reached a vast lake beyond the rocky outcrop and met armed merfolk who challenged him.
• Lin Taichu showed the merfolk the wooden box that had held the Crimson Spirit Fruit and explained that the King of the Forest had sent him.
• The merfolk chief accepted Lin Taichu's proof but ordered Aze to escort him to the Royal Palace under guard.
• Aze brought Lin Taichu to the palace and returned to tell him that the King wanted to see him.

Lin Taichu was accepted into Atlantis after the King verified his token from the King of the Forest, and he began learning about the merfolk kingdom and its customs. After several days of settling in, Arui offered to take him to Atlantis’s cultivation holy ground.

• Lin Taichu presented the wooden box that had held the Crimson Spirit Fruit, and the King confirmed it carried the King of the Forest’s spiritual energy.
• The King accepted Lin Taichu into Atlantis, warned him to obey its rules, and ordered Arui to take him to the guest quarters.
• Arui showed Lin Taichu around Atlantis, explained the merfolk’s way of life and their wariness of outsiders, and told him about the cultivation holy ground.
• Lin Taichu followed Atlantis’s rules and gradually gained the merfolk’s trust while becoming familiar with life there.
• Arui came to take Lin Taichu to the cultivation holy ground and warned him not to touch anything or disturb those cultivating.

Lin Taichu cultivated in Atlantis’s Spirit Water Pool and agreed to clear a seaweed-choked ravine in return for the tribe’s help. As he worked, he discovered several merfolk corpses bearing wounds that looked like magical beast attacks.

• Arui brought Lin Taichu to the Spirit Water Pool, where Lin cultivated and greatly strengthened his inner energy.
• Arui told Lin Taichu he could use the pool regularly if he helped Atlantis, and Lin readily agreed to clear seaweed from a ravine.
• Arui gave Lin Taichu Glowing Coral, a sickle, and a Breathing Bead, then led him to the ravine entrance.
• Lin Taichu entered the ravine and began cutting through the dense seaweed.
• Lin Taichu found a merfolk corpse with deep, blackened wounds, then spotted several more corpses beneath the seaweed.

Lin Taichu discovered mermaid corpses in the ravine and fought a poisonous Black Mo Shark, killing it by stabbing both its eyes. He moved the corpses near the cave entrance and continued clearing seaweed, planning to warn Arui and the people of Atlantis about the danger.

• Lin Taichu found numerous recently dead mermaids with blackened wounds in the silent ravine.
• Lin Taichu identified a Black Mo Shark and dodged its attacks after his Short Blade failed to pierce its tough skin.
• Lin Taichu used the Glowing Coral to expose the shark’s sensitivity to bright light, then stabbed both of its eyes.
• Lin Taichu waited behind a boulder until the blinded Black Mo Shark stopped moving and confirmed it was dead.
• Lin Taichu moved several mermaid corpses near the cave entrance and continued clearing seaweed cautiously, widening the passage.

Lin Taichu reported finding merfolk killed by a Black Mo Shark in the eastern ravine, and learned that it may have escaped from a loosening ancient seal beneath Atlantis's lake. The king assigned Lin Taichu to investigate the seal with merfolk warriors, but ministers objected to an outsider leading them.

• Lin Taichu showed Arui the bodies of merfolk killed by a Black Mo Shark and warned that more magical beasts might appear.
• Arui sent the bodies back for burial and went to report the incident to the king.
• The king questioned Lin Taichu, who described the shark's black aura, tough skin, and weakness to strong light.
• A minister suggested the shark had escaped through the ancient seal beneath the lake, and the king explained that the seal was loosening.
• The king asked Lin Taichu to lead merfolk warriors to investigate the seal, but two ministers objected to an outsider commanding them.
• The king defended Lin Taichu, citing the King of the Forest's guidance and Lin Taichu's connection to Atlantis.

Lin Taichu led a few willing merfolk into the ravine to investigate Atlantis’s seal, where they fought off Thorn Tentacle Mo Chapter and found strange Formation patterns. A violent tremor then shook the ravine, leaving both the scouting party and the merfolk outside startled and unsure what had happened.

• Lin Taichu offered to split the merfolk warriors into teams, but most refused to follow him and only a few younger merfolk joined his group.
• Lin Taichu led the group into the ravine and spotted Thorn Tentacle Mo Chapter, but a merfolk accidentally made a noise that alerted the beasts.
• Lin Taichu and his companions fought off the Thorn Tentacle Mo Chapter, with a young merfolk saving Lin Taichu from an attack from behind.
• Lin Taichu led the group deeper into the ravine and discovered strange Formation patterns on the ground in an open area.
• Outside the ravine, the merfolk who had mocked Lin Taichu argued about abandoning the mission, then a violent tremor shook the ravine and threw everyone off balance.

Lin Taichu and his companions defeated a giant Bone Spur Turtle, then discovered its corpse was unnaturally light, like the Thorn Tentacle Mo Chapter’s. Suspecting the seal ahead was leaking demonic aura, Lin Taichu sent A Li and A Hai to guard the entrance and continued deeper with A Feng and A Yan, carrying the wooden box from the King of the Forest.

• Lin Taichu warned his companions as a giant Bone Spur Turtle emerged from the ground and attacked them with poisonous black smoke.
• Lin Taichu and the mermen coordinated their attacks, and Lin Taichu struck the turtle’s eye with his Short Blade, killing it.
• Lin Taichu found that the Bone Spur Turtle’s corpse was far lighter than expected, and A Li confirmed that smaller Bone Spur Turtles had heavy corpses.
• Lin Taichu concluded the demonic beasts’ abnormal corpses and the thickening demonic aura signaled trouble with the seal, then ordered A Li and A Hai to guard the corpses and alert the mermen outside if danger arose.
• Lin Taichu continued deeper into the ditch with A Feng and A Yan, warning them to stay close and avoid fighting, and took out the wooden box from the King of the Forest.

Lin Taichu discovered the core of the lakebed seal and found that it was breaking apart, releasing demonic energy. A limb-less, tentacled creature emerged from the seal, and Lin Taichu prepared to confront it while waiting for help.

• Lin Taichu identified the circular stone as the seal's core and found strange, tiny footprints around it.
• A Li reported that a sudden Heifeng had swept away all the corpses outside, and Lin Taichu sent him to alert the King and request reinforcements.
• The seal's core cracked and exploded, releasing a towering black creature covered in tentacles.
• Lin Taichu warned A Feng and A Yan not to fight the creature head-on and to avoid its tentacles.
• As the creature absorbed demonic energy and grew, Lin Taichu drew a sickle and began moving toward its side.

Lin Taichu and the merfolk defeated the Mo Gu and temporarily repaired the seal beneath the lake. The seal would hold for only half a year, and the discovery of a high-grade Mo Stone offered a new mystery.

• Lin Taichu, A Feng, and A Yan fought the Mo Gu, targeting the red spot at its center to keep it away from the seal.
• A Li arrived with Aron and mermaid warriors, who trapped the Mo Gu in a Demon Binding Net as Lin Taichu warned that the seal was cracking.
• Aron reported that black slime found near the missing corpses matched the substance on the Mo Gu, and the King identified the creature as an ancient demonic beast that controlled other creatures.
• Arui burned the Mo Gu to ashes while the King and ministers used Spirit Crystals and incantations to stabilize the seal temporarily.
• The King said the seal would hold for half a year, Aron apologized to Lin Taichu, and the group discovered a high-grade Mo Stone.
• Aron thanked Lin Taichu for saving him.

Lin Taichu discovered that three merfolk found dead in the western coral forest had been murdered and their deaths staged as magical beast attacks. He began investigating the clues, including a faintly fishy black powder that resembled the scent of the Mo Stone.

• Lin Taichu examined the Mo Stone and found that it contained stable demonic energy and drew on his inner energy.
• Arui told Lin Taichu that three merfolk had been found dead in the western coral forest with bite marks and blackened wounds.
• Lin Taichu examined the corpses and identified shallow carved wounds, needle punctures, and no residual demonic energy, concluding that someone had staged the deaths.
• Lin Taichu suggested the murderer wanted to spread panic about the seal, and the King ordered the guards to seal off the forest and investigate merfolk with serrated tools or poison.
• Lin Taichu found faint black powder beside a corpse and noticed that its fishy scent resembled the demonic energy in the Mo Stone.

Lin Taichu investigated a merfolk murder and found evidence that the killer used demonic-energy powder mixed with poison from deep-sea Poison Algae. The investigation focused on the missing guard Ahei and the northern Deep Sea Canyon, but his guilt remained unconfirmed as Lin Taichu waited for further news.

• Lin Taichu found black powder at the murder scene and followed large merfolk footprints to the beach, where they disappeared into the seawater.
• Lin Taichu discovered matching black particles inside the victim's needle wound and found that they resembled the Mo Stone.
• Arui's tests showed that the black particles and the Mo Stone were formed from compressed demonic energy, and that the particles contained poison refined from Poison Algae found in the northern Deep Sea Canyon.
• Lin Taichu learned that the tall guard Ahei had missed duty and vanished, then ordered the captain to investigate both Ahei and the canyon.
• Lin Taichu and Arui reported their findings to the king, while Aron questioned whether Ahei would harm his fellow merfolk and Lin Taichu insisted they wait for evidence.

Lin Taichu discovered that Ahei had been murdered and suspected Arui of orchestrating the attacks in the coral forest. He confronted Arui at his home, but the truth remained unrevealed.

• Guards found evidence that Ahei had harvested Poison Algae, then found him dead at home with tools, poison, and a note staged to suggest suicide.
• Lin Taichu determined that Ahei had been silenced and that someone else had used him to create the false demonic-beast attack.
• Lin Taichu connected a crescent-shaped scratch on Ahei’s tools to one he had seen on a tool Arui used, and recalled Arui’s opportunity to tamper with the black powder.
• Lin Taichu sensed the same faint demonic aura on the Mo Stone that he had sensed on Arui and became convinced Arui was involved.
• Lin Taichu went to Arui’s home at night and told him that Ahei had been murdered, asking whether Arui knew about it.

Lin Taichu confronted Arui over the killings and learned that Arui had tried to spread panic in Atlantis to overthrow King. Arui attacked him, but Lin Taichu used the Mo Stone to suppress Arui’s demonic energy and bring him down.

• Lin Taichu accused Arui of killing Ahei and staging the coral forest deaths, and Arui led him to a remote stretch of seabed.
• Arui admitted to luring the Black Mo Shark, using the corpses to make the seal seem unstable, and killing Ahei to keep his plan to overthrow King going.
• Arui drew a Short Blade and attacked Lin Taichu, revealing black patterns and growing demonic energy on his arm.
• Arui scattered black powder made from Mo Stone and Poison Algae, but Lin Taichu dodged it and exposed the Mo Stone.
• Lin Taichu threw the Mo Stone beside Arui, suppressing his demonic energy and causing him to collapse and convulse.