Chapter Summaries

Lord Xiaoshan’s power transformed the area around Capital City, and a white light carrying memories from him reached Wang Ping and Zi Luan. After the energy storm vanished and Capital City was left lifeless, Wang Ping chose to return to Moon Mountain while Zi Luan stayed behind.

• Lord Xiaoshan summoned five talismans, dissolving the spatial confinement around the spirit vein.
• A white light entered Wang Ping and delivered sealed memories from Lord Xiaoshan, while Wood Spirit Qi entered Zi Luan.
• Wang Ping and Zi Luan retreated as a vortex consumed the huai tree forest near Capital City.
• The storm vanished, leaving Capital City without life, and Zi Luan decided to remain while Wang Ping prepared to leave.
• Wang Ping admitted that he had arranged for Dong Can to assassinate Xiu Yu, then used a Transfer Talisman to reach the underground river beneath Moon Mountain.

Wang Ping returned from Capital City and reunited with Liu Shuang and Zuo Xuan at Thousand Wood Temple before transferring with Daoist Yuanzheng to the Mountain Top Dojo. Uneasy after the events in Capital City, he sent his disciples away and entered secluded cultivation to examine Lord Xiaoshan’s memories.

• Liu Shuang and Zuo Xuan saw Wang Ping arrive at Thousand Wood Temple and greeted him alongside Gan Xing.
• Wang Ping used the Cave Heaven Mirror to transfer with Liu Shuang and Zuo Xuan to Ningzhou Road, where Daoist Yuanzheng met them.
• Wang Ping ordered Liu Shuang to return to Mozhou Road and Zuo Xuan to return to Jinhuai Prefecture, then destroyed the transfer array at Daoist Yuanzheng’s hideout.
• Wang Ping transferred with Daoist Yuanzheng directly to Thousand Wood Temple and asked him to inform his Master that he would enter secluded cultivation.

Wang Ping returned to Thousand Wood Temple, calmed his fears about Lord Xiaoshan’s advancement, and inherited the Divine Art Secret Method from Lord Xiaoshan’s memories. He rejected its inhuman path but admired Lord Xiaoshan’s unconventional use of the Taiyan Talisman and realized the ten Heavenly Swords needed for that scheme were inside his Spirit Talisman.

• Wang Ping activated the Water Moon Bell illusion and the courtyard’s isolation array before telling Yulian he had returned to face any hardship with Thousand Wood Temple.
• Wang Ping sensed the familiar people and places throughout Thousand Wood Temple, then steadied his mind by reflecting on life and death while Yulian slept.
• Wang Ping merged an unsealed portion of Lord Xiaoshan’s memories into his Spirit Sea and learned the steps and dangers of cultivating the Divine Art Secret Method.
• Wang Ping decided that completing the Divine Art Secret Method would cost him his humanity and was not the Dao he sought.
• Wang Ping read Lord Xiaoshan’s notes about combining Divine Art with the Taiyan Talisman and the fortune of a nation, then realized the ten Heavenly Swords were in his Spirit Talisman.

Wang Ping activated the Heavenly Sword Divine Art Array and met Lord Xiaoshan’s projection, who explained the ancient origins of the Fifth Realm bottleneck and several fusions of powerful Primordial Spirits. Lord Xiaoshan began recounting Senior Yuxiao’s failed attempt to fuse with True Monarch Huishan’s injured Primordial Spirit.

• Wang Ping cast a Sacred Divination, inspected the ten Heavenly Swords, and asked Yulian whether activating their array would cause strange phenomena.
• Wang Ping followed Lord Xiaoshan’s incantation to activate the array, forming an illusory map of the Central Province and summoning Lord Xiaoshan’s projection.
• Lord Xiaoshan explained that advancement to the Fifth Realm was blocked by cultivation bottlenecks, not a shortage of available slots.
• Lord Xiaoshan recounted how True Yang helped the Demon Emperor steal part of True Monarch Lieyang’s fire spirit, then vanished amid a schism in the True Sun Sect.
• Lord Xiaoshan described True Monarch Huishan’s plan to turn spiritually aware beings into Puppets, the Taiyan Sect’s destruction, and Senior Yuxiao’s later schemes to fuse with injured Primordial Spirits.

Lord Xiaoshan revealed how Senior Yuxiao, the Northern Kingdom, and the Divine Art Array were connected to his own failed attempt to advance to the Fifth Realm. He warned Wang Ping about True Lord Yuanwu and True Monarch Lieyang, then explained that True Monarch Huishan had merged with him to repair a damaged Primordial Spirit.

• Lord Xiaoshan explained that Senior Yuxiao used the Xia Family bloodline to build the Divine Art Array and that Senior True Yang had experimented with Divine Arts through the Northern Kingdom.
• Lord Xiaoshan recounted that Senior Yuxiao vanished after failing his advancement in the Misty Sea, and the Jimin Association later gave Lord Xiaoshan the Divine Art Array and advice about pursuing the same path.
• Lord Xiaoshan passed Wang Ping memories containing the latter half of Volume Four and all of Volume Five of the Taiyan Talisman, and warned him not to trust True Lord Yuanwu or become entangled with True Lords before reaching the Fourth Realm.
• Lord Xiaoshan warned Wang Ping that True Monarch Lieyang planned to reclaim his Fire Spirit and might be acting with Yao Emperor Yao Xi.
• Yulian asked whether Lord Xiaoshan had advanced to the Fifth Realm, and he said he had likely merged with True Monarch Huishan, who sought to repair his damaged Primordial Spirit.
• Lord Xiaoshan explained that True Monarch Huishan had used his Physical Body and spirit body to nourish his Primordial Spirit, and Wang Ping asked what Lord Xiaoshan had just realized.

Lord Xiaoshan answered Wang Ping’s questions about cultivation, the stars, and the extraterrestrial creatures beyond them, then used his remaining consciousness to help Wang Ping refine the ten Heavenly Swords. Wang Ping gained control of the Divine Art Array, which formed a map of Central Province with its northern territories and Southeast Sea Region collapsing.

• Lord Xiaoshan revealed that Senior Yuxiao had been True Monarch Huishan’s Personal Disciple and suggested the alliance of Fifth Realm cultivators might be suppressing advancement.
• Lord Xiaoshan told Wang Ping that the memories of the Huai Trees had once been whole, and warned him about the dangers of the moon and chaotic extraterrestrial beings.
• Lord Xiaoshan guided Divine Art Radiance through Wang Ping’s spirit veins, leaving a Divine Art mark before his consciousness vanished.
• Wang Ping used the incantation to form a Central Province map with the ten Heavenly Swords, though the northern territories and Southeast Sea Region were collapsing.

Wang Ping settled back into cultivation after the destruction of the Daoist Scripture Hall, briefly checking on his disciples and reflecting on the fragile peace across the south. After ten days, he resumed fusing the Heaven Connecting Talisman and visited Zhonghui County's morning market with Yulian, then returned to Thousand Wood Temple to continue his routine.

• Yulian went to check on Shen Xiaozhu, whom Wang Ping found meditating beside the Huai Tree in her cultivation courtyard.
• Wang Ping searched for Xia Weny and discovered him scouting a forest with Thousand Wood Temple disciples during a Mountain Search and Demon Extermination operation, while Wang Yang and Xuan Ling led the central force.
• Wang Ping considered the looming disorder after Capital City’s destruction, resolved to focus on cultivation, and meditated for ten days.
• Wang Ping resumed his daily attempt to fuse the Heaven Connecting Talisman, then visited Zhonghui County's morning market with Yulian.
• Wang Ping and Yulian ate meatballs while county yamen runners brought a captured monster into town, then returned quietly to Thousand Wood Temple.

After returning from meditation, Wang Ping paid respects to Daoist Yucheng and discussed the rumors surrounding Capital City with the other cultivators. They decided to send Inner Sect disciples there to seek treasures, while Wang Ping learned that Daoist Xiu Yu had also vanished.

• Wang Ping returned to Thousand Wood Temple and visited Daoist Yucheng with Yulian.
• Ruan Chunzi, Wu Quan, Daoist Yuanzheng, and the others reported that they had found no news of Lord Xiaoshan in Capital City or at the Six Hearts Sect.
• Yulian recounted her version of what had happened in Capital City, leaving the gathered cultivators uncertain whether Lord Xiaoshan had advanced successfully.
• Ruan Chunzi proposed sending Inner Sect disciples above Foundation Establishment to compete for treasures in Capital City, and Wang Ping agreed they would enter by way of the Chu Kingdom's army and True Sun Mountain.
• Wang Ping asked about Daoist Xiu Yu, and Wu Quan said he had vanished without a trace.

Wang Ping approved Xia Weny’s journey to Upper Capital and discussed the future of his disciples and family with Daoist Yucheng. He learned that Su Hai’s new disciple had encountered the same strange circumstances as Yang Rong, including an implanted Wood Spirit Spiritual Meridian, and asked where it had happened.

• Wu Quan was chosen to lead Nanlin Road’s training expedition to Upper Capital, and the other guests departed.
• Wang Ping sent Xia Weny to Upper Capital with Wang Yang, gave him a Jia Talisman, and warned him not to reveal his identity.
• Yulian and Daoist Yucheng discussed Xia Weny’s heart demon and Xiao Zhu’s need for training outside the north.
• Wang Ping said he would not pursue the Wang Family and welcomed Wang Li’s descendants back to Yongshan County.
• Daoist Yucheng revealed that Su Hai’s new disciple had experienced the same situation as Yang Rong and had a Wood Spirit Spiritual Meridian implanted in his body.
• Wang Ping asked whether the incident had happened in the Demon Race Ruins and, after Daoist Yucheng confirmed it, asked where.

Wang Ping discussed a Demon Race secret art with Daoist Yucheng, then approved Xuan Ling’s choice of a Daoist field at Yushan. Hu Qianqian reported on the Demon Domain’s recent movements and trade, leaving Wang Ping wondering whether they sought to stabilize their spirituality and earn the True Lords’ trust.

• Daoist Yucheng told Wang Ping that a rumored Demon Race secret art was said to be in East Continent, though its use might harm both others and oneself.
• Daoist Yucheng said Xuan Ling had paused cultivation to handle sect business in Changwen Prefecture and suggested Su Hai’s returning Disciple cultivate alongside him.
• Xuan Ling told Wang Ping he wanted to establish his Daoist field at Yushan and temporarily seal the Monster Gathering Banner there; Wang Ping approved the choice and offered to cover the expenses personally.
• Hu Qianqian reported that Demon Race tribes had moved into the Demon Domain after conflicts with Hu Yin and Shan Wei, and that the Demon Domain was trading for tea, silk, and books on Human Way thought.
• Wang Ping speculated that the Demon Domain might be studying Human civilization to stabilize its spirituality and gain the True Lords’ trust.

Wang Ping told Hu Qianqian to keep the Demon Race spies focused on basic intelligence and protecting Thousand Wood Temple, then received calling cards from two allied leaders. He welcomed Qiu Wang and Wen Hai after Qiu Wang ingratiated himself with a gift, leaving Wen Hai awkwardly unsure how to present his own offering.

• Wang Ping instructed Hu Qianqian to monitor threats to Thousand Wood Temple and maintain stability, while keeping watch for news of Guan Mao.
• Wang Ping played chess with Xuan Ling and spent time with Hu Qianqian, Yulian, and Daoist Yucheng.
• Zhao Gan brought calling cards from Wen Hai of Pingdong Gate and Qiu Wang of the Single Saber Sect, and Wang Ping agreed to receive them.
• Qiu Wang and Wen Hai knelt to greet Wang Ping, who told them to rise and invited them into the courtyard.
• Qiu Wang presented Wang Ping with a carved, blood-red Five Elements Stone, while Wen Hai felt awkward because he had planned to offer the Mountain Top Dojo in person.

Wang Ping avoided meeting the many sect leaders seeking reassurance about the uncertain future, while he worked on improving his Power Pills and continued his cultivation. After ten days of visitors, Daoist Zhi Gong and Hu Yin arrived as honored guests at Thousand Wood Temple.

• Wang Ping sent Hu Qianqian, Daoist Yucheng, Qiu Wang, Wen Hai, and Xuan Ling to receive the sect leaders who had come to ask about Nanlin Road’s future, while he returned to his Mountain Top Dojo.
• Wang Ping inspected the Power Pills and considered adding Spirit Gathering Formations or using costly spirit materials to make them effective against spiritual-energy-isolating formations.
• Wang Ping spent ten days trying to build a small Spirit Gathering Array on the Power Pill casings, while Daoist Yucheng and Hu Qianqian received visitors from across several regions.
• Daoist Zhi Gong and Hu Yin arrived at the Ascension Platform as honored guests.

Wang Ping received Zhi Gong and Hu Yin at Thousand Wood Mountain, where they discussed Lord Xiaoshan’s disappearance and the future of the Southern Dao Lineage. Zhi Gong revealed that Daoist Wanzhi would oversee the Southern Cultivation World temporarily and would return the lineage when Wang Ping’s branch produced a Taiyan Fourth Realm cultivator.

• Wang Ping formally welcomed Zhi Gong and Hu Yin to Thousand Wood Mountain and hosted them for tea and a meal.
• Wang Ping, Yulian, Zhi Gong, and Hu Yin discussed Hu Xin, her master Qianqian, and the challenges of raising disciples.
• Yulian explained what had happened in Capital City, and Hu Yin asked whether Wang Ping knew Lord Xiaoshan’s whereabouts.
• Zhi Gong said her master, Daoist Wanzhi, had confirmed that Lord Xiaoshan had neither been assimilated nor died during his advancement, though his condition might be poor.
• Zhi Gong explained that Daoist Wanzhi would temporarily oversee the Southern Cultivation World instead of inheriting its Dao Lineage.
• Wang Ping pledged Thousand Wood Temple’s support, and Zhi Gong clarified that Daoist Wanzhi would return the lineage once Wang Ping’s branch produced a Taiyan Fourth Realm cultivator.

Wang Ping agreed to formalize an alliance between Thousand Wood Temple, the Six Hearts Sect, and Daoist Zhi Gong’s side, then supported Zhi Gong’s plan to reform the Dao Palace. He declined to become its first Chief Host because he intended to enter Secluded Cultivation, but accepted one of the seven Chief seats.

• Hu Xin told Wang Ping that Wan Zhi would remain with the Six Hearts Sect and that Zi Luan had agreed to become its sect leader after spending several years in Pingzhou Road.
• Wang Ping agreed to formalize the alliance between Thousand Wood Temple, Hu Yin, and Daoist Zhi Gong.
• Daoist Zhi Gong proposed expanding and standardizing the Dao Palace system, establishing its headquarters in Jinhuai Prefecture City and granting Thousand Wood Temple the supply of medicinal pills and ordinary magical artifacts.
• Daoist Zhi Gong outlined the Dao Palace’s seats, local branches, and leadership system, while Yulian questioned how its large assembly would settle disputes.
• Daoist Zhi Gong asked Wang Ping to become the first Chief Host, but he declined because he planned to enter Secluded Cultivation and accepted a place among the seven Chief seats instead.

Wang Ping arranged Thousand Wood Temple’s response to Zhi Gong’s ambitions and settled several requests before preparing to enter secluded cultivation. After sending a reply to Song Qu, he activated the Mountain Top Dojo’s grand array to avoid the Southern Cultivation World’s conflicts and fully merge with the Heaven Connecting Talisman.

• Yulian explained Zhi Gong’s plans to Wang Ping and the others, and Daoist Yucheng proposed using the resulting pressure to draw the Southern Cultivation World toward Thousand Wood Temple.
• Wang Ping asked Ruan Chunzi and Daoist Yuanzheng to oversee the Dao Palace alliance while he stabilized his cultivation, and he approved Qiu Wang’s plan to establish a branch near True Sun Mountain.
• Wang Ping agreed to let Wen Hai borrow a demonic weapon and deploy an operations team to deal with his former master, Daoist Xuanhe.
• Wang Ping accepted Daoist Yucheng’s recommendation concerning Mr. Yue’s Disciple and took possession of the Spirit Communication Stone, which he intended to hide somewhere only he knew.
• Yulian urged Wang Ping to maintain his bond with Song Qu, so Wang Ping wrote a reply and sent it through the Puppet bird.
• Wang Ping activated the Mountain Top Dojo’s grand array and began secluded cultivation to avoid the region’s strife and merge with the Heaven Connecting Talisman.

Xuanhe watched a local play in Huiping City, then killed bandits who ambushed his carriage and destroyed a roadside statue. Wen Hai identified Xuanhe by his spellcasting aura and joined another pursuer in planning to capture him.

• Xuanhe and his bookboy watched a play about True Monarch Changqing, and Xuanhe rewarded the performers with half a silver ingot.
• Several mounted bandits blocked Xuanhe's carriage, but he killed them with earth spikes and ordered the driver to continue to the estate.
• Xuanhe stopped at a fork and shattered a newly made statue depicting a Daoist master and a great serpent.
• A cultivator restored the statue and performed a Daoist salute before Wen Hai arrived.
• Wen Hai recognized Xuanhe's spellcasting aura and said that he and his companion would not let Xuanhe escape.

Wen Hai confronted Xuanhe at an estate and revealed that he had spent years preparing to kill him for betraying him and exploiting his spiritual veins. He trapped Xuanhe with the Hundred Leg Tower and called on two Companions to help capture him, insisting that he would deliver the killing blow himself.

• Xuanhe entered the estate disguised as a young man, but Wen Hai incapacitated the maids and revealed himself in the courtyard.
• Wen Hai accused Xuanhe of using him as an experiment for the Taiyin Sect, while Xuanhe claimed he had intended to restore Wen Hai’s spiritual veins.
• Wen Hai explained that he had tracked Xuanhe for seven years and spent the last three preparing a trap, while investigating Xuanhe’s dealings with the Taiyan Sect, Chu Kingdom nobles, and Thousand Wood Temple.
• Xuanhe offered information about Wen Hai’s master and materials for advancing to the Third Realm, but Wen Hai rejected both offers and said he needed to kill Xuanhe to purge his heart demon.
• Wen Hai revealed that the Hundred Leg Tower was suppressing Xuanhe’s Earth Vein true essence and ordered two Companions to leave Xuanhe alive for him.

Wen Hai and two Wood Cultivators searched Xuanhe’s memories and discovered that an organization was seeking information on True Monarch Changqing’s whereabouts in exchange for a chance to advance to the Third Realm. After recording the intelligence, they returned to an expanded Jinhuai City, now the nation’s capital.

• Wen Hai and an older Wood Cultivator used the Soul Searching Technique on Xuanhe’s memories while another Wood Cultivator guarded them.
• The three learned that Xuanhe had attended a secret gathering where an organization offered a Third Realm advancement quota to anyone who reported True Monarch Changqing’s whereabouts on three occasions.
• Wen Hai and the older Wood Cultivator recorded and checked their findings, then agreed to pursue the organization together.
• The three obtained temporary flight permits and traveled to Jinhuai City, where guards escorted them into the city on foot.
• Wen Hai and the other two entered the Dao Palace’s innermost complex, where seven Wooden Buildings stood for its seven Chiefs.

Wen Hai visited Zuo Xuan at the Dao Palace and reported the resolution of Xuanhe’s siege and the clues about Wang Ping. Zuo Xuan then tasked him with verifying a northern Taiyan cultivator’s offer to sell the Soul Lure, leaving Wen Hai preparing to travel to Beiyuan Road.

• Wen Hai arrived at the Thousand Wood Temple courtyard and requested an audience with Zuo Xuan.
• Zuo Xuan told Wen Hai that Daoist priest Zhi Gong was expanding the Dao Palace’s rules and personnel, while True Monarch Changqing remained in secluded cultivation.
• Wen Hai said he wanted only to accumulate exchange points, then reported the details of Xuanhe’s siege and what Xuanhe’s memories revealed about Wang Ping.
• Zuo Xuan explained that a northern Taiyan cultivator had offered to sell the Soul Lure on condition that True Monarch Changqing attend the trade in person.
• Wen Hai agreed to inspect the Soul Lure on Beiyuan Road, with Qiu Wang and the Chu Kingdom garrison on Jianglin Road arranged to assist him.

Zuo Xuan reflected on the Dao Palace’s unchecked power and learned that her disciple He Jiu had died after failing to advance. As she prepared to return to Winter Water Mountain, she heard that the Chu emperor would enter Secluded Cultivation and pass the throne to the Crown Prince, who arrived to explain the decision.

• Zuo Xuan discussed the Dao Palace’s influence and the Chu Kingdom’s conflicts with Sanhua cat while embroidering by the window.
• Zuo Xuan received a letter from Zuo Liang reporting that He Jiu had failed his advancement, died at Winter Water Mountain, and might be evolving into a demonic weapon.
• Zuo Xuan decided to return to Winter Water Mountain and asked Sanhua cat whether she could advance to the Third Realm.
• A Qi practitioner informed Zuo Xuan that the emperor planned to enter Secluded Cultivation and pass the throne to the Crown Prince in two months.
• Zuo Xuan chose to wait before approaching the Imperial Palace, and the Crown Prince arrived to explain the decision.