Chapter Summaries

Shen Mo restored the Evil-Eating Flying Centipede by feeding it evil artifacts and demon remains, then left the Ancient Immortal-Demon Battlefield with Hong Gu and the others to replenish their supplies. As they emerged into the Heaven-Patrolling Domain, a supreme-grade spirit sword in the Taiyi Sword Alliance’s Central Main Hall sensed Shen Mo and flew toward him.

• Shen Mo fed the Evil-Eating Flying Centipede a heap of sealed evil artifacts and demon remains, restoring its aura and shell before storing it in its Spirit Pet Pouch.
• Hong Gu and the others congratulated Shen Mo on subduing the powerful fiendish beast, and the group left the ancient burial grounds aboard the Floating Light Dharma Boat.
• Shen Mo and his companions flew beyond the ninth heavens through a Spirit-Severing Land, where scarce spiritual energy made continued travel dangerous and costly.
• After four days and more than two hundred thousand miles, the Floating Light Dharma Boat passed through a barrier and emerged from the Ancient Immortal-Demon Battlefield into the Heaven-Patrolling Domain.
• A supreme-grade spirit sword in the Taiyi Sword Alliance’s Central Main Hall rang out and flew toward Shen Mo in the Colorful Garment Kingdom.

Shen Mo faced the Taiyi Spirit Sword’s lethal attack and layered his defenses before fighting back. After the sword pierced the Evil-Eating Flying Centipede and breached his barriers, Shen Mo used the Self-Sacrifice Sword to ready a powerful strike with the Demon Slayer Sword.

• Shen Mo sensed the Taiyi Spirit Sword’s impending attack and left the Floating Light Dharma Boat to keep Hong Gu and the others out of danger.
• Shen Mo summoned his Three-Heads Six-Arms form and established defenses with the Azure Cloud Umbrella, Great Hand Seals, the Evil-Eating Flying Centipede, and Ami.
• Shen Mo’s sword qi slowed the Taiyi Spirit Sword, but the top-grade spirit artifact recovered and continued its charge.
• The Taiyi Spirit Sword pierced the Evil-Eating Flying Centipede, which bit the sword and left dents while poisoning it before Shen Mo recalled it.
• Shen Mo activated the Self-Sacrifice Sword and unleashed the Demon Slayer Sword Style as the Taiyi Spirit Sword broke through his defenses.
• Shen Mo raised the Demon Slayer Sword and brought it down on the approaching Taiyi Spirit Sword.

Shen Mo survived the clash with the Taiyi Spirit Sword and captured its badly damaged spirit. After securing the sword and treating his injuries, he turned his attention to the distant onlookers, including a suspicious Spirit Sea Realm cultivator.

• The Demon Slayer Sword's unleashed sword aura devastated the area, badly injuring Shen Mo and damaging the Taiyi Spirit Sword and its spirit.
• Shen Mo seized the Taiyi Spirit Sword and used the Mountain Pearls and his true essence to suppress it as it threatened to perish with him.
• The Taiyi Sword Spirit tried to strike Shen Mo's hand, but the Demon Slayer Sword blocked its sword light.
• Shen Mo used Insight into All Living Beings to learn about the Taiyi Sword Spirit's history and formidable sword-path knowledge.
• Shen Mo placed restrictions on the spirit sword, stored it in a Qiankun Pouch, and swallowed pills to recover.
• Shen Mo watched the distant crowd and noticed a burly Spirit Sea Realm cultivator concealing and distorting his Divine Soul fluctuations.

Shen Mo mistook Ge Qing of the Ancient Vine Sect for an enemy and then learned that Zhu Zhao’s scheme to use the Taiyi Spirit Sword had failed. Ge Qing invited Shen Mo to visit his sect despite his feud with the Taiyi Sword Alliance, leaving Shen Mo curious about the invitation.

• Shen Mo threatened Ge Qing, who revealed his identity and explained that he had concealed his aura with a talisman.
• Shen Mo apologized for mistaking Ge Qing for an enemy and put away the Demon Slayer Sword.
• Sword Alliance disciples relayed news of the Taiyi Spirit Sword’s capture to Zhu Zhao, who became enraged and planned to recruit a Heavenly Monarch for another attack.
• Shen Mo introduced himself to Ge Qing as Shen Qingyun, a rogue cultivator of Wangxian Mountain.
• Ge Qing invited Shen Mo to visit the Ancient Vine Sect and praised its ten-thousand-year spirit tea tree.
• Shen Mo asked Ge Qing whether he feared offending the Taiyi Sword Alliance by inviting him.

After Ge Qing invited Shen Mo to visit the Ancient Vine Sect and hinted at recruiting him as a Guest Elder, Shen Mo considered the opportunity to enter the Heaven-Patrolling Daoist Temple through the sect. He rented a secluded cultivation residence near the Ancient Immortal-Demon Battlefield, while Hong Gu cautioned him about choosing the smaller sect.

• Ge Qing hinted that the Ancient Vine Sect wanted Shen Mo as a Guest Elder and described the chance for meritorious elders to become genuine disciples and enter the Heaven-Patrolling Daoist Temple.
• Shen Mo decided to visit the Ancient Vine Sect because membership might offer a path into the Daoist Temple, which he valued more than the Mount Li Alchemy Sect's offer.
• Hong Gu warned Shen Mo that the Ancient Vine Sect could not compare with the Mount Li Alchemy Sect, but Shen Mo kept his reasons to himself.
• Shen Mo and his companions arrived at a minor spirit vein and rented nearby cultivation residences, with Shen Mo choosing the most secluded one for one hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones per year.

Shen Mo cultivated in his temporary residence, studied an ancient pill formula, and sent Liu Siyun to buy medicinal ingredients. After she returned with quality supplies at good prices, he rewarded her with Seven Treasures Clarity Pills, leaving her in his service.

• Shen Mo cultivated with the Samadhi True Fire and estimated that reaching the late Origin Core Realm would take about twenty years at his current pace.
• Shen Mo studied an ancient pill formula on a beast bone and decided to replenish his spirit pills while trying to reproduce the ancient recipes.
• Shen Mo sent Liu Siyun to purchase medicinal ingredients and secretly ordered Yang Chengxiong to protect and assess her.
• Liu Siyun returned with high-quality ingredients bought below market rates and reported which items she could not find.
• Shen Mo praised Liu Siyun's work and gave her a bottle of Seven Treasures Clarity Pills as a reward.

Shen Mo rewarded Liu Siyun, sent her to sell surplus treasures, and spent over two months replenishing his pills before testing formulas from ancient beast bones. He discovered a Dao Comprehension Pill that could help another person comprehend the Dao after three years of nurturing, but discarded it because nurturing it would stall his cultivation.

• Liu Siyun thanked Shen Mo for the Seven Treasures Clarity Pills and gladly accepted his task of selling surplus spirit items.
• Liu Siyun showed off one of the pills to the other attendant disciples, while Shen Mo sent Yang Chengxiong to follow her.
• Shen Mo replenished his common pills and began experimenting with ancient formulas, testing each pill he successfully refined.
• Shen Mo found that most ancient pills were inferior or redundant, while one formula created a pseudo-Origin Core that could help another person comprehend the Dao.
• Shen Mo named the pill the Dao Comprehension Pill, judged that nurturing it would take about three years and halt his cultivation, then spat it out and watched it vanish.

After refining Enlightenment Pills and improving his alchemy skills, Shen Mo attended the Heavenly Sound Valley trade fair with Hong Gu to seek treasures that could strengthen his Dao cultivation. The fair had just begun, and Shen Mo had put out a bottle of Fifth-Grade Spirit Pills while surveying the offerings.

• Shen Mo considered the uses and limitations of Enlightenment Pills and planned to visit the Ancient Vine Sect to discuss becoming a Guest Elder and sample Enlightenment Tea.
• After months of cultivation and pill refinement, Shen Mo improved his alchemy attainments and had Liu Siyun sell miscellaneous items for more than eight thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones.
• Shen Mo restored Liu Siyun and the maid disciples’ clarity after Hong Gu’s Charm Spirit Body affected them, then left with Hong Gu for the trade fair.
• Shen Mo and Hong Gu entered Heavenly Sound Valley, where nearly a thousand Origin Core Realm cultivators gathered to trade treasures.
• Shen Mo displayed a bottle of Fifth-Grade Spirit Pills and told Hong Gu he hoped to find treasures that could improve his Dao cultivation.

Shen Mo traded high-grade pills and talismans for rare cultivation resources at Tianyin Valley, especially treasures that could help Zhao Lingyin, Chen Mengze, and the others. After discussing a captured fox demon with Hong Gu, he was asked to name his price for a bottle of Drunken Death Dream Life Pills.

• Shen Mo found few treasures suited to advancing an Origin Core Realm cultivator, but bought many rare resources for Spirit Sea Realm cultivation.
• While browsing the trade fair, Shen Mo saw a caged fourth-grade fox demon, and Hong Gu explained that it had devoured hundreds of thousands of people before her old acquaintance captured it.
• Shen Mo discussed the fox demon’s worth with Hong Gu, noting that its cruelty and cunning would make it difficult to use as a spirit pet.
• A mid-stage Origin Core Realm cultivator bought the fox demon.
• A cultivator contacted Shen Mo to ask the price of his Drunken Death Dream Life Pills, which Shen Mo and Jiang Lingfeng had once used to escape the Floating Immortal Mountain.

Shen Mo sold his surplus high-grade spirit pills and then offered rare materials from the Ancient Immortal-Demon Battlefield, including four ancient cultivator remains. Powerful Origin Core Realm cultivators bought the remains, and Shen Mo’s Qiankun Pouch filled again with valuable materials.

• Shen Mo traded Drunken Death Dream Life Pills for precious medicinal ingredients, then displayed more obscure high-grade pills for sale.
• Shen Mo sold nearly all of his obscure pills over the following day and night.
• Shen Mo put ancient battlefield materials, including four ancient cultivator remains, up for sale at the gathering.
• Shen Mo told Hong Gu he was selling the remains because corpse refinement demanded resources and effort he preferred to spend elsewhere.
• A peak Origin Core Realm cultivator bought two remains, while two late-stage Origin Core Realm cultivators bought one each.
• Shen Mo traded away more spirit materials and filled his Qiankun Pouch with valuable crafting and alchemy supplies.

Shen Mo bought a captive Golden Men tribesman from a Thousand Crane Mountain cultivator, hoping to learn about the envoys’ visit to the Red Flame Domain. After the sale was agreed, Yan Dacheng of the True Martial Hall tried to claim the Golden Men, and Shen Mo refused to give it up.

• Shen Mo finished selling surplus spiritual items and told Hong Gu that he was leaving for the Ancient Vine Sect.
• Shen Mo spotted a Golden Men tribesman imprisoned in an ice cage and recognized him as a late third-stage Extraterrestrial Being from the Red Flame Domain.
• Shen Mo contacted the Golden Men’s owner from Thousand Crane Mountain and bargained the price down to four hundred middle-grade Spirit Stones.
• After accepting payment, the Thousand Crane Mountain cultivator abruptly tried to cancel the sale and return Shen Mo’s Spirit Stones.
• Shen Mo immobilized the cloud and ice cage, refused to reverse the transaction, and heard Yan Dacheng threaten him while claiming the Golden Men for himself.

Shen Mo refused to surrender the golden man to Yan Dacheng, a True Martial Hall elder, and fought back when Yan attacked him. After Shen Mo’s sword strike surprised the gathered cultivators, Yan challenged him to fight in the sky, and Shen Mo released his Evil-Eating Flying Centipede.

• Shen Mo rejected Yan Dacheng’s demand for the golden man and revealed that he was a rogue cultivator from Wangxian Mountain.
• Yan Dacheng attacked Shen Mo despite the Heavenly Sound Valley trading fair’s prohibition against fighting.
• Shen Mo drew the Demon Slayer Sword and shattered Yan’s fist force with his All-Encompassing Sword Qi, forcing Yan to defend himself with a magic treasure and more punches.
• The cultivators watching the fight praised Shen Mo’s swordsmanship and criticized Yan for bullying others.
• Yan Dacheng broke through the formation around Heavenly Sound Valley and challenged Shen Mo to fight in the nine heavens.
• Shen Mo released his healed Evil-Eating Flying Centipede and ordered it to fight Yan.

Shen Mo sent the Evil-Eating Centipede to confront Yan Dacheng, whose allies recognized him as Shen Qingyun of Wangxian Mountain and warned of his reputation. After fighting the centipede and realizing Shen Mo could be an even greater threat, Yan Dacheng withdrew, and Hong Gu told Shen Mo his name had spread throughout the Colorful Garment Kingdom.

• Shen Mo released the Evil-Eating Centipede to confront Yan Dacheng, and cultivators in Heavenly Sound Valley recognized him as Shen Qingyun of Wangxian Mountain.
• The Evil-Eating Centipede battled Yan Dacheng in the sky, holding its ground against the True Martial Hall elder's attacks.
• Yan Dacheng broke off the fight and fled after deciding that defeating the centipede would not be worth provoking Shen Mo.
• Other cultivators mocked Yan Dacheng as he departed, while Shen Mo was surprised by how quickly he had retreated.
• Hong Gu told Shen Mo that his name had spread throughout the Colorful Garment Kingdom while he kept a low profile.

Shen Mo left Tianyin Valley after settling the dispute with Yan Dacheng and collecting the Golden Man race. He tried to calm the runaway Titanium Twenty-Six and show it that he meant no harm.

• Shen Mo let Yan Dacheng retreat, then took two hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones from the Thousand Crane Mountain cultivator as compensation for the dispute.
• Shen Mo collected the Golden Man race and greeted cultivators who approached him, then departed Tianyin Valley for the Ancient Vine Sect.
• Shen Mo discovered that Titanium Twenty-Six had trampled Ami's spirit plants after she released it from its ice prison, so she had bound and whipped it.
• Shen Mo freed Titanium Twenty-Six, caught it with a Well Wood Tapir Great Hand Seal when it fled, and sent it memories of rescuing a Golden Man at Golden Light Ridge.

Shen Mo rescued Titanium Twenty-Six from being harvested for treasure materials and brought him to safety in the Golden Flower World. He then joined the Ancient Vine Sect as a Guest Elder after learning he could not use the sect to enter the Heaven-Patrolling Daoist Temple, but the sect offered to help him try to rescue Yuan Jing.

• Titanium Twenty-Six explained that Thousand Crane Mountain had abducted him and repeatedly carved flesh and removed bones to refine magical treasures.
• Shen Mo kept Titanium Twenty-Six in the Golden Flower World so he would not be captured and harvested again.
• Shen Mo visited the Ancient Vine Sect, where Elder Ge Qing and Sect Master Qin Wenzhen welcomed him.
• Shen Mo learned the Daoist Temple knew he was Shen Mo of the River-Facing Sect, so he could not enter under the identity of an Ancient Vine Sect elder without betraying his sect.
• Qin Wenzhen and Ge Qing offered Shen Mo generous terms for a ten-year Guest Elder appointment, including help seeking Yuan Jing's release from house arrest.

After accepting that his exposed identity had not ruined his plans, Shen Mo replenished his pills and drank true Enlightenment Tea, which greatly boosted his cultivation. He then tried to persuade the imprisoned Taiyi Spirit Sword to acknowledge him as its master.

• Shen Mo considered why joining the Heaven-Patrolling Daoist Temple would help him, but concluded that failure would not hinder his Dao Path or future plans for the River-Facing Sect.
• Shen Mo returned to his residence, told Liu Siyun what had happened, secured the cultivation chamber, and brewed more than ten batches of pills.
• Shen Mo removed the talismans from the Taiyi Sword and restrained it inside the Big Dipper Sword Formation.
• Shen Mo drank Enlightenment Tea and received a surge of insight and cultivation, then reflected that the Ancient Vine Sect could not easily provide him with more leaves.
• Shen Mo resisted the thought of taking more tea against his conscience and urged the Taiyi Spirit Sword to acknowledge him as its master.

Shen Mo persuaded the Taiyi Sword Spirit to test his sword-path skill in a fair contest against the Demon Slayer Sword. After several days of fighting above the Hidden Phoenix Mountain Range, the swords fought to a standstill and the Taiyi Sword voluntarily admitted defeat.

• Shen Mo argued that his cultivation and sword-path attainments could help the Taiyi Sword advance beyond its peak spirit grade.
• The Taiyi Sword Spirit challenged Shen Mo to a second contest, limited to sword arts, and Shen Mo accepted by sending out the Demon Slayer Sword.
• Shen Mo established a vast Big Dipper Sword Formation above the temporary residences to keep the Taiyi Sword from escaping.
• The Demon Slayer Sword and Taiyi Sword clashed for several days, unsettling cultivators at the Hidden Phoenix Mountain Range.
• The two swords fought to a standstill, and the Taiyi Sword voluntarily admitted defeat before returning to the cultivation chamber with Shen Mo.

Shen Mo refined the Taiyi Sword as his natal treasure and gained insights into Gu Song’s sword dao, strengthening his sword techniques. After learning how Zhu Zhao had manipulated the sword, Shen Mo began repairing its damaged body with spirit metals.

• The Taiyi Sword conceded its contest with the Demon Slayer Sword and accepted Shen Mo as its master.
• Shen Mo refined the Taiyi Sword with his blood and Divine Soul mark, forming a close bond and receiving Gu Song’s sword dao insights.
• Shen Mo gained experience in several sword techniques, deepened his Artifact Forging Dao, and received one Destiny Point.
• Shen Mo resolved to show consideration to Taiyi Sword Alliance disciples but warned that he would strike Zhu Zhao if the elder continued causing trouble.
• Shen Mo told the Taiyi Sword how Zhu Zhao had deceived it, then used Earth Fire and spirit metals to repair the sword’s damaged body.

Shen Mo rushed to Ancient Vine Sect after learning that an unknown assailant had nearly destroyed it, only to discover the attacker was Lin Zhaozai, still bound to the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda. The chapter ended with Lin Zhaozai noticing Shen Mo as Cen Wenzhen and the others continued resisting inside the Founder's Hall.

• Cen Wenzhen sent Shen Mo a spirit sword carrying news that a powerful enemy had attacked Ancient Vine Sect and grievously wounded its patriarch.
• Shen Mo learned that the attacker had controlled the sect's disciples, dismantled its formation from within, and overcome its puppet and Heavenly Sword Talismans.
• Shen Mo used [Sword Evasion] to reach the blood-shrouded mountain first and cut through the concealment with the Demon Slayer Sword.
• Shen Mo entered Ancient Vine Sect and found scattered, bloodstained robes and belongings, but no bodies.
• Shen Mo recognized the attacker outside the Founder's Hall as Lin Zhaozai, still bound by chains connected to the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda.
• Lin Zhaozai turned toward Shen Mo while Cen Wenzhen, Ge Qing, and the others resisted him behind the hall's restrictions.

Shen Mo confronted Lin Zhaozai as the escaped Heavenly Monarch attacked the Ancient Vine Sect’s Founder's Hall to seize its resources and Enlightenment Tea Tree. With the defenses close to collapse, Qin Wenzhen offered Shen Mo half of the sect’s future Enlightenment Tea leaves for a century if he would fight Lin Zhaozai.

• Shen Mo faced Lin Zhaozai while Lin continued assaulting the Founder's Hall, where Qin Wenzhen, Ge Qing, and two Guest Elders defended the sect.
• Shen Mo questioned how Lin had escaped, and Lin explained that a Yanyi Dunjia Sect cultivator and companions had dismantled the tower’s formation before Lin killed them and consumed their flesh, blood, and Divine Souls.
• Lin warned Shen Mo to leave rather than interfere, while Qin Wenzhen revealed that Lin had devoured the sect’s patriarch and urged Shen Mo to delay him until help arrived.
• As more of the Founder's Hall restrictions collapsed, Shen Mo said Lin’s strength was beyond his capabilities, and Qin Wenzhen offered him half the sect’s new Enlightenment Tea leaves for the next hundred years if he fought.