Chapter Summaries

After the team refused Lin Chen’s plan to abandon the nodes and gamble on his late-game strength, he returned to the battlefield and chose to draw the enemy’s forces toward himself. He unleashed his newly developed water techniques against the Corpse Tide as night fell.

• Zhang Zhiming and the others returned after four of their group were killed, and Lin Chen proposed roaming together to hunt zombies and build his strength.
• Zhang Zhiming rejected Lin Chen’s risky strategy, so Lin Chen decided they would each rely on their own abilities; Zhang Hao left without speaking.
• As night fell, the Corpse Tide surged against the Treant Army, while Lin Chen’s Spirit Silk Technique cut apart zombies along the battle line.
• Lin Chen recognized the Bloated Corpse King and Corpse Howl using corpse odor and corrosive fluid to counter his Spirit Threads, then resolved to draw most of the enemy’s combat power toward himself.
• Lin Chen manifested Shatang, formed a huge Water Ball, and sent countless Water Blades sweeping through the Corpse Tide.

Zhang Hao agreed to let the Land of Fallen Spirit Transmutation, which called itself Tree Elder, parasitize his body in exchange for its Spirit Transformation memories. While Zhang Hao was away from his post, the Corpse Tide broke through his defensive line and destroyed one of their nodes, undermining Lin Chen's advance.

• Tree Elder told Zhang Hao that the Heavenly Lord had severed its connection to the region and explained that it was the Land of Fallen Spirit Transmutation, born from the power and memories left by two Heavenly Lords.
• Tree Elder asked Zhang Hao to carry its consciousness out into the world, offering its Spirit Transformation memories in exchange, and Zhang Hao agreed.
• Zhang Hao began drawing Tree Elder's consciousness into his body, leaving the front line he had been assigned to defend unattended.
• Under the moonlight, the Corpse Tide mutated and its deathly energy weakened the Treant Army as the Flying Yaksha ordered an advance.
• The Corpse Tide broke through Zhang Hao's defensive line and flooded into the forest while Lin Chen attacked the enemy's graveyard node with Shatang's power.
• Lin Chen sensed the breached battle line and received word that one of their nodes had been destroyed.

Lin Chen discovered that Zhang Hao had vanished and the middle lane had fallen, leaving the defenders outflanked and forced to retreat. The enemy gathered to kill Lin Chen and seize victory, while Lin Chen and his allies prepared to hold out until daylight.

• Lin Chen found that the middle-lane defense had collapsed and could not contact Zhang Hao through the auxiliary ancient tree.
• After calculating that he could not destroy the enemy node before the corpse tide reached their territory, Lin Chen ordered Wang Cheng to retreat.
• Corpse Howl and the Bloated Corpse King moved toward the middle lane to pursue Lin Chen and finish off the defenders.
• The Flying Yaksha met four Demonic Cultivators and ordered them to lure Lin Chen in so the Flying Yaksha could assassinate him with a newly acquired divine ability.
• Lin Chen and the other defenders gathered in the forest and decided they had to survive the night as the corpse tide rushed toward them.

As the Corpse Tide threatened to overwhelm the Treant Army, Lin Chen chose to lure the hidden Mysterious Yin Gate cultivators into a decisive battle and revealed his new Pea Gatling spirit plants. His group halted the horde briefly, but the enemy’s coordinated ambush left Lin Chen engulfed by the Bloated Corpse King’s corpse odor as a shadowy figure prepared to stab him.

• Wang Cheng, Zhang Zhiming, Zhang Mengyao, and Lin Chen debated whether to attack while the Treant defensive line crumbled under the Corpse Tide.
• Lin Chen proposed using the group as bait to draw out all five enemies and unveiled Pea Gatling spirit plants made from his improved Spirit Arts.
• Lin Chen and the others attacked the zombies, briefly stopping the Corpse Tide, while Lin Chen’s planted seeds prepared to unleash spirit bullets.
• The Flying Yaksha appeared behind Wang Cheng, but Lin Chen’s Spirit Threads stopped its attack before it vanished as a shadow clone.
• The Bloated Corpse King ambushed Lin Chen, enveloped him in corpse odor, and apparently rendered him insensible as a shadowy figure raised the yaksha to stab him from behind.

Lin Chen analyzed the darkness that severed his senses and converted his spiritual qi, but the Flying Yaksha nearly killed him with a strike. Wang Cheng sacrificed himself to save Lin Chen, who then trapped the Yaksha and activated a hidden formation of treefolk.

• Lin Chen let the darkness corrode his body so he could study how it transformed his Wood Attribute spiritual qi into yin-attributed spiritual qi.
• The Flying Yaksha attacked Lin Chen from behind, but Wang Cheng rushed through the darkness and took the spear blow for him before dissipating.
• With his senses restored, Lin Chen charged the Flying Yaksha and grabbed him despite being pierced by the Yaksha's attack.
• Lin Chen activated the scattered treefolk, which fused into strange plants and aimed more than a thousand openings at the arena.
• Lin Chen ordered the plants to fire, and brilliant spiritual light appeared inside their openings.

Lin Chen wiped out the battlefield with a storm of spirit bullets, killing the enemy forces and his own allies, who revived afterward. He confronted Zhang Hao over his disappearance, then ordered the team to gather at the ancient tree and prepare an offensive, ending by asking if they had heard of blitzkrieg.

• Lin Chen unleashed thousands of spirit bullets, destroying the enemy army, the treants, and everyone else across the battlefield.
• Wang Cheng revived and was astonished that Lin Chen’s attack had killed him and their teammates; he then found Zhang Hao and heard his excuse for vanishing.
• Zhang Zhiming and Zhang Mengyao confronted Zhang Hao, but Lin Chen demanded an explanation and secured three favors from him, regardless of cost or life or death.
• Lin Chen told the group to abandon the other nodes and gather their strength at the ancient tree, arguing that they should attack rather than defend.
• Lin Chen revealed that he had mastered Sacred Wood Mandu’s divine ability and asked the group whether they had heard of blitzkrieg.

Lin Chen explained how a blitzkrieg could overcome the Corpse Tide by combining spirit plant abilities and improving the Treant Army. Using Myriad Laws Follow the Heart, he glimpsed how Nascent Soul cultivators might transform spiritual energy and form a Dao Domain.

• Zhang Zhiming questioned how a small group with inferior strength could use Lin Chen’s blitzkrieg plan against the Corpse Tide.
• Lin Chen explained that spirit plants could combine their abilities and hinted that he could alter the Treant Army.
• Lin Chen activated Myriad Laws Follow the Heart and saw spiritual energy as multicolored points within all things.
• Lin Chen changed the surrounding spiritual energy into Wood Attribute spiritual energy and realized that Nascent Soul cultivators could transform spiritual energy’s attributes.
• Lin Chen theorized that controlling spiritual energy across an area could create a Dao Domain.

Lin Chen explained how he could modify treants by combining his divine ability with his knowledge of cultivation arts. He turned one treant into a durable, self-repairing, flying unit with powerful weapons, then announced that he would create more plant weapons for the counteroffensive.

• Lin Chen speculated about Law Power, then told Zhang Hao and the others that he could modify the Treant Army.
• Lin Chen used [Myriad Laws Follow the Heart] to transform a treant, drawing spiritual energy from across a hundred-mile radius.
• Lin Chen showed how the treant combined Diwu Tree defenses, a Pea Gatling, Unquenchable Wood fire, Great Tea wings, Longevity Peach healing, and Gate Protecting Grass evasion.
• Zhang Zhiming realized the modified treants might defeat the Corpse Tide, but Lin Chen said they were only the army’s basic troop type.
• Lin Chen announced that he would next create plant weapons.

Lin Chen took control of the ancient tree and transformed the forest into an army of plant weapons. As the Mysterious Yin Gate’s Corpse Tide surrounded the remaining forest, hundreds of fiery fruit-bearing clouds rose to meet it.

• Zhang Hao, Zhang Zhiming, and Zhang Mengyao failed to defeat Lin Chen’s modified treant, and Tree Elder explained how difficult it would be to make such weapons.
• Lin Chen revealed his strange spirit plants, including mobile treants, Corn Cannons, and a floating weapon capable of attacking the enemy’s node from afar.
• Lin Chen transferred control of the ancient tree to himself, causing the forest’s spirit plants to multiply and transform while the trees on the outer routes withered.
• The Mysterious Yin Gate’s Corpse Tide occupied the outer forest and surrounded the center, while the Flying Yaksha urged the cultivators to wait until night before attacking.
• Hundreds and then thousands of clouds bearing flaming fruit trees emerged from the forest and flew toward the Corpse Tide.

Lin Chen’s side unleashed a vast rain of enhanced fireballs that turned the Corpse Tide into a spreading wildfire, forcing the zombies to flee. The Flying Yaksha rallied the untouched horde to roll a burning corpse sphere toward the forest, hoping to destroy the enemy’s base.

• The Flying Yaksha ordered evolved zombies to attack the clouds, but their corpse-fluid shots mostly missed and harmed their own ranks.
• Thousands of crimson fireballs fell from the cloud layer and exploded throughout the Corpse Tide, igniting the zombies with Lin Chen’s enhanced Fireball Technique.
• Wang Cheng used the Mustard Seed in the Palm to drive wind across the Corpse Tide, spreading the flames into a vast wildfire.
• The Flying Yaksha killed the burning Ironclad Sha Corpse when his flight threatened to carry the flames farther into the horde.
• The Flying Yaksha reasoned that the cloud attack would need time to replenish its spiritual qi and ordered the untouched zombies to form a rolling corpse sphere.
• The flaming corpse sphere rolled out of the fire and charged toward the forest.

Lin Chen used the Treant Army to crush the Mysterious Yin Gate Demonic Cultivators’ Corpse Tide. He assigned his allies to restore Spirit Tree nodes and guard the base while he led the army toward the Endless Graveyard.

• Lin Chen sent the Treant Army against the burning corpse balls, and its flaming attacks, crushing wheels, and Spirit Threads destroyed them.
• Flying Yaksha ordered the Corpse Tide to form a mountain of corpses, but the Treant Army’s Pea Gatlings and fire strikes tore through the formation and killed the fleeing Demonic Cultivators.
• Lin Chen told Zhang Hao to restore the previous Spirit Tree nodes and ordered Zhang Zhiming, Zhang Mengyao, and Wang Cheng to guard the base.
• Lin Chen led the Treant Army toward the Endless Graveyard, while sunflowers gathered Great Sun Flowing Fire and a spiritual plant formed from Mustard Seed in the Palm and Unquenchable Wood flew after it.

Lin Chen’s Treant Army battered Grave Mountain with Corn Cannons while the Mysterious Yin Gate’s leaders tried to hold out until nightfall. As the Flying Yaksha and four others used their bodies to intercept the shells, Lin Chen prepared his strongest attack above Grave Mountain.

• The Flying Yaksha urged the Mysterious Yin Gate leaders to endure until nightfall, while secretly considering their backup plan to seize the Enlightenment Stone.
• Lin Chen ordered more than a hundred Corn Cannons to fire at Grave Mountain, devastating the corpse hordes with explosive shells and scattered kernels.
• The Flying Yaksha ordered himself and four others to intercept the golden shells with their bodies, relying on their ability to revive to protect the corpse tide and buy time.
• Lin Chen recognized the Mysterious Yin Gate leaders’ desperate defense and prepared his strongest method as night fell.
• The spirit plant bearing Mustard Seed in the Palm and Unquenchable Wood reached its designated position directly above Grave Mountain.

Lin Chen activated the plant-based Sky Strike Weapon and combined its power with the Fire Spiritual Energy and Great Sun Essence gathered by sunflowers across the forest. The weapon struck Grave Mountain with a catastrophic blast, leaving the fate of the Mysterious Yin Gate’s base unclear.

• Wang Cheng and Zhang Zhiming discovered that Lin Chen’s sunflowers had absorbed Fire Spiritual Energy and Great Sun Essence throughout the forest.
• The sunflowers transferred their stored energy toward nine giant blooms, which fired scarlet beams toward Grave Mountain.
• Lin Chen took control of the plant-based Sky Strike Weapon with the Soul Computer and Sacred Wood Mandu, then charged it with spiritual energy and the sunflower beams.
• The fully charged weapon released a golden stream of light that struck Grave Mountain.
• A massive explosion lit the land for a thousand li and sent a shockwave through the clouds.

After winning a battle in the Land of Fallen Spirit Transmutation, Lin Chen witnessed memories revealing that Lin Tianhang was the reincarnation of the Spirit Transmutation Celestial Venerable and that an unknown power had interfered with his connection to the land in Jiang City. Lin Chen suspected another Spirit Transmutation cultivator was involved and began questioning his cousin Lin Tianhao’s role before the vision vanished and his consciousness faded.

• Lin Chen realized the battle’s victory would strengthen his side but would not end the ancient struggle, and he expected an Enlightenment Stone to form afterward.
• The Land of Fallen Spirit Transmutation showed Lin Chen the Lingnan Cultivation World’s origins and revealed that Lin Tianhang had been born as the reincarnation of the Spirit Transmutation Celestial Venerable.
• Lin Chen saw that Lin Tianhang’s memories vanished after he entered Jiang City, followed by an azure-black comet and a warped Blood Shadow.
• Lin Chen concluded that an unknown force had disrupted Lin Tianhang’s connection before he became a demon, suggesting the Blood Shadow or another Spirit Transmutation cultivator had intervened.
• Lin Chen recalled that Lin Tianhao had brought Lin Tianhang to the Lin Family and noticed that Lin Tianhao had disappeared from events afterward.
• The vision vanished, and Lin Chen’s consciousness began to blur.

Lin Chen took the Enlightenment Stone and left the canyon while Zhang Zhiming and the others held off the Mysterious Yin Gate Demonic Cultivators. At the entrance, he encountered five Blood Cultivators whose leader had secretly intended to help Azure Cloud Sect, and Lin Chen began breaking through to Foundation Establishment.

• Lin Chen woke, examined the Enlightenment Stone, and agreed to carry it out while Zhang Zhiming and the others stayed to delay their pursuers.
• Ye Ming led the Mysterious Yin Gate Demonic Cultivators in an attack, but Zhang Zhiming, Zhang Mengyao, and Zhang Hao held them back as Lin Chen left.
• Ye Ming revealed that he had alerted five Blood Cultivators waiting in ambush, expecting them to kill Lin Chen and take the Enlightenment Stone.
• The Blood Cultivators' leader told his companions that Lord Blood Shadow had ordered them to help Azure Cloud Sect obtain the Enlightenment Stone, despite their earlier role in the slaughter of its disciples.
• The Blood Cultivators blocked Lin Chen at the canyon entrance, and their leader realized Lin Chen was breaking through to Foundation Establishment.

Lin Chen used a formation and a Spiritual Energy Storm to break through to Foundation Establishment while surrounded by five Blood Cultivators, completing most of the realm's cultivation in the process. As the storm faded, he walked toward the Blood Cultivators, preparing to deal with them.

• Lin Chen activated a second-rank formation and defensive shields as the five Blood Cultivators decided to kill him.
• Lin Chen shattered a Blood Jade packed with Spiritual Energy, creating a storm and a calm space within the formation.
• Lin Chen condensed his mist-like True Qi into Liquid True Essence and crossed the Qi and Blood, True Qi, and Soul Passes.
• Lin Chen used the breakthrough to cleanse his marrow, refine his body, and solidify his Purple Mansion, completing most of his Foundation Establishment cultivation.
• Lin Chen emerged from the dispersing storm and walked toward the five Blood Cultivators.

After completing his Foundation Establishment breakthrough, Lin Chen fought the five Blood Cultivators who had surrounded him and killed them all. He explained how he had used deception to expose their openings, leaving only drifting ash in the city.

• The five Blood Cultivators surrounded Lin Chen after he emerged from his breakthrough, but his calm presence unnerved them.
• The Blood Cultivators attacked Lin Chen, only for their strikes to pass through an image created by his Invisibility Technique; Lin Chen appeared behind one and crushed his head.
• Lin Chen killed a second Blood Cultivator with his flaming scythe as the others tried to retreat.
• The leading Blood Cultivator used a blood saber and the Blood Burning Secret Technique to stall Lin Chen while another Blood Cultivator activated a blood-colored talisman.
• Lin Chen feigned an attack on the talisman user, then turned and killed the leading Blood Cultivator before cutting down the last Blood Cultivator.
• Lin Chen explained that he had used the blood saber, his companions' deaths, and a false target to manipulate the Blood Cultivators into revealing openings.

True Ancestor Changqing learned that True Person Yunshi had sent five Foundation Establishment Cultivators to seize the Enlightenment Stone and kill Azure Cloud Sect’s disciples, and the two sides clashed outside the canyon. Their confrontation paused when Lin Chen emerged from the secret realm, prompting Yunshi to attack him immediately.

• True Ancestor Changqing grew suspicious when Lin Chen and the others did not emerge from the canyon as expected.
• True Person Yunshi revealed that he had sent five Foundation Establishment Cultivators to take the Enlightenment Stone and kill the Azure Cloud Sect disciples.
• Changqing attacked Yunshi, and True Person Situ joined Yunshi, but Changqing gained the upper hand against both of them.
• Changqing withdrew his spirit pressure after True Person Yunshi threatened war, having secretly used the clash to give True Person Qingyang time to complete an array.
• Lin Chen appeared at the canyon entrance, and True Person Yunshi formed a Sky-Covering Giant Hand to strike him.

Lin Chen tried to deliver the Enlightenment Stone to True Ancestor Changqing, while True Person Yunshi and Elder Situ moved to stop him. True Ancestor Changqing unleashed his natal sorcery against Yunshi, but its full effect remained unclear as the chapter ended.

• True Person Yunshi attacked Lin Chen to reclaim the Enlightenment Stone, but True Ancestor Changqing blocked his Corpse Hand and Lin Chen flew toward him.
• True Person Yunshi ordered Elder Situ to seize Lin Chen while he held off True Ancestor Changqing, threatening Situ’s family into compliance.
• True Person Yunshi summoned a colossal corpse king and attacked True Ancestor Changqing, who tore apart the Corpse Hand with green light.
• Elder Situ closed in on Lin Chen as True Person Yunshi assumed Changqing could not stop him, but Changqing revealed his [Withered Wood Meets Spring] sorcery and formed a green sun that began to turn dim yellow.

True Ancestor Changqing unleashed the Light of Wither and Flourish, killing Elder Situ by rapidly draining his lifespan and shocking everyone present. As Changqing moved to take the Enlightenment Stone from Lin Chen, an eerie shadow appeared behind Lin Chen and struck at his heart.

• True Ancestor Changqing used the Light of Wither and Flourish to tear through the corpse king and other defenses, while True Person Yunshi escaped its lethal effect.
• The light targeted Elder Situ, draining his lifespan until he decayed into dust.
• Lin Chen realized Changqing's technique might reveal a way to manipulate spiritual energy or extend lifespan, and decided he had to obtain it.
• True Ancestor Changqing approached Lin Chen to claim the Enlightenment Stone, while True Person Yunshi stayed back rather than risk another attack.
• An eerie shadow forced its way through the dim yellow light and thrust a claw at Lin Chen's heart.