Chapter Summaries

Dai Mubai agreed to spend the night with all three courtesans at Snow Moon Tower, unaware that they were disguises worn by the Bu Le Trio. The next day, he reunited with Bai Luo, pale from the exhausting night but full of satisfaction.

• Tian Ya, disguised as Xiao Tian, used her Soul King-level pressure to shut down objections and confirmed that she, Xiao Le, and Xiao E had chosen Dai Mubai together.
• Dai Mubai eagerly agreed to stay with the three courtesans, while Lian Shan Xiong, Niu Mang, and the other two men were sent away.
• The guests downstairs learned that all three courtesans had chosen Dai Mubai, and Bai Luo privately looked forward to Dai Mubai discovering their true identities.
• Bai Luo ate dinner and spent the night at an inn while Dai Mubai stayed at Snow Moon Tower with the Bu Le Trio.
• The next day, Bai Luo found Dai Mubai pale and exhausted, while Dai Mubai reminisced with satisfaction about spending the night with the three courtesans.

Dai Mubai continued spending his days at Snow Moon Tower while Bai Luo watched in disbelief. Meanwhile, Lin Zhengying's group found no zombies in Lanlin Town but uncovered signs of a vanished man-eating creature and decided to investigate its castle that night.

• Dai Mubai boasted to Bai Luo about his night with three courtesans and continued visiting Snow Moon Tower until he grew noticeably thinner.
• Qiao Feng and the others reached the area near Violet Luo City, where the Evil Tracking Compass began spinning as the Royal Zombie created more minions.
• Lin Zhengying led the Peerless Dragon Snake couple, Meng Yiran, Ke Zhen'e, and Wang Sheng toward Lanlin Town, following the compass once its needle steadied.
• A fruit stall owner told Lin Zhengying's group that Lord Bayi had eaten children, but his castle had since been abandoned and stained with blood.
• Lin Zhengying worried that the Royal Zombie might have encountered Lord Bayi or another monster, and the group agreed to inspect the castle at night.

Lin Zhengying and the Peerless Dragon Snake searched Lord Bayi's castle and discovered a prison full of strange captives and coffins containing newly advanced Hopping Zombies. As night approached, Lin Zhengying tried to kill one with a rune-carved Peach Wood Cone, but the zombie awakened instead.

• Lin Zhengying, Dragon Duke Meng Shu, and Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang entered Lord Bayi's castle, but the Evil Tracking Compass stopped guiding them.
• The three searched the castle, found a basement entrance, and descended into a blood-filled underground prison where chained nonhuman beings begged for help.
• Lin Zhengying opened a coffin and identified its occupant as a Hopping Zombie, then found that the other coffins held many more of the same kind.
• Lin Zhengying warned that the zombies would awaken when night fell and explained that his rune-carved Peach Wood Cones could kill them if Mana activated the runes.
• Dragon Duke Meng Shu found that Soul Power did not activate a Peach Wood Cone, while Lin Zhengying used Mana to drive one into a zombie's heart.
• The pierced zombie opened its eyes, roared, and sat up in its coffin, leaving Lin Zhengying stunned.

Lin Zhengying and Peerless Dragon Snake discovered that the castle’s zombies were mutated creatures with strange abilities and rapid regeneration. As they struggled against the horde, golden streaks suddenly emerged from the forest and destroyed several zombies.

• Lin Zhengying’s Peach Wood Cone failed to kill a zombie, and he realized the creatures only resembled ordinary zombies.
• The awakened zombies spoke and attacked Lin Zhengying and Peerless Dragon Snake with an array of bizarre powers, forcing them to flee the underground chamber and castle.
• Outside, Peerless Dragon Snake used Dragon-Snake Strike to become a Poisonous Flood Dragon and knock many zombies aside, but the creatures quickly regenerated from severe injuries.
• Lin Zhengying suspected the monsters trapped in the chamber were responsible for the zombies’ mutations and said they needed to question them.
• Golden streaks shot from the forest, piercing several zombies’ heads and making them collapse as white smoke rose from their wounds.

Li Xunhuan rescued Lin Zhengying and the Peerless Dragon Snake from the Mutated Zombies and explained that they were likely Corpse Oni created by the Ghost King Muzan Kibutsuji. The group feared the creatures could become a continent-wide calamity if they grew strong enough to overcome their weakness to sunlight, and resolved to warn Qiao Feng and the major powers.

• Li Xunhuan used Ripple-infused throwing knives to kill several Mutated Zombies, then led Lin Zhengying and the Peerless Dragon Snake away when he could not face the horde alone.
• Dragon Duke Meng Shu introduced himself and asked Li Xunhuan why he was there and how the zombies could be killed.
• Li Xunhuan recounted meeting Yoriichi Tsugikuni, learning about oni, and being transported near the castle while tracking Muzan Kibutsuji.
• Li Xunhuan and Lin Zhengying concluded that the monsters in the castle were oni combined with zombies, which they called Corpse Oni.
• Lin Zhengying and Meng Shu warned that Corpse Oni might lose their fear of sunlight as they grew stronger, making them harder to stop than the Wolf Calamity.
• Meng Shu urged the group to return and warn Qiao Feng, Spirit Hall, and the two great empires before the disaster spread.

After learning that a Royal Zombie was turning members of the Oni Tribe into Corpse Oni, Qiao Feng and the Peerless Dragon Snake sought help in Violet Luo City and prepared to draw Yoriichi Tsugikuni to them. The Royal Zombie planned to build a Zombie kingdom after reaching the Flying Zombie realm, while candidates from the Star Luo Empire began traveling to Heaven Dou Imperial City for recruitment.

• The Peerless Dragon Snake and Lin Zhengying returned to Green Forest Town with Li Xunhuan and told Qiao Feng that a Royal Zombie was creating Corpse Oni from the Oni Tribe.
• Li Xunhuan explained Yoriichi Tsugikuni and the Oni Tribe to Qiao Feng, who urged the group to alert the Spirit Hall and the two great empires.
• Qiao Feng brought the group to Violet Luo City, where the Martial Soul Branch Hall Master and the City Lord agreed to send warnings and help publicize the Oni Tribe's weaknesses.
• The Corpse Oni warned the Royal Zombie that Bayi Castle had been exposed, but the Royal Zombie ordered them to hide while he pursued his breakthrough to the Flying Zombie realm.
• The Royal Zombie promised to lead an attack on nearby human settlements and establish a Zombie kingdom once he grew stronger.
• Soul Master families and sects from the Star Luo Empire, including the Nether Duke Residence and the Star Luo Imperial Family, sent candidates toward Heaven Dou Imperial City for recruitment.

Zhu Zhuqing left Star Luo Imperial City with the Netherworld Spirit Cat Family and the Star Luo Imperial Family for the Heaven Dou Imperial City selections. She learned that her fiancé, Dai Mubai, had traveled ahead alone, and hoped they would meet and work together to defy their fate.

• Zhu Zhuqing joined the Netherworld Spirit Cat Family convoy after arriving late with Tom.
• The Netherworld Spirit Cat Family waited outside Star Luo Imperial City until the Star Luo Imperial Family convoy arrived, then the two groups set out together.
• The two convoys stopped at a town around noon, where Zhu Zhuqing noticed Dai Mubai was absent.
• A girl from the Star Luo Imperial Family told Zhu Zhuqing that Dai Mubai had left alone half a month earlier to reach Heaven Dou Imperial City early.
• Zhu Zhuqing felt disappointed but took comfort in Dai Mubai's efforts and hoped they would meet and resist their fate together.

After the Royal Zombie and the Ghost King’s threats reached Spirit Hall and both empires, they called on powerful soul masters to help hunt the Royal Zombie in Violet Luo City. Meanwhile, the traveling Nether Duke Residence and Star Luo Imperial Family convoys stopped in Heaven Star City, where the young people heard of a Mysterious Old Beggar who offered martial arts manuals to gifted children.

• The Spirit Hall Branch master in Violet Luo City sent warnings about Zombies, the Oni Tribe, and the possible Corpse Demon Disaster to Spirit Hall and both empires.
• Bibi Dong, Xue Ye, and Dai Tianfeng learned that the Royal Zombie could create Corpse Oni and that the Oni Tribe was led by Muzan Kibutsuji.
• Spirit Hall and the two empires publicized the threats and asked major factions to send their strongest soul masters to Violet Luo City to join Qiao Feng, the Peerless Dragon Snake, and Lin Zhengying in tracking the Royal Zombie.
• After several days of travel, the Nether Duke Residence and Star Luo Imperial Family convoys reached Heaven Star City and rested there for the night.
• Zhu Lingyun and Dai Changkong led the young people from both convoys to Heaven Star City's Soul Arena, where they heard that a Mysterious Old Beggar had sold a martial arts manual to a low-level boy who later displayed great strength and joined Spirit Hall.

Zhu Lingyun and Dai Changkong encountered the Mysterious Old Beggar, who warned them that a Zombie Reincarnator was active ahead. They chose to continue toward Heaven Dou Imperial City, and the Old Beggar offered to see whether any children in their convoy had an affinity for him.

• Before leaving Heaven Star City, Dai Changkong and Zhu Lingyun sent letters about the Mysterious Old Beggar to the Star Luo Imperial Palace and the Nether Duke Residence.
• After entering the Heaven Dou Empire, Zhu Lingyun stopped the convoy at a fallen tree and was struck by a chicken bone thrown from above.
• Zhu Lingyun recognized the Old Beggar as a likely Reincarnator, and he warned her and Dai Changkong about an aberrant Zombie Reincarnator hiding nearby.
• The Old Beggar explained that weak Zombies had several weaknesses but could evolve into powerful creatures with none.
• With fewer than fifteen days left to reach Heaven Dou Imperial City, Zhu Lingyun and Dai Changkong decided not to detour and continued toward the danger.
• The Old Beggar asked them to bring the children down so he could check whether any had an affinity for him and might receive a fortunate opportunity.

The Old Beggar gave Zhu Zhuqing a Nine Yin Divine Claw manual and warned her not to cultivate it without understanding its writing. The convoy reached a town for the night, then continued toward Heaven Dou Imperial City and encountered a powerful orange-red-haired stranger whom Zhu Lingyun recognized as a Reincarnator.

• The Old Beggar noticed Tom Cat and gave Zhu Zhuqing the Nine Yin Divine Claw manual, warning that she needed someone to explain its foreign writing before cultivating it.
• The Old Beggar warned that no one could forcibly take the manual from Zhu Zhuqing, then flew away, leaving Zhu Lingyun and Dai Changkong afraid to claim it.
• Zhu Zhuqing refused to show the manual to the girls in her carriage and decided not to cultivate it recklessly.
• The convoy traveled through the forest, reached a town by evening, and rested there for the night.
• The next day, Zhu Lingyun saw a powerful orange-red-haired man with a flame-shaped forehead mark beside the road and recognized him as a Reincarnator.

Zhu Lingyun’s convoy picked up Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who warned them that Muzan Kibutsuji’s Oni could appear alongside the zombies ahead. Yoriichi taught the group Breathing Techniques and the Ripple Energy Art, but when they reached Violet Luo City, they had only memorized the sword forms and had not mastered the techniques.

• Zhu Lingyun invited Yoriichi Tsugikuni into the carriage after learning they were both headed to Violet Luo City.
• Yoriichi told Zhu Lingyun and Dai Luoying that he was tracking Muzan Kibutsuji and warned that the Oni Tribe could create an even greater danger if it appeared with the zombies.
• Yoriichi explained that sunlight, special ore, Sun Breathing, and the Ripple Energy Art could help fight Oni, and offered to teach the group.
• The group tried to learn Sun Breathing but could not master it, so they began studying Derivative Breathing Methods and the Ripple Energy Art instead.
• Two days later, the convoy reached Violet Luo City, where the group had only memorized their Breathing Methods’ sword forms and had not learned the essential breathing or Ripple Energy Art.

Zhu Lingyun brought Yoriichi Tsugikuni to Violet Luo City's Martial Soul Branch Hall so Yoriichi could ask about his friend Li Xunhuan. Hall Master Zi Xinglong revealed that Li Xunhuan, Qiao Feng, and the Peerless Dragon Snake had been waiting for Yoriichi, leaving Zhu Lingyun worried that they had stumbled into serious trouble.

• Zhu Lingyun and Dai Changkong agreed that their group would remain in Violet Luo City for three days to learn Yoriichi Tsugikuni's Breathing Technique and Ripple Energy Art.
• After the convoy arrived, Yoriichi told Zhu Lingyun he planned to visit the Martial Soul Branch Hall because it might know about his friend, and Zhu Lingyun offered to accompany him.
• While Zhu Lingyun and Yoriichi went to the branch hall, Zhu Zhuqing stayed in her room and cultivated after feeding Tom.
• Zhu Lingyun identified himself to the guards, who arranged for him and Yoriichi to meet Hall Master Zi Xinglong.
• Zi Xinglong said that Li Xunhuan, Qiao Feng, and the Peerless Dragon Snake had been waiting for Yoriichi, prompting Zhu Lingyun to suspect a dangerous situation involving the Oni Tribe or other threats.

Zhu Lingyun learned that Qiao Feng and the others were preparing to confront the Royal Zombie and the Oni Tribe, then chose to stay in Violet Luo City so his group could learn Yoriichi Tsugikuni’s Breathing Techniques and Ripple Energy Art. The group moved to a clearing outside the city to begin training, while the threat of a Corpse Demon Disaster remained unresolved.

• Qiao Feng told Zhu Lingyun how the search for the Royal Zombie had led the group to discover the Oni Tribe and seek help from Spirit Hall and the two great empires.
• Yoriichi Tsugikuni said he could not locate Ghost King Muzan Kibutsuji but agreed to teach Breathing Techniques and Ripple Energy Art to anyone willing to learn.
• Zhu Lingyun weighed leaving with his convoys to avoid danger but decided to stay for three days so his people could learn the techniques.
• Zhu Lingyun returned to the inn and brought the children who were still there to join Yoriichi Tsugikuni’s lessons.
• Zi Xinglong led the crowded group to a grassy clearing outside Violet Luo City, where Yoriichi Tsugikuni began teaching them.

After a day of Breathing Technique training, Zhu Zhuqing spoke with Meng Yiran and returned to the inn, where she heard that her fiancé, Dai Mubai, had been seen at a pleasure house in Violet Luo City. Though she doubted the rumor, she resolved to investigate Snow Moon Tower the next day.

• Qiao Feng, the Peerless Dragon Snake couple, and Lin Zhengying failed to make progress with Sun Breathing, while the Nether Duke Residence and Star Luo Imperial Family students improved their chosen Derivative Breathing Methods.
• Meng Yiran approached Zhu Zhuqing, admired Tom Cat, and chatted with her as they returned to Violet Luo City.
• At the new inn, Zhu Zhuqing overheard youths claim that Dai Mubai had been seen at a pleasure house in the city.
• A youth said the witness had recognized Dai Mubai by his Evil Eye White Tiger martial soul and Soul Grandmaster cultivation.
• Zhu Zhuqing asked where Dai Mubai was and learned that he was at Snow Moon Tower, where three courtesans had kept him overnight, so she decided to go there the next day.

Zhu Zhuqing disguised herself as a boy and went to Snow Moon Tower to find her fiancé, Dai Mubai. She discovered him indulging in the tower and confronted him about abandoning his supposed plans to cultivate in Heaven Dou Imperial City.

• Zhu Zhuqing learned Dai Mubai might be staying at Snow Moon Tower and went there the next morning in disguise.
• After waiting, Zhu Zhuqing saw Dai Mubai arrive with Bai Luo and heard people say he visited the tower every day.
• Zhu Zhuqing realized Dai Mubai was her fiancé and felt devastated that he had not gone to Heaven Dou Imperial City as she believed.
• Dai Mubai taunted the Soul Masters at the tower and announced he would leave for Heaven Dou Imperial City in a few days to take the selection trials.
• Zhu Zhuqing approached Dai Mubai and asked why he was at Snow Moon Tower instead of preparing for the trials.

Dai Mubai told Zhu Zhuqing that he had given up hope of defeating his brother and intended to enjoy life, while showing little concern for their engagement. Zhu Zhuqing lost faith in him and resolved to rely on the Nine Yin Divine Claw to resist her fate; later, Yoriichi Tsugikuni noticed she was missing from the gathering.

• Dai Mubai explained that he believed he was destined to lose to Dai Weisi and planned to enjoy himself rather than keep struggling.
• Zhu Zhuqing challenged Dai Mubai for abandoning their shared fight, but he said he would care about her only if she was pretty.
• Bai Luo tried to calm Dai Mubai and asked about the family's inheritance system, but Dai Mubai declined to explain it.
• Zhu Zhuqing's hopes for Dai Mubai collapsed, and she decided to use the Nine Yin Divine Claw to resist her fate.
• Yoriichi Tsugikuni noticed Zhu Zhuqing was absent when the group gathered in the woods outside the city.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni learned that Zhu Zhuqing had gone to Snow Moon Tower to confront Dai Mubai and went there to check on her. He found Zhu Zhuqing leaving after rejecting her engagement to Dai Mubai, while Dai Mubai eagerly asked to resume learning Ripple Energy Art.

• A young man told Zhu Lingyun that Zhu Zhuqing had gone to Snow Moon Tower after hearing Dai Mubai was there.
• Li Xunhuan revealed that he and Yoriichi Tsugikuni had previously taught Dai Mubai, surprising the Nether Duke Residence and Star Luo Imperial Family.
• Yoriichi Tsugikuni went to Snow Moon Tower with a guide while the others stayed to exchange insights about the Breathing Technique.
• Yoriichi Tsugikuni recognized Zhu Zhuqing despite her disguise, and she told Dai Mubai she would treat their engagement as nonexistent and find her own way to escape her fate.
• Dai Mubai recognized Zhu Zhuqing as his fiancée and then asked Yoriichi Tsugikuni to teach him Ripple Energy Art again.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni gathered the Breathing Technique learners to assess and instruct them, then discovered that Bai Luo had already mastered Thunder Breathing to Total Concentration. Dai Mubai watched Bai Luo’s exceptional performance with envy, still wishing he had the talent to defeat his elder brother Dai Weisi.

• Yoriichi Tsugikuni returned from Snow Moon Tower with Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai, and Bai Luo, then organized the learners into groups by Breathing Technique.
• Dai Mubai and Bai Luo joined Zhu Zhuqing and the others learning Thunder Breathing, and Yoriichi Tsugikuni began assessing their form and breathing.
• Bai Luo launched into Thunder Breathing without adjusting his breath and sprinted into the woods, astonishing everyone.
• Yoriichi Tsugikuni identified Bai Luo’s mastery as Total Concentration and explained that it allowed a person to maintain a Breathing Technique at any time.
• Bai Luo completed a lap before Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing finished adjusting their breathing, leaving Dai Mubai jealous of Bai Luo’s talent and thinking of Dai Weisi.

Bai Luo mastered Sun Breathing after watching Yoriichi Tsugikuni demonstrate it, then asked to learn the Ripple Energy Art. Meanwhile, human factions mobilized against the Zombies, prompting Muzan Kibutsuji to warn the Royal Zombie, which prepared to advance toward a new level of power.

• Bai Luo demonstrated his mastery of Thunder Breathing and its sword forms, astonishing Yoriichi Tsugikuni and the onlookers by saying he had learned them in seven days.
• Yoriichi Tsugikuni offered to teach Bai Luo Sun Breathing, and Bai Luo mastered its breathing and sword forms after watching the demonstration a few times.
• Bai Luo asked Yoriichi Tsugikuni to teach him the Ripple Energy Art.
• The Martial Soul Branch Hall alerted Spirit Hall and both empires about the Zombies and Oni, and major factions began sending soul masters to Violet Luo City.
• Muzan Kibutsuji learned that humans were gathering and had his subordinates warn the Royal Zombie, which grinned as it neared the peak of Half-Step Flying Zombie.

The Royal Zombie drained the Oni held in its underground nest and broke through to the Flying Zombie realm, gaining flight and the ability to control the weather. It emerged onto the surface and summoned dark storm clouds, preparing to begin its plan with the Corpse Ghoul Tribe.

• The Royal Zombie had its Five Great Protectors bring weakened Oni from the tribe’s strongholds to the underground nest.
• The Royal Zombie drained the Oni of their blood essence and life force, killing them and transforming its Corpse Qi.
• The Royal Zombie condensed a golden Corpse Core and advanced from Hopping Zombie to Flying Zombie.
• The Royal Zombie discovered it could fly and use its evolved Thunder Spiritual Root to alter the weather.
• The Royal Zombie opened a route to the surface, led thousands of Corpse Oni out, and darkened the skies with storm clouds.