Chapter Summaries

Wanhua Demon Emperor awakened after a ten-year sleep and used the Green Vein Seal to send the Exquisite Treants to fight Wuchang Ghost Sect. The Treants battled the Yin Soldier Army, while Chiyuan explained that they might have been created through the legendary Path of Spirit Bestowal.

• Wanhua Demon Court's core clans fled or were destroyed as Wuchang Ghost Sect began its second war against the court.
• Wanhua Demon Emperor awoke in the Demon Ruins Land, learned that Su Mei had fled and Wuchang Ghost Sect had returned, and decided to confront the threat.
• Wanhua Demon Emperor used the Green Vein Seal to awaken thousands of Exquisite Treants and ordered them to drive the wraiths from the Wanhua Mountain Range.
• The Exquisite Treants emerged from Flower Mirror Lake, marched north, and routed the Yin Soldier Army in a fierce battle.
• An Wusheng, Yu Yuan, and Ji Wusi arrived at the battlefield, where Chiyuan described the Path of Spirit Bestowal and the legendary Return to Void Demon Flower.

The Wanhua Demon Emperor unleashed a vast treant army that drove back the Wuchang Ghost Sect, forcing its leaders to reconsider their invasion. The surrounding demon clans chose whether to return or remain in hiding, while Heavenly Sword True Monarch decided to stay out of the conflict.

• An Wusheng, Ji Wusi, Chiyuan, Yellow Springs, and Yu Yuan joined the battle, but the treants merged into a colossal tree that hurled all five away.
• The Wanhua Demon Emperor crushed the Yin Soldier Army and pursued it for a thousand li before withdrawing to protect his treants from excessive casualties.
• An Wusheng confronted Li Shanghun, who proposed slowly occupying the Wanhua Mountain Range and waiting a hundred years for more forces to enter the conflict.
• Su Mei declined to seek an audience with the Demon Emperor and ordered the Qingyuan Fox Clan to hide for several years.
• Jian Changhe reported the treants' victory to Heavenly Sword True Monarch, who speculated that the Demon Emperor used the Path of Spirit Bestowal and chose not to provoke him.
• Xuan Ling and Yue Yao disagreed about returning, so the Wandering White Crane Clan went back to the Wanhua Mountain Range while the Spirit Deer Clan remained in the Yunxiao Mountain Range.

Yang Zhengshan upgraded the Seven Treasures Soul Suppressing Pagoda to a Spirit Artifact while the Wanhua Demon Emperor spread the Path of Spirit Bestowal across the Myriad Flower Domain. Yu Qingyi chose to cultivate the method, and the chapter ended as Yunxiao sensed a group of approaching cultivators near the returning fleet.

• Yang Zhengshan used Dao Spirit Paste to raise the Seven Treasures Soul Suppressing Pagoda to Spirit Artifact level in less than two months.
• The Wanhua Demon Emperor asked Li Zhuo to spread the Path of Spirit Bestowal throughout the Myriad Flower Domain, and Li Zhuo distributed Jade Slips containing it.
• Yu Qingyi brought Yang Zhengshan a Jade Slip from Lingxiu Sea, and he approved her request to cultivate the Path of Spirit Bestowal.
• Yang Zhengshan went to the Pill Hall to instruct Zhang Hexuan, Yang Zongyuan, and their disciples in alchemy.
• Yunxiao sensed more than a dozen streams of light approaching the Cloud Ship carrying the fleet returning from the Hengshan Sect.

Yunxiao fought Yuanchen of Tianji Pavilion after Yuanchen demanded to search the Vermilion Bird Cloud Boat, and he called for reinforcements when the battle turned against him. Yang Zhengshan arrived in the Great Void and took over the fight, while Lin Xiqiu went to check on the boat.

• Yuanchen asked to search the Vermilion Bird Cloud Boat, but Yunxiao refused and sent a message to Lin Xiqiu for help.
• Yuanchen attacked with Tianji Pavilion’s Star Meteor Technique, and Yunxiao killed or severely injured most of Yuanchen’s Foundation Establishment followers with a sword strike.
• Yunxiao shattered Yuanchen’s enormous Lone Star Suspended in the Milky Way meteorite, but Yuanchen’s barrage of fragments left the two Golden Core cultivators locked in a difficult battle.
• Lin Xiqiu received Yunxiao’s request for reinforcements, and Yang Zhengshan traveled with him to the Hengshan Mountain Range.
• Yang Zhengshan entered the Great Void and told Lin Xiqiu to check on the Flying Boat, then joined Yunxiao against Yuanchen.

Yang Zhengshan and Yunxiao fought Yuanchen of Tianji Pavilion after he tried to search their Vermilion Bird Cloud Boat, and Yang Zhengshan killed him using Wither-Prosper Dao Intent and Seal Great Void. A distant projection from Tianji Pavilion intervened, leaving Yang Zhengshan wary of retaliation, but he decided White Jade Capital still had to trade for resources.

• Yang Zhengshan identified Yunxiao as a guest elder of the Yang Family and refused to let Yuanchen search the Vermilion Bird Cloud Boat.
• Yang Zhengshan intercepted Yuanchen’s message for reinforcements, then trapped him with Seal Great Void and drained his vitality with Wither-Prosper Dao Intent.
• Yuanchen detonated his Star Disk, and a distant Tianji Pavilion projection attacked Yang Zhengshan and Yunxiao before vanishing.
• Yang Zhengshan collected Yuanchen’s corpse, divine soul, and Storage Bag, then returned with Yunxiao to the Vermilion Bird Cloud Boat.
• Lin Xiqiu asked whether they should hide, and Yang Zhengshan said they must stay cautious while continuing business with the Hengshan Sect and Wanbao Trading Company.

Yang Zhengshan returned safely after killing True Monarch Yuanchen and took precautions against Tianji Pavilion’s investigation. A year later, Yu Qingyi demonstrated the Spirit Imbuing Technique by creating a treant, prompting Yang Zhengshan to consider Wanhua Demon Court’s vast treant army and its purpose.

• Tianji Shangren told True Monarch Huagai that True Monarch Yuanchen had been killed by two unknown cultivators, and Huagai agreed to investigate the killers.
• Yang Zhengshan returned to the Spirit Source Land, kept everyone and everything from the trip there, and arranged for Yunxiao and the Vermilion Bird Cloud Boat not to travel to Hengshan Sect.
• After a year passed without Tianji Pavilion confronting him, Yu Qingyi showed Yang Zhengshan a treant she had created from a Green Leaf Wutong using the Spirit Imbuing Technique.
• Yang Zhengshan examined Yu Qingyi’s jade slip and saw her use the technique to turn a stone and water into rudimentary beings.
• Yu Qingyi explained that trees could become intelligent and powerful through spirit imbuing, leading Yang Zhengshan to conclude Wanhua Demon Court must have tens of thousands of second-rank-or-higher spirit trees.

Yang Zhengshan accepted Yu Qingyi’s decision to cultivate the Spirit Imbuing Technique and watched her grow able to command a hundred Treants. As the Spirit Source Land developed and new powers rose in the western regions, he traveled to Emerald Lake to meet Wu Wei Zheng, who revealed he came from Water Flood Dragon River.

• Yang Zhengshan worried that the Spirit Imbuing Technique might be dangerous, but Yu Qingyi insisted it suited her, and he agreed to watch over her cultivation.
• Over three years, Yu Qingyi learned to imbue second-tier Spirit Wood and command a hundred Treants, which she began training in formations.
• The Spirit Source Land prospered while the Wanhua Mountain Range remained at war, and the Spirit Deer Clan and Ancient Beast Sect rose to power in the western regions.
• After Yun Xi reported the Ancient Beast Sect’s rise, Yang Zhengshan suspected Wu Wei Zheng had founded it and traveled to Emerald Lake to meet him.
• Wu Wei Zheng reluctantly spoke with Yang Zhengshan and revealed that he came from Water Flood Dragon River.

Yang Zhengshan learned the three methods of the Struggle for Authority from Wu Wei Zheng and traded pills for information and resources. After returning to the Life Realm Immortal Palace, he heard that the Tianji Pavilion had identified Duobao True Monarch as the killer of True Monarch Changming.

• Yang Zhengshan questioned Wu Wei Zheng about the Struggle for Authority and offered resources in exchange for the truth.
• Wu Wei Zheng exchanged details of the Struggle for Authority for twelve Supreme Demon Core Pills, explaining its three methods: surpassing the former Lord of Authority, preaching a new Dao, and holding authority over the world.
• Yang Zhengshan traded two more Supreme Demon Core Pills for Wu Wei Zheng's miscellaneous Spiritual Items, then returned to the Life Realm Immortal Palace.
• Lin Xiqiu reported that the Hengshan Sect had ordered ten Vermilion Bird Cloud Boats and one hundred and eighty Blazing Sun Golden Boats.
• Lin Xiqiu told Yang Zhengshan that the Tianji Pavilion had named Duobao True Monarch of the Wanbao Sect as the murderer of True Monarch Changming.

Yang Zhengshan learned that Tianji Pavilion’s investigation into True Monarch Yuanchen’s murder had implicated Wanbao Sect, while Zhongli Xiayi returned to Wanbao Sect to inherit the Ten Thousand Mile Brocade. Duobao True Monarch revealed that he had prepared Xiayi to become a future Dao Master, denied killing True Monarch Changming, and ordered Demon King Heilin to protect her as tensions between the sects mounted.

• Lin Xiqiu told Yang Zhengshan that Tianji Pavilion had traced a Magic Treasure once used by True Monarch Changming to Wanbao Trading Company, raising rumors of war between Tianji Pavilion and Wanbao Sect.
• Zhongli Xiayi arrived at Wanbao Sect and met Duobao True Monarch, who explained that the Ten Thousand Mile Brocade contained the Way of Sunset Glow and could help her surpass Dao Master Chiguang.
• Duobao True Monarch revealed that the Zhongli Family had cultivated four generations of descendants to prepare Zhongli Xiayi to inherit the brocade and potentially become a Dao Master.
• Zhongli Xiayi asked whether Duobao True Monarch had killed True Monarch Changming, and he denied it while telling her to focus on cultivation.
• After Zhongli Xiayi left, Duobao True Monarch concluded that Tianxian Dao had framed him to provoke a war and told Demon King Heilin to protect Xiayi as her future master.

Five years passed as Yang Zhengshan nurtured a growing Divine General army and guided Yu Qingyi in the Path of Spirit Bestowal. News that Wuchang Ghost Sect planned to invade the Yunxiao Mountain Range threatened to draw White Jade Capital into conflict, while the North Mountain Jiang Family sought its protection.

• Yang Zhengshan’s Divine Soul Hall nurtured its first Yin Soul General, Bai Xiaoyun, and his Divine General Chessboard grew to 221 Golden Armored Divine Generals.
• Red Cloud told Yang Zhengshan that Yu Qingyi was cultivating treants in the Ancient Wood Forest, where he went to guide her in the Path of Spirit Bestowal.
• Mu Xuan reported that Wuchang Ghost Sect was preparing to invade the Yunxiao Mountain Range, based on information from the North Mountain Jiang Family.
• Yang Zhengshan told Mu Xuan to watch the eastern Yunxiao Mountain Range and report again if Wuchang Ghost Sect began its invasion.
• Mu Xuan said the North Mountain Jiang Family wanted to seek refuge with White Jade Capital, and Yang Zhengshan authorized him to discuss joining under its rules.

The Wuchang Ghost Sect prepared to conquer the Yunxiao Mountain Range, assigning Old Ghost Huangquan to attack the Yang Family and An Wusheng to take Hidden Sword Mountain and Cangyu Mountain. As the invasion began, the Spirit Deer Clan fled southwest, while Heavenly Sword True Monarch prepared to reveal his sword and the White Cloud Orthodoxy turned to the Yang Family for shelter.

• At the Wuchang Ghost Sect’s meeting, Yu Yuan reported that the Yin Soldier Army and Blood Puppets were ready, and the leaders planned to seize the Yunxiao Mountain Range.
• Old Ghost Huangquan volunteered to deal with Yang Zhengshan, while An Wusheng claimed Hidden Sword Mountain and Cangyu Mountain for the Soul Controlling Hall and left Li Shanghun to guard against the Wanhua Demon Court.
• The Yin Soldier Army invaded the Yunxiao Mountain Range, prompting Yue Yao to lead the Spirit Deer Clan on another migration toward the southwest.
• At Hidden Sword Mountain, Heavenly Sword True Monarch told Jian Changhe and Que Lingyu he would cut down the Wuchang Ghost Sect with one sword, ordered the Que'er girls back to the mountain, and refused Yun Fan’s request for refuge.
• After Hidden Sword Mountain turned him away, Yun Fan returned to Qingli Immortal City, and he and Yun Bi decided to seek shelter with the Yang Family.

With the Wuchang Ghost Sect threatening the Yunxiao Mountain Range, Yang Zhengshan agreed to take in those willing to join his family and accept its rules. True Person Jingshui, Yun Fan, and the Spirit Deer Clan chose to seek refuge in the Life Realm Immortal Palace, leaving Yang Zhengshan to arrange their migration before the danger arrived.

• True Person Jingshui asked Yang Zhengshan how to respond to the Wuchang Ghost Sect, and Yang Zhengshan offered migration west or joining the Yang family; Jingshui chose to join.
• Yun Fan asked Yang Zhengshan to shelter the White Cloud Orthodoxy, and Yang Zhengshan explained that entering the cave heaven meant giving up the orthodoxy as an independent force.
• After learning that more than ten thousand Spirit Deer had arrived to seek refuge, Yun Fan agreed to join the Yang family and bring as many people from Qingli Immortal City as he could.
• Yang Zhengshan accepted Yue Yao and the Spirit Deer Clan on the condition that they follow his rules, and they entered the Life Realm Immortal Palace to receive tribal land.
• The Spirit Deer Clan became the strongest force inside the Life Realm Immortal Palace, while Yang Zhengshan’s growing control over the palace’s Great Void sealing ability made rebellion difficult.

Yue Yao led the Spirit Deer Clan into the Spirit Source Land, where they settled in a valley and learned about White Jade Capital. As the Wuchang Ghost Sect advanced through the Yunxiao Mountain Range, Yang Zhengshan prepared to evacuate the Yang Family Blessed Land and confront the approaching Yin Ghost Army before withdrawing.

• Yunxiao and Niu Ben received Yue Yao and guided the Spirit Deer Clan from Jade Capital City to a valley near Changyao City.
• Yunxiao brought Yue Yao into White Jade Capital, where she learned about the Life Realm Immortal Palace and the realm’s true organization.
• Groups from Lingxiu Sea and Qingli Immortal City arrived seeking refuge, and Yang Zhengshan accepted them into the Spirit Source Land.
• The Wuchang Ghost Sect advanced near Cangyu Mountain, while Hidden Sword Mountain did not respond to Yang Zhengshan’s offer of refuge.
• Yang Zhengshan ordered the Yang Family Blessed Land evacuated and planned to take away the Cave Heaven Portal.
• After detecting the Yin Ghost Army from Yellow Springs Hall, Yang Zhengshan summoned Xuan Zhen to help capture yin ghosts.

Yang Zhengshan confronted Old Ghost Huangquan outside the Yang Family Blessed Land while Xuan Zhen was left to capture the attacking ghosts. Old Ghost Huangquan revealed his Divine Soul Devouring ability and battered Yang Zhengshan with Yellow Springs water, but Yang Zhengshan used Seal Great Void to hold his ground and counterattacked as the battle continued.

• True Lord Chiyuan searched the Great Void for the Yang family's Cave Heaven traces while Old Ghost Huangquan prepared to confront Yang Zhengshan.
• Yang Zhengshan told Xuan Zhen to capture the attacking ghosts, then left the formation to face Old Ghost Huangquan in the Great Void.
• Yang Zhengshan discovered that Old Ghost Huangquan had concealed his lifespan and revealed Divine Soul Devouring, but the Seven Treasures Soul Suppressing Pagoda protected him from its attacks.
• Yang Zhengshan pierced Old Ghost Huangquan with the Thunder Fire Spear, then used Seal Great Void to keep the Yellow Springs water and black mist from reaching him.
• Yang Zhengshan resumed attacking, but Old Ghost Huangquan struck back with Yellow Springs water and soul-devouring power that steadily drained Yang Zhengshan's divine soul.

Yang Zhengshan trapped Old Ghost Huangquan in his Sea of Consciousness and began refining his Divine Soul, while Xuan Zhen captured ghosts from the leaderless army outside. True Lord Chiyuan found the Cave Heaven’s aura but could not locate the Cave Heaven itself.

• Yang Zhengshan used his Spirit-Swallowing Dharma Body and Spirit Artifacts to fight Old Ghost Huangquan, then drew his Divine Soul into the Soul-Returning Dharma Formation.
• Old Ghost Huangquan entered the formation willingly and tried to seize Yang Zhengshan’s Divine Soul, but Yang Zhengshan used the Life Realm Immortal Palace and Great Void Twelve Golden Crystal Lotus to imprison him.
• Yang Zhengshan pulled Old Ghost Huangquan into the Exquisite Soul Domain, where the Soul-Returning Dharma Formation began draining his Divine Soul Power.
• Xuan Zhen captured Ghost Generals and other yin ghosts with the Myriad Ghost Banners, taking Old Ghost Tian Ye prisoner as the ghost army fled in panic.
• True Lord Chiyuan followed the Cave Heaven’s aura to an empty expanse of the Great Void but could not find the Cave Heaven.

True Lord Chiyuan discovered the Spirit Source Land and entered it, hoping to claim the Yang family's grotto-heaven. Yue Yao, the Green Ox Demon King, and Lin Xiqiu defeated him, while Yang Zhengshan sealed the realm to prevent his escape; Chiyuan died, and Lin Xiqiu captured his divine soul.

• True Lord Chiyuan found the hidden Spirit Source Land and entered, marveling at its spiritual energy and claiming it as his own.
• Yang Zhengshan sensed the intruder and sent Yue Yao, the Green Ox Demon King, and Lin Xiqiu to confront him.
• Yue Yao, the Green Ox Demon King, and Lin Xiqiu surrounded Chiyuan and struck him hard, while Yang Zhengshan sealed the Spirit Source Land so he could not escape.
• Chiyuan tried to flee, then offered to surrender when the three continued to overwhelm him.
• Lin Xiqiu ordered Chiyuan killed, and Yue Yao tore apart his Dao Body until his divine soul emerged.
• Lin Xiqiu seized Chiyuan's divine soul, and the three returned to the Immortal Palace to report to Yang Zhengshan.

Yang Zhengshan kept Chiyuan’s divine soul and watched Xuan Zhen round up the yin ghosts while the Yin Soldier Army surrounded Hidden Sword Mountain. Heavenly Sword True Monarch drew the Azure Gold Sword and crippled the Wuchang Ghost Sect leaders with a single strike, leaving An Wusheng and two survivors unable to restore their Dao bodies or advance further.

• Yang Zhengshan put Chiyuan’s divine soul into the Seven Treasures Soul Suppressing Pagoda and sent her other belongings to the Treasure Vault.
• Xuan Zhen captured a large group of yin ghosts and drove them into his three Myriad Ghost Banners.
• Que Lingyu and Jian Changhe left Hidden Sword Mountain’s formation to attack the Yin Soldier Army, drawing An Wusheng and four other Wuchang Ghost Sect leaders into the open.
• Heavenly Sword True Monarch drew the Azure Gold Sword and sent out one ordinary-looking sword qi that destroyed An Wusheng’s Judge Token, killed Baigushan and Du Feng, and maimed An Wusheng, Yu Yuan, and Ji Wusi.
• An Wusheng, Yu Yuan, and Ji Wusi escaped into the Great Void, then emerged with irreparable damage to their Dao bodies and divine souls; the Yin Soldier Army retreated from Hidden Sword Mountain.

After the Wuchang Ghost Sect’s attack was repelled, Yang Zhengshan and Xuan Zhen planned how to use their captured ghosts and considered a future assault on Yellow Springs Hall. Meanwhile, refugees joined White Jade Capital in the Spirit Source Land, where Yun Fan and Yun Bi learned about the sect’s strength and began settling in.

• An Wusheng accepted that Soul Controlling Hall could no longer maintain its position and decided to return and prepare to enter the Corpse Sea.
• Xuan Zhen returned to the Spirit Source Land with more than eight hundred Ghost Generals and over five thousand ordinary yin ghosts, and he and Yang Zhengshan discussed eventually taking Yellow Springs Hall.
• Yu Qingyi and Yang Jizhen showed the newcomers around the Immortal Palace, and Yang Jizhen explained to Yun Fan and Yun Bi that they had joined White Jade Capital rather than the Yang family.
• Yang Jizhen told Yun Fan and Yun Bi that White Jade Capital had four Golden Core cultivators and two demon kings, and explained that they could cultivate or take production work for merit.
• Yun Bi decided to offer her formation skills to help with flying boat manufacturing so she could integrate into White Jade Capital.

Yang Zhengshan settled the Spirit Source Land’s newcomers and distributed the divine soul power left by Old Ghost Huangquan and True Lord Chiyuan among its Yin ghosts. After discovering that Hidden Sword Mountain had repelled the Wuchang Ghost Sect, he spoke with Que Lingyu and prepared to move his family away from the Yunxiao Mountain Range.

• Yang Zhengshan completely erased Old Ghost Huangquan and True Lord Chiyuan, then brought their remaining divine soul power to the Divine Soul Hall.
• Yang Zhengshan rewarded Red Soul and strengthened Zhou Lan and the other Yin ghosts with divine soul power.
• Yang Zhengshan visited Yue Yao and met former acquaintances who had become his subordinates in White Jade Capital.
• Yang Zhengshan found the Yang Family Blessed Land abandoned and discovered that Hidden Sword Mountain remained intact despite the Wuchang Ghost Sect’s attack.
• Yang Zhengshan learned from Que Lingyu that Jian Changhe was in seclusion, but she refused to explain how Hidden Sword Mountain had resisted the attack.
• Yang Zhengshan told Que Lingyu that his family would withdraw from the area, and they agreed to meet again in twenty years.

Yang Zhengshan chose a hidden gorge in Hengshan as the Spirit Source Land’s new foothold, and Cui Yang organized its settlement and defenses. While inspecting treasures left by True Lord Chiyuan, Yang Zhengshan learned scattered information about Dao Masters and Authority Artifacts, then arranged for the Divine Eyes of the Earth Emperor to choose a new master.

• Yang Zhengshan found a secluded gorge near the Hengshan Sect and Taoyuan Mountain, moved its Gale Gray Wolves into Azure Wolf Mountain, and brought several hundred people from the Spirit Source Land to settle there.
• Cui Yang organized construction in the gorge, Ning Yun deployed a defensive formation, and Cui Yang named the new foothold Chunyang Valley.
• Yang Zhengshan questioned the Spirit of Artifact inside the Divine Eyes of the Earth Emperor and learned that Tianxian Dao Master had become Lord of Authority through Martial Dao, among other details about Authority Artifacts and the Nanhua Sect.
• Yang Zhengshan allowed the Divine Eyes of the Earth Emperor to choose a cultivator below Golden Core as its master, and the artifact chose the earth-cultivating Yang Qingtao.
• Yang Zhengshan sealed the Yellow Springs Illustrated Record and Soul-Devouring Ruler for the Ghost Cultivators, set aside the Zhenyue Seal, and distributed or processed the remaining Magic Treasures.