Arc 39Fate, Food, and Departure

Chen Lin used his Gourmet Festival success to gain new powers and resources, then returned to the Southern Star Realm to find it shattered and reconnect with old companions. After searching for his family and gathering those who could travel, he prepared to leave the realm for another plane.

  • Chen Lin won the Gourmet Festival with his Soul Steamed Buns, earned a million points and new privileges, and later used an Origin Orb to destroy a hidden clone within his fate screen.
  • Chen Lin opened a Soul Steamed Bun Shop with Xue Wa, then traveled to the Southern Star Realm and met Ximen Wuxue, helping her with talismans before fighting the Shadow-Transforming Sect's ambushers.
  • Chen Lin learned that the Hongshan Continent had shattered, visited the Zhaosan Fishery, and traveled with Qiaoniang to Liangyi City, where he reunited with Zhou Shiwu and Huang Liu.
  • Chen Lin persuaded Nie Cangqiong to take Huang Liu as a disciple, then traveled to Central City and learned that the collapse had destroyed the Immortal Palace and left Wei Duxing missing.
  • Chen Lin reunited with Yang Zishi and Jin Xingyun, learned that Luo Qinglan and the others had escaped through a space rift, and told them he planned to leave the realm through the Nightmare Realm.
  • Chen Lin spent three years searching the Zhongzhou Continent, made Zhou Shiwu and Qiaoniang his true disciples, and prepared them and Yang Zishi to travel with him to another plane.
  • Alan gave Chen Lin a golden lightning fruit pit and asked him to rescue Yun Xiumian, and Chen Lin left after giving her Drunken God Brew.
Chapters 952–976 Vol. 10 Read

Ch. 952Peerage ranks

Chen Lin investigated peerage permissions and sought better ingredients for the Soul Steamed Bun while preparing to visit Gambling Fortune Lake. After refining the Divine Snail Shell, he tested it and discovered that it retained its enlarged size without continued power.

  • Xue Wa told Chen Lin that peerage ranks granted access to higher-level Road Guides and promised to investigate their permissions at future exchange meetings.
  • Chen Lin learned he needed a Location Bead to add the Tianxuan Realm to his Teleportation Token, then returned to Ruyi Island and sent Wang Tianlin and Zhang Xuanwang to gather Spirit Food Recipes.
  • Chen Lin asked Liu Sanniang, the Old Butler, and Liu Shengyuan to help search for delicacies, and learned that the Soul Steamed Bun's soul-purifying effect came from its compassionate artistic conception rather than its filling.
  • Chen Lin decided to obtain Plum Blossom Colorful Wing Shrimp from Gambling Fortune Lake to improve the bun's taste, and began preparing to bring Grass while protecting Ruyi Island.
  • Chen Lin refined the Divine Snail Shell with Kannie's Artifact Refining Art and tested it with Chouya and Shi Jian, finding that it consumed enormous innate power to enlarge but stayed enlarged after he stopped.

Ch. 953Changes at Gambling Fortune Lake

Chen Lin tested the Divine Snail Shell, enlarged it into a shelter for the island, and returned to Gambling Fortune Lake, where the Golden Toad charged him an unusually high fishing fee. After catching shrimp and preparing bun ingredients, Chen Lin found that a shrimp filling broke his destiny line, while plain cabbage restored it.

  • Chen Lin and Grass tested the Divine Snail Shell with powerful attacks and found that it could withstand even Grass's Sword Qi.
  • Chen Lin enlarged the shell to a hundred zhang, secured it at the island's center, and entered the Gambling Fortune Lake Scenario with Grass.
  • Chen Lin found the lake open again and caught a Plum Blossom Colorful Wing Shrimp before the Golden Toad arrived and charged him one hundred Nightmare Coins, with a penalty of one thousand for failure.
  • Chen Lin caught more than two hundred shrimp and a Giant Crab, then returned to the Reality Realm and prepared shrimp-filled buns.
  • Chen Lin discovered that the shrimp filling broke his destiny line, but switching to plain cabbage and ordinary flour restored it.

Ch. 954Restrictions

Chen Lin tested how spiritual ingredients affected Shrimp Buns and found their negligible improvement in soul-soothing power did not justify the qi luck required. He learned that Wang Tianlun returned from the Black Finger Scenario only to die after warning him not to trust something, then secured a Tianxuan Realm location for his Teleportation Token and discovered that Gourmet Island’s Origin Orbs cost a million points apiece.

  • Chen Lin found that spiritual ingredients made buns harder to produce, but Plum Blossom Colorful Wing Shrimp barely improved their soul-soothing effect, so he reserved the Shrimp Buns for the Gourmet Festival.
  • Chen Lin visited Wang Tianlun and heard him warn, “Don’t trust,” before he died; Chen Lin decided not to send anyone else into the Black Finger Scenario for now.
  • Chen Lin judged the recipes gathered by Wang Tianlin, Zhang Xuanwang, and Liu Shengyuan inferior to Gourmet Island’s offerings, then entered the Gourmet Island scenario.
  • Chen Lin traded Holy Void Pills with Tofu Fairy for a Location Bead and added the Tianxuan Realm to his intermediate Teleportation Token, learning that it had only two unused location slots.
  • Chen Lin asked the Feathered Man about Origin Orbs and learned they were five-star treasures requiring permission and a million points each.

Ch. 955Guardian

Chen Lin learned about the Treasure Vault’s costly offerings, then entered the Gourmet Festival when the Gourmet Guardian demanded star-tier delicacies. His Soul Steamed Buns pleased the Guardian, whose sudden recovery left Chen Lin suspecting that Guardians were sealed in childlike forms.

  • Chen Lin learned that a full portion of origin essence was fist-sized and that the Dao-Inquiring Stone required higher authority, then left the Treasure Vault.
  • Chen Lin met Xue Wa, who told him her Explorer rank had risen and that a patron wanted to invest in her shop.
  • At the resumed Gourmet Festival, contestants performed poorly, and the judges offered double rewards while threatening failures with a hundred years of forced labor.
  • The Gourmet Guardian appeared, ordered contestants to present delicacies without following their numbers, and chilled everyone with his power.
  • Chen Lin volunteered and prepared two baskets of Soul Steamed Buns, which the Guardian eagerly ate and praised.
  • Chen Lin noticed the Guardian’s withered appearance improve after eating and suspected that Guardians were sealed into childlike forms.

Ch. 956Four-Star

Chen Lin’s Soul Steamed Buns earned four stars at the Gourmet Festival, bringing him a fortune in rewards and a chance to summon the Gourmet Guardian during his peerage mission. As other contestants presented dishes, Chen Lin discovered that a young gentleman’s tea could strengthen mental intent and resolved to seek out its leaves.

  • The Gourmet Guardian and the judges rated Chen Lin’s buns four stars, praising their transcendental ingredients and Gambling Fortune Lake shrimp.
  • The Guardian’s comments about Gambling Fortune Lake led Chen Lin to connect its dangers, the Qi Luck Guardian, his destiny talent, and Niuniu’s talisman.
  • Chen Lin received one million points, treasure-exchange privileges, food vouchers, teleportation benefits, a Baron Invitation Letter, and a token to summon the Guardian during his peerage mission.
  • Zhao Dingshan presented two dishes, and the Guardian rejected them as garbage and sentenced him to a hundred years of harsh labor.
  • An elegant young gentleman served tea that the judges and Guardian rated three stars for its ability to strengthen mental intent, and Chen Lin decided to seek out the tea leaves.

Ch. 957Reassessment

Chen Lin traded for Zhao Lingyi’s Fearless Tea, then made another food offering and opened a shop on Gourmet Island. He exchanged his remaining points for an Origin Orb and returned to Ruyi Island.

  • Chen Lin traded Four-Star Gourmet buns with Zhao Lingyi for Fearless Tea and arranged to receive shop invitation vouchers later.
  • After the Gourmet Festival ended, Chen Lin offered beef-filled Soul Steamed Buns, which the judges rated three stars.
  • Chen Lin obtained a shop permit, chose a scenic location, and tasked Grass with overseeing construction.
  • Chen Lin exchanged his remaining points for an Origin Orb and returned to Ruyi Island.

Ch. 958An unexpected hidden danger

Chen Lin tested a purer origin orb on Yuan Zhenhai, then absorbed it to strengthen his talent origin. A hidden glowing orb tried to possess him, but Chen Lin had baited it out and destroyed its clone, though he remained wary that others might still exist.

  • Chen Lin brought Yuan Zhenhai to his secret chamber and had him test a portion of the origin orb, confirming that it caused no abnormalities.
  • Chen Lin absorbed the remaining origin energy, but his aura turned chaotic as the glowing orb hidden in his fate screen emerged and attempted to seize his body.
  • The glowing orb attacked Chen Lin's destiny line, but a Light Blade struck it and shattered it into pieces that the fate screen absorbed.
  • Chen Lin revealed that he had pretended to lose control to lure out the hidden orb, then examined his fate screen for hours and concluded that other clones might remain.

Ch. 959Changes in His Innate Talent

Chen Lin examined how absorbing the Origin Orb and a mighty figure’s Light Orb had changed his innate talent, gaining a destiny river that could predict danger about three days ahead and greatly strengthening his abilities. After testing his Blade of Destiny and deciding to focus on cultivation, he entered the Nightmare Realm to deal with matters on Gourmet Island.

  • Chen Lin reasoned that the awakened mighty figure might seek to devour him, and resolved to strengthen himself while staying wary of Daoist Destiny and other destiny-related figures.
  • Chen Lin found that his talent origin had nearly doubled and concluded that the Light Orb had helped complete his destiny rule by merging another clone’s power.
  • Chen Lin discovered that his fate screen now showed his own destiny river, whose ripples warned of danger and could forecast events roughly three days ahead.
  • Chen Lin tested his enhanced abilities in the Liangtian Continent, where his Blade of Destiny crippled opponents’ qi luck and earned him the name Envoy of Bad Luck.
  • Chen Lin settled Yuan Xi’s grudge, gained treasures as compensation, and decided to raise the Floating Island before secluded cultivation.
  • After checking his destiny river for danger, Chen Lin used the Teleportation Token to enter the Nightmare Realm.

Ch. 960Sudden Wealth

Chen Lin and Xue Wa opened their Gourmet Houses on Gourmet Island, where Chen Lin’s low-priced Soul Steamed Buns drew a huge crowd. His shop earned him roughly one hundred thousand Nightmare Coins after its first day, leaving him astonished at his sudden wealth.

  • Chen Lin agreed to open the Soul Steamed Bun Shop alongside Xue Wa’s Xue Wa Cabin and gave her three hundred Nightmare Coins to recruit a promotional team.
  • Chen Lin prepared drinks and Soul Steamed Buns, pricing the buns at one hundred Nightmare Coins per basket and the drinks at their maximum permitted prices.
  • Customers flocked to both Gourmet Houses on opening day, and Chen Lin used Scholar and Golden Core Puppets to help serve them.
  • Chen Lin told customers that his three-star buns had effects almost identical to the four-star buns he had presented at the Gourmet Festival.
  • Chen Lin sold three pots of Drunken God Brew despite its ten-thousand-Nightmare-Coin price and earned two hundred thousand Nightmare Coins in revenue for the day.

Ch. 961Punishment

Chen Lin's Gourmet House made a fortune, but he was punished for unfair competition and ordered to close for a year. He adjusted his plans, asked Xue Wa to find staff and Advanced Nightmare Treasures, then left to sample other cuisine after failing to obtain a boundary-breaking treasure.

  • Chen Lin sold out his Drunken God Brew and Mortal Dust Spirit Dew, then learned that Gourmet Island's rules required him to keep every registered dish available.
  • A Management Office official fined Chen Lin ten thousand Nightmare Coins and ordered his shop closed for a year after a complaint about unfair competition.
  • Chen Lin paid the fine, raised the price of Soul Steamed Buns to ten thousand Nightmare Coins per basket, and decided to visit the Tianxuan Realm to gather ingredients and seek out his disciples and acquaintances.
  • Chen Lin visited Xue Wa, asked her to find two attendants and a manager and to inquire about Advanced Nightmare Treasures, then gave her two baskets of buns.
  • Chen Lin failed to exchange his permission slip for a boundary-breaking treasure, so he bought Gourmet Vouchers and began sampling the island's cuisine.

Ch. 962Myriad Spirit City

Chen Lin left Gourmet Island for the Southern Star Realm to gather resources in Myriad Spirit City, while hoping to find star-quality dishes and ingredients. After a month of searching, he reached Wanling Market and headed for its largest Spirit Food Pavilion.

  • Chen Lin regularly drank Zhao Lingyi’s Fearless Tea and began to sense intent, strengthening his Soul-Destroying Finger.
  • Xue Wa introduced Zhenzhu, and Chen Lin hired her under a Rule Contract to watch over his shop at half pay.
  • Chen Lin returned to the Southern Star Realm using the Location Bead and arrived safely near Myriad Spirit City.
  • Chen Lin gathered resources in the city’s markets, but found no star-quality dishes and could not contact Nan Mochu with the Transmission Bead.
  • After a month of searching, Chen Lin arrived at Wanling Market and went to its largest Spirit Food Pavilion.

Ch. 963Request

Chen Lin met Ximen Wuxue at Tianyi Pavilion and learned that the Saintess wanted his help with a dangerous problem. After Chen Lin refused to kill someone, Ximen proposed a different deal involving powerful single-use treasures, leaving Chen to consider his request.

  • Chen Lin recognized the melancholy Ximen Wuxue at Tianyi Pavilion, and Ximen recognized Chen from the Immortal Stele and Lan Ruxue's Dao Integration Grand Ceremony.
  • Ximen invited Chen to dine, explained that unstable space made travel and communication difficult, and said he knew little about the Xuanyue Continent.
  • Chen tasted Ximen's time-infused Immortal Mortal Path spirit wine and asked for a jar; Ximen offered him ten jars and promised ten more if his damaged innate talent recovered.
  • Ximen asked Chen to help kill an early Void Refinement cultivator, but Chen refused, saying he would not kill someone for a spirit treasure.
  • Ximen stopped Chen from leaving and proposed a different transaction, asking whether Chen had powerful single-use treasures capable of harming a Void Refinement cultivator; Chen hesitated.

Ch. 964Talismancrafting

Chen Lin negotiated with Ximen Wuxue to make a powerful Immobilization Talisman in exchange for materials and information about a prized fish. After successfully crafting it, he received spirit wine and a Jade Slip from her.

  • Chen Lin offered Ximen Wuxue Spirit Transformation-level Immobilization Talismans, but she rejected them because her target was too fast.
  • Chen Lin proposed making a Void Refinement-level talisman if Ximen Wuxue supplied Rank Seven materials, and she left to test one of his existing talismans.
  • After Ximen Wuxue confirmed the talisman's usefulness, Chen Lin asked for the steamed fish's recipe and origin in exchange for crafting the stronger talisman.
  • Chen Lin prepared the materials and used his talent ability to craft a Rank Six Immobilization Talisman.
  • Ximen Wuxue praised Chen Lin's talismancrafting, offered him a place in the Myriad Spirit Sect, and gave him ten jars of spirit wine and a Jade Slip.

Ch. 965Veiling Heaven's Secrets

Chen Lin left Myriad Spirit City for Fengyuan Town to seek a famous spirit porridge, but Ximen Wuxue's scheme drew him into a battle with the Myriad Spirit Sect and the Shadow-Transforming Sect. After discovering that Ximen Wuxue's time talent could veil his fate predictions, Chen Lin killed his attackers and headed back toward the city.

  • Chen Lin learned that Ximen Wuxue could not provide time-type materials, then left Tianyi Pavilion with two delicacies and materials for two rank six Immobilization Talismans.
  • Ximen Wuxue examined Chen Lin's talisman and ordered his shopkeeper to arrange a meeting with Mo Ziyuan at Xiaoerui Mountain, saying they had to kill him to survive.
  • Chen Lin heard about Qiaoniang Porridge Shop in Fengyuan Town and left Myriad Spirit City to obtain its spirit porridge for Gourmet Island.
  • On the way, Chen Lin found a strange golden immortal flower and encountered a white-robed cultivator who accused him of helping Ximen Wuxue.
  • Chen Lin realized Ximen Wuxue's time talent had veiled his fate screen, then attacked the hidden ambushers with his Blade of Destiny and killed the white-robed man and his companions.
  • Chen Lin killed the wounded late Void Refinement cultivator from the Shadow-Transforming Sect, cleared the battlefield, and vanished toward Myriad Spirit City.

Ch. 966Myriad Phenomena Porridge

After learning that Ximen Wuxue had escaped into seclusion, Chen Lin left Myriad Spirit City and abducted Qiaoniang to investigate the source of her Myriad Phenomena Porridge. Qiaoniang described a mysterious place she had once visited, and Chen Lin set off for the Myriad Stele Forest with her in his Space Bag.

  • Chen Lin soul-searched the shopkeeper at Tianyi Pavilion and learned that Ximen Wuxue had taken the Myriad Spirit Sect's core members into a Secret Realm, leaving him an Origin Orb.
  • Chen Lin ransacked the Myriad Spirit Sect headquarters, destroyed its sign, and fled Myriad Spirit City after killing four Shadow-Transforming Sect experts.
  • Chen Lin abducted Qiaoniang from her porridge shop and questioned her about the power that let her make Myriad Phenomena Porridge.
  • Qiaoniang explained that she had entered a mysterious place on Qingsong Mountain as a child, where a beautiful proprietress gave her porridge and sent her home; Chen Lin had her draw the woman's portrait.
  • Chen Lin gave Qiaoniang pills as compensation, declined to keep her as his cook, and took her along toward the Myriad Stele Forest.

Ch. 967Many-Fish Lake

Chen Lin found that the Myriad Stele Forest had changed, the Jingguang Realm node had vanished, and Tongtian City had been replaced by a lake. At Many-Fish Lake, he discovered the Zhaosan Fishery and reunited with Bao Tianci, who introduced him to Third Master Zhao.

  • Chen Lin found the Immortal Stele weathered and powerless, then discovered that the Jingguang Realm node and the sects around the Myriad Stele Forest were gone.
  • Chen Lin reached Tongtian City's former location and found an enormous lake where the city had once stood.
  • Gu Ziqiang told Chen Lin that the lake was Many-Fish Lake, now the Zhaosan Fishery, and that it produced Qingquan Fish.
  • Chen Lin asked to meet the fishery's owner, and Bao Tianci arrived and recognized him as the man who had saved his life.
  • Bao Tianci introduced Chen Lin to Third Master Zhao, and the three flew to the buildings beside the lake.

Ch. 968God-Corroding Fish

Chen Lin learned that the seas had become perilous after the planes fused and traded the Seven Divine Beads to Third Master Zhao for a future God-Corroding Fish. As Bao Tianci asked to leave the unstable realm with him, Chen Lin warned that he could not promise to take him and asked whether Bao knew of Luo.

  • Chen Lin heard from Bao Tianci and Third Master Zhao that the Hongshan Continent had shattered, the seas were filled with spatial hazards, and crossing remained possible only with great danger.
  • Third Master Zhao explained that Seven Divine Children's Divine Beads could help hatch God-Corroding Fish, which could condense divine sense, and Chen Lin agreed to give him the beads in exchange for one fish.
  • Chen Lin asked Bao Tianci whether the Immortal Spirit Tavern had reopened, and Bao said it had been rented to another merchant after the Boss Lady disappeared.
  • Bao Tianci asked Chen Lin to take him to another plane, and Chen Lin said he might help if circumstances allowed but could not promise.
  • Chen Lin warned Bao Tianci that other planes were dangerous and asked whether he knew of Luo.

Ch. 969Changes in old acquaintances

Chen Lin reached Liangyi City with Qiaoniang and reunited with his disciple Zhou Shiwu at the Qingyang Sect. He learned how the city and its acquaintances had fared during his absence, while Luo Qinglan remained missing.

  • Chen Lin asked Bao Tianci about places linked to Luo, the gigantic sword, the Myriad Stele Forest, and the node to the Jingguang Realm, and asked him to keep watch without revealing the node.
  • Chen Lin offered to take Qiaoniang to Many-Fish Lake, but she chose to travel with him to Liangyi City and hoped to open a shop there.
  • After a year of travel across the reshaped continent, Chen Lin and Qiaoniang arrived in Liangyi City and went to the Qingyang Sect.
  • Chen Lin slipped into the sect and found Zhou Shiwu, who recognized him as his master and reported that he had become the sect master and reached the late Nascent Soul stage.
  • Zhou Shiwu told Chen Lin that nearly all his old acquaintances had left or died, while Alan, Huang Liu, and Ling Qianshan were still alive and had advanced in cultivation.
  • Chen Lin reflected that the Liangyi Disk had protected Liangyi City and suspected it might be approaching, or already possess, true spirit tier.

Ch. 970News of the Awakeners

Chen Lin questioned Zhou Shiwu about awakeners and checked him for signs of possession, then visited Huang Liu in Liangyi City after deciding to bring his disciple to the Floating Realm. Huang Liu learned that Chen Lin had reached the Void Refinement Realm, and they discussed his wife and the dangers facing the plane.

  • Chen Lin examined Zhou Shiwu and found no foreign aura, then promised to seek Yang Zishi's help in purifying his talent origin or purify it himself if necessary.
  • Zhou Shiwu told Chen Lin about an awakener who had fought the Liangyi Sect, escaped after being wounded by the Liangyi Disk, and had not been seen for over a century; he also said Ling Qianshan had dealings with awakeners.
  • Chen Lin gave Zhou Shiwu pills and instructed him to arrange the Qingyang Sect's affairs, saying he might take him away, then left Qiaoniang at the sect and went to find Huang Liu.
  • Chen Lin reunited with Huang Liu, gave her a spirit-transforming grade spirit treasure, and confirmed that he had entered the Void Refinement Realm.
  • Huang Liu invited Chen Lin to the Spirit Food Pavilion, where he described what had happened in Central City and she encouraged him that his wife would recover and that leaving the increasingly dangerous plane might be best.

Ch. 971Request

Chen Lin learned that Huang Liu and her husband were being pressured by Jiao Yuanlu, a newly ascended Void Refinement cultivator, and agreed to ask Nie Cangqiong to mediate. At the Liangyi Sect headquarters, Chen Lin encountered Jiao Yuanlu just as a burly man arrived.

  • Chen Lin found that none of the Spirit Food Pavilion's dishes qualified as Star-Tier Gourmet Food, then asked Huang Liu why she had invited him.
  • Huang Liu explained that Jiao Yuanlu had harassed her after the Myriad Pill Pavilion's master died, and that she had become the companion of a Liangyi Sect elder for protection.
  • Huang Liu told Chen Lin that Jiao Yuanlu had recently reached Void Refinement and was pushing her husband's declining lineage to end their relationship.
  • Huang Liu asked Chen Lin to persuade Nie Cangqiong to mediate, and Chen Lin agreed to try despite doubting his influence with Nie.
  • At the Liangyi Sect gate, Chen Lin met Li Chenshui, who learned that Chen Lin had reached Void Refinement and introduced him to Jiao Yuanlu.
  • Jiao Yuanlu greeted Chen Lin, then a burly man flew down from the mountain and landed before them.

Ch. 972Nie Cangqiong's Shock

Chen Lin visited Nie Cangqiong, offered him Fearless Tea and Soul Steamed Buns, and asked him to help Huang Liu and trade for a Spirit-Condensing Branch. Nie agreed to help Huang Liu but revealed the Liangyi Disk was damaged and could not produce another branch for a hundred years, leaving Chen Lin asking whether its teleportation function still worked.

  • Nie Cangqiong welcomed Chen Lin to his residence, where Chen Lin shared Fearless Tea that heightened comprehension of intent.
  • Chen Lin asked Nie Cangqiong to take Huang Liu as a disciple, and Nie agreed after asking for more tea.
  • Nie Cangqiong discovered Chen Lin had reached the Dao Rhyme stage and offered him a deliberating elder seat in the Liangyi Sect, but Chen Lin declined.
  • Chen Lin served Nie Cangqiong Soul Steamed Buns, and Nie eagerly accepted three baskets in exchange for whatever Chen wanted.
  • Chen Lin requested a Spirit-Condensing Branch of the Liangyi Disk, but Nie said the disk was damaged and could not condense one for a hundred years.
  • Chen Lin asked whether the Liangyi Disk could still teleport people to other continents.

Ch. 973Returning to Central City

Chen Lin arranged Huang Liu's apprenticeship under Nie Cangqiong and traveled through the Liangyi Disk to Central City. He learned that the city had been devastated by the realm's collapse and feared that Princess Qinghua, Yang Zishi, and the others might be missing or dead.

  • Nie Cangqiong told Chen Lin that the Liangyi Disk could take him to Central City, but its passage to the Northern Star Realm led only to Tianxing City, far from the Northern Wilderness Continent.
  • Nie Cangqiong agreed to make Huang Liu his disciple without a ceremony, and Chen Lin told her to visit the Liangyi Sect the next day.
  • Chen Lin left Qiaoniang in Zhou Shiwu's care and, three days later, paid the spirit crystal cost to travel to Central City.
  • Hong Yuan told Chen Lin that the realm's collapse had shattered Central City, erased its Immortal Palace, and left Wei Duxing missing; Zhou Guanghan had become the new city lord.
  • Chen Lin gave Hong Yuan Transmission Talismans and pills, asked to be notified when the passage back to Liangyi City opened, and left the hall.

Ch. 974A Reunion with Old Friends

Chen Lin returned to Central City after the realm’s collapse and searched for his former companions, eventually finding Bai Xuanying, Yang Zishi, and Jin Xingyun at the Hundred Flowers Fairy’s former residence. He learned that Luo Qinglan and others had entered a space rift, while Jin Xingyun and Yang Zishi had survived in Central City, and joined his old friends to catch up.

  • Chen Lin found his former immortal cave lost with the collapsed space, searched Central City for news, and learned that the powerful figure who had taken the Hundred Flowers Fairy’s body was nowhere to be found.
  • Chen Lin went to the Little Xuanshan Range and questioned two cultivators guarding the former courtyard of the Hundred Flowers Fairy.
  • Bai Xuanying recognized Chen Lin and told him that Jin Xingyun was inside, then brought him into the courtyard.
  • Yang Zishi reunited with Chen Lin and explained that Luo Qinglan, Master Mu, and Dantai Yunjin had entered a space rift with Grass, while she and Jin Xingyun had been stranded elsewhere.
  • Jin Xingyun arrived, reassured Chen Lin that Luo Qinglan had chosen a rift leading to another realm, and invited him inside to talk.

Ch. 975How Everyone Had Changed

Chen Lin reunited with Jin Xingyun, Yang Zishi, and Bai Xuanying, learned what had happened to their companions after Central City fell, and revealed that he had reached the Void Refinement Realm and could travel through the Nightmare Realm. The group discussed gathering rare gourmet food to make future travel possible, while Bai Xuanying’s worsening bloodline transformation remained unresolved.

  • Chen Lin learned how Luo Qinglan, Dantai Yunjin, Mu Xingchen, Jin Xingyun, and Yang Zishi had been separated during the collapse, and that the passage to the Bluestone Street Scenario had vanished.
  • Jin Xingyun asked about Chen Lin’s cultivation, and Chen Lin revealed his Void Refinement Realm aura and said he planned to leave the realm through the Nightmare Realm.
  • Chen Lin explained that traveling through Gourmet Island required rare gourmet food, then shared Mortal Dust Spirit Dew and Clear Skies pastries with Jin Xingyun, Yang Zishi, and Bai Xuanying.
  • Chen Lin asked why Jin Xingyun and Bai Xuanying had not moved to the Inner City, and Bai Xuanying explained that her bloodline caused her to transform into a white tiger, making the Inner City too dangerous.

Ch. 976Preparing to leave

Chen Lin prepared to take Yang Zishi, Zhou Shiwu, and Qiaoniang to another plane after searching unsuccessfully for Chen Bao and Silver Fairy. Before leaving, he told Alan he could not take her yet, accepted a lightning treasure from her, and promised to help rescue Yun Xiumian.

  • Chen Lin learned that the Myriad Star Archipelago had become forbidden ground, so he searched the Zhongzhou Continent for cuisine, resources, and traces of Chen Bao and Silver Fairy for three years.
  • Chen Lin made Zhou Shiwu and Qiaoniang his true disciples and told them and Yang Zishi to prepare to travel with him to another plane.
  • Chen Lin explained to Alan that he had too few places to take her and warned that the Floating Realm was dangerous, while other planes might reject her under their rules.
  • Alan gave Chen Lin a golden lightning fruit pit and asked him to rescue Yun Xiumian; Chen Lin gave her Drunken God Brew in return and left.
Arc 39 of 104