Chapter Summaries

After Yue Tianyi left, Chen Lin, Zhang Zhenqian, and Lu Xiaoyi learned that the ghostly Patrol Silk was a rare soul-strengthening treasure. They agreed to capture it, with Chen Lin set to lure it out under the terms of a soul pact.

• Chen Lin chose to stay with Zhang Zhenqian, and Lu Xiaoyi agreed to remain with them.
• Lu Xiaoyi identified the ghostly creature as Patrol Silk, a rare Netherworld creature whose soul origin essence could strengthen their souls.
• Lu Xiaoyi proposed using someone’s divine sense as bait, and Chen Lin and Zhang Zhenqian argued over who should take the risk.
• Zhang Zhenqian agreed to forgo a share of the treasure and compensate Mu Shengyuan’s family for his death.
• Chen Lin and Lu Xiaoyi signed a detailed soul pact, after which Chen Lin released his divine sense to search for Patrol Silk.

Chen Lin and his companions captured a patrol silk ghost, and Chen Lin discovered that his Soul-Destroying Finger could subdue it. After declining Zhang Zhenqian’s offer to seek a Soul-Fixing Flower, Chen Lin explored the lower layers alone and encountered a troublesome ghost in a jar that pulled him toward it.

• Chen Lin severed his divine sense when his talent warned him of danger, revealing an invisible patrol silk ghost that Lu Xiaoyi captured with a crystal.
• Lu Xiaoyi gave Chen Lin a sealed box containing patrol silk, but Chen Lin opened it and used his Soul-Destroying Finger to weaken the creature before storing it in his own bottle.
• Zhang Zhenqian revealed that he wanted a Soul-Fixing Flower, but Chen Lin declined to join the search and left the pair behind.
• Lu Xiaoyi and Zhang Zhenqian agreed to pursue the flower together and discussed the possibility that an advanced ghostly creature had taken Mu Shengyuan’s Storage Bag.
• Chen Lin reached the fourth layer after encountering several strange ghosts, including an indestructible jar creature that had worn him down.
• A black jar appeared before Chen Lin, and its copper coin drew him uncontrollably toward it.

Chen Lin trapped the Jar Ghost with a Space-Locking Talisman and destroyed it using the Soul-Destroying Finger, but he exhausted his soul and hid in the Bronze Coffin to recover. Someone carried the coffin away, and Chen Lin brought Fat Tiger out to help, startling the woman outside.

• Chen Lin lured the Jar Ghost to a stone-strewn area, trapped it with the Space-Locking Talisman, and destroyed it after resisting its life-and-death true word.
• Chen Lin took the Jar Ghost's copper coin, then hid in the Bronze Coffin with nine Golden Core Puppets while he recovered his depleted soul origin essence.
• An unknown being found the Bronze Coffin and carried it away while Chen Lin remained inside, unable to see who had taken him.
• Chen Lin used the Shepherd Token to bring Fat Tiger out, making the coffin drop and prompting the carrier, whose voice sounded like a woman, to react in surprise.

Chen Lin emerged from the Bronze Coffin into a strange landscape and met an old Taoist and his grandson, who had taken the coffin. The old Taoist returned Chen Lin to the fourth layer of the Earth Cave and gave him a valuable Body-Solidifying Pill, leaving Chen Lin unsure what had happened or whether he could trust the gift.

• Unable to enter the Pig-Headed Monster Scenario, Chen Lin prepared his Sword Talisman and opened the Bronze Coffin.
• Chen Lin found himself in green mountains beside a little boy and a blue ox, and the boy explained that he had taken the coffin for his grandfather.
• An old Taoist arrived, apologized for the boy, and offered Chen Lin a Body-Solidifying Pill as compensation.
• The old Taoist returned Chen Lin to the fourth layer of the Earth Cave with a flick of his Whisk, while the boy urged him to keep the Bronze Coffin.
• The old Taoist warned the boy that the Netherworld Node had loosened and remarked that Chen Lin possessed a destiny talent.
• Chen Lin recognized the pill as an aid for advancing to Void Refinement but questioned how the old Taoist had transported him and whether the gift was safe.

After escaping the Earth Cave, Chen Lin refined a strange copper coin and traveled to Xuandu City, where he planned to trade the Body-Solidifying Pill for rare treasures. He qualified for the Treasure Appraisal Convention and stated what he hoped to obtain in exchange.

• Chen Lin returned from the Earth Cave using the Two Realms Talisman, stored the Golden Core Puppet, and left the area alone.
• Three months later, Chen Lin learned to activate the copper coin with a loud rhyming chant and decided to keep it despite its embarrassing use.
• Chen Lin examined the Old Taoist's pill but chose not to consume it, then traveled by Spirit Boat to Xuandu City.
• At Xuanling Pavilion, Chen Lin learned that a Treasure Appraisal Convention was approaching and investigated its safety rules before attending.
• Chen Lin submitted the Body-Solidifying Pill for appraisal, and Old He confirmed it was genuine.
• Chen Lin agreed to offer the pill for trade and asked for a physical-body-stabilizing treasure or rare materials such as soul-crossing herbs.

Chen Lin traded a Body-Solidifying Pill for true spirit blood and compensation, then attended the Treasure Appraisal Convention, where he recognized a Circumambulation Beast and realized it might point to a route into the Land of Divine Beings. The chapter ended as the beast’s holder sought a treasure that could help advance to Spirit Transformation.

• Chen Lin traded a Body-Solidifying Pill to Wang Zhengxuan of the Ancient Sword Sect for a drop of true spirit blood, additional compensation, and a use of priority purchasing rights, sealing the deal with a spirit pact.
• Chen Lin continued refining Patrol Silk, but found that it barely strengthened his already powerful soul.
• Chen Lin attended the Treasure Appraisal Convention and saw an Eighth Rank Ancient Beast scale that he wanted, but its holder demanded an offensive Spirit-Transforming Grade Spirit Treasure or a Godly Profound Fruit.
• Wang Ziyan displayed a One-Arm Circumambulation Beast, and Chen Lin recognized it as a creature unique to the Land of Divine Beings and considered the possibility of finding a route there.
• Wang Ziyan explained that Circumambulation Beasts could harm souls and raise their rank when refined, then announced that its holder wanted a treasure that could aid advancement to Spirit Transformation.

Chen Lin traded an Ending Hostility Pill for a One-Arm Circumambulation and information locating a node in Soul Country in the Land of Divine Beings. He then used Wang Zhengxuan’s priority purchase right to obtain spirit gold, leaving the appraisal to continue.

• Wang Ziyan struggled to attract interest in the One-Arm Circumambulation after cultivators questioned its uncertain effects and low grade.
• Chen Lin offered an Ending Hostility Pill for the creature and its acquisition information, and the young man in white accepted the trade.
• Chen Lin read the Jade Slip and learned that the creature came from a dangerous node in Soul Country, surrounded by Circumambulation Beasts.
• Wang Ziyan presented a piece of spirit gold, and the man in blue bid thirty Xianzhi Pills for it.
• Chen Lin invoked his priority purchase right from Elder Wang Zhengxuan and paid thirty Xianzhi Pills to obtain the spirit gold.

Chen Lin entered the Land of Divine Beings through a hidden node and spent five years hunting Circumambulation Beasts and refining a Soul Refining Pill. He emerged with a stronger soul but no breakthrough to its late stage, while a map from Sima Liancheng pointed toward an unknown future calamity; Chen Ling'er then told him his Big Aunt needed to see him.

• Chen Lin found the hidden node beneath Yingyue Lake, sent a White Jade Spirit Centipede through it, and entered after seeing Circumambulation Beasts nearby.
• Five years later, Chen Lin refined a rank six Soul Refining Pill from a Six-Arm Circumambulation but lamented that it could not perfect his third-rank soul.
• Chen Lin learned that the passage to the Northern Star Realm had collapsed, while his insights into the Heavenly Dao brought him close to advancing to Void Refinement.
• Chen Lin examined Sima Liancheng's map and letter, which foretold a future calamity and directed him toward a marked place with a path to survival.
• Chen Lin finished absorbing the pill, which strengthened his soul but left it at the peak of the middle stage of the third rank.
• Chen Ling'er used the copper-coin treasure to make Xue Honglan move against her will, then told Chen Lin that his Big Aunt needed to see him.

Chen Lin learned that Ancestor Lingtian was targeting the Cheng Lingdie Sisters and the people of Tianbao Peak, so he prepared to confront the void refinement expert rather than flee. He traded for and refined a Demonic Pupil, discovering that his innate power could restrain its dangerous aura.

• Qin Lingyu told Chen Lin that the Lingtian Sect demanded the Cheng Lingdie Sisters for a Soul Search, while the Elder Council refused to help.
• Chen Lin warned Qin Lingyu that Ancestor Lingtian had likely trapped them and told her to keep the matter from Chen Ling'er.
• Chen Lin traded his Emerald Bracelet to Blue Butterfly for the Demonic Pupil in the Heavenly Dao Alliance's nightmare realm.
• Chen Lin refined the Demonic Pupil so he could see through the void and prepare to fight Ancestor Lingtian.
• Chen Lin discovered that his innate power restrained the Demonic Pupil's chaotic aura, letting him use it without fear of corruption.

Chen Lin tried to escape with a teleportation formation, but Ancestor Lingtian intercepted him and attacked over the Cheng Sisters. Chen Lin survived several blows and struck Ancestor Lingtian’s soul-devouring snake with a concealed Dark Gold Ray, which erupted in thunder as Ancestor Lingtian tried to retreat.

• Qin Lingyu told Chen Lin that the Lingtian Sect had demanded an answer about the Cheng Sisters within three days, and he said he would visit the sect with treasures.
• Chen Lin tested the teleportation formation, but Ancestor Lingtian intercepted him with a cyan sword strike that broke his defenses and wounded him.
• Chen Lin released Scholar and used a Suppress Talisman and his Thousand-Layer Armor to survive another sword attack from Ancestor Lingtian.
• Ancestor Lingtian sent his Black Little Snake to attack Chen Lin’s soul, but Chen Lin resisted and killed it with a Soul-Destroying Finger.
• As Ancestor Lingtian launched another sword strike and approached to retrieve the snake, Chen Lin concealed a Dark Gold Ray in the sword light and struck it.
• The Dark Gold Ray activated on the Black Little Snake and unleashed a surge of thunder that engulfed Ancestor Lingtian as he tried to escape.

Chen Lin survived the battle with Ancestor Lingtian, recovered his spoils, and returned to Tianbao Peak as news of Lingtian’s death shook the cultivation world. While preparing to advance, he discovered an unusual scroll among Lingtian’s possessions.

• A brother and sister found Chen Lin and the fallen cultivators; when Chen Lin awoke, he restrained them, recovered the stolen treasures, and erased their memories after bringing them to Tianbao Peak.
• Chen Lin destroyed Ancestor Lingtian’s remains and concealed the battlefield before heading toward the Lingyun Sect.
• The Lingyun Sect learned that Ancestor Lingyun’s Soul Lamp had gone out and his connected disciples had vanished, prompting investigations and panic that led the Lingtian Sect to disband.
• Chen Lin’s artistic conception filled the last gap before his advancement, but he chose to wait until it was more developed and the surrounding unrest had settled.
• Chen Lin examined the earth-yellow Spirit Pearl and cyan flying sword, then searched Ancestor Lingtian’s Storage Bag and found a scroll bearing a huge black eye.

Chen Lin discovered that Ancestor Lingtian’s scroll was tied to Luo’s Youruo clone and decided to explore the Nightmare Realm more urgently. A year after Lingtian’s fall, Chen Lin began his Void Refinement Ascension on a remote island, where a strange fluctuation connected with heaven and earth.

• Chen Lin identified the black eye in the scroll as Luo’s Youruo clone, burned the scroll, and found no other traces of Luo in Ancestor Lingtian’s Storage Bag.
• Yue Tianyi, Xin Yueling, Zhang Zhenqian, and Lu Xiaoyi found four powerful soul treasures in the Earth Cave, then left the hall with one treasure each despite Xin Yueling’s suspicions.
• The Old Taoist wondered whether his fellow disciples would find him before he died in meditation.
• A year after Ancestor Lingtian’s death, a Void Refinement Cultivator took his Elder Council seat, occupied the Lingtian Sect grounds, and renamed it the Zhenyang Sect.
• Chen Lin decided to attempt Ascension, brought Chen Ling'er to a secluded island, and began cultivating while she guarded outside the formation.
• A peculiar fluctuation rose from beneath the island and connected with heaven and earth as Chen Lin began his Ascension.

Chen Lin underwent the Void Refinement heavenly tribulation, using his talent origin to survive the devastating lightning and complete his transformation. After an unusual inner demon trial involving an immense sword, he awakened and left the island with Chen Ling'er.

• Chen Lin released his cultivation aura and faced the seven lightning strikes of the Void Refinement tribulation while Chen Ling'er watched from a distance.
• The first six strikes shattered Chen Lin's body, nascent soul, primordial spirit, and soul, but he used his talent origin to keep his consciousness and origin essence from being destroyed.
• Chen Lin endured the final Five-Color Tribulation Lightning, after which mysterious energy rebuilt his body and merged his nascent soul, primordial spirit, and soul anew.
• Chen Lin passed through the inner demon illusion but found himself beneath an enormous sword that exerted such pressure that his soul began to disintegrate.
• The sword trembled and expelled Chen Lin from the strange space, and he awoke, reassured Chen Ling'er, and used a talisman to leave the island with her.

After stabilizing his Void Refinement cultivation, Chen Lin practiced traveling through the void and finally removed the last imprint from the Celestial Ring, revealing an immense collection of immortal treasures. While examining its contents, he found biographical records that disclosed troubling information and left him sensing danger.

• Chen Lin kept his Void Refinement breakthrough secret, spent a year stabilizing his cultivation, and tested his ability to travel through the void around the Beiyuan Continent.
• Chen Lin considered the strange vision he had experienced during his tribulation and resumed trying to uncover who had owned the enormous sword.
• Chen Lin erased the Celestial Ring’s final immortal imprint and discovered that it was a vast Storage Ring that could not hold living beings.
• Chen Lin found potent immortal spirit stones, unfamiliar pills, several unknown treasures, and a high-grade Vine-woven Shield that he could activate.
• Chen Lin read the ring’s texts and Jade Slips, then grew concerned after biographical records revealed hidden information and suggested danger.

Chen Lin studied an immortal’s notes describing the Primal Domain as a shattered palm immortal kingdom and questioning the truth behind its destruction. He set the mystery aside and met Yue Tianyi, a fellow survivor of the Earth Cave who had come to pay his respects.

• Chen Lin read that a powerful being had shattered the palm immortal kingdom with a giant sword, and that Luo and the Nightmare Realm Lord had failed to devour it.
• Chen Lin suspected the notes were more reliable than the Traveling Merchant’s account, but decided to wait for the truth to emerge.
• Chen Ling'er told Chen Lin that Yue Tianyi of the Divine Will Sect had come to see him, and Chen Lin gave her an emptied Storage Bracelet.
• Chen Lin met Yue Tianyi, who said he had heard of Chen Lin’s return and remarkable deeds after escaping the Earth Cave.

After fifty years of secluded cultivation, Chen Lin mastered a new use of his Blade of Destiny and strengthened his Transformation Technique. He then learned that four people had recently ascended to Void Refinement, leaving him startled by their identities.

• Chen Lin questioned Yue Tianyi about the others from the Earth Cave, then set aside his suspicions and focused on cultivating his Dao Art and spells.
• Chen Lin checked on the Cheng Sisters, reassured them about Ancestor Lingtian, and began secluded cultivation after spending time with his family and companions.
• After fifty years, Chen Lin tested the Transformation Technique and confirmed that changing his size increased his strength and altered the size of his soul.
• Chen Lin developed the Grey-White Blade of Light, a direct attack that weakened an enemy's qi luck, and left seclusion to visit his family and the market.
• Chen Lin learned that four cultivators had reached Void Refinement in the past five years and was shaken by who they were.

Chen Lin learned that four people from the Earth Cave expedition had advanced to Void Refinement and accepted an invitation to Yue Tianyi’s grand ceremony, while suspecting their breakthroughs were connected. After Hua Ruyu recovered and explained how she had been separated from Grass and Luo Qinglan, Chen Lin traveled with her to investigate a Nightmare Realm node, where he discovered the Nightmare Coin he had left behind was missing.

• Chen Lin learned that Xin Yueling, Zhang Zhenqian, Lu Xiaoyi, and Yue Tianyi had advanced to Void Refinement and suspected the Earth Cave expedition had given them something that enabled their breakthroughs.
• Chen Lin accepted Yue Tianyi’s invitation to a Void Refinement grand ceremony scheduled for a year later.
• Hua Ruyu recovered and told Chen Lin that a space rift had separated her from Grass, Luo Qinglan, and the others after they fled the fracturing plane.
• Chen Lin learned that Hua Ruyu had no knowledge of Luo Yi, gave her demon crystals to aid her recovery, and decided to investigate a Nightmare Realm node.
• Chen Lin and Hua Ruyu traveled to the Nameless Island, entered the Ancient Cultivator Cave Abode, and found that the Nightmare Coin he had left in the node was gone.

Chen Lin investigated the Nightmare Realm node and discovered a painting whose girl appeared to eat different foods whenever the courtyard was left unwatched. After days of remote observation, the mystery remained unresolved as the painted girl's food changed again.

• Chen Lin and Hua Ruyu entered the node, but a powerful barrier, gate, and bronze lock prevented them from leaving the courtyard.
• Hua Ruyu noticed that the girl in a painting had eaten one of the seven candies in her box, so Chen Lin tested the painting with a puppet and then withdrew.
• Chen Lin hired elderly cultivators to watch the painting and left more Nightmare Coins for experiments, but one observer reported that the girl was eating pastries and the coins had vanished.
• Chen Lin moved to another island and monitored the node remotely while Liu Shengyuan and Wu Wanshan oversaw the observers.
• Liu Shengyuan reported that the painting and coins remained unchanged while someone watched, but after everyone left, the coins disappeared and the girl was eating grapes.

Chen Lin investigated the Green-Clothed Girl in the painting, who secretly communicated with him alone, and suspected the painting might be a Grotto-Heaven Treasure. His attempt to learn why she responded to him through a handsome Golden Core cultivator failed, leaving Hua Ruyu to suggest the girl wanted something else from him.

• Chen Lin ordered Liu Shengyuan to keep testing the painting, but months of experiments only cost them Nightmare Coins as the Green-Clothed Girl's food changed.
• Chen Lin returned to the node with Hua Ruyu, saw the Green-Clothed Girl wink and point at her cherries, and left before trying to communicate with her.
• Chen Lin privately told Hua Ruyu what he had seen, and they considered whether the painting was a Grotto-Heaven Treasure and why the girl responded only to him.
• Chen Lin joked that the girl might prefer handsome men, then arranged for Liu Shengyuan to find a young, handsome Golden Core cultivator and had Bai Yuzhou sign a soul pact.
• Bai Yuzhou entered the node and copied Chen Lin's actions, but the Green-Clothed Girl did not respond; Hua Ruyu suggested the girl's interest was not romantic and that she wanted something from Chen Lin.

Chen Lin discovered that the Girl in the Painting responded to his Shepherd Token and spoke with her as Fuyao, learning that a County Office could upgrade his Road Guide. Fuyao asked him to clear her family’s name, but Chen Lin remained wary and pressed her for a way out of the sealed courtyard.

• Chen Lin tested the Embroidery Saber and Shepherd Token through Liu Shengyuan, who reported that the Green-Clothed Girl wanted to speak with the token’s owner.
• Chen Lin entered the node and learned from Fuyao that she was hiding in the painting from people she called bad and that Traveling Merchants delivered food to her because she was a one-star VIP.
• Fuyao told Chen Lin that the County Office on Main Street could upgrade a Road Guide, but he needed a Level Two Road Guide to leave the courtyard.
• Fuyao asked Chen Lin to clear her family’s name in exchange for their heirloom, explaining that Liang Batian had framed her parents and tried to take her as his concubine.
• Chen Lin questioned Fuyao’s incomplete account and asked her to explain how to open the courtyard door lock before he agreed to help.