Chapter Summaries

Chen Lin received a task from the Green-Clothed Girl to confront the villains tormenting her family, and he decided to follow it rather than risk abandoning it. He opened the courtyard gate and found a wedding procession, where an old man spotted him and demanded to know who he was.

• The Green-Clothed Girl gave Chen Lin a Large Key and declared that Nightmare Law bound him to her task, warning him to go to the County Office and stop Huang Batian.
• After the Girl in the Painting fell silent, Chen Lin decided to pursue the task himself and summoned Hua Ruyu for advice and support.
• Chen Lin and Hua Ruyu opened the courtyard gate, and Chen Lin stored the lock and key before cautiously looking outside.
• A wedding procession sounded beyond the gate, and Chen Lin briefly shut it before deciding to reopen it and investigate.
• An old man on horseback threatened Li Fuyao and her family, then noticed Chen Lin and demanded to know who he was.

Chen Lin used his Shepherd Token to kill Liang Batian after Liang attacked him, then defended his actions to Chief Constable Jin. The guards confirmed Chen Lin’s account, and Jin ordered him and the others taken to the County Office, reacting oddly when Chen Lin named White Cloud Pasture.

• Liang Batian ordered his guards to seize Chen Lin, but stopped when Hua Ruyu appeared and demanded to know who they were.
• Chen Lin showed his Shepherd Token, but Liang Batian mocked his status and threatened to take Hua Ruyu.
• Chen Lin let Liang Batian’s saber wound him, accused him of attacking a bailiff, and killed him with a Soul-Destroying Finger and the Embroidery Saber.
• The guards surrendered when Chen Lin warned them against rebellion, but Chief Constable Jin arrived with five others and questioned him about Liang Batian’s death.
• Chen Lin showed Jin the Shepherd Token and explained that Liang Batian had attacked him; Jin forced the guards to confirm the account.
• Chen Lin said he served White Cloud Pasture, and Jin ordered him, Hua Ruyu, and the others taken to the County Office.

Chen Lin faced the Black Bear Magistrate after killing Liang Batian, but Gege Yun’s status protected him from punishment. He learned that the County Office would register Tianluo weapons for Nightmare Coins or Merit, leaving him poised to exchange the weapons he had collected.

• Chen Lin refused to kneel before the Black Bear Magistrate and declared that he had killed Liang Batian in self-defense.
• The Black Bear Magistrate recognized Chen Lin as a Shepherd serving Princess Gege Yun and ordered Liang Batian’s servants taken away for attacking a Bailiff.
• Liang Batian’s daughter rushed into the hall to demand revenge, but the Black Bear Magistrate silenced her and reaffirmed that Chen Lin bore no blame.
• Chen Lin offered the magistrate a hundred Nightmare Coins and withdrew his offer when the magistrate refused compensation and dismissed him without warmth.
• Chen Lin presented Tianluo weapons, including a General Weapon, and the Black Bear Magistrate offered to register them for Nightmare Coins or Merit.

Chen Lin learned how merit governed promotions and privileges in the Nightmare Realm, while the Black Bear Magistrate explained the realm’s independent territories and guardians of Nightmare Law. The chapter ended with the magistrate offering Chen Lin a copy of the law before asking whether he wanted to exchange the Tianluo Race weapons for coins or merit.

• Chen Lin asked the Black Bear Magistrate what merit was used for, and the magistrate described the steep costs and dangerous trials required for promotions.
• The Black Bear Magistrate explained that bailiff rank granted limited Road Guide privileges and reduced certain punishments, but warned Chen Lin that his low rank offered little protection.
• Chen Lin asked about scenario tasks, and the magistrate said he knew little about them but warned that punishment could strip Chen Lin of his bailiff status.
• The Black Bear Magistrate described the Nightmare Realm as independent territories governed by naturally arising Nightmare Law and guarded by beings who erased threats to it.
• Chen Lin asked to study Nightmare Law, and the Black Bear Magistrate offered him a copy before asking whether he wanted to exchange the Tianluo Race weapons for Nightmare Coins or merit.

Chen Lin exchanged Tianluo weapons and remains for merit, learned how to use his Identity Token, and raised his rank. He then asked the Black Bear Magistrate to hear Fuyao’s appeal about an injustice in the Li Family case.

• Chen Lin learned that Level 4 Road Guides required a higher-ranking official and an assessment, then presented the Tianluo weapons he had collected.
• The Black Bear Magistrate explained the weapons’ low value and awarded merit for evidence of killed believers; Chen Lin submitted crystals and five portions of willing power powder.
• The magistrate’s subordinates verified the items and transferred 1,383 merit to Chen Lin’s Shepherd Token.
• The Black Bear Magistrate explained that Chen Lin had to refine and activate his Identity Token to use its merit, and Chen Lin raised his rank to Third-Class Middle.
• Chen Lin decided not to upgrade his Road Guides and asked the Black Bear Magistrate to hear Fuyao’s appeal concerning the Li Family case.

Chen Lin persuaded the Black Bear Magistrate to investigate the Li Family’s injustice, then returned to the painting and learned that the Girl in the Painting considered his task incomplete. The magistrate and the Golden-Haired Constable secretly discussed their plans, while Chen Lin left with new questions about the Nightmare Realm and only a bunch of grapes as a reward so far.

• The Black Bear Magistrate agreed to investigate the Li Family’s case but warned Chen Lin to stay out of what followed, and gave him a token containing the Nightmare Law.
• Chen Lin wondered whether the county-town scenario’s time flowed normally and whether the magistrate was its original ruler or had claimed the position himself.
• The Black Bear Magistrate told the Golden-Haired Constable not to kill Chen Lin because he was powerful and connected to White Cloud Pasture, and said they should proceed with their original plan.
• Chen Lin returned to the Li Family residence, confirmed the seal still prevented him from flying, and entered the room with Hua Ruyu.
• The Girl in the Painting said Chen Lin had not completed her task because her family’s freedom had not yet been secured, and offered him grapes until the magistrate lifted the seal.

Chen Lin sealed the Nightmare Realm node after retrieving a half-bunch of grapes, which proved to be powerful cultivation fruit when Bai Yuzhou ate one and advanced a stage. He returned to Tianbao Peak with Hua Ruyu, introduced her to Chen Ling'er, and watched her give the girl a feather that could traverse the void once.

• Chen Lin raised his identity to First-Class Subordinate, exited the node with Hua Ruyu, and sealed the entrance after ordering Liu Shengyuan to test a grape.
• Bai Yuzhou volunteered to eat the grape, absorbed its energy, and advanced from Early Golden Core to the Golden Core mid stage.
• Chen Lin instructed Liu Shengyuan and Wu Wanshan to guard the island, told the cultivators to remain there for ten years, and left with Hua Ruyu.
• Chen Lin introduced Hua Ruyu to Chen Ling'er at Tianbao Peak, and Hua Ruyu gave her a feather that could perform Void Traversal once.

Chen Lin gave Hua Ruyu more demon crystals and studied the Nightmare Law while waiting for news of Xin Yueling and the others. Zhang Zhenqian visited to fulfill his promise by giving Chen Lin a secret art, which Chen Lin shared with Sun Caiyi, Qin Lingyu, and Ling'er to study.

• Chen Lin gave Hua Ruyu his remaining demon crystals so she could recover strength and investigate the node again.
• Chen Lin questioned Hua Ruyu about her hostility toward the Girl in the Painting, and she said she had no plans to seek out the being she sensed.
• Chen Lin studied the Nightmare Law and considered exploring more regions of the Gambling Fortune Lake Scenario.
• Zhang Zhenqian visited Chen Lin after advancing to Void Refinement and gave him a Jade Slip containing a secret art in fulfillment of his old promise.
• Chen Lin discussed Zhang Zhenqian and the missing Ancestor Qingyun with Sun Caiyi, then gave her a copy of the secret art to study with Ling'er and Qin Lingyu.

Chen Lin received the Good Fortune Spirit-Solidifying Art from Zhang Zhenqian and confirmed that it could improve the chances of ascending to Void Refinement. In the Heavenly Dao Alliance scenario, Kannie revealed that her original body had been trapped in a dangerous Nightmare Realm scenario for a thousand years and asked Chen Lin for help, but he said he could do nothing.

• Chen Lin told Sun Caiyi that Zhang Zhenqian had given him the Good Fortune Spirit-Solidifying Art and said it could increase their chances of ascending to Void Refinement by ten percent.
• Chen Lin entered the Heavenly Dao Alliance scenario without a Road Guide and discovered that his First-Class Bailiff status let him pass through a Road Guide's Formless Barrier.
• Kannie told Chen Lin she had been waiting for him and asked for his help with a Nightmare Realm problem.
• Kannie explained that her original body had been trapped in a dense Nightmare Realm scenario for a thousand years, while the Kannie speaking to Chen Lin was a clone made from a Natal Fruit.
• Chen Lin learned that Kannie's clone could communicate faintly with her original body, but he refused to promise help because the scenario was too dangerous.

Chen Lin refused Kannie's request to rescue her trapped main body, but let her approach Xiaohong in his name. He then gave Qin Lingyu the grapes, which rapidly raised her cultivation, and agreed to let Chen Ling'er cautiously explore the Nightmare Realm before learning Lu Xiaoyi had come to visit.

• Kannie asked Chen Lin to plead with Xiaohong to save her main body, but he decided Xiaohong's warning meant he should stay away.
• Ten days later, Chen Lin told Kannie he would not intervene, though he gave her a letter to take to Xiaohong in his name.
• Qin Lingyu ate the grapes and advanced to Nascent Soul Late Stage in less than half a month, astonishing Chen Lin and Chen Ling'er.
• Chen Lin warned Qin Lingyu to consolidate her cultivation and told Chen Ling'er not to reveal the grapes' effects.
• Chen Ling'er asked to explore the Nightmare Realm, and Chen Lin agreed to teach her how to stay safe.
• Chen Ling'er told Chen Lin that Lu Xiaoyi had come calling.

Chen Lin learned that a remnant of Youruo was hidden in Lu Xiaoyi’s soul after she advanced to Void Refinement, and agreed to use his Soul-Destroying Finger to remove it. The chapter ended as he began the attempt in a heavily isolated underground room.

• Lu Xiaoyi asked Chen Lin to teach her the Soul-Destroying Finger, but he refused because it was a secret art from his master.
• Lu Xiaoyi used a crystal to reveal a Pitch-Black Eyeball and Youruo’s aura within her, then explained that a hidden entity had entered her soul through a treasure from the Earth Cave.
• Chen Lin concluded that the remnant might be connected to the soul treasures that helped Lu Xiaoyi and the others advance to Void Refinement.
• Lu Xiaoyi agreed to let Chen Lin attempt to destroy the remnant and offered him copies of her soul secret arts in return.
• Chen Lin took Lu Xiaoyi to an isolated underground room, set up protective formations, and unleashed the Soul-Destroying Finger.

Chen Lin helped Lu Xiaoyi remove the Youruo remnant thought, then traded with her for soul secret arts and materials before studying the Soul Armor Art. He went to Yue Tianyi’s Void Refinement ceremony suspecting that Yue Tianyi and Zhang Zhenqian were also affected by Youruo remnant thoughts, and arrived to find Lu Xiaoyi, Zhang Zhenqian, Xin Yueling, and Yan Jiujiang already gathered.

• Chen Lin removed the Youruo remnant thought from Lu Xiaoyi, leaving her soul source badly damaged but free of the entity.
• Lu Xiaoyi gave Chen Lin five soul secret arts, including the Soul Armor Art, and Chen Lin traded her pills that could restore her soul source for pill formulas and spiritual herbs.
• Lu Xiaoyi left Tianbao Peak after recovering somewhat, and Chen Lin secluded himself to study the Soul Armor Art.
• After more than two months, Chen Lin learned that Yan Jiujiang had sought him out, then set off for Yue Tianyi’s Void Refinement ceremony, suspecting Yue Tianyi and Zhang Zhenqian had Youruo remnant thoughts.
• Yue Tianyi personally welcomed Chen Lin at the Divine Will Sect and led him into the Sect Master's Manor, where Chen Lin found Lu Xiaoyi, Zhang Zhenqian, Xin Yueling, and Yan Jiujiang.

Chen Lin attended a gathering hosted by Yue Tianyi, where he learned that western-continent factions were discussing how to redistribute their shares of Duobao Island after several Void Refinement cultivators died or disappeared. He also identified a hostile Dao Rhyme expert from the eastern continents, and the gathering’s main figures arrived as the chapter ended.

• Chen Lin concealed his Void Refinement cultivation, greeted Xin Yueling, and agreed to speak with her privately after the gathering.
• A cyan-robed Dao Rhyme expert sent a chilling aura into Chen Lin, and Lu Xiaoyi told him the man was likely from the eastern continents.
• Zhang Zhenqian identified the stranger as the Dark Yin Sect’s Great Elder from the Xuanhuang Continent, who had arrived with Ba Yeyu.
• Lu Xiaoyi explained that representatives had gathered to discuss reallocating control of Duobao Island after several western-continent Void Refinement cultivators died or vanished.
• Xin Shangxiu, Ba Yeyu, and Duanmu Jue entered the hall, and the assembled cultivators rose to greet them.

At a gathering in the Divine Will Sect, Chen Lin learned that ancient spiritual herbs had been discovered beneath Duobao Island and that the factions were organizing to claim them. Xin Yueling later revealed that a remnant of Luo had possessed her during her breakthrough, and Chen Lin offered to use a technique against it.

• Xin Shangxiu took the seat of honor and told the gathered cultivators that a mysterious place beneath Duobao Island held many ten-thousand-year-old herbs, prompting Chen Lin to consider seeking ingredients for the Holy Void Pill.
• Xin Shangxiu, Ba Yeyu, and Duanmu Jue left the gathering, and Yue Tianyi continued entertaining the remaining cultivators before they departed.
• Xin Yueling met Chen Lin on a nearby mountain and confronted him about hiding his Void Refinement cultivation, then asked whether he had advanced using a treasure from the Earth Cave.
• Xin Yueling confessed that she had used the soul treasure's mysterious energy to advance and that a remnant thought of Luo had possessed and fused with her.
• Xin Yueling explained what she knew about Luo, and Chen Lin offered to try a technique suited to countering heretical entities.

Chen Lin negotiated with Xin Yueling to remove the heretical entity in exchange for rare spiritual herbs, a Void Refinement pill formula, and true spirit blood, then asked Lu Xiaoyi to discreetly tell Yue Tianyi and Zhang Zhenqian that he could resolve their possession. Yue Tianyi and Zhang Zhenqian arrived at Tianbao Peak in a panic, seeking Chen Lin’s help.

• Chen Lin demonstrated the Soul-Destroying Finger on Xin Yueling and weakened the heretical entity within her more than her own soul source.
• Chen Lin agreed to remove Xin Yueling’s hidden danger in exchange for spiritual herbs, a Void Refinement pill formula, and true spirit blood, but said she had to find the herbs before he could proceed.
• Chen Lin asked Lu Xiaoyi to tell Yue Tianyi and Zhang Zhenqian about the possession and discreetly reveal that he had removed her hidden danger; she agreed after he warned the entity might possess her again.
• Chen Jiliang visited Chen Lin, who gave him pills and told him to bring his unborn daughter to visit after she was born.
• After Lu Xiaoyi helped Yue Tianyi and Zhang Zhenqian sense the heretical entity’s influence and Xin Yueling confirmed it, they hurried to Tianbao Peak to see Chen Lin.

Chen Lin arranged for Yue Tianyi and his companion to gather spiritual herbs for him, then sparred with Chen Ling'er to examine her Primordial Spirit Domain. He was stunned when her domain manifested Void spirits, and the chapter left him turning his attention toward something in the distance.

• Chen Lin used the Soul-Destroying Finger to secure benefits from Yue Tianyi and his companion and arranged for them to seek spiritual herbs on Duobao Island.
• Chen Ling'er told Chen Lin she had established her Primordial Spirit Domain, and he took her to a barren valley to test it while suppressing his cultivation to the Spirit Transformation Stage.
• Chen Ling'er attacked Chen Lin with an earth-element hammer, flying swords, and durable earth puppets, but he countered them with lightning spells.
• Chen Ling'er summoned hazy Void spirits within her domain, astonishing Chen Lin, who broke the domain using his Void Refinement cultivation.
• Chen Lin praised Chen Ling'er's achievement, then suddenly looked into the distance.

Daoist Destiny warned Chen Lin of an approaching calamity as immortals and deities rose again, prompting him to seek shelter in the Nightmare Realm. At the underwater immortal cave, Bai Yuzhou revealed that he had seen writing like the characters on the sealed node in Huanyin Palace’s secret realm.

• Daoist Destiny and Zhenyangzi arrived, and Chen Lin learned that Guangxuanzi remained trapped in the Nightmare Realm’s prison.
• Daoist Destiny removed a hidden Transmission Treasure from Chen Lin, then warned him that great upheaval was coming and he would face a major tribulation.
• Chen Lin suspected Youruo might be connected to the warning, skipped Yue Tianyi’s void refinement ceremony, and returned with Hua Ruyu to the underwater immortal cave beneath Nameless Island.
• Bai Yuzhou told Chen Lin that he had seen similar characters carved on a stone tablet in Huanyin Palace’s secret realm while visiting Madam Miaoyin.

Chen Lin went to Duobao Island to contact Madam Miaoyin and check on the Mysterious Place, but learned that Xin Yueling and the others had already entered it. After hearing of strange signs at the Earth Cave, he sought Madam Miaoyin and discovered that she was throwing her embroidered ball.

• Chen Lin questioned Bai Yuzhou about the writing he had seen, then paid him with pills for his cooperation.
• Chen Lin and Hua Ruyu arrived at Duobao Island, where Chen Lin planned to contact Madam Miaoyin and wait for Xin Yueling and the others.
• Chen Lin met Lu Xiaoyi and learned that the Major Factions had sent experts into the Mysterious Place ahead of the auction, while Xin Yueling and the others had also entered.
• Lu Xiaoyi reported roiling yin qi and radiant clouds near the Earth Cave, prompting Chen Lin to seek Madam Miaoyin urgently.
• Chen Lin learned that Madam Miaoyin was staying on an outer satellite island, but a colorful bird announced that she was throwing her embroidered ball.

Chen Lin and Hua Ruyu went to Huanyin Island to meet Madam Miaoyin, but Yin Jiuling ambushed Chen Lin in her bedchamber. Madam Miaoyin demanded the passage to the outside world and Ancestor Lingtian’s belongings, leaving Chen Lin to realize the attack was connected to Ancestor Lingtian.

• Madam Miaoyin played her jade xiao over the city and tossed an embroidered ball toward Chen Lin, but Hua Ruyu caught it while Chen Lin concealed his identity.
• Chen Lin and Hua Ruyu traveled to Huanyin Island, where Madam Miaoyin allowed them both into her palace.
• Yin Jiuling attacked Chen Lin with a spirit-transforming grade dagger, but Chen Lin’s Cyan Vine Shield blocked and destroyed it.
• Madam Miaoyin recognized the shield’s grade and questioned Chen Lin about his origins and plans.
• Madam Miaoyin demanded that Chen Lin reveal the passage to the outside world and surrender Ancestor Lingtian’s belongings, and Chen Lin realized that Ancestor Lingtian was the reason for their hostility.

Chen Lin traded Ancestor Lingtian’s Black Stone to Madam Miaoyin for a translation of the Wall Inscription. Madam Miaoyin identified Hua Ruyu as a demon descendant and warned that Chen Lin would soon die, leaving the group to depart Huanyin Island wary of the danger.

• Chen Lin admitted killing Ancestor Lingtian and offered Madam Miaoyin a trade, showing her a copy of the Wall Inscription so she could explain its characters.
• Madam Miaoyin recognized the script, but Yin Jiuling urged her to kill Chen Lin and use Soul Search; Hua Ruyu prepared to defend her master.
• Madam Miaoyin recognized Hua Ruyu as a demon descendant and warned Chen Lin that he had little time left.
• Chen Lin gave Madam Miaoyin the Black Stone in exchange for a Jade Slip containing the inscription’s translation, and she reacted with intense emotion upon receiving it.
• Chen Lin and Hua Ruyu left Huanyin Island, and Chen Lin explained that Hua Ruyu’s origins could draw danger from revived gods and demons.