Chapter Summaries

Chen Lin went to the Ma family to buy Sweet Cloud Herb Juice after learning Ruyi House had run out. At the village entrance, he recognized Luo Ziqing of the Qingyun Sect, who had previously bought his python skin.

• Chen Lin learned that Alchemist Lu had bought up Ruyi House's Sweet Cloud Herb Juice and asked Manager Zhou for help obtaining more.
• Manager Zhou gave Chen Lin a token and directed him to the Ma family, which processed most of the Sweet Cloud Herb Juice sold in the market.
• Chen Lin traveled west of Guyuan City to the Ma family's village, reflecting on the cultivation world's dangers along the way.
• A young cultivator admitted Chen Lin to the village and sent a mortal boy to escort him to the Spiritual Herb Hall.
• Chen Lin noticed Luo Ziqing of the Qingyun Sect among two people leaving the village.

Chen Lin visited the Ma Family estate to buy sweet cloud herb juice and discovered a booklet describing medicinal herbs while waiting. He recognized a double-headed mushroom he had collected near the flood dragon's cave as a valuable herb, then froze upon seeing something on the booklet's third-to-last page.

• Luo Ziqing recognized Chen Lin and told the White-Robed Youth to watch him, suspecting he might have a herb connected to the flood dragon.
• Luo Ziqing explained that he planned to use the Demon Fusion Technique to establish his foundation and hunt the flood dragon for the Qingyun Sect's sake.
• Chen Lin told the estate steward he needed sweet cloud herb juice for talisman ink, and the steward asked him to wait while fresh juice was prepared.
• Chen Lin read a medicinal herb booklet in the lounge and learned that his double-headed mushroom was worth ten medium-grade spirit stones.
• Chen Lin reached the booklet's third-to-last page and froze at what he saw.

Chen Lin learned that the Withered Vine Spirit Fruit he had found was a rare ingredient for Foundation Establishment Pills, then left the Ma Family with the sweet cloud herb juice he had come to obtain. After he departed, a White-Robed Youth investigated Chen Lin’s reactions to the illustrated herbs and ordered an inquiry into his connection to Ruyi House.

• Chen Lin read that the Withered Vine Spirit Fruit was a rare Foundation Establishment Pill ingredient and studied the other herbs listed in the handbook.
• A steward brought Chen Lin two bottles of sweet cloud herb juice, and Chen Lin paid for them before leaving.
• A White-Robed Youth questioned two cultivators who had watched Chen Lin with a Sense Talisman; they reported his strongest emotional reaction to the page on double-headed mushrooms.
• The White-Robed Youth ordered the steward to investigate Chen Lin’s relationship with Ruyi House and took the books away.

Chen Lin left Ma Family Village cautiously and hid in the hills after seeing cultivators fly out in pursuit. While concealed at night, he witnessed the provocatively dressed cultivator Die'er apparently ensnare Luo Ziqing in an illusion, and the chapter ended as she accused him of treating her like a brothel girl.

• Ma Linglong tried to leave Ma Family Village to confront Luo Ziqing, but the White-Robed Youth stopped her and took her back inside.
• Chen Lin left the village, abandoned the main road for the hills, and hid after seeing two powerful cultivators fly out from the village.
• Chen Lin reflected on his survival since transmigrating and considered his hopes for cultivation and a future in this world.
• A black streak of light landed near Chen Lin, revealing Die'er and Luo Ziqing, who appeared to be under the influence of an illusion.
• Luo Ziqing regained his senses and reached for Die'er, but she pulled away and accused him of treating her like a brothel girl.

Chen Lin escaped after detonating a Puppet Bomb at Luo Ziqing and fleeing with a Blood Escape Talisman, then took Luo Ziqing’s Storage Bag from the remains. Blue Butterfly survived the blast with a Gold Escape Talisman and was left furious, while Chen Lin fled before others could arrive.

• Blue Butterfly revealed her plan with Luo Ziqing to obtain a flood dragon’s Inner Core and establish demon foundations, then spotted Chen Lin hiding nearby.
• Chen Lin sent his Monkey Puppet carrying Thunderbolt No. 4 toward Blue Butterfly and activated a Blood Escape Talisman to flee as the bomb exploded.
• Chen Lin mistook a piece of Luo Ziqing’s remains, flung by the blast, for the pursuing cultivator, then realized Luo Ziqing had been torn apart and took his Storage Bag.
• Blue Butterfly escaped the explosion with a Gold Escape Talisman, but lost a Defensive Secret Treasure and cursed the power of Chen Lin’s weapon.

After killing Luo Ziqing, Chen Lin tried to flee Guyuan City, but the Qingyun Sect sealed the city and began searching for the killer. Yu Dingyi announced that everyone, including Chen Lin, would be inspected before leaving.

• Blue Butterfly saw the crater and Luo Ziqing's remains, then flew into a furious frenzy.
• Chen Lin packed his belongings and headed for the North City Gate to escape to Pingyang City.
• Two Qingyun Sect cultivators sealed the gates, preventing Chen Lin and others from leaving.
• Shen Chongyang challenged the lockdown, but backed down after learning that Luo Ziqing had been murdered.
• Yu Dingyi arrived, confirmed Luo Ziqing's death, and ordered everyone to remove any Disguise Masks and cooperate with inspection.

Yu Dingyi searched the cultivators at Guyuan City's north gate for Luo Ziqing's killer and demanded to inspect their Storage Bags, putting Chen Lin at risk of exposure. When Cheng Qiu was revealed to be possessed by an evil specter and attacked Yu Dingyi, Chen Lin fled with the scattering crowd.

• Yu Dingyi ordered the cultivators to remove their masks, but he dismissed Chen Lin after seeing his aged face and mid Qi Refinement cultivation.
• Yu Dingyi demanded to inspect the remaining cultivators' Storage Bags, and Chen Lin prepared to detonate his Thunderbolt Beads if necessary.
• Chen Lin sensed an evil presence possessing Cheng Qiu and realized the ensuing chaos could give him a chance to escape.
• Cheng Qiu charged Yu Dingyi, endured a golden dragon spell, and bit off and swallowed part of Yu Dingyi's scalp.
• A cultivator warned that Cheng Qiu was possessed by an evil specter, and the crowd fled as Chen Lin ran toward the city gate.

A red shadow possessed cultivators as Chen Lin fled the city, while Yu Dingyi and Qingyun Sect pursuers chased those escaping. With two late-stage cultivators closing in and his identity as Luo Ziqing’s killer at risk, Chen Lin tricked the fleeing cultivators into scattering and escaped onto a narrow path through the wheat fields.

• The red shadow possessed one cultivator after another, and Yu Dingyi failed to destroy it with an Exorcism Talisman.
• Chen Lin escaped through the city gate after the red shadow possessed Lv Chengfeng and threw the gate into chaos.
• Yu Dingyi ordered his people to pursue the fleeing cultivators and chased the two Qi Condensation Late Stage cultivators himself.
• Chen Lin realized he could not fight the pursuers without exposing himself as Luo Ziqing’s killer.
• Chen Lin shouted that the red shadow was catching up, causing the other fleeing cultivators to scatter as he changed direction into the wheat fields.

Chen Lin escaped the pursuing Qingyun Sect cultivators by luring one into a trap and killing him with the Snake Puppet and Nameless Sword Qi. He cleaned up the scene and fled into the forest, with no pursuers in sight.

• Chen Lin’s shout scattered the fleeing cultivators, and a triangular-eyed old man broke off to chase him.
• Chen Lin ran toward a forest, but the old man descended and blocked his path with a defensive barrier.
• Chen Lin claimed he was Bai Zhenyu’s maternal uncle and offered his Storage Bag for inspection, persuading the old man not to kill him immediately.
• When the old man reached for the Storage Bag, Chen Lin attacked with the Snake Puppet’s Ice Thorn Spell and Flying Sword form.
• Chen Lin used Nameless Sword Qi to behead the wounded old man.
• Chen Lin wrapped the corpse and head, cleaned the scene with spells, and entered the forest.

After killing Triangular Eyes, Chen Lin fled the Qingyun Sect’s territory and headed toward Pingyang City, avoiding danger as he crossed the Duoling River and hid in the mountains. While resting, he searched Luo Ziqing’s storage bag and discovered valuable tools, pills, and cultivation methods.

• Chen Lin escaped through the forest, chose a route across the Duoling River, and reached the mountains beyond the Qingyun Sect’s sphere of influence.
• Chen Lin continued north along the river toward Pingyang City and found a secluded crevice where he could spend the night.
• Chen Lin erased Luo Ziqing’s spiritual imprint and found a Three-Cubic-Meter Storage Bag.
• Chen Lin discovered a High-grade Flying Sword named Hanbing, a shuttle-shaped flying tool, an Earth Escape Talisman, Healing Spirit Restoring Pills, Ninghua Pills, and mid-grade spirit stones.
• Chen Lin examined a jade slip describing the Demon Fusion Technique, which could help a practitioner reach Foundation Establishment at the cost of bodily and spiritual mutations.

Chen Lin sorted the spoils from his fight with Luo Ziqing and Triangular Eyes, practiced his new flying tools, and buried Triangular Eyes' remains. As he headed away from the Ancient Cultivator Cave Abode, he learned that more treasures had appeared there and then saw one of the travelers he had met fleeing from a blood-smeared, crazed companion.

• Chen Lin examined the Buddha Statue from Luo Ziqing's Storage Bag but found nothing unusual, then searched Triangular Eyes' Storage Bag and took its High-grade Flying Sword and talismans.
• Chen Lin organized his spoils, cultivated Nameless Sword Qi, and practiced flying the Flying Shuttle and using Triangular Eyes' sword.
• Chen Lin burned and buried Triangular Eyes' corpse, then continued toward Maple Leaf Lake using the Wind-Walking Art.
• A handsome young cultivator told Chen Lin that an Ancient Temple had appeared near the Ancient Cultivator Cave Abode and that treasures had been found there.
• Chen Lin chose not to join the search and watched the young man fly off with two companions.
• An agonized scream made Chen Lin turn around, where he saw the young man fleeing from a crazed, blood-smeared companion while the third was missing.

Chen Lin killed a Red Shadow that had possessed a cultivator and received a Marrow-Cleansing Pill from the handsome man he rescued. He stopped the man from leaving and demanded a copy of his sword formula, leaving the bargain unresolved.

• The handsome man begged Chen Lin to save him from his possessed companion, but Chen Lin refused until the man offered a Marrow-Cleansing Pill.
• Chen Lin beheaded the possessed cultivator, weakened the Red Shadow with his Jade Talisman, and destroyed it with an Exorcism Talisman.
• The Red Shadow lunged at Chen Lin, and he collected the granule left behind for later experiments.
• Chen Lin stopped the handsome man from leaving and took the Marrow-Cleansing Pill, then demanded more compensation for the man's attempted escape.
• Chen Lin demanded a copy of the handsome man's sword formula in exchange for letting him leave.

Chen Lin escaped a Foundation Establishment Cultivator by using an Earth Escape Talisman, then found himself trapped in an underground river. As he drifted downstream, a strange force pulled him into a dark space.

• Chen Lin accepted a Sword Formula from the handsome youth and fled when her Foundation Establishment father arrived.
• The youth stopped her father from killing Chen Lin, then admitted she had disguised herself as a man and was scolded for her recklessness.
• Chen Lin traveled several li underground with the Earth Escape Talisman, then discovered he had fallen into an underground river too deep to climb out of.
• Chen Lin cast Vajra Cover and drifted downstream, but after the rock walls shook, a pulling force suddenly drew him into a dark space.

Chen Lin explored a maze of underground passages after apparently being teleported there, finding glowing spiritual mushrooms and learning that Red Shadow Evil Entities lurked nearby. He recharged his fragile Jade Talisman with particle crystals and hid as a group entered his passage.

• Chen Lin landed in an underground cavern, searched its twisting passages, and collected glowing red mushrooms.
• A Red Shadow attacked Chen Lin, and he destroyed it with his Jade Talisman before absorbing its particle crystal to restore the talisman’s energy.
• Chen Lin heard people approaching, hid in darkness, and watched a possessed cultivator chase another person through a passage.
• After taking another route, Chen Lin heard a group warn one another to expose their Evil-Warding Talismans, then realized they had entered his passage.

Chen Lin avoided joining a group of rogue cultivators, then saved Zhao Mengru from a red shadow and learned she had been transported from the Ancient Monastery. After Zhao Mengru swore an Inner Demon Oath and promised help in Pingyang City, Chen Lin agreed to travel with her.

• Chen Lin declined an invitation from rogue cultivators from Pingyang City and left alone.
• Chen Lin used the Jade Talisman to expel and destroy a red shadow possessing Zhao Mengru, then gave her a Healing Pill.
• Zhao Mengru told Chen Lin that she had come from the Ancient Monastery and knew no way out of the underground space.
• Zhao Mengru swore an Inner Demon Oath and offered him help from her Zhao Lineage in exchange for traveling together.
• Chen Lin agreed to team up with Zhao Mengru, warning her that he might not be able to help in mortal danger.

Chen Lin and Zhao Mengru traveled through the Underground Cavern after the Ancient Monastery vanished and destroyed a Red Shadow with Chen Lin’s Jade Talisman. They encountered Ma Yu and other cultivators, and Ma Yu recognized Chen Lin and questioned him about his flying sword.

• Chen Lin learned that the Ancient Monastery had vanished after the Foundation Establishment cultivators entered, transporting the Qi Condensation cultivators into the Underground Cavern.
• Chen Lin let a Red Shadow attack him, and his Jade Talisman destroyed it and released a particle crystal; Zhao Mengru watched and praised his skill.
• Chen Lin claimed his ability came from a spell associated with the Five Directions Temple and refused Zhao Mengru’s implied request to share it.
• Chen Lin and Zhao Mengru heard cultivators approaching from both directions and readied their flying swords.
• Ma Yu recognized Lu Zifeng and then identified Chen Lin despite his Disguise Mask; Chen Lin admitted he had visited Ma Family Village.
• Ma Yu studied Chen Lin’s flying sword and asked where he had obtained it.

Ma Yu confronted Chen Lin over a flying sword that appeared to belong to the missing Qingyun Sect elder He Huayuan, and attacked when Chen Lin refused to surrender his Storage Bag. Zhao Mengru stopped Ma Yu by claiming her Zhao Lineage identity, but after the others fled, she urged Chen Lin to run.

• Ma Yu connected Chen Lin's flying sword to the missing He Huayuan and demanded to inspect Chen Lin's Storage Bag.
• When Chen Lin refused, Ma Yu attacked, and Chen Lin dodged and sent the Snake Puppet against him.
• Ma Yu pressed his attack, but Zhao Mengru blocked his flying sword with an Ochre Small Shield.
• Zhao Mengru revealed her connection to Zhao Canghai and threatened Ma Yu with the Liuguang Bracelet, making Ma Yu and the others retreat.
• After the others left, Zhao Mengru told Chen Lin to run instead of accepting his thanks.

Chen Lin followed Zhao Mengru toward a possible exit, only to find a vast chamber crowded with Red Shadow Monsters and a staircase that might lead out. As Lu Zifeng and his companion arrived, the young woman was possessed by a Red Shadow Monster.

• Zhao Mengru admitted she had fabricated her claim to be Zhao Canghai's granddaughter and revealed that her marked route might lead to the exit.
• Chen Lin followed Zhao Mengru through two passages to a hidden vantage point overlooking hundreds of Red Shadow Monsters and a staircase.
• Zhao Mengru said she had appeared in the chamber and believed the staircase was the exit because people who climbed it had not returned.
• Chen Lin and Zhao Mengru hid as Lu Zifeng and his young married companion approached the chamber.
• Lu Zifeng and his companion retreated after seeing the monsters, but a Red Shadow Monster possessed the young woman.

Chen Lin and Zhao Mengru discovered that the Red Shadows had gathered around a stalactite producing valuable spirit milk. Ma Yu collected the spirit milk and flew toward the stone steps, while Lu Zifeng attacked him in anger.

• A Red Shadow killed the female cultivator, and Chen Lin waited for it to move away before acting.
• The Red Shadow rushed toward a glowing stalactite in the open area, where the creatures gathered beneath it.
• Ma Yu and Lu Zifeng arrived, and Zhao Mengru identified the liquid forming on the stalactite as spirit milk.
• Ma Yu used a talisman to shield himself from the Red Shadows, collected the spirit milk, and flew toward the stone steps.
• Lu Zifeng grew furious that Ma Yu had left him behind and sent his Flying Sword at him.

Chen Lin and Zhao Mengru survived the Red Shadows’ attack and collected the fallen cultivators’ belongings. Chen Lin then used the Jade Talisman to kill the Red Shadows and strengthen it, but the passage began shaking violently.

• Lu Zifeng’s dying Blood Arrow corroded Ma Yu’s barrier, and Chen Lin and Zhao Mengru’s attacks left Ma Yu exposed to the Red Shadows, which drained him to death.
• Chen Lin collected Lu Zifeng’s and the female cultivator’s Storage Bags, and Zhao Mengru asked for Ma Yu’s Spirit-Evading Talisman instead of a share of the belongings.
• Chen Lin used the Jade Talisman to kill isolated Red Shadows, collecting their particle crystals and replenishing the talisman between fights.
• Chen Lin retrieved two more Storage Bags and found Spirit Restoring Pills, while the Jade Talisman’s cracks nearly disappeared and its power increased.
• As Chen Lin prepared to attack the remaining Red Shadows, the passage shook violently and rocks began falling.