Chapter Summaries

Chen Lin and Zhao Mengru escaped the collapsing underground passage and emerged beneath a vast underwater barrier near the Ancient Temple. They hid among the gathered cultivators, and Chen Lin examined Ma Yu’s Storage Bag for supplies.

• Chen Lin and Zhao Mengru fought through the Red Shadows and climbed the natural stone stairway as the underground space collapsed around them.
• Chen Lin used Luo Ziqing’s Flying Shuttle to carry Zhao Mengru up the passage, while she used her Flying Sword to clear dangerous falling rocks.
• Chen Lin and Zhao Mengru emerged beneath a light barrier holding back the water and spotted the Ancient Temple and a crowd of cultivators nearby.
• Chen Lin led Zhao Mengru to a concealed spot, gave her a Spirit-Evading Talisman and Lu Zifeng’s High-grade Flying Sword, and began opening Ma Yu’s Storage Bag.
• Chen Lin found several talismans in Ma Yu’s Storage Bag, including a Spirit-Evading Talisman, a water-attribute Yuanling Shield Talisman, and a Fire Crow Talisman.

Chen Lin and Zhao Mengru watched Foundation Establishment cultivators open the Ancient Temple, then waited outside while the area collapsed and red shadows appeared. Unable to find another exit, they decided to enter the temple, concealing Chen Lin’s aura before flying there.

• Chen Lin searched the Storage Bags, found a Blood Escape Talisman, and gave Zhao Mengru talismans after she refined a High-grade Flying Sword.
• Foundation Establishment cultivators attacked the Ancient Temple’s main hall until its doors opened, and some cultivators rushed inside.
• Chen Lin questioned Zhao Mengru about her family; she said she came from the Pingyang Zhao Clan but was not part of Zhao Canghai’s Zhao Lineage.
• As the ground collapsed and red shadows emerged, Chen Lin found no way out and decided to enter the Ancient Temple with Zhao Mengru.
• Chen Lin concealed his aura with a talisman and changed his disguise before the pair flew toward the temple.

Chen Lin and Zhao Mengru discovered that the Ancient Temple was the legendary Demon-Suppressing Temple, built to seal a gigantic demonic palm. After the Jade Talisman activated and Zhao Mengru and the temple vanished, Chen Lin descended a mysterious staircase and reached a painting labeled Seven Buddha Painting.

• Zhao Mengru told Chen Lin the legend that a demonic palm struck Pingyang City and that eminent monks built the Demon-Suppressing Temple to seal it.
• Luo Ziqing’s Storage Bag glowed red, and Chen Lin’s Jade Talisman activated, gaining another crack as a red glow faded from the temple’s inscription.
• Chen Lin discovered that Zhao Mengru, the temple gate, and the courtyard had disappeared, leaving an immense staircase descending into darkness.
• Chen Lin descended the staircase as the steps behind him vanished, then reached its end and found a large painting of six monks.
• Chen Lin read the inscription identifying the painting as the Seven Buddha Painting and noticed a blank space between the fifth and sixth monks.

Chen Lin completed the Seven Buddha Painting by placing Luo Ziqing’s Buddha Statue in its empty spot, which transported him to a hall with six other cultivators and protected them from attacking one another. The group gathered around a Buddha statue to open the inheritance, while Yu Dingyi threatened Chen Lin over Luo Ziqing’s death and Yuan Hongye challenged Yu Dingyi.

• Chen Lin matched Luo Ziqing’s Buddha Statue to the empty spot in the Seven Buddha Painting, completing it and opening a doorway.
• Chen Lin passed through the doorway and received a monk’s robe transformed from the painting.
• Chen Lin recognized Yu Dingyi, He Xiaoxiao, Blue Butterfly, and the handsome young cultivator among the six others, and readied talismans.
• Yu Dingyi accused Chen Lin of killing Luo Ziqing, but He Xiaoxiao and Yuan Hongye explained that the robes prevented attacks inside the hall.
• Yuan Hongye taunted Yu Dingyi and led the group to the Buddha statue at the front of the hall, where Chen Lin followed to seek the inheritance.

Chen Lin and the others opened the Inheritance Gate by offering blood to the Giant Lotus, but he discovered that strange scarlet threads connected the lotus to each person. As the others entered the gate, Chen Lin saw a second, golden Small Light Gate appear beside it.

• Yuan Hongye and the others each dripped blood onto a petal of the Giant Lotus, and Chen Lin followed after trading barbs with Yu Dingyi.
• The Giant Lotus absorbed all seven drops, rose into the air, and formed a Light Gate as Chen Lin realized the Seven Buddha Painting had marked them as inheritors.
• Chen Lin used mingqing spiritual water to see scarlet threads connecting the lotus to the group and sensed something screaming inside his mind, but he kept his discovery to himself.
• Yuan Hongye, Yu Dingyi, and the others entered the Light Gate, while He Xiaoxiao invited Chen Lin to seek help from him and join the Mount-Relying Sect.
• As the Light Gate began to fade, Chen Lin noticed a golden Small Light Gate appear beside it.

Chen Lin chose the Golden Light Gate, resisting black qi that tried to corrupt his mind, while the others entered the Inheritance Ground and assumed he was trapped outside. Inside, the factions split up to search the ancient buildings as old rivalries and suspicions resurfaced.

• Chen Lin leaped toward the Golden Light Gate, but black qi from the Giant Lotus overwhelmed him until a burst of white light restored his senses, and he entered the gate as it collapsed behind him.
• Yuan Hongye, Yu Dingyi, and the others arrived in the Inheritance Ground and assumed Chen Lin had stayed behind to die.
• Yuan Hongye explained to the handsome young woman that anyone left outside after the Light Gate opened would be trapped, and recounted how Bai Qianqiu had stranded Li Gan and gained the pill refining inheritance.
• Yu Dingyi accused Yuan Hongye's Mount-Relying Sect of taking Bai Qianqiu's inheritance and blamed Qingyun Sect's leader for failing to save him; Yuan Hongye countered that the Qingyun Sect had abandoned Bai Qianqiu.
• Yuan Hongye headed for the Alchemical Chamber, while Yu Dingyi and He Xiaoxiao chose the Artifact Hall, the Bearded Man chose the Scripture Pavilion, and the handsome young woman went toward the Spiritual Herb Garden, wondering why the man outside felt familiar.

Chen Lin emerged in a hidden chamber, lost his Jade Talisman, and found the remains of a monk named Nian Kong. Nian Kong’s Jade Slip revealed the temple’s origin and the Demon-Dissolving Formation, while Chen Lin remained trapped in the chamber.

• Chen Lin found that his Jade Talisman had crumbled, but the red line that had followed him was gone.
• Chen Lin entered a second sealed chamber and found a skeleton wearing a Gold-Threaded Kasaya.
• Chen Lin removed the kasaya and recovered a Jade Slip and a dense golden bead from the skeleton.
• Chen Lin read that the skeleton belonged to Nian Kong, a monk from the Demon-Suppressing Temple.
• Nian Kong’s Jade Slip explained that he and six junior brothers built the temple over a Giant Demon’s palm and used the Demon-Subduing Pestle to power a Demon-Dissolving Formation.
• The Jade Slip recounted that Nian Kong’s cultivation advanced from the Envoy Realm to the Vajra Realm.

Chen Lin learned from Nian Kong’s jade slip about the Demon-Cleansing Lotus, the trapped demon spirit, and the Buddhist techniques left as an inheritance. After refining Nian Kong’s reliquary, Chen Lin rapidly advanced in the Vajra Body-Refining Art, then heard Nian Kong’s fading warning to seek help at Cangyun Mountain.

• Chen Lin learned that Nian Qing’s demon spirit and Nian Kong’s remnant soul were trapped in the Demon-Cleansing Lotus, and that the formation was meant to contain the demon.
• Chen Lin discovered that a Teleportation Array required Buddhist mana, and chose to learn the complete Vajra Body-Refining Art rather than the incomplete Prajna Arhat Heart Scripture.
• Chen Lin used Enlightenment Pills to master the art’s first layer, then absorbed the reliquary’s energy and rapidly reached the later portion of that layer.
• Chen Lin realized the reliquary’s energy was also repairing his injuries, but found he could stop the technique’s circulation at will.
• Nian Kong’s lingering thought warned Chen Lin that the damaged formation might fail and urged him to report the danger to the Demon-Suppressing Temple on Cangyun Mountain in the Hanhai Kingdom before fading away.

After receiving Nian Kong’s inheritance, Chen Lin discovered that the body infusion had greatly strengthened and rejuvenated him. When the Seven Buddha Painting vanished, he realized the formation had been broken and feared he was trapped as the Demon Spirit’s plan unfolded.

• Chen Lin learned how the Demon Spirit had deceived cultivators into breaking the formation and how Nian Kong had sent him to the stone chamber.
• Chen Lin resolved to return Nian Kong’s kashaya and remains to the Demon-Suppressing Temple if he could find it.
• Chen Lin examined his infused body, found his Vajra Body-Refining Art had reached the late stage of its first layer, and snapped a Low-Grade Flying Sword with his strength.
• Chen Lin saw that the Seven Buddha Painting’s monk’s robe had vanished, suggesting the connected formation had been broken.
• Chen Lin rushed to Nian Kong’s meditation spot, fearing the Teleportation Array had stopped working and left him trapped.

Chen Lin escaped the submerged Ancient Temple after the formation failed, killed the badly injured Yu Dingyi, and narrowly avoided a battle between a Black Flood Dragon and two cultivators. He fled Maple Leaf Lake while the dragon fought Huang Yu and the spear-wielding cultivator with Master Niankong’s Demon-Cleansing Lotus.

• Chen Lin failed to activate the formation, broke through a wall, and entered the flooded Ancient Temple.
• Chen Lin searched the Inheritance Ground but found its buildings already emptied, then swam along the lakebed to avoid other cultivators.
• Chen Lin recognized the wounded Yu Dingyi, pierced him with the Hanbing Sword, and took his Storage Bag.
• A Black Flood Dragon plunged into the lake and battled the Cyan Giant Ruler and Twelve-Foot Spear, forcing Chen Lin to hide from its whirlpool.
• Chen Lin surfaced and saw Huang Yu and the spear-wielding cultivator fight the flood dragon, which spat out Master Niankong’s Demon-Cleansing Lotus.
• Chen Lin used a Swift Travel Talisman and fled from Maple Leaf Lake.

After fleeing to Baihu City under the alias Lin San, Chen Lin decided to leave Yan Country for Chu Country and start over. In a guarded inn room, he prepared to take the Marrow-Cleansing Pill.

• Chen Lin gave Zhang Aniu an ordinary cultivation manual and told him to use its teachings for good and remain loyal to the caravan’s employer.
• Chen Lin recognized the caravan’s proprietor, Chen Qiaoyun, as his niece but concealed their relationship to protect her family from his enemies.
• After the caravan reached Baihu City, Chen Lin collected his pay and chose to travel to Chu Country rather than risk visiting the Blazing Sun Sect’s market or entering Cheqi Country.
• Chen Lin secured an inn room, set up protective talismans and his Snake Puppet, and took out the Marrow-Cleansing Pill.

After using a Marrow-Cleansing Pill, Chen Lin discovered that his meridians, cultivation speed, and physical condition had greatly improved, then continued his journey toward Chu Country. He reached Qingyang City and headed for its market, hoping to rent a cultivation cave and advance his cultivation before crossing the dangerous border.

• Chen Lin swallowed the Marrow-Cleansing Pill, endured its lengthy refining process, and found that it had cleared impurities, healed hidden injuries, and more than doubled his cultivation speed.
• Chen Lin examined the Xuanhuo Furnace and Ma Yu's Pill Refining Records, which contained the formulas for a Pulse-Protecting Pill and a Peiyuan Pill.
• After staying at an inn for five days, Chen Lin resumed traveling and arrived in Qingyang City three months later.
• Chen Lin asked a young cultivator for directions and learned that Qingyang Market was releasing cultivation cave rentals that day.
• Chen Lin went to Qingyang Market, assessed the quality of its goods and prices, and considered renting a cultivation cave to reach the Qi Condensation Late Stage before crossing into Chu Country.

Chen Lin went to Qingyang Treasure Pavilion to rent an immortal cave and learned that the Qingyang Sect had raised rents to cover increased tribute to the Blazing Sun Sect. He secured an outermost low-grade cave for three medium-grade spirit stones a month and left to complete the formalities.

• Chen Lin visited Qingyang Treasure Pavilion after buying materials and asked to rent an immortal cave.
• The steward announced that rents had risen and explained that the Qingyang Sect needed to cover increased tribute demanded by the Blazing Sun Sect.
• A middle-aged cultivator surnamed Mu rented the superior-grade cave for a year to attempt foundation establishment after buying a Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Chen Lin learned that the Qingyang Sect sold Foundation Establishment Pills and wondered whether he could obtain their pill formula.
• Chen Lin bid on an outermost low-grade immortal cave and secured it for three medium-grade spirit stones a month.

Chen Lin moved into a rented cave dwelling in the Qingyang Mountain Range after learning that its spiritual qi was thin, but found its Spirit-Gathering Formation made it suitable for cultivation. He stocked up on supplies and information, then shut himself away for several months.

• Chen Lin met Ling Ziyan, who took him by Immortal Paper Crane to Cave Dwelling No. Ding-98.
• Chen Lin learned that the cave dwelling was remote and had thin spiritual qi, but accepted it after Ling Ziyan explained that a Spirit-Gathering Formation made cultivation there comparable to other locations.
• Chen Lin inspected the cave dwelling, tested its dense spiritual qi, and approved of its formations, security, and living facilities.
• Chen Lin flew to Qingyang City and the Market, where he bought food, supplies, materials, and books about the region.
• Chen Lin returned to his cave dwelling and kept its doors shut for several months.

Chen Lin spent months cultivating and practicing his crafts before breaking through to the sixth layer of qi condensation. After emerging from seclusion to buy materials and seek help with body refinement, he received a useful lead from the Treasure Pavilion.

• Chen Lin refined pills, practiced spells and talismans, and bathed daily in medicinal decoctions while cultivating in his immortal cave.
• At Qingyang Sect, the Sect Master chose to seek thousand-year-old spirit milk as a substitute for a missing yang spiritual herb needed to refine the Seven-Star Pill.
• Chen Lin swallowed two Chuyuan Pills and broke through to the sixth layer of qi condensation, then tested his spells, flying sword, and Flying Shuttle.
• After another month of seclusion, Chen Lin went to the market to buy materials and look for harsh conditions that could improve his Vajra Body-Refining Art.
• Chen Lin sold his talismans to the Treasure Pavilion, where the shopkeeper offered him a favorable price and information about body refinement.

Chen Lin learned about baleful energy and the dangers and cost of buying it, then chose to remain near Qingyang City and focus on cultivation. He began training at the Cold Pool and headed there with Daoist Qian, who was eager to see Fairy Zixia.

• The Treasure Pavilion shopkeeper told Chen Lin about the Cold Pool, the Lava Grounds, and baleful energy, which could help break through bottlenecks but was dangerous to obtain.
• Chen Lin learned that baleful energy required a special container, was difficult to procure, and cost at least one high-grade spirit stone per portion; he asked the shopkeeper to watch for a chance to buy some.
• Chen Lin gave the shopkeeper the name Lin Feiyu, accepted a booklet listing sought-after treasures, and returned to his immortal cave after paying six months' rent.
• Chen Lin studied the Mountain-Slicing Sword Formula and began toughening his body in the Cold Pool while consolidating his cultivation.
• Daoist Qian spotted Chen Lin and urged him to hurry to the Cold Pool because Fairy Zixia would be there; Chen Lin flew with him.

Chen Lin cultivated in the Cold Pool and noticed that Fairy Zixia’s Peach Blossom Baleful Intent might help temper his body. When he tried to ask her about it, she rebuffed him and flew away, leaving him to return to his quiet cultivation routine.

• Chen Lin entered the Cold Pool while Qian Li went to admire the women there, and he tempered his body with the pool’s strange chill.
• Fairy Zixia arrived, drawing the attention of the cultivators, but Chen Lin focused on cultivation instead.
• Chen Lin sensed a seductive fragrance from Fairy Zixia and used the Vajra Body-Refining Art to dispel its effects.
• Chen Lin learned from two cultivators that Fairy Zixia was condensing Peach Blossom Baleful Intent, then wondered whether it could help his body-refining technique.
• Chen Lin called to Fairy Zixia at the exit to ask about the baleful energy, but she glared at him and flew away, so he returned to his immortal cave alone.

Chen Lin successfully refined Peiyuan Pills without relying on his talent ability and began selling the weaker pills to the Treasure Pavilion. He learned the Ye Lineage had claimed the Peach Blossom Baleful Intent source for Ye Jinxuan, leaving him to seek another way to advance his body-refining art, and the shopkeeper ended by asking whether he was married.

• Chen Lin refined his first Peiyuan Pill without his talent ability, tested it, and found it had over seventy percent of the medicinal power of his talent-made pills.
• Chen Lin improved his pill-refining success rate, but his overall output remained unprofitable without his talent ability.
• At the Treasure Pavilion, the shopkeeper told Chen Lin that the Ye Lineage had claimed the Peach Blossom Baleful Intent source for Ye Jinxuan and warned him about its effects.
• Chen Lin learned that baleful intent could help cultivators reach Foundation Establishment, but the shopkeeper said the Ye Lineage would not sell any of its limited supply.
• Chen Lin sold ten inferior Peiyuan Pills to the shopkeeper for twenty medium-grade spirit stones.
• The shopkeeper asked Chen Lin whether he was married.

Chen Lin declined Manager Shen’s offer to arrange a match with Ling Ziyan and asked Qian Li about Peach Blossom Baleful Intent. Qian Li warned that it was meant to grant charm abilities rather than temper the body, then told Chen Lin about a major trading convention coming at the end of the month.

• Chen Lin politely declined Manager Shen’s offer to introduce him to his wife’s niece, who turned out to be Ling Ziyan.
• Chen Lin visited Qian Li to ask about Fairy Zixia and Peach Blossom Baleful Intent.
• Qian Li explained that Peach Blossom Baleful Intent could grant a charm divine ability and was unsuitable for Chen Lin’s body tempering.
• Qian Li told Chen Lin that a large treasure trading convention would be held at the Qingyang Sect at the end of the month, with two of the Wuzhen Tower’s Eight Beauties expected to attend.

Chen Lin chose to avoid the trading convention and prepared to cultivate in seclusion, while a report about his question concerning spirit milk reached Luo Qinglan. Luo Qinglan continued her search for rare ingredients and revealed that she planned to attempt a Golden Core breakthrough in three days, regardless of whether she refined the Seven-Star Pill.

• Chen Lin decided not to attend the trading convention and returned to crafting talismans and refining pills in his immortal cave.
• Chen Lin sold his goods at the Treasure Pavilion and learned that spirit milk could potentially be exchanged for a Foundation Establishment Pill, but kept his own supply secret.
• The shopkeeper reported Chen Lin's question about spirit milk to Luo Qinglan using a Transmission Talisman.
• Chen Lin bought more materials and an Earth Escape Talisman before returning to his immortal cave.
• Luo Qinglan learned that the sect's messages had been sent and said the trading convention was a smokescreen before her planned Golden Core breakthrough in three days.