Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ming learns from Luo Xiaoyu that the Immortal Falling Secret Realm's pollution began five years ago due to Wan Yemo, who was parasitized by a Sinister Worm.
• Su Ming realizes he must find Ye Chuxue to understand what happened in the three years after he entered the Immortal Falling Secret Realm.
• Su Ming and Luo Xiaoyu escape the Immortal Falling Secret Realm using the Great Void Technique, evading the Three Great Sects' Elders.
• They travel to the Qin Kingdom and eventually reach a remote island where Ye Chuxue resides.

Character Developments

• Su Ming: Shows strategic thinking and confidence in facing the Three Great Sects' Elders, demonstrating his growth as a cultivator.
• Luo Xiaoyu: Becomes more cooperative after seeing Su Ming's power, showing a hint of fear and respect.
• Ye Chuxue: Maintains her cultivation speed, reaching Core Formation Great Perfection, showcasing the Taiyin Body's potential.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: Su Ming's display of power shifts the balance, allowing him to escape the Three Great Sects' Elders and instill fear in Luo Xiaoyu.
• Trust and Betrayal: Su Ming chooses to trust Luo Xiaoyu, and she, in turn, becomes more cooperative, hinting at potential shifting alliances.
• The Past's Impact: The events of the past five years in the Immortal Falling Secret Realm drive the current plot, emphasizing the consequences of past actions.

Character Interactions

• Su Ming and Luo Xiaoyu: Their interaction shifts from hostility to cooperation, with Luo Xiaoyu showing deference to Su Ming's power.
• Su Ming and the Three Great Sects' Elders: Their encounter highlights Su Ming's confidence and the Elders' shock at his power and audacity.
• Su Ming and Ye Chuxue: Their reunion after eight years is brief but significant, as they catch up on events and prepare to share crucial information.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ming dies at Ye Chuxue's hands in a simulation.
• He obtains all rewards from the simulation, including Core Formation Great Perfection cultivation and the talent 'Business Prodigy.'
• A random mission is issued: 'Slaughter all Foundation Establishment Realm disciples within Qingyun Sect.'
• Su Ming uses the Great Void Technique to kill all Foundation Establishment disciples in Qingyun Sect and takes Ye Chuxue with him.
• He brings Ye Chuxue to Desolate Village and gives her cultivation resources, telling her to break through to Foundation Establishment to learn the truth.

Character Developments

• Su Ming's cultivation reaches Core Formation Great Perfection.
• Ye Chuxue is taken to Desolate Village and given resources to help her break through to Foundation Establishment.

Significant Themes

• The truth behind the Sinister Worms and the 'demonic path' cultivators.
• The importance of breaking through realms to understand the truth.

Character Interactions

• Su Ming and Ye Chuxue: Su Ming takes Ye Chuxue with him and gives her resources to help her understand the truth about their world.
• Su Ming and the Qingyun Sect: Su Ming kills all Foundation Establishment disciples in Qingyun Sect, fulfilling a mission from the System.

Chapter Summary: Sword Pavilion of Human Cultivators!

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ming draws the Sword Dao Supreme talent, an exceptionally powerful red-grade talent that greatly enhances his comprehension of sword techniques. Combined with the Great Void Sword Art, it gives him tremendous cultivation potential.
• He immediately enters seclusion and, within one year, advances the Great Void Sword Art from beginner level to minor accomplishment while also cultivating Great Void Sword Intent.
• During this period, Ye Chuxue successfully reaches the Foundation Establishment Realm with the resources Su Ming provided. After learning more about the dark truth of their world, she becomes anxious about their future and relies on Su Ming for direction.
• Su Ming instructs Ye Chuxue to remain in Desolate Village, cultivate toward Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, and prepare to enter the Immortal Falling Secret Realm with him later.
• Leaving her a large supply of resources stolen from the Azure Cloud Sect, Su Ming travels to You Prefecture to investigate other regions and acquire cultivation resources, since the warrants against him make further activity in Green Prefecture dangerous.
• He learns that You Prefecture is controlled by four major forces: the Pill Sect, Sword Pavilion, Yin Yang Sect, and Feather Ascension Sect. The Immortal Falling Secret Realm lies on the border between You and Green Prefectures.
• Drawn by his new sword talent, Su Ming decides to infiltrate the Sword Pavilion, concealing his true cultivation as ninth-level Qi Refinement.
• The Sword Pavilion is famous for having extremely strict recruitment standards. Although it offers abundant resources and produces disciples capable of defeating multiple opponents, it has not successfully recruited a disciple in thirty years.
• During the entrance assessment, Su Ming is shown an apparently ordinary stone stele and told only to comprehend it within half an incense stick.
• He senses the faint sword intent hidden within the stele and immediately resonates with it. The stele trembles, shocking the examiner. Su Ming passes within only a few breaths and becomes the sole successful candidate that year.
• He is brought before the white-haired Sword Pavilion Master, who tests him with overwhelming sword intent. Su Ming barely suppresses his own Great Void Sword Intent and avoids revealing his strength.
• The Pavilion Master sees through Su Ming’s disguise and realizes that he is not truly at the ninth level of Qi Refinement. However, instead of exposing him, the master reassures him that the Sword Pavilion contains no Sinister Worms and is composed entirely of ordinary humans.
• The chapter ends with Su Ming stunned by this revelation. The Sword Pavilion appears to be a rare cultivation force made solely of humans, raising the mystery of how it survived and how it produced Awakened cultivators without being infiltrated or destroyed.

Character Developments

• Su Ming: Gains the Sword Dao Supreme talent, rapidly improves his sword cultivation, and becomes more confident in pursuing opportunities outside Green Prefecture. His ability to conceal his identity is challenged when the Sword Pavilion Master immediately sees through him.
• Ye Chuxue: Breaks through to Foundation Establishment and becomes more mature and aware of the world’s hidden darkness. She now views Su Ming as her protector and strategic leader.
• Sword Pavilion Master: Introduced as a powerful and perceptive figure who recognizes Su Ming’s true cultivation instantly. Despite this, he appears welcoming rather than hostile and reveals the Pavilion’s unusual human-only nature.
• Lin Tian: Serves as the examiner’s assistant and escort, becoming visibly shocked by Su Ming’s unprecedentedly quick success.

Significant Themes

• Exceptional talent and opportunity: The Sword Dao Supreme talent perfectly complements Su Ming’s Great Void Sword Art, emphasizing how rare abilities can transform cultivation speed and potential.
• Trust and dependence: Ye Chuxue’s reliance on Su Ming reflects their growing partnership as fugitives navigating a hostile world.
• Humanity versus corruption: The Sword Pavilion’s claim to be free of Sinister Worms introduces a major contrast with the wider Canglan Realm, where human forces appear compromised or endangered.
• Mystery and hidden truths: The strange assessment stone, the Pavilion’s extreme recruitment standards, and its survival as a purely human sect all suggest deeper secrets.
• Identity and concealment: Su Ming’s attempt to hide his cultivation fails before the Pavilion Master, showing that powerful figures can see through his disguises and that joining the Sword Pavilion may carry unexpected risks.

Important Character Interactions

• Su Ming and Ye Chuxue discuss their situation after her breakthrough, with Ye Chuxue seeking guidance and Su Ming assigning her a cultivation plan.
• Su Ming interacts with the Sword Pavilion’s applicants and learns about the sect’s rarity, strict standards, and powerful disciples.
• The examiner initially gives Su Ming no useful explanation of the assessment, but becomes astonished when Su Ming immediately resonates with the stone stele.
• Lin Tian presents Su Ming to the Pavilion Master and emphasizes how quickly he passed.
• The Pavilion Master tests Su Ming with sword intent, recognizes him as a genius, exposes his concealed cultivation, and unexpectedly assures him that the Pavilion contains no Sinister Worms.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ming learns the truth about the Sword Pavilion's assessment: it screens for cultivators capable of awakening and comprehending Sword Intent.
• The Sword Pavilion Master reveals that Sinister Worms cannot cultivate Sword Intent, but they disguise themselves as humans, continuing the host's cultivation.
• Su Ming joins the Sword Pavilion, discovering there are only eight other disciples, all at Nascent Soul Great Perfection, including Lin Tian.
• Su Ming learns that to break through to the Nascent Soul, he must cultivate his Sword Intent to its utmost limit and reach the realm of Sword Heart Clarity.
• In three years, Su Ming cultivates the Great Void Sword Intent to the major achievement stage.
• In five years, Su Ming breaks through to the realm of Sword Heart Clarity and prepares for his Nascent Soul breakthrough.
• In the sixth year, Su Ming successfully breaks through to the Nascent Soul Realm, facing a Sinister Worm with Nascent Soul-level strength.
• Lin Tian informs Su Ming that Fifth Senior Sister will be returning.

Character Developments

• Su Ming's understanding of Sinister Worms deepens, and he learns about their disguises and limitations.
• Su Ming's cultivation progresses rapidly, reaching the major achievement stage of the Great Void Sword Intent in two years and the realm of Sword Heart Clarity in five years.
• Lin Tian, now Su Ming's Eighth Senior Brother, shows concern and support for Su Ming's cultivation.

Significant Themes

• The power of Sword Intent in suppressing Sinister Worms.
• The disguise and true nature of Sinister Worms.
• The importance of cultivating Sword Intent to its utmost limit for breaking through to the Nascent Soul.
• The danger of Sinister Worms striking back during high-level cultivation.

Character Interactions

• Su Ming interacts with the Sword Pavilion Master, learning about Sinister Worms and the requirements for breaking through to the Nascent Soul.
• Su Ming and Lin Tian discuss cultivation and the Immortal Falling Secret Realm.
• Lin Tian congratulates Su Ming on his Nascent Soul breakthrough and informs him about Fifth Senior Sister's return.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After five years in the Sword Pavilion, the protagonist decides to return to Green Prefecture, having promised Ye Chuxue that he would come back within five years.
• Lin Tian reveals that the protagonist’s Sixth Senior Brother is currently in the Qin Kingdom, surprising the protagonist because the Qin Kingdom is only a secular empire.
• The protagonist leaves the Sword Pavilion and returns to Green Prefecture in one month using the Great Void Technique.
• He first visits Desolate Village but discovers that Ye Chuxue is absent. He then rushes to the Qin Kingdom.
• In the Qin Kingdom, he finds Ye Chuxue and Lin Qi severely wounded and being pursued by Azure Cloud Sect cultivators.
• The protagonist rescues them effortlessly, killing a Nascent Soul Early Stage pursuer and several Core Formation cultivators with Great Void Sword Intent.
• He transports Ye Chuxue and Lin Qi back to Desolate Village.
• A mysterious white-robed man follows them there without being detected. The man reveals that he is the protagonist’s Sixth Senior Brother.
• The Sixth Senior Brother explains that he knows the Great Void Technique because it is the inherited art of the Eldest Senior Sister’s lineage, raising major questions about the protagonist’s origins and training.

Character Developments

• The protagonist has grown dramatically stronger after reaching the Nascent Soul realm. His mastery of the Great Void Technique allows him to travel immense distances and defeat enemies far above ordinary cultivators with ease. However, he realizes that there are still beings capable of tracking and surpassing him.
• Ye Chuxue has advanced to the late Core Formation realm, nearly a major realm stronger than she was in the original timeline, suggesting that the protagonist’s earlier intervention significantly changed her fate.
• Lin Qi remains connected to Ye Chuxue and is rescued alongside her, though he is initially suspicious of the protagonist.
• Lin Tian provides important information about the Sword Pavilion’s members, particularly the Sixth Senior Brother, though his knowledge of the sect’s deeper secrets appears limited.
• The Sixth Senior Brother, a powerful and enigmatic white-robed man, demonstrates mastery or deep familiarity with the Great Void Technique. His ability to follow the protagonist undetected establishes him as vastly more powerful and knowledgeable.

Significant Themes

• Hidden identities and forgotten heritage: The protagonist learns that his cultivation technique is not an isolated ancient inheritance but part of the Eldest Senior Sister’s lineage.
• The vastness of the cultivation world: Despite five years of training and major advancement, the protagonist encounters someone who can effortlessly track him, reminding him that his strength is still limited.
• Changed fate and altered timelines: Ye Chuxue’s unexpectedly rapid cultivation progress reflects the consequences of the protagonist’s previous actions.
• Secrets within the Sword Pavilion: The protagonist realizes that he knows very little about his senior brothers and sisters, the Eldest Senior Sister, or the true origins of the techniques he has learned.
• Reunion and recognition: The protagonist’s return to Green Prefecture brings him back into contact with Ye Chuxue while also unexpectedly introducing him to another member of his hidden sect.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist and Lin Tian: The protagonist informs Lin Tian of his departure, and Lin Tian directs him toward the Sixth Senior Brother in the Qin Kingdom.
• The protagonist and Ye Chuxue: Their reunion is emotional and sudden. He rescues her from pursuit, and she recognizes him immediately after he emerges from the void.
• The protagonist and Lin Qi: Lin Qi initially treats him as a potential enemy but is taken away with Ye Chuxue after witnessing the protagonist’s overwhelming power.
• The protagonist and the Azure Cloud Sect cultivators: The encounter is one-sided; the protagonist dismisses and kills them almost instantly.
• The protagonist and the Sixth Senior Brother: Their first meeting is tense because the protagonist cannot sense the man’s cultivation or understand how he followed them. The Sixth Senior Brother then identifies himself and reveals crucial information about the Great Void Technique and the Eldest Senior Sister.

Chapter Summary: “Meeting Fifth Senior Sister!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ming tells his Sixth Senior Brother, Fang Jingchun, that he obtained the Great Void Technique from a secret realm rather than from Senior Sister. He deliberately withholds the secret realm’s location.
• Fang Jingchun introduces himself and explains how he recognized Su Ming: very few people in Green Prefecture possess Sword Intent, and Lin Tian had already provided related information.
• Fang reveals that he remains in the mortal world because it is humanity’s foundation. He founded Tianqi Academy in the Qin Kingdom to cultivate sword-dao talent and preserve hope for humanity.
• The academy accepts cultivators below the fifth Qi Refining level, but most are expelled after three years because Fang is focused on selecting and developing the most promising candidates.
• Fang invites Su Ming to visit Tianqi Academy, but Su Ming refuses to avoid bringing trouble to Fang after their identities were exposed in Green Prefecture. Fang leaves using the Great Void Technique.
• Su Ming informs Ye Chuxue that he is returning to You Prefecture. She warns him to stay safe and says she may enter the Immortal Falling Secret Realm to attempt a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage.
• After leaving resources for Ye Chuxue and Lin Qi, Su Ming returns to the Sword Pavilion a month later.
• Su Ming asks Lin Tian about Senior Sister after learning that the Great Void Technique is connected to her. Lin Tian reveals that only Senior Sister and Fang Jingchun among the disciples can use it.
• Lin Tian directs Su Ming to meet Fifth Senior Sister, who has recently returned to the Sword Pavilion.
• Su Ming enters Fifth Senior Sister’s hut and immediately asks about Senior Sister. She playfully appears behind him, teasing him for ignoring her and asking about another woman upon their first meeting.

Character Developments

• Su Ming becomes increasingly suspicious of Senior Sister’s identity and family background, especially after connecting her to the rare Great Void Technique. He remains cautious about revealing his own secrets, even to fellow disciples.
• Fang Jingchun is established as a responsible and idealistic sword cultivator. Rather than remaining in the cultivation world, he works to strengthen humanity by educating young cultivators through Tianqi Academy.
• Ye Chuxue shows concern for Su Ming’s safety and reveals her own plans to pursue a Nascent Soul breakthrough.
• Lin Tian provides important information about the Sword Pavilion’s disciples and confirms that Su Ming’s mastery of the Great Void Technique is extremely unusual.
• Fifth Senior Sister is introduced as lively, confident, and mischievous. Her playful reaction suggests she may know more about Senior Sister than Lin Tian does.

Significant Themes

• Secrets and trust: Su Ming carefully guards the origins of the Great Void Technique, highlighting the tension between brotherly relationships and the need for self-protection.
• Preserving humanity: Fang Jingchun’s academy reflects the importance of cultivating future talent during a dangerous period for the Canglan Realm.
• Sword dao and comprehension: The chapter emphasizes that sword cultivation depends more on understanding and insight than on spiritual roots or innate physical qualifications.
• Curiosity and hidden identities: Su Ming’s investigation into Senior Sister’s background suggests that her origins and family may be tied to powerful ancient forces.
• Mentorship and legacy: Fang’s academy and the Sword Pavilion’s senior-junior relationships show how powerful cultivators pass on knowledge and hope to future generations.

Character Interactions

• Su Ming and Fang Jingchun establish a respectful but cautious relationship as fellow disciples. Fang accepts Su Ming’s secrecy without pressing him.
• Fang and Lin Qi’s discussion reveals Tianqi Academy’s unusual policies and its purpose.
• Ye Chuxue and Su Ming part on supportive terms, with her encouraging him to remain safe.
• Lin Tian reacts with envy to Su Ming’s mastery of the Great Void Technique and helps arrange his meeting with Fifth Senior Sister.
• Su Ming’s first interaction with Fifth Senior Sister immediately takes on a playful tone: while he is focused on uncovering Senior Sister’s identity, she teases him for neglecting to ask about her.

Chapter Summary: Snatching the Pill Sect’s Void Breaking Pill!

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist meets Fifth Senior Sister, Gu Xinyue, whose seductive charm nearly overwhelms him. He asks her about the whereabouts of another mysterious senior sister and about the Great Void Technique.
• Gu Xinyue doubts that he could cultivate the technique, since it requires exceptional comprehension of spatial laws. He proves his ability by demonstrating it, surprising her with his talent in both swordsmanship and spatial techniques.
• Gu Xinyue admits she knows little about the missing senior sister but suggests that she may be in Central Prefecture, a vast and dangerous region now overrun by powerful Cunning Insects.
• She warns the protagonist not to travel there while only at the Nascent Soul Early Stage. He agrees to wait until reaching the Spirit Transmutation Realm before searching for her.
• Gu Xinyue reveals her true purpose for returning: she intends to rob the Pill Sect of a Void Breaking Pill. The Pill Sect is extremely influential and dangerous, making the plan highly risky.
• The Void Breaking Pill is being prepared by the Pill Sect Master and could help Gu Xinyue advance. She originally estimated a 50% chance of success, but after learning that the protagonist can use the Great Void Technique, her confidence rises to 80%.
• The operation must wait three years, because a key ingredient will not mature until then. The protagonist agrees to help and remains at the Sword Pavilion to cultivate.
• After returning to his hut, he practices the Great Void Sword Art. One year later, he advances to the Nascent Soul Middle Stage, astonishing and mildly envying Gu Xinyue because of his rapid progress.

Character Developments

• The protagonist demonstrates strong spatial talent by mastering the Great Void Technique and continues to grow rapidly in cultivation. He also recognizes that the technique may contain an unresolved flaw, motivating him to find the mysterious senior sister who may understand it better.
• Gu Xinyue is established as alluring, playful, direct, and highly capable. Beneath her teasing behavior, she is confident and ambitious, willing to challenge the powerful Pill Sect to obtain the Void Breaking Pill.
• Gu Xinyue becomes more trusting of the protagonist after witnessing his mastery of the Great Void Technique and decides to include him in her dangerous plan.

Significant Themes

• Talent and rapid cultivation: The protagonist’s exceptional comprehension and breakthrough speed distinguish him from ordinary cultivators.
• Risk versus preparation: Both characters acknowledge the dangers of Central Prefecture and the Pill Sect, choosing to wait and strengthen themselves rather than act recklessly.
• Mystery and pursuit: The unknown whereabouts of the senior sister and the possible flaw in the Great Void Technique create an ongoing mystery.
• Trust and cooperation: Gu Xinyue’s plan depends heavily on the protagonist’s spatial abilities, showing how individual talents can combine to overcome powerful enemies.
• Ambition and danger: The attempt to seize the Void Breaking Pill demonstrates the extreme measures cultivators take to pursue greater strength.

Character Interactions

• Gu Xinyue teases and flirts with the protagonist, while he remains wary of her beguiling techniques.
• She initially questions his ability to use the Great Void Technique but becomes genuinely impressed after he demonstrates it.
• The protagonist respectfully asks for information about the missing senior sister, while Gu Xinyue offers the limited clue of Central Prefecture and warns him against going there prematurely.
• Their conversation shifts from information-gathering to cooperation when Gu Xinyue proposes robbing the Pill Sect. Though shocked, the protagonist agrees to assist her and begins preparing through cultivation.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• In the ninth year of the protagonist’s arrangement with Gu Xinyue, his cultivation has stalled at the middle stage of Nascent Soul because he has exhausted his supply of spirit stones.
• Gu Xinyue learns that the Pill Sect has obtained the spiritual herb needed to refine a Void Breaking Pill, and the two travel there to steal the finished pills.
• Using Gu Xinyue’s Concealment Technique and the protagonist’s Great Void Technique, they infiltrate the Pill Sect’s ninth-floor pill-refining chamber.
• After waiting ten days for the refining process to finish, they enter the chamber. Gu Xinyue distracts and attacks the Pill Sect master while the protagonist teleports above the furnace and steals several Void Breaking Pills.
• They escape the Pill Sect, but the sect master and other cultivators pursue them because the pills are essential to his own breakthrough to the Void Refining Realm.
• Rather than return to the Sword Pavilion, Gu Xinyue decides to enter the Immortal Falling Secret Realm and attempt her breakthrough there. The protagonist takes her to the realm at full speed.
• Upon arrival, they discover that the secret realm has once again been polluted. Its spiritual energy is not yet as corrupted as that of the outside world, but Gu Xinyue confirms that even slight pollution makes a breakthrough equivalent to attempting one in the outside world.
• The protagonist recalls that the realm had previously been polluted after he, Ye Chuxue, and Lin Qi entered it and suspects that Ye Chuxue and Lin Qi may be responsible for the recurring corruption.
• Before they can investigate further, they notice Wan Yemo fighting another person. The opponent accuses him of being a traitor who has been “parasitized,” suggesting a new and dangerous development.

Character Developments

• The protagonist demonstrates greater confidence and tactical ability, successfully using the Great Void Technique for infiltration, theft, and escape. He also applies his previous experiences to identify a possible connection between Ye Chuxue, Lin Qi, and the secret realm’s pollution.
• Gu Xinyue remains decisive and aggressive, organizing the theft and personally confronting the Pill Sect master. Her immediate goal is to use the Void Breaking Pill to reach the Void Refining Realm, but the pollution of the secret realm abruptly undermines that plan.
• The Pill Sect master is established as a powerful and determined enemy. He is close to a major breakthrough and reacts immediately when his pills are stolen, sending pursuers after the protagonists.
• Wan Yemo appears in a mysterious and alarming situation. His opponent calls him a traitor and claims he has been parasitized, implying that his identity, loyalty, or mental state may have been compromised.
• Ye Chuxue and Lin Qi become suspects in the secret realm’s corruption, although their actual involvement remains unconfirmed.

Significant Themes

• Resource scarcity and cultivation limits: The protagonist’s progress halts after his spirit stones run out, emphasizing how advancement depends on access to rare resources.
• Risk and opportunism: The protagonists take enormous risks by stealing from the Pill Sect, balancing immediate danger against the possibility of a breakthrough.
• Recurring corruption and hidden causes: The repeated pollution of the Immortal Falling Secret Realm suggests an unseen force or connection between certain characters and the realm’s deterioration.
• The limits of preparation: Even after carefully securing a Void Breaking Pill and reaching a protected refuge, Gu Xinyue’s breakthrough is rendered impossible by circumstances beyond their control.
• Trust and betrayal: Wan Yemo’s accusation of betrayal and parasitization introduces uncertainty about who has been compromised and whether familiar allies can still be trusted.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist and Gu Xinyue cooperate closely throughout the heist, combining her combat skills and initiative with his concealment and teleportation abilities.
• Gu Xinyue reassures and instructs the protagonist during the infiltration, while he relies on her signals to execute the theft at the crucial moment.
• Gu Xinyue attacks the Pill Sect master, using his counterattack to move into position beside the protagonist so they can escape together.
• The protagonist accepts Gu Xinyue’s decision to enter the secret realm without questioning her, reflecting his trust in her judgment.
• After discovering the pollution, the protagonist seeks hope from Gu Xinyue, but she gives him the grim truth that her breakthrough is no longer possible.
• The chapter ends with the distant confrontation involving Wan Yemo, whose opponent labels him a parasitized traitor and creates a new mystery.

Chapter Summary: Spirit Qi Pollution, Breaking the Bronze Divine Hall Deadlock!

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ming realizes that the contamination of the Immortal Falling Secret Realm could only have originated from someone within it, suggesting the existence of a human traitor.
• Gu Xinyue kills Wan Yemo with a single sword strike after discovering that he has become a puppet and was responsible for destroying the realm’s formation.
• The black-clad cultivator introduces himself as Qin Wu of the Great Qin Empire. He confirms that the formation has been broken and warns that the secret realm will soon be exposed.
• Su Ming explains that he and Gu Xinyue are trapped because the Pill Sect is searching for them over the stolen Void Breaking Pill.
• Su Ming devises a plan for Qin Wu to escape: he should tell the Pill Sect that the secret realm has already been breached, then travel to Tianqi Academy and inform Fang Jingchun about Su Ming and Gu Xinyue’s situation.
• Su Ming also asks Qin Wu to monitor Ye Chuxue and Lin Qi, suspecting that their movements may be connected to the crisis.
• Instead of trying to fight their way out, Su Ming leads Gu Xinyue to the Bronze Divine Hall, which has remained inaccessible for countless years.
• Su Ming opens the hall’s bronze gates by relying on his cultivation in the Extreme Realm of Qi Refining. Inside, they discover uncontaminated spirit qi.
• Gu Xinyue consumes the Void Breaking Pill and cultivates for several years. She successfully breaks through to the initial stage of the Void Refining Realm, becoming one of the strongest cultivators in Green Prefecture.
• Su Ming receives the Bronze Divine Hall’s inheritance, as the hall recognizes him as the person capable of opening its gates.
• After leaving the hall, they discover that the entire secret realm has been polluted and that its exit has been sealed.
• Gu Xinyue effortlessly destroys the seal with her sword technique, allowing both of them to escape into the skies above the Sky Abyss.
• Gu Xinyue chooses to accompany Su Ming to visit Fang Jingchun rather than separate from him.

Character Developments

• Su Ming: Demonstrates strategic thinking by identifying a possible human traitor, arranging Qin Wu’s escape, and finding a safe solution in the Bronze Divine Hall. His mastery of the Extreme Realm of Qi Refining is revealed, along with his connection to the hall’s inheritance.
• Gu Xinyue: Shows overwhelming combat power by killing Wan Yemo and later breaking the sealed exit. Her cultivation advances from Spirit Transmutation Great Perfection to the initial Void Refining Realm after using the Void Breaking Pill. She also becomes more curious about and trusting of Su Ming’s abilities.
• Qin Wu: Initially reluctant to help Su Ming, Qin Wu agrees after learning of Su Ming’s connection to Fang Jingchun. He becomes an important messenger and potential link between the trapped cultivators and the outside world.
• Wan Yemo: Is revealed to have been transformed into a puppet and to have destroyed the formation, implicating him in the secret realm’s collapse, though the greater force behind the contamination remains unknown.

Significant Themes

• Hidden betrayal and corruption: The contaminated spirit qi and Wan Yemo’s transformation suggest a deeper conspiracy involving an insider among humanity.
• Strategic survival over brute force: Su Ming avoids a hopeless battle and instead uses information, alliances, and the Bronze Divine Hall to survive.
• Ancient inheritances and exceptional cultivation: The Bronze Divine Hall recognizes Su Ming’s rare Extreme Realm Qi Refining cultivation, emphasizing the importance of ancient powers and forgotten paths.
• Trust and cooperation: Su Ming relies on Qin Wu and Gu Xinyue, while Gu Xinyue increasingly accepts his judgment and chooses to remain by his side.
• Transformation through adversity: Gu Xinyue’s breakthrough elevates her status and gives the pair the strength needed to escape the sealed secret realm.

Character Interactions

• Gu Xinyue and Su Ming cooperate against Wan Yemo, with Gu Xinyue providing the decisive attack.
• Su Ming and Qin Wu negotiate a plan for escape and communication with Fang Jingchun. Qin Wu’s willingness to help grows after learning of their shared connection.
• Gu Xinyue questions Su Ming’s priorities but becomes intrigued when he claims to have another way out.
• Su Ming reveals the Bronze Divine Hall and his Extreme Realm cultivation to Gu Xinyue, shocking her and deepening her respect for him.
• After escaping, Gu Xinyue playfully questions whether Su Ming wants to leave her behind, then insists on accompanying him to meet Fang Jingchun.

Chapter Summary:

Blood Demon Secret Realm

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ming and Gu Xinyue arrive in the Qin Kingdom’s capital and locate Tianqi Academy, which is surprisingly small and resembles a courtyard residence.
• They reunite with Fang Jingchun, who confidently dismisses concerns about their survival in the Immortal Falling Secret Realm.
• Su Ming discovers that Ye Chuxue and Lin Qi are cultivating in the backyard and immediately questions them about whether they had entered the Immortal Falling Secret Realm before its pollution three years earlier.
• Ye Chuxue confirms that she and Lin Qi entered the realm approximately six months before the incident, making them potential links to its corruption.
• Su Ming conceals his suspicions, claiming he was merely worried about them after learning the secret realm had been polluted. Neither Ye Chuxue nor Lin Qi fully believes him, but they do not press the matter.
• Su Ming asks Fang Jingchun and Gu Xinyue whether You Prefecture contains another ruin like the Immortal Falling Secret Realm. They reveal the existence of the Blood Demon Secret Realm.
• The secret realm is largely depleted of Spiritual Energy and contains a blood monument suppressing the main body of an ancient, powerful Cunning Insect.
• The previous Sword Pavilion Master discovered the threat five thousand years earlier and expelled humans from the area. The current guardian is Fang Jingchun and Gu Xinyue’s Third Senior Sister.
• Su Ming learns that powerful Cunning Insects can survive the death of their host by escaping and possessing another body. Their primary weakness is the dantian, while their greatest strength lies in Soul Power.
• The Blood Tablet continuously consumes the secret realm’s Spiritual Energy to suppress the Cunning Insect, meaning the realm will eventually be exhausted.
• Su Ming struggles over whether Ye Chuxue and Lin Qi are involved in the Immortal Falling Secret Realm’s corruption. He considers killing them but ultimately decides to bring them to the Blood Demon Secret Realm so he can observe them directly and determine the truth.

Character Developments

• Su Ming: Becomes increasingly cautious and suspicious. His experience with the polluted Immortal Falling Secret Realm makes him unwilling to trust appearances, particularly regarding Lin Qi and, to a lesser extent, Ye Chuxue. Rather than acting impulsively, he chooses investigation and controlled risk.
• Ye Chuxue: Reveals that she and Lin Qi entered the Immortal Falling Secret Realm before its disaster. She notices Su Ming’s unusual seriousness but remains confused about his true concerns.
• Lin Qi: Provides no direct explanation, but his presence alongside Ye Chuxue makes him Su Ming’s primary suspect.
• Fang Jingchun and Gu Xinyue: Act as knowledgeable senior figures, explaining the Blood Demon Secret Realm, the nature of Cunning Insects, and the danger of the blood monument. Their confidence contrasts with Su Ming’s growing unease.

Significant Themes

• Suspicion and hidden identities: Su Ming must question whether people he trusts are connected to the secret realm’s corruption.
• Containment versus destruction: The Blood Tablet does not eliminate the Cunning Insect but suppresses it, illustrating the fragile balance protecting humanity.
• The cost of power and survival: Cunning Insects’ ability to abandon hosts and seek new bodies makes them exceptionally difficult to eradicate.
• Knowledge as preparation: Su Ming’s prior simulation-based knowledge helps him recognize dangers that others may overlook, especially the Cunning Insects’ weakness in the dantian.
• Moral uncertainty: Su Ming faces the difficult choice between killing possible threats immediately or risking further disaster by investigating them.

Character Interactions

• Fang Jingchun warmly welcomes Su Ming and Gu Xinyue, expressing complete confidence in their abilities.
• Su Ming confronts Ye Chuxue and Lin Qi with unusually grave questions, creating an atmosphere of concealed suspicion.
• Ye Chuxue and Lin Qi challenge Su Ming’s explanation but respect his decision not to elaborate.
• Su Ming repeatedly presses Fang Jingchun and Gu Xinyue for information about other secret realms, eventually learning the full history and dangers of the Blood Demon Secret Realm.
• The chapter ends with Su Ming choosing to bring Ye Chuxue and Lin Qi into the dangerous realm, hoping their behavior will reveal whether they are connected to the hidden threat.

Chapter Summary:

Xia Qiange on the Brink of Death!

Key Plot Points and Events

• After a year at Tianqi Academy, Lin Qi reaches Foundation Establishment Great Perfection. The protagonist takes Lin Qi and Ye Chuxue to You Prefecture, claiming knowledge of a secret realm that can safely help Lin Qi reach Core Formation.
• They enter the Blood Demon Secret Realm, which resembles the corrupted Immortal Falling Secret Realm. A powerful Sword Qi initially attacks them, but it stops when the protagonist identifies himself as Xia Qiange’s junior brother.
• Xia Qiange appears and angrily questions why outsiders were brought into the secret realm. After hearing about the contamination of the Immortal Falling Secret Realm, she reluctantly permits Lin Qi to cultivate there once.
• Three months later, Lin Qi successfully reaches the Core Formation realm, demonstrating the strength of his ultimate spiritual root. Xia Qiange immediately orders them to leave.
• The protagonist sends Ye Chuxue and Lin Qi back toward Green Prefecture but secretly remains near the secret realm entrance for two months.
• When the entrance reopens, Xia Qiange emerges severely injured, followed by a powerful black-robed man with black pupils. The man reveals that he has been imprisoned for ten thousand years and celebrates his freedom.
• The protagonist uses the Great Void Technique to rescue Xia Qiange and carries her back to the Sword Pavilion. It becomes clear that the entity beneath the Blood Tablet—the “Cunning Insect”—has escaped from the secret realm.
• The Pavilion Master is absent, and the group realizes that Xia Qiange may die or become possessed unless she is taken to another secret realm. Central Prefecture is identified as the only remaining hope.
• The protagonist carries Xia Qiange toward Central Prefecture, but near the border, the Cunning Insect speaks through or from Xia Qiange, praising the “fragrant soul” of the protagonist.
• Xia Qiange suddenly restrains him, allowing the creature to pierce his chest. The protagonist loses consciousness and dies, ending the simulation.

Character Developments

• The protagonist demonstrates strategic thinking and responsibility by seeking a safe breakthrough location for Lin Qi, concealing his true reasons, and later remaining behind to watch for Xia Qiange’s return.
• Lin Qi grows rapidly, advancing from Foundation Establishment Great Perfection to Core Formation in only three months because of his ultimate spiritual root.
• Ye Chuxue remains supportive and cooperative, accepting the protagonist’s plans and returning to Tianqi Academy with Lin Qi.
• Xia Qiange is introduced as a powerful but guarded senior sister who protects the Blood Demon Secret Realm. Though displeased by the protagonist’s actions, she makes an exception for him. Her severe injuries and possible possession place her at the center of the chapter’s crisis.
• Lin Tian shows concern for Xia Qiange and recognizes that the protagonist’s mastery of the Great Void Technique makes him uniquely capable of rescuing her.
• The Cunning Insect emerges as a major antagonist: an ancient, powerful entity capable of escaping its confinement, overwhelming Xia Qiange, and ultimately using her body or influence against the protagonist.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility and sacrifice: The protagonist risks his safety to help Lin Qi and later attempts to save Xia Qiange, despite being partly responsible for bringing outsiders into the secret realm.
• The danger of forbidden power: The Blood Demon Secret Realm contains immense opportunities for cultivation but also houses an ancient entity whose release threatens everyone.
• Trust and burden: Xia Qiange trusts the protagonist enough to allow Lin Qi’s breakthrough, while Lin Tian entrusts Xia Qiange’s rescue to the protagonist because of his unique abilities.
• Unintended consequences: The protagonist’s attempt to secure Lin Qi’s future may have contributed to the Cunning Insect’s escape and the resulting disaster.
• Hope turning into catastrophe: Lin Qi’s successful breakthrough is immediately overshadowed by Xia Qiange’s injury, the enemy’s release, and the protagonist’s death.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist reassures Lin Qi and Ye Chuxue about the secret realm and explains the need to find a new breakthrough location.
• Xia Qiange confronts the protagonist over bringing outsiders into her guarded territory, but ultimately grants him a one-time favor.
• Lin Tian questions the protagonist about Xia Qiange’s injuries and urges him to seek help from Central Prefecture.
• The protagonist and Lin Tian share an implicit understanding that only the protagonist can transport Xia Qiange quickly enough using the Great Void Technique.
• In the final confrontation, the Cunning Insect manipulates Xia Qiange’s position or body, turning the rescue attempt into a fatal ambush.

Chapter Summary: “The Sinister Worm’s True Form!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ming activates the “I Want It All” talent, raising his cultivation to the Nascent Soul Middle Stage. His Great Void Sword Intent advances to Sword Heart Clarity, and his Sword Dao Supreme talent deepens his understanding of swordsmanship.
• The Sinister Worm attacks his Primordial Spirit again, but Su Ming disperses its aura with his sword intent. However, he still cannot locate the worm within his body.
• Since the simulator now has a fifteen-day cooldown after reaching the Nascent Soul Realm, Su Ming decides to travel to You Prefecture rather than immediately confront Lin Qi and Ye Chuxue.
• He informs Ye Chuxue that he may be gone for two to six years. She notices his sudden emotional change but does not question him.
• A month later, Su Ming arrives at the Sword Pavilion, concealing his true cultivation and posing as a ninth-level Qi Refinement cultivator.
• During the entrance examination, he immediately resonates with the Sword Qi in the testing stele, astonishing Lin Tian, who recognizes him as an exceptional genius.
• The Sword Pavilion Master sees through Su Ming’s disguise and identifies him as a Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivator. Su Ming openly states that he wishes to join the Pavilion to oppose the Sinister Worm, earning the Pavilion Master’s approval.
• After settling into the Sword Pavilion, Su Ming begins a new simulation once the cooldown ends.
• The simulation grants him the Orange Talent: True Sight, allowing him to perceive the truth of all things.
• True Sight reveals the horrifying reality: Su Ming’s entire dantian is the Sinister Worm. The creature has fused with his cultivation foundation and cannot be killed without destroying his cultivation. Even rebuilding his cultivation would only lead to another parasitization.
• Su Ming spends a year cultivating at the Sword Pavilion but fails to advance to the Nascent Soul Late Stage. He then asks Lin Tian about Gu Xinyue, the Sword Pavilion’s Fifth Senior Sister, who is currently at the Pill Sect.
• When Lin Tian warns him that ordinary people cannot enter the Pill Sect, Su Ming reveals that he is a Third-grade alchemist, shocking Lin Tian. Su Ming explains that this is precisely why he wants to meet Gu Xinyue.

Character Developments

• Su Ming becomes increasingly cautious and strategic. Rather than acting impulsively against his enemies, he seeks information through the next simulation and strengthens his position by joining the Sword Pavilion.
• His abilities are shown to be exceptionally broad: he possesses outstanding talent in both the Sword Dao and alchemy, in addition to his rapidly advancing cultivation.
• Su Ming’s discovery of the Sinister Worm’s true nature introduces a major psychological burden. The threat is no longer an external parasite but something fused with the foundation of his power.
• Ye Chuxue notices Su Ming’s drastic change in personality but remains restrained, choosing not to press him for explanations.
• Lin Tian shifts from examiner and senior brother to an impressed ally. His admiration grows after witnessing Su Ming’s sword talent and learning that Su Ming is also a powerful alchemist.
• The Sword Pavilion Master demonstrates great perception by instantly seeing through Su Ming’s disguise and accepts him because of their shared goal of resisting the Sinister Worm.

Significant Themes

• The hidden cost of power: Su Ming’s cultivation and breakthroughs are connected to the Sinister Worm, suggesting that his strength may be inseparable from the danger threatening him.
• Truth versus appearance: Su Ming hides his cultivation at the Sword Pavilion, while True Sight later exposes the concealed truth of his own body.
• Strategic patience: Instead of seeking immediate revenge, Su Ming chooses to gather information, use simulations, and build alliances.
• Talent and identity: His extraordinary skill in both swordsmanship and alchemy establishes him as a rare prodigy, while also attracting attention and potential risks.
• Inescapable fate: The simulation reveals that simply killing the Sinister Worm may not solve the problem, since it has become part of Su Ming’s cultivation foundation.

Important Character Interactions

• Su Ming and Ye Chuxue: Su Ming announces his departure without explaining his deeper motives. Ye Chuxue senses his emotional transformation but quietly accepts his decision.
• Su Ming and Lin Tian: Lin Tian is stunned when Su Ming instantly resonates with the Sword Qi in the stele. Later, he advises Su Ming not to pursue Gu Xinyue, only to be shocked when Su Ming reveals his Third-grade alchemy skills.
• Su Ming and the Sword Pavilion Master: The Pavilion Master immediately recognizes Su Ming’s true cultivation. Su Ming’s knowledge of the Sinister Worm convinces the Master that he shares their cause, leading to Su Ming’s acceptance into the Sword Pavilion.
• Su Ming and the Sinister Worm: Their conflict becomes more disturbing when Su Ming learns that the parasite is not merely inside him—it has fused with and effectively become his dantian.

Key Plot Points

• Lin Tian allows Lin Feng to go to the Pill Sect for the entrance examination.
• Lin Feng arrives in Pill City, meets Gu Xinyue (disguised as the chief examiner), and passes the examination by refining Perfect Foundation Establishment Pills.
• Lin Feng joins the Pill Sect as Gu Xinyue's disciple.
• Three years later, Gu Xinyue informs Lin Feng about the spiritual medicine for the Void Breaking Pill in Ten Thousand Demon Mountain, planning to steal it together.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng: Proves his alchemy talent, joins the Pill Sect, and becomes a Fourth-grade Alchemist.
• Gu Xinyue: Reveals her true identity, plans to steal the spiritual medicine, and shows trust in Lin Feng.

Significant Themes

• Alchemy talent and competition.
• Trust and collaboration between characters.
• The importance of the Void Breaking Pill for sects and cultivators.

Character Interactions

• Lin Feng and Gu Xinyue: They develop a master-disciple relationship, and Gu Xinyue involves Lin Feng in her plan to steal the spiritual medicine.
• Lin Feng and other sect members: Lin Feng is envied by other sect members for becoming Gu Xinyue's disciple.

Chapter Summary: “Fallen Child of Destiny!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ming locates the spiritual medicine in the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain, discovering it is hidden within an illusion formation. Using True Sight, he identifies and retrieves it before the patrol team notices.
• To create additional chaos for the three major sects, Gu Xinyue kills an Elder of the Feather Ascension Sect in full view of a few witnesses. The incident, combined with the stolen medicine, throws the sect competition into disorder.
• Su Ming and Gu Xinyue return safely to the Sword Pavilion. Gu Xinyue enters seclusion with the medicine and, two years later, successfully becomes a fifth-grade alchemist and refines the Void Breaking Pill.
• Gu Xinyue prepares to enter the Immortal Falling Secret Realm. Su Ming accompanies her partway before returning to the Desolate Village, where he intends to investigate Lin Qi and Ye Chuxue.
• True Sight reveals that Ye Chuxue is an ordinary human with a Taiyin Body and no apparent corruption. Su Ming therefore suspects Lin Qi instead.
• After waiting for rumors concerning Lin Qi, Su Ming brings Ye Chuxue to the Qin Kingdom prison. When Ye Chuxue attempts to rescue Lin Qi, Su Ming examines him and discovers that he is a “Fallen Child of Destiny,” infected by the aura of the Cunning Insect Progenitor.
• Su Ming concludes that Lin Qi’s existence is connected to the corruption of the Immortal Falling Secret Realm and possibly the broader damage to the Canglan Realm’s spiritual energy. He kills Lin Qi with Great Void Sword Qi despite Ye Chuxue’s shock.
• Ye Chuxue accepts Su Ming’s explanation and decides to enter the Immortal Falling Secret Realm to break through to Core Formation. Su Ming accompanies her to investigate the deeper secrets of the realm.
• While Ye Chuxue begins her breakthrough, Su Ming explores the secret realm. He bypasses the familiar Bronze Divine Hall and discovers a Sword Mountain radiating powerful Sword Intent. He considers whether it may contain another Great Void Sword like his broken one.

Character Developments

• Su Ming: Becomes increasingly cautious and investigative, relying on True Sight to distinguish genuine threats from possible enemies. His suspicions about Lin Qi are confirmed, leading him to take decisive action to prevent future disasters. His understanding of the corrupted Heavenly Dao and Cunning Insect Progenitor also deepens.
• Gu Xinyue: Demonstrates her willingness to manipulate events violently for their benefit by assassinating a Feather Ascension Sect Elder. She successfully advances her alchemy and prepares to pursue greater cultivation in the secret realm.
• Ye Chuxue: Is proven not to be corrupted and remains loyal to Lin Qi. Although initially hostile toward Su Ming after Lin Qi’s death, she ultimately trusts his judgment and begins pursuing her own Core Formation breakthrough.
• Lin Qi: Is revealed to be a corrupted “Child of Destiny.” His connection to the Cunning Insect Progenitor explains his role in repeatedly polluting the secret realm and causing its collapses.

Significant Themes

• Corruption of destiny and the Heavenly Dao: Lin Qi’s status as a Child of Destiny does not protect him; instead, the already-corrupted Heavenly Dao has made him vulnerable to the Cunning Insect Progenitor’s influence.
• Hidden threats and investigation: True Sight serves as a tool for uncovering concealed identities and corruption, emphasizing that appearances and reputations cannot be trusted.
• Moral pragmatism: Su Ming kills Lin Qi not because of immediate hostility, but because he believes Lin Qi represents a future catastrophe. The chapter explores the tension between preventing disaster and acting on incomplete understanding.
• Secrets beneath familiar places: Su Ming moves beyond the previously explored Bronze Divine Hall, suggesting that the Immortal Falling Secret Realm contains deeper mysteries and inheritances.
• Power and manipulation: Su Ming and Gu Xinyue deliberately exploit chaos among the sects, showing their growing willingness to use covert and morally ambiguous tactics.

Important Character Interactions

• Su Ming and Gu Xinyue: Work together to steal the spiritual medicine and destabilize the sect competition. Their cooperation continues as Gu Xinyue refines the Void Breaking Pill and discusses entering the secret realm.
• Su Ming and Ye Chuxue: Their relationship improves after he confirms she is not corrupted. However, conflict arises when Su Ming kills Lin Qi, forcing Ye Chuxue to choose whether to trust his judgment.
• Su Ming and Lin Qi: Their brief confrontation ends with Su Ming executing Lin Qi after discovering his contamination by the Cunning Insect Progenitor.
• Su Ming and the Immortal Falling Secret Realm: Su Ming shifts from merely surviving and collecting inheritances to actively investigating the realm’s deeper origins, beginning with the mysterious Sword Mountain.

Summary: “Heading to Central Prefecture!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist returns to Sword Mountain and discovers that its oppressive sword aura no longer affects him because of his Sword Heart Clarity.
• At the summit, his Great Void Sword Intent resonates with the Great Void Sword sealed within the formation. The sword cries are heard throughout the Immortal Falling Secret Realm.
• The sealed Great Void Sword flies into the protagonist and merges with the incomplete sword he already possesses, restoring part of its damaged blade. This confirms that the weapon is an extremely valuable immortal artifact.
• Once the sword is removed, Sword Mountain’s suppression disappears.
• Wan Yemo arrives and attempts to seize the Great Void Sword. The protagonist escapes using the Great Void Technique, but Wan Yemo continues tracking him.
• Gu Xinyue appears and intervenes. Wan Yemo initially threatens her, unaware of her true strength.
• Gu Xinyue reveals herself to be an early Void Refining cultivator, effortlessly breaking Wan Yemo’s attack and killing him with a powerful Sword Qi strike.
• Afterward, Gu Xinyue explains that the Immortal Falling Secret Realm contains almost no remaining opportunities. Its two greatest treasures were the Great Void Sword and the inheritance within the Bronze Divine Hall—both of which the protagonist has already obtained.
• Gu Xinyue proposes traveling to Central Prefecture to seize new resources, leaving the protagonist uneasy about what she has in mind.

Character Developments

• The protagonist: Demonstrates major growth through his mastery of Sword Heart Clarity, effortless movement across Sword Mountain, and improved use of the Great Void Technique. He successfully acquires and partially restores the Great Void Sword. His cautious and opportunistic nature is also shown when he hides behind Gu Xinyue and lets her handle Wan Yemo.
• Gu Xinyue: Reveals that she has advanced to the early Void Refining stage, far surpassing Wan Yemo. She is protective of the protagonist, confident in her strength, and openly dismissive of those who prey on fellow humans instead of resisting the Cunning Insects.
• Wan Yemo: Acts as an arrogant opportunist, attempting to rob the protagonist. His confidence collapses when Gu Xinyue’s true cultivation is revealed, and he is ultimately killed while trying to flee.

Significant Themes

• Recognition and destiny: The Great Void Sword recognizes the protagonist, suggesting a special connection between him and the ancient Great Void Sect.
• Power concealed beneath appearances: Gu Xinyue’s undetectable cultivation allows Wan Yemo to underestimate her, while the protagonist’s apparent vulnerability conceals his important achievements.
• Human conflict amid greater threats: Gu Xinyue condemns Wan Yemo for attacking another human rather than preparing to fight the Cunning Insects, emphasizing the destructive nature of internal greed and division.
• The end of one stage and pursuit of greater opportunity: With the secret realm’s treasures exhausted, the characters must move on to Central Prefecture in search of stronger resources and challenges.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist mocks Wan Yemo’s claim that he will spare his life, recognizing that the older cultivator intends to rob him.
• Wan Yemo treats Gu Xinyue as an insignificant bystander and threatens her, but she responds with amused contempt.
• The protagonist relies on Gu Xinyue for protection, while she openly calls him her “Junior Brother” and shows curiosity about how he gained the Great Void Sword’s recognition.
• When Gu Xinyue questions the protagonist’s unexplained success, he evades the issue by changing the subject.
• Her suggestion to travel to Central Prefecture shifts the story toward the next major stage of adventure.

Chapter Summary: “Kill Out of Qingshan City!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Three days after the events at Sword Mountain, Gu Xinyue takes the protagonist from Green Prefecture toward Central Prefecture. Although the protagonist is only at the Nascent Soul Middle Stage, Gu Xinyue believes Central Prefecture will help him improve more quickly after witnessing him obtain the Immortal Sword.
• After six months of traveling across the sea, they arrive in Central Prefecture. Neither has previously visited the region, leaving the protagonist anxious about the dangers there.
• Gu Xinyue explains that Central Prefecture is divided into the Eastern, Western, Southern, and Northern Regions. The protagonist considers returning to You Prefecture but decides to stay after remembering that their Eldest Senior Sister is also in Central Prefecture and may help him complete the Great Void Technique.
• They reach Qingshan City, a remote city in the Southern Region. Despite its location, its City Lord, Yang Zhentian, is a Void Refining cultivator—an indication of Central Prefecture’s superior strength.
• The city has been sealed because the City Lord’s eldest son was murdered two nights earlier. No one is allowed to leave.
• While staying at an inn, the protagonist and Gu Xinyue are attacked by Wei Qing, a wounded Spirit Transmutation cultivator who crashes through their window while fleeing pursuers.
• The protagonist uses True Sight to confirm that Wei Qing is human and orders Gu Xinyue to protect him. Gu Xinyue kills the three pursuing Spirit Transmutation cultivators with a single wave of Sword Qi.
• Wei Qing reveals that he is an Awakened human living undercover among the Cunning Insects. He accidentally exposed his identity during a fight with the City Lord’s son by striking the opponent’s dantian, forcing him to kill the son to prevent his secret from being revealed.
• The protagonist realizes that attacking a Cunning Insect’s dantian can expose its true identity, learning an important lesson for future encounters.
• When Gu Xinyue senses the approaching City Lord, the group attempts to escape. Wei Qing warns them that the city is enclosed by a formation and that the only exit is guarded by a Spirit Transmutation Great Perfection Cunning Insect.
• At the city gate, the guard confronts them, but Gu Xinyue reveals her Void Refining cultivation and attacks with overwhelming Sword Qi.

Character Developments

• The protagonist becomes more cautious and self-aware after recognizing the enormous power gap between Green Prefecture and Central Prefecture. His concern about the incomplete Great Void Technique gives him a personal reason to remain in Central Prefecture.
• He also demonstrates decisiveness and compassion by choosing to save Wei Qing despite uncertainty about the latter’s identity. His observation of Wei Qing’s story improves his understanding of Cunning Insects and their weaknesses.
• Gu Xinyue acts as the protagonist’s protector and guide. Though initially cautious about saving Wei Qing, she immediately supports the protagonist once she understands his intentions. Her confidence in dealing with powerful enemies highlights her strength as a Void Refining cultivator.
• Wei Qing is introduced as an intelligent and resourceful Awakened human who has survived undercover in Qingshan City. His accidental exposure and desperate escape place him at the center of the conflict.
• The Eldest Senior Sister remains offscreen but becomes an important motivation for the protagonist’s decision to stay in Central Prefecture.

Significant Themes

• The danger of unfamiliar territory: Central Prefecture is far more powerful and dangerous than the protagonist’s homeland, forcing him to confront his relative weakness.
• Trust and cooperation: The protagonist chooses to help Wei Qing despite limited information, while Gu Xinyue trusts the protagonist’s judgment and acts without hesitation.
• Hidden identities and survival: Wei Qing’s life among the Cunning Insects reflects the risks faced by humans living undercover, while the protagonist learns how easily an enemy’s disguise can be exposed.
• Growth through danger: Entering Central Prefecture and becoming involved in the Qingshan City crisis are presented as opportunities for the protagonist to grow stronger.
• Power hierarchy: The strength of Qingshan City’s Void Refining City Lord and Gu Xinyue’s effortless defeat of Spirit Transmutation cultivators emphasize the vast difference between the various cultivation realms.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist and Gu Xinyue argue humorously over their lack of knowledge about Central Prefecture, with Gu Xinyue reassuring him that she can keep him safe.
• Gu Xinyue objects to sharing an inn room but ultimately follows the protagonist’s lead when he chooses to protect Wei Qing.
• The protagonist questions Wei Qing and gives him healing pills, while Wei Qing infers that the pair are Awakened Ones because they rescued him from the Cunning Insects.
• Wei Qing warns them about the city’s formation and the powerful guard at the exit, but the protagonist and Gu Xinyue remain confident in their ability to escape.
• The chapter ends with Gu Xinyue confronting the gatekeeper and unleashing her Void Refining power, beginning their violent breakout from Qingshan City.

Chapter Summary: The One Born with Immortal Eyes!

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gu Xinyue kills an elderly Spirit Transmutation cultivator with a full-force attack, but a powerful city lord—likely at the Void Refining Mid Stage—arrives and challenges her.
• Gu Xinyue orders Su Ming to flee with Wei Qing while she stays behind to delay the city lord. Su Ming leaves sword-qi markings so she can follow him later.
• Su Ming and Wei Qing travel for nearly a year to the capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty, a powerful central city where even the guards possess Nascent Soul cultivation and fighting is forbidden.
• They settle in an abandoned courtyard and survive independently by selling Su Ming’s refined pills rather than joining a faction.
• Over the next several years, Su Ming advances to the late Nascent Soul Stage and becomes a fifth-grade alchemist. His inexpensive, high-quality pills earn him widespread fame as “Pill King Su.”
• Gu Xinyue never appears, causing Su Ming to gradually stop expecting her return and become increasingly comfortable with his peaceful life in the Great Zhou Dynasty.
• A rumor spreads that a Great Zhou princess has been stripped of her status and made a commoner, though Su Ming initially ignores the matter.
• After returning from the capital’s rogue cultivator marketplace, Su Ming discovers that a young girl, Zhou Lingxi, has followed him home.
• Using True Sight, he learns that Zhou Lingxi has the extraordinary talent Natural-Born Immortal Eyes, despite having no spiritual root. She has nevertheless reached the Third Level of Qi Refining.
• Zhou Lingxi claims she follows Su Ming because he is not a monster. She can apparently perceive the presence of the Sinister Worms, astonishing Su Ming.
• Su Ming brings her inside for safety and reveals to Wei Qing that she is an “Awakened One.”

Character Developments

• Su Ming: Shows responsibility by leaving a trail for Gu Xinyue, yet also recognizes when he would only hinder her. During his years in the capital, he grows stronger in cultivation and alchemy, building a stable reputation and lifestyle. However, his growing comfort causes him to lose sight of the larger danger posed by the Sinister Worms and his original purpose.
• Gu Xinyue: Demonstrates exceptional strength and confidence by confronting a much stronger city lord alone. Her concern for Su Ming and insistence that he escape reinforce her protective role as his senior sister.
• Wei Qing: Acts as Su Ming’s guide to the Southern Region and helps him establish a life in the capital. He contributes to their livelihood and remains a practical companion.
• Zhou Lingxi: Is introduced as a mysterious and exceptionally gifted girl. Though weak in conventional cultivation and lacking a spiritual root, her Immortal Eyes allow her to recognize Sinister Worms, making her potentially crucial to Su Ming’s struggle.
• Su Ming and Gu Xinyue’s relationship: Their separation becomes prolonged and uncertain, with Su Ming slowly moving from active concern to reluctant acceptance that she may not return.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice and separation: Gu Xinyue risks herself so Su Ming can escape, while their prolonged separation tests his loyalty and memory.
• The danger of complacency: Su Ming’s peaceful, prosperous life gradually distracts him from the threat of the Sinister Worms and the dangers surrounding his journey.
• Hidden potential: Zhou Lingxi’s lack of a spiritual root contrasts sharply with her terrifying Immortal Eyes, emphasizing that conventional measures of talent can be misleading.
• Power and status: The capital’s powerful guards, Su Ming’s reputation as “Pill King,” and the fallen princess all illustrate how cultivation, social position, and recognition shape life in the Great Zhou Dynasty.
• Perception versus reality: Zhou Lingxi can see the monsters hidden within people, while Su Ming’s own growing comfort causes him to overlook the true nature of the society around him.

Important Character Interactions

• Gu Xinyue reassures Su Ming before ordering him to flee, highlighting their close senior-junior bond.
• Su Ming and Wei Qing cooperate in choosing the capital and building an independent life there.
• Zhou Lingxi confronts Su Ming by following him home and declaring that he is not a monster.
• Su Ming questions Zhou Lingxi about her ability to detect Sinister Worms, revealing that she possesses knowledge and perception far beyond her cultivation level.
• Wei Qing is surprised and suspicious when Su Ming brings Zhou Lingxi home, but Su Ming immediately identifies her as an Awakened One, signaling her importance to the story.

Chapter Summary: Returning to You Prefecture, the Sword Pavilion Destroyed!

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou Lingxi reveals that she is the Ninth Princess of the Great Zhou Dynasty, formerly cast out of the imperial family.
• She explains that her Immortal Eye allowed her to see that the emperor, the Crown Prince, and most of the imperial family were actually monsters. She deliberately acted like a useless troublemaker so she would be expelled from the palace and could escape.
• After meeting Su Ming at the Ghost Market, Zhou Lingxi recognized that he was human and that even her Immortal Eye could not see through the mysterious mist surrounding him. Su Ming takes her in and provides her with cultivation resources.
• Over the next year, Zhou Lingxi reaches Great Perfection of Qi Refining and then breaks through to Foundation Establishment with Su Ming’s help. Her Immortal Eye allows her to suppress the Sinister Worm within her.
• Su Ming teaches her the Heavenly Evolution Art, which proves especially compatible with her Immortal Eye. After three years together, their relationship deepens, and they become Dao Companions.
• More than a decade passes while Su Ming remains in the capital, largely detached from his responsibilities as a Sword Pavilion disciple. His cultivation stagnates at Nascent Soul, though he eventually reaches Nascent Soul Great Perfection.
• Gu Xinyue suddenly arrives and informs him that the Sword Pavilion Master has summoned them because Third Senior Sister Xia Qiange has encountered trouble.
• The Sinister Worm beneath the Blood Tablet has escaped from the Blood Demon Secret Realm, though the reason for its escape is unknown.
• Su Ming and Gu Xinyue return to You Prefecture, only to discover that the Sword Pavilion has been completely destroyed and reduced to ruins after a devastating battle.
• They travel to Green Prefecture and meet Fang Jingchun at Tianqi Academy. Fang Jingchun says he does not yet know what happened and that they must wait for Xiao Tian—also known as Lin Tian—to awaken.

Character Developments

• Zhou Lingxi transitions from a persecuted, secretive princess into a powerful cultivator and Su Ming’s first Dao Companion in the Canglan Realm.
• Her Immortal Eye and knowledge of the imperial family’s monstrous nature establish her as unusually perceptive and independent.
• Su Ming becomes emotionally attached to Zhou Lingxi and grows comfortable in his life with her, but this comfort causes his cultivation and progress to stagnate.
• Gu Xinyue returns after more than ten years, still connected to the Sword Pavilion and acting as the messenger who pulls Su Ming back into its affairs.
• Fang Jingchun remains calm and composed despite the destruction of the Sword Pavilion, suggesting that he may know more than he reveals.
• Wei Qing continues to be surprised by Zhou Lingxi’s hidden strength and Su Ming’s mysterious background.

Significant Themes

• Deception and hidden identities: Zhou Lingxi hides her true abilities behind the image of a wastrel, while the imperial family conceals its monstrous nature.
• Trust and companionship: Su Ming’s willingness to protect and teach Zhou Lingxi leads to mutual trust and eventually romantic partnership.
• The cost of comfort: Su Ming’s peaceful life with Zhou Lingxi brings happiness but also causes his cultivation to stagnate and distances him from the Sword Pavilion.
• Uncontrollable calamity: The escape of the Sinister Worm and destruction of the Sword Pavilion signal a major threat beyond the characters’ current understanding.
• Mystery and foreshadowing: The unknown cause of the Blood Tablet’s failure, the destroyed Sword Pavilion, and Xiao Tian’s awakening all point toward a larger unfolding crisis.

Character Interactions

• Su Ming silences Wei Qing when Zhou Lingxi’s identity is revealed, protecting her secret.
• Zhou Lingxi recounts her tragic past to Su Ming and gains his support.
• Su Ming and Zhou Lingxi grow closer through years of cultivation and shared life, eventually becoming Dao Companions.
• Gu Xinyue teases Su Ming about keeping Zhou Lingxi hidden but quickly becomes serious when discussing Xia Qiange’s crisis.
• Su Ming and Gu Xinyue travel together to investigate the disaster, then consult Fang Jingchun after finding the Sword Pavilion destroyed.
• Fang Jingchun withholds a full explanation, directing them toward the unconscious Xiao Tian/Lin Tian as the possible source of answers.

Chapter Summary: “Targeted by a Mahayana Realm Cultivator!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fang Jingchun explains that the Sword Void has been destroyed. He found Lin Tian gravely injured and brought him to the Immortal Falling Secret Realm before returning to Tianqi Academy.
• After recovering, Lin Tian recounts the events at the Sword Pavilion:
  • Xia Qiange had previously sought help after being injured by a mysterious figure in the Blood Demon Secret Realm.
  • The Sword Pavilion Master released the Cunning Insect sealed beneath the Blood Tablet, but Xia Qiange resisted it and was badly wounded.
  • The Pavilion Master later revealed that his identity had been exposed and instructed Lin Tian to find Fang Jingchun in Green Prefecture.
  • Before Lin Tian could leave, enemies attacked the Sword Pavilion. The Pavilion Master disappeared, while Lin Tian was injured by the battle and later rescued by Fang Jingchun.
• Su Ming decides to return to Central Prefecture to continue cultivating and search for news of the Pavilion Master and Eldest Senior Sister. Gu Xinyue chooses to accompany him because You Prefecture is no longer safe.
• Lin Tian and Fang Jingchun remain behind to retrieve Xia Qiange from the Immortal Falling Secret Realm.
• Before leaving, Su Ming detours to the Desolate Village to find Ye Chuxue, hoping to bring her to Central Prefecture and unite powerful human cultivators against the Cunning Insects.
• Near the village, Su Ming encounters Chu Wudi, a human Mahayana Realm cultivator with exceptional sword talent. Chu Wudi demands the Great Void Sword.
• Su Ming attempts to escape using the Great Void Technique, but Chu Wudi can predict and track his movements. He eventually captures Su Ming, performs a soul search, and kills him.
• After the simulation ends, Su Ming realizes that Chu Wudi is likely responsible for releasing the Cunning Insects and destroying the Blood Demon Secret Realm.
• The simulation reveals that Chu Wudi will find him within twenty years. Su Ming concludes that he must reach the Great Ascension Realm before then to have any chance of defeating him.
• During the simulator’s fifteen-day cooldown, Su Ming returns to Green Prefecture to kill Lin Qi ahead of time and recruit Ye Chuxue for development in Central Prefecture.

Character Developments

• Su Ming: Becomes more cautious and recognizes that the human side contains dangerous traitors as well as the Cunning Insects. He shifts from relying solely on personal strength to cultivating allies and preparing for a long-term conflict.
• Lin Tian: Recovers from his injuries and provides crucial information about the Sword Pavilion’s destruction and the Pavilion Master’s disappearance.
• Fang Jingchun: Takes responsibility for Lin Tian and Xia Qiange, agreeing to help retrieve Xia Qiange while supporting the search for the Pavilion Master.
• Gu Xinyue: Demonstrates loyalty by deciding to accompany Su Ming to Central Prefecture.
• Chu Wudi: Is introduced as a powerful and mysterious human enemy. Despite obtaining the Great Void Sword, he targets Su Ming after discovering that Su Ming possesses other secrets.
• Ye Chuxue: Though absent from the chapter’s events, she becomes an important potential ally because of her Taiyin Body and value to humanity’s resistance.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal within humanity: The Cunning Insects are not humanity’s only threat; powerful human cultivators may be cooperating with or serving them.
• The need for preparation: Su Ming realizes that twenty years is a limited window in which he must drastically increase his cultivation.
• Strength through cooperation: Rather than fighting alone, Su Ming plans to gather and cultivate talented allies such as Ye Chuxue and Zhou Lingxi.
• Uncertainty and hidden identities: The Pavilion Master’s exposed identity, Chu Wudi’s mysterious motives, and the unknown method by which Su Ming was tracked emphasize the dangers of concealed information.
• The simulator as strategic guidance: Even though Su Ming dies in the simulation, the experience provides valuable intelligence about future threats and possible countermeasures.

Important Character Interactions

• Lin Tian explains the Sword Pavilion disaster to Su Ming, Gu Xinyue, and Fang Jingchun.
• Gu Xinyue and Fang Jingchun reassure Lin Tian that the Pavilion Master may have escaped safely.
• Fang Jingchun and Lin Tian agree to retrieve Xia Qiange while Su Ming and Gu Xinyue investigate Central Prefecture.
• Su Ming encounters Chu Wudi, attempts to negotiate and flee, but is ultimately killed after Chu Wudi discovers his hidden secrets.
• After the simulation, Su Ming informs Lin Tian of his plan to return to Green Prefecture and act against Lin Qi.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ming returns to Desolate Village in Green Prefecture only a few months after leaving, informing Ye Chuxue that he has come back to kill Lin Qi.
• After assuring Ye Chuxue that Lin Qi is in the Mortal World and unrelated to the Three Great Sects, Su Ming takes her to the Qin Capital.
• He locates the Lin residence and attempts to kill Lin Qi, but Lin Qi’s father, Lin Zhantian—a Spirit Transmutation cultivator and Awakened One—intervenes.
• Lin Zhantian believes Lin Qi is destined to become a powerful member of the Human Race because of his Top-grade Fire Spirit Root. Su Ming warns that Lin Qi will become a future calamity, but Lin Zhantian refuses to believe him.
• When Lin Zhantian attacks Su Ming, Su Ming uses the Great Void Technique to evade him and reappear beside Lin Qi. He kills Lin Qi with Sword Qi before escaping with Ye Chuxue.
• Su Ming returns to Desolate Village, prepares to travel to You Prefecture, and begins another life simulation.
• The simulation grants him the White Talent Sword Skill Mastery, increasing the cultivation efficiency of sword techniques by fifty percent. Combined with his Sword Dao Supreme talent, the effect is especially valuable.
• Su Ming brings Ye Chuxue to the Sword Pavilion. Lin Tian is shocked by her arrival, but Su Ming explains that she possesses the rare Taiyin Body, which could allow her to ascend to the Immortal Realm.
• Su Ming reveals that he is a Fourth-grade Alchemist, persuading Lin Tian not to oppose his plan to visit the Pill Sect and find Fifth Senior Sister, Gu Xinyue.
• In Pill City, Su Ming waits until the Pill Sect assessment to meet Gu Xinyue. That night, he gives her a Void Breaking Pill obtained in a previous simulation.
• Su Ming implies that the pill can free Gu Xinyue from whatever obligation is keeping her in the Pill Sect. Gu Xinyue becomes serious, clearly realizing that Su Ming understands her situation.

Character Developments

• Su Ming becomes more decisive and strategically confident. Although Lin Zhantian greatly surpasses him in cultivation, Su Ming relies on his spatial technique and timing to kill Lin Qi successfully.
• Ye Chuxue continues to trust and accompany Su Ming. Her rare Taiyin Body is revealed as an extraordinary asset with immense future potential.
• Lin Qi is killed before he can grow into the “future calamity” Su Ming remembers from the previous simulation.
• Lin Zhantian is established as a powerful Human Cultivator and protective father. His confidence in Lin Qi’s potential causes him to dismiss Su Ming’s warning, though he recognizes too late that Su Ming is more dangerous than expected.
• Lin Tian shifts from suspicion and teasing to admiration after learning about Ye Chuxue’s constitution and Su Ming’s status as a Fourth-grade Alchemist.
• Gu Xinyue initially maintains a guarded, formal attitude, but Su Ming’s Void Breaking Pill forces her to confront his knowledge of her circumstances and consider leaving the Pill Sect.

Significant Themes

• Preventing future calamities: Su Ming acts on knowledge from previous simulations, eliminating Lin Qi before he can become a major threat.
• Foreknowledge and preparation: The simulation system allows Su Ming to use past experiences, items, and relationships to alter the present.
• Strength versus strategy: Despite being weaker than Lin Zhantian, Su Ming wins through deception, spatial movement, and precise timing rather than direct confrontation.
• Hidden potential: Characters such as Ye Chuxue and Lin Qi possess extraordinary innate abilities, raising questions about whether talent leads to salvation or danger.
• Trust and leverage: Su Ming earns cooperation by revealing key abilities and offering Gu Xinyue the Void Breaking Pill she needs.

Important Character Interactions

• Su Ming and Ye Chuxue discuss the assassination mission, with Ye Chuxue initially worried that it could worsen their wanted status.
• Su Ming confronts Lin Zhantian over Lin Qi’s future, but their disagreement escalates into a failed attempt by Lin Zhantian to kill Su Ming.
• Lin Tian teases Su Ming about bringing Ye Chuxue back, then becomes impressed after learning about her Taiyin Body.
• Su Ming reveals his alchemy accomplishments to Lin Tian to secure permission to visit the Pill Sect.
• Su Ming and Gu Xinyue negotiate indirectly: he offers the Void Breaking Pill, demonstrating that he knows why she remains in the Pill Sect, and leaves her to reconsider her position.