Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: Great Zhou Dynasty Annihilated!

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Great Gan Crown Prince presents the supposed Yin Yang Holy Fruit to the Purple Heaven Holy Land, but the box contains only an ordinary spirit fruit. The enraged elder strikes him down.
• The Great Gan Crown Prince insists he brought the genuine treasure, leaving him confused and disgraced. Other forces immediately distance themselves from the Great Gan Dynasty.
• The Great Zhou Crown Prince then offers ten catties of Enlightenment Tea, impressing the assembled forces because of its rarity and value to the recently revived Blood Demon Heavenly Venerate.
• However, the box also contains a fake or inferior item. The Purple Heaven elder suppresses and injures the Great Zhou Crown Prince, revealing that both major dynasties have apparently attempted to deceive the Holy Land.
• The Purple Heaven Patriarch intervenes, and the Holy Land warns all guests to verify their gifts before presenting them. Any further deception, it declares, will be punished severely.
• Chaos erupts when the Holy Land announces that those who toy with it have no reason to exist. Suspicion spreads among the gathered forces as they accuse rivals of theft.
• Taking advantage of the disorder, the narrator and Zi You secretly leave the banquet. The narrator uses the Great Void Technique to escape.
• The Purple Heaven Holy Land seals the venue, investigates the incident, and discovers that the narrator and Zi You are missing. Through divine tracing, it identifies their actions and issues a wanted notice throughout Central Prefecture.
• The Great Zhou Crown Prince is killed by the Purple Heaven elder. The Holy Land then declares that the Great Zhou Dynasty will be annihilated in one week, along with any forces that aid it.
• The narrator, Zi You, and Zhou Lingxi attempt to flee the Great Zhou capital, only to find the capital’s space sealed and Purple Heaven forces waiting above the city.

Character Developments

• Great Gan Crown Prince: His confidence collapses after being exposed for presenting a false Yin Yang Holy Fruit. He is physically beaten, publicly humiliated, and abandoned by former allies.
• Great Zhou Crown Prince: Initially appears confident and generous, but his offering is also rejected. He is brutally suppressed, later killed, and becomes a symbol of the Great Zhou Dynasty’s helpless position.
• Purple Heaven Holy Land elders: Their attitude shifts from ceremonial acceptance to open brutality. They use the failed gifts to assert dominance over every attending power.
• Narrator and Zi You: Their true objective—stealing treasures from the major Central Prefecture forces—is achieved. They remain calm and opportunistic, escaping during the chaos before becoming wanted fugitives.
• Zhou Lingxi: She becomes part of the group’s urgent escape effort as the Great Zhou Dynasty faces imminent destruction.

Significant Themes

• Power and intimidation: The Purple Heaven Holy Land uses violence and collective punishment to reinforce its supremacy.
• Deception and consequences: Both the Great Gan and Great Zhou Dynasties appear to submit false treasures, resulting in humiliation, death, and political isolation.
• Opportunism amid chaos: While the major forces turn against one another, the narrator and Zi You exploit the confusion to escape with their stolen gains.
• Political betrayal: Former allies quickly abandon the Great Gan Dynasty, showing that alliances last only while they remain advantageous.
• The vulnerability of dynasties: Even powerful royal dynasties are powerless before a dominant holy land.

Important Character Interactions

• The Purple Heaven elder confronts and strikes the Great Gan Crown Prince after discovering the false fruit.
• The Great Zhou Crown Prince presents his gift directly to the elder, but is likewise attacked when the offering is exposed as unacceptable.
• The narrator consults Zi You about escaping; Zi You advises waiting until the banquet becomes chaotic.
• The Purple Heaven elders issue threats to all assembled forces, warning that deception or assistance to the Great Zhou Dynasty will bring destruction.
• The narrator and Zi You cooperate closely to flee the banquet and later prepare to evacuate the Great Zhou capital with Zhou Lingxi.

Key Plot Points

• The protagonist and Zi You are trapped in the Great Zhou Capital due to a barrier formed by an immortal artifact.
• They wait for the Purple Heaven Holy Land to lift the barrier after dealing with the Great Zhou Imperial Family.
• Upon trying to leave, they are attacked by the Purple Heaven Holy Land, who target Zhou Lingxi.
• Zi You fights off the attackers while the protagonist and Zhou Lingxi escape through a barrier opening.
• Pursued by the Purple Heaven Holy Land, the protagonist decides to enter the Desolate Deathland to evade capture.

Character Developments

• The protagonist shows concern for Zhou Lingxi's safety and decides to enter the dangerous Desolate Deathland to protect her.
• Zi You demonstrates her power as a Mahayana Realm cultivator, fighting off multiple opponents to allow the protagonist and Zhou Lingxi to escape.

Significant Themes

• Desperation and the willingness to take extreme measures to survive (entering the Desolate Deathland).
• The power dynamics between cultivators and the danger posed by Holy Lands.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist and Zi You work together to escape, with Zi You providing protection and the protagonist ensuring Zhou Lingxi's safety.
• The protagonist and Zhou Lingxi share a moment of understanding and determination as they enter the Desolate Deathland together.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Su Ming enters the Barren Wasteland with Zhou Lingxi, the Purple Heaven Holy Land refuses to pursue them, knowing that no one who enters the forbidden zone has ever survived.
• Inside the wasteland, Su Ming recalls his previous terrifying experience there and warns Zhou Lingxi not to use Spiritual Energy. The wasteland’s laws cause life force to drain far faster than normal—using Spiritual Energy accelerates the loss dramatically.
• Su Ming decides they should remain near the entrance and wait before attempting to return, believing their pursuers will not guard the area indefinitely. He relies on the Azure Emperor Longevity Art and the completed Great Void Technique to improve their chances of survival.
• Su Ming and Zhou Lingxi meditate at the edge of the black mist, using an hourglass to track time. However, both unknowingly enter an unusually deep state of meditation.
• What feels like a short period to them becomes fifty years inside the Barren Wasteland. Su Ming awakens with white hair and a severely depleted lifespan; Zhou Lingxi suffers similarly.
• Realizing they must leave immediately, Su Ming embraces Zhou Lingxi and uses the Great Void Technique to cross the black mist. Their life force nearly runs out, but they escape successfully.
• Upon reaching the outside world and entering a nearby city, they discover that only five years have passed in Central Prefecture—meaning time in the Barren Wasteland passes roughly ten times faster.

Character Developments

• Su Ming: Demonstrates caution and hard-earned knowledge from his previous visit to the wasteland. Despite fear and uncertainty, he remains responsible for Zhou Lingxi and makes survival plans. His confidence in his techniques is tested when fifty years of life are consumed in what seems like a brief meditation.
• Zhou Lingxi: Shows trust in Su Ming by following his instructions and remaining beside him. She is initially shocked by the wasteland’s laws, but endures the ordeal with him. Her emotional reaction upon their escape reveals her deep concern for Su Ming.
• Purple Heaven Holy Land forces: Their fear of the Barren Wasteland prevents them from pursuing Su Ming, emphasizing the zone’s legendary danger.

Significant Themes

• The terrifying power of forbidden lands: The Barren Wasteland operates under laws that make even passive survival nearly impossible.
• Distortion of time and perception: The difference between fifty years inside and five years outside highlights how unreliable time becomes within the wasteland.
• Mortality and sacrifice: Both characters lose a massive portion of their lifespans, underscoring the cost of survival.
• Trust and companionship: Su Ming and Zhou Lingxi depend on one another while facing an environment neither can overcome alone.
• Hope amid desperation: Su Ming’s cultivation techniques provide a chance of survival, but escape ultimately depends on endurance and timing rather than strength alone.

Character Interactions

• The Holy Land commander rejects the idea of pursuit, warning that entering the wasteland would mean certain death.
• Zhou Lingxi awkwardly draws Su Ming’s attention back to the present after he becomes absorbed in memories of the wasteland.
• Su Ming explains the wasteland’s life-draining rules and instructs her to abandon Spiritual Energy use.
• The two meditate side by side for decades, unknowingly sharing the same distorted experience of time.
• After awakening, they react together with shock and fear to their aged appearances and depleted lifespans. Su Ming then takes decisive action, carrying Zhou Lingxi through the black mist to safety.

Chapter Summary

After spending what felt like fifty years in the Barren Wasteland, the protagonist and Zhou Lingxi return to the outside world, discovering that only five years have passed. They travel to the former Great Zhou Dynasty to investigate the battle involving Zi You and learn her fate.
The Great Zhou Dynasty has been destroyed by the Purple Heaven Holy Land and replaced by the Great Chu Dynasty, whose ruling Chu family seized the Zhou family’s resources. Meanwhile, the neighboring Great Gan Dynasty survived after its ancestor surrendered all of its treasures to secure the dynasty’s future. The protagonist remains enraged at the Purple Heaven Holy Land, which caused his severe loss of lifespan and vitality.
They return to the protagonist’s old courtyard in the capital, where Zhou Lingxi cares for him as his body rapidly deteriorates. His hair turns completely white, his face ages, and he realizes he has only one or two months left to live. Zhou Lingxi reports that Zi You survived the Purple Heaven Holy Land’s pursuit, though she suffered heavy losses and escaped after several Integration-stage cultivators were defeated. Relieved, the protagonist decides that finding Zi You might be his only chance of survival, since she possesses the lifespan-extending treasures he previously plundered.
Knowing he may not return, the protagonist gives Zhou Lingxi all the remaining spiritual treasures. He believes that, despite the lifespan she lost through her Immortal Eye, these resources may allow her to reach the Mahayana stage. He then burns his remaining essence blood, temporarily restoring his youthful appearance, and uses the Great Void Technique to infiltrate the Purple Heaven Holy Land.
Inside the Holy Land, he launches a final revenge assault, killing cultivators below the Void Refining Realm and overpowering those at the same realm. He is eventually suppressed by Integration-stage experts, including the same cultivator who once pursued him. Despite being immobilized, he defiantly mocks his captor. The Holy Land’s Sect Master arrives, amazed that he survived the Barren Wasteland and dared to attack the Saint Land alone. The Sect Master prepares to search his soul to discover how he escaped.
Before the soul search can begin, a terrifying disturbance erupts. An invisible force destroys the Holy Land’s protective barrier, exposing it over Central Prefecture. A massive rift then opens in the sky, shocking everyone present and interrupting the confrontation.

Character Developments and Interactions

• The protagonist becomes an aged, dying figure consumed by revenge, yet remains courageous and defiant. He sacrifices his remaining vitality to attack the Purple Heaven Holy Land.
• Zhou Lingxi grows emotionally attached to and deeply grateful toward the protagonist, grieving as she watches his rapid physical decline. Their farewell shows the strength of their bond.
• Zi You is revealed to have survived, relieving the protagonist of his greatest uncertainty and giving him a possible hope for survival.
• The Purple Heaven Sect Master shifts from arrogance and curiosity to serious concern when the mysterious rift appears.
• The Integration-stage pursuer recognizes the protagonist and reacts with anger and humiliation to his defiance.

Significant Themes

• The cost of survival and sacrifice
• Revenge against overwhelming power
• Loyalty, gratitude, and emotional attachment
• The passage of time and the fragility of life
• The limits of human control in the face of an unknown cosmic force
  The chapter ends on a major cliffhanger as the mysterious rift opens above Central Prefecture.

Chapter Summary: “The Truth Behind the Void Rift!”

• During the simulation, a terrifying rift opens in the void above the Purple Heaven Sacred Land. Its power surpasses the Tribulation Crossing Stage, shocking the Sect Master and everyone across the Canglan Realm. Several powerful auras, including Blood Demon Heavenly Venerate, emerge from the Sacred Land to confront the phenomenon.
• An enormous hand reaches through the rift and targets the Purple Heaven Sacred Land’s Sect Master. Despite unleashing all his abilities, he cannot damage it and attempts to flee. The hand catches him and drags him into the rift while he cries out helplessly.
• More giant hands emerge, targeting the powerful cultivators whose auras had appeared. Blood Demon Heavenly Venerate and every Tribulation Crossing expert in the Sacred Land are seized one by one and pulled into the rift. The attacks continue even after the Sacred Land’s strongest figures have been taken, suggesting that the entities beyond the rift are deliberately hunting powerful cultivators.
• Desperate to uncover the truth, Su Ming uses True Sight to look inside the rift. The technique causes severe bleeding from his eyes, but he eventually sees a vast world inhabited by enormous, indescribable monsters. One monster is devouring the Purple Heaven Sacred Land’s Sect Master.
• The monster notices Su Ming observing it. Its gaze overwhelms him, causing blood to pour from his seven orifices, and Su Ming dies immediately. The simulation ends, offering rewards including cultivation, spirit treasures, insights, External Incarnation, the Great Void Sword, and the complete Great Void Technique.
• After awakening, Su Ming is deeply shaken by what he witnessed. He suspects the world beyond the rift may be the Immortal Realm, but instead of the paradise he imagined, it appears to be a realm ruled by monstrous beings that consume powerful cultivators as food.
• Although the revelation leaves him feeling helpless and questioning his fate, Su Ming quickly regains his determination. He recognizes the Simulator as his greatest hope of surviving and changing his destiny.
• Su Ming goes to the Sword Pavilion’s main hall to ask the Pavilion Master about the rifts and the possible disappearance of powerful cultivators. The Pavilion Master says he has never heard of Mahayana or stronger cultivators disappearing collectively, suggesting that such disappearances would normally be interpreted as group ascension.
• When Su Ming asks whether an upper realm has ever forcibly opened a passage into the lower realm to abduct cultivators, the Pavilion Master’s expression turns serious and his earlier smile disappears. His silence and sigh imply that he may know more about the frightening phenomenon than he initially admits.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Su Ming: Gains terrifying knowledge about the possible nature of the Immortal Realm. He moves from shock and despair back to determination, choosing to investigate rather than surrender to fear.
• Purple Heaven Sacred Land Sect Master: Initially acts decisively by attacking the giant hand, but his attacks are completely ineffective. His desperate flight and eventual capture demonstrate the overwhelming power of the entities beyond the rift.
• Blood Demon Heavenly Venerate and the Sacred Land’s experts: Despite being among the strongest beings in the Canglan Realm, they are rendered powerless and treated as prey, dramatically redefining the scale of the threat.
• Sword Pavilion Master: Initially responds casually and confidently, but becomes grave when Su Ming asks about forced incursions from an upper realm. His reaction suggests hidden knowledge or a troubling historical connection to the rifts.
• Su Ming and the Sword Pavilion Master: Their conversation shifts from ordinary questioning to a potentially major revelation. Su Ming seeks answers, while the Pavilion Master’s hesitation hints that the truth may be known but deliberately concealed.

Significant Themes

• The unknown nature of ascension: The chapter challenges the assumption that the Immortal Realm is a higher, idealized paradise.
• Powerlessness before greater beings: Even peak cultivators are insignificant against the monsters beyond the rift, emphasizing the vast gap between realms.
• Truth versus survival: Su Ming risks his life to see beyond the rift, showing that understanding the danger is worth extraordinary personal cost.
• Fate and defiance: Although the simulation reveals a horrifying possible future, Su Ming refuses to accept it as inevitable and relies on the Simulator to alter his destiny.
• Hidden history and suppressed knowledge: The Sword Pavilion Master’s reaction implies that the Canglan Realm may possess forgotten or concealed records of similar incidents.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ming asks the Sword Pavilion Master whether people from the Immortal Realm have ever descended into the Canglan Realm. The master explains that such an event occurred only in ancient times, when descending cultivators were suppressed, and has never happened again. This confirms that Su Ming’s simulated encounter with an upper-realm cultivator was unprecedented.
• Su Ming activates the “I Want It All” reward from his previous simulation. His cultivation advances from the Spirit Transmutation Stage to the early Void Refining Realm, his understanding of the Great Void Technique improves, and he receives his mid-stage Spirit Transformation External Incarnation, Enlightenment Tea, and Yin Yang Holy Fruit.
• He discovers that reaching the Void Refining Realm has increased the simulation cooldown from thirty days to three months.
• To complete an unfinished mission and gain three additional simulation attempts, Su Ming sends his External Incarnation—armed with the Great Void Sword—to destroy the Feather Ascension Sect.
• The incarnation kills the Small Bamboo Peak Master, but two other peak masters happen to be present. The alarm is raised, forcing the entire sect into combat readiness. Although the incarnation eventually destroys the Feather Ascension Sect, it has little time to absorb blood qi before the Yin Yang Sect is alerted.
• Su Ming retreats with the incarnation into the Immortal Falling Secret Realm and hides it inside the Bronze Divine Hall. This serves both as a cultivation refuge and a way to draw the Jun and Hun Families’ attention away from him.
• After completing the mission, Su Ming receives three simulation attempts and immediately begins a new simulation.
• He draws the Blue Talent “Mastery of Movement Techniques,” which increases the effects of movement techniques, divine abilities, and related talents by 50%.
• Testing the talent confirms that it significantly enhances the Great Void Technique, improving both its activation speed and travel distance. Su Ming considers this Blue Talent exceptionally valuable because the technique is one of his most important survival abilities.
• During the simulation, Lin Tian informs Su Ming that the Feather Ascension Sect has been destroyed by a mysterious figure. The Yin Yang Sect traces the attack and produces a portrait revealing that the culprit was Su Ming’s External Incarnation.
• The Yin Yang Sect publicly labels the attacker a Demonic Cultivator. Su Ming conceals the truth when questioned by Lin Tian.
• When the incarnation approaches a breakthrough to the late Spirit Transformation Stage, its supply of blood qi runs out. Su Ming therefore takes it out of hiding and begins targeting Sinister Worm forces in Green Prefecture and You Prefecture.
• Su Ming and his incarnation arrive at the Azure Cloud Sect and launch an assault. As the incarnation massacres the Sinister Worms, the Azure Cloud Sect Master appears, prompting Su Ming to intervene with the Great Desolation Sky Prison Finger.

Character Developments

• Su Ming reaches the early Void Refining Realm, greatly increasing his strength and deepening his mastery of the Great Void Technique.
• He becomes more cautious and strategic, using his External Incarnation to handle dangerous missions while keeping his true body hidden.
• Su Ming shows increasing confidence after his breakthrough, directly confronting major sect powers and Sinister Worm strongholds rather than relying solely on concealment.
• The External Incarnation proves capable of destroying an entire top-tier sect and becomes an important independent combat force, though its cultivation still depends heavily on absorbing blood qi.
• The Sword Pavilion Master is established as a knowledgeable Mahayana expert whose information helps Su Ming recognize the extraordinary nature of his simulated experiences.
• Lin Tian functions as a source of intelligence, unknowingly helping Su Ming understand how the wider cultivation world is reacting to the incarnation’s actions.

Significant Themes

• The uniqueness of Su Ming’s path: His encounter with an upper-realm cultivator appears to be historically unprecedented, emphasizing how unusual and dangerous his future may be.
• Strategic survival and deception: Su Ming separates his true body from his incarnation, hides the incarnation in the Bronze Divine Hall, and allows outsiders to misidentify the attacker.
• Power versus exposure: The incarnation can destroy major sects, but such strength creates enormous commotion and attracts the attention of the Yin Yang Sect and other powers.
• Growth through cultivation and simulation: Su Ming’s breakthrough, rewards, and new talent dramatically improve his abilities, but the longer simulation cooldown forces him to plan more carefully.
• The threat of the Sinister Worms: The focus shifts from sect destruction toward actively eliminating Sinister Worm forces across multiple prefectures.

Character Interactions

• Su Ming questions the Sword Pavilion Master about upper-realm cultivators, then hides the real reason for his curiosity.
• Su Ming gives the Great Void Sword to his External Incarnation and controls it remotely during the Feather Ascension Sect assault.
• The incarnation’s attack brings it into conflict with the Feather Ascension peak masters, the sect master, and later the Yin Yang Sect.
• Lin Tian reports the Feather Ascension Sect’s destruction and shows Su Ming the portrait of the suspected culprit. Su Ming pretends to know nothing.
• At the Azure Cloud Sect, Su Ming supports his incarnation directly when the Azure Cloud Sect Master prepares to attack, using the Great Desolation Sky Prison Finger.

Chapter Summary: “Deliberate Exposure, Mocking Jun Mo!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist reveals that Green Prefecture has another Void Refining Realm expert and kills the Azure Cloud Sect Master with the Great Desolation Sky Prison Finger. His External Incarnation then exterminates all Azure Cloud Sect cultivators above Foundation Establishment.
• After collecting the sect’s blood qi, the incarnation spends seven days in the Myriad Devil Sect, increasing its killing intent and strengthening the effects of the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art and Devilish Dao Sacred Body.
• The incarnation then destroys the Wind Thunder Sect, wiping out Green Prefecture’s three major forces in less than fifteen days.
• Realizing that news will soon reach You Prefecture and alert the Yin Yang Sect, Jun Family, and Hun Family, the protagonist abandons plans to attack the Pill Sect and Yin Yang Sect. He instead targets another second-rate force and drives its survivors toward the Sky Abyss.
• He kills the Foundation Establishment cultivators before the remaining Qi Refining cultivators, then jumps into the Sky Abyss and enters the Immortal Falling Secret Realm.
• Rather than enter the Bronze Divine Hall, he cultivates outside it to deliberately expose the External Incarnation’s location and conceal the true body’s whereabouts.
• After the incident spreads, the protagonist returns to the Sword Pavilion, pretending ignorance when Lin Tian enthusiastically recounts the destruction in Green Prefecture.
• He asks the Sword Pavilion Master how to locate Zi You, but learns only that she is somewhere in Central Prefecture. He then says farewell to Ye Chuxue and Lin Tian and heads toward Green Prefecture before traveling onward to Central Prefecture.
• Upon returning to Green Prefecture, he learns that the Jun Family has surrounded the Sky Abyss. His consciousness transfers into the External Incarnation, whose cultivation has unexpectedly risen to Spirit Transformation Great Perfection.
• The protagonist senses several Void Refining-and-above experts entering the secret realm. Jun Mo, a Body Integration Realm expert, arrives and angrily condemns him for destroying the three sects.
• The protagonist openly mocks Jun Mo by raising his middle finger and challenging him to attack, then retreats into the Bronze Divine Hall.
• Jun Mo launches the powerful Sky Flipping Seal, but the Bronze Divine Hall withstands the attack. Even after Jun Mo and his fellow clan members attack continuously for an entire day, the hall remains unharmed.
• Frustrated, Jun Mo stays behind to guard the secret realm while ordering the others to rebuild the destroyed sects. He also discovers that the secret realm contains unusually dense spiritual qi.

Character Developments

• The protagonist becomes increasingly calculating and ruthless. He uses the External Incarnation to destroy powerful forces while carefully controlling the timing and location of his actions to mislead his enemies.
• He demonstrates growing confidence, deliberately provoking Jun Mo despite the vast difference in cultivation.
• His concern for Zi You reveals that he sees her as a crucial potential ally against Chu Wudi, while his inability to locate her causes frustration and disappointment.
• The External Incarnation grows substantially stronger, reaching Spirit Transformation Great Perfection, and accumulates intense killing intent after massacring multiple sects.
• Jun Mo is portrayed as arrogant and easily provoked. His anger at being mocked by a much weaker opponent causes him to act impulsively, though his shock at the Bronze Divine Hall’s durability reveals that the secret realm contains forces beyond his expectations.
• Lin Tian remains loyal and cheerful, celebrating the destruction of the protagonist’s enemies without realizing the protagonist is responsible.

Significant Themes

• Strategic deception: The protagonist separates his true body from the External Incarnation and intentionally exposes the latter to misdirect the Jun and Hun Families.
• Power versus preparation: Though Jun Mo vastly surpasses the protagonist’s incarnation in cultivation, his attacks are useless against the Bronze Divine Hall, showing that powerful artifacts and careful planning can overcome overwhelming strength.
• Provocation and psychological warfare: The protagonist’s deliberate insult pushes Jun Mo into an emotional, ineffective attack, demonstrating that taunting an enemy can serve a strategic purpose.
• Ruthlessness and cultivation: The protagonist’s slaughter of entire sects fuels the incarnation’s killing intent and strengthens its demonic cultivation, linking violence directly to power progression.
• Uncertainty and hidden forces: Zi You’s unknown whereabouts, the Bronze Divine Hall’s mysterious defenses, and the secret realm’s dense spiritual qi suggest larger powers and secrets still unfolding.

Important Character Interactions

• The protagonist and his External Incarnation work in coordination, with the incarnation carrying out massacres and cultivating while the true body remains concealed.
• The protagonist questions the Sword Pavilion Master about Zi You, but receives only limited information.
• He bids farewell to Ye Chuxue and Lin Tian before leaving the Sword Pavilion.
• His confrontation with Jun Mo is openly antagonistic: Jun Mo threatens him, while the protagonist responds with contempt and a provocative gesture.
• Jun Mo’s attacks against the Bronze Divine Hall fail completely, leaving him enraged and forcing him to remain behind as a guard while his subordinates rebuild the destroyed sects.

Chapter Summary: Causing a Ruckus at the Great Zhou Dynasty Banquet!

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Jun Mo abandons his attack, Su Ming realizes he is likely waiting outside to ambush him. Su Ming remains unconcerned, having achieved his goal of drawing attention, and continues refining the blood energy obtained from the Three Sects of Green Prefecture.
• Su Ming retreats into the Bronze Divine Hall to cultivate. Although he lacks enough blood energy to immediately break through to Void Refining, the hall’s abundant spiritual energy makes the breakthrough only a matter of time. His Void Refining Pill has been left with his External Incarnation.
• A year later, Su Ming arrives in the Great Zhou Dynasty’s capital and purchases the abandoned courtyard he remembered from a previous simulation.
• Seeking his Senior Sister Zi You, Su Ming decides to use Zhou Lingxi—whom Zi You had previously taken in—as bait to draw her out.
• He infiltrates the imperial palace and meets Zhou Lingxi, who is delighted to discover that he is a human cultivator above Foundation Establishment. After explaining the dangerous truth of the Canglan Realm, Su Ming agrees to help her escape.
• Zhou Lingxi reveals that the Jun Family from the Eastern Region will soon visit to propose marriage to her third elder sister. Su Ming recognizes this as an opportunity to exploit the Jun Family’s involvement.
• After waiting a month, Su Ming returns to the palace, disguises Zhou Lingxi, and escorts her out using the Great Void Technique.
• Following Zhou Lingxi’s plan, they infiltrate her third elder sister’s residence during the marriage banquet and enter through a barrier. Su Ming discovers that the Jun Family’s betrothal gifts contain numerous high-grade pills, including many of fifth grade or higher.
• He takes only a few pills, then returns to the banquet and publicly shouts that the Ninth Princess is stealing from the Third Princess’s palace, deliberately creating chaos and drawing everyone’s attention.

Character Developments

• Su Ming: Demonstrates patience, strategic thinking, and confidence. He is willing to manipulate the imperial family and the Jun Family to achieve his goals, particularly locating Zi You and acquiring resources. His emotional numbness after learning the truth of the Canglan Realm contrasts with his continued determination to survive and advance.
• Zhou Lingxi: Though still a mortal girl, Zhou Lingxi shows courage, trust, and cleverness. She immediately asks Su Ming to take her away and actively helps devise the escape plan. Her willingness to share the palace layout and think of Su Ming’s needs shows her growing trust and loyalty.
• Zi You: Does not appear directly, but remains a major motivation for Su Ming’s actions. Her connection to Zhou Lingxi makes her the intended target of Su Ming’s plan.
• The Great Zhou Emperor: Is presented as controlling and harsh, having confined Zhou Lingxi for stealing. His anger at the public accusation foreshadows the banquet’s coming turmoil.
• The Jun Family: Their generous betrothal gifts establish them as wealthy and powerful, while their appearance provides Su Ming with the opportunity to cause a major disturbance.

Significant Themes

• Survival through strategy: Su Ming relies on deception, timing, and manipulation rather than direct confrontation.
• Trust and alliance: Zhou Lingxi places complete faith in Su Ming, while Su Ming gradually recognizes her sincerity and concern for him.
• Freedom versus confinement: Zhou Lingxi’s imprisonment in the imperial palace contrasts with Su Ming’s efforts to help her escape and reclaim agency.
• Emotional numbness and perseverance: Su Ming’s knowledge of the Canglan Realm’s grim reality has dulled his emotions, but he continues moving forward out of necessity.
• Power and exploitation: The imperial family, the Jun Family, and Su Ming all treat people and resources as tools in larger plans, reflecting the ruthless nature of the cultivation world.

Character Interactions

• Su Ming explains the world’s hidden dangers to Zhou Lingxi, who responds by asking him to rescue her.
• Zhou Lingxi helps Su Ming plan the theft and escape, including providing a palace map and suggesting that the pills be taken under the pretext of consuming them herself.
• Su Ming reassures Zhou Lingxi, earns her complete trust, and uses the Great Void Technique to bypass the palace barrier.
• Their cooperation culminates in Su Ming publicly blaming Zhou Lingxi for the theft, setting the banquet—and especially the Great Zhou Emperor—into turmoil.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou Lingxi is caught stealing betrothal gifts, causing a scandal in the Great Zhou Imperial Palace.
• The Great Zhou Emperor expels and demotes Zhou Lingxi to a commoner.
• Su Mo, disguised, witnesses and facilitates Zhou Lingxi's expulsion.
• Su Mo brings Zhou Lingxi to his courtyard, waits for Senior Sister Zi You for five years.
• Zhou Lingxi's cultivation progresses rapidly under Su Mo's guidance.
• After seven years, Senior Sister Zi You finally arrives at Su Mo's courtyard.

Character Developments

• Zhou Lingxi: Shows defiance against the Great Zhou Emperor, demonstrates her determination to cultivate despite being mortal. Her cultivation progresses rapidly under Su Mo's guidance, reaching the Golden Core Realm in seven years.
• Su Mo: Waits patiently for Zi You's arrival, teaches Zhou Lingxi cultivation techniques, and helps her advance in her cultivation journey.
• Great Zhou Emperor: Shows anger and loss of face due to Zhou Lingxi's actions, ultimately expelling her from the imperial family.
• Senior Sister Zi You: Arrives at Su Mo's courtyard after seven years, acknowledging Su Mo as her junior brother and confirming she came for Zhou Lingxi.

Significant Themes

• Cultivation and determination: Zhou Lingxi's resolve to cultivate despite her mortal status and Su Mo's dedication to waiting for Zi You.
• Face and reputation: The Great Zhou Emperor's concern for the imperial family's dignity and loss of face.
• Mentorship: Su Mo's guidance and teaching of Zhou Lingxi, helping her advance in her cultivation journey.

Character Interactions

• Su Mo and Zhou Lingxi: Su Mo teaches and guides Zhou Lingxi in her cultivation, while Zhou Lingxi brews tea for Su Mo and shares her cultivation progress.
• Su Mo and Senior Sister Zi You: Su Mo explains his connection to Zi You and the Sword Pavilion, leading to Zi You's recognition of him as her junior brother.
• The Great Zhou Emperor and Zhou Lingxi: The Emperor reprimands and expels Zhou Lingxi due to her actions, showing no mercy despite being her father.

Chapter Summary: “Return to Green Prefecture!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zi You learns that Zhou Lingxi is a rare genius and direct descendant of a powerful Imperial Family lineage. She becomes interested in nurturing her potential.
• You reveal that Zhou Lingxi cultivates the ancient Heavenly Evolution Art and has already reached the Core Formation realm. Zi You is shocked, explaining that the art has been lost since antiquity and was once one of the Canglan Realm’s supreme cultivation methods.
• You recount the crisis in the Immortal Falling Secret Realm, including Lin Qi’s ability to pollute the secret realm’s spiritual energy.
• You ask Zi You about Chu Wudi, a Mahayana cultivator from Central Prefecture who possesses a fragment of the Great Void Sword. Zi You does not recognize him but dismisses him as another human obsessed with the legend that gathering the sword fragments grants immortal destiny.
• You reveal that you already possess four Great Void Sword fragments and that the fragments can sense one another. You explain that the fragment in the Blood Demon Secret Realm nearly escaped your body, confirming why Chu Wudi may target both you and the Blood Demon Secret Realm.
• Zi You realizes Chu Wudi may seek you out and destroy the Blood Demon Secret Realm to obtain the sword fragment. She vehemently condemns him as a human traitor and decides to return to You Prefecture with you to kill him.
• The three of you leave the Great Zhou Dynasty and travel toward Green Prefecture. You explain that your External Incarnation remains inside the Immortal Falling Secret Realm and has yet to break through to Void Refining because its cultivation has slowed without sufficient blood energy.
• During the journey, you share Enlightenment Tea with Zi You. She is deeply impressed by its rarity, and you generously give her some.
• After roughly eight years, you return to Green Prefecture and learn that the Jun Family restored order within three years of your departure. The Myriad Devil Sect and Wind Thunder Sect have also begun rebuilding under new Sect Masters.
• You remember that Jun Mo had remained inside the Immortal Falling Secret Realm after failing to enter the Bronze Divine Hall. With Zi You, a Mahayana cultivator, accompanying you, you are no longer concerned about him.
• Upon entering the secret realm, Zi You laments its decline. A familiar voice then confronts you, demanding to know who has entered despite orders forbidding entry.

Character Developments

• You become more open with Zi You, revealing major secrets about the Heavenly Evolution Art, the Great Void Sword fragments, Chu Wudi, and your External Incarnation. Your confidence increases because Zi You’s presence gives you powerful support against future threats.
• Zi You grows increasingly impressed and curious about you as she discovers the number of rare treasures and hidden abilities you possess. Her admiration and affection for you deepen, while her hatred of human traitors motivates her to personally intervene against Chu Wudi.
• Zhou Lingxi is established as an extraordinary talent with exceptional bloodline and cultivation potential, though she remains mostly in the background during this chapter.
• Chu Wudi is framed as a dangerous antagonist whose pursuit of the Great Void Sword may lead him to betray humanity and destroy the Blood Demon Secret Realm.
• Jun Mo is reduced from a previous threat to an insignificant opponent now that Zi You has joined you.

Significant Themes

• Trust and alliance: You entrust Zi You with increasingly important secrets, while she responds by committing herself to protecting you and helping eliminate Chu Wudi.
• Humanity versus betrayal: Zi You distinguishes between ordinary ignorance and deliberate betrayal by powerful cultivators who endanger humanity for personal gain.
• Ancient inheritances and destiny: The Heavenly Evolution Art and Great Void Sword fragments represent the influence of ancient powers, lost knowledge, and the dangerous pursuit of immortality.
• Power and protection: Zi You’s Mahayana cultivation dramatically shifts the balance of power, transforming former dangers such as Jun Mo into minor obstacles.
• Decline and restoration: Green Prefecture and the Immortal Falling Secret Realm reflect the aftermath of catastrophe, with human factions rebuilding while the secret realm continues to deteriorate.

Character Interactions

• You and Zi You discuss Zhou Lingxi’s talent, the Heavenly Evolution Art, Lin Qi, Chu Wudi, and the Great Void Sword.
• Zi You reacts with surprise to your hidden treasures and abilities, especially the Heavenly Evolution Art, your four sword fragments, your External Incarnation, and the Enlightenment Tea.
• You and Zi You form a stronger partnership when she agrees to accompany you back to You Prefecture and kill Chu Wudi.
• You share Enlightenment Tea with Zi You aboard the spirit ship, reinforcing her growing fondness and respect for you.
• At the chapter’s end, you and Zi You enter the ruined Immortal Falling Secret Realm and are confronted by an unidentified familiar voice.

Chapter Summary: Sword Pavilion Crisis, Zi You Burns Vital Blood!

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jun Mo ambushes the protagonist in the Immortal Falling Secret Realm, arrogantly dismissing him as a Void Refining Realm “ant.”
• Zi You effortlessly destroys Jun Mo’s spiritual attack and kills him with a single sword strike, revealing herself to be a Mahayana Realm powerhouse.
• After reuniting with the protagonist’s External Incarnation, the group leaves the secret realm and returns toward the Sword Pavilion in You Prefecture.
• Nearing the Sword Pavilion, they sense intense Mahayana-level spiritual fluctuations. The Sword Pavilion has come under attack.
• The protagonist and Zi You arrive to find the Sword Pavilion nearly destroyed. The Pavilion Master is battling the Blood Demon Heavenly Venerate.
• Zi You joins the fight, initially giving the Sword Pavilion’s side the advantage.
• Lin Tian informs the protagonist that Xia Qiange was severely injured after someone destroyed the Blood Tablet in the Blood Demon Secret Realm. The protagonist realizes Chu Wudi was likely responsible.
• Chu Wudi suddenly arrives and offers to help the Blood Demon Heavenly Venerate in exchange for the protagonist’s Great Void Sword fragments.
• The Blood Demon Heavenly Venerate agrees, demanding the Nascent Souls of Zi You and the Sword Pavilion Master.
• With Chu Wudi and the Blood Demon Heavenly Venerate fighting together, Zi You and the Pavilion Master gradually lose ground.
• The Pavilion Master urges Zi You to flee with Lin Tian and the others, but Chu Wudi declares that no one will escape and reveals his desire to obtain the Great Void Immortal Sword and leave the Canglan Realm.
• Determined to prevent Chu Wudi from achieving his “immortal destiny,” Zi You activates the Chaos Bell and begins burning her vital blood to increase her power.
• The Pavilion Master recognizes that Zi You is sacrificing herself and tries to stop her. Chu Wudi attacks her desperately, but the Chaos Bell blocks his attacks.
• The chapter ends as Zi You prepares to unleash the technique “Man and Sword as One!”

Character Developments

• Zi You: Her true strength as a Mahayana Realm cultivator is revealed. She demonstrates overwhelming power, then shows fierce loyalty and self-sacrifice by burning her vital blood to protect the protagonist and the Sword Pavilion.
• The Protagonist: Though unable to directly intervene in the Mahayana battle, he becomes more aware of the growing threat posed by Chu Wudi and the Blood Demon Heavenly Venerate. His personal conflict with Chu Wudi intensifies.
• Jun Mo: His arrogance and underestimation of Zi You lead directly to his death.
• Chu Wudi: His betrayal becomes explicit as he allies with the Blood Demon Heavenly Venerate, a Cunning Insect enemy, for personal gain. His ambition to obtain the Great Void Immortal Sword and escape the Canglan Realm is revealed.
• The Sword Pavilion Master: He fights to defend the Pavilion and places the safety of Zi You and the younger disciples above his own survival.
• Lin Tian: He welcomes the protagonist’s return and provides crucial information about the Sword Pavilion and Xia Qiange’s condition.
• Xia Qiange: Though absent from the scene, her near-fatal injury demonstrates the severity of Chu Wudi’s previous attack and adds to the protagonist’s reasons to oppose him.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice and loyalty: Zi You is willing to burn her vital blood and risk her life to stop Chu Wudi and protect those around her.
• Arrogance and misjudgment: Jun Mo’s contempt for weaker-looking opponents causes him to overlook Zi You’s true cultivation and results in his instant death.
• Betrayal for power: Chu Wudi abandons humanity’s side and cooperates with the Blood Demon Heavenly Venerate to pursue his own immortal destiny.
• Protection versus ambition: The Sword Pavilion Master and Zi You fight to save their people, while Chu Wudi and the Blood Demon Heavenly Venerate seek power, escape, and spiritual resources.
• The rising danger surrounding the Great Void Immortal Sword: The sword fragments represent both immense power and a path to transcendence, making the protagonist a major target.

Character Interactions

• Zi You immediately protects the protagonist from Jun Mo and later joins the Sword Pavilion Master against the Blood Demon Heavenly Venerate.
• Lin Tian reunites with the protagonist and explains the Sword Pavilion’s crisis and Xia Qiange’s injuries.
• Chu Wudi openly negotiates with the Blood Demon Heavenly Venerate, claiming the Great Void Sword fragments while the latter seeks the opponents’ Nascent Souls.
• The Sword Pavilion Master urges Zi You to escape, but Zi You refuses to abandon the battle and instead prepares a desperate counterattack.
• Chu Wudi targets Zi You and the protagonist, while Zi You directly challenges his dream of obtaining immortal destiny.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chu Wudi attempts to seize the Immortal Sword after Zi You’s attack is blocked by the Chaos Bell. To escape, Su Ming uses the Great Void Technique to take Lin Tian away and throws the Immortal Sword toward the Sword Pavilion Master as a diversion.
• Chu Wudi intercepts the sword instead, believing that gathering it with his nine Great Void Sword Fragments will grant him immortal destiny and allow him to ascend. He merges all nine fragments, unaware that the sword contains a sealed Cunning Insect Ancestor.
• Zi You suddenly attacks Chu Wudi in sword-light form, piercing him repeatedly until he dies. She then turns on the Blood Demon Heavenly Venerate, who is severely injured by her and the Sword Pavilion Master and eventually flees.
• Zi You’s body dissipates after the battle, leaving only fragments of the Chaos Bell. The Sword Pavilion is devastated, and the Sword Pavilion Master tells Su Ming to claim the completed Great Void Immortal Sword.
• Su Ming accepts the sword despite feeling no joy, recognizing that Zi You died because of it. When he grasps it, a white light enters his mind—but instead of immortal destiny, it releases the Cunning Insect Ancestor.
• The Cunning Insect reveals that the “Great Void Immortal Fate” was a centuries-old scheme designed to trick someone into assembling the sword and freeing it. It devours Su Ming’s main body and seizes control of him.
• Su Ming transfers part of his consciousness into his External Incarnation just before being consumed, narrowly avoiding complete death. The possessed body defeats the Sword Pavilion Master’s resistance and escapes using the Great Void Technique.
• Su Ming later awakens in Tianqi Academy. Zhou Lingxi, Fang Jingchun, and Gu Xinyue learn that the Sword Pavilion suffered a catastrophic defeat and that Su Ming’s main body was taken over by the Cunning Insect Ancestor.

Character Developments

• Su Ming: Becomes increasingly cautious and self-sacrificing, first abandoning the Immortal Sword to survive and later preserving his consciousness through his External Incarnation. He discovers that the supposed immortal inheritance is a trap and must now contend with the loss of his main body.
• Chu Wudi: His obsession with ascension overwhelms his judgment. Believing he has finally obtained his destiny, he becomes reckless and is killed by Zi You before he can benefit from the sword.
• Zi You: Demonstrates overwhelming power by killing Chu Wudi and severely injuring the Blood Demon Heavenly Venerate. Her sacrifice and death leave Su Ming emotionally conflicted about claiming the sword.
• The Cunning Insect Ancestor: Is revealed as the true mastermind behind the Great Void Sword’s fragmentation and the false promise of immortal destiny. It uses Su Ming as a vessel to escape its ancient imprisonment.
• Fang Jingchun and Gu Xinyue: Act as informed allies after Su Ming’s escape. Gu Xinyue’s advancement to the early Void Refining Realm highlights her growth.

Significant Themes

• False immortality and deception: The legendary immortal inheritance is exposed as a carefully constructed scam meant to free an ancient monster.
• The cost of ambition: Chu Wudi’s fixation on ascension leads directly to his death.
• Sacrifice and survivor’s guilt: Zi You’s death makes the immortal sword feel like a burden rather than a reward for Su Ming.
• Identity and survival: Su Ming survives only by separating his consciousness from his body, creating a sharp distinction between physical possession and personal continuity.
• Ancient conspiracies: The Great Void Sword’s division and the long-sealed Cunning Insect Ancestor reveal a hidden history behind the current conflict.

Character Interactions

• Su Ming uses Lin Tian’s safety and his own escape as priorities while manipulating Chu Wudi’s fixation on the Immortal Sword.
• Chu Wudi ignores Su Ming and the surrounding danger once he sees the sword, allowing Zi You to ambush him.
• Zi You and the Sword Pavilion Master cooperate against the Blood Demon Heavenly Venerate, forcing him to retreat.
• The Sword Pavilion Master urges Su Ming to claim the sword, but this seemingly generous act unknowingly leads to the Cunning Insect Ancestor’s release.
• Afterward, Zhou Lingxi cares for the weakened Su Ming and reports the situation to Fang Jingchun. Fang Jingchun and Gu Xinyue question him and begin to understand that the Great Void Sword’s promised destiny was a fraud.

Chapter Summary: Escaping into the Endless Sea!

Key Plot Points and Events

• After fusing with the Immortal Sword of Great Void, the protagonist explains to Fang Jingchun, Gu Xinyue, and the others that the Immortal Destiny was fabricated by the Cunning Insects.
• The protagonist reveals that his main body has been seized by a Cunning Insect, allowing the enemy to track their movements throughout Green Prefecture and You Prefecture. Remaining there is therefore too dangerous.
• Following Fang Jingchun’s advice, the group divides:
  • The protagonist and Zhou Lingxi travel toward Central Prefecture.
  • Gu Xinyue and Fang Jingchun investigate the Sword Pavilion, determine whether Lin Tian is alive, and retrieve Ye Chuxue and the injured Xia Qiange from the Blood Demon Secret Realm before joining the others.
• Before leaving Green Prefecture, the protagonist spends a month traveling toward the Myriad Devil Sect and Wind Thunder Sect, harvesting their vital energy once again.
• At the border crossing into Central Prefecture, the protagonist discovers that the Jun Family has placed the passage under strict surveillance, likely in response to the destruction of the two sects.
• The protagonist and Zhou Lingxi disguise themselves among other travelers, but the Jun Family’s inspectors recognize them.
• Using the Great Void Technique, the protagonist escapes the checkpoint and races toward Central Prefecture while being pursued by numerous Void Refining cultivators.
• With the passage blocked and retreat impossible, the protagonist chooses to leap into the Endless Sea with Zhou Lingxi rather than be captured.
• The sea’s violent winds nearly destroy his body, and he loses all sense of direction. He repeatedly uses the Great Void Technique to survive while struggling to remain conscious and prevent the Cunning Insect inside him from seizing control.
• Eventually, he reaches an unknown beach. He orders Zhou Lingxi to protect him while he refines the vital energy accumulated from the destroyed sects, using the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art to heal and cultivate.
• As he enters seclusion, an unidentified voice greets them, suggesting that someone—or something—already inhabits the mysterious island.

Character Developments

• The protagonist: Becomes increasingly decisive, ruthless, and desperate. He accepts extreme risks, including entering the Endless Sea, to evade the Cunning Insects and the Jun Family. His reliance on the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art and accumulated vital energy shows his growing strength, but his failure to reach the Void Refining Realm highlights his vulnerable condition.
• Zhou Lingxi: Begins to see an unfamiliar side of the protagonist after witnessing his ruthless destruction of the sects. Although unsettled by his methods, she trusts him completely, follows him into the Endless Sea, and protects him during his recovery.
• Fang Jingchun: Acts as the group’s calm and rational strategist, proposing the division of forces and helping establish a practical escape plan.
• Gu Xinyue: Reacts with shock to the revelation that Immortal Destiny is a deception, demonstrating how profoundly the truth undermines the group’s former beliefs.
• The Jun Family: Shows rapid awareness and heightened vigilance, immediately locking down the border and deploying powerful cultivators to intercept the protagonist.

Significant Themes

• Deception and shattered faith: The revelation that Immortal Destiny was invented by the Cunning Insects overturns the characters’ understanding of cultivation and destiny.
• Survival against fate: The protagonist refuses to accept what seems to be certain death, declaring that he will resist Heaven’s will even when forced into the Endless Sea.
• Trust and dependence: The protagonist entrusts his life to Zhou Lingxi, while she demonstrates loyalty by following him into an environment everyone else considers unsurvivable.
• Pursuit and exile: The protagonist is hunted across multiple regions, cut off from former sanctuaries, and forced into increasingly desperate forms of escape.
• Power versus vulnerability: Despite possessing the Great Void Technique and the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art, the protagonist remains injured, underdeveloped in cultivation, and threatened by the Cunning Insect within him.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist explains the truth about the Cunning Insects and Immortal Destiny to Gu Xinyue, Fang Jingchun, and the others.
• Fang Jingchun supports the protagonist’s assessment and organizes the group’s division.
• Zhou Lingxi questions why the protagonist must leave Green and You Prefectures, then witnesses his altered, more ruthless nature.
• During the escape, the protagonist urges Zhou Lingxi to hold him tightly and close her eyes before plunging into the Endless Sea.
• After reaching safety, he depends on Zhou Lingxi to guard him while he heals.
• The chapter ends with an unknown figure addressing them, introducing a new potential threat or ally.

Chapter Summary: “Sword Pavilion’s Second Senior Brother—Jiang Yang!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou Lingxi encounters Jiang Yang, a powerful cultivator at the late Spirit Transformation stage, on the deserted island. Initially wary, she confirms through the Immortal Eye that he is human rather than a Sinister Worm.
• Jiang Yang notices Zhou Lingxi’s unusual ability to distinguish his identity and infers that she possesses a Special Physique.
• He warns Zhou Lingxi that Su’s severe injuries may cause him to be possessed through Body Seizure by a Sinister Worm. Although he offers to kill Su if that happens, Zhou Lingxi firmly trusts that Su will recover.
• After a month, Jiang Yang returns and is surprised to find that Su’s injuries are healing. He also detects that Su is nearing a breakthrough.
• Six months later, Su successfully absorbs and refines the vital energy and blood left by the Myriad Devil Sect and Wind Thunder Sect, breaking through to the initial Void Refining Realm.
• Upon awakening, Su recognizes Jiang Yang as Sword Pavilion’s Second Senior Brother, whom he had previously seen in portraits.
• Su informs Jiang Yang of Sword Pavilion’s destruction and the deaths of many key figures, including Eldest Senior Sister Zi You. Jiang Yang is deeply saddened, especially because he had been isolated for twenty years and remained unaware of these events.
• Su learns that they are still trapped on the island in the Endless Sea. The surrounding gale winds are too dangerous to cross, and even Jiang Yang—despite being at the Body Integration Realm—cannot return to the Canglan Realm.
• Jiang Yang reveals that the only possible means of escape is the Great Void Technique, once mastered by Zi You. Zhou Lingxi then remembers that Su knows the technique, shocking Jiang Yang, who clarifies that he means the complete version rather than a fragment.

Character Developments

• Su: Recovers from life-threatening injuries and advances to the initial Void Refining Realm. He gains a major identity connection by discovering Jiang Yang is his Second Senior Brother and may now possess the key to escaping the island through the Great Void Technique.
• Zhou Lingxi: Demonstrates unwavering loyalty and trust in Su, refusing to abandon or kill him despite Jiang Yang’s warning about Body Seizure. Her fear turns into overwhelming relief when Su awakens.
• Jiang Yang: Is introduced as cautious but not hostile. He is perceptive enough to identify Zhou Lingxi’s Special Physique and assess Su’s condition. His sorrow over Sword Pavilion’s destruction and Zi You’s death reveals his strong attachment to his sect and fellow disciples.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and trust: Zhou Lingxi’s refusal to doubt Su contrasts with Jiang Yang’s practical concern about the danger of Body Seizure.
• Survival and perseverance: Su survives devastating injuries and uses the energy of defeated enemies to achieve a major breakthrough.
• Loss and grief: Jiang Yang learns that Sword Pavilion has been destroyed and that Zi You has died, emphasizing the devastating impact of the Sinister Worm threat and human betrayal.
• Hope amid destruction: Although the characters appear trapped with no way out, the Great Void Technique offers a possible escape and a renewed chance for survival.
• Legacy and identity: Su’s recognition as a Sword Pavilion disciple connects him to the surviving remnants of the sect and its lost traditions.

Character Interactions

• Zhou Lingxi remains physically and emotionally protective of Su, standing guard over him and defending his chances of recovery.
• Jiang Yang initially challenges Zhou Lingxi’s faith in Su but later acknowledges Su’s recovery and potential breakthrough.
• Su and Jiang Yang establish a senior-junior relationship after Su recognizes him as the Second Senior Brother.
• Jiang Yang’s grief over Zi You creates an emotional bond with Su, who brings news of the fallen Sword Pavilion.
• Zhou Lingxi’s revelation that Su knows the Great Void Technique transforms the situation, leaving Jiang Yang astonished and suggesting that Su may be their only hope of escape.

Key Plot Points

• The protagonist learns that mastering the Great Void Technique is necessary but not sufficient to leave the desolate island.
• They need to reach the early stage of the Body Integration Stage, which will take decades.
• There's a risky method involving withstanding Gales, with a less than 20% success rate.
• The protagonist decides to stay and cultivate, eventually reaching the middle stage of Void Refining Realm after fifteen years.
• However, they realize they can't break through to the Body Integration Stage without vital energy, leading to a backlash from Cunning Insects.
• After twenty years, the protagonist decides to take a gamble and leave the island immediately.

Character Developments

• The protagonist shows determination and willingness to take risks when faced with the reality of their situation.
• Senior Brother Jiang provides guidance and support, but also expresses concern about the protagonist's decisions.

Significant Themes

• Patience and perseverance in cultivation.
• The risks and rewards of taking chances.
• The importance of understanding one's own abilities and limitations.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist and Senior Brother Jiang discuss the challenges and possibilities of leaving the island.
• The protagonist shares their concerns about future cultivation with Senior Brother Jiang.
• The protagonist and Zhou Lingxi cultivate together on the island, with Zhou Lingxi reaching Nascent Soul Great Perfection.

Chapter Summary: “Arriving in Barren Prefecture!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yang leaves the deserted island with the protagonist and Zhou Lingxi, fearing that remaining there would permanently halt his cultivation at Body Integration Realm Great Perfection.
• The protagonist uses the Great Void Technique to transport the group across the Endless Sea toward Central Prefecture.
• The journey is extremely dangerous because of the powerful astral winds. Jiang Yang initially protects the others, but after several days he suffers severe injuries and begins nearing his limit.
• The protagonist takes over the defense but gradually becomes exhausted and loses consciousness briefly after drifting off course.
• When both the protagonist and Jiang Yang are nearly unable to continue, Zhou Lingxi sacrifices herself to shield the protagonist from the astral winds. She collapses unconscious after an hour.
• Jiang Yang uses his magic artifact to protect the protagonist for one final hour, allowing the group to escape the Endless Sea and land in a mountain forest.
• The protagonist treats Zhou Lingxi with a Fifth-grade Pill. Her Immortal Eye helps suppress the Sinister Worm and allows her severe injuries to stabilize.
• After more than six months of recovery, the three discover that they have not reached Central Prefecture. Jiang Yang determines that they are instead in Barren Prefecture.
• Jiang Yang reveals that Barren Prefecture is a human forbidden zone controlled by Demonic Beasts, including rumored Mahayana Realm beasts. The beasts were forced there by the Sinister Worm and deeply hate humans.
• The only route out of Barren Prefecture is guarded by the Xiao Family, one of the Four Great Families of Central Prefecture. Since the Xiao Family strictly inspects travelers from Barren Prefecture, disguising themselves is impossible; the group must force their way through.

Character Developments

• The protagonist demonstrates increased strength after reaching the mid-stage Void Refining Realm, but the journey exposes the limits of that power and forces them to rely on their companions.
• Jiang Yang proves loyal and self-sacrificing, repeatedly protecting the protagonist despite suffering severe injuries. His knowledge of Barren Prefecture and Central Prefecture becomes essential.
• Zhou Lingxi undergoes the most significant development. Though only at Nascent Soul Great Perfection, she courageously shields the protagonist when Jiang Yang can no longer continue, showing loyalty and resolve beyond her cultivation level.
• The protagonist becomes more aware of the dangers of the wider Canglan Realm and abandons the assumption that Barren Prefecture is as weak as Green Prefecture or You Prefecture.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice and mutual reliance: Survival depends on each companion taking turns risking their life for the others.
• The unpredictability of fate: A journey intended to reach Central Prefecture instead leads the group into the far more dangerous Barren Prefecture.
• Strength versus cultivation level: Zhou Lingxi’s actions show that courage and loyalty can matter as much as raw cultivation.
• Hidden dangers and incomplete knowledge: The protagonist’s mistaken assumptions about Barren Prefecture reveal how little reliable information exists about the Canglan Realm.
• Humanity’s precarious position: The existence of a demonic-beast-controlled territory and the Sinister Worm’s selective parasitism reveal the broader imbalance between humans, Demonic Beasts, and the invading creatures.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Yang initially protects the protagonist during the sea crossing and later warns him about Barren Prefecture’s dangers.
• The protagonist orders Jiang Yang to rest, but Jiang Yang forces himself to continue helping when the protagonist begins to falter.
• Zhou Lingxi steps forward when both men are near collapse, taking the dangerous role of shielding the protagonist.
• Jiang Yang catches Zhou Lingxi after she collapses and protects the protagonist with his magic artifact.
• After recovering, the protagonist and Zhou Lingxi question Jiang Yang about their location and the nature of Barren Prefecture, ultimately accepting that they must confront the Xiao Family by force.

Chapter Summary: Demon King’s Invitation!

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yang leads the group toward the Xiao Family’s guarded passage, located across the Barren Prefecture’s dangerous core region.
• To avoid attracting powerful Demonic Beasts, the protagonist refrains from using the Great Void Technique and travels slowly and stealthily for six months.
• They reach the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, the sacred territory of the Barren Prefecture’s Demon Race. The region is filled with powerful beasts, including Spirit Transmutation-stage creatures.
• The group disguises themselves as Demonic Beasts using the Shapeshifting Technique and enters the mountains. Their progress is slow, taking seven days to cross the outer region and another month to reach the depths.
• In the depths, a Flood Dragon blocks their path and reveals that the Demon King detected their arrival immediately. The group abandons its disguises.
• The Flood Dragon, Heitian, explains that he was sent to escort them to the Demon King’s palace. The protagonist accepts, recognizing that refusing would be dangerous.
• At the palace, the group discovers that even the guards possess Body Integration cultivation, demonstrating the immense power of the Demon Race.
• The Demon King reveals that he has been waiting specifically for Zhou Lingxi and asks whether she is “the one from the prophecy.”
• He then implies that Zhou Lingxi’s identity or cultivation caused their disguises to be exposed and asks whether she has practiced the Heavenly Evolution Art.

Character Developments

• The protagonist demonstrates caution and strategic judgment by avoiding ostentatious techniques and choosing stealth. He remains composed when confronted by Heitian and postpones any confrontation until the Demon King’s intentions are clear.
• Jiang Yang acts as a cautious guide and adviser. Though doubtful of the crude disguise, he cooperates and later warns the protagonist that the Demon King is at least in the early Mahayana Realm—far beyond their ability to fight.
• Zhou Lingxi becomes the focus of the Demon King’s attention. Her confusion and denial suggest that she may be unaware of an important secret concerning her identity, destiny, or cultivation.
• Heitian is introduced as a Flood Dragon capable of transforming into human form. Despite his power, he behaves respectfully and without hostility, serving as the Demon King’s messenger.
• The Demon King is established as immensely powerful, perceptive, and knowledgeable about Zhou Lingxi. His reference to a prophecy hints that he has been anticipating her arrival.

Significant Themes

• Danger and survival: The group must carefully navigate a territory where even ordinary encounters involve high-level Demonic Beasts.
• Power imbalance: The Demon King’s palace and guards emphasize how outmatched the protagonists are, making diplomacy more viable than force.
• Hidden identities and destiny: Zhou Lingxi appears connected to a prophecy, suggesting that her true origins or future role are central to the larger story.
• Knowledge versus ignorance: The Demon King knows more about the group—especially Zhou Lingxi—than they know about themselves, creating suspense and uncertainty.
• Limits of disguise and concealment: The group’s shapeshifting proves ineffective against the Demon Race’s advanced perception, particularly within the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Yang questions whether the protagonist’s disguise is reliable, leading to a discussion of their lack of advanced shapeshifting and Demon Race techniques in the Canglan Realm.
• When Heitian exposes their identities, Jiang Yang urges caution and considers forcing a path through, but the protagonist tells him to wait and assess the situation.
• Heitian politely introduces himself and escorts the group to the palace.
• Jiang Yang secretly warns the protagonist about the Demon King’s overwhelming strength.
• The Demon King ignores the others and focuses almost entirely on Zhou Lingxi, asking whether she is connected to a prophecy.
• Zhou Lingxi denies being the person he seeks, but the Demon King challenges her denial by asking whether she has cultivated the Heavenly Evolution Art, ending the chapter on a major revelation and mystery.

Chapter Summary: Heavenly Mystery Pavilion’s Prophecy!

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist and Zhou Lingxi are shocked when the Demon King reveals that he knows she is cultivating the Heavenly Evolution Art.
• The Demon King explains that the technique originated from the ancient Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, one of Central Prefecture’s greatest powers. Unlike ordinary techniques, it chooses its cultivators, which explains why the protagonist’s own cultivation of it produced poor results.
• The Demon King reveals that he also cultivates the Heavenly Evolution Art and detected Zhou Lingxi because of it.
• He identifies a faint celestial aura on Zhou Lingxi, leading him to believe she may be the person described in an ancient prophecy.
• According to the prophecy, the ancient era would become a dark age, and a mysterious future individual—whose past, present, and future could not be seen—would appear to end it. This person would be the reincarnation of a celestial being who cultivated the Heavenly Evolution Art.
• The protagonist questions whether the Demon King can see Zhou Lingxi’s future, but learns that only the lost Heavenly Mystery Pavilion’s Heavenly Mystery Art could accomplish that.
• The Demon King reveals that both the human and demon races are suffering because the Canglan Realm’s spiritual energy has been polluted. Demonic beasts can no longer easily advance, while humans are affected by parasitic Cunning Insects.
• Jiang Yang proposes that the Heavenly Dao itself may be corrupted. The Demon King confirms that the demon race suspects this is the root of the realm’s decline.
• The protagonist recalls that True Sight previously revealed contamination within the Heavenly Dao and a connection to the Cunning Insect Progenitor. He shares this information, including what he knows about Lin Qi, a contaminated child of destiny.
• The Demon King concludes that the situation is worse than expected and proposes an alliance between humans and demons.
• His true request is for the protagonist’s help locating the ruins of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion and recovering the demon race’s sacred technique.

Character Developments

• The protagonist gains a deeper understanding of the Heavenly Evolution Art, Zhou Lingxi’s hidden nature, and the likely corruption of the Heavenly Dao. He also begins moving toward a larger role in solving the crisis affecting the entire realm.
• Zhou Lingxi is revealed to possess a celestial aura connected to her Immortal Eye and may be the prophesied reincarnation, despite only being at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection realm.
• The Demon King shifts from an apparent enemy to a potential ally. His concerns extend beyond demon survival to the restoration of the entire Canglan Realm.
• Jiang Yang demonstrates insight by suggesting that the Heavenly Dao itself is damaged, helping connect the prophecy to the realm’s current problems.
• Lin Qi is established as a significant but troubling figure: even the child of destiny has been contaminated, suggesting that the corruption is pervasive.

Significant Themes

• Destiny versus uncertainty: The prophecy identifies a mysterious savior, but neither the Demon King nor the surviving records can fully determine that person’s identity or method.
• Hidden origins and chosen cultivation: The Heavenly Evolution Art is portrayed as a technique with its own will, selecting worthy practitioners rather than being mastered by anyone who chooses it.
• Unity against a greater threat: The traditional conflict between humans and demons may need to be set aside because both races face the same existential danger.
• Corruption of the world’s foundations: The polluted spiritual energy and possible contamination of the Heavenly Dao suggest that the crisis is not merely political or racial but affects the fundamental order of reality.
• Lost ancient knowledge: The vanished Heavenly Mystery Pavilion and its techniques represent the key to understanding and possibly repairing the Canglan Realm.

Important Character Interactions

• The protagonist challenges the Demon King about his knowledge of Zhou Lingxi, prompting the revelation of the Heavenly Evolution Art’s origins.
• The protagonist and Demon King debate whether Zhou Lingxi is truly the prophesied figure.
• Jiang Yang’s skepticism about Zhou Lingxi’s condition contrasts with the protagonist’s private knowledge of her Immortal Eye.
• The protagonist questions the Demon King’s motives, leading to an explanation of the demon race’s suffering and the need for cooperation.
• Jiang Yang introduces the theory of a corrupted Heavenly Dao, which the Demon King confirms.
• The protagonist shares his knowledge of Lin Qi and the Cunning Insect Progenitor, prompting the Demon King to recognize the severity of the contamination.
• The chapter ends with the Demon King asking the protagonist to join him in finding the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion’s ruins and recovering the demon race’s sacred art.

Chapter Summary: “Returning to Central Prefecture, Everyone Is Dead?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• You question the Demon King about why the Demon Race’s cultivation techniques are in the human Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. He explains that his ancestor exchanged the Demon Race’s Sacred Law for the Pavilion’s Heavenly Evolution Art and Heavenly Mystery Art after seeking a divination about the Canglan Realm’s coming calamity.
• As compensation for your help, the Demon King offers the Heavenly Mystery Art to Zhou Lingxi. You accept on her behalf, provided the Demon King helps you return to Central Prefecture.
• Since the route between the Barren and Mystic Prefectures was destroyed by the Cunning Insect race, the Demon King proposes attacking the Xiao Family’s passage so you can escape amid the chaos.
• The Demon King also sends Heitian, whom he identifies as the future of the Demon Race, to accompany you and receive the Sacred Law.
• After seven days of preparation, the Demon King leads a large-scale assault on the Xiao Family’s city pass. He confronts a Xiao Family Mahayana cultivator while Demonic Beasts storm the fortress.
• You, Zhou Lingxi, Jiang Yang, and Heitian infiltrate the passage. When the Xiao Family sends two Body Integration cultivators to stop you, Jiang Yang reveals his Great Perfection Body Integration cultivation and kills them.
• You successfully enter the passage and use the Great Void Technique to escape. After three months, the group reaches Central Prefecture, specifically the Northern Region.
• You travel for roughly half a year to the Southern Region and reach the mortal village near the Barren Wasteland where your companions were supposed to wait.
• There, you find Lin Tian emaciated and despairing. He reveals that everyone else has died after being eaten, ending the chapter on a shocking and tragic cliffhanger.

Character Developments

• You become increasingly cautious and pragmatic, negotiating with the Demon King while ensuring his assistance serves your own goal of returning to Central Prefecture.
• The Demon King demonstrates both strategic intelligence and desperation. He is willing to risk open war against the Xiao Family for the survival of his race and shows deep trust in Heitian by naming him the Demon Race’s future.
• Zhou Lingxi continues to defer important decisions to you, highlighting her trust and reliance on your judgment. She is also positioned to gain the valuable Heavenly Mystery Art.
• Jiang Yang proves his strength and loyalty by unexpectedly revealing his Great Perfection Body Integration cultivation and eliminating the two Xiao Family cultivators.
• Heitian, previously quiet and reserved, is revealed to hold tremendous importance within the Demon Race and is entrusted with its Sacred Law.
• Lin Tian appears physically ruined and emotionally broken, suggesting prolonged suffering and the devastating fate of the people who had been waiting in the village.

Significant Themes

• Alliance through mutual benefit: You and the Demon King cooperate despite different goals, each using the other’s needs to achieve survival and advancement.
• Survival under oppression: The Demon Race’s attack reflects its refusal to remain trapped and exploited by the Xiao Family.
• Trust and responsibility: The Demon King entrusts Heitian with the Sacred Law and the future of the race, while Zhou Lingxi trusts you to make major decisions.
• The cost of returning home: Your long-awaited return to Central Prefecture is immediately overshadowed by news of death, emphasizing that time and separation have changed everything.
• Hope turning into horror: The anticipated reunion with former companions becomes a grim discovery, creating a sharp contrast between the successful escape and the apparent destruction of your allies.

Important Character Interactions

• You and the Demon King negotiate the exchange of assistance for the recovery of the Demon Race’s cultivation techniques.
• The Demon King offers Zhou Lingxi the Heavenly Mystery Art, but she looks to you before accepting.
• The Demon King confronts the Xiao Family’s Mahayana cultivator, declaring that his race will fight for its future.
• Jiang Yang protects you and the others by ambushing and killing the Xiao Family’s reinforcements.
• You reunite with Lin Tian, whose desperate statement—“They’re all dead”—turns your return into a tragic mystery.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ming and Jiang Yang find Lin Tian alone, traumatized, and mourning the disappearance of their companions.
• Lin Tian recounts the group’s movements after Su Ming’s departure:
  • They traveled from You Prefecture toward Central Prefecture and the Southern Region.
  • Gu Xinyue, Xia Qiange, and Ye Chuxue later joined Lin Tian and Fang Jingchun in a settled village.
  • They waited years for Su Ming, suspecting he had died, though Ye Chuxue continued to believe he was alive.
• In the tenth year, a powerful group of Cunning Insects appeared across Central Prefecture. Their leader looked exactly like Su Ming.
• Su Ming realizes the leader must be the Cunning Insect Ancestor sealed inside the Immortal Sword of Great Void—the entity responsible for devouring his original body.
• Lin Tian reveals that the insects could distinguish humans from their own kind and hunted cultivators above the Spirit Transmutation Realm, devouring their souls.
• Gu Xinyue, Xia Qiange, Fang Jingchun, and Ye Chuxue were killed, while Lin Tian survived only because he had not reached the required cultivation level.
• The Cunning Insect Ancestor arrives and recognizes Su Ming as the “food” who previously escaped.
• Jiang Yang attacks to protect Su Ming, while Su Ming uses the Great Void Technique to flee. However, the Ancestor anticipates his escape because Su Ming’s original body also knew the technique.
• Su Ming is immobilized and killed, ending the simulation.
• Afterward, Su Ming activates “I Want It All,” gaining mid-stage Void Refining cultivation, strengthening his External Incarnation to the same level, and obtaining several rewards, including the Heavenly Mystery Art, a Chaos Bell fragment, Sword Skill Mastery, and other resources.
• He learns that the Heavenly Mystery Art requires the Heavenly Evolution Art, which he currently cannot cultivate.
• Most importantly, Su Ming discovers the truth behind the Immortal Sword of Great Void and decides to seal it permanently inside the Bronze Divine Hall.

Character Developments

• Su Ming: Learns that his original body was completely taken over by the Cunning Insect Ancestor and that the Immortal Sword’s supposed immortal destiny was a trap. He becomes more cautious and resolves to seal the sword.
• Lin Tian: Is emotionally devastated after losing his senior brothers and sisters but survives because his cultivation remained below the insects’ hunting threshold.
• Jiang Yang: Demonstrates loyalty and courage by immediately confronting the Cunning Insect Ancestor so Su Ming can escape.
• Cunning Insect Ancestor: Reveals itself as extremely intelligent, ruthless, and capable of tracking or predicting the Great Void Technique.
• Gu Xinyue, Xia Qiange, Fang Jingchun, and Ye Chuxue: Their deaths establish the devastating consequences of the Ancestor’s emergence.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal and deception: The Immortal Sword of Great Void, once associated with opportunity and immortal destiny, is revealed to conceal a deadly parasite.
• Loss and survival: Lin Tian’s grief emphasizes the cost of the Cunning Insect invasion, while his survival is tied to his lower cultivation.
• Identity and duality: Su Ming must confront an enemy wearing his own appearance and using the abilities of his original body.
• The limits of preparation: Even Su Ming’s escape technique fails because the enemy understands it.
• Caution and adaptation: Su Ming responds to the revelation by sealing the sword and seeking stronger techniques and talents.

Important Character Interactions

• Jiang Yang comforts Lin Tian and helps him recover enough to explain the group’s fate.
• Lin Tian’s revelation that the Cunning Insect leader resembles Su Ming shocks Jiang Yang and Heitian.
• Su Ming explains to Jiang Yang and Heitian that he is only an External Incarnation because his original body was devoured.
• Jiang Yang sacrifices his opportunity to escape by attacking the Ancestor, allowing Su Ming to attempt flight.
• The Ancestor taunts Su Ming as escaped prey, turning their former connection into a direct hunt.