Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xuanyuan Tian Ji, a prodigy sealed in the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, is revealed to be from an unknown Xuanyuan Clan.
• She learns about the Canglan Realm's current state and the Cunning Insect race's invasion.
• Tian Ji offers a Teleportation Talisman to help the group escape Hao Tian Holy Land's encirclement.

Character Developments

• Xuanyuan Tian Ji: Introduced as a powerful prodigy with exceptional Talent and physique. She's determined to help restore the Canglan Realm.
• You: Realizes the significance of Xuanyuan Tian Ji's background and seeks Wuji Heavenly Venerate's knowledge about the Xuanyuan Clan. Discovers that some Spiritual Artifacts are suppressed within the Broken Mountain.

Significant Themes

• The power of bloodlines and heritage, as seen in Xuanyuan Tian Ji's background and Talent.
• The struggle against overwhelming odds, represented by the human race's fight against the Cunning Insect race and the group's predicament with Hao Tian Holy Land.

Character Interactions

• You, Zhuge Qing, and Zi You interact with Xuanyuan Tian Ji, learning about her past and discussing their current situation.
• You communicate with Wuji Heavenly Venerate but encounters resistance, suggesting Wuji is aware of the Xuanyuan Clan's significance.
• The group decides to use the Teleportation Talisman to escape, with You suggesting they wait for better luck.

Chapter Summary:

Wuji Heavenly Venerate Burns His Soul!

Key Plot Points and Events

• Inside the Heavenly Void, the Hao Tian Sect’s Great Elder assumes that Su Ming and the others have been killed. To prevent their escape, he orders Mahayana experts to guard both the interior and exterior of the Heavenly Void.
• Xuanyuan Tian Ji’s teleportation talisman sends Su Ming’s group to Green Prefecture, specifically into the Qin Kingdom’s territory. She is shocked by the region’s polluted and weak Spiritual Energy.
• Su Ming explains that cultivation in the Canglan Realm is possible only by forcibly resisting the backlash of the Cunning Insects. He also reassures Xuanyuan Tian Ji that the Blood Demon Secret Realm in You Prefecture can still support their cultivation.
• While traveling toward You Prefecture, the group discovers that the passage through the Endless Sea is suspiciously empty. A Tribulation Crossing Stage expert from the Purple Heaven Holy Land ambushes them, identifying them as valuable “nutrients.”
• Su Ming realizes that his External Incarnation has been destroyed and understands that the enemy’s strength is far beyond theirs. Zi You attempts to flee using the Great Void Technique, but the enemy freezes the surrounding space through the power of laws.
• Wuji Heavenly Venerate appears and reveals that his soul has been residing within the statue. Declaring Su Ming the hope of humanity, he burns his Heavenly Venerate-level soul to attack the enemy and break Zi You’s restraints.
• Zi You immediately understands Wuji’s sacrifice and tries to escape with the group. However, another Tribulation Crossing expert arrives from Central Prefecture and seals their escape route.
• Wuji Heavenly Venerate reaches his limit and perishes after seeing that Su Ming still cannot escape. Su Ming is ultimately overwhelmed, falls unconscious, and dies, ending the simulation.
• Su Ming activates the “I Want It All” talent and receives every listed reward, including Body Integration cultivation, spiritual resources, insights, techniques, Luck, progress in the Heavenly Evolution and Heavenly Mystery Arts, and a Great Perfection Void Refining External Incarnation.
• After the simulation, Su Ming’s cultivation reaches the initial Body Integration Realm, and the Cunning Insect in his dantian is crushed.
• The simulation also reveals the location of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion’s ruins: near the Hao Tian Sect within the Heavenly Void Forbidden Land. It further reveals that Xuanyuan Tian Ji is sealed on the pavilion’s ninth floor.

Character Developments

• Su Ming: Demonstrates caution and strategic awareness when investigating the empty passage, recognizes the gap between Tribulation Crossing experts and those below that realm, and gains crucial intelligence despite the simulation’s failure. His cultivation advances to the initial Body Integration Realm.
• Xuanyuan Tian Ji: Experiences frustration and helplessness after discovering that her physique rejects the polluted Spiritual Energy of the Canglan Realm. Her dependence on Su Ming and the remaining secret realms becomes clear.
• Zi You: Acts decisively under pressure, first using the Great Void Technique to escape and later immediately understanding Wuji Heavenly Venerate’s sacrifice.
• Wuji Heavenly Venerate: Reveals his selfless nature and commitment to humanity. He sacrifices his soul to protect Su Ming, whom he regards as the future hope of the human race.
• Purple Heaven Holy Land experts: Establish themselves as powerful and ruthless enemies who are actively hunting Su Ming’s group and view them as sources of nourishment.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice for humanity: Wuji Heavenly Venerate’s destruction of his own soul emphasizes the cost of preserving hope for the future.
• The overwhelming power of higher realms: The Tribulation Crossing Stage experts’ ability to immobilize everyone reinforces the idea that those below that realm are nearly powerless against them.
• Hope amid despair: Although Su Ming dies in the simulation, Wuji’s final actions and the information gained ensure that the sacrifice is not meaningless.
• Pollution and survival: The degraded Spiritual Energy of the Canglan Realm makes cultivation increasingly dangerous, forcing characters to rely on forbidden or hidden secret realms.
• The value of information: The failed simulation still provides Su Ming with vital knowledge about the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, Xuanyuan Tian Ji, enemy movements, and the destruction of his External Incarnation.

Important Character Interactions

• Su Ming reassures Xuanyuan Tian Ji after she discovers she cannot cultivate normally in the Canglan Realm.
• Su Ming and his companions coordinate their escape after identifying the Tribulation Crossing ambush.
• Wuji Heavenly Venerate directly addresses Su Ming as humanity’s hope before sacrificing himself.
• Zi You responds to Wuji’s sacrifice by freeing the group and attempting to flee, but a second enemy prevents their escape.
• The simulation’s ending transforms Wuji’s tragic death into a source of motivation and intelligence for Su Ming in the real world.

Chapter Summary: “Orange Talent – True Dragon Treasure Body!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ming learns that Xuanyuan Tian Ji did not originate from the Canglan Realm, deepening the mystery surrounding the realm’s fragmented history. The ancient Cunning Insect invasion appears to have erased or obscured much of the past.
• After advancing to the early Body Integration Realm, Su Ming’s Simulator cooldown increases from three months to six, leaving him frustrated because no new quests have appeared to provide additional simulations.
• He visits the Sword Pavilion Master to discuss opening the Blood Demon Secret Realm. Su Ming reveals that he is a successor of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion and uses deductions to persuade the master.
• Su Ming checks on Ye Chuxue, finding that the Yin Yang Holy Fruit has stabilized her condition.
• He then travels to the Immortal Falling Secret Realm, meets Wuji Heavenly Venerate, and confirms his intention to take him away rather than cultivate there immediately.
• Following plans from a previous simulation, Su Ming sets out alone to rescue Jiang Yang, who is stranded on a deserted island in the Endless Sea. His External Incarnation simultaneously travels to Central Prefecture to search for Zi You.
• Su Ming spends six months repeatedly crossing between Green Prefecture and the Endless Sea, recovering from injuries caused by the dangerous journey before finally locating Jiang Yang.
• Jiang Yang initially doubts how Su Ming found him, but accepts Su Ming’s explanation that he possesses the complete Great Void Technique and is a Heavenly Mystery Pavilion successor.
• Jiang Yang invites Su Ming to rest in his thatched hut. Since the Simulator’s cooldown has ended, Su Ming immediately begins a new simulation.
• Su Ming draws the Orange Talent: True Dragon Treasure Body, which greatly enhances his physical strength, grants powerful dragon-related abilities, and dramatically accelerates his recovery.
• His injuries heal completely in a single day instead of ten. Jiang Yang is shocked but respects Su Ming’s privacy. Once Su Ming has recovered, the two prepare to return to You Prefecture.

Character Developments

• Su Ming becomes increasingly proactive and independent after reaching the Body Integration Realm. Rather than waiting for others, he personally undertakes Jiang Yang’s rescue and coordinates multiple plans at once.
• His identity as a Heavenly Mystery Pavilion successor becomes an increasingly useful tool for gaining trust and influencing powerful figures.
• Su Ming’s new True Dragon Treasure Body significantly strengthens his physical capabilities and may allow him to cultivate the powerful Ancestral Dragon Art, which he previously could not practice.
• Jiang Yang is introduced as cautious but trusting. He recognizes Su Ming’s unusual talents and respects his hidden secrets, while also showing concern for Su Ming’s injuries.

Significant Themes

• Lost history and hidden origins: The uncertain past of the Canglan Realm, Xuanyuan Tian Ji, and the Cunning Insect invasion continues to suggest a larger concealed truth.
• Growth through adversity: Su Ming’s dangerous journey across the Endless Sea demonstrates how his cultivation breakthrough has expanded his capabilities, even though he still faces serious physical limitations.
• Secrets and trust: Both Su Ming and Jiang Yang conceal important information, yet their shared connection through the Sword Pavilion allows mutual trust to develop.
• Evolution and transformation: The True Dragon Treasure Body introduces the possibility of Su Ming transforming his physique and potentially becoming capable of True Dragon techniques.

Important Character Interactions

• Su Ming and the Sword Pavilion Master: Su Ming reveals his Heavenly Mystery Pavilion connection and persuades the master to consider opening the Blood Demon Secret Realm.
• Su Ming and Wuji Heavenly Venerate: Su Ming reaffirms his promise to rescue Wuji Heavenly Venerate after remembering the latter’s sacrificial act in the previous simulation.
• Su Ming and Jiang Yang: Su Ming identifies himself as Jiang Yang’s junior brother and offers to rescue him. Jiang Yang questions his abilities but ultimately accepts his explanation, shelters him, and prepares to travel with him.
• Su Ming and the Simulator: The new Orange Talent gives Su Ming a major physical upgrade, potentially changing the direction of his cultivation through the Ancestral Dragon Art.

Chapter Summary:

Great Void Sword as the Bait, Taking the Initiative!

Key Plot Points and Events

• After a year away, the protagonist returns to the Sword Pavilion with Jiang Yang, having located the place where Zi You normally resides. However, Zi You is temporarily absent.
• The protagonist explains to Jiang Yang that a human traitor, Chu Wudi, plans to enter the Blood Demon Secret Realm and release the Cunning Insects sealed beneath the Blood Tablet. He also reveals the truth behind the so-called Immortal Sword of Great Void.
• Jiang Yang enters the Blood Demon Secret Realm to cultivate and prepare for his breakthrough to the Mahayana Realm.
• The protagonist travels to the Immortal Falling Secret Realm, intending to lure Chu Wudi and Zhuge Qing out using the aura of the Great Void Sword Fragment rather than waiting for their next move.
• Zi You is eventually found and returns to the Sword Pavilion with Zhou Lingxi, bringing back the key ingredient needed to refine the Heavenly Fate Soul Pill. The pill may restore Wuji Heavenly Venerate’s damaged soul and recover his lost memories.
• The protagonist and Zi You enter the Blood Demon Secret Realm together, using the Great Void Sword and its fragment as bait.
• Jiang Yang breaks through to the Mahayana Realm, significantly strengthening the protagonist’s side.
• Chu Wudi arrives as expected. When he asks Zhuge Qing for assistance, Zhuge Qing refuses after seeing the protagonist’s confidence. Zi You and Jiang Yang then kill Chu Wudi.
• After Chu Wudi’s death, the protagonist persuades Zhuge Qing to cooperate by revealing that the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion’s old site lies within Heavenly Void. He also explains that Zi You’s Great Void Technique is essential for entering Heavenly Void and that only he can help Zhuge Qing escape safely from the Hao Tian Holy Land.
• In the fifth year, Zi You guides the protagonist and Zhuge Qing through the Endless Sea to Heavenly Void. The protagonist avoids repeating his previous failed tactic of creating disturbances in the Canglan Realm.
• Once inside Heavenly Void, the protagonist immediately leads them to Broken Mountain and, with Zhuge Qing’s assistance, reaches the ruins of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion.
• The chapter ends as the group enters the Pavilion and proceeds directly to its ninth floor.

Character Developments

• The protagonist becomes increasingly proactive and strategic. Rather than waiting for Chu Wudi and Zhuge Qing, he deliberately uses the Great Void Sword as bait to force the confrontation on his own terms. He also demonstrates growing confidence in manipulating alliances and concealing information until it benefits him.
• Jiang Yang completes his seclusion and breaks through to the Mahayana Realm, becoming a major source of combat strength. His loyalty is reinforced by his immediate acceptance of the protagonist’s warning about Chu Wudi.
• Zi You returns to the protagonist’s side and agrees to help eliminate Chu Wudi because of her intense hatred of human traitors. Her Great Void Technique becomes essential to the group’s infiltration of Heavenly Void.
• Zhuge Qing shifts from a potential enemy or unreliable ally into a reluctant collaborator. He abandons Chu Wudi after recognizing the protagonist’s advantage and agrees to cooperate because he needs access to the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion and a safe route out of Heavenly Void.
• Chu Wudi loses his initiative and support. His dependence on Zhuge Qing fails, and he is ultimately killed by Zi You and Jiang Yang.
• Wuji Heavenly Venerate remains absent, but the Heavenly Fate Soul Pill becomes an important future goal because restoring his soul may reveal hidden truths.

Significant Themes

• Taking the initiative: The protagonist deliberately sets a trap instead of reacting to his enemies, changing the balance of power.
• Alliance and leverage: Cooperation is achieved not through trust but through mutually necessary benefits. The protagonist persuades Zhuge Qing by controlling access to Heavenly Void and the means of escape.
• Hidden knowledge and strategic secrecy: The protagonist withholds the complete Heavenly Mystery Art and carefully reveals information only when it can secure Zhuge Qing’s cooperation.
• Growth through preparation: Jiang Yang’s breakthrough and the recovery of the Heavenly Fate Soul Pill ingredient show the importance of long-term planning.
• Risk versus power: Although the protagonist’s strength has increased greatly, he remains cautious of Tribulation Crossing cultivators and recognizes the limits of his current power.
• Restoration of the past: The expedition to the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion and the effort to repair Wuji Heavenly Venerate’s soul connect the present conflict to the lost history of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion.

Important Character Interactions

• The protagonist and Jiang Yang establish a cooperative plan to use the Blood Demon Secret Realm as bait for Chu Wudi.
• The protagonist and Zi You join forces because of their shared opposition to human traitors, with Zi You providing the crucial technique for infiltrating Heavenly Void.
• Chu Wudi attempts to rely on Zhuge Qing, but Zhuge Qing chooses the protagonist’s side after recognizing Chu Wudi’s disadvantage.
• The protagonist negotiates with Zhuge Qing by promising access to the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion and a safe escape from the Hao Tian Holy Land.
• Zi You, Zhuge Qing, and the protagonist form an uneasy alliance and enter Heavenly Void together, reaching the ninth floor of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion in search of its secrets.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• At the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, Zhuge Qing obtains the complete Heavenly Mystery Art on the eighth level, while the protagonist and Zi You proceed to the ninth.
• The protagonist absorbs the remaining Immortal Qi from the ninth level’s Immortal Source, changing it from deep blue to pale white and advancing from the early to the middle Body Integration Realm.
• His absorption awakens Xuanyuan Tian Ji, who had been sealed inside the Immortal Source.
• After three days of discussion and preparation, Xuanyuan Tian Ji uses a Teleportation Talisman to escape the Heavenly Void, avoiding the Hao Tian Holy Land forces waiting outside.
• The group is unexpectedly teleported to Mystic Prefecture, landing in a forbidden area belonging to the Shuiyue Sect.
• They encounter Bai He, a Mahayana Realm cultivator with the rare Profound Ice Immortal Spirit Body. After confirming that the group are not Cunning Insects, Bai He invites them into her sect.
• Bai He explains that Mystic Prefecture is controlled by the Purple Heaven Sect, a subordinate force of the Purple Heaven Holy Land.
• She also reveals that the Shuiyue Sect has only five members and exists primarily to protect the mortals of Shuiyue Village from the Cunning Insect crisis.
• The chapter ends with the protagonist urging Bai He to consider helping restore the Canglan Realm, while Bai He insists that even historical supreme beings failed to accomplish this. The protagonist confidently rejects her pessimism, declaring that it is still possible.

Character Developments

• The protagonist grows stronger by breaking through to the middle Body Integration Realm. His familiarity with the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion remains unexplained, suggesting a deeper connection to its secrets. He also displays increasing confidence and determination to oppose the Cunning Insects and change the fate of the Canglan Realm.
• Xuanyuan Tian Ji is freed from the Immortal Source and begins learning about the current state of the Canglan Realm. She becomes an important new ally and escape facilitator.
• Zi You and Zhuge Qing remain cautious and alert, immediately assessing Bai He as a potential threat because of her Mahayana cultivation. They also continue supporting the protagonist during the escape.
• Bai He is introduced as a powerful but gentle and selfless cultivator. Despite possessing a rare physique and Mahayana strength, she avoids grand ambitions and focuses on protecting her people. Her belief that the Canglan Realm cannot be saved contrasts with the protagonist’s growing resolve.

Significant Themes

• Hope versus despair: Bai He believes the world’s corruption is beyond repair, while the protagonist insists that change remains possible.
• Responsibility and sacrifice: Bai He has limited the Shuiyue Sect’s cultivation practices to prevent her people from becoming Cunning Insects, sacrificing power and growth to protect ordinary mortals.
• Hidden identities and ancient mysteries: Xuanyuan Tian Ji’s emergence from the Immortal Source and the protagonist’s unexplained familiarity with the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion hint at larger secrets.
• Power and protection: The chapter contrasts powerful cultivators who merely survive with Bai He, who uses her strength to safeguard a small, vulnerable community.
• Trust amid danger: The characters must quickly determine whether Bai He is human or a Cunning Insect before choosing cooperation over conflict.

Important Character Interactions

• The protagonist, Zi You, and Zhuge Qing coordinate cautiously after meeting Bai He, explaining their accidental arrival and confirming their identities.
• Bai He welcomes the group after hearing their explanation and brings them into the Shuiyue Sect’s hall.
• The protagonist questions Bai He about Mystic Prefecture, the Purple Heaven Sect, and the Cunning Insect situation, gradually building mutual understanding.
• He is impressed by Bai He’s quiet efforts to protect Shuiyue Village and challenges her hopeless view of the world.
• Their final exchange establishes a philosophical conflict: Bai He sees restoration as impossible, while the protagonist refuses to abandon the possibility of saving the Canglan Realm.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai He, Sect Master of Shuiyue Sect, leads the group to a forbidden area, a waterfall concealing a formation.
• Zhuge Qing identifies the formation as one set by the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, which can only be broken by those who have undergone Tribulation Crossing.
• They enter the forbidden area, revealing a small secret realm or blessed land with a towering ancient tree and a Purple Heaven Immortal Ganoderma.
• The group learns that this ganoderma can help resist heavenly tribulations and comprehend laws during Tribulation Crossing.

Character Developments

• Bai He: Realizes the truth about the Canglan Realm's pollution history and the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion.
• Zhuge Qing: Demonstrates his expertise in formations and knowledge about the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion and Tribulation Crossing.
• Xuanyuan Tian Ji: Shows understanding of immortal medicines and their effects.
• Protagonist: Discovers the truth about the lack of Tribulation Crossing Stage cultivators among humans due to severe heavenly tribulations.

Significant Themes

• The struggle and challenges faced by humans in the Canglan Realm due to pollution and severe heavenly tribulations.
• The importance of knowledge and expertise in formations and immortal medicines.
• The power dynamics between humans and the Cunning Insect race.

Character Interactions

• Bai He & Protagonist: Bai He learns from the protagonist about the Canglan Realm's history and leads them to the forbidden area.
• Zhuge Qing & Protagonist: Zhuge Qing shares his knowledge about formations and Tribulation Crossing, while the protagonist reveals the truth about the Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth.
• Xuanyuan Tian Ji & Protagonist: Xuanyuan Tian Ji explains the effects of the Purple Heaven Immortal Ganoderma, and the protagonist persuades Zi You and Zhuge Qing to not fight over it.

Chapter Summary: Escaping the Barren Prefecture, Separated from Zi You!

Key Plot Points and Events

• You warn Zhuge Qing not to use his deduction abilities, explaining that doing so would attract a terrifying, unknown existence capable of killing him before twenty years had passed. Although skeptical, Zhuge Qing trusts you because you previously located the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion and obtained the Heavenly Mystery Art for him.
• Wuji Heavenly Venerate warns that danger is approaching. A black-robed Tribulation Crossing expert breaks through the secret realm’s formation while searching for the Purple Heaven Immortal Ganoderma.
• Realizing that none of the group can resist the intruder, you signal Zi You to destroy the ganoderma rather than allow the enemy to obtain it. Zi You attacks it, forcing the black-robed cultivator to intervene.
• You and Zi You attempt to escape using the Great Void Technique, but the enemy immobilizes everyone with the power of laws. Just as all hope seems lost, Bai He sacrifices her strength and uses water-based laws to break the restraint.
• You escape with Xuanyuan Tian Ji and Bai He, while Zi You flees separately with Zhuge Qing. The black-robed expert retrieves the immortal ganoderma but immediately tracks your group.
• You instruct Zi You to head toward the Barren Prefecture. Since the passage from Mystic Prefecture has been destroyed, the group must cross the dangerous Endless Sea. The black-robed cultivator abandons the pursuit, prioritizing the ganoderma and his breakthrough.
• After six months of struggling through the Endless Sea, you reach land in the Barren Prefecture, though your body is severely damaged. Bai He survives the backlash and is expected to awaken soon.
• Upon arrival, you discover that Xuanyuan Tian Ji has unexpectedly advanced to the Ninth Level of Qi Refining due to the pure spiritual energy in the secret realm.

Character Developments

• You: Demonstrate strategic thinking, foresight, and leadership by preventing Zhuge Qing’s dangerous deduction, coordinating the escape, and recognizing the Endless Sea as the only viable refuge. Your True Dragon Treasure Body allows you to survive the prolonged journey, though it is pushed to its limits.
• Zi You: Quickly understands your plan and willingly destroys the ganoderma to prevent the enemy from claiming it. She remains capable enough to travel through the Endless Sea independently, but becomes separated from you.
• Zhuge Qing: Shows unusual trust in you despite doubting your ability to perceive dangers beyond his own deductions. He escapes alongside Zi You.
• Bai He: Reveals powerful law-manipulation abilities, breaking the black-robed expert’s restraint at the cost of severe backlash. Her actions become the key reason the group survives.
• Xuanyuan Tian Ji: Continues her extraordinarily rapid cultivation progress, reaching the Ninth Level of Qi Refining with seemingly effortless ease.
• Wuji Heavenly Venerate: Acts as an internal guide, warning you of danger and preparing to intervene when the group is trapped.

Significant Themes

• Survival against overwhelming power: The group cannot defeat the Tribulation Crossing expert and must rely on timing, deception, sacrifice, and escape.
• Trust and cooperation: Zhuge Qing accepts your warning, Zi You follows your plan without hesitation, and Bai He risks herself to save everyone.
• The limits of knowledge: Zhuge Qing’s deductions, normally reliable, are useless—and potentially fatal—against the mysterious force surrounding you.
• Sacrifice and pragmatism: Destroying the Purple Heaven Immortal Ganoderma prevents the enemy from gaining an even greater advantage, while Bai He’s sacrifice enables the group’s escape.
• Separation and uncertainty: The escape succeeds, but the group is divided, leaving the whereabouts and safety of Zi You uncertain.
• Uneven cultivation potential: Xuanyuan Tian Ji’s effortless breakthrough contrasts sharply with your painful struggle to survive, highlighting the unpredictable nature of cultivation.

Important Character Interactions

• You and Zhuge Qing clash over his desire to deduce the danger, but your previous accomplishments convince him to trust you.
• You and Zi You communicate silently and coordinate the attack on the ganoderma and the subsequent escape.
• Bai He intervenes when everyone is immobilized, using her own strength to free you and the others.
• You divide the escape party with Zi You: she takes Zhuge Qing, while you take Xuanyuan Tian Ji and Bai He.
• You later rely on Xuanyuan Tian Ji for information about Bai He’s condition and are relieved to learn that Bai He has survived the backlash.

Chapter Summary: The Black King’s Shock, Leaving the Barren Prefecture!

Key Plot Points and Events

• After recovering significantly, the protagonist travels toward the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains to seek the Black King’s help in returning to Central Prefecture.
• Seven days later, upon entering the mountains, Bai He awakens after being unconscious for half a year. He immediately worries about the villagers of Shuiyue Village and considers returning to Mystic Prefecture alone.
• The protagonist reassures Bai He that the black-robed pursuer was interested in the Purple Heaven Immortal Ganoderma and would not harm ordinary villagers. Bai He’s concern eases, especially after confirming that the other Shuiyue Sect disciples are not currently in the village.
• The protagonist continues in human form, unconcerned when local demonic beasts treat him with unusual confidence. He knows that, aside from Mahayana-level opponents, he is effectively unbeatable.
• He encounters Heitian, who was waiting to escort him to the Black King. The protagonist immediately knows Heitian’s name and purpose, startling him, though he offers no explanation.
• At the Black King Palace, the protagonist reveals that he knows the location of the Ancestral Dragon Art. His mention of the technique shocks the Black King so intensely that his Mahayana aura briefly erupts.
• The protagonist clarifies that the Ancestral Dragon Art is located within the old Heavenly Mystery Pavilion site, which itself lies in the Heavenly Void Forbidden Land. The Black King initially suspects deception but becomes serious when the protagonist claims to have determined this through the Heavenly Mystery Art.
• In exchange for the information, the protagonist demands two conditions: safe passage back to Central Prefecture and the right to reveal a second request only after delivering the Ancestral Dragon Art.
• When the Black King suggests that Bai He could transport them instead, the protagonist hints that he can rely on Bai He if necessary. Fearing he may lose access to the Ancestral Dragon Art, the Black King quickly agrees to help.
• After three days of preparations, the Black King leads an assault on the Xiao Family’s guards at the passage to Central Prefecture. Heitian accompanies the protagonist, while the Black King and his clansmen engage the main Xiao Family forces.
• The protagonist and his companions easily defeat the Xiao Family members blocking their route and successfully begin their journey toward Central Prefecture.

Character Developments

• The protagonist demonstrates increasing confidence, strategic manipulation, and superior knowledge. He deliberately withholds information, uses the Ancestral Dragon Art as leverage, and prefers making the Black King fulfill his demands rather than relying on Bai He.
• Bai He awakens physically but remains emotionally attached to Shuiyue Village and its people. His instinctive concern for the villagers reveals his compassion and loyalty, while his willingness to return alone shows his determination.
• The Black King is revealed to be highly interested in the Ancestral Dragon Art and easily provoked by the possibility of deception. Despite his power, he becomes cautious and cooperative once the protagonist proves he may possess vital information.
• Heitian is unsettled by the protagonist’s apparent foreknowledge. Although displeased by the protagonist’s evasiveness, he ultimately follows his orders and accompanies him out of the Barren Prefecture.
• Xuanyuan Tian Ji remains observant and curious, especially because she knows the Ancestral Dragon Art is connected to the protagonist and wants to see how he handles the Black King.

Significant Themes

• Information as power: The protagonist’s knowledge of the Ancestral Dragon Art allows him to negotiate with a powerful Mahayana expert from a position of strength.
• Strategic deception and bargaining: Rather than revealing everything, the protagonist carefully controls what he says to force the Black King into cooperation.
• Loyalty and concern: Bai He’s reaction to Shuiyue Village emphasizes his protective nature and attachment to innocent people.
• Power versus cleverness: Although the Black King possesses overwhelming cultivation, the protagonist’s foresight and psychological tactics temporarily give him the upper hand.
• Departure and transition: The attack on the Xiao Family marks the protagonist’s escape from the Barren Prefecture and the beginning of his return to Central Prefecture.

Important Character Interactions

• The protagonist calms Bai He and prevents him from recklessly attempting to cross the Endless Sea.
• He surprises Heitian by knowing his name and understanding that the Black King sent him as an escort.
• He confronts the Black King directly, provoking shock by naming the Ancestral Dragon Art and then negotiating its whereabouts.
• The protagonist pressures the Black King into agreeing to help by implying that Bai He could provide an alternative means of transportation.
• The Black King and his clansmen fight the Xiao Family guards, while Heitian accompanies the protagonist through the passage toward Central Prefecture.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• In Year 6, the protagonist returns to the Sword Pavilion with Xuanyuan Tian Ji after parting ways with Bai He in Central Prefecture.
• Lin Tian reveals that Zi You has not returned since leaving, leaving the protagonist concerned about Zi You and Zhuge Qing’s whereabouts. He assumes they may have encountered trouble in the Endless Sea.
• The protagonist visits Ye Chuxue and discovers that she has advanced to the Void Refining Realm. Finding Xuanyuan Tian Ji there as well, he leaves with her.
• Xuanyuan Tian Ji questions the protagonist about his External Incarnation and demonic cultivation, leading to a discussion of the legendary Immortal Demon Body.
• She explains that the Immortal Demon Body is an acquired physique comparable to the strongest innate physiques, but extremely difficult and dangerous to cultivate.
• The protagonist obtains the required Chaos Immortal Demon Art from Xuanyuan Tian Ji and begins cultivating it. After one month, he reaches the introductory level.
• The technique requires the protagonist to merge his immortal and demonic bodies through nine tribulations of Chaos Tribulation Lightning, eventually forming a Chaos Dao Fruit and completing the Immortal Demon Body.

Character Developments

• The protagonist becomes more determined to strengthen himself against future threats, including the Cunning Insects and unknown beings in the Immortal Realm. Although the cultivation method is extraordinarily dangerous, he accepts the risks and commits to the path.
• He conceals from Xuanyuan Tian Ji that both his main body and External Incarnation possess the same special physique, preserving the secret origins of his abilities.
• Xuanyuan Tian Ji acts as a knowledgeable guide but initially doubts that the protagonist can succeed. His mysterious history and serious resolve eventually awaken her expectations, prompting her to give him the Chaos Immortal Demon Art.
• Ye Chuxue demonstrates significant progress by breaking through to the Void Refining Realm.
• Zi You and Zhuge Qing remain missing, creating an unresolved mystery.

Significant Themes

• Power through extreme risk: The Immortal Demon Body offers immense potential but requires surviving nearly impossible trials.
• Determination and destiny: Despite lacking the normal prerequisites and facing a ninety-nine percent failure rate during Tribulation Crossing, the protagonist refuses to abandon the path.
• Balance and unity: Success depends on harmonizing the immortal body, demonic body, cultivation techniques, and divine abilities.
• Hidden potential and mystery: The protagonist’s unusual origins and concealed abilities lead Xuanyuan Tian Ji to suspect that he may defy conventional limits.
• Preparation for future threats: The pursuit of the Immortal Demon Body reflects the protagonist’s awareness that greater enemies await beyond the current realm.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist consults Lin Tian about Zi You’s absence.
• He encounters Ye Chuxue and Xuanyuan Tian Ji at Ye Chuxue’s residence.
• Xuanyuan Tian Ji questions and advises the protagonist, explaining the conditions for cultivating the Immortal Demon Body:
  1. Practicing the Chaos Immortal Demon Art.
  2. Maintaining substantial overlap between the main body’s and incarnation’s techniques and abilities.
  3. Enduring nine Chaos Tribulation Lightning tribulations during ascension.
• Though skeptical, Xuanyuan Tian Ji gives him the cultivation technique, influenced by a growing belief that he may actually succeed.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Year 7: The protagonist’s External Incarnation breaks through to become an Eighth-Rank Grand Alchemist and successfully completes the Heavenly Fate Soul Pill within a year.
• The protagonist informs Wuji Heavenly Venerate, who is surprised and grateful that such a powerful soul-restoring pill was obtained so quickly.
• Year 8: The protagonist enters the Blood Demon Secret Realm and meets Xuanyuan Tian Ji, whose cultivation has rapidly advanced to the Spirit Transmutation Stage after only two years.
• The protagonist takes the Heavenly Fate Soul Pill from the External Incarnation and delivers it to Wuji Heavenly Venerate, who immediately begins seclusion to restore his soul.
• Realizing that the External Incarnation’s cultivation has stagnated at the Great Perfection of the Void Refining Realm, the protagonist sends it away to Central Prefecture to train and gather more Cunning Insect blood energy.
• The protagonist questions Xuanyuan Tian Ji about the Cunning Insect race. She admits that she has never encountered them before and finds their souls and strange material energy highly unusual.
• Xuanyuan Tian Ji confirms the group’s suspicion that the Canglan Realm’s Heavenly Dao is corrupted, causing the realm’s spiritual energy to become polluted.
• After learning about Lin Qi, the protagonist reveals that he is a Child of Destiny. Xuanyuan Tian Ji warns that Lin Qi is not the only one—there are likely several such individuals.
• She explains that Children of Destiny are the Heavenly Dao’s final attempt to save the Canglan Realm. However, because the Heavenly Dao itself is contaminated, the power given to these chosen individuals is also polluted.

Character Developments

• The protagonist continues progressing toward completing the Immortal Demon Body and the Chaos Immortal Demon Art, but faces the major limitation that the External Incarnation cannot surpass the main body’s cultivation.
• The External Incarnation demonstrates exceptional talent by becoming an Eighth-Rank Grand Alchemist, but must now abandon pill refinement temporarily to improve its cultivation.
• Wuji Heavenly Venerate finally receives the Heavenly Fate Soul Pill and enters seclusion, beginning the process of restoring his damaged soul.
• Xuanyuan Tian Ji reveals herself to possess remarkable cultivation speed, extensive knowledge, and insight into the Canglan Realm’s crisis. Her opinion of the protagonist changes after witnessing the unusual physique of both his main body and External Incarnation.
• The protagonist’s status becomes more complicated: Xuanyuan Tian Ji questions why someone as talented as him was not selected as a Child of Destiny, forcing him to conceal the role of the Simulator in his transformation.

Significant Themes

• Corruption of the Heavenly Dao: The pollution of the realm’s spiritual energy originates from a deeper corruption within the Heavenly Dao itself.
• Destiny and chosen saviors: Children of Destiny are presented not as naturally blessed heroes, but as vessels for the Heavenly Dao’s final strength and hope.
• Hidden danger beneath power: The Heavenly Dao’s contamination is passed to the Children of Destiny, making their power dangerous and potentially turning them into delayed disasters.
• Growth and limitation: The protagonist’s path toward the Immortal Demon Body is hindered by the connection between his cultivation and that of his External Incarnation.
• Mystery of the Cunning Insects: Their unfamiliar souls and special energy suggest that they may be connected to the larger corruption affecting the Canglan Realm.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist delivers the Heavenly Fate Soul Pill to Wuji Heavenly Venerate, who accepts it and immediately begins cultivation.
• Xuanyuan Tian Ji observes the External Incarnation leaving the secret realm and becomes increasingly curious about how both bodies possess similar innate physiques.
• The protagonist consults Xuanyuan Tian Ji about the Cunning Insects, leading to a discussion about their mysterious nature and the pollution of the realm.
• When the protagonist mentions Lin Qi, Xuanyuan Tian Ji is shocked that a mere Child of Destiny could contaminate a secret realm.
• Xuanyuan Tian Ji warns the protagonist that multiple polluted Children of Destiny likely exist and explains their connection to the failing Heavenly Dao.

Chapter Summary: Zi You Returns to Sword Pavilion, Wuji Heavenly Venerate Awakens!

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xuanyuan Tian Ji confirms the protagonist’s suspicion that Lin Qi may be one of several “destined children.” This strengthens the belief that the Heavenly Dao has been corrupted by the Cunning Insect Progenitor.
• The protagonist and Xuanyuan Tian Ji continue cultivating in the Blood Demon Secret Realm, but its Spiritual Energy begins depleting much faster than expected. The protagonist realizes he must either eliminate the Cunning Insects or find another cultivation secret realm.
• Lin Tian reports that Zi You has returned to the Sword Pavilion, prompting the protagonist to immediately leave the Blood Demon Secret Realm and reunite with her.
• Zi You explains that she and Zhuge Qing traveled through Central Prefecture and later infiltrated Barren Prefecture. After learning that the protagonist had returned to Central Prefecture, they began stealing treasures from the four great families and powerful dynasties.
• Zhuge Qing remains in Central Prefecture to complete unfinished business, motivated by the coming Great Tribulation and his desire to improve humanity’s chances of survival.
• Zi You brings back numerous treasures, including seventh-grade pills and other top-tier spiritual items.
• Heitian confronts the protagonist about the promised Ancestral Dragon Art, complaining that more than two years have passed. The protagonist gives him the art, but it is later revealed that he only handed over half of it.
• The protagonist admits to Zi You that he intends to use the Demon Race against their common enemy while still keeping safeguards against their possible betrayal.
• The protagonist returns to the Blood Demon Secret Realm with some of Zi You’s treasures, including soul-nourishing items. Upon arrival, Wuji Heavenly Venerate awakens and reveals that his recovery has restored several important memories.

Character Developments

• The protagonist becomes increasingly certain that the Heavenly Dao has been corrupted, though he recognizes that the Cunning Insect Progenitor remains far beyond his current ability to defeat. He also demonstrates greater strategic cunning by giving Heitian only half of the Ancestral Dragon Art to maintain leverage over the Demon Race.
• Zi You returns stronger and wealthier, showing initiative by acquiring resources from powerful factions. Her reunion with the protagonist is warm, and she supports his cautious strategy toward the Demon Race.
• Zhuge Qing is portrayed as committed to humanity’s survival, choosing to remain in Central Prefecture and continue gathering resources before rejoining the others.
• Heitian remains impatient and confrontational but is delighted when he confirms that the Ancestral Dragon Art is genuine. He is unknowingly given only part of what was promised.
• Wuji Heavenly Venerate awakens after prolonged recovery, signaling that he may soon provide vital information about the larger crisis.

Significant Themes

• Corruption of the Heavenly Dao: The discovery of multiple destined children and the connection to the Cunning Insect Progenitor suggest that fate itself has been manipulated.
• Preparation for catastrophe: The characters gather treasures, cultivate, and form alliances in anticipation of the Great Tribulation.
• Trust and deception: The protagonist cooperates with the Demon Race but deliberately withholds half of the Ancestral Dragon Art, reflecting the difficulty of forming alliances with former enemies.
• Resource scarcity and urgency: The rapid depletion of the Blood Demon Secret Realm’s Spiritual Energy creates pressure to find new cultivation grounds or resolve the Cunning Insect threat quickly.
• Reunion and loyalty: Zi You and Zhuge Qing’s efforts demonstrate their continued support for the protagonist and humanity despite being separated from him.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist and Xuanyuan Tian Ji discuss the possibility of multiple destined children and the Heavenly Dao’s corruption.
• The protagonist reunites with Zi You and learns about her and Zhuge Qing’s travels and activities.
• He explains Heitian’s connection to the Black King and the original bargain involving the Ancestral Dragon Art.
• Heitian angrily challenges the protagonist, who responds by revealing the practical reasons for his earlier deception.
• Zi You questions the protagonist’s plan to use the Demon Race and warns him about possible betrayal. He reveals that he has retained half of the Ancestral Dragon Art as insurance.
• The chapter ends with the protagonist meeting the newly awakened Wuji Heavenly Venerate, whose recovered memories may contain crucial information.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wuji Heavenly Venerate explains that the Heavenly Fate Soul Pill can only temporarily delay the dissipation of his damaged soul. True recovery would require the legendary Elixir of Immortality.
• He gradually recalls the history of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion:
  • Near the end of the ancient era, the Xuanyuan Clan entrusted him with an important Immortal Source.
  • He disbanded the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion and hid it in the Heavenly Void for safekeeping.
  • Xuanyuan Tian Ji had been sealed inside the Immortal Source, though Wuji Heavenly Venerate did not know this at the time.
• Afterward, Wuji Heavenly Venerate accepted the Great Void Sword Sect’s invitation to fight in Green Prefecture against the Cunning Insect race. Their forces ultimately lost, creating the Immortal Falling Secret Realm and the Bronze Divine Hall to preserve their legacies.
• Wuji reveals the truth about the Immortal Sword of Great Void:
  • It was the Great Void Sword Sect’s supreme treasure and gave them an advantage against the Cunning Insects.
  • An Immortal Realm Cunning Insect was sealed inside it after its physical body was destroyed.
  • Because its soul was too powerful, the sword was nearly corrupted. It eventually shattered into nine pieces, with the insect’s soul sealed within each fragment.
• Wuji suggests that the Heavenly Void may contain a way to deal with the Cunning Insects and restore or repurpose the sword fragments.
• The origin of the Heavenly Void and the history of the Canglan Realm before the ancient era remain unknown. Wuji suspects that this earlier history was deliberately erased.
• The protagonist returns to the depths of the Blood Demon Secret Realm, gives spiritual treasures to Xuanyuan Tian Ji, and focuses on the Blood Tablet. He realizes that obtaining the Immortal Sword of Great Void would require releasing the Blood Demon Heavenly Venerate sealed beneath it, something only possible in Year Ten, shortly before the great tribulation.
• By Year Twelve, the protagonist reaches the late Body Integration Realm, while his External Incarnation reaches the mid Body Integration Realm. He also cultivates the first layer of the Ancestral Dragon Art, strengthening his body for future tribulations.
• Before leaving, he discovers that Xuanyuan Tian Ji has advanced to the early Spirit Transmutation Stage.

Character Developments

• Wuji Heavenly Venerate: Recovers fragments of his ancient memories and reveals his connection to the Xuanyuan Clan, the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, Green Prefecture, and the Great Void Sword Sect. Despite his knowledge, much of the deeper history remains inaccessible to him.
• The protagonist: Gains crucial knowledge about the Immortal Sword of Great Void, the Cunning Insects, and the Heavenly Void. His cultivation and physical strength improve significantly, preparing him for future breakthroughs and the great tribulation.
• Xuanyuan Tian Ji: Progresses rapidly, reaching the early Spirit Transmutation Stage by the end of the chapter, suggesting increasing importance in the protagonist’s plans and the wider conflict.
• The External Incarnation: Advances to the mid Body Integration Realm but becomes increasingly endangered due to being hunted throughout Central Prefecture.

Significant Themes

• Lost history and incomplete memory: The truth of the ancient world and the era before it has been deliberately obscured, leaving even powerful survivors uncertain about the past.
• The danger of the Cunning Insects: Their soul power is more terrifying than their physical strength, allowing them to corrupt treasures and survive destruction.
• Sacrifice and preservation: The creation of the Immortal Falling Secret Realm and Bronze Divine Hall reflects the ancient powers’ attempt to preserve their inheritances after defeat.
• Preparation for catastrophe: The protagonist’s cultivation, physical strengthening, and search for the Immortal Sword are all steps toward surviving the approaching great tribulation.
• The Heavenly Void’s mystery: It emerges as a possible key to solving the Immortal Sword crisis, while also hinting at a much larger connection to the Immortal Realm and ancient catastrophes.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist questions Wuji Heavenly Venerate about the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, the Xuanyuan Clan, his presence in Green Prefecture, and the Immortal Sword of Great Void.
• Wuji explains the origins of Xuanyuan Tian Ji’s sealing and the tragic fate of the Great Void Sword Sect.
• The protagonist and Wuji discuss whether the Cunning Insects within the sword fragments can be eliminated or sealed elsewhere, leading to the possibility that the Heavenly Void holds the answer.
• The protagonist later gives Xuanyuan Tian Ji spiritual resources, then observes both her cultivation progress and the Blood Tablet connected to the Blood Demon Heavenly Venerate.

Chapter Summary: “Contamination Crisis! Mystic Prefecture's Child of Destiny!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Wuji Heavenly Venerate explains that Xuanyuan Tian Ji’s original cultivation realm remains intact despite her sealing, the protagonist realizes why her potential is so great.
• The protagonist returns to the Sword Pavilion and finds that everyone’s cultivation has advanced significantly:
  • Lin Tian reaches Spirit Transmutation Great Perfection.
  • Gu Xinyue and Fang Jingchun reach the late Void Refining stage.
  • Ye Chuxue nears the Body Integration Realm.
• The protagonist notices that Ye Chuxue has become colder and less expressive. After speaking with her, they confirm she has not been possessed by the Taiyin Lord, though her personality has changed.
• Zhuge Qing arrives and reveals that secret realms in other regions are also suffering from unexplained spiritual-energy pollution. The protagonist confirms that the Immortal Falling Secret Realm was polluted more than ten years earlier.
• Zhuge Qing warns that if every secret realm in the Canglan Realm becomes contaminated, humanity will lose its chance to recover.
• He admits that his attempts to deduce the cause were blocked by an unseen force. The protagonist explains that the Heavenly Dao itself has been corrupted by the Cunning Insect Ancestor and has unknowingly allowed the Son of Destiny to become another source of contamination.
• Zhuge Qing suspects that the Cunning Insects may have deliberately weakened and manipulated the Heavenly Dao to bring about the destruction of the Canglan Realm.
• Since Zhuge Qing cannot locate the Son of Destiny, he asks the protagonist to use their superior ability to bypass the Heavenly Dao’s interference.
• After seven days of deduction, the protagonist discovers that there is not one Child of Destiny, but at least two possible locations: one in Central Prefecture and another in Mystic Prefecture.
• The protagonist cannot yet identify the exact individuals because their Heavenly Mystery Art is only at the fourth level, though True Sight would allow them to identify a Child of Destiny directly if encountered.
• Zhuge Qing suggests bringing Zi You along, but she is likely occupied plundering treasures elsewhere.

Character Developments

• The protagonist becomes increasingly burdened by the threat posed by the Taiyin Lord, the polluted Heavenly Dao, and the spread of contaminated secret realms. They also recognize the need to resume cultivating the Heavenly Mystery Art.
• Ye Chuxue grows emotionally distant and colder while retaining her original identity. Her transformation leaves the protagonist worried that the Taiyin Lord may eventually influence or replace her.
• Zhuge Qing shifts from confident deduction to profound helplessness after learning that the Heavenly Dao itself obstructed him. Nevertheless, he trusts the protagonist’s unique destiny and ability to uncover the truth.
• The Heavenly Dao is revealed to be severely compromised, having become aligned with or controlled by the Cunning Insect threat.
• The Son/Children of Destiny are reframed as potential sources of danger rather than guaranteed saviors, since at least one has already been unknowingly contaminated.

Significant Themes

• Corruption of hope: The Heavenly Dao and the Son of Destiny, traditionally humanity’s greatest protections, may instead be contributing to its destruction.
• Fate versus free will: Zhuge Qing’s deductions are blocked by Heaven, while the protagonist’s unpredictable destiny allows them to uncover secrets hidden from the Heavenly Dao.
• Impending extinction: The pollution of secret realms represents a spreading catastrophe that could permanently eliminate humanity’s chance to recover.
• Uncertainty and hidden conspiracies: The Cunning Insects may have orchestrated the Heavenly Dao’s decline, suggesting that the crisis is part of a deliberate long-term plan.
• Transformation and identity: Ye Chuxue’s personality change raises questions about whether a person can remain themselves while undergoing profound internal alteration.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist and Xuanyuan Tian Ji share a brief, awkward exchange after the protagonist realizes the true significance of her sealed cultivation.
• The protagonist reassures themselves that Ye Chuxue has not been possessed, though their conversation fails to ease the protagonist’s deeper concern.
• Zhuge Qing confronts the protagonist about the pollution of secret realms, leading to the revelation of the Heavenly Dao’s corruption and the Son of Destiny’s contamination.
• Zhuge Qing encourages the protagonist to perform the deduction, emphasizing that their mysterious destiny places them beyond the Heavenly Dao’s control.
• After learning that two possible Children of Destiny exist, Zhuge Qing and the protagonist begin considering how to locate and identify them before the contamination spreads further.

Chapter Summary: Child of Destiny—Su Wanqing!

Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist and Zhuge Qing travel from You Prefecture through Central Prefecture to Mystic Prefecture, eventually reaching the Shuiyue Sect after several months.
• Before entering the sect, they confirm that the Purple Firmament Holy Land has not harmed the ordinary people of Shuiyue Village.
• A Core Formation cultivator initially stops them, but Sect Master Bai He soon recognizes the protagonist and personally welcomes him.
• The protagonist claims to have come out of concern for the Shuiyue Sect’s safety, but Bai He correctly suspects there is another reason.
• He reveals that the Central Prefecture secret realm has been polluted by the Child of Destiny, whose power has been corrupted by the Heavenly Dao and interfered with by the Cunning Insect clan.
• The protagonist explains that his Heavenly Mystery Art indicates one of the Children of Destiny is in Mystic Prefecture. He asks to inspect the Shuiyue Sect in order to rule it out as the child’s location.
• Bai He brings her four disciples before him. After examining them with True Sight, the protagonist identifies the final disciple, Su Wanqing, as the corrupted Child of Destiny.

Character Developments

• The protagonist: Demonstrates caution and diplomacy by concealing his true purpose at first, then honestly explaining the danger. He is deeply shaken when he discovers the Child of Destiny is someone within Bai He’s sect.
• Zhuge Qing: Remains observant and supportive. He immediately realizes from the protagonist’s reaction that Su Wanqing is the person they were seeking.
• Bai He: Shows warmth and trust toward the protagonist but becomes distressed when she learns that one of her personally trained disciples may be responsible for the realm’s catastrophe. Her initial disbelief gradually turns into reluctant acceptance.
• Su Wanqing: Is revealed to possess extraordinary potential: an Early Nascent Soul cultivation level, a top-grade Fire Spirit Root, and the rare Star Body. However, she is also marked as a “Fallen Child of Destiny,” carrying the aura of the Cunning Insect Progenitor.

Significant Themes

• Good intentions corrupted: The Heavenly Dao intended to transform or improve the Canglan Realm, but its actions produced disastrous results after interference from the Cunning Insect clan.
• The danger of destiny: Being chosen by the Heavenly Dao does not guarantee salvation; the Child of Destiny can also become a source of ruin.
• Trust and suspicion: The protagonist must investigate people connected to his allies, creating tension between his mission and his relationship with Bai He.
• Potential versus corruption: Su Wanqing’s immense natural talent suggests she could become a great protector of humanity, yet her destiny and contamination may instead make her a threat.
• Personal conflict within larger disasters: The realm-wide crisis becomes emotionally significant when the suspected culprit is revealed to be one of Bai He’s beloved disciples.

Character Interactions

• Bai He jokes with the protagonist about whether he has once again been forced to flee to Mystic Prefecture, showing their familiarity.
• She welcomes him into the sect and listens as he explains the polluted secret realm.
• The protagonist reassures Bai He that Su Wanqing’s identity has not yet been proven to mean she is irredeemably evil, emphasizing that he only intended to eliminate possibilities.
• The four disciples endure the protagonist’s examination because Bai He requests it, though they are visibly uncomfortable.
• Su Wanqing confronts the protagonist after noticing his prolonged stare, while Zhuge Qing correctly interprets his expression and asks whether she is the Child of Destiny.

Chapter Summary:

Bai He’s Obstruction, Lightning Tribulation Appears!

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai He is horrified when it is revealed that Su Wanqing—not an obvious Cunning Insect candidate—has polluted the Spiritual Energy within Shuiyue Sect’s secret realm.
• Zhuge Qing decides that Su Wanqing may need to be eliminated for humanity’s protection, but Bai He immediately intervenes and shields her disciple.
• A tense confrontation develops between Bai He and Zhuge Qing. Bai He argues that Su Wanqing is a rare human genius and that her potential transformation into a Cunning Insect is only speculation. Zhuge Qing counters that her pollution of the secret realm has already endangered humanity’s future.
• To settle the dispute, the group enters the forbidden-area secret realm. The protagonist confirms that the Spiritual Energy has been contaminated by a strange aura, rendering the secret realm unusable.
• Bai He is devastated by the proof and asks whether there is any alternative. The protagonist explains that Su Wanqing must never cultivate in the secret realm again or advance toward Spirit Transmutation; however, restricting such a gifted cultivator would be extremely painful.
• After three days of deliberation, Bai He persuades Su Wanqing to stop cultivating at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection stage and promises that she will never use the secret realm again.
• Zhuge Qing accepts the arrangement provisionally, warning that he will kill Su Wanqing if she repeats the pollution or causes further problems. Bai He declares that she herself will deal with Su Wanqing if necessary.
• With the immediate crisis in Mystic Prefecture contained, the protagonist and Zhuge Qing depart for Central Prefecture. The protagonist also remembers that his External Incarnation is hiding in seclusion from pursuers.
• Just as they leave, both suddenly sense an enormous disturbance in central Mystic Prefecture and realize that a Lightning Tribulation has appeared.

Character Developments

• Bai He: Her gentle, protective nature conflicts with her responsibility to humanity. Though initially unwilling to believe Su Wanqing could be dangerous, witnessing the polluted Spiritual Energy forces her to accept reality. She compromises by restricting Su Wanqing’s cultivation and accepts responsibility for controlling her disciple.
• Zhuge Qing: Demonstrates his rational, utilitarian approach by prioritizing humanity’s survival over personal feelings. Although prepared to eliminate Su Wanqing, he agrees to a temporary compromise but makes clear that he will act decisively if the danger returns.
• The Protagonist: Acts as the mediator and investigator. Though unable to control the conflict directly due to his lower cultivation realm, he provides the crucial confirmation that the secret realm has been contaminated and proposes the only workable temporary solution.
• Su Wanqing: Remains largely unaware of the full danger surrounding her, but her talent and cultivation breakthrough have made her the center of a major dispute. She agrees to stop advancing beyond Nascent Soul Great Perfection and to abandon the secret realm.
• The Shuiyue Sect disciples: Recognize the danger of the confrontation and remove Su Wanqing from the main hall to prevent her from being caught between Bai He and Zhuge Qing.

Significant Themes

• Protection versus responsibility: Bai He’s love for her disciple clashes with her duty to protect humanity.
• The dangers of unchecked talent: Su Wanqing’s exceptional potential becomes a threat because her cultivation appears linked to Spiritual Energy pollution.
• Moral uncertainty and sacrifice: The characters must choose between killing a possibly dangerous genius and preserving her life under severe restrictions.
• Pragmatism versus compassion: Zhuge Qing represents cold rationality, while Bai He embodies compassion and personal loyalty.
• Foreshadowing of greater danger: The sudden Lightning Tribulation suggests that a major breakthrough or crisis is unfolding, likely connected to the wider threats facing the protagonists.

Important Character Interactions

• Bai He and Zhuge Qing: Their confrontation drives the chapter. They clash over whether Su Wanqing should be sacrificed for humanity, but eventually reach a tense temporary agreement.
• The protagonist and Bai He: The protagonist forces Bai He to confront the truth by guiding her into the secret realm and explaining the consequences of Su Wanqing’s cultivation.
• Bai He and Su Wanqing: Bai He privately persuades her disciple to limit her cultivation and abandon the secret realm, taking on responsibility for preventing further danger.
• The protagonist and Zhuge Qing: They work together to investigate the pollution, resolve the Mystic Prefecture crisis, and continue toward Central Prefecture before being interrupted by the appearance of the Lightning Tribulation.

Chapter Summary: Mysterious Great Hand Suddenly Reappears!

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist and Zhuge Qing sense a lightning tribulation near the Purple Heaven Holy Land and travel there to observe it. Using the Great Void Technique, they arrive before the tribulation begins.
• Four days later, a black python-robed cultivator from the Purple Heaven Holy Land begins crossing the tribulation from the Three Tribulation Realm to the Four Tribulation Realm.
• Zhuge Qing explains that this breakthrough requires six lightning tribulations. The first few strikes severely damage the cultivator, eventually destroying his physical body.
• The cultivator’s Nascent Soul is revealed to be the grotesque true form of a Cunning Insect: a fleshy sphere covered in eyes and tentacles. Despite being shattered by the fifth tribulation, it reconstructs itself, apparently aided by the Purple Heaven Immortal Ganoderma.
• After surviving all six tribulations, the cultivator’s body and Nascent Soul regenerate, and his aura becomes stronger. He then notices the protagonist and Zhuge Qing.
• Before either can escape, a black vortex appears where the tribulation clouds had vanished. A massive purple Spiritual Energy arm emerges, seizes the cultivator, and drags him into the vortex.
• The protagonist’s True Sight reveals that the cultivator is devoured by an indescribable monster within the void. The protagonist immediately stops observing to avoid exposing himself to the terrifying entity.
• Zhuge Qing identifies the event as the Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth, which was expected to occur more than a decade later. The protagonist realizes that it has appeared far earlier than anticipated.
• Shortly afterward, both characters begin losing their memories of the event. Zhuge Qing can barely recall the tribulation or what happened afterward, while the protagonist also feels the memory fading from his mind.

Character Developments

• The protagonist demonstrates increasing confidence and capability by using the Great Void Technique and True Sight, but the event reminds him that there are still beings far beyond his power.
• His caution has developed from previous experiences: rather than continue looking at the unknown monster, he deliberately withdraws his attention to protect himself.
• Zhuge Qing remains curious and knowledgeable, explaining the structure of the tribulation and sharing the protagonist’s desire to witness the event firsthand. However, he also harbors a secret hope that the Cunning Insect will fail and die.
• Zhuge Qing’s shock at the premature Great Tribulation reveals that even his extensive knowledge cannot explain the phenomenon.
• The Cunning Insect successfully crosses the tribulation and appears stronger than ever, only to be abruptly captured and annihilated by a force beyond its understanding.

Significant Themes

• The limits of power: Surviving a devastating tribulation does not guarantee safety; a being capable of regenerating its body and Nascent Soul is still helpless before the mysterious void entity.
• The unpredictability of fate: The Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth appears years earlier than expected, suggesting that the world’s established laws or timeline may be changing.
• Forbidden knowledge and cosmic terror: The black vortex, purple hand, and unnamed monster represent forces so terrifying that merely witnessing them carries danger.
• Memory and reality: The gradual erasure of the characters’ memories implies that the event possesses reality-altering properties, or that some higher power prevents mortals from retaining knowledge of it.
• False victory: The Cunning Insect’s successful tribulation crossing initially appears triumphant, but its achievement is immediately rendered meaningless by the sudden intervention of a greater power.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist and Zhuge Qing travel together, exchanging knowledge and interpretations of the tribulation.
• Zhuge Qing explains the number of lightning strikes required for each tribulation level, helping the protagonist understand the process.
• Both watch the Cunning Insect’s progress and share the expectation that its physical body will fail.
• After the black-robed cultivator is dragged away, Zhuge Qing turns to the protagonist for an explanation, correctly connecting the phenomenon to the anticipated Great Tribulation.
• Their conversation is interrupted by their shared loss of memory, leaving both uncertain about what they have witnessed.

Chapter Summary: Bai He Unaffected, Central Prefecture Child of Destiny’s Whereabouts

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ming realizes through the Simulator that the mysterious black hand behind the Great Tribulation has appeared earlier than expected, likely because the Purple Heaven Sect’s black-robed cultivator successfully crossed his tribulation.
• He theorizes that the lightning tribulation weakened the Canglan Realm’s barrier, allowing the unknown mastermind to descend or interfere.
• After the tribulation, a black hole appears and then vanishes. Everyone who witnessed it—including Mahayana expert Zhuge Qing—has their memories of it erased.
• Su Ming, protected by the Simulator’s distinction between real and simulated memories, notices that both he and Zhuge Qing possess contradictory memories: they instinctively remember the black-robed man succeeding, while their altered memories insist that he died.
• Zhuge Qing attempts to use divination to investigate, but Su Ming stops him, fearing that the same terrifying existence that previously targeted Zhuge Qing will detect them again.
• Su Ming reminds Zhuge Qing that he must survive to accomplish his goal and use the complete Heavenly Mystery Art. Zhuge Qing accepts this and abandons the divination.
• The two leave the Purple Heaven Sect and travel toward Central Prefecture.
• Bai He, however, retains her memories because her Profound Ice Immortal Spirit Body uses the power of rules to resist the memory-erasing force. Su Ming is surprised by this but recognizes that her exceptional physique carries serious backlash.
• Six months later, Su Ming and Zhuge Qing arrive in Central Prefecture. Su Ming has cultivated the Heavenly Mystery Art to its fifth layer.
• His new deduction concerning another Child of Destiny still points toward Central Prefecture and Mystic Prefecture. Since Su Wanqing has stopped cultivating and Central Prefecture is enormous, locating the person seems extremely difficult.
• Zhuge Qing explains that many secret realms throughout Central Prefecture—especially in the Western Domain—have been polluted and rendered unusable. He believes the Child of Destiny may still be hiding in the Western Domain.
• Before they can reach it, Su Ming receives a message from his External Incarnation and announces that they no longer need to travel there because he has learned the Child of Destiny’s location.

Character Developments

• Su Ming: Becomes increasingly cautious and perceptive regarding the unknown mastermind. He draws logical conclusions about the relationship between the tribulation and the weakened world barrier, protects Zhuge Qing from repeating a fatal divination, and advances to the fifth layer of the Heavenly Mystery Art.
• Zhuge Qing: Shows his instinct to investigate mysteries even when doing so is dangerous. He initially resists Su Ming’s warning but ultimately prioritizes survival and his larger objective after being reminded that he has not yet completed his mission.
• Bai He: Reveals that her Profound Ice Immortal Spirit Body can resist even the powerful memory-erasing force affecting other witnesses. Her unique constitution makes her an important variable, although the backlash from using it remains a major limitation.
• The black-robed cultivator: His successful tribulation crossing appears to have triggered or enabled the mysterious phenomenon, though the truth has been concealed from nearly everyone.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation of memory and reality: The erased memories create uncertainty over what truly happened, emphasizing the power of the hidden entity and the unreliability of ordinary perception.
• Caution versus curiosity: Zhuge Qing’s desire to uncover the truth conflicts with Su Ming’s awareness that investigation itself can attract deadly attention.
• The limits of fate and divination: Even the Heavenly Mystery Art cannot easily locate the Child of Destiny, while divination may expose its user to forces beyond their understanding.
• Hidden changes in the world: The unprecedented tribulation and polluted secret realms suggest that the Immortal Realm and Canglan Realm have undergone a massive, largely unnoticed transformation.
• Special physiques and resistance: Bai He’s ability to retain her memories highlights the importance of rule-defying talents, while also showing that extraordinary power comes with a cost.

Character Interactions

• Su Ming and Zhuge Qing debate whether to investigate the erased event. Su Ming physically interrupts Zhuge Qing’s divination and persuades him to remain alive for the sake of his objective.
• Zhuge Qing provides crucial information about the polluted secret realms of Central Prefecture, influencing their decision to search the Western Domain.
• Bai He does not directly interact with Su Ming in this chapter, but her resistance to the memory erasure becomes a major revelation for him and may affect future events.
• The chapter ends with Su Ming receiving information from his External Incarnation, overturning Zhuge Qing’s plan and implying that the whereabouts of the Central Prefecture Child of Destiny have finally been discovered.

Chapter Summary:

Sword Pavilion’s Seventh Person—Qin Yang!

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist informs Zhuge Qing that his External Incarnation has discovered an anomaly in a secret realm in the Southern Region. The two travel there and arrive a month later.
• The secret realm is small and already suffering from Spiritual Energy pollution, which spreads faster in smaller realms.
• Deep inside, they find the protagonist’s External Incarnation facing a masked man: Qin Yang, the missing Seventh Disciple of the Sword Pavilion.
• The protagonist verifies Qin Yang’s identity with True Sight. Qin Yang is a late Body Integration Realm cultivator with exceptional Fire and Lightning Spiritual Roots, Sword Heart Clarity, and the corrupted talent of a “Fallen Child of Destiny.”
• By recognizing Qin Yang’s Sword Qi and challenging him to remove his mask, the protagonist confirms that he is indeed the same Qin Yang shown in an old portrait.
• Qin Yang reveals that he left the Sword Pavilion many years earlier and believed he would never meet another member again. Lin Tian had previously reported that Qin Yang and Luo Yiyi disappeared shortly after joining the Pavilion.
• The protagonist confronts Qin Yang about contaminating secret realms and endangering humanity’s future. Qin Yang argues that the current era is humanity’s only opportunity to grow strong enough to save the Canglan Realm.
• Qin Yang claims he only uses small secret realms and has never contaminated a major location such as the Immortal Falling Secret Realm.
• The protagonist explains that the Heavenly Dao has been corrupted and that Children of Destiny are consequently contaminated as well. He also tells Qin Yang about Lin Qi, another Child of Destiny who polluted the Immortal Falling Secret Realm.
• Qin Yang is shocked to learn he is not unique and realizes another person shares his ability to contaminate Spiritual Energy.
• Although the protagonist and Zhuge Qing originally intended to kill Qin Yang, the protagonist changes his mind after the incident involving Su Wanqing. He offers Qin Yang a chance to live if he stops using secret realms.
• Qin Yang refuses, insisting that he cannot abandon cultivation when he is only one step away from reaching the Mahayana Realm.

Character Developments

• The Protagonist: Demonstrates caution by personally verifying Qin Yang’s identity despite his External Incarnation’s confirmation. He also shows growing restraint and pragmatism by abandoning his original intention to kill Qin Yang and offering him another choice.
• Qin Yang: Is revealed to be both extraordinarily powerful and morally complex. Though his actions damage secret realms, he believes they are necessary for humanity’s survival. He has personal limits and avoids major secret realms, suggesting he is not completely reckless or malicious. His determination to reach the Mahayana Realm remains stronger than his willingness to change.
• Zhuge Qing: Acts as an observer and trusted companion. He follows the protagonist’s investigation but does not interfere, waiting to see how the confrontation develops.
• Lin Tian: Though absent, his earlier information establishes Qin Yang’s connection to the Sword Pavilion and highlights Qin Yang’s astonishing growth from the Foundation Establishment Stage to the late Body Integration Realm.

Significant Themes

• Moral ambiguity and survival: Qin Yang’s actions harm future generations, but he believes immediate strength is necessary because the current era may be humanity’s last chance.
• Corruption of destiny: The polluted Heavenly Dao has also tainted its chosen Children of Destiny, making even naturally favored individuals sources of danger.
• Power versus responsibility: Qin Yang’s rapid cultivation and impending breakthrough conflict with the ethical consequences of his methods.
• Hope and sacrifice: The characters debate whether humanity should preserve resources for the future or sacrifice them to save the present.
• Identity and reunion: Qin Yang’s unmasking reconnects him to the Sword Pavilion and reveals that the protagonist’s search for a Child of Destiny has led to an unexpected senior brother.

Important Character Interactions

• The protagonist and Zhuge Qing cooperate in tracking the secret realm and confronting Qin Yang.
• The protagonist identifies Qin Yang through his Sword Qi and forces him to reveal his face.
• The protagonist challenges Qin Yang’s methods, while Qin Yang defends them as necessary for survival.
• The protagonist informs Qin Yang about the corrupted Heavenly Dao and Lin Qi, fundamentally changing Qin Yang’s understanding of his condition.
• Despite arriving with hostile intentions, the protagonist offers Qin Yang a peaceful alternative. Qin Yang rejects it, setting up a likely future conflict.

Chapter Summary: Su Ming’s Change in State of Mind

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ming reflects on the worsening condition of the Canglan Realm and the approaching Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth.
• Qin Yang argues that the current era is humanity’s only opportunity to survive. Although he has been polluting cultivation secret realms, he has avoided destroying the larger ones and believes their resources must be used to strengthen humanity before the tribulation.
• Su Ming worries that the Cunning Insects may eventually seize the bodies of chosen cultivators. Qin Yang reassures him that his Sword Heart Clarity allows him to suppress the insects whenever he breaks through, and he has remained unaffected despite reaching the late Integration stage.
• Qin Yang reveals that only about ten years remain before the tribulation, which will target all Tribulation Crossing cultivators. Afterward, no powerful Tribulation Crossing experts will remain in the Canglan Realm.
• Convinced that humanity has no future unless it wins this final struggle, Su Ming abandons his cautious strategy of preserving resources for future generations. He decides to use the remaining secret realms completely to maximize the strength of the chosen cultivators.
• Su Ming learns from Zhuge Qing that only around ten small secret realms in Central Prefecture remain usable, while larger realms are controlled by the Four Great Families and Holy Lands. There may also be undiscovered realms, possibly known to Zi You.
• Qin Yang estimates that one secret realm can support roughly a year of normal cultivation, but only two months when used to break through a major realm.
• Su Ming identifies Su Wanqing as another potential talent worth developing, based on Qin Yang’s example.
• He assigns Qin Yang to cultivate in Central Prefecture using his External Incarnation, while Zhuge Qing is ordered to locate Zi You and inform her of their plan.

Character Developments

• Su Ming: Experiences a major shift from cautious preservation to decisive, all-or-nothing action. He accepts that conserving resources may only guarantee humanity’s eventual decline and resolves to gamble everything on defeating the Cunning Insects.
• Qin Yang: Demonstrates conviction and optimism despite the danger of the Cunning Insects. His survival and ability to suppress them becomes the evidence that changes Su Ming’s thinking.
• Zhuge Qing: Continues to admire Qin Yang’s restraint and principles. He accepts Su Ming’s new plan, though he is surprised by how quickly Su Ming’s outlook changes.
• Su Wanqing: Is identified as a promising candidate for cultivation, though she does not directly appear in the chapter.
• Zi You: Becomes important as a possible source of information about undiscovered secret realms.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice versus preservation: The chapter questions whether resources should be saved for future generations or spent immediately in a final attempt to secure humanity’s survival.
• Desperation and hope: The coming tribulation creates a deadline that forces the characters to abandon hesitation.
• Trust in chosen individuals: Qin Yang’s condition challenges Su Ming’s fears about the Cunning Insects and restores some confidence in the chosen ones.
• The burden of leadership: Su Ming must choose between protecting current lives and gambling the future of the entire human race.
• Final resistance: The Heavenly Dao’s remaining power and the last ten years before the tribulation frame the conflict as humanity’s final opportunity.

Character Interactions

• Qin Yang persuades Su Ming that using the secret realms fully is necessary and explains how he suppresses the Cunning Insects.
• Su Ming consults Zhuge Qing about the remaining secret realms and possible undiscovered locations.
• Zhuge Qing supports Qin Yang and validates his claims through the Heavenly Mystery Art.
• Su Ming and Qin Yang discuss the limited time before the tribulation and agree that the next ten years must be used without reservation.
• Su Ming assigns Zhuge Qing the difficult task of approaching Zi You, prompting Zhuge Qing to sarcastically question whether Su Ming truly expects him to do it.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• In Year 15, the protagonist finds Zi You in the Eastern Region and reveals a ruthless plan to destroy most of the secret realms in order to prevent the Cunning Insects from using them and endangering humanity.
• Zi You initially struggles to accept the plan, believing it leaves humanity with no future, but eventually agrees on the condition that a small number of secret realms be preserved as a final hope.
• The protagonist obtains the locations of the remaining secret realms, sends them to his External Incarnation, and travels alone to Mystic Prefecture.
• At the Shuiyue Sect, he asks Bai He to let him take Su Wanqing away for cultivation. Bai He refuses, assuming he still intends to kill Su Wanqing because of the danger her cultivation poses to the secret realms.
• The protagonist explains that humanity must take the risk of cultivating powerful individuals, since preserving the secret realms would only lead to a slow death at the hands of the Cunning Insects. He also reveals that Qin Yang is another Child of Destiny who has reached the late Body Integration Realm, changing his view on the dangers of allowing such individuals to grow.
• Bai He then reveals a shocking truth: the black-robed cultivator from the Purple Heaven Holy Land did not die during Tribulation Crossing. He successfully crossed the tribulation but was dragged into a black hole by a mysterious arm. A law-based power subsequently altered the memories of those who witnessed the event.
• This revelation causes the protagonist to realize that the Canglan Realm faces not only the future Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth, but also an unknown entity capable of interfering with Tribulation Crossing.
• Overwhelmed by despair, he nearly suffers demonic deviation and risks being possessed by a Cunning Insect. Wuji Heavenly Venerate awakens him in time.
• The protagonist recovers his Dao heart, resolves to continue advancing regardless of the dangers, and unexpectedly breaks through to Body Integration Great Perfection.
• Afterward, he again asks to take Su Wanqing with him, but Bai He states that Su Wanqing herself must decide.

Character Developments

• The protagonist: Becomes more pragmatic and ruthless regarding the secret realms, accepting sacrifices as necessary for humanity’s survival. After nearly losing his Dao heart, he transforms despair into determination and reaches Body Integration Great Perfection.
• Zi You: Though disturbed by the protagonist’s extreme plan, she ultimately trusts his judgment while asking him to preserve a small remnant of the secret realms.
• Bai He: Remains protective of Su Wanqing and suspicious of the protagonist’s intentions. She provides crucial information about the mysterious black hole and memory-altering law power, significantly changing the protagonist’s understanding of the world’s dangers.
• Wuji Heavenly Venerate: Acts as the protagonist’s protector and spiritual guide, detecting his near-demonic deviation and awakening him before he can be possessed.
• Su Wanqing: Has changed drastically during the years apart. Once spirited, she now appears hopeless and emotionally exhausted. Although she has reached Nascent Soul Great Perfection, Bai He’s restrictions prevent her from advancing to Spirit Transmutation.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice for survival: The protagonist accepts the destruction of most secret realms as the price of preserving humanity’s chance against the Cunning Insects.
• Hope versus despair: The truth about Tribulation Crossing nearly destroys the protagonist’s faith, but his recovery demonstrates the importance of maintaining conviction in the face of overwhelming threats.
• Hidden manipulation and unreliable memory: The altered memories surrounding the black-robed cultivator reveal that powerful forces can obscure reality itself.
• Fate and resistance: Despite prophecy, calamity, and seemingly invincible enemies, the protagonist chooses to defy any force that declares his death.
• Power through mental breakthroughs: His advancement to Body Integration Great Perfection comes not from ordinary cultivation, but from overcoming a crisis of faith and strengthening his Dao heart.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist and Zi You debate the morality and necessity of sacrificing the secret realms, ultimately reaching a compromise.
• The protagonist and Bai He clash over Su Wanqing’s future, with Bai He initially believing he intends to kill her.
• Bai He’s testimony forces the protagonist to confront the true nature of the Purple Heaven Holy Land incident and the dangers surrounding Tribulation Crossing.
• Wuji Heavenly Venerate intervenes internally to save the protagonist from demonic deviation and encourages him to persevere.
• Bai He later brings Su Wanqing before the protagonist, making clear that the final decision about leaving the Shuiyue Sect belongs to Su Wanqing herself.