Chapter Summaries

Zhao Haoran exposed his ambition and unleashed a devastating sword strike that killed most of the combatants in the square. With Chan'er besieged by Zhao Haoran, You Shanxian, and Zhang Xinyuan, Xiang Yuan let Cold Blood fully demonize to face Fan Hefeng and the remaining danger.

• Zhao Haoran destroyed the Shi brothers’ bodies, staged the scene as an enemy attack, and had Fan Hefeng tear apart the old emperor’s corpse.
• Xiang Yuan repeatedly stole Leng Silan’s Great Restoration Pills while Wu Buping tried and failed to protect her from his attacks.
• Zhao Haoran arrived with Fan Hefeng and annihilated the fighters in the square with a single sword strike, leaving Wu Buping alive but badly injured.
• Leng Silan and Wu Buping recognized Zhao Haoran’s swordsmanship as that of the Ever-Changing Scholar, while Xiang Yuan healed his wounds.
• Zhao Haoran joined You Shanxian and Zhang Xinyuan to attack Chan'er, forcing her onto the defensive.
• Xiang Yuan let Cold Blood draw on the Heavenly Devil Relic and begin demonization.

Xiang Yuan transformed into a devil, defeated Fan Hefeng, and flew to aid Chan'er against You Shanxian, Zhang Xinyuan, and Zhao Haoran. Chan'er exposed the trio as manifestations of the Illusion Annihilation Dao and separated them with the Yellow Springs Mother Tree, while Zhao Haoran prepared to sever the laws of heaven and earth.

• Xiang Yuan transformed into a devil and hurled Wu Buping at Fan Hefeng, then split the zombie in two with the Tiger Roar Saber.
• Xiang Yuan flew toward You Shanxian while Chan'er struggled against the combined attacks of You Shanxian, Zhang Xinyuan, and Zhao Haoran.
• Chan'er recognized the trio's coordination as the Illusion Annihilation Dao's Primordial Spirit incarnation technique and recalled Xiang Yuan's correct wager that they were allies.
• Xiang Yuan rejected Chan'er's request to lure away Ever-Changing Scholar and charged at You Shanxian as Chan'er opened a moonlit path for him.
• Chan'er summoned the Yellow Springs Mother Tree and separated Zhao Haoran from Zhang Xinyuan, then attacked Zhang Xinyuan first.
• Zhao Haoran realized Chan'er knew his methods and damaged his Primordial Spirit to unleash a sword technique intended to sever her laws of heaven and earth.

Chan'er killed Zhang Xinyuan but suffered a backlash as Zhao Haoran emerged and attacked her. Xiang Yuan fought You Shanxian, destroyed her Soul-Losing Banner, and rescued Chan'er from Zhao Haoran's killing blow, though he immediately knocked her away when she called him “Hubby.”

• Chan'er severed Zhang Xinyuan's connection to heaven and earth, cut him apart, and absorbed his Primordial Spirit into the Yellow Springs Mother Tree.
• Zhao Haoran emerged with a broken sword, furious that Zhang Xinyuan had been destroyed, while Xiang Yuan fought You Shanxian without the power of heaven and earth.
• You Shanxian used the Soul-Losing Banner to daze Xiang Yuan, but he recovered, seized the banner with his tail, and tore it apart.
• Xiang Yuan attacked You Shanxian and spotted Zhao Haoran preparing to kill Chan'er, so he wrapped his tail around Chan'er and pulled her out of the attack.
• Zhao Haoran's sword grazed Chaner's shoulder instead of striking her heart, and Xiang Yuan carried her away before knocking her to the ground when she called him “Hubby.”

Zhao Haoran revealed the conspiracy behind his attempt to seize the throne, then chose to fight Xiang Yuan and Chan'er rather than retreat. Chan'er attacked Zhao Haoran while Xiang Yuan let You Shanxian swallow him, leaving the outcome of their fight uncertain.

• You Shanxian transformed into a huge python while Zhao Haoran stood atop her and threatened Xiang Yuan and Chan'er.
• Zhao Haoran’s history and plan to exploit the martial world, kill the emperor, and claim the throne were revealed, along with how Chan'er and Xiang Yuan had disrupted it.
• Chan'er proposed fighting Zhao Haoran while Xiang Yuan delayed You Shanxian, but Xiang Yuan cut her off and flung her toward Zhao Haoran with his tail.
• Chan'er attacked Zhao Haoran with her sword, combining Empress Dugu’s martial intent with her own illusions.
• Xiang Yuan charged into You Shanxian’s open mouth, and the python swallowed him before realizing her stomach hurt.

Xiang Yuan escaped You Shanxian’s body and joined the exhausted Chan’er and Zhao Haoran’s duel, but Zhao Haoran incapacitated them both with the Forlorn Bell. As Zhao Haoran tried to possess Xiang Yuan, Xiang Yuan killed him and took his relic and Illusion Annihilation Dao technique.

• Xiang Yuan burned through You Shanxian’s flesh from inside and escaped her body, killing the giant python.
• Chan’er and Zhao Haoran wounded each other severely, and Zhao Haoran restored his strength by merging his Primordial Spirits.
• Chan’er used the Yellow Springs Mother Tree’s power to strike Zhao Haoran, but both fighters were left nearly powerless.
• Zhao Haoran rang the Forlorn Bell, knocking Chan’er unconscious and sending Xiang Yuan crashing to the ground.
• Zhao Haoran attempted to possess Xiang Yuan, but Xiang Yuan stabbed and beheaded him, then collected the Forlorn Bell, a relic, and the Illusion Annihilation Dao technique.

After Zhao Haoran’s defeat, Xiang Yuan brought the badly wounded Chan’er to a country estate to recover, while Cold Blood and Steady emerged from seclusion. Chan’er woke to find Xiang Yuan tending her injuries and decided she would make him obey her, though his antics quickly exasperated her.

• Xiang Yuan spared the unconscious Chan’er, treated her wounds, and carried her away from the capital to recuperate at a private estate with Senior Jiang.
• Xiang Yuan reflected on Zhao Haoran’s Illusion Annihilation Dao inheritance and lamented that Cold Blood had destroyed the Soul-Losing Banner.
• Chan’er woke after three days and realized Xiang Yuan had changed her clothes and bandaged her while she was unconscious.
• Xiang Yuan changed Chan’er’s dressings as she protested, then teased her while she tried to recover her strength.
• Chan’er resolved to make Xiang Yuan obey her and asked for ice, but Xiang Yuan offered her a heavy fasting pill instead.

After recovering from her injuries, Chan'er accompanied Xiang Yuan on a mission he described as looting the imperial city, while both continued hiding their motives from each other. At the Qi-Extinguishing Prince's Manor, Xiang Yuan and Chan'er raided Zhao Haoran's treasure vault, and Xiang Yuan found a corpse-refining manual to use when they returned to the Dry Abyss Realm.

• Chan'er recovered most of her strength but kept acting obediently toward Xiang Yuan as she tried to win his trust and learn about Jambu Gate.
• Xiang Yuan told Chan'er that their mission was to take every valuable from the imperial palace treasury, the Qi-Extinguishing Prince's Manor, and the Six Doors warehouse.
• Xiang Yuan and Chan'er infiltrated the Qi-Extinguishing Prince's Manor and found its underground treasure vault.
• Xiang Yuan and Chan'er collected pills, medicines, magical treasures, weapons, and cultivation manuals, while Xiang Yuan noticed Chan'er secretly stored treasures in spatial equipment.
• Xiang Yuan found a corpse-refining manual and planned to use it to upgrade Senior Zombie after returning to the Dry Abyss Realm.

Xiang Yuan traded information with Chan'er for a moonlight cultivation method that could strengthen Senior Jiang, then looted Six Doors and left the Unborn Realm. Back in the Dry Abyss Realm, he claimed that Jambu Gate had accepted them as disciples and assigned Chan'er the code name White Tortoise.

• Xiang Yuan learned that Zhao Haoran's corpse-refining method could not help Senior Jiang, so he negotiated with Chan'er for her moonlight cultivation method in exchange for part of his Jambu Gate intelligence.
• Chan'er taught Xiang Yuan how to cultivate using moonlight, and Xiang Yuan shared information about Jambu Gate's storage-space ability; both confirmed the information was genuine.
• Xiang Yuan and Chan'er looted the undefended Six Doors warehouse, then Xiang Yuan considered returning to the Unborn Realm to challenge Kang Kuangshi after reaching the innate stage.
• Xiang Yuan returned to the Dry Abyss Realm with Chan'er and Senior Zombie, then secretly used a relic to activate Jambu Gate.
• Xiang Yuan told Chan'er that she had entered Jambu Gate's tutelage and assigned her the code name Junior Sister White Tortoise.

Chan'er took Xiang Yuan toward Earth Dragon Fort, offering him a chance to enter the Innate Realm while keeping him under her control. After reaching her estate in the Southern Border, she set out by carriage and revealed she had suppressed information about Xiang Yuan, then began tormenting him as he pretended to be unaffected.

• Chan'er tried to charm Xiang Yuan, but he acted dazed while Senior Jiang followed them toward the Southern Border.
• Chan'er brought Xiang Yuan to an estate, where Baoqin and the other women bowed to the Yellow Springs Saintess.
• Chan'er ordered Baoqin to drive them to Earth Dragon Fort and dismissed her plan to kidnap Xiao He again.
• In the carriage, Chan'er told Xiang Yuan she had suppressed information about him and King Zhao's son, then made him massage her feet.
• Chan'er demanded that Xiang Yuan open his mouth so she could spit out a grape skin.

Xiang Yuan traveled with Chan'er to Earth Dragon Fort, where she brought him into the Underworld River Ancient Road to strengthen his body with rare treasures. The chapter ended with Chan'er ordering him into a heated pool of medicinal ingredients while Xiang Yuan joked about what might be in her bathwater.

• Chan'er tested Xiang Yuan by demanding he eat ten enormous meatballs, and he ate them along with two steamed buns.
• Xiang Yuan and Chan'er arrived at Earth Dragon Fort, where he had opened eighty qi acupoints during their journey.
• Chan'er led Xiang Yuan into her secluded chamber and revealed an entrance to the Underworld River Ancient Road.
• Chan'er took Xiang Yuan to a deep underground pool surrounded by Great Sinew Vine, Blood Qi Stone, and Bone-Washing Grass.
• Chan'er told Xiang Yuan to enter the heated medicinal pool, and he teased her by asking whether she had peed in it.

Xiang Yuan cultivated in a blood-red medicinal pool while Chan'er guarded him, until Changchun Ming and the Xue brothers arrived seeking treasure and triggered a fight with Chan'er. The cavern collapsed and dragged them into a deeper chamber, where Xiang Yuan fell into a mysterious, scorching blood pool.

• Xiang Yuan used the medicinal pool to strengthen his body with the Formless Seal Method while Chan'er replenished its heat and cultivated nearby.
• Changchun Ming led Xue Wenlong and Xue Wenjiao to the cave, hoping to seize the opportunity they believed Xiang Yuan had found.
• Chan'er attacked the three intruders with moonlight, and they joined forces against her using the force of heaven and earth.
• Xiang Yuan dodged falling rocks as the battle’s shock waves wrecked the cavern and the blood pool’s suction pulled everyone downward.
• Xiang Yuan fell into a deep crimson pool, where scorching bloodwater flooded his mouth and threatened to kill him.

Xiang Yuan survived the Blood Sea Furnace by absorbing the blood pool’s medicinal power, then saved Chan’er by sharing his blood and helping her body recover. The two remained trapped in the pool, cultivating together as Chan’er asked why he had survived and he mistook her question for one about his romantic feelings.

• Xiang Yuan endured the blood pool’s destructive heat and used the Formless Seal Method and the medicine within him to absorb its power, rebuilding and strengthening his body.
• Chan’er and the three Five Poisons Cult experts fell into the pool, where the experts’ Gang Qi failed and they dissolved in the bloodwater.
• Chan’er’s protection failed, and as her body began to dissolve, Xiang Yuan surfaced and fed her his blood, stabilizing her flesh and restoring her body-tempering cultivation.
• Chan’er regained consciousness and struggled against Xiang Yuan, who kept feeding her blood so she would not dissolve again.
• Chan’er began drawing blood from Xiang Yuan’s shoulder while they cultivated together, then asked why he had survived, and he replied that he had someone he liked.

Chan'er and Xiang Yuan escaped the blood pool, and Xiang Yuan’s rapid cultivation continued as they returned to the Dragon-Subduing Realm. After learning that Abbot Liaochen was preparing to ascend, Xiang Yuan set out for Shaolin Temple, planning to meet Master Bai Yue along the way.

• Chan'er built Xiang Yuan a platform above the blood pool, and Xiang Yuan recovered Martial Uncle Lingguang’s compass despite Chan'er’s warning that its Five Poisons Cult owner might track it.
• Chan'er took Xiang Yuan away from the manor, and they traveled back toward the northern reaches of the Southern Border while Xiang Yuan opened more than two hundred acupoints.
• Chan'er told Xiang Yuan to leave with Senior Zombie, and Xiang Yuan secretly entered the Dragon-Subduing Realm through Jambu Gate at Song Family Village.
• Xiang Yuan learned that Abbot Liaochen and Purple Void True Person had killed Piniwen, and that Abbot Liaochen would soon ascend after breaking through his final bottleneck.
• Xiang Yuan decided to travel to Shaolin Temple to witness Abbot Liaochen’s ascension, seek instruction in Wudang Sect’s body-protecting Gang Qi, and catch up with Master Bai Yue.

Ji Muqing was rescued from the Unending Demon Cult by Xiang Yuan, who revealed that he was still alive after Slaughter Mountain. She could not tell him where Master Bai Yue was, so they set out to search for clues to her whereabouts.

• Exhausted and injured, Ji Muqing was cornered by an Unending Demon Cult Dharma King, who demanded Master Bai Yue's location.
• Xiang Yuan secretly empowered Ji Muqing, then struck down the Dharma King and ordered Senior Jiang to deal with the other devils.
• Xiang Yuan revealed his identity to Ji Muqing, who was relieved to learn he had survived Slaughter Mountain.
• Xiang Yuan gave Ji Muqing Forget-Soul Powder and asked where Master Bai Yue was, but Ji Muqing explained that they had been separated during attacks near Shaolin Temple.
• After recovering with Lesser Restoration pills, Ji Muqing retraced her steps with Xiang Yuan to search for clues left by Master Bai Yue.

Xiang Yuan and Ji Muqing followed signal smoke to a gorge, where Master Bai Yue was trapped by the Unending Demon Cult and drugged with Forget-Soul Powder. Xiang Yuan killed Dharma King Wafei, forced the surviving demons to submit, and slaughtered them before approaching Master Bai Yue behind the waterfall.

• Ji Muqing spotted red signal smoke, and Xiang Yuan took her with him to investigate.
• Xiang Yuan found Master Bai Yue trapped behind a waterfall while the Dharma Kings of the Unending Demon Cult waited for the Forget-Soul Powder to take effect.
• Xiang Yuan posed as Mo Luo and asked the three Dharma Kings to support his bid to become Cult Leader.
• Xiang Yuan killed Wafei with a single saber strike, and Sheboti and Longma knelt and declared him Cult Leader.
• Xiang Yuan unleashed his murderous aura and killed the gathered demons, then walked up to the waterfall and announced he was coming in.

Xiang Yuan rescued Master Bai Yue from the Water-Curtain Cave, traveled with her and Ji Muqing toward Shaolin Temple, and entered the monastery under a concealed Emei identity. After seeing Shaolin’s memorial steles, he resolved to visit the Earth Demon Sect and the Nafan Demon Cult for battle experience.

• Xiang Yuan gave Master Bai Yue the antidote to the Forget-Soul Powder, carried her out of the cave, and helped her recover in Orchid Lotus County.
• After three days, Master Bai Yue had recovered and agreed to take Xiang Yuan into Shaolin Temple as her junior brother under a nominal Emei identity.
• Xiang Yuan asked Master Bai Yue for guidance on projecting true qi and protective Gang Qi as they traveled to Great Vow Mountain.
• Xiang Yuan, Master Bai Yue, and Ji Muqing entered Shaolin Temple and passed the forest of steles commemorating monks who had died fighting the Devil Race.
• Xiang Yuan resolved to visit the Earth Demon Sect and the Nafan Demon Cult after Mount Emei to find opponents who could help him test his cultivation.

At Shaolin Temple, Xiang Yuan introduced himself to the martial world as Zhao Haoran and spun a tale about learning Wudang techniques from a traveling Daoist. His demonstrations stunned Purple Void True Person, who claimed to be the Daoist and tried to reclaim him as a disciple, while Master Bai Yue insisted Xiang Yuan would return to Mount Emei.

• Master Bai Yue brought Xiang Yuan to Shaolin Temple, where she introduced him to the visiting martial-world leaders as Zhao Haoran, her junior brother.
• Xiang Yuan told Purple Void True Person that a Wudang Daoist had taught him martial arts when he was young, then demonstrated Wudang swordsmanship and a sword style from Sword Heart Studio.
• Purple Void True Person recognized Xiang Yuan’s Thirty-Six Acupoint-Striking Hands and claimed that he had taught Xiang Yuan in disguise.
• Purple Void True Person invited Xiang Yuan to return with him to Wudang Mountain, but Master Bai Yue declared that Xiang Yuan had joined Mount Emei and would return there with her.

Xiang Yuan watched Shaolin Abbot Liaochen’s supposed ascension after spending several days refining his protective Gang Qi. The ascension passage never appeared; instead, demonic aura overwhelmed the gathered martial artists, and Liaochen revealed himself as the Unending Demon Cult’s cult leader, Piniwen.

• Purple Void True Person tried to recruit Xiang Yuan to Wudang and taught him its method for refining protective Gang Qi.
• Xiang Yuan spent the night and following days shaping his Gang Qi while sharing a room with Master Bai Yue and Ji Muqing.
• Master Bai Yue reminded Xiang Yuan that he had come to witness the abbot’s ascension, and he joined the group traveling to Shaolin Temple’s rear mountain.
• Liaochen meditated until sunset, then announced that the auspicious hour for his ascension had arrived, but no passage appeared.
• Demonic aura afflicted the spectators and Shaolin monks, while Liaochen transformed into the blue-haired, horned Piniwen.

Piniwen revealed that he had killed Liaochen, infiltrated Shaolin Temple, and poisoned the gathered Human Race experts with demonic qi. As Piniwen moved to attack Master Bai Yue, an unknown person seized his sword and challenged him.

• Piniwen explained how he used the Heavenly Demon Mind-Disordering Art to make Purple Void True Person believe Liaochen had killed him and to infiltrate Shaolin Temple.
• Piniwen revealed that he had poisoned Great Vow Mountain and immobilized the Human Race experts with demonic qi.
• Xiang Yuan resisted the demonic qi and held back while Purple Void True Person attacked Piniwen, but Piniwen easily defeated him.
• Piniwen offered to stabilize the experts' demonic qi if they submitted, then threatened to cut out their hearts and livers when none agreed.
• Piniwen chose Master Bai Yue as his first victim and swung his sword at her, but an unknown person caught the blade and challenged him.

Xiang Yuan revealed his demonic power, defeated and killed Piniwen, and recovered four Heavenly Devil Relics. He then approached Master Bai Yue to remove the demonic qi afflicting her, though she asked how he would do it.

• Xiang Yuan seized Piniwen's sword, resisted the demonic qi, and claimed he was Mo Luo, spinning a story about infiltrating the Heavenly Demon Sect and killing Elder Heavenly Serpent.
• Xiang Yuan transformed into several figures and revealed that he had killed the four Dharma Kings, leaving Piniwen and the gathered experts stunned.
• Xiang Yuan revealed his true identity as Li Xianyuan, transformed into a terrifying devil-like form, and challenged Piniwen to fight away from the gathering.
• Xiang Yuan's Cold Blood persona struck Piniwen down with Lone Star Chasing Moon, then stomped him dead when he tried to crawl away.
• Xiang Yuan found four Heavenly Devil Relics in Piniwen's pouch and went to Master Bai Yue, who asked whether her poison could be cured and how he would draw out the demonic qi.