Chapter Summaries

Shi Lan fought Shen Tianlan in a fierce arena match, enduring his lightning attacks and countering with her mysterious darkness. Shen Tianlan broke into the Earth Fiend Realm, and Shi Lan conceded, leaving him the victor.

• Shi Lan stood against Shen Tianlan’s lightning bolt, revealing jade-like skin and a darkness that swallowed light and lightning.
• Shi Lan and Shen Tianlan traded powerful attacks as her vision absorbed his lightning and he summoned a thunder pool and a massive lightning hand.
• Hao Pojun and Zhao Jing'an watched in shock as Shi Lan’s strength showed she had never taken Zhao Jing'an seriously.
• After nearly half an hour of fighting, Shen Tianlan broke into the Earth Fiend Realm and Shi Lan realized she could no longer win.
• Shen Tianlan dispersed the thunder and put away the Thunder Pole Fan, then announced that he conceded.

Shi Lan won the martial gathering after Shen Tianlan conceded and received the Seven Treasures Spirit-Opening Jade Liquid and permission to choose a treasure. While exploring the Heavenly Thunder Hall’s unguarded treasury, she refused Reincarnation’s proposal to kill the hall’s strongest member and take everything, leaving their disagreement unresolved.

• Shi Lan asked why Shen Tianlan had conceded, and he admitted that his higher cultivation and the arena’s advantages made the contest unfair.
• Elder Xin presented Shi Lan with the Seven Treasures Spirit-Opening Jade Liquid, and Shen Tianlan revealed that the champion could also take one item from the Heavenly Thunder Hall’s treasury.
• Shi Lan gave the jade liquid to Gu Rentong, who thanked her and flew away to wait at the hilltop.
• Lei Chen led Shi Lan to the treasury and left her alone among its treasures and spirit crystals.
• Reincarnation proposed killing the hall’s strongest member and taking the treasury, but Shi Lan refused and challenged Reincarnation’s reasoning.

Shi Lan found a Voidshard Crystal in the Heavenly Thunder Hall treasury, while Shen Tianlan broke through to the Earth Fiend Realm and forfeited the martial gathering, leaving Shi Lan as champion. Lei Wuji ordered the hall to protect Shi Lan from anyone seeking her treasure, suspecting a powerful figure stood behind her.

• Samsara showed Shi Lan a Voidshard Crystal, and she took it from the treasury to use in making a storage treasure.
• Lei Chen found spirit crystals in the treasury that had lost their spiritual energy and gathered them to inspect.
• Shen Tianlan returned to the hall after breaking through to the Earth Fiend Realm and forfeiting the martial gathering, making Shi Lan its champion.
• Lei Wuji warned Shen Tianlan that his words could put Shi Lan in danger and told him that her background was likely formidable.
• Lei Wuji ordered Lei Chen to declare that anyone targeting Shi Lan would make an enemy of the Heavenly Thunder Hall.

Shi Lan returned to Ancient Phoenix City, where she confronted a mysterious man who wanted the Yuchang Sword and agreed to sell it to him. At the city lord’s manor, Gu Rentong showed her the betting-pool profits and introduced his youngest grandson, Qingcang, who sat listlessly in a medicinal room.

• Shi Lan arrived at the inn and found Wu Lingkong fighting a black-clad man who had taken her Demon-Suppressing Order while trying to steal the Yuchang Sword.
• After hearing Wu Lingkong’s account, Shi Lan agreed to sell the Yuchang Sword to the man for one hundred thousand spirit crystals, and he vanished after saying the payment was upstairs.
• Shi Lan had Wu Lingkong arrange the group’s belongings, then led everyone to stay at the city lord’s manor.
• Gu Rentong presented Shi Lan with fifty crystal plaques containing five hundred thousand spirit crystals as betting-pool profits and thanks.
• Gu Rentong led Shi Lan to a medicinal room and introduced his youngest grandson, Qingcang, who sat beside a jade-lined bathing pool with a vacant expression.

Shi Lan helped Gu Rentong and Gu Deyuan use the Spirit-Opening Jade Elixir to treat Gu Qingcang, whose fortune chains shattered during the process. As compensation, she accepted access to an ancient blood pool that could strengthen her body, then reviewed her updated status.

• Shi Lan used her Heavenly Eye and saw that black chains bound Gu Qingcang's seven-colored fortune, though they were already crumbling.
• Gu Rentong explained Gu Qingcang's exceptional talent and congenital mental damage, then began treating him with the Spirit-Opening Jade Elixir and a medicinal bath.
• Shi Lan poured in most of her elixir at Gu Rentong's request, and the chains around Gu Qingcang's fortune shattered as the treatment ended.
• Gu Rentong took Shi Lan to an underground blood pool, explaining that its unknown, nonhuman blood could strengthen the body, and she accepted it as compensation.
• Shi Lan returned to the stone chamber, opened her system panel, and reviewed her cultivation, abilities, and reputation.

Shi Lan discovered that her unknown innate divine ability could absorb energy through the Black Domain, then used it to refine Phoenix blood and strengthen herself. After advancing to the middle stage of the eighth level of the Xiantian Realm, she drank some Seven-Treasure Spirit-Opening Jade Liquid while recovering from the strain.

• Shi Lan named her innate divine ability the Black Domain, and Samsara identified the pool’s blood as Phoenix blood that could strengthen her body.
• Shi Lan touched the Phoenix blood and recoiled from its intense heat, so Samsara made her a storage bracelet from the Kongming crystal.
• Shi Lan named the bracelet the Universe Bracelet and tested its spacious interior with her battle halberd.
• Shi Lan cautiously used the Black Domain on the blood pool, absorbed a surge of energy, and circulated the Jade Clarity Creation Art and Jade Forging Art to refine it.
• Shi Lan broke through to the eighth level of the Xiantian Realm and reached its middle stage before the energy ran out.
• Shi Lan, still suffering from burning pain in her organs, drank a mouthful of Seven-Treasure Spirit-Opening Jade Liquid.

Shi Lan used the Spirit-Opening Jade Nectar to master two more variations of the Heaven-Burning Three Halberds and discovered her cultivation had reached the peak of the eighth Xiantian level. After learning that powerful outsiders were seeking what she had taken from the Thunderclap Hall, she faced a new threat when five Heavenly Dipper experts discussed stealing the item without killing her.

• Shi Lan drank the Spirit-Opening Jade Nectar and mastered the Entangling Force variation of the Heaven-Burning Three Halberds.
• Shi Lan consumed the remaining nectar, mastered Crushing Force and Shaking Force, and reached the peak of the eighth level of the Xiantian Realm.
• Shi Lan learned from Wu Lingkong that five Heavenly Dipper experts and more than twenty Earthly Fiend martial artists had come to Ancient Phoenix City seeking what she took from the Thunderclap Hall.
• Wu Lingkong said she had used her Demon-Suppressing Army identity to stop the experts from searching the City Lord's Mansion, but warned Shi Lan that they might resort to underhanded methods.
• At a tavern, the five experts debated whether to pursue Shi Lan, and the burly man and Daoist proposed taking the item without killing her.

As Daoist Chisong warned four companions that the Demon Race vanguard was nearing Chengtian Domain, they scattered to investigate or make preparations, while his divination revealed a disastrous omen near the City Lord's Mansion. Shi Lan advanced to the ninth level of the Xiantian Realm, received two demanding quests, and discovered that her fame had risen sharply overnight.

• Daoist Chisong told the others that the Demon Race vanguard's beast tide was less than forty thousand li away and that the Demon-Suppressing Army appeared to be retreating.
• Ye, the burly man, and another companion flew west to investigate, while Brother Li left to make preparations and Daoist Chisong's divination warned him to flee the area.
• Shi Lan stored two boxes of phoenix blood in her Qiankun Bracelet and refined more of it to break through to the ninth level of the Xiantian Realm.
• The system gave Shi Lan a two-year quest to reach the Tiangang Realm and a one-year quest to slay a thousand Earthly Fiend Realm or stronger demon beasts.
• Shi Lan checked her system panel and saw that her fame had risen to 31,490, then received the Earthly Fiend Realm cultivation route for the Jade Purity Creation Art.

Shi Lan learned how the Earth Fiend Realm acupoint-opening process worked while recovering, as Yuan Shan sought to hire the Soul Reaping Tower to kill her. The Soul Reaping Tower refused the contract unless Yuan Shan offered the lives of his entire family, leaving him facing a dangerous demand.

• Shi Lan studied the locations of the acupoints she would need to open to enter the Earth Fiend Realm and resumed cultivating without Spirit-Opening Jade Liquid.
• Yuan Shan and Yuan Guanhai met the old man in Spiritwind City, who ordered Yuan Shan to hire the Soul Reaping Tower to target Shi Lan while protecting the Yuan family’s identity.
• Yuan Shan disguised himself and visited a Soul Reaping Tower outpost, where a young man asked him to identify himself before discussing the contract.
• Yuan Shan revealed that he was from Spiritwind City and offered first two hundred thousand, then three hundred thousand spirit crystals for Shi Lan’s assassination.
• The young man rejected the payment and demanded that Yuan Shan add the lives of every member of the Yuan family in Spiritwind City.

A young man posted a commission to wipe out the Yuan family, while Gu Feng City grew tense as news spread that Shi Lan and Wu Lingkong belonged to the Demon-Subduing Army. After Gu Qingcang woke, Shi Lan announced that they would leave in two days and resumed cultivating with Phoenix blood to prepare for a breakthrough.

• The young man killed Yuan Shan and posted a commission to destroy the Yuan family, which a black-robed figure took.
• Shi Lan recovered and went to find Wu Lingkong to discuss leaving Gu Feng City as visitors continued arriving at the City Lord's Manor.
• Gu Deyuan told Gu Rentong that Gu Qingcang had awakened, and the four hurried to see him; Gu Qingcang recognized his grandfather.
• Shi Lan told Gu Rentong that she and Wu Lingkong would leave in two days because of the worsening demon-beast situation, and advised him to prepare.
• Shi Lan set up a Spirit Gathering Formation and cultivated with Phoenix blood, bringing herself close to the ninth-level Xiantian Realm peak.
• After two Earth Fiend Realm scouts attacked at night and Gu Rentong drove them away, Shi Lan told Wu Lingkong she would try to break through to the Earth Fiend Realm.

Shi Lan broke through to the Early Earthly Fiend Realm and absorbed the lingering blood energy in the stone chamber before leaving Ancient Phoenix City with her companions. Outside the city, she encountered Shen Tianlan, who had come to escort her group through Heavenly Thunder Hall territory.

• Shi Lan opened the Yangxi acupoint after five strikes, advanced to the Early Earthly Fiend Realm, and found that her Jade Forging Art had not reached its next level.
• Shi Lan used her Black Domain to absorb the blood energy in the chamber, then sealed the hidden room and prepared to leave with Wu Lingkong and the others.
• Gu Rentong tried to persuade Shi Lan to stay, but she declined, thanked him, and departed the manor with her group.
• Gu Qingcang thanked Shi Lan, and Gu Rentong agreed to begin making preparations after she warned him.
• Shi Lan and her companions left Ancient Phoenix City as martial artists followed them from a distance.
• Shen Tianlan met Shi Lan at a roadside teahouse and said he had come to escort her group through Heavenly Thunder Hall territory.

Shi Lan led her group away from Ancient Phoenix City after advancing into the Earthly Fiend Realm, while Shen Tianlan escorted them beyond the Heavenly Thunder Hall’s territory. Once Shen Tianlan left, the pursuers prepared to attack before Shi Lan reached the Shengwu Immortal Sect’s sphere of influence.

• Shi Lan refused Shen Tianlan’s offer of protection, but he followed her group to warn off those pursuing them.
• People at the tea stall discussed Shi Lan’s unexpected cultivation and the treasure they believed she carried, then some followed her group.
• Shi Lan’s group traveled peacefully for several days as she cultivated and recovered, with Shen Tianlan accompanying them.
• After they traveled more than ten thousand li, Shi Lan thanked Shen Tianlan and told him they could continue alone; he bid them farewell.
• With Shen Tianlan gone, the pursuers hurried after Shi Lan’s group and planned to strike before they reached Shengwu Immortal Sect territory.

Shi Lan defeated three Earth Fiend Realm ambushers with a single overwhelming attack, revealing the Violet Tenuity Seven-Star Halberd’s amplified power and her strength after entering the Earth Fiend Realm. Shen Tianlan departed in shock, while witnesses debated whether anyone could still capture Shi Lan.

• Three black-clad Earth Fiend Realm martial artists blocked Shi Lan’s group, and Shi Lan attacked before their leader could finish speaking.
• Shi Lan crippled the leader and struck down his two companions, while controlling her black domain before it drained the leader completely.
• Shen Tianlan, who had meant to draw out and punish pursuers, left after seeing Shi Lan defeat them with ease.
• Shi Lan examined the Violet Tenuity Seven-Star Halberd and realized it had multiplied her attack’s power; Wu Lingkong was shaken by the gulf between their strength.
• The surviving ambushers fled, and other pursuers arrived, recoiling from the battle’s aftermath and concluding that only a Heaven Dipper Realm expert might be able to capture Shi Lan.

Song Jue reached Ancient Phoenix City too late to find Shi Lan, while Shi Lan and her companions arrived in Shengwu Immortal Sect territory and were summoned to battle by a Demon-Subduing General. They set out for the coordinates, facing the threat of military punishment if they failed to report.

• Song Jue learned from a servant that Shi Lan had left Ancient Phoenix City, then departed on his flying brush.
• Shi Lan and her companions traveled safely into Shengwu Immortal Sect territory and found a large city where they bought a map.
• Wu Lingkong advised the group to avoid the sect’s mountain gate because their Demon-Subduing Orders had not recorded military merits recently, making them appear to have deserted.
• Shi Lan’s Demon-Subduing Order grew hot and transmitted coordinates about three thousand miles away, summoning the group through a Demon-Subduing General’s Command Platform.
• Wu Lingkong explained that failing to answer the summons would count as desertion in battle and carry the death penalty, so the group prepared to leave.

Shi Lan and Wu Lingkong prepared to join the Demon-Suppression Army, and Shi Lan reflected on how her hopes for a peaceful life had been overtaken by survival and danger. Their group reached the summoned coordinates at dawn and boarded a massive flying vessel, where other armored groups were also arriving.

• Shi Lan sat with Wu Lingkong in the courtyard as they watched the dragon horses being fed and reflected on the dangers ahead.
• Wang Ning reported that the group was ready to depart, and Shi Lan resolved to become strong enough to survive.
• Wu Lingkong fitted Shi Lan with armor and a hair crown before they left the inn.
• Shi Lan led the group out of the city, and the dragon horses carried them three thousand li to the rendezvous by dawn.
• Shi Lan and the others rode a golden beam up to a huge flying vessel and saw other black-armored groups arriving on nearby beams.

Shi Lan boarded a Demon Suppression Army flying ship and was promoted to thousand-man commander by the dark-armored officer, who reorganized the arriving troops. After settling into the ship's hold, Shi Lan received a visit from Wu Lingkong.

• Shi Lan recognized the dark-armored officer from Twin Moon City as he gathered the arriving troops aboard the flying ship.
• The officer ordered the four formations into the hold, then summoned the centurions and inspected their Demon Suppression Tokens.
• The officer promoted Shi Lan to thousand-man commander despite her insufficient battle merits and assigned several hundred soldiers, including Wang Ning, under her command.
• The officer assigned Wu Lingkong and the other women to a separate women's battalion and told everyone to rest in the hold.
• Shi Lan dismissed her soldiers to rest in the ship's large hold, and Wu Lingkong came to her room after the two women settled in.

Shi Lan learned about Bai Weiyang’s reputation and followed her deployment to the Thunder Hall, where Bai Weiyang demanded that Lei Wuji come out. The chapter ended with Lei Chen facing the Demon-Suppressing Army at the Thunder Hall.

• Wu Lingkong told Shi Lan about Bai Weiyang’s achievements, command style, age, and family background.
• Shi Lan and Wu Lingkong received orders to assemble on the warship’s deck, where Bai Weiyang distributed Martial Summons Orders and authorized officers to execute anyone who resisted by force.
• Bai Weiyang sent the Myriad-Man Commanders and most officers away to issue summonses, while Shi Lan and four Hundred-Man Commanders remained aboard the warship with her.
• The warship carried Shi Lan and Bai Weiyang to the Thunder Hall, where Lei Chen and several others came out to meet them.
• Bai Weiyang demanded that Lei Wuji come out to speak.

Bai Weiyang delivered the Imperial Court’s conscription order to the Heavenly Thunder Hall and required it to send most of its cultivators to fight the Demon Race. Lei Wuji agreed, assigned Lei Chen to defend the sect, and recognized Shi Lan when she arrived to collect the summoned fighters.

• Bai Weiyang appeared at Sky Thunder Peak, summoned Lei Wuji, and presented the Imperial Court’s order to mobilize the Heavenly Thunder Hall against the Demon Race.
• Bai Weiyang ordered the sect to send nearly all its Earth Fiend Realm cultivators, most of its Xiantian Realm cultivators, and hundreds of Body Tempering cultivators, while refusing Lei Wuji’s request to recruit disciples into the Demon Suppression Army.
• Lei Wuji listed the sect’s strength, received the corresponding Summons Orders, and agreed to obey the decree.
• Lei Wuji told Lei Chen to stay behind to protect the Heavenly Thunder Hall while he took Tianlan to the battlefield.
• Shi Lan arrived with several Centurions to collect the conscripts, and Lei Wuji praised her talent and recognized her as the martial tournament champion.

Shi Lan and the Thunder Hall warriors boarded the warship as the Demon Suppression Army gathered forces for the worsening war. After learning how badly the Chengtian Domain had been abandoned by reinforcements, Shi Lan used her saved intermediate draw and received a disappointing result before spotting a reset button.

• Shi Lan led Lei Wuji and the Thunder Hall contingent aboard the warship, where Bai Weiyang explained that the Demon Suppression Army had lost many commanders and was retreating against the Demon Race.
• Bai Weiyang revealed that the Imperial Court could not spare reinforcements, leaving the Chengtian Domain to fight almost alone.
• Wu Lingkong returned with a group of women, including Gu Rongyue, while Shi Lan helped settle the growing number of passengers.
• Shi Lan used her intermediate draw on pills and received a bottle of two-star Qi-Enhancing Pills.
• Shi Lan noticed a lit reset button beside the lottery wheel and recovered from her despair.

Shi Lan used the Black Domain to draw faint soul-cleansing energy from the Spirit Transformation Pill, then received a summons from Bai Weiyang. At a gathering on the warship, Ren Kaiyang brought in the captured Daoist Chisong and accused him of evading recruitment and stealing armor.

• Shi Lan reset her draw and obtained a six-star Spirit Transformation Pill, which the system said could help Myriad Forms martial artists break through to the Primordial Spirit realm.
• Unable to break the pill with astral energy, Shi Lan used the Black Domain to extract spiritual energy and two faint wisps of clear energy that refreshed her mind but left her exhausted.
• Shi Lan absorbed the spiritual energy with the Jade Clarity Creation Art and felt she was nearing the breakthrough to her second acupoint.
• Bai Weiyang summoned Shi Lan and hundreds of others to the warship's lowest-deck plaza.
• Ren Kaiyang brought Daoist Chisong before Bai Weiyang and accused him of luring soldiers into a trapping formation, refusing recruitment, attempting to escape, and stealing artifact-grade armor.