Chapter Summaries

Yu Sui opened the Xiaoyao Pool Treasure Trove and struggled to claim a rare treasure from the Qingniao Tree while a crowd waited outside. After she finally reached the tree’s highest red streamer, Gu Gan emerged from the Azure Water Pond.

• Yu Sui and Xue Mushi followed the Golden Key to the Xiaoyao Pool Treasure Trove, and Yu Sui opened it before the other pursuers could catch up.
• Gu Gan chose to go find Yu Sui instead of searching for Qian Ying, despite Xiang Feifei confronting him about his wavering between Yu Sui and Xun Zhiya.
• Yu Sui entered the treasure vault alone and used her Five Elements Light Core to climb toward the Qingniao Tree’s highest branches, despite being unable to read its Character Spirit Marks.
• Xue Mushi guarded the entrance as Princess Shangyang and others gathered, while Xing Chun and Su Tong questioned Xiang Feifei about Mei Chengyu and the vanished Reverse Ancient Tower.
• Yu Sui reached the Qingniao Tree’s top streamer, but Gu Gan suddenly burst from the Azure Water Pond, and Yu Sui caught the falling streamer between them.

Yu Sui obtained the Cangjia Scroll from the Xiaoyao Pool Treasure Trove with Gu Gan’s help, while the Six Kingdoms Signal Smoke announced Yan Manfeng’s death and stirred political upheaval. Back in the Qingyang Imperial Capital, Chu Jin learned that Yan Manfeng’s death might change her situation and ordered the Golden Long Snake to target Taiyi.

• Gu Gan entered the Xiaoyao Pool through an underwater passage, found Yu Sui unharmed, and helped her decipher the Character Spirit Mark as the Cangjia Scroll.
• The Cangjia Scroll unfolded, revealing thousands of Word Spirits, and Gu Gan pulled Yu Sui into the pool to escape as the Treasure Trove closed.
• The Six Kingdoms Signal Smoke announced Yan Manfeng’s death, unsettling Su Jichun and Yan Xiaochuan while Liang Zhen and a boy discussed protecting someone at Taiyi.
• In the Qingyang Imperial Capital, Zhongli Que recalled the Emperor’s command concerning the Yan Kingdom, while Lady Su was summoned to the palace and Chu Jin argued with Su Feng.
• Chu Jin returned to her room and ordered the Golden Long Snake to get rid of everyone still at Taiyi if it could not bring back useful information.

After Yan Manfeng’s death was announced, Yu Sui challenged Gu Gan’s claim that he could protect her and went with him to find Sheng Zui. Meanwhile, Wei Ren followed Wan Qi and Ling Jian toward Nether Lake with Ji Meng under his control.

• Yu Sui learned that Yan Manfeng had died and told Gu Gan that she had protected him for years, demanding that he now protect her in return.
• Yu Sui said she would go find Mei Chengyu, but Gu Gan insisted on accompanying her to the Reverse Ancient Tower.
• Xun Zhiya told Gu Gan that the Ancient Stele Inscription pointed to a fragment in Wujian Mountain Abyss and that the Qingyun Society had taken Sheng Zui to Nether Lake.
• Gu Gan told Yu Sui they should rescue Sheng Zui, and she agreed but said she would not help Gu Gan this time.
• Wei Ren followed Wan Qi and Ling Jian after they bought a Route Map to Nether Lake, while forcing Ji Meng to recount what had happened since Wei Ren disappeared.
• Wei Ren rejected Ji Meng’s apology and ordered him to speak or stay silent whenever Wei Ren instructed him.

Wan Qi and Ling Jian followed the route map into the Sea of Stones on their way to Nether Lake, with Wei Ren and Ji Meng secretly trailing them. Yu Sui and Gu Gan arrived later, but an archer attacked the group, leaving Wan Qi in the swamp and targeting Wei Ren and Ji Meng next.

• Wan Qi and Ling Jian argued over the cost of their route map as Wei Ren followed them and learned from Ji Meng about the accusations involving Nangong Sui and Wan Qi.
• Wan Qi used the Listening Wind Ruler to find a way across the Sea of Stones by leaping from maple tree to maple tree, while Wei Ren and Ji Meng secretly kept pace.
• Yu Sui and Gu Gan entered the Sea of Stones, and Yu Sui rebuked Gu Gan for repeatedly leaving her behind and making empty promises to protect her.
• Gu Gan found Wan Qi's abandoned lantern at the end of the Forest Path, while Wei Ren ignored Ji Meng's Listening Wind Ruler as it buzzed with a message from Gu Gan.
• A blindfolded girl shot Wan Qi with a red arrow, sending him into the swamp, then fired another pair of arrows at Wei Ren and Ji Meng.

Wei Ren and his companions fought Lu Wanwan, who used the Hidden Dragon Lock to guard the route to the Nether Lake, and Wei Ren eventually removed it and sent her into the Stone Sea. Wan Qi unexpectedly emerged from the water and caught her, leaving the group stunned as Lu Wanwan returned to the trees.

• Lu Wanwan's arrows forced Wei Ren and Ji Meng to take cover, and Ji Meng identified her as the Mohist Clan's Cold-faced Yama while Wei Ren explained how her Hidden Dragon Lock let her control their techniques.
• Wei Ren used Shadow Follow Gu to attack Lu Wanwan and target the Green Strip over her eyes, but she destroyed one Gu and wounded herself while fighting off the swarm.
• Lu Wanwan drove Wei Ren back with an arrow, but Ling Jian's moving maples helped him escape; Ling Jian then accused her of causing Wan Qi's death in the Stone Sea.
• Wei Ren used the Shadow Follow Gu to restrain Lu Wanwan long enough to cut away her Hidden Dragon Lock, and the Gu swarm knocked her toward the water.
• Wan Qi burst out of the Stone Sea and caught Lu Wanwan before she fell in, then Ling Jian pulled him into a tree while Wei Ren accused him of pretending to save her.

Wan Qi led Wei Ren, Ling Jian, and Ji Meng past Lu Wanwan after his Body Protection Qi absorbed her arrows, and the group continued toward Nether Lake with Lu Wanwan captured. At the lake, Xu Dian and Shen Liu were holding Mu Mengbai and the unconscious Sheng Zui over the water, waiting to see whether Sheng Zui could attract a Yin-Yang Fish.

• Wan Qi escaped the Stone Sea, and he, Wei Ren, Ling Jian, and Ji Meng agreed to fight Lu Wanwan together to reach Nether Lake.
• Wan Qi charged Lu Wanwan and absorbed her Word-Spirit Arrows with his Body Protection Qi, while Wei Ren and Ling Jian attacked from the sides.
• Lu Wanwan's Golden Light Eye slowed the group, but Wan Qi seized her; after she injured his arm and leg, Wei Ren blinded her with Flying Clear Gu and Ling Jian pulled Wan Qi free.
• Wei Ren bound Lu Wanwan in spider silk, and Ling Jian carried her as Ji Meng healed Wan Qi; Wan Qi then led them onward toward Nether Lake.
• At Nether Lake, Xu Dian hauled Mu Mengbai and the unconscious Sheng Zui from the water, while Shen Liu said Yin-Yang Fish favored people blessed with good fortune.

Shen Liu and Feng Xiu rescued Lu Wanwan from Wei Ren’s group while Xu Dian guarded Sheng Zui and Mu Mengbai at Nether Lake. The Yin-Yang Fish appeared in a sudden blizzard, and Shen Liu rushed to find Xu Dian as the others emerged from their restraints and witnessed the phenomenon.

• Shen Liu explained that Mu Mengbai had perfect compatibility with the School of Techniques but had struggled there after refusing to join it.
• Feng Xiu reported that Lu Wanwan had been captured by Wan Qi and three others, so Shen Liu and Feng Xiu went to rescue her.
• Shen Liu and Feng Xiu attacked Wei Ren’s group, freed Lu Wanwan, and left the others trapped in a poisonous formation.
• Xu Dian discovered that the lines holding Mu Mengbai and Sheng Zui had snapped as a blizzard and enormous black-and-white fish appeared above Nether Lake.
• Shen Liu recognized the Yin-Yang Fish and hurried to find Xu Dian while Wei Ren’s group and Yu Sui and Gu Gan witnessed the sudden storm.

Yu Sui and Gu Gan learned that the Yin-Yang Fish had briefly appeared at the Nether Lake, then followed clues there while arguing over whether Ji Meng might have come to harm Sheng Zui. They reached the lake and sensed Wei Ren’s Five Elements Light Core nearby.

• Gu Gan explained that the Yin-Yang Fish could refine Five Elements Qi and fortune, while Yu Sui received Zou Qian’s message suggesting she could lure it out at the risk of dying.
• Wu Huaiwei and Zou Qian discussed the Yin-Yang Fish’s brief appearance, and Zou Qian admitted he had urged Yu Sui to try luring it out.
• The blizzard and other anomalies vanished, and Gu Gan and Yu Sui headed toward the Nether Lake, where Gu Gan found traces of Ji Meng’s Five Fragrance Ling medicine flower.
• Yu Sui challenged Gu Gan’s trust in Ji Meng and said she would choose to protect Sheng Zui, her brother; Gu Gan promised not to make her choose between them.
• Gu Gan and Yu Sui reached the Nether Lake, avoided a lingering Poisonous Gas Formation, and sensed Wei Ren’s Five Elements Light Core nearby.

Gu Gan and Yu Sui searched for Sheng Zui until Gu Gan sensed that Ji Meng was in danger and revealed the Ji family’s secret experiments to persuade Yu Sui to change course. They reached the Black Water River, where Ji Meng had been subdued after killing Ling Jian, and Gu Gan was stunned to find Wei Ren alive.

• Gu Gan used Throwing Stones to Ask the Way to find Sheng Zui, while Yu Sui accused him of delaying the search and questioned whether he meant to get back at Sheng Zui.
• Wei Ren treated Ling Jian and Wan Qi’s Negative Yin Poison with Gu worms, but Ji Meng’s memories and distress triggered a rampage in which he pierced Ling Jian’s chest and shattered his Five Elements Light Core.
• Wei Ren bound and weakened Ji Meng with spider silk, a formation, and Gu poison until Ji Meng collapsed unconscious; Wan Qi returned from the river with Ling Jian’s body and confirmed he was dead.
• Gu Gan sensed that Ji Meng was in danger and tried to take Yu Sui to him, then explained that the Ji family had tested medicine on Ji Meng and that emotional distress could make him turn violent and attack himself.
• Yu Sui agreed to go with Gu Gan, and they reached the Black Water River, where Gu Gan recognized Wei Ren and was shocked because he had believed Wei Ren was dead.
• Wei Ren and Wan Qi noticed Yu Sui behind Gu Gan, and Yu Sui signaled them to stay quiet.

Wei Ren and Yu Sui escaped Gu Gan with Ji Meng, then Wei Ren confronted Yu Sui about how he had survived. Yu Sui confirmed that Shen Tianxue and Pei Daiqing had rescued him, leaving Wei Ren to realize the Five Elements Light Core inside him was not his own.

• Nangong Sui arrived with Gu Gan, and Wei Ren realized she had known he survived and sent him toward Shen Tianxue and Pei Daiqing.
• Wei Ren and Wan Qi fought Gu Gan while Wei Ren rescued Ji Meng from the pit.
• Yu Sui secretly urged Wei Ren to escape with Ji Meng, but Wei Ren seized her and used her as a hostage to force Gu Gan to let them go.
• Gu Gan fired three Thunderclap Arrows at Wei Ren as he escaped with Yu Sui; the Fire-Tailed Tiger blocked two arrows, and they plunged into the Black Water River.
• After reaching shore, Yu Sui slapped Wei Ren for threatening her, then explained that she had sent him to Shen Tianxue and Pei Daiqing, who chose to save him.
• Wei Ren realized the Five Elements Light Core inside him was not his own, but Yu Sui refused to say more.

Yu Sui examined Wei Ren’s new Five Elements Light Core and learned she could control its qi within a limited range, while Wan Qi investigated Ji Meng’s condition. Meanwhile, Xu Dian caught up with Mu Mengbai underwater, but Sheng Zui awoke and killed him, leaving the others still searching for them.

• Wei Ren told Yu Sui how he acquired the Five Elements Light Core, and she discovered she could cut off its qi when he used Wind Riding Technique.
• Wei Ren agreed to keep the Light Core, and Yu Sui and Wei Ren discussed Wan Qi’s unusual Body Protection Qi and his connection to Pu Heng.
• Wan Qi examined Ji Meng and found that his Negative Yin Poison had disappeared; Yu Sui asked him to investigate Ji Meng while she and Wei Ren went after Shen Liu and Third Brother.
• Yu Sui decided to take Ji Meng along, and Wei Ren used spider silk to track Shen Liu.
• Shen Liu, Lu Wanwan, and Feng Xiu found the stakes abandoned and followed Xu Dian’s moving location toward Nether Lake.
• Xu Dian caught Mu Mengbai underwater, but Sheng Zui woke and snapped Xu Dian’s neck with a Golden Word Spirit.

Sheng Zui emerged from the Nether Lake and brutally killed Xu Dian, then attacked Shen Liu and the others while his Blood Burning Technique drove him toward death. Just as Lu Wanwan’s arrow was about to strike him, a girl appeared within the Scorching Sun Array, leaving Sheng Zui stunned and uncertain whether she was Suisui.

• Sheng Zui dragged Xu Dian ashore and continued beating his already dead body, while Mu Mengbai tried and failed to restrain him.
• Shen Liu arrived with Lu Wanwan and Feng Xiu, and Sheng Zui flung Mu Mengbai aside before turning on them.
• Lu Wanwan identified Sheng Zui’s Blood Burning Technique, and Sheng Zui used the Word “Cry” to overwhelm the group with sound.
• Feng Xiu sealed his hearing and approached Sheng Zui, who cut him down with the Demon Breaking Knife.
• Lu Wanwan shot Sheng Zui with arrows, but a Scorching Sun Array appeared and burned the arrow aimed at his brow to dust.
• A girl walked through the array, and Sheng Zui wondered whether she was Suisui.

Yu Sui arrived to rescue Sheng Zui, overpowering the Scorching Sun Array while he rejected her help and lashed out at her. Wei Ren suspected a phantom beast was influencing Sheng Zui, and Yu Sui confronted her brother about their resentment before he collapsed.

• Yu Sui broke Lu Wanwan’s arrows and walked freely through the Scorching Sun Array, then apologized to Mu Mengbai for Sheng Zui’s actions.
• Sheng Zui cursed Yu Sui and accused her of hiding her strength, while Yu Sui admitted she had done so deliberately and told him to go die if he did not want her help.
• Wei Ren noticed the shadows beneath Yu Sui and Sheng Zui flicker and suspected a phantom beast was hiding inside Sheng Zui; he sent Yu Sui a warning through the Listening Wind Ruler.
• Lu Wanwan attacked while Shen Liu used the Earth Punishment Formation to trap Yu Sui and evacuate Lu Wanwan and Feng Xiu.
• Yu Sui taunted Sheng Zui about his resentment and pity for her, then freed herself from his grip as he collapsed to the ground.

At Taiyi, Sheng Zui’s life-saving blessing restored him, but Wuxiang Snake fled his body and entered Yu Sui. In Qingyang, Lady Su explained the Phantom Beast’s connection to Sheng Zui, then fainted after transferring it to a new host; Nangong Ming learned Sheng Zui’s blessing had activated and ordered Taiyi watched while his sons worried about their daughters’ danger.

• Wei Ren explained that a Phantom Beast Shadow might have affected Sheng Zui, but Sheng Zui’s Famous Family Blessing activated and began healing him.
• Wuxiang Snake escaped from Sheng Zui’s shadow, entered Yu Sui’s shadow, and made her collapse inside the Earth Punishment Formation.
• Lady Su learned Wuxiang Snake had left Sheng Zui and, with Chu Jin’s help, suppressed it before transferring it to a new host.
• Lady Su fainted from the strain, and Chu Jin called Achun and the Mute Woman to carry her back to rest.
• Nangong Ming saw that Sheng Zui’s Life-saving Technique had activated and ordered Cao Yan to have their people at Taiyi watch over events.
• Han Bing urged Nangong Ming to bring Yu Sui back from Taiyi, but Nangong Ming said not to underestimate either of his younger daughters.

Chu Jin arranged to find the Wuxiang Snake’s new host while Gongsun Qi rescued Wen Yangzhou and learned Lin Chenghai had possessed him. Gongsun Qi set off for Taiyi after a recovered memory stirred his anger, while instructors arrived at Nether Lake to inspect the survivors trapped in the Earth Punishment Formation.

• Chu Jin stabilized Lady Su, arranged for Nian Qiuyan to investigate Sheng Zui’s final movements, and urged Lady Su to summon the Wuxiang Snake back.
• Gongsun Qi treated Wen Yangzhou in a cave, where Lin Chenghai revealed himself as the one possessing Wen Yangzhou and explained that he was trying to cure the Blood Jade Golden Butterfly’s poison.
• Gongsun Qi told Lin Chenghai that Yan Manfeng had died, then left with A'Lan after giving Lin Chenghai medicine and supplies.
• A memory connected to the Thousand Mechanism Heart made Gongsun Qi stop and laugh in anger, after which he told A'Lan they were going to Taiyi.
• At Nether Lake, Wan Qi and Wei Ren discussed how to break the Earth Punishment Formation as instructors and Zhang Pinghui arrived to collect the dead and inspect those trapped inside.

Lian Kun and Bu San plotted to kill Nangong Sui and seize the soil-breath, while Sheng Zui recovered inside the Earth Punishment Formation and confronted his memories of how he had treated her. After Yu Sui woke, she challenged Sheng Zui over his pity and resentment, leaving their relationship more openly strained.

• Lian Kun and Bu San collected Xu Dian's body, then Lian Kun knocked Zhang Pinghui unconscious and infected Wei Ren and Wan Qi with Weng Worm Gu.
• Zhang Pinghui woke beneath Xu Dian's body and sent Mei Chengyu a warning that the instructors planned to kill Nangong Sui and seize the soil-breath.
• Sheng Zui woke, treated Mu Mengbai's injuries, checked Yu Sui, and questioned whether his memories excused his past actions toward her.
• Lian Kun and Bu San hid near the Earth Punishment Formation and discussed breaking it or using gu to control the students.
• Yu Sui woke and challenged Sheng Zui about his words and his claim that he pitied her.
• Yu Sui called Sheng Zui annoying and accused him of resenting her; Sheng Zui struggled to answer without losing his temper.

Yu Sui and Sheng Zui argued while Gu Gan fought Instructor Lian Kun and Instructor Bu San over the Primordial Soil. After Bu San broke the Earth Punishment Formation and Gu Gan fell into the Nether Lake, the Yin-Yang Fish surfaced, while Yu Sui discovered that her Soul Contract with Mei Chengyu had been severed.

• Yu Sui confronted Sheng Zui about his behavior, reminded him that Su Xingchao had deciphered the Ancient Stele Inscription, and told him Gu Gan was coming to rescue him.
• Gu Gan arrived and fought Instructor Lian Kun after Yu Sui sensed someone hiding nearby; Lian Kun used poison fire and Gu techniques while Bu San worked to break the Earth Punishment Formation.
• Bu San shattered the formation and attacked Yu Sui with a Frost Sword Formation, but Yu Sui killed him with the Five Elements Light Core.
• Gu Gan tried to protect Yu Sui from Bu San's final sword strike, was pierced through the chest, and fell into the Nether Lake.
• Yu Sui hesitated at the lake as a red-dressed girl urged her to save Gu Gan, but wind and snow pushed her back as the Yin-Yang Fish surfaced and pursued him.
• Yu Sui realized that her Soul Contract with Mei Chengyu had just been severed.

After Lian Kun was executed for attacking Yu Sui and Gu Gan, the Sages tried to save Gu Gan from the Yin and Yang Qi consuming him. Yu Sui’s strange inner flame drew the black fish’s attention, and she fainted as the Double Fish vanished.

• Mu Mengbai told Jiang Shulan that Lian Kun and another instructor had attacked Nangong Sui and caused Gu Gan to fall into Nether Lake, and Jiang Shulan freed the poisoned students.
• Kuang Chu executed Lian Kun while Yu Sui watched, distressed and overwhelmed by the crowd.
• Sage Chang Gen and Zhang Guanyi arrived as the Sages argued over what to do about the Yin and Yang Qi and Gu Gan.
• Elder Zhu and the other Sages poured Five Elements Qi into Gu Gan to help him resist the Double Fish, while Wu Huaiwei and Sage Chang Gen held back.
• Yu Sui’s inner flame stirred as she touched her Master’s barrier, and the black fish turned from Gu Gan to focus on her.
• The Double Fish circled Gu Gan and Yu Sui before disappearing, and Elder Zhu retrieved Gu Gan as Yu Sui fainted.

Yu Sui revisited her infancy on Mount Luo Peak, chose to wield the strange fire, and subdued the black fish inside her Nine Provinces Star Sea. After waking in the Taoist Saint Hall, she learned that Yin Qi had possessed her and asked Sage Chang Gen for permission to find Gu Gan.

• Yu Sui remembered her infancy on Mount Luo Peak and nearly strangled her younger self before stopping when she saw the infant’s gentle gaze.
• Yu Sui set the old house and Mount Luo Peak ablaze, then faced the black fish as it attacked her.
• Yu Sui drew the black fish into her Nine Provinces Star Sea and used Black Flame to shrink and subdue it.
• Yu Sui woke in the Taoist Saint Hall on the eighth day after fainting in Nether Lake and learned that Yin Qi had entered her while Yang Qi possessed Gu Gan.
• Sage Chang Gen told Yu Sui that memories of the Nether Lake incident had been erased for everyone except the Sages present.
• Yu Sui told Sage Chang Gen that she wanted to find Gu Gan, and he gave her permission to go.

Yu Sui searched for Mei Chengyu and used Reversing Heavenly Track to follow his trail to a secluded valley, where Liang Zhen and Zhang Guanyi revealed Mei Chengyu was trapped in the Butterfly Dream. When Yu Sui called for him, the scene shifted to a memory in which a young man was awakened by his siblings.

• Yu Sui visited Nian Qiuyan, who said Mei Chengyu had vanished from the Reverse Ancient Tower and revealed that Xuan Kui had asked him to investigate the people around Sheng Zui.
• Yu Sui concluded that a Phantom Beast Shadow had moved from Sheng Zui into her and suspected Lady Su was its master.
• Yu Sui asked Xue Mushi to watch for Mei Chengyu, then searched the overgrown site of the Reverse Ancient Tower without finding him.
• Yu Sui used Reversing Heavenly Track on Mei Chengyu's Five Elements Qi and followed its guiding bird to a secluded valley, where the trail ended.
• Liang Zhen and Zhang Guanyi discussed Mei Chengyu's Soul Contract with Yu Sui and explained that he was trapped in the Butterfly Dream and could die if forced awake.
• Yu Sui called for Mei Chengyu, and the storm gave way to a clear sky as a young man woke when his sister called him A'Li and urged him to go to the palace.