Chapter Summaries

Mei Chengyu, Zhongli Shan, and Xing Chun tried to escape the cavern by breaking the ice beneath the underground river and discovered that the sea fire consumed anything they sent into it. Mei Chengyu found a way to draw the fire toward the ice, and the resulting crash echoed through North Kun City, alerting those searching underground.

• Mei Chengyu and Zhongli Shan failed to break the unusually hard ice or get past the sea fire with their techniques and Mechanical Rabbits.
• Mei Chengyu told Zhongli Shan that the flames resembled a dead strange fire, and they decided to investigate what lay beneath the ice.
• Xing Chun suggested luring the fire with their clothes, but the first clothes-rope burned away instantly without leaving a mark.
• Mei Chengyu proposed wrapping the clothes-rope in Five Elements Qi and drawing the fire beneath the ice, then threw it toward the flames.
• The ice exploded with a deafening crack, and Mechanism Technicians, Lin Chenghai, Hu Gui, Zhang Xiangyun, Luo Fu, Situ Jin, Li Jinshuang, and Yu Sui heard it from elsewhere in North Kun City.

Yu Sui discovered that the Sea Fire could not harm her and used it to reach the Panlong Stone Grotto, where she rescued Mei Liangyu from the icy flood. The chapter left Mei Liangyu and Yu Sui together above the water as Zhongli Shan and Xing Chun watched them with puzzled expressions.

• Ice shattered beneath North Kun City, and the Mechanism Clan traced the disturbance to the Panlong Stone Grotto while Baili Mo told Situ Jin that the Academy and Shuizhou had arrived.
• Hu Gui placed the stolen Situ Clan Spirit Puppet in the Central Hub and began altering its incantations while Lin Chenghai learned that the girl who had deceived him was Nangong Sui.
• Yu Sui left the Spirit Puppet, realized Zhang Xiangyun and Luo Fu were trapped in Spirit Puppet Deep Pit, and extinguished the Sea Fire blocking the way down.
• The ice in the Panlong Stone Grotto broke apart and swept Mei Liangyu, Zhongli Shan, and Xing Chun into the dark water.
• Yu Sui found Mei Liangyu underwater, brought him to a Buddha statue above the flood, and learned that he could not hear; Zhongli Shan and Xing Chun surfaced and watched them.

Yu Sui reunited with Mei Chengyu in the flooded grotto, where he revealed he had found Milky Way Water and planned to use it to make Lan Poison. While Mei Chengyu went underwater, Lin Chenghai attacked Yu Sui over the Xirang, and the chapter ended as a black skeletal hand seized the shadow of a sword beneath the water.

• Yu Sui joined Mei Chengyu, Xing Chun, and Zhongli Shan on the statue after the Sea Fires vanished, and she hid details of how she had reached the grotto.
• Mei Chengyu gave Yu Sui a look at the Six Mysterious Wood wrapped around Milky Way Water and said they could use it to make Lan Poison before diving back underwater.
• Lin Chenghai, wearing Wen Yangzhou's face, held Yu Sui at staff-point and attacked her over her family's possession of the Xirang.
• Yu Sui called for Mei Chengyu, and her Purple Lightning struck Lin Chenghai and sent him flying, though his counterattack knocked her into the water.
• Underwater, Yu Sui heard a strange sound, saw an enormous Black Shadow, and watched a skeletal hand reach out to seize the shadow of a dark sword.

Yu Sui learned that the half piece of Primordial Soil inside her might be why she could not practice the Nine Schools Techniques, while Mei Chengyu confronted Lin Chenghai and Hu Gui in the underground grotto. The Black Skull’s rampage forced Lin Chenghai and Hu Gui to flee, and it emerged aboveground to face Leng Rouyin, Wei Xizhen, and Sun Heng.

• The Black Skull lifted Yu Sui from the river and roared, while Mei Chengyu attacked Lin Chenghai after finding Yu Sui injured.
• Hu Gui revealed that Yu Sui carried half a piece of Primordial Soil and speculated that Nangong Ming had sent her to Taiyi so Chang Gen could seal it and investigate her nature.
• Lin Chenghai guessed that Su Xing held the other half of the Primordial Soil, then offered to spare Yu Sui as the Black Skull began roaring again.
• The Black Skull’s attacks shook North Kun City, drew the attention of Xing Chun, Zhongli Shan, Li Jinshuang, Ou Rushuang, Wu Huaiwei, Leng Rouyin, Wei Xizhen, and Sun Heng, and restored Mei Chengyu’s hearing.
• Lin Chenghai and Hu Gui escaped through a Water Tornado after Lin Chenghai told Mei Chengyu to leave Taiyi if he wanted to save Wen Yangzhou.
• The Black Skull emerged from the Whirlpool Entrance and fought Leng Rouyin, Wei Xizhen, and Sun Heng before Crimson Flame Crystal Flowers engulfed it in fire.

Yu Sui and Mei Chengyu realized the rogue sword spirit was likely Yu Sui’s, while the Sages investigated Shuizhou’s replicated Sea Fire. After Zhongli Shan and Xing Chun found them underground, Leng Rouyin, Ou Rushuang, and Wu Huaiwei arrived and looked down at them.

• Leng Rouyin identified the black entity as a likely Military School Sword Spirit, while Situ Jin asked the Sages to capture the person who had stolen his Mechanism Spirit Puppet.
• Wei Xizhen revealed that people had caused the whirlpools, and Sun Heng explained Shuizhou’s research into strange flames and the Eye of Gui Xu.
• Sun Heng used the School of Names’ Calligraphy to collect the remaining counterfeit Sea Fire, extinguishing Yu Sui’s Flowing Fire below.
• Mei Chengyu concluded that the black entity was probably Yu Sui’s sword spirit and told her to keep it hidden and deny knowing about it.
• Zhongli Shan and Xing Chun found Yu Sui and Mei Chengyu beneath the Buddha statue, and Leng Rouyin, Ou Rushuang, and Wu Huaiwei appeared above them.

After the Sea Fire was withdrawn from North Kun City, the Sages questioned Mei Chengyu and Yu Sui about how they had arrived and investigated the sea eye. Yu Sui concealed her true route into the city, while Wei Xizhen realized she had not come through the sea eye; the chapter ended with the Sages debating sea-eye transportation and Leng Rouyin shattering Yu Sui’s Five Elements Light Core during a quarrel with Wu Huaiwei.

• Sun Heng recalled the Sea Fire, and Wu Huaiwei, Leng Rouyin, and Ou Rushuang descended into the Panlong Stone Grotto, where they found Mei Chengyu, Yu Sui, Xing Chun, and Zhongli Shan.
• Mei Chengyu said he had fought Wen Yangzhou and a Ghost Dao Practitioner before the sea eye swept them into North Kun City, and he denied knowing anything about the black Sword Spirit.
• Wu Huaiwei teased Mei Chengyu about being alone with Yu Sui, then argued with Leng Rouyin until Wei Xizhen arrived and stopped Leng Rouyin’s sword wind.
• Wei Xizhen examined Xing Chun and recognized that Yu Sui had not been brought in by the sea eye because her Five Elements Qi lacked its chaotic traces.
• Yu Sui claimed that Situ Jin had brought her to North Kun City because she was worried about Mei Chengyu, and the Sages let her leave with him.
• Wei Xizhen confirmed that sea eyes could transport people, prompting the Sages to investigate how outsiders had entered Taiyi; Leng Rouyin then shattered Yu Sui’s hidden Five Elements Light Core while arguing with Wu Huaiwei.

After the Sea Fire was extinguished, Mei Chengyu and Yu Sui reunited with Zhang Xiangyun and Luo Fu at the Situ Clan’s Spirit Puppet Pit. The group examined the puppets while Zhang Xiangyun weighed how to handle Mei Chengyu, who had apparently obtained the Milky Way Water.

• Situ Jin found Situ Spirit Puppet outside the sealed pit, then opened the door and discovered Zhang Xiangyun and Luo Fu still inside.
• Mei Chengyu, Yu Sui, Xing Chun, and Zhongli Shan arrived, and Zhang Xiangyun scrutinized Yu Sui while Situ Jin questioned the newcomers.
• Xing Chun and Zhongli Shan saw the Mechanism Spirit Puppets, and Xing Chun recoiled in fear.
• Zhang Xiangyun privately confronted Mei Chengyu about surviving the Sea Eye, while Mei Chengyu hinted that someone else would soon die; Zhang Xiangyun suspected he had obtained the Milky Way Water.
• Mei Chengyu asked Situ Jin to let Yu Sui inspect the puppets, and Situ Jin agreed.
• Mei Chengyu explained that the puppets’ outer skin came from people who had contracted with the Situ Clan, and Yu Sui wiped her hand on Mei Chengyu’s clothes after touching one.

Yu Sui discovered that Five Elements Light Cores could cultivate inside the Mechanism Clan’s spirit puppets, while Mei Liangyu confronted Nian Qiuyan about failing to stop Zhang Xiangyun. Mei Liangyu showed Nian Qiuyan the Milky Galaxy Water-stained Six Mysterious Wood, and noticed Nian Qiuyan reaching for his Divine Wood Sign.

• Situ Jin explained how spirit puppets worked, and Zhongli Shan talked Xing Chun out of buying one by offering to eat with him.
• Mei Liangyu pulled Yu Sui away when she tried to buy a spirit puppet, and Li Jinshuang arrived to join the others.
• Ou Rushuang sent the Academy disciples back to the Spirit Bird while he focused on finding the Milky Galaxy Water.
• Yu Sui sent her Five Elements Light Cores into spirit puppets and discovered that they absorbed Five Elements Qi and cultivated on their own.
• Mei Liangyu confronted Nian Qiuyan about failing to stop Zhang Xiangyun, then showed him the Six Mysterious Wood stained with Milky Galaxy Water.
• Mei Liangyu noticed Nian Qiuyan reaching for the Divine Wood Sign at his waist.

Nian Qiuyan read Mei Chengyu’s fortune, and the two tested one another with divinations while concealing what they truly wanted. Meanwhile, the Academy Saints continued investigating the strange fire, and Wei Xizhen tried to persuade Wu Huaiwei to take its danger seriously.

• Nian Qiuyan told Mei Chengyu about Yan’s decline and divined that Mei Chengyu’s relationship carried hardship and a risk of death by fire.
• Mei Chengyu scattered Nian Qiuyan’s reading, then used six copper coins to divine where they would meet after leaving Taiyi; the coin for Yan was scattered when Xing Chun entered.
• Nian Qiuyan left with Xing Chun, while Mei Chengyu told Zhongli Shan that he had given Nian Qiuyan the item and would see what he did with it; Mei Chengyu then coughed blood from his poison.
• Zhang Xiangyun and Luo Fu watched Nian Qiuyan leave and wondered whether he would reclaim the Milky Way Water from Mei Chengyu.
• Wei Xizhen found nothing in the underground river and urged Wu Huaiwei to consider the danger the strange fire posed to ordinary people; Wu Huaiwei changed the subject to Old Man Chang’s youngest disciple and his Five Elements Qi.

Yu Sui retrieved her Sixth Realm Light Cores from the Spirit Puppet Pit, then destroyed her First Realm Light Core underwater to test whether a stronger core could replace it. As her Five Elements Qi began to leak away, a Sixth Realm Light Core took its place, and she made contact with the World Destroyers.

• Wei Xizhen identified Yu Sui as a possible Superior Body with Five Elements Generation, and Wu Huaiwei decided to recruit her for the Yin-Yang School.
• Nian Qiuyan, Xing Chun, and Zhongli Shan discussed their cultivation goals aboard the Spirit Bird while Mei Chengyu prepared a meal.
• Yu Sui used Li Jinshuang’s help to return to the Spirit Puppet Pit and retrieve ten Sixth Realm Light Cores.
• Yu Sui slipped away to the deck, concealed herself, and plunged into the sea before destroying her First Realm Light Core.
• The World Destroyers felt pain in their chests as Yu Sui’s Five Elements Qi began to drain away.
• A Sixth Realm Light Core settled into Yu Sui’s chest and stopped the loss of her Five Elements Qi, and she answered the World Destroyers.

Yu Sui tested her breakthrough and discovered she could control when the World Destroyers’ connection began and ended, then recovered aboard the Spirit Bird. As the ship sailed back out to sea, Nian Qiuyan revealed he had obtained the Milky Way Water and, after reflecting on Mei Chengyu and Kong Yiyi, decided not to force his feelings on her.

• Yu Sui returned to the Spirit Bird after surviving the destruction of her Sixth Realm Light Core and realized she could use the resulting near-death state to control her conversations with the other World Destroyers.
• Yu Sui rested while Mei Chengyu visited her, then the Spirit Bird sailed back out to sea and avoided several sudden sea eyes.
• Wu Huaiwei taunted Leng Rouyin over her past betrayal, while Sun Heng tried to mediate and Ou Rushuang questioned Wu Huaiwei’s grudge.
• Zhang Xiangyun confronted Nian Qiuyan and learned that Nian Qiuyan already had the Milky Way Water and planned to hand it to his superiors.
• Nian Qiuyan wondered whether Mei Chengyu had given him the Milky Way Water as a test or a chance to explain, then remembered Kong Yiyi and decided not to force her to accept his feelings.

After sea eyes blocked the route back to the academy, Situ Ling brought Yu Sui and the others to stay at the Situ Clan residence. Yu Sui resumed researching the Secret Text and later visited Nian Qiuyan, who confirmed that he had received the Milky Way Water, leaving her asking what he planned to do next.

• The Sages said Yu Sui and the Taiyi students could not return to the academy until the Water Vessel Sages dealt with sea eyes along the route.
• A Situ Steward offered Li Jinshuang and the others lodging at the Situ Clan residence, and Situ Ling arrived to escort them there.
• Situ Ling took the Taiyi students to the Situ residence, where Mei Chengyu was summoned to meet Grandmother Situ and the others received guest courtyards.
• Yu Sui considered whether the Situ Clan used Number Mountain to operate its spirit puppets, then used the Listening Wind Ruler to continue writing the Secret Text.
• Yu Sui visited Nian Qiuyan at night, and he confirmed that Senior Martial Brother had given him the Milky Way Water.
• Yu Sui asked Nian Qiuyan what he planned to do next.

Yu Sui confronted Nian Qiuyan about his ties to Xuan Kui and threatened him with a concealed technique after he suspected she had interfered in Mei Chengyu’s fight with Wei Kun. Mei Chengyu arrived before their confrontation went further, and Nian Qiuyan sent the pair away.

• Nian Qiuyan told Yu Sui he would sever ties with Mei Chengyu and the others if they learned he belonged to Xuan Kui, and he warned her that exposing Xuan Kui’s Lan Poison business could endanger her position as heir.
• Nian Qiuyan offered to divine Yu Sui and Mei Chengyu’s future, but Yu Sui declined and offered to divine whether Nian Qiuyan would die at Xuan Kui’s hands or someone else’s.
• Nian Qiuyan stopped Yu Sui’s divination by taking her copper coin and accused her of interfering when Mei Chengyu killed Wei Kun.
• Yu Sui hinted that she had used a hidden method and formed a School of Names Water Arrow behind Nian Qiuyan, then asked him to keep the peace between them.
• Mei Chengyu arrived, and Nian Qiuyan returned the coin to him before shutting the door and window on Yu Sui and Mei Chengyu.

Nian Qiuyan realized Yu Sui was far more dangerous and powerful than he had believed, and she warned him off when he tried to divine her. Mei Chengyu gave Yu Sui a treasure that eased the strange fire’s pain, leaving her hopeful that she would sleep well.

• Mei Chengyu gave Yu Sui a copper coin and dismissed Nian Qiuyan’s divination skills, while Nian Qiuyan reconsidered what Yu Sui was capable of.
• Nian Qiuyan tried to divine Yu Sui, but her Thunder Serpent destroyed his array and burned his hand, so he stopped.
• Mei Chengyu accompanied Yu Sui to her guest quarters and told her the Sages would drive the sea eyes away from Mechanism Island.
• Mei Chengyu recalled the White-robed Man and Gui Xu’s Eye, briefly releasing a violent aura that frightened Yu Sui; she told him he had scared her.
• Mei Chengyu gave Yu Sui the Extreme Sea Cold Jade, which eased the pain caused by the strange fire.

Yu Sui worked on a new Secret Text while considering how to handle Nian Qiuyan, who remained wary in his room. Zhang Xiangyun and Luo Fu confronted Nian Qiuyan over the Milky Way Water, and Nian Qiuyan agreed to hand it over as they went outside.

• Yu Sui completed the Secret Text Mountain Spirit and planned to use techniques from the School of Names, School of Law, and Yin-Yang School to give it awareness.
• Yu Sui watched Nian Qiuyan through her Five Elements Light Cores and decided she wanted to keep him from becoming her enemy because of what he knew about Xuan Kui and its members.
• Zhang Xiangyun and Luo Fu entered Nian Qiuyan's room and demanded that he hand over the Milky Way Water.
• Zhang Xiangyun threatened to expose Nian Qiuyan to Mei Chengyu and questioned whether Mei Chengyu liked him or Nangong Sui more, but Nian Qiuyan remained unshaken.
• Nian Qiuyan challenged Zhang Xiangyun to master the School of Names' Water Arrow silently, then offered to hand over the Milky Way Water outside.
• Mei Chengyu visited Wen Yangxiu in the Abyssal Sea, while Situ Ling persuaded Li Jinshuang to teach her Soldier School Swordplay.

Yu Sui and Li Jinshuang shared stories about their childhoods and found comfort in their similar experiences, becoming friends. Mei Chengyu secretly listened from outside Yu Sui’s courtyard and left with new thoughts about her.

• Li Jinshuang slipped over the courtyard wall to visit Yu Sui after spending the day with Situ Ling.
• Yu Sui and Li Jinshuang compared their childhood studies, punishments, and experiences at their Nation Academies.
• Li Jinshuang told Yu Sui about being misunderstood by a girl who loved her and being insulted by jealous noblemen; Yu Sui defended and reassured her.
• Yu Sui shared stories of her childhood schemes and explained that she wanted to befriend Li Jinshuang through honest conversation; Li Jinshuang came to consider her a friend.
• Mei Chengyu secretly listened to the conversation from outside the courtyard, reacting to Yu Sui’s stories and wondering how many Male Appearances she liked.

Mei Chengyu and Nian Qiuyan tested their trust beneath the Red Maple Ancient Tree, while Mei Chengyu learned that Nian Qiuyan had lost the Six Mysterious Wood and promised to recover it. Grandmother Situ revealed that Mei Chengyu needed to create a sea-eye passage himself and offered to distract Sage Chang Gen so he could act.

• Nian Qiuyan told Mei Chengyu he had lost the Six Mysterious Wood in the Abyssal Sea and promised to find it again, while Yu Sui listened to their conversation.
• Mei Chengyu remembered how Nian Qiuyan had used his divinations to help their friends, then reassured him that the lost item was not worth worrying over.
• Situ Jin and the others returned to the sealed Abyssal Sea as Sages gathered on Mechanism Island and blocked access to the shore.
• Grandmother Situ told Mei Chengyu that Shuizhou had placed a new coordinate in the First Generation Golden Crow, but he would need to create a sea-eye passage himself.
• Grandmother Situ offered to keep Sage Chang Gen occupied while Mei Chengyu acted, and warned him not to disappoint her.

Yu Sui and Mei Chengyu discussed the Shuizhou Sages, his missing memories, and his past with Gao Tianhao, while Mei Chengyu kept his Yan Kingdom identity from her. Later, Yu Sui confronted Nian Qiuyan over Xuan Kui and defeated him in a contest, leaving him wounded and at her mercy.

• Mei Chengyu told Yu Sui that the Shuizhou Sages planned to drive the Sea Eye to Shuizhou, and he discussed his incomplete memories and childhood connection to Gao Tianhao with her.
• Mei Chengyu and Yu Sui spent the day together, visited Mechanism Island’s Night Market, and returned to the Situ Clan.
• Nian Qiuyan visited Yu Sui at night and told her he had handed over the Milky Way Water.
• Yu Sui demanded that Nian Qiuyan reveal who in Taiyi belonged to Xuan Kui and what Xuan Kui was doing outside Taiyi, warning that she would destroy the organization if she had to.
• Nian Qiuyan accepted Yu Sui’s challenge and used his divination to seal her Five Elements Qi, but a hidden Five Elements Light Core pierced his shoulder while Yu Sui caught his Golden Thunder Long Line unharmed.

Nian Qiuyan warned Yu Sui that Song Yubai, a Xuan Kui member with the Mystic Technique Reverse Hexagram, could use the Communication Institute’s number mountains to find whoever had exposed Lan Poison and Milky Way Water. Their discussion also revealed how several Academy disciples could manipulate Listening Wind Rulers and that Gu Gan knew about Nian Qiuyan and Zhang Xiangyun’s activities; the chapter ended with Gu Gan sending Nian Qiuyan a voice message.

• Nian Qiuyan joined Zhongli Shan and Xing Chun’s outing, where he encountered Yu Sui and struggled to hide his reaction to her.
• After the Sea Eye kept them on Mechanism Island, Situ Jin took Yu Sui and the others to visit powerful families, and the newly restored Listening Wind Rulers filled with announcements and messages.
• Nian Qiuyan told Yu Sui that Chen Xian, Fan Xi, and Song Yubai had joined the Communication Institute, then explained that Song Yubai was a Xuan Kui member with Reverse Hexagram.
• Nian Qiuyan warned that Song Yubai could use the number mountains to intercept messages about Lan Poison and track the person who sent them.
• Nian Qiuyan explained that Chen Xian and Fan Xi modified Listening Wind Rulers, and that both they and Song Yubai had ties to Gu Gan.
• Nian Qiuyan confirmed that Gu Gan knew what he and Zhang Xiangyun were doing, then received a voice-message notification from Gu Gan.

Yu Sui learned about Xuan Kui’s remaining Lan Poison stronghold and the plan to have her kill Meimei, while Nian Qiuyan tested what she knew about Chu Jin. After Nian Qiuyan left, Yu Sui read Su Feng’s message revealing that her mother had lost another daughter before Yu Sui was born, and she replied that she had not known.

• Yu Sui ignored Gu Gan’s transmissions as Nian Qiuyan explained that Taiyi’s Saints had destroyed the outer-island Lan Poison strongholds, leaving one unknown location that Zhang Xiangyun might know.
• Nian Qiuyan told Yu Sui that Xuan Kui wanted him to use Milky Way Water to create a stronger Lan Poison with fewer side effects, and identified Chu Jin as Qingyang’s Hundred Bandit.
• Yu Sui pretended to know little about Chu Jin, but Nian Qiuyan revealed that Chu Jin had proposed involving Yu Sui in Xuan Kui’s business so she could kill Meimei.
• Nian Qiuyan returned to review his conversation with Yu Sui, while Yu Sui messaged others about investigating the Taiyi Saints and buying spirit puppets.
• Yu Sui read Su Feng’s message that Fourth Concubine had given birth to another daughter before Yu Sui and that the child died at Mount Luo Peak; Yu Sui replied that she had not known.