Chapter Summaries

Kui Shan spent days learning the game at Lin Yan’s Internet cafe, while Kong Ling and Xiang Xin waited for him to find his target. After reaching level thirty, Kui Shan began ranked placement matches and was crushed, ending with teammates questioning whether a person was behind his screen.

• Kui Shan finally won a bot match after repeated failures, and Lin Yan praised him while calling him a cow.
• Kong Ling and Xiang Xin waited on the mountain and learned through a Communication Talisman that Kui Shan still had not found his target.
• Lin Yan reached Silver Rank, but Kui Shan refused to fight him until he unlocked ranked mode and reached level thirty.
• Kui Shan reached level thirty and began his first ranked placement match, where repeated ganks and deaths left him far behind.
• Kui Shan lost another placement match with a score of 1-17, and his teammates cursed him and questioned whether anyone was sitting behind his screen.

Kui Shan, frustrated by a string of placement losses, asked Lin Yan to boost his account and offered increasingly valuable treasures in exchange. Lin Yan accepted the Earthcore Flame Marrow and took over Kui Shan’s account, ending the chapter on a pentakill.

• Kui Shan lost five placement matches in a row and worried that he would be placed in Iron V.
• Lin Yan refused to carry Kui Shan in duo queue but offered to play on his account, prompting Kui Shan to offer him treasures.
• Lin Yan took Kui Shan’s jar of Earthcore Flame Marrow and promised to rank him up to Bronze.
• Dan Xuan revealed that he had orchestrated the bargain to obtain the treasure for Lin Yan’s cultivation.
• Lin Yan took over Kui Shan’s account, bought Emperor Yan with Kui Shan’s Gold Coins, and scored a pentakill.

Lin Yan helped Kui Shan place at Bronze Five and taught him to play, but their gaming session was interrupted when Xiang Xin arrived to drag Kui Shan back. Xiang Xin tried the game, lost repeatedly to bots, and refused to leave the internet cafe, while Kong Ling waited alone on the Barren Mountain.

• Lin Yan won Kui Shan’s remaining placement matches, earning him a Bronze Five rank, and agreed to duo queue with him for extra payment.
• Xiang Xin found Lin Yan and Kui Shan drinking together at an internet cafe and demanded to know why Kui Shan had neglected his business.
• Lin Yan provoked Xiang Xin into trying the game, and Xiang Xin paid for an account and Communication Talisman before starting.
• Xiang Xin lost repeatedly to the bots, but rejected Kui Shan’s suggestion to give up and declared that no one was allowed to leave until he won.
• Kong Ling remained alone on the Barren Mountain, wondering why Xiang Xin had been gone for so long.

Wang Mu reviewed the booming game business and the demon prodigies who had become hooked on playing, and planned to expand into the Eastern Region. In the Emperor Demon Palace, the Young Emperor discovered that heavenly secrets surrounding the missing Northern Region prodigies had fallen into chaos.

• Nie Tingting reported that game registrations had surpassed eight hundred million and that most Wang Family players had reached the Ladder Tournament.
• Wang Mu ordered a minor update that would release game skins to raise funds before expanding the Internet cafes.
• Nie Tingting reported that Kui Shan and Xiang Xin were still playing at an Internet cafe, and Wang Mu said the games could help bring his business into the Eastern Region.
• Wang Mu switched the next skin release to Moon Emperor’s [Taiyin Goddess] instead of Emperor Yan’s [Endless Flame Prison].
• In the Emperor Demon Palace, the Young Emperor learned that the Northern Region demon prodigies had not reported back for more than half a month.
• The Young Emperor examined the heavenly secrets, found them in chaos, and wondered whether new variables had arisen.

At Seven Leaf City's Internet cafe, Lin Yan offered to carry Xiang Xin through his placement matches, while Kui Shan pressured Xiang Xin into giving Lin Yan increasingly valuable gifts. Lin Yan took Xiang Xin's Nine-Aperture Star Core and declared them lifelong good brothers, leaving Xiang Xin furious at Kui Shan for helping fleece him.

• After Xiang Xin and Kui Shan lost their match, Kui Shan refused to keep playing with Xiang Xin, and Lin Yan offered to help with his placements.
• Kui Shan urged Xiang Xin to show Lin Yan appreciation, so Xiang Xin produced a pile of colorful gemstones.
• Kui Shan criticized the gift and pushed Xiang Xin to offer more, prompting Xiang Xin to bring out a Nine-Aperture Star Core.
• Kui Shan snapped the jade box shut and handed the entire Star Core to Lin Yan, who stored it and praised the Demon Race's generosity.
• When Xiang Xin tried to take the gift back, Kui Shan shamed him into stopping, and Xiang Xin realized Kui Shan had been helping Lin Yan fleece him.

Kong Ling discovered the newly released Taiyin Goddess skin and became determined to buy it, abandoning her anger at Kui Shan and Xiang Xin. The skin’s high price sparked excitement and complaints among players across internet cafes and the Forum.

• Kui Shan and Xiang Xin tried to hide their scheme from Kong Ling, but she arrived and threatened to report their neglect of duty to the Young Emperor.
• A player’s reaction to the Moon Emperor skin caught Kong Ling’s attention, and she was captivated by its beauty on the screen.
• Lin Yan explained that the Taiyin Goddess was a purchasable game skin priced at ninety-nine Spirit Stones, and Kong Ling immediately decided to buy it.
• Kui Shan and Xiang Xin helped Kong Ling activate online payment and start playing at the internet cafe.
• Players admired the new skin in internet cafes, while a female cultivator borrowed Spirit Stones and Forum users argued that its price was too high.

Ye Weiyang discovered the new game skins and used a giveaway offer to recruit skilled teammates, finding a thrilling new pastime on the Forum. He selected four players to carry him and promised to give skins to ten more commenters.

• Ye Weiyang lost another match, then noticed the Forum discussion about skins and bought both available ones.
• He posted a picture of his skins and mocked players who could not afford them, drawing a flood of replies.
• Ye Weiyang offered a skin of the winner’s choice to four teammates who could carry him up the ranks.
• Dozens of commenters rushed to volunteer, and Ye Weiyang enjoyed the attention as they competed for his favor.
• Ye Weiyang selected two men and two women as teammates, then promised to randomly give skins to ten more commenters.

Wang Mu reviewed the enormous profits from the new game skins and teased with Xiao Wanmeng before discovering that her incomplete Dragon Phoenix Bloodline could be restored with pure Dragon Phoenix Essence. The chapter left him facing the problem that Dragon Phoenixes had vanished from the world.

• Langya Games sold skins for nearly thirty billion Spirit Stones, recouping its initial investment and turning a profit.
• Wang Mu read Nie Tingting's financial report while resting on Xiao Wanmeng's lap, and Xiao Wanmeng joked with him about her birthday gift.
• Wang Mu checked Xiao Wanmeng's panel and learned that her incomplete Dragon Phoenix Bloodline had great potential if supplemented with pure Dragon Phoenix Essence.
• Wang Mu recalled that Xiao Wanmeng had injured her bloodline by feeding him Essence Blood when he was an infant.
• Wang Mu learned that Dragon Phoenixes had vanished long ago, leaving the source of the essence needed to restore Xiao Wanmeng's bloodline unknown.

Wang Mu visited Xingyuan Island to inspect the Livestream System and advised Su Hongyuan on changes to its gifts, user interactions, badges, and virtual currency. He then raised another urgent matter for the team to arrange, but the chapter ended before he explained it.

• Wang Mu left with Xiao Wanmeng and traveled to Xingyuan Island on the Golden-Winged Peng.
• Xia Yaoyao welcomed Wang Mu and Xiao Wanmeng, then led them to the Black Tower to meet Su Hongyuan.
• Su Hongyuan showed Wang Mu the Livestream System, whose basic communication, interaction, tipping, and competition features were in place.
• Wang Mu proposed adding inexpensive and free gifts to attract ordinary users and create a larger audience for wealthy patrons.
• Wang Mu recommended spending-tier badges and entrance effects, streamer tasks unlocked by tips, free likes, and virtual currency purchased with Spirit Crystals or Spirit Stones.
• Wang Mu told Su Hongyuan and the others that he needed them to arrange another matter as soon as possible, but had not yet explained what it was.

Wang Mu reorganized the Langya Merchant Association into separate business divisions and won the unanimous approval of its senior executives. Afterwards, Nalan Rongyun praised his growth and urged him and Xiao Wanmeng to marry, leaving Wang Mu flustered by Xiao Wanmeng’s eager reply.

• Wang Mu told Su Hongyuan that the Forum’s Array Spirit should eventually gain the ability to recommend content based on users’ habits and preferences.
• Wang Mu and the department heads reorganized the Langya Merchant Association into separate business divisions, with each major operation reporting directly to him.
• Nie Tingting announced the new appointments, and the Merchant Association’s executives unanimously applauded the restructuring.
• Nalan Rongyun told Wang Mu she was ready to entrust the Merchant Association to him, while Wang Mu credited her support for his success.
• Nalan Rongyun urged Wang Mu and Xiao Wanmeng to marry and have a child, and Xiao Wanmeng said she was ready whenever Wang Mu was.

Wang Mu returned to Heavenly Severing Island, helped Dugu Qianxue and Little Nannan win a game, and ordered Langya Academy to begin selecting candidates for the Yaochi Grotto-heaven. As selections spread across the academies, the Forum made the upcoming Yaochi Feast a subject of widespread discussion.

• Wang Mu helped Dugu Qianxue and Little Nannan turn around their game and win, then teased Dugu Qianxue when she asked him to teach her.
• Nie Tingting told Wang Mu that the Great Powers had begun choosing candidates for the Yaochi Grotto-heaven, and he ordered Old Li to organize confidential selections across Langya Academy's branches and livestream them.
• Li Yuanhua thanked Wang Mu for placing him in charge of the foundation, swore to protect it, and suggested that Wang Mu test his young female relatives' Spiritual Roots.
• Little Nannan accused Wang Mu of being lustful, and Dugu Qianxue called him a beast before apologizing when he threatened not to teach her the game.
• Several days later, selection ceremonies began across the academies, and Forum videos and betting pools made the Yaochi Feast popular among Cultivators.

As public opinion and gambling pools dismissed Langya Academy’s chances at the Yaochi Feast, Wang Mu watched the academy’s intense slot selections from Star Picking Pavilion. He spotted a promising candidate among the thousands of battles.

• People across the internet doubted Langya Academy could compete with the Sacred Land prodigies in Yaochi Grotto-heaven.
• Thousand Gold Pavilion opened betting pools on the Yaochi Feast and offered enormous odds on Langya Academy lasting deep into the event or winning the Qingyun Realm.
• Similar betting pools appeared across the Northern Region and on the Forum, spreading discussion of Langya Academy’s prospects.
• Wang Mu watched the selection battles at every Langya Academy through three thousand light screens from Star Picking Pavilion.
• Wang Mu spotted a promising candidate and said he had found something worthwhile.

Wang Mu selected Han Li and other promising students for investment ahead of the Yaochi Feast, then answered attacks on Langya Academy by placing a massive wager at Thousand Gold Pavilion. The chapter ended with his people betting ten million High-Grade Spirit Stones on Langya students and departing for Wuyou Pavilion.

• Wang Mu recognized Han Li as a promising talent with an Innate Dao Embryo and ordered rewards prepared for students selected to enter Yaochi Grotto-heaven.
• Nie Tingting told Wang Mu that rival sacred grounds and academies were questioning Langya Academy students and had opened betting markets against them.
• Wang Mu decided to join the betting, and a Wang Family expert arrived at Thousand Gold Pavilion with two Storage Bags.
• The Wang Family expert poured out ten million High-Grade Spirit Stones, betting on Langya students to persist until the end and the Northern Darkness Sacred Ground prodigy to rank first in the Luotian Realm.
• The Wang Family group left for Wuyou Pavilion, leaving the Thousand Gold Pavilion crowd stunned.

Wang Mu’s enormous bets drew widespread attention, while the Primal Origin Sacred Ground leaders mocked his spending and learned the Holy Son had reached Silver Rank. As the Yaochi Feast selections neared their climax, Wang Mu continued seeking talents and prepared Little Nannan, whose cultivation had advanced rapidly, for the Yaochi Grotto-heaven.

• Rumors spread that Wang Mu had wagered hundreds of millions of Spirit Stones, including bets backing a Langya Academy student and the Northern Darkness Sacred Ground Prodigy.
• Ling Xiaozi and the Primal Origin Sacred Ground leaders laughed at Wang Mu’s spending, and Jiang Baiyi accidentally revealed that the Holy Son had reached Silver Rank before correcting himself.
• Wang Mu watched the ongoing selections for promising talents but regretted that no other Son of Heaven’s Mandate had appeared.
• Little Nannan finished a huge meal of precious Exotic Beasts and brought her Heaven-Seizing Creation Technique Golden Core Chapter close to ninety percent completion.
• Wang Mu told Little Nannan to fight fiercely in the Yaochi Grotto-heaven, and she asked whether she could eat her opponents.

Wang Mu brought Little Nannan to the Northern Darkness Sacred Ground’s Yaochi Grotto-heaven selection and asked for her to compete, promising she would fight openly rather than receive special treatment. When asked to choose an opponent, Little Nannan pointed to Su Qinghe, the selection’s newly established top contender.

• Su Qinghe defeated Yuan Congtian and was praised as the strongest in Northern Darkness’s Inner Sect.
• Wang Mu arrived with Little Nannan and asked Luo Xuanshuang to register her for the Yaochi Grotto-heaven selection.
• Wang Mu proposed that Little Nannan fight two matches against opponents chosen to convince the crowd, and Luo Xuanshuang agreed.
• The selection elder announced Little Nannan’s late addition, prompting many disciples to protest.
• Little Nannan chose Su Qinghe as her opponent.

Little Nannan defeated Su Qinghe with overwhelming ease, earning a place in the Yaochi Grotto-heaven and shocking the Northern Darkness Sacred Ground. Wang Mu revealed her name as Mu Ying, while Luo Xuanshuang helped conceal the origin of her unusual abilities.

• Little Nannan challenged Su Qinghe, and Wang Mu insisted that he fight her without holding back.
• Little Nannan swallowed Su Qinghe's flying sword, then absorbed his Heaven-Burying Sword Art and struck him out of the arena.
• The Pavilion Masters agreed that Little Nannan deserved a Yaochi Grotto-heaven slot, and Wang Mu said she was cultivating under Luo Xuanshuang.
• Luo Xuanshuang covered for Wang Mu by explaining that Little Nannan's constitution and Dao were unusual, then privately reproached him for using her as a shield.
• When an elder asked Little Nannan's name, Wang Mu announced that she was called Mu Ying.

Little Nannan earned a place in Yaochi Grotto-heaven after defeating Su Qinghe, and Wang Mu overwhelmed everyone with Precious Medicines for his recovery. The chapter ended with disciples and even an elder trying to persuade Little Nannan to fight them.

• The elder announced that Little Nannan had qualified to enter Yaochi Grotto-heaven, and the Northern Darkness Sacred Ground disciples accepted the result.
• Wang Mu brought out a mountain of Precious Medicines for the injured Su Qinghe, then added another mountain when Su Qinghe still appeared badly hurt.
• Wang Mu had Little Nannan apologize to Su Qinghe, who thanked her instead of blaming her.
• Yuan Congtian asked Little Nannan to exchange pointers, prompting several hundred disciples to compete for the chance to fight her.
• The elder silenced the crowd, scolded the disciples, and then invited Little Nannan to fight him himself.

Wang Mu gave ninety-nine Northern Darkness prodigies lavish supplies before they entered Yaochi Grotto-heaven, using the gifts to complete investments in all of them. The chapter ended with shocked Pavilion Masters asking Luo Xuanshuang whether the Holy Son was shutting down his trading company.

• Wang Mu told the prodigies he had prepared a gift for each of them instead of holding a sparring session.
• An elder opened Wang Mu's Storage Bag and revealed valuable medicines, pills, treasures, talismans, and Thunder Annihilation Pearls.
• Wang Mu's investment panel confirmed that he had maxed out investment progress for all ninety-nine disciples preparing to enter Yaochi Grotto-heaven.
• The disciples and elders marveled at the gifts, and Pavilion Masters asked Luo Xuanshuang whether Wang Mu was shutting down his trading company.

Wang Mu gave Northern Darkness Sacred Ground disciples a trove of treasures and urged them to bring glory to their sect at Yaochi Grotto-heaven. Meanwhile, Han Li earned a place in the selection and received a mysterious Storage Bag from Dean Gui He, who said it had been sent down specifically for him.

• Wang Mu gave Su Qinghe, Yuan Congtian, and the other disciples many treasures, asking them to do their best and strengthen Northern Darkness Sacred Ground.
• Su Qinghe, Yuan Congtian, and the disciples vowed to give everything they had for their Sacred Ground, while Elder Tiandan praised Wang Mu and Luo Xuanshuang wished he could live peacefully.
• Han Li secured one of Langya Academy's three hundred places for Yaochi Grotto-heaven, though his peers attributed his narrow victories to luck.
• Dean Gui He summoned Han Li to a waterside pavilion and praised his performance and vigilance.
• Gui He handed Han Li a luxurious Storage Bag sent from above and said he did not know what it contained.

Han Li learned that the Young Master had arranged generous rewards for every student selected for the Yaochi Grotto-heaven, and accepted the gifts as a chance to prove Langya Academy’s worth. Wang Mu’s investments in Han Li reached full progress, leaving him ready to see how Han Li would perform at the approaching Yaochi Feast.

• Gui He told Han Li that the Young Master had arranged rewards for all students with Yaochi Grotto-heaven slots and had selected Han Li’s reward before the final slots were filled.
• Gui He explained that Langya Academy needed its students to perform well before Sacred Land prodigies to gain the world’s respect, and Han Li promised to work hard.
• Han Li opened the Storage Bag in a cultivation chamber and received spiritual herbs, the Wither-and-Flourish Sword Canon, an Immortal-Grade Foundation Establishment Pill, and a Phantom Void Pendant.
• Wang Mu received system notifications confirming that his investments in Han Li had reached 100% progress and considered the gifts suited to Han Li’s abilities and cautious nature.
• Wang Mu looked forward to harvesting the results of his investments at the Yaochi Feast as the event drew near.