Chapter Summaries

Cheng Buzheng exhausted the Primordial Chaos Qi in the Chaos Waste Stone and confirmed his domain was complete, then began merging his Nascent Soul with it to enter the Half-Step Venerable realm. His Nascent Soul and body started transforming as spiritual energy flooded into him.

• Cheng Buzheng continued refining his domain with Heavenly Crystal Jade Walls until his cultivation was one refinement away from the Half-Step Venerable realm.
• Cheng Buzheng drew the final Primordial Chaos Qi from the Chaos Waste Stone and cautiously confirmed that none remained inside.
• Cheng Buzheng examined the harmless Chaos Waste Stone and discovered that its material produced an unprecedented vision, then stored it for later study and possible use in his Life-Bound Magic Treasure.
• Cheng Buzheng began merging his Nascent Soul with his completed domain, causing the Nascent Soul to dissolve into starlight and milky-white light.
• Cheng Buzheng's Sea of Consciousness and physical body began vibrating as spiritual energy surged into him and his body started transforming.

Cheng Buzheng broke through to the Half-Step Spirit Transformation Supreme Realm and examined his enhanced body and two Sea of Consciousness forms. He then searched the Jade Slips for guidance on reaching Spirit Transformation, but the Demon Venerables’ insights proved nearly useless, so he turned to the remaining human Supremes’ records.

• Cheng Buzheng broke through, discovering that his physical strength had risen to rival a top-grade high-grade Magic Treasure.
• Cheng Buzheng found that his Nascent Soul had merged with the Chaos Star River and that his Chaos Dao Tribulation Sword refinement speed had increased more than tenfold.
• Cheng Buzheng compared his Chaos Star River and Nascent Soul forms, noting their different strengths in combat, escape, and treasure refinement.
• Cheng Buzheng read Demon Venerable Xiaotian’s Jade Slip and found only a cryptic remark about seeking the source of one’s bloodline.
• Cheng Buzheng read Demon Venerable Luosha’s Jade Slip and concluded that he would need to rely on the human supreme beings’ insights to find a path to Spirit Transformation.

Cheng Buzheng studied several Venerables’ breakthrough insights and learned that becoming mortal to comprehend the Dao or obtaining a law spirit object could help him reach Spirit Transformation. He chose to pursue the mortal-life method first, postponed creating an avatar to search the Thunder Abyss, and set out to reforge his Life-Bound Magic Treasure.

• Cheng Buzheng read Venerable Tianzhao’s account of breaking through during a life-and-death crisis and rejected it as too dangerous and dependent on luck.
• Cheng Buzheng found that the other Jade Slips described breakthroughs he could not replicate, then read Venerable Zongbao’s advice about becoming mortal and comprehending the Dao or using a law spirit object.
• Cheng Buzheng realized the Innate Ink Lotus and the Mysterious Yellow Waste Stone had been law spirit objects, though he believed the Lotus had been bait and the Stone’s power had been spent.
• Cheng Buzheng decided to attempt the mortal-life method before sending an avatar into the Thunder Abyss, since splitting off an avatar would weaken his comprehension.
• Cheng Buzheng destroyed the cracked Heavenly Crystal Jade Walls with his new Half-Step Supreme power, considered how to obtain more treasures, and left to reforge his Life-Bound Magic Treasure.

After leaving seclusion, Cheng Buzheng spent time with Murong Wanwan before disguising himself as Old Monk Fayang and traveling to the Profound Wind Sea Region. There, Evil Rat and Dog Demon prepared to ambush a female cultivator carrying Mysterious Underworld Yin Fire Turbid Qi, just as their target arrived.

• Murong Wanwan stopped Cheng Buzheng from leaving and persuaded him to promise he would rest if his next breakthrough approach failed.
• Cheng Buzheng left the Quiet Room, disguised himself as Old Monk Fayang, and teleported from Immortal Alliance City to the Profound Wind Sea Region.
• Evil Rat and Dog Demon waited inside a concealed formation, planning to seize the female cultivator's Mysterious Underworld Yin Fire Turbid Qi and erase every trace of their attack.
• Dog Demon sensed the target's arrival and warned Evil Rat to prepare for the ambush.

Dog Demon True Lord and Evil Rat True Lord ambushed Lady Nishang to seize the key to the Immortal Path, but her powerful treasures and Myriad Immortal Sect arts overwhelmed Dog Demon True Lord. Cheng Buzheng recognized Lady Nishang and hurried toward the fight, while Evil Rat True Lord launched a hidden attack that brought another figure into the void.

• Evil Rat True Lord hid within the formation while Dog Demon True Lord confronted Lady Nishang and demanded her storage pouch.
• Lady Nishang resisted Dog Demon True Lord with her embroidered-ball treasure, destroyed his Spirit-Restricting Bees, and countered his ancient staff with the Cyan Gauze Great Hand Seal.
• Cheng Buzheng recognized Dog Demon True Lord, identified Lady Nishang as a Myriad Immortal Sect cultivator, spotted Evil Rat True Lord in hiding, and rushed toward them.
• Evil Rat True Lord waited until Lady Nishang had committed her power to the embroidered ball, then struck her with a concealed cyan needle.
• A brilliant radiance shielded Lady Nishang as another figure appeared in the void.

Lady Nishang survived Evil Rat True Lord’s ambush with a life-saving Jade Talisman, and Cheng Buzheng intervened when the two evil cultivators demanded her [Mysterious Underworld Yin Fire Turbid Qi]. He killed both pursuers with ease and looted their possessions, while Lady Nishang watched him with curiosity.

• Lady Nishang escaped Evil Rat True Lord’s surprise attack with her life-saving Jade Talisman and learned that he and Dog Demon True Lord wanted her [Mysterious Underworld Yin Fire Turbid Qi].
• Cheng Buzheng appeared beside the two evil cultivators, revealed his Half-Step Spirit Transformation cultivation, and stopped them from fleeing.
• Cheng Buzheng killed Evil Rat True Lord with one punch as Dog Demon True Lord sent fourth-tier demon corpses to attack and fled.
• Cheng Buzheng endured the demon corpses’ explosions, destroyed Dog Demon True Lord’s needle-shaped Magic Treasure, and shattered his flying dagger with a punch.
• Cheng Buzheng caught up with Dog Demon True Lord and killed him, then looted both evil cultivators’ possessions while Lady Nishang watched.

After killing Evil Rat and Dog Demon, Cheng Buzheng revealed that he recognized Nangong Xiu and asked for Ten Thousand Immortals Sect insights into reaching Nascent Soul Perfection. Nangong Xiu gave him a fire-technique inheritance under oath, and Cheng Buzheng realized he still needed suitable Turbid Qi for Murong Wanwan.

• Cheng Buzheng burned the corpses of Evil Rat and Dog Demon, then approached the disguised Nangong Xiu.
• Cheng Buzheng asked Nangong Xiu for cultivation insights for Nascent Soul Perfection, and she inferred that he had seen through her disguise and knew she possessed the inheritance.
• Nangong Xiu revealed her identity as Island-Moving Venerable's Dao companion, and Cheng Buzheng explained that he sought the inheritance for his Dao companion, Murong Wanwan.
• Nangong Xiu agreed to share insights suited to fire-element techniques on the condition that Cheng Buzheng keep them secret, and he swore a great heart-demon oath.
• Nangong Xiu gave Cheng Buzheng a Jade Slip with fire-technique combinations of Innate Gang Sha and Earthly Turbid Qi; he found that he lacked suitable Turbid Qi for Murong Wanwan.
• Cheng Buzheng asked Nangong Xiu about her cultivation technique, having recognized that its earth-and-fire attributes might suit Houtu Turbid Qi.

Cheng Buzheng traded [Stellar Gang Sha] and [Houtu Turbid Qi] to Nangong Xiu for the [Mysterious Underworld Yin Fire Turbid Qi], which he wanted for his Dao companion. As he continued his journey and examined his spoils, he discovered an [Innate Creation Pearl] and decided to use it to accelerate the refinement of his Life-Bound Magic Treasure after reforging it.

• Cheng Buzheng offered Nangong Xiu [Houtu Turbid Qi] and [Stellar Gang Sha] in exchange for her [Mysterious Underworld Yin Fire Turbid Qi], but she initially refused because neither item suited her cultivation.
• Cheng Buzheng offered one portion of each item, and Nangong Xiu agreed to the trade after deciding the price was worthwhile.
• Cheng Buzheng and Nangong Xiu examined the items and completed the transaction before parting ways.
• Nangong Xiu wondered who Cheng Buzheng really was and decided to ask her husband about him after returning to Xuanfeng Immortal City.
• While flying through the Nine Firmaments Cloud Sea, Cheng Buzheng inspected his spoils and identified a white round stone as an [Innate Creation Pearl].
• Cheng Buzheng placed the pearl in a Storage Bag he kept close and continued sorting through the pills, treasures, and records from the two golden Storage Bags.

Cheng Buzheng searched the two Evil Cultivators’ spoils but found no cultivation arts or divine abilities, while learning that one had kept extensive secret intelligence. At Seal Boundary Ancient City, Nangong Xiu told Island-Moving Venerable about her trade with Cheng Buzheng and raised suspicions about his identity.

• Cheng Buzheng sorted the magic treasures, maps, and books from the two golden Storage Bags, finding no valuable treasure site or unusual records in them.
• Cheng Buzheng read the Platinum Rat Mask cultivator’s Jade Slips and learned of several targets, hidden opportunities, and secret methods, but found none of the divine abilities or cultivation arts he sought.
• Cheng Buzheng destroyed the remaining Jade Slips, put away the empty Storage Bags, and continued traveling through the Nine Firmaments Cloud Sea.
• At Seal Boundary Ancient City, Nangong Xiu asked Island-Moving Venerable about the recovering sect seniors and urged him not to enter the Forbidden Sea alone.
• Nangong Xiu described her journey and her trade with Cheng Buzheng, then showed Island-Moving Venerable Cheng Buzheng’s appearance and explained that he had recognized her identity despite having no records in nearby cities.

Island-Moving Venerable investigated the suspicious Mortal Cultivator who had traded with Nangong Xiu but found no proof of his identity. Cheng Buzheng returned to White Cloud Sect, summoned its Elders, and began hearing reports on the sect’s affairs.

• Island-Moving Venerable suspected that Nangong Xiu’s trading partner had rare invisibility and transformation abilities and an unusually powerful physique, then examined the traded materials for an Immortal Alliance mark.
• Island-Moving Venerable checked the exchange records and found that Chu Yao had acquired the Stellar Gang Sha, so he ended his investigation after learning Chu Yao had died.
• Cheng Buzheng returned to White Cloud Sect and ordered all Elders to gather at White Cloud Hall, prompting excitement among the disciples and anxiety among former North Azure Sect members.
• Cheng Buzheng met with the sect’s Golden Core elders, received the newcomers from North Azure Sect, and listened as the Great Elder and other officials reported on changes in the sect.

Cheng Buzheng rewarded White Cloud Sect’s Golden Core elders for their service and announced that he had reached Nascent Soul Late Stage before preparing to enter seclusion again. He promised to deal personally with North Azure Sect the next day, then heard reports that foreign sects were probing White Cloud Sect’s control of Jin Kingdom’s resources.

• A White Cloud Sect Golden Core elder presented Cheng Buzheng with a report on Green Wood Immortal City’s revenue, and Cheng Buzheng praised the elders for strengthening the sect.
• Cheng Buzheng offered several dozen Magic Treasures as rewards, and the First Elder chose a mid-grade stone tower before the other elders selected their treasures.
• Cheng Buzheng revealed his breakthrough to Nascent Soul Late Stage, displayed his overwhelming pressure, and ordered the elders not to disturb his coming seclusion except in emergencies.
• The First Elder asked how White Cloud Sect should handle North Azure Sect, and Cheng Buzheng heard reports about its remaining cultivator, resources, and defenses before promising to act personally the next day.
• Golden Core cultivators reported that Spirit Beast Sect, Corpse Refining Sect, and other outsiders were forcing trades in North Azure Immortal City and Green Wood Immortal City, apparently testing White Cloud Sect’s limits.

After Cheng Buzheng returned to the White Cloud Sect, he ordered his elders to kill anyone who provoked them, and news of his return spread across the cultivation world. Rival sects suspended plans against the White Cloud Sect, while the weakened Mysterious Yin Sect considered seeking Cheng Buzheng’s protection as it lost another resource site.

• Cheng Buzheng ordered the White Cloud Sect elders to kill cultivators who provoked them and issued decisive rulings on their disputes with other sects.
• Huang Yuan persuaded Li Xiao'er to sell news of Cheng Buzheng’s return, and the two Outer Sect Disciples made several dozen Spirit Stones.
• The Spirit Beast Sect Ancestor suspended his plans and ordered his disciples recalled from Jin Kingdom.
• The Corpse Refining Sect Ancestor put an agreement with the Spirit Beast Sect and the Ghost Control Sect on hold while ordering closer surveillance of the White Cloud Sect.
• Yun Yao considered asking Cheng Buzheng to shelter the diminished Mysterious Yin Sect after the Spirit Bone Sect seized its copper ore vein, and told her senior sister to protect the remaining disciples and avoid leaving the sect.

Yun Yao True Person ordered the Mysterious Yin Sect to lie low while seeking Golden Core recruits, keeping her master's favor from White Cloud Sect as a last resort. At North Azure Sect, its Golden Core elder offered his Foundation Establishment disciples a choice between staying or leaving, and Feng departed after being formally released from the sect.

• Yun Yao True Person vowed to reclaim the Mysterious Yin Sect's lost resources and instructed its core disciples to recruit Golden Core candidates from other sects.
• Yun Yao True Person considered appealing to White Cloud Sect if the Mysterious Yin Sect could not survive its crisis.
• North Azure Sect's Foundation Establishment cultivators urged their Golden Core elder to abandon their vulnerable Spirit Vein, but he rejected relocation and offered them the choice to remain or leave.
• As the elder's quarter-hour deadline nearly expired, Feng stepped forward and asked to leave, agreeing to compensate the sect and swear not to reveal its secrets.
• The elder struck Feng's name from North Azure Sect's register, returned his Soul Lamp, and watched him leave, freed from the sect's restraints.

Cheng Buzheng arrived at North Azure Sect to demand its sincere submission and used his former standing in the Immortal Alliance to dismiss the sect’s protection mark as a threat. The sect joined White Cloud Sect, its Golden Core elder survived his attempted self-sacrifice, and Cheng removed the Immortal Alliance Mark from the formation.

• Five or six Foundation Establishment cultivators paid compensation, swore oaths, and left North Azure Sect, while only two or three remained with the Golden Core elder.
• Cheng Buzheng reached North Azure Sect and demanded that its leaders submit to White Cloud Sect, warning that refusal meant death.
• The elder invoked the Immortal Alliance’s prohibition, but Cheng Buzheng said his former service in the Supervision Hall gave him enough standing to erase the consequences of the Immortal Alliance Mark.
• The elder chose submission for North Azure Sect but tried to sacrifice himself, so Cheng Buzheng suppressed him and declared him a White Cloud Sect disciple.
• The elder and the remaining cultivators pledged allegiance to Cheng Buzheng, who used the sect’s Golden Register to erase the Immortal Alliance Mark from the formation.

Cheng Buzheng and Cheng Changqing staged a public scene to make Cheng Changqing’s move into the White Cloud Sect appear legitimate, then Cheng Buzheng incorporated North Azure Sect and tested its disciples for spies. After killing those exposed, he ordered the sect’s treasures and disciples transferred and designated its grounds as a branch sect.

• Cheng Buzheng and Cheng Changqing’s apparent confrontation was revealed as a performance intended to secure Cheng Changqing a place in the White Cloud Sect and conceal their relationship.
• Cheng Buzheng summoned North Azure Sect’s disciples and offered them the choice to join the White Cloud Sect or leave; a dozen or so cultivators departed.
• Cheng Buzheng used the Heart-Questioning Art to expose spies among the remaining disciples, then killed those who stepped forward.
• Cheng Buzheng ordered Cheng Changqing to move the sect’s treasures and cultivation materials to the main sect and instructed Foundation Establishment cultivators to relocate the disciples and resources.
• Cheng Buzheng began transforming North Azure Sect’s Spirit Vein into a White Cloud Sect branch sect and reflected that the Jin Kingdom’s three great sects had become history.

Cheng Buzheng oversaw the North Azure Sect’s takeover, rebuilt its grounds as a White Cloud Sect branch, and rewarded Cheng Changqing for helping secure the surrender. He announced that the branch was ready for elders and stewards, then asked for volunteers to take up posts there.

• Cheng Changqing and several hundred White Cloud Sect disciples stripped the North Azure Sect, loaded their spoils aboard the North Azure Heavenly Boat, and departed for the main sect.
• Cheng Buzheng studied the sect’s Spirit Vein channels, razed and reshaped its spiritual peaks, and began remodeling the channels for White Cloud Sect cultivators.
• A month later, Cheng Buzheng convened the Golden Core cultivators and praised Cheng Changqing’s role in bringing North Azure Sect into White Cloud Sect.
• Cheng Buzheng appointed Cheng Changqing Second Elder and bestowed the mid-grade Magic Treasure [Spirit-Seizing Blade] upon him.
• Cheng Buzheng announced that the North Azure Mountains branch was ready for sect stewards and elders, then called for volunteers.

Cheng Buzheng assigned Cheng Changqing to guard the North Azure Mountains branch and prepared to enter seclusion. Shangguan Qingyu revealed that she and Chu Linger were leaving the Return to Origin Immortal Sect because people were pursuing the map Chu Daofeng had left her, and they planned to seek refuge with the White Cloud Sect.

• Golden Core elders sought Cave Mansions at the North Azure Mountains branch, but Cheng Buzheng limited the available residences to nine and ordered them allocated by contribution.
• Cheng Buzheng appointed Cheng Changqing to choose a spirit peak and oversee the branch, overruling the First Elder’s objection and naming Cheng Changqing Second Elder.
• Cheng Buzheng announced that he would enter seclusion and left the sect’s affairs to the First Elder, Second Elder, and Sect Master.
• North Azure Sect defectors congratulated Cheng Changqing and gathered with him after the meeting.
• Shangguan Qingyu told Chu Linger that they were leaving because Chu Daofeng’s map to a dangerous Abandoned Mansion had attracted attention, and she planned to take Chu Linger to the White Cloud Sect.

Shangguan Qingyu and Chu Linger escaped the Return to Origin Immortal Sect in disguise, but Bai True Person revealed he had arranged their flight so he could pursue them and seize a treasure. As Bai’s Treasure Ship caught up, Shangguan Qingyu gave Chu Linger her possessions and sent her away under a concealing cloak, remaining alone aboard the Flying Boat.

• Shangguan Qingyu disguised herself and Chu Linger as Outer Sect Disciples, and they left the sect on Magic Tools.
• Chu Linger worried that the Soul Register could reveal their whereabouts, but Shangguan Qingyu said martial uncle Yun had erased her name.
• Bai True Person revealed he had enabled the mother and daughter’s escape and ordered his companion to pursue them for the treasure Chu Martial Uncle had left behind.
• When Bai True Person’s Treasure Ship approached, Shangguan Qingyu gave Chu Linger a Storage Bag containing her belongings, her Identity Token, and a map to an Abandoned Mansion.
• Shangguan Qingyu covered Chu Linger with the Origin-Concealing Cloak and urged her to seek help from Uncle Cheng at the White Cloud Sect.
• Chu Linger activated the cloak and disappeared from the Flying Boat, leaving Shangguan Qingyu alone.

Bai True Person and another Golden Core cultivator attacked Shangguan Qingyu while she stalled to help Chu Linger escape. After the battle, Linger believed her mother had died and vowed to avenge her, while Bai True Person ordered a search for the girl and the treasure he sought.

• Bai True Person sent a square seal and an ancient bell to suppress Shangguan Qingyu, who countered with an ancient stele.
• Bai True Person demanded that Shangguan Qingyu hand over Chu Linger, but she stayed silent to buy her daughter time to flee.
• Bai True Person and the other cultivator attacked Shangguan Qingyu as Chu Linger watched from hiding far away.
• After a brilliant burst of light, two streaks vanished into the distance, and Chu Linger believed her mother had died.
• Chu Linger vowed to avenge her mother, kowtowed nine times, and left the canyon to train in the mortal world.
• Aboard the Golden Light Treasure Ship, Bai True Person told Junior Brother Ma to search for Chu Linger and Shangguan Qingyu's Storage Bag, focusing on the Boundless Sea and its Immortal Cities.

Cheng Buzheng secretly entered the Secret Realm to try to seize control of its formation before reforging the [Chaos Dao Tribulation Sword]. He found the formation too demanding to master at his current cultivation, so he postponed the attempt and prepared to refine his treasure in the Teleportation Room.

• Cheng Buzheng left the White Cloud Sect in secret and traveled to the Secret Realm, leaving a Soul Puppet behind to guard the sect.
• Cheng Buzheng inspected the Secret Realm and confirmed that the clan's younger generation had heeded his warning and left its dangerous depths untouched.
• Cheng Buzheng tried to replace a modified section of the Secret Realm's formation but found that its immense demands on Magic Power and divine sense made taking control impractical for now.
• Cheng Buzheng closed the Stone Gate, decided to revisit the formation after a breakthrough, and set out his materials for reforging the [Chaos Dao Tribulation Sword].
• Cheng Buzheng chose to use [Thunder Dragon Heavenly Fire] in place of earth fire and laid out dozens of Magic Power-restoring Spirit Pills.