Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cultivators entering Myriad Goodness Abbey are being bewitched, one by one.
• The group is led to a guest courtyard by Mu Jia, where they are assigned rooms.
• Lu Maohong reveals that cultivators below the seventh level of Qi Refinement are at risk of being bewitched and becoming Daoist acolytes of the abbey.

Character Developments

• Lu Maohong: Demonstrates his experience and knowledge about Myriad Goodness Abbey, taking a leadership role.
• Mu Jia: Behaves strangely, leading the group to the guest courtyard and showing familiarity with the place.
• Zhang Guitu, Mu Jia, and Lan Yanqun: Exhibit symptoms of bewitchment.

Significant Themes

• Bewitchment and loss of self: Cultivators' fears and vulnerabilities are exploited, leading to loss of memory and identity.
• Time and escape: The correct time of day is crucial for leaving the abbey, and falling asleep can cause cultivators to miss their chance to escape.

Character Interactions

• Lu Maohong, Zheng Que, Shentu Jinghai, and Yu Zhongyin: Discuss strategies and precautions while staying in their assigned room.
• Mu Jia, Sun Zhengyi, and Feng Jian: Assigned to the same room, their interactions and plans are not yet revealed.
• Chen Zhentao, Zhang Guitu, Shi Yiquan, and Yan Zhiyong: Assigned to another room, their interactions and plans are also not yet revealed.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Maohong shares his knowledge about the dangers in Myriad Goodness Abbey.
• Zheng Que decides to stay in the room and summon the Ghost Bride to fight the Anomaly.
• Zhang Guitu, Shi Yiquan, and Yan Zhiyong are assigned to the same room as Chen Zhentao, who leaves without explanation.
• Shi Yiquan opens the door, allowing an unseen entity to enter their room.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates strategic thinking by summoning the Ghost Bride to handle the Anomaly.
• Shi Yiquan shows naivety and lack of caution by opening the door without verifying who was outside.
• Zhang Guitu and Yan Zhiyong display prudence and self-preservation by fleeing the room after sensing an unseen entity.

Significant Themes

• Trust and Caution: Characters must decide whom to trust and when to be cautious, as not everyone's intentions are clear.
• Knowledge vs. Ignorance: Lu Maohong's knowledge about the Anomaly gives him an advantage, while others' ignorance puts them at risk.
• Self-Preservation: Characters prioritize their own safety, sometimes at the expense of others.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que, Ku Lan, and Shu Yunying: Zheng Que gives orders, while Ku Lan and Shu Yunying follow them, with Shu Yunying showing some initiative.
• Zhang Guitu, Shi Yiquan, and Yan Zhiyong: They discuss their situation and react differently to the unseen entity entering their room, showcasing their distinct personalities and priorities.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Maohong, Shentu Jinghai, and Yu Zhongyin use a bronze compass to navigate the array in Myriad Goodness Abbey.
• They encounter a ghostly creature disguised as Chen Zhentao, which tries to lure them with promises of escape and Foundation Establishment.
• Lu Maohong remains unmoved and dispels the creature, but Shentu Jinghai and Yu Zhongyin disappear without a trace.
• Zhang Guitu and Yan Zhiyong flee their haunted room and try to seek help from Lu Maohong, but end up back in their own room, trapped with Shi Yiquan.

Character Developments

• Lu Maohong demonstrates his calm and composed demeanor, even in the face of ghostly illusions.
• Zhang Guitu and Yan Zhiyong show fear and desperation as they try to escape their haunted room.
• Shi Yiquan's behavior suggests he may be under the influence of the array's illusions or the Yin Energy within the room.

Significant Themes

• The power of will and determination in the face of illusions and temptation.
• The dangers of underestimating one's opponents or the environment, as seen in the disappearance of Shentu Jinghai and Yu Zhongyin.
• The theme of being trapped, both physically (in the rooms and the array) and mentally (in the illusions).

Character Interactions

• Lu Maohong and the other two cultivators work together to navigate the array, but their fates diverge due to the array's illusions.
• Zhang Guitu and Yan Zhiyong try to help each other escape their haunted room but end up trapped together with Shi Yiquan.
• Lu Maohong's calm and collected demeanor contrasts with the fear and desperation shown by Zhang Guitu, Yan Zhiyong, and Shi Yiquan.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shentu Jinghai and other cultivators are bewitched and transported to Myriad Goodness Abbey.
• Miao Yi, a sixth-level Qi Refinement cultivator, leads an evening service, teaching about accumulating virtue and doing good.
• Shentu Jinghai is asked about how he would handle two scenarios involving helping others, and his answers are criticized.
• Zheng Que, in the Wide Hall, adds names to the [Life and Death Book] and promotes Luo Fuyu's cultivation.

Character Developments

• Shentu Jinghai: Struggles with understanding the concept of "accumulating virtue and doing good" as taught by Miao Yi.
• Miao Yi: Reveals his strict interpretation of doing good, prioritizing root solutions over immediate aid.
• Luo Fuyu: Receives a promotion in cultivation level from Zheng Que.

Significant Themes

• The concept of "accumulating virtue and doing good" is explored, with Miao Yi presenting a strict, sometimes counterintuitive interpretation.
• The consequences of one's actions and the importance of understanding the root cause of problems are emphasized.

Character Interactions

• Shentu Jinghai interacts with Miao Yi and other cultivators, struggling to understand and agree with Miao Yi's teachings.
• Zheng Que interacts with Luo Fuyu, promoting her cultivation level as a reward for completing her previous task.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ghost Bride is summoned to the Wide Hall by Zheng Que, who increases her cultivation to the ninth level of Tongue-Pulling Hell and sends her to Myriad Goodness Abbey.
• Zheng Que raises Qing Li's cultivation to the ninth level of Tongue-Pulling Hell.
• Ku Lan's cultivation is increased, but she remains at the eighth level.
• Nian Nu's cultivation reaches the peak of the seventh level of Tongue-Pulling Hell.
• Shu Yunying is summoned, and she complains about Zheng Que's other Ghost Servants.

Character Developments

• Ghost Bride gains confidence and ambition after her cultivation increase.
• Zheng Que demonstrates his power and authority by raising his Ghost Servants' cultivations.
• Qing Li's loyalty and eagerness to please are evident in her lengthy complaints.
• Shu Yunying shows her manipulative nature by trying to turn Zheng Que against his other Ghost Servants.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and hierarchies among ghosts and their lord.
• The importance of merit and cultivation in the underworld.
• Manipulation and scheming among characters.

Character Interactions

• Ghost Bride and Zheng Que: Ghost Bride shows deference to Zheng Que, who grants her a task and increases her cultivation.
• Zheng Que and Qing Li: Zheng Que listens to Qing Li's complaints but ultimately ignores them, raising her cultivation instead.
• Zheng Que and Ku Lan/Nian Nu: Zheng Que raises their cultivations without much interaction.
• Shu Yunying and Zheng Que: Shu Yunying tries to sway Zheng Que's opinion of his other Ghost Servants, showing her cunning nature.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que discovers an opportunity to advance his Ghost Servants' cultivation by having them slay ghosts in the Underworld.
• Ku Lan, now at the eighth level of [Tongue-Pulling Hell], plans to harvest Zheng Que's energy while he sleeps.
• The Ghost Bride returns to Jade Terrace Mountain, seeking Myriad Goodness Abbey to find Zheng Que.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que remains patient and strategic, using the opportunity to advance his Ghost Servants' cultivation.
• Ku Lan regains her peak strength and plans to betray Zheng Que.
• The Ghost Bride, now a Yin Profession, seeks to find and confront Zheng Que.

Significant Themes

• The struggle for power and control among Zheng Que's Ghost Servants.
• The pursuit of strength and advancement in cultivation.
• The conflict between the Ghost Bride and Zheng Que.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que orders his Ghost Servants to slay ghosts in the Underworld, ignoring their infighting.
• Ku Lan secretly plans to harvest Zheng Que's energy.
• The Ghost Bride interacts with the landlady, giving orders to her entourage as they approach Myriad Goodness Abbey.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Miao Yi conducts an evening lesson at Myriad Goodness Abbey, asking riddles to test the cultivators' understanding of doing good thoroughly.
• Shentu Jinghai, a Qi Refinement Stage eighth-layer cultivator, is subjected to a simulated drowning scenario as a test.
• Shentu Jinghai is stoned to death by other cultivators, mimicking Miao Yi's answer to the riddle.
• Zheng Que, in the [Life and Death Book], learns of Shentu Jinghai's death and the deaths of Shi Yiquan and Yan Zhiyong.
• Ku Lan harvests Zheng Que's essence, and he reciprocates using the [Yin-Yang Joyous Union Secret Record].

Character Developments

• Miao Yi: Demonstrates his authority and the consequences of failing his tests.
• Shentu Jinghai: Shows his initial hesitation and later desperation as he tries to survive the test.
• Zheng Que: Realizes the deaths of his acquaintances and experiences Ku Lan's harvest of his essence.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of failure in Miao Yi's teachings.
• The interconnectedness of life and death, as seen through the [Life and Death Book].
• The dangers of underestimating one's opponents or situations.

Character Interactions

• Miao Yi and the cultivators: Miao Yi tests the cultivators, and they respond with violence to Shentu Jinghai.
• Zheng Que and Ku Lan: Ku Lan harvests Zheng Que's essence, and he reciprocates, leading to a private moment between them.
• Zheng Que and the other Ghost Servants: Zheng Que's actions with Ku Lan occur in the presence of his other Ghost Servants, though they are not mentioned to interact directly.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Guitu wakes up in the guest room, finding it unchanged despite the strange events that occurred earlier.
• He discovers his hands covered in blood, but they appear clean when he looks again.
• He leaves the room and finds the courtyard shrouded in a ghostly blue mist.
• Zheng Que is cultivating with Ku Lan (disguised as Qing Li) in another guest room when Zhang Guitu knocks on the door, asking for guidance.
• Chen Zhentao appears at the main hall, ready for the drawing of lots.

Character Developments

• Zhang Guitu: Becomes more cautious and alert after the strange occurrences.
• Zheng Que: Realizes Ku Lan's deception but plays along to avoid suspicion.
• Chen Zhentao: Maintains his calm and composed demeanor, preparing for the crucial moment.

Significant Themes

• Deception and Trust: Ku Lan deceives Zheng Que, and Zhang Guitu is deceived by his senses, highlighting the theme of trust and its fragility.
• Power and Control: Chen Zhentao's calm and composed demeanor showcases his control over his emotions and actions, contrasting with the chaos happening elsewhere.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Guitu and Zheng Que: Zhang Guitu's knock on the door disrupts Zheng Que's cultivation, revealing Ku Lan's deception.
• Ku Lan and Zheng Que: Ku Lan continues to deceive Zheng Que, using Qing Li's identity to gain his trust.
• Chen Zhentao and the Abbey: Chen Zhentao prepares to face the Abbey's challenges, showing his determination to complete his mission.

Chen Zhentao visits Myriad Goodness Abbey at midnight to draw a fortune stick for his upcoming Foundation Establishment. He draws a middling stick, predicting an Earth-grade Dao foundation and potential hardships. He leaves, then returns disguised as Lu Maohong, drawing another stick predicting a perilous but possible Foundation Establishment with a human-grade foundation if successful. The abbess, Temple Master Meng, advises him to avoid establishing his foundation in Taiping County.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhentao, a ninth-level Qi Refinement cultivator from Xuanyuan Pavilion, infiltrates Myriad Goodness Abbey to draw fortune sticks for Foundation Establishment.
• He uses the identities of three court cultivators—Lu Maohong, Shentu Jinghai, and Yu Zhongyin—to draw fortunes, receiving increasingly inauspicious results.
• Chen Zhentao decides to use the identity of Zheng Que, a fifth-level Qi Refinement cultivator, for his final attempt.
• He uses the [Soul Search Technique] to extract information about Zheng Que from Xie Jie, the seventh-level Qi Refinement leader of the Ren carriage.
• Chen Zhentao draws a fortune stick as Zheng Que, but the interpretation by Abbey Master Yao (Meng Yao's cameo character) reveals a most inauspicious fortune.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhentao's desperation and determination to form a Heaven-grade Dao Foundation grow as he faces increasingly unfavorable fortunes.
• Abbey Master Meng and Abbey Master Yao (Meng Yao) are revealed to be separate entities, with Yao being more sinister and powerful.

Significant Themes

• The unpredictability and inauspiciousness of the fortunes drawn at Myriad Goodness Abbey.
• The desperation and lengths to which cultivators will go to secure a Heaven-grade Dao Foundation.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhentao interacts with Abbey Master Meng and Abbey Master Yao, drawing fortunes and receiving interpretations.
• Chen Zhentao interacts with Xie Jie, using the [Soul Search Technique] to extract information about Zheng Que.

• Key Plot Points: Chen Zhentao, a cultivator, draws a unfavorable lot at Myriad Goodness Abbey, which is swapped by Abbess Yao. He tries to escape but is pursued by ghosts in the hall's anomaly. He uses a hidden Foundation Establishment Realm attack to break free and flees to Crane Rest Courtyard.
• Character Developments: Chen Zhentao shows his cunning and resourcefulness in trying to escape the abbey's anomaly. Abbess Yao demonstrates her malice and power, controlling the anomaly and pursuing Chen Zhentao.
• Significant Themes: Greed and its consequences, as Chen Zhentao's attempt to draw more lots than allowed leads to severe retribution. The theme of power and control is also evident, with Abbess Yao manipulating the anomaly to pursue Chen Zhentao.
• Character Interactions: Chen Zhentao and Abbess Yao have a tense interaction, with Abbess Yao revealing her malice and Chen Zhentao trying to outsmart her. There's also a brief interaction with another cultivator in Crane Rest Courtyard, who turns out to be Abbess Yao in disguise.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Maohong navigates Myriad Goodness Abbey at night, encountering an illusory spirit wall.
• Zhang Guitu seeks Lu Maohong, reporting a strange occurrence in his guest room.
• Both men receive mysterious bamboo slips with ominous divination verses.
• Zheng Que, in the Wide Hall, realizes Ku Lan's resistance to the abbey's slumber-inducing effect and considers staying in the room until dawn.

Character Developments

• Lu Maohong demonstrates caution and awareness of the abbey's dangers.
• Zhang Guitu shows panic and bewilderment after his encounter.
• Zheng Que exhibits strategic thinking and observes Ku Lan's resistance to the abbey's influence.

Significant Themes

• The dangers and illusions within Myriad Goodness Abbey.
• The struggle against the abbey's bewitching and slumber-inducing effects.
• The importance of staying alert and aware of one's surroundings.

Character Interactions

• Lu Maohong and Zhang Guitu: Lu Maohong takes the lead, trying to protect Zhang Guitu, while Zhang Guitu relies on Lu Maohong for guidance.
• Zheng Que and Ku Lan: Zheng Que observes Ku Lan's resistance and considers using her umbrella to stay awake.
• Zheng Que and the [Life and Death Book]: Zheng Que notices the increasing number of names in the book.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mu Jia, a cultivator, wakes up in an unfamiliar part of Myriad Goodness Abbey with no memory of how he got there.
• He finds a fortune stick in his hand with a grim prediction, and panics.
• Mu Jia sees his own corpse and realizes his flesh and skeleton have separated, leading to his death.
• Throughout the abbey, cultivators are found dead in gruesome ways, their bodies disappearing.
• Zheng Que, in the Life and Death Book, notices many cultivators' records appearing at once, indicating simultaneous deaths.

Character Developments

• Mu Jia's confusion and fear grow as he realizes he's dying.
• Zheng Que becomes concerned about the sudden deaths and the safety of key individuals.

Significant Themes

• Death and the unknown.
• The ominous nature of Myriad Goodness Abbey.

Character Interactions

• Mu Jia interacts with his own corpse.
• Zheng Que interacts with the Life and Death Book, learning about the deaths.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que wakes up in a drab guest room with his Ghost Servants asleep.
• Lu Maohong returns and enters the room, finding Zheng Que awake but disheveled.
• Lu Maohong reveals that Shentu Jinghai and Yu Zhongyin have gone missing, and he encountered a dangerous fortune stick.
• Zheng Que decides to go outside to investigate.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates his calm and resourceful nature, managing the situation with his Ghost Servants and interacting with Lu Maohong.
• Lu Maohong shows concern for Zheng Que's safety and shares crucial information about the current danger.

Significant Themes

• The theme of trust and communication is evident as Zheng Que and Lu Maohong exchange information and strategize.
• The danger posed by the Anomaly and the mysterious fortune sticks is emphasized.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que and Lu Maohong interact cautiously but cooperatively, each sharing information to help the other navigate the situation.
• Zheng Que's interaction with Zhang Guitu is tense and suspicious, with Zhang Guitu's behavior hinting at potential danger.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que releases Shu Yunying, his Ghost Servant, who appears alert and capable.
• Zhang Guitu, initially thought to be a ghost, is revealed to be human by Zheng Que's Ghost Servant, Nian Nu.
• Zheng Que and Zhang Guitu leave Crane Rest Hall to find a safer place to talk.
• They decide to look for the Xuanyuan Pavilion disciple for more information about Myriad Goodness Abbey.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que shows caution and wisdom in handling the situation with Zhang Guitu.
• Shu Yunying demonstrates intelligence and understanding of human speech.
• Zhang Guitu shows fear and caution when faced with the unknown.

Significant Themes

• The danger and uncertainty of Myriad Goodness Abbey.
• The power dynamics between cultivators and ghosts.
• The importance of information and knowledge in survival.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que and Zhang Guitu form a temporary alliance, sharing information and planning their next steps.
• Shu Yunying interacts with Zheng Que and Zhang Guitu, showing understanding and initiative.
• Zheng Que's Ghost Servants, Shu Yunying and Nian Nu, help him identify Zhang Guitu as human.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhentao returns to the main hall of Myriad Goodness Abbey, facing Abbess Yao's illusions.
• He uses a [Substitute Paper Figure] to deceive Abbess Yao, but she sees through it and destroys it.
• Chen Zhentao uses [Delusion-Breaking Talismans] to navigate the illusions, but they prove ineffective.
• He realizes he's been tricked and decides to establish his foundation using a Foundation Establishment Pill to gain an advantage.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhentao demonstrates resourcefulness and quick thinking in using the paper figure and trying to break the illusions. However, he underestimates Abbess Yao and is forced to use his trump card.
• Abbess Yao shows cunning and malice, toying with Chen Zhentao and creating illusions to confuse him.

Significant Themes

• The dangers of underestimating one's opponent and the importance of preparedness.
• The power of illusions and deception in combat.
• The desperation and determination to survive when faced with certain death.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhentao and Abbess Yao: Chen Zhentao tries to outsmart Abbess Yao, but she remains one step ahead, toying with him and pushing him into a corner.
• Chen Zhentao's internal struggle: He realizes his mistake and decides to use his Foundation Establishment Pill to turn the tables, showing his determination to survive.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A human-faced ghost, the Tricky Specter, attacks Zheng Que, but he uses the Phantom Escape Technique to avoid it.
• Shu Yunying saves Zheng Que by disintegrating the ghost with her black vapor.
• The human-faced ghost, composed of countless faces, rises from Zhang Guitu's shadow and attacks Zheng Que.
• Zheng Que and Nian Nu are overwhelmed by hatred and lose control, but Shu Yunying engages the ghost in battle.
• Zheng Que recovers, uses the Soul-Calling Banner to summon Qing Li, and defeats the ghost with Shu Yunying's help.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates his Phantom Escape Technique and uses the Soul-Calling Banner effectively.
• Nian Nu is vulnerable to mental attacks and is temporarily incapacitated.
• Shu Yunying showcases her powerful ghost-summoning abilities and combat skills.
• Zhang Guitu remains enigmatic, speaking only after the battle ends.

Significant Themes

• The power of hatred and resentment, which can overwhelm cultivators.
• The importance of mental fortitude and self-control in battle.
• The strength of unity and cooperation between cultivators (Zheng Que and Shu Yunying).

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que and Shu Yunying work together to defeat the Tricky Specter.
• Zheng Que saves Nian Nu from the mental attack.
• Zhang Guitu's interaction with the ghost and his delayed reaction to the battle remain unclear.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Guitu, beguiled by a mysterious entity, stabs himself to death.
• Zheng Que and Shu Yunying suspect that a ghost creature from Taiping County, not Scissor Hell, is responsible.
• Zheng Que decides to leave Vermilion Autumn Peak immediately.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que: Shows strategic thinking and concern for his group's safety.
• Shu Yunying: Reveals lack of knowledge about the "Tricky Specter" and its origins.

Significant Themes

• The unknown and mysterious nature of ghost creatures and their origins.
• The importance of vigilance and quick decision-making in dangerous situations.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que and Shu Yunying: They work together to assess the situation and decide on a course of action, despite their differing levels of knowledge about the ghost creature.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que, accompanied by Shu Yunying and Ku Lan, explores Myriad Goodness Abbey at night.
• They encounter an unknown specter, but its fate remains uncertain.
• Zheng Que learns that Myriad Goodness Abbey is an anomaly that only living people can encounter.
• He realizes that the Ghost Bride might not have been able to find the Elegant Gathering due to it being an anomaly for living people only.
• Zheng Que discovers that Ku Lan used the Yin Art [Red Attire] at Shu Family Fort, which required sacrificing another Yin Art.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates caution and strategic thinking, showing growth in his abilities.
• Ku Lan reveals more about her past and her connection to the Ghost Bride, hinting at a secret she's hiding.

Significant Themes

• The dangers and mysteries of anomalies in Jade Terrace Mountain.
• The power dynamics and secrets between the living and the ghostly creatures.
• The consequences of using powerful Yin Arts and the sacrifices they require.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que seeks information from Ku Lan about Myriad Goodness Abbey and her past.
• Ku Lan is evasive about her connection to Luo Fuyu and the Ghost Bride.
• Zheng Que orders Ku Lan to use [Red Attire], showing his authority and trust in her abilities.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que realizes Ku Lan's Yin art, [Yang-Stealing Technique], is useless for him but could be useful for Qing Li.
• Ku Lan fails to activate [Red Attire], and Zheng Que orders her to keep trying.
• Zheng Que arrives at Myriad Goodness Abbey's main hall, finding it eerily quiet.
• Ghost Bride enters the abbey, her wedding gown trying to escape due to her dowry maid's interference.
• Corpse Puppets in the side courtyard come to life, and [Painted Skin] arrives, seeking Zheng Que.
• [Painted Skin] finds an illusion of Zheng Que and destroys it, demanding he hand over the human target. The abbey master offers to split the target between them.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que shows concern for Ku Lan's well-being and the potential use of her Yin art for Qing Li.
• Ghost Bride struggles with her dowry maid's persistent attempts to borrow her wedding gown.
• [Painted Skin] demonstrates her determination and impatience in finding Zheng Que.

Significant Themes

• The struggle for power and resources, as seen in Zheng Que's consideration of Ku Lan's Yin art and Ghost Bride's dowry.
• The theme of deception and illusion, with [Painted Skin] encountering an illusion of Zheng Que.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que and Ku Lan: Zheng Que shows concern for Ku Lan's well-being and the potential use of her Yin art.
• Ghost Bride and her dowry maid: Ghost Bride struggles with her dowry maid's persistent attempts to borrow her wedding gown.
• [Painted Skin] and Zheng Que: [Painted Skin] demands Zheng Que hand over the human target, threatening him when he refuses.