Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• The examinees arrive at Blood Pass, a snow mountain with a sea of blood mist below.
• They are led by Xiang Songnian and Cen Fuyi to a platform where the examination officials are gathered.
• Ning Jiushan, Vice Minister of Rites, announces the examination question after inspecting the scroll.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que observes other examinees, including two with Earth-grade Foundation Establishment: a young man from Silver Mountain Prefecture and a young woman from Qin Prefecture.
• Cen Fuyi introduces these cultivators to Zheng Que using voice transmission.

Significant Themes

• The Immortal Examination's difficulty and unpredictability.
• The importance of talent and cultivation resources in the cultivation world.
• The power dynamics among different regions and cultivators.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que interacts with Cen Fuyi through voice transmission, showing respect and gratitude.
• Zheng Que observes and assesses other examinees, demonstrating his analytical skills.
• The examination officials work together to verify the examination question's authenticity.

Chapter Summary: “Opening the Wasteland”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The second stage of the Immortal Examination begins with the distribution of examination Jade Slips.
• The Jade Slips explain that the examinees must develop Blood Pass over a six-month “reclamation period.”
• The examination takes place in the blood-mist-shrouded region surrounding the snowy mountain, with the court’s array separating the safe examination area from the dangerous wasteland.
• The map identifies mineral veins, spirit-material sites, heavenly treasures, and Anomalies, though each resource site is guarded by ghosts. Danger and ghost cultivation increase toward the center of Blood Pass.
• Examinees earn points by:
  • Occupying and mining resource sites
  • Establishing fortified strongholds
  • Opening shops and conducting trade
  • Creating trade caravans
  • Discovering and marking previously unknown resource sites
  • Finding powerful unmarked ghosts and recording their territories
• Points are reset if a resource site, stronghold, shop, or caravan is lost.
• Profits belong to the examinees after the court collects a ten-percent tax.
• The top two hundred examinees will pass, and the court will observe events without intervening. Fighting over resources is permitted, but purposeless slaughter is forbidden.
• Resources are then distributed. Each examinee receives a Storage Bag containing pills, talismans, defensive formation materials, and instructional Jade Slips.

Character Development

• Zheng Que quickly understands that the examination is more than a contest for individual resources. He realizes it is designed to establish functioning settlements in Blood Pass.
• He identifies the likely progression from stronghold to market town, then to village, town, and possibly city, recognizing that the exam is essentially a state-sponsored frontier colonization project.
• His strategic thinking deepens as he weighs the advantages of settling near the center—where resources are plentiful—against the increased threats posed by stronger ghosts and Anomalies.
• Zheng Que remains alert to the mysterious entity he previously sensed and notes that the map does not include the [Evil Shadow Play], meaning he will need to locate the imperially appointed Yin Messenger himself.

Significant Themes

• Wasteland development and civilization: The examination transforms survival and cultivation into a process of building permanent settlements and economic infrastructure.
• Risk versus reward: Central Blood Pass offers greater resources and more points but contains stronger ghosts, frequent infestations, and dangerous Anomalies.
• Competition and cooperation: Examinees compete for discovery rights and resources while also needing shops, trade caravans, defenses, and settlements to succeed.
• Institutional control: The court establishes rules, collects taxes, distributes supplies, and monitors the participants while deliberately refusing to intervene.
• Knowledge as power: Maps, resource records, ghost guides, formations, and refining instructions are essential tools for survival and advancement.

Character Interactions

• Ning Jiushan directs the examination and distributes both the rules and the resources through carefully sealed containers inspected by the examiners.
• The examiners publicly verify the integrity of the boxes before they are opened, emphasizing the court’s concern with fairness and procedural legitimacy.
• Zheng Que has no direct personal exchange with the other examinees in this section, but the examination rules establish future conflict over resource sites, strongholds, and discoveries.
• The distributed materials encourage examinees to become not only fighters and miners but also builders, merchants, alchemists, and explorers.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que understands the Immortal Examination's rules and the importance of establishing a stronghold.
• Shang Zhaozu seeks Zheng Que's guidance about the 'Law' location.
• Ning Jiushan announces the Immortal Examination's start, and examinees enter Blood Pass.
• Several examinees at the front go mad due to the baleful qi, causing chaos and casualties.
• The Heaven, Earth, and Human Lists appear, with no examinees initially on the Heaven or Earth Lists.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates his wisdom and understanding of the examination rules.
• Shang Zhaozu shows eagerness to find 'Law' but heeds Zheng Que's advice to establish a stronghold first.
• Xiang Songnian reveals that Zheng Que has already achieved Heaven-grade Foundation Establishment.

Significant Themes

• The importance of strategy and preparation in facing challenges.
• The influence of external factors (baleful qi) on one's mental state and actions.
• The significance of 'Law' in the Immortal Examination and the Heavenly Ranking.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que guides Shang Zhaozu about the 'Law' location and advises him on his approach.
• Xiang Songnian informs Ning Jiushan about Zheng Que's Heaven-grade Foundation Establishment and seeks clarification on the 'Law' requirement for the Heavenly Ranking.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que enters Blood Pass, a dangerous area filled with ghosts.
• He encounters a grotesque [Scissor Hell] ghost and orders Nian Nu to deal with it.
• A group of cultivators, led by a peak Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator, attacks Zheng Que. Qing Li swiftly defeats all but the leader, who is then killed by Zheng Que.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates his strategic thinking, planning to establish a stronghold closer to Blood Pass's depths for greater returns.
• Qing Li showcases her formidable power, effortlessly defeating multiple cultivators, including a peak Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator.
• Zheng Que reveals his willingness to eliminate threats, killing the leader of the attacking cultivators without hesitation.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: The strong prey on the weak, as seen in Zheng Que's decision to establish a stronghold in a more dangerous area and his response to the cultivators' attack.
• Resource Acquisition: The Immortal Examination allows examinees to fight over resources, including those belonging to other examinees.
• Loyalty and Subordination: Zheng Que's ghosts, Qing Li and Nian Nu, follow his orders without question.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que interacts with Qing Li and Nian Nu, giving orders and receiving information from them.
• Zheng Que faces off against a group of cultivators led by a peak Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator, ultimately leading to their deaths.
• Zheng Que and Qing Li communicate briefly, with Qing Li expressing her anger at the cultivators' disrespect.

Chapter Summary: “First Day”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shang Zhaozu enters Blood Pass alone after separating from Zheng Que, believing it is too dangerous for two ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators to venture too deeply.
• He cautiously advances through the blood mist with two Ghost Servants scouting ahead. Although initially alone, he gradually begins seeing unfamiliar cultivators beside him.
• Shang becomes convinced that these strangers are companions who entered Blood Pass with him. More and more “companions” gather around him, while even his Ghost Servants turn back to stare at him.
• This eerie situation strongly suggests that Shang has fallen victim to a terrifying Law-related Anomaly or ghostly illusion, though the chapter ends before revealing what happens to him.
• Meanwhile, Feng Guangchang, Mao Yanxin, Yuan Zhonghao, and Jing Zhengjie lead a group of ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators toward a nearby Baleful Iron resource point.
• They deliberately remain near the outskirts of Blood Pass rather than risk traveling deeper, since resource points provide the same score regardless of location.
• After supposedly walking for the expected distance, they find no resource point. Jing Zhengjie repeatedly insists it is only another quarter-hour away.
• Yuan Zhonghao orders everyone to leave markers. Eventually, the group discovers that they have been unknowingly walking in circles.
• Six cultivators have disappeared during the repeated loops. The group realizes that a powerful ghostly creature has been stalking them and attacking without being detected.
• The creature’s ability to act unnoticed in the presence of four Foundation Establishment cultivators suggests it is at least as powerful as a Scissor Hell entity. The group is shaken by the realization that this danger has appeared on their very first day.

Character Developments

• Shang Zhaozu: Becomes increasingly isolated and paranoid after failing to form alliances. His caution initially seems sensible, but his growing acceptance of impossible “companions” reveals that he may be trapped in an illusion or supernatural anomaly.
• Feng Guangchang’s group: Demonstrates organization and caution by staying together, seeking a nearby resource point, and using markers to investigate their surroundings. Their confidence is undermined when they realize that even their group structure and cultivation levels cannot protect them from unseen threats.
• Yuan Zhonghao: Acts as the group’s alert and practical leader, warning the weaker cultivators to stay close and quickly recognizing the significance of the disappearances.
• Jing Zhengjie: Relies on his map and repeatedly misjudges their position, contributing to the group’s realization that Blood Pass is distorting their sense of direction.
• The ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators: Initially follow the stronger cultivators for protection, but several vanish silently, emphasizing their vulnerability.

Significant Themes

• Disorientation and unreliable perception: Blood Pass distorts reality, causing Shang to mistake strangers for friends and forcing Feng Guangchang’s group to unknowingly walk in circles.
• Isolation versus group safety: Shang’s decision to travel alone leaves him vulnerable, while the larger group also discovers that numbers and powerful leaders do not guarantee safety.
• Invisible and escalating danger: The true threats are not immediately visible. The ghostly entities can manipulate perception, alter routes, and abduct cultivators without warning.
• The harshness of the Immortal Examination: The participants face deadly conditions immediately, despite needing to survive in Blood Pass for six months. The opening day establishes that even the outskirts are far more dangerous than expected.
• False security: Maps, companions, cultivation strength, and established plans all prove unreliable within Blood Pass.

Character Interactions

• Shang separates from Zheng Que because he considers deeper exploration too dangerous, showing differing approaches to risk.
• Shang interacts indirectly with the mysterious “companions” surrounding him, though these figures may be illusions or manifestations of the Anomaly rather than real cultivators.
• Feng Guangchang, Mao Yanxin, Yuan Zhonghao, and Jing Zhengjie cooperate closely while guiding the Qi Refining cultivators.
• Yuan Zhonghao repeatedly warns the group to remain together, while Jing Zhengjie provides navigational information from his Jade Slip.
• The group’s collective discovery of the missing cultivators creates a shared realization that an unseen, high-level ghostly creature has begun hunting them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter introduces Blood Pass, a dangerous area filled with Heart-Burial Orchids and ghost creatures.
• Three cultivators from Peak Prefecture encounter a group of dead cultivators from Mao Prefecture, leading to their demise.
• On the snowy mountain, examiners discuss the strategies for surviving Blood Pass and the importance of understanding the relationships between ghost creatures.

Character Developments

• The Peak Prefecture cultivators show cowardice and lack of strategy, leading to their deaths.
• The examiners reveal their expectations and understanding of the Immortal Examination, showing their wisdom and experience.

Significant Themes

• Strategy vs. Strength: The examiners emphasize that strategy is as important as strength in the Immortal Examination.
• Understanding Relationships: The relationships between ghost creatures are crucial for survival and advancement in Blood Pass.
• Adaptability: The examiners acknowledge that even cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Refinement can pass the examination if they adapt their strategies.

Character Interactions

• The Peak Prefecture cultivators interact briefly before their deaths, showing their fear and desperation.
• The examiners interact, sharing their insights and opinions on the Immortal Examination and the candidates' strategies.

Chapter Summary: “Speaks Human Tongue”

Key Plot Points and Events

• During the Immortal Examination, a lavish Ghost Wedding Procession from Iron Tree Hell approaches Blood Pass. Although the examiners notice it crossing into the examination grounds, Chief Examiner Ning Jiushan orders them not to interfere, citing the examination rules and emphasizing that candidates must survive unexpected dangers on their own.
• A second Iron Tree Hell ghost also approaches, raising suspicions that the ghosts may be entering Blood Pass to contest territory.
• The Ghost Bride, while pursuing Zheng Que, senses a resource point occupied by Foundation Establishment cultivators. She orders her ghost attendants to drive them away, sending eight Scissor Hell bearers and a large ghost army to attack.
• Mu Xiangu and Xue Shuangzi encounter cultivators battling a large group of ghosts. Mu Xiangu waits until the last surviving woman is fatally wounded, then destroys all the surrounding ghosts in one strike. After the woman dies from her injuries and Yin poisoning, Mu Xiangu harvests her skin using the ghost skill Pouch Stripping, rationalizing that she did not technically kill her.
• Zheng Que observes four cultivators dying from Qing Li’s Eerie Poison. He realizes that Qing Li can now understand human speech and has attacked independently after becoming enraged by the cultivators’ insults or hostile remarks.
• Nian Nu confirms that the cultivators intended to attack her and Qing Li. Zheng Que concludes that entering Scissor Hell has enabled Qing Li and Nian Nu to understand human language; Ku Lan likely possesses the same ability.
• Zheng Que and the two female ghosts continue traveling. Qing Li and Nian Nu deal with ghostly creatures and hostile cultivators, while nonaggressive examinees avoid conflict.
• After two days of travel, Zheng Que reaches an area rich in resource points and establishes himself in a mountain hollow. He is puzzled that neither the Ghost Bride nor Mu Xiangu has yet caught up with him.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que: Becomes increasingly dependent on Qing Li and Nian Nu as they grow more capable. He calmly tests their newly developed ability to understand human speech and delegates combat to them. His continued awareness of the Ghost Bride and Mu Xiangu shows that he remains cautious despite his confidence.
• Qing Li: Experiences a major change by gaining the ability to understand human language. She also demonstrates greater initiative, attacking enemies without direct orders when they threaten or insult her. Her arrogant personality remains unchanged, as she insists that humans were previously the ones speaking incomprehensibly.
• Nian Nu: Also gains the ability to understand human speech and responds clearly to Zheng Que’s questions. She remains respectful and obedient, referring to herself as a servant while accurately reporting the cultivators’ intentions.
• Mu Xiangu: Displays ruthless opportunism and a warped moral logic. She allows a wounded cultivator to die, then takes the woman’s skin while convincing herself that she bears no responsibility for the death.
• Ghost Bride: Is portrayed as powerful, commanding, and territorial. Rather than pursuing Zheng Que immediately, she prioritizes seizing a valuable resource point.
• Ning Jiushan: Reinforces the examination’s harsh survival philosophy by refusing to protect candidates from supernatural dangers.

Significant Themes

• Survival and natural selection: The examination rewards candidates who can endure unpredictable dangers without outside protection.
• Moral distortion among ghosts: Mu Xiangu’s rationalization of her actions illustrates how ghosts apply twisted standards to justify cruelty.
• Growing intelligence and autonomy: Qing Li and Nian Nu’s new ability to understand human language marks an important step in their development and makes them more independent combatants.
• Territory and competition: Ghosts and cultivators alike fight over resource points, making Blood Pass a battlefield where strength determines ownership.
• Rules versus morality: The examiners’ refusal to intervene demonstrates that institutional rules take precedence over individual safety or compassion.

Character Interactions

• Ning Jiushan and the examiners: He overrules an examiner’s attempt to interfere, establishing that danger within Blood Pass must be left to the candidates.
• Ghost Bride and her procession: She commands her ghost attendants to seize the resource pool, showing her authority over the surrounding ghosts.
• Mu Xiangu and Xue Shuangzi: Xue Shuangzi enjoys the violent atmosphere, while Mu Xiangu remains focused on tracking Zheng Que and exploiting opportunities.
• Zheng Que, Qing Li, and Nian Nu: Zheng Que questions them about their new linguistic abilities, while they reveal different personalities—Qing Li is defiant and boastful, whereas Nian Nu is deferential and informative.
• Zheng Que and hostile cultivators: Other examinees repeatedly attempt to seize his resources, but Qing Li and Nian Nu now eliminate threats with little difficulty.
  The chapter ends with Zheng Que safely established in a mountain base, unaware of why the Ghost Bride and Mu Xiangu have not yet reached him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que sets up defensive formations, [Sound-Locking Concealment Formation] and [Earth Spirit Turtle Shell Formation], to protect his base.
• He discovers a Spirit Stone vein and a ghoststone quarry within the mountain hollow.
• Zheng Que and Nian Nu clear the ghoststone quarry of [Rat-Bat Ghosts] and begin mining ghoststones.
• Zheng Que summons Ku Lan and Shu Yunying to help build a house in the stronghold.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates his strategic thinking and resourcefulness in setting up the base and managing the ghoststone quarry.
• Nian Nu shows her strength and efficiency in mining ghoststones.
• Qing Li, Ku Lan, and Shu Yunying reveal their skills and preferences (or lack thereof) in building a house.

Significant Themes

• Resource management and strategic planning are crucial for survival in Blood Pass.
• The power dynamics between Zheng Que and his Ghost Servants are established, with him controlling and commanding them.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que works with Nian Nu to clear the ghoststone quarry and mine ghoststones.
• He interacts with Qing Li, Ku Lan, and Shu Yunying regarding the construction of a house in the stronghold, showcasing their differing personalities and skills.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que, accompanied by Ghost Servants Qing Li, Ku Lan, and Shu Yunying, begins building a stronghold.
• They encounter ghost creatures in the nearby forest, which they clear out to gather materials.
• Zheng Que claims two resource points (a forest and a Spirit Stone vein) and sets up Ghost Servants to mine them.
• Upon returning, Zheng Que finds Shu Yunying directing the construction but not participating herself.
• Zheng Que discovers Qing Li slacking off in the forest and uses an Imperial Edict to motivate her.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que: Shows initiative and capability in managing resources and motivating his Ghost Servants.
• Qing Li: Initially lazy and unmotivated, she becomes eager to work after learning about the Imperial Edict.
• Shu Yunying: Proves to be a capable strategist but not a manual laborer, as she directs others to build the house without participating herself.
• Ku Lan: Shows ambition but is not as competent or trustworthy as Qing Li.

Significant Themes

• The importance of teamwork and delegation in managing tasks.
• The contrast between Qing Li's initial laziness and her subsequent eagerness to work, highlighting the power of incentives.
• The dynamic between Zheng Que and his Ghost Servants, with Zheng Que acting as a leader and motivator.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que and Qing Li: Zheng Que motivates Qing Li to work harder by offering her the Imperial Edict, while Qing Li expresses her disdain for Ku Lan.
• Zheng Que and Shu Yunying: Zheng Que hands over the house-building work to Shu Yunying when he leaves to check on Qing Li.
• Qing Li and Ku Lan: Qing Li expresses her dislike for Ku Lan, considering her dishonest and untrustworthy.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que discovers Ku Lan, another Ghost Servant, shirking her duties at the Spirit Stone mine, similar to Qing Li.
• A ghost creature from the Iron Tree Hell appears near the mining area, threatening the base.
• Outside Blood Pass, cultivators discuss their plans, aiming to target the 'Anomaly' and expand their influence.
• The Immortal Examination candidates are forced deeper into Blood Pass due to the actions of two powerful ghost creatures, the Ghost Bride and the Painted Skin.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que: Shows growing suspicion and disapproval of Ku Lan's behavior.
• Ku Lan: Displays deceit and laziness, unlike her diligent facade.
• Yin Congyi: Maintains his ambition for the Heaven Rankings despite setbacks.
• The Examiners: Grow concerned about the impact of the ghost creatures on the Immortal Examination.

Significant Themes

• Deception and honesty: Ku Lan's deceit contrasts with Zheng Que's straightforwardness.
• Ambition and resilience: Yin Congyi's determination to reach the Heaven Rankings.
• Adaptation and change: Candidates' responses to the ghost creatures' threats.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que and Ku Lan: Zheng Que suspects Ku Lan's laziness, while Ku Lan maintains her deceit.
• Yin Congyi and his followers: They discuss their plans, with Yin Congyi leading the decisions.
• The Examiners and Ning Jiushan: They discuss the impact of the ghost creatures on the Immortal Examination, with Ning Jiushan showing confidence in the process.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que returns to the outpost and finds Shu Yunying waiting for him to resume work on the house.
• Shu Yunying promises rewards and a chance to marry into the Shu Family if Zheng Que works diligently.
• Zheng Que asks Shu Yunying to fetch the [Profound Yellow Earthflame] for artifact forging, which is located 20 li northwest of the mountain hollow.
• Shu Yunying returns with the earthfire after a fierce battle, indicating a powerful ghost was occupying the resource site.
• Zheng Que completes the first house and begins constructing the first shop.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates his strategic thinking and resourcefulness by building a forge for Shu Yunying and completing the house efficiently.
• Shu Yunying shows her arrogance and ambition, expecting Zheng Que to serve her loyally and promising rewards in return for his service.
• Both characters exhibit their strength and determination, with Zheng Que working tirelessly and Shu Yunying battling a powerful ghost to fetch the earthfire.

Significant Themes

• The theme of perseverance and dedication is emphasized, with both characters working hard to achieve their goals.
• The power dynamics between Zheng Que and Shu Yunying are explored, with Zheng Que trying to manage Shu Yunying's expectations and Shu Yunying attempting to assert her authority.
• The struggle for resources and territory is highlighted, as Zheng Que and Shu Yunying compete for control of the outpost and its resources.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que and Shu Yunying have a tense interaction, with Shu Yunying trying to motivate Zheng Que with promises of rewards and Zheng Que trying to manage Shu Yunying's expectations.
• Zheng Que and Shu Yunying work together to build the outpost, with Zheng Que completing the house and Shu Yunying forging an artifact.
• Zheng Que and Shu Yunying both demonstrate their strength and determination, with Zheng Que completing the house quickly and Shu Yunying battling a powerful ghost to fetch the earthfire.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que successfully builds the Hundred Artifacts Workshop and sets up a shop sign.
• He prices the Startled Swan Mist-Gauze Dress at 200 low-grade Spirit Stones, despite its high forging cost.
• Zheng Que enters the Life Planting Technique cultivation, leading him to the Underworld's Wide Hall.
• He captures a ghost creature from Tongue-Pulling Hell and discovers the white-jade plum vase's limitations.
• Zheng Que returns to the Wide Hall, revives Linghu Yuniang, and she begs him to avenge her unjust death.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates his growing understanding of the Underworld and its rules, as well as his strategic thinking in capturing Linghu Yuniang.
• Linghu Yuniang, now a ghost, is terrified and submissive before Zheng Que, showing her awareness of his power.

Significant Themes

• Justice and vengeance: Linghu Yuniang's desire for retribution highlights the theme of justice and the consequences of death.
• Power dynamics: Zheng Que's ability to revive and control Linghu Yuniang emphasizes the power imbalance between them.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que interacts with Linghu Yuniang for the first time, displaying his dominance and knowledge of her past.
• Linghu Yuniang, now a ghost, interacts with Zheng Que, showing fear and submission while seeking vengeance.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que encounters Linghu Yuniang's ghost, who reveals she was a disciple of Shi Qi Patriarch.
• Zheng Que intimidates Linghu Yuniang and offers her a chance to redeem her sins by serving him as a Ghost Servant.
• Zheng Que imprisons Linghu Yuniang in a white jade plum vase and brings her back to reality.
• Zheng Que plans to summon more Ghost Servants but decides to wait for the right moment due to the presence of imperial court examiners.

Character Developments

• Linghu Yuniang's ghost shows remorse for her past actions and accepts Zheng Que's offer to serve him.
• Zheng Que demonstrates his authority and power as the Underworld's lord, intimidating Linghu Yuniang and controlling her fate.

Significant Themes

• Redemption: Linghu Yuniang seeks to redeem her sins by serving Zheng Que, highlighting the theme of redemption and second chances.
• Power and Control: Zheng Que's ability to control and intimidate ghosts emphasizes the theme of power and control, both in the Underworld and in his relationships with ghosts.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que and Linghu Yuniang: Zheng Que intimidates and controls Linghu Yuniang, while she submits to his authority and agrees to serve him.
• Zheng Que and the Imperial Court Examiners: Zheng Que is aware of the examiners' presence and takes precautions to avoid drawing their attention.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que meets Linghu Yuniang, who is now a "Resentful Soul" like Shu Yunying.
• Zheng Que enslaves Linghu Yuniang using his [Ghost Controlling Technique] and makes her his Ghost Servant.
• Zheng Que establishes a shop in Blood Pass, with Linghu Yuniang managing it, and prepares to build a marketplace.
• Zheng Que sets out to find other examinees' strongholds to open up trade routes.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que has reached the Foundation Establishment Realm and his [Ghost Controlling Technique] has improved.
• Linghu Yuniang, now a Ghost Servant, accepts her new role and is willing to help Zheng Que.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of death and becoming a "Resentful Soul."
• The power dynamics between cultivators and ghosts, and the use of [Ghost Controlling Technique] for enslavement.
• The importance of establishing strongholds and trade routes for survival and success in Blood Pass.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que and Linghu Yuniang: Zheng Que enslaves Linghu Yuniang, but she accepts her role willingly due to gratitude for Zheng Que's past help.
• Zheng Que and fleeing cultivators: Zheng Que encounters many cultivators fleeing toward the depths of Blood Pass, indicating some external threat.

Chapter Summary: “Battle [Rouge Baleful Intent]”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que stops a fleeing Foundation Establishment cultivator to ask what lies ahead. When the cultivator responds arrogantly and attacks, Zheng Que effortlessly withstands the blow with his Golden Cicada Armor and subdues him.
• The cultivator reveals that Iron Tree Hell is nearby and that numerous cultivators are fleeing deeper into Blood Pass to escape it.
• Mu Xiangu contacts Zheng Que, explaining that he is currently occupied and will send Xue Shuangzi, the Rouge Baleful Intent, to Zheng Que.
• Zheng Que deliberately asks Mu Xiangu to let Xue Shuangzi attack him with full strength. He intends to defeat her openly before the Immortal Examination’s observers and then control her using the Ghost Controlling Technique.
• Xue Shuangzi appears amid the blood mist. Her elegant appearance contrasts sharply with the powerful Yin Energy and Killing Intent surrounding her.
• Recognizing Zheng Que as the human who previously harvested her essence, Xue Shuangzi attacks him without hesitation.
• Zheng Que counters with the Netherworld Finger, but Xue Shuangzi narrowly dodges it and strikes his face. Her claws are blocked by the Golden Cicada Armor.
• Xue Shuangzi releases a seductive pink mist that weakens Yang Energy and causes the nearby yellow-robed cultivator to fall into a blissful, dreamlike stupor.
• She disappears within the mist and attacks Zheng Que, but only destroys an afterimage.
• Zheng Que dispels the mist with a powerful Soul Wind, revealing Xue Shuangzi again. He then summons nine heads filled with bloody Baleful Intent, which surge toward her as the chapter ends.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates overwhelming physical defense, speed, composure, and tactical planning. Rather than simply killing Xue Shuangzi, he seeks to defeat and capture her in a manner visible to the Immortal Examination’s examiners.
• He also reveals greater mastery of his techniques, using both the Netherworld Finger and Soul Wind effectively against Xue Shuangzi’s evasive and illusion-like methods.
• Xue Shuangzi is established as a highly dangerous ghost with exceptional mobility, close-combat ability, and a seductive mist that drains Yang Energy and manipulates the senses.
• Her personal hostility toward Zheng Que becomes clear because he previously harvested her essence. This battle is partly a chance for revenge.
• The yellow-robed cultivator is portrayed as weak and terrified in comparison with Zheng Que and Xue Shuangzi. His immediate submission and later intoxication by the pink mist emphasize the danger of the battlefield.

Significant Themes

• Strength and dominance: The chapter emphasizes the vast gap between powerful cultivators and ordinary Foundation Establishment wanderers.
• Strategic combat: Zheng Que does not fight recklessly; he considers the examiners’ presence and chooses a method that will legitimize his control over Xue Shuangzi.
• Appearance versus danger: Xue Shuangzi’s beautiful clothing and alluring pink mist conceal her lethal ghostly nature.
• Fear and survival: Lesser cultivators flee from Iron Tree Hell, while Zheng Que deliberately confronts one of its associated entities to advance his own goals.
• Human–ghost conflict and control: The battle reflects Zheng Que’s broader attempt to subjugate powerful ghosts rather than merely destroy them.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que intimidates and interrogates the yellow-robed cultivator, then allows him to flee once he provides useful information.
• Mu Xiangu coordinates with Zheng Que and sends Xue Shuangzi to him, showing an alliance built around mutual strategic interests.
• Xue Shuangzi attacks Zheng Que out of resentment and a desire for revenge, while Zheng Que treats the confrontation as an opportunity to capture and control her.
• The yellow-robed cultivator becomes an accidental witness and victim of Xue Shuangzi’s pink mist, highlighting the extreme difference between the two combatants.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The examiners create a luxurious environment atop the mountain.
• Zheng Que's path crosses with an [Iron Tree Hell] [Painted Skin], and Xiang Songnian prepares to intervene if necessary.
• Zheng Que fights and defeats a [Rouge Baleful Intent] from [Scissor Hell].
• A Ghost Bride from another [Iron Tree Hell] approaches Zheng Que.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates his strength and unique techniques, catching the chief examiner's attention.
• Xiang Songnian shows concern for Zheng Que's safety and is willing to break rules to protect him.
• Xue Shuangzi, a newly recruited ghost servant, is defeated by Zheng Que.

Significant Themes

• Fortune and Luck: The examiners discuss Zheng Que's fortune, and Xiang Songnian believes Zheng Que's survival is a sign of good fortune for Qingrao Prefecture.
• Strength and Power: Zheng Que's strength and unique techniques impress the examiners and the chief examiner.
• Protective Instincts: Xiang Songnian's willingness to break rules to protect Zheng Que highlights his protective instincts towards prodigies from his prefecture.

Character Interactions

• Xiang Songnian and Zheng Que: Xiang Songnian is worried about Zheng Que's safety and is willing to intervene to protect him.
• Zheng Que and Xue Shuangzi: Zheng Que defeats Xue Shuangzi and plans to use the [Ghost Controlling Technique] on her.
• Examiners and Chief Examiner: The examiners discuss Zheng Que's situation, and the chief examiner takes notice of Zheng Que's unique techniques.

Chapter Summary: “Increase the Difficulty (First Update!)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xue Shuangzi remains trapped by Zheng Que’s Blood Skull despite secretly struggling to escape. Shocked by his strength, she convinces herself—and him—that she deliberately lost the battle so that Mu Xiangu will not learn she was defeated.
• Zheng Que uses [Ghost Controlling Technique] to brand Xue Shuangzi as his Ghost Servant. Because she cooperates, the technique succeeds, but Zheng Que recognizes that the restraint is extremely weak and that she could break free at any moment. He intends the display mainly to satisfy the examiners, not as his true means of controlling her.
• The chapter explains that Zheng Que’s powerful Dao Foundation allows him to control special ghosts such as Wicked Sins and Evil Omens, something beyond the ability of ordinary Rogue Cultivators.
• Zheng Que finds the unconscious cultivator in the yellow sumac robe, who had been affected by Xue Shuangzi’s technique. He restores the man with True Essence, leaving him alive before returning to his stronghold with Xue Shuangzi.
• While traveling through Blood Pass, Zheng Que takes another [Baleful-Repelling Pill] to counter the growing irritation caused by the surrounding Yin Energy and Killing Intent.
• He hears from Ghost Bride, who has also entered Blood Pass. Zheng Que reveals that the Immortal Examination requires the examinees to establish a market district within the pass.
• Ghost Bride warns that the court’s cultivators are observing everything and that Zheng Que must not reveal the Imperial Edict. She then offers to secretly increase the difficulty of the examination and block the examiners’ surveillance.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates overwhelming combat strength, defeating Xue Shuangzi despite her higher cultivation. He remains calm, pragmatic, and focused on completing his objectives rather than arguing over her excuse.
• He shows both strategic caution and compassion by treating the unconscious yellow-robed cultivator instead of leaving him to die.
• Zheng Que’s mastery of ghost-controlling techniques and his unusually strong Dao Foundation are emphasized, confirming that his abilities far exceed those of ordinary Rogue Cultivators.
• Xue Shuangzi is humiliated by her defeat and becomes anxious about losing Mu Xiangu’s trust. She pretends that she deliberately lost, revealing her pride, insecurity, and concern for maintaining her place in future missions.
• Although technically made Zheng Que’s Ghost Servant, Xue Shuangzi’s obedience is largely voluntary because the Blood Seal cannot securely restrain her.
• Ghost Bride continues to act as Zheng Que’s knowledgeable ally. She recognizes the limitations of the examination and offers to create greater challenges while protecting his secrets.

Significant Themes

• Power and hierarchy: Zheng Que’s victory over a stronger-cultivated ghost highlights the importance of foundation, technique, and combat ability over cultivation level alone.
• Deception and concealment: Xue Shuangzi hides her defeat, while Zheng Que must conceal the Imperial Edict from the court’s observers.
• Control versus cooperation: The weak Ghost Seal illustrates the difference between nominal enslavement and genuine obedience. Zheng Que’s authority is based more on strength and strategy than on the technique itself.
• Examination as cultivation: Ghost Bride suggests that an easy trial will not temper Zheng Que’s Dao Heart, implying that true advancement requires meaningful danger and difficulty.
• Survival and pragmatism: Characters make calculated choices to survive Blood Pass, preserve their secrets, and exploit the examination’s rules.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que defeats and then nominally subdues Xue Shuangzi, while she attempts to preserve her dignity by claiming the loss was intentional.
• He treats the unconscious yellow-robed cultivator, showing mercy toward someone who had previously answered his questions honestly.
• Zheng Que and Ghost Bride communicate secretly while he travels with Xue Shuangzi. They discuss the examination, the danger of exposing the Imperial Edict, and the possibility of altering the trial to make it more challenging.
• Ghost Bride’s intervention sets up the next development: Zheng Que may face a harder examination while the court’s surveillance is temporarily cut off.

Chapter Summary: The Eldest Princess

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que agrees to Ghost Bride’s proposal to increase the difficulty of the Immortal Examination, despite worrying that the court’s Golden Core Realm examiners—or an even stronger chief examiner—might detect her actions.
• Ghost Bride refuses to explain her method and departs first. Zheng Que then hastens back toward his stronghold with Xue Shuangzi.
• In the Great Li Dynasty’s Imperial Capital Region, official Qiu Qilin enters the heavily guarded Golden Parasol Palace to report to the Regent Eldest Princess.
• Qiu reports that Zheng Que, a candidate from Qingrao Prefecture, achieved heaven-grade Foundation Establishment before the examination. Zheng Que is under twenty, possesses unusual treasures, and is already comparable to the true disciples of the six great sects.
• The Regent Eldest Princess orders that Zheng Que’s identity be verified. If he is confirmed to be a Great Li cultivator, he is to be brought to her enthronement ceremony after the Immortal Examination.
• When Qiu questions whether her planned enthronement is happening too soon, the princess crushes him beneath a terrifying aura and commands him simply to obey.
• Back at the examination grounds, Zheng Que successfully enslaves Rouge Baleful Intent, a seventh-level Scissor Hell ghost. The examiners are surprised, believing his enhanced Ghost Controlling Technique is responsible.
• Ning Jiushan realizes that Rouge Baleful Intent did not truly resist. She questions Xiang Songnian about Zheng Que’s Law and learns that it is connected to “marriage fate.”
• Ning Jiushan concludes that Zheng Que’s female Ghost Servants are not controlled through ordinary techniques, but through the power of his Law.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que: Demonstrates confidence and strategic boldness by agreeing to Ghost Bride’s dangerous plan. His success in subduing Rouge Baleful Intent further reveals the unusual power of his heaven-grade Dao Foundation and marriage-related Law.
• Ghost Bride: Shows initiative and confidence, claiming she can raise the examination’s difficulty without being discovered by the powerful examiners. Her actions remain mysterious, increasing suspicion about her capabilities and intentions.
• The Regent Eldest Princess: Is revealed as an extremely powerful and authoritative figure preparing to claim the throne. She immediately takes interest in Zheng Que as a potential subordinate or asset and reacts harshly to anyone who questions her plans.
• Qiu Qilin: Acts as a loyal intermediary between the imperial court and the Regent Eldest Princess. Although he raises a reasonable concern about the timing of her enthronement, he is intimidated into unquestioning obedience.
• Ning Jiushan: Displays sharp perception by recognizing that Zheng Que’s success cannot be explained by technique alone. She begins to understand the true nature of his control over his Ghost Servants.
• Xiang Songnian: Becomes nervous when asked about Zheng Que’s Law, since revealing too much could anger those protecting Zheng Que, but he ultimately provides a partial answer.

Significant Themes

• Hidden power and deception: Zheng Que’s apparent technique conceals the deeper role of his Law, while Ghost Bride prepares to manipulate the examination without detection.
• Political ambition: The Regent Eldest Princess is moving rapidly toward enthronement and seeks exceptional talents to support her rule.
• Authority and obedience: The princess’s suppression of Qiu Qilin emphasizes the absolute nature of her command and the danger of questioning her decisions.
• Marriage as supernatural power: Zheng Que’s “marriage fate” Law transforms marriage from a personal bond into a means of controlling powerful female ghosts.
• Talent attracting political attention: Zheng Que’s exceptional cultivation makes him valuable not only within the examination but also to the imperial court and competing powers.

Important Character Interactions

• Zheng Que and Ghost Bride: Zheng Que agrees to her plan but remains uneasy because she refuses to reveal how she will evade detection.
• Qiu Qilin and the Regent Eldest Princess: Qiu presents Zheng Que as a rare genius worthy of serving her. When he questions her timetable, she overwhelms him with her aura and demands obedience.
• Ning Jiushan and Xiang Songnian: Ning interrogates Xiang about Zheng Que’s Law. His cautious answer allows her to infer that Zheng Que’s Ghost Servants are bound through marriage fate rather than ordinary ghost-control methods.
• The examiners and Zheng Que: The examiners witness Zheng Que’s victory over Rouge Baleful Intent and mistakenly attribute it mainly to his improved technique, failing at first to recognize the influence of his Law.

Chapter Summary: “Change”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Ghost Bride suddenly abandons her pursuit of Zheng Que and heads deeper into Blood Pass at great speed, ignoring the resource points along the way.
• The examiners view her departure as beneficial, since her presence on the outskirts had prevented candidates from establishing strongholds.
• The other major threat, the [Painted Skin] ghost from Iron Tree Hell, also stops hunting candidates and retreats deeper into Blood Pass.
• With both powerful ghosts gone, the candidates resume securing territory, forming alliances, and competing through schemes and strategic positioning.
• After more than half a day passes peacefully, a terrifying growl emerges from the depths of Blood Pass.
• The entire examination area freezes under an overwhelming pressure. Blood mist erupts from Blood Pass, rapidly expanding and engulfing the snowy mountains and even the examiners’ mountaintop.
• A gigantic ghostly hand attacks the examiners. Chief Examiner Ning Jiushan creates a golden protective barrier, but it breaks almost immediately.
• Ning uses an escape technique to save the examiners and the three ranking steles, though he is injured in the process.
• From a distant cliff, the examiners observe that Blood Pass has expanded dramatically and become filled with thicker blood mist, Yin Energy, Killing Intent, and an unknown new force.
• Ning learns that only half of the candidates remain alive. He announces that the entity inside Blood Pass has awakened earlier than expected, plunging the examination into chaos.
• Despite the danger, Ning declares that the Immortal Examination will continue, noting that the awakened entity does not attack cultivators of low cultivation and that the candidates can still be monitored through the Fate-Peering Instrument and ranking steles.

Character Developments

• Ghost Bride: Demonstrates an abrupt change in behavior by abandoning her previous route and moving directly into the depths of Blood Pass, suggesting that something within has drawn her attention or altered her priorities.
• [Painted Skin]: Similarly ceases hunting candidates and retreats inward, reinforcing the sense that a major supernatural event is approaching.
• Ning Jiushan: Shows decisive leadership and powerful protective abilities. He shields the examiners, saves the ranking steles, and remains focused on the examination even after being injured.
• The Examiners: Shift from relaxed observation and celebration to fear and emergency retreat once Blood Pass awakens. They are forced to recognize that the situation is far beyond their control.

Significant Themes

• Unpredictable change: The sudden movements of the Ghost Bride and [Painted Skin], followed by the premature awakening, show how quickly the examination’s established rules can be overturned.
• Human strategy versus overwhelming power: Candidates rely on alliances and schemes, but the awakening entity renders their careful plans unstable.
• Duty amid danger: Ning Jiushan prioritizes protecting the examination apparatus and maintaining the examination itself despite personal injury and overwhelming threats.
• Hidden dangers and premature awakening: The entity’s awakening months ahead of schedule emphasizes the incompleteness of the examiners’ understanding and the presence of forces beyond their predictions.
• Survival and selection: With half the candidates already dead, the examination becomes an even more severe test of endurance and adaptability.

Character Interactions

• The examiners discuss the Ghost Bride’s retreat and agree that her absence gives candidates room to establish strongholds.
• They collectively monitor the candidates and the two Iron Tree Hell ghosts, treating the temporary calm as a return to normal competition.
• When Blood Pass erupts, Ning Jiushan takes command, protecting the examiners and ordering their retreat.
• Afterward, he questions the Compass examiner about the surviving candidates and uses the answer to assess the examination’s condition.
• Although the other examiners are alarmed and question the unexpected awakening, Ning dismisses their concern and firmly orders that the Immortal Examination continue.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que returns to the stronghold with Xue Shuangzi, the Ghost Bride.
• He introduces her to his Ghost Servants and decides to claim the blood-pattern iron mine.
• Upon reaching the mine, they encounter a powerful ghost, causing Zheng Que to hurriedly return to the stronghold.
• A sudden influx of ghosts fleeing Blood Pass attacks Zheng Que and Xue Shuangzi.
• Xue Shuangzi uses her ability to confuse and repel the ghosts, allowing them to escape.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates his leadership and strategic thinking by deciding to claim the mine and quickly responding to the ghost threat.
• Xue Shuangzi shows her strength and usefulness by repelling the ghost tide with her ability.

Significant Themes

• The power of ghosts and the danger they pose.
• The importance of resource control for Zheng Que's stronghold.
• The need for strategic decision-making in the face of threats.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que introduces Xue Shuangzi to his Ghost Servants, showing his confidence in her.
• Xue Shuangzi proves her worth by protecting Zheng Que from the ghost tide, strengthening their bond.
• Zheng Que's Ghost Servants show deference to Xue Shuangzi, indicating her high status among ghosts.