Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “The Final Fragment”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Within the illusion, Yan Bingyi observes Yin Congyi nearing completion of his pseudo Heaven-grade Foundation Establishment. His body gradually returns to normal as the unfamiliar cultivator’s form and influence disappear.
• To keep the illusion stable, Yan Bingyi must continually provide fragments to Zheng Que, whose Heaven-grade Foundation Establishment is rapidly absorbing them.
• She first attempts to take a fragment from Liao Zhanbo, but his use of the Nether Shepherd Palace’s Yin Illumination Canon prevents her from extracting it.
• Yan Bingyi instead borrows the final fragment from Yan Dong and sends it to Zheng Que, temporarily stabilizing the illusion.
• After Yin Congyi obtains another half-fragment, Yan Bingyi transfers it to Zheng Que as well. This further tightens the mysterious restraint around her wrist, revealing that interfering with her disciple’s tribulation is provoking karmic backlash.
• Yin Congyi successfully completes his pseudo Heaven-grade Foundation Establishment. His aura fluctuates between different cultivation levels, reflecting the fusion of reality and illusion, but ultimately settles into a powerful and harmonious state.
• Yan Bingyi immediately orders him to flee. The illusion then shatters like glass.

Events in Reality

• In the main hall of the Yuwen Estate, Zheng Que realizes that the fourth character on the bamboo slip in his mind has become complete. He now possesses eleven complete fragments, with only one remaining before the entire Law is formed.
• The black pottery incense burner suddenly erupts with smoke and breaks free from Zheng Que’s grasp. It tears through Xue Shuangzi’s pink mist and flies toward Yin Congyi.
• Yin Congyi awakens in reality, now fully established in the Foundation Establishment Realm. His Yin Energy has vanished, his True Essence is pure, and his body radiates the qualities of a heavenly-grade Dao foundation.
• The incense burner smashes into the wall beside him, opening a fissure that reveals the blood-mist-filled Blood Pass, an Anomaly of the Distant Market.
• Following Zheng Que’s command to run, Yin Congyi grabs the incense burner and escapes through the fissure.
• Xue Shuangzi attempts to pursue him, but arrives too late. Before she can enter the crack, darkness suddenly envelops her vision.

Character Developments

• Yan Bingyi demonstrates increasing urgency and sacrifice. She repeatedly manipulates fragments to preserve the illusion and aid Zheng Que, despite suffering tightening karmic backlash around her wrist.
• Yin Congyi completes his transformation from a ghostlike, impure cultivator into a genuine Foundation Establishment cultivator with a pseudo Heaven-grade foundation. His success marks the completion of Yan Bingyi’s plan, though she immediately prioritizes his escape over celebration.
• Zheng Que advances significantly toward completing the mysterious Law, acquiring his eleventh fragment and nearing the final piece. His connection to the incense burner and ability to direct Yin Congyi’s escape also become increasingly important.
• Xue Shuangzi remains a powerful pursuer, but is thwarted when Yin Congyi escapes into the Blood Pass and she is suddenly blinded by an unknown force.
• Liao Zhanbo’s mastery of the Yin Illumination Canon protects his fragment from Yan Bingyi’s extraction, highlighting the strength of his cultivation technique.

Significant Themes

• Reality versus illusion: Yin Congyi’s fluctuating aura and completed foundation embody the merging of the real and unreal. The illusion’s collapse marks the transition back to reality.
• Karmic consequences: Yan Bingyi’s interference allows her disciple to succeed but causes the mysterious restraint on her wrist to tighten, emphasizing that power and manipulation carry a spiritual price.
• Sacrifice and protection: Yan Bingyi gives up fragments and endures backlash to complete Yin Congyi’s transformation, while Zheng Que’s command helps him escape immediate danger.
• Power, inheritance, and fragments: The race to gather the final pieces of the Law drives the chapter. Each fragment represents both cultivation power and control over the unfolding conflict.
• Escape into danger: The Blood Pass offers Yin Congyi refuge from Xue Shuangzi, but it is itself a deadly Anomaly, suggesting that survival may only lead to a greater threat.

Character Interactions

• Yan Bingyi directly manipulates fragments belonging to Liao Zhanbo, Yan Dong, and Yin Congyi in order to support Zheng Que and stabilize the illusion.
• She and Yin Congyi share a brief master-disciple exchange, but she cuts off his attempted thanks and commands him to flee.
• Zheng Que communicates with Yin Congyi through the incense burner, directing him into the Blood Pass.
• Xue Shuangzi pursues Yin Congyi but fails to catch him, ending the chapter trapped outside the fissure and blinded by sudden darkness.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liao Zhanbo, after the illusion ends, uses his remaining fragment to strip everyone of their sight.
• Yan Dong, unable to see, attacks Liao Zhanbo, leading to a destructive clash in the main hall.
• Zheng Que, within [Rouge Weeping Dew], realizes Liao Zhanbo has the final fragment and uses a ghost creature to create an exit for Yan Dong.
• Zheng Que confronts Liao Zhanbo, demanding the final fragment and information.

Character Developments

• Liao Zhanbo: Realizes he has only one fragment left and that Zheng Que has the others. He's concerned about the other cultivators' elimination and Yan Dong's hostility.
• Yan Dong: Believes Zheng Que is still alive and asks for his help against Liao Zhanbo, not realizing Zheng Que is the one controlling the situation.
• Zheng Que: Shows strategic thinking by creating an exit for Yan Dong and confronting Liao Zhanbo. He's calm and collected, even in a dire situation.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics: The struggle for fragments and control over the Anomaly's power.
• Trust and deception: Yan Dong's misplaced trust in Zheng Que, while Zheng Que manipulates the situation from behind the scenes.
• Resourcefulness: Zheng Que's use of a ghost creature to create an exit, showcasing his adaptability.

Character Interactions

• Liao Zhanbo vs Yan Dong: A brief but intense clash, highlighting their power difference.
• Zheng Que vs Liao Zhanbo: Zheng Que's strategic confrontation, showing his confidence and control over the situation.
• Zheng Que's manipulation of Yan Dong: Zheng Que uses Yan Dong as a pawn, creating an exit for him while keeping his true intentions hidden.

Chapter Summary: “Self-Destruction”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Liao Zhanbo realizes that Zheng Que has acquired most of the fragments within the “Anomaly.” His original plan—to collect all the fragments, control the five seated figures, and refine Yuwen Market into a ghostly body—has failed.
• Abandoning that plan, Liao forcibly forms a Golden Core through the orthodox cultivation method, intending to kill Zheng Que immediately.
• After breaking through, he unleashes a devastating palm strike that seemingly destroys Zheng Que, Yuwen Market, and the entire Anomaly.
• However, Fairy Drifting Lantern appears, revealing that Liao is trapped in an illusion. He attacks and destroys her, but the surrounding Blood Pass remains unchanged.
• Zheng Que explains that he does not need to seize Liao’s fragment directly; he only needs to obtain it from the Anomaly and force Liao to reveal what he knows.
• Liao discovers that the final fragment has already been transferred to the burly figure seated in the hall’s seat of honor. He realizes that his apparent breakthrough and attack occurred within an illusion, while his real body had unknowingly stood up and exposed the fragment’s location.
• Zheng Que identifies Daoist Qu as his master. Liao recognizes that the earlier illusion involving seven bowls of wine was based on Zheng Que’s own past experience.
• Refusing to surrender, Liao charges toward Zheng Que and prepares a powerful self-destruction technique, even more dangerous than the Soul Explosion Technique.
• Just before detonating, Liao realizes that Zheng Que has disappeared and that he is still inside an illusion. Unable to stop the technique, he explodes.

2. Character Developments

• Liao Zhanbo: Becomes increasingly desperate and ruthless after his original scheme collapses. He chooses immediate violence over retreat, forcibly advances to the Golden Core Realm, and ultimately attempts mutual destruction rather than accept defeat. His confidence in understanding the illusion is repeatedly undermined by Zheng Que’s manipulation.
• Zheng Que: Demonstrates superior strategic control and mastery of illusion. Rather than confronting Liao directly, he exploits the boundary between illusion and reality to trick him into revealing and losing the final fragment. His connection to Daoist Qu is also confirmed.
• Fairy Drifting Lantern: Functions as part of the illusion and helps trigger Liao’s realization that something is wrong, though Liao destroys her apparition instantly.
• The Burly Figure: Is revealed to possess the final fragment and becomes the physical focus of Zheng Que’s victory over Liao.

3. Significant Themes

• Illusion versus reality: Liao repeatedly mistakes illusion for reality, while Zheng Que uses that confusion to control the battle.
• Desperation and self-destruction: When ambition fails, Liao chooses annihilation rather than surrender, embodying the chapter’s title.
• Strategic superiority over raw power: Liao’s Golden Core breakthrough and overwhelming attack prove useless against Zheng Que’s planning and psychological manipulation.
• Loss of control: Liao believes he is acting freely, but his movements, perceptions, and even apparent victory have been orchestrated by the illusion.
• Ambition and possessiveness: Liao’s belief that “what he could not have, no one else would get” drives his reckless decisions and final destruction.

4. Character Interactions

• Liao and Zheng Que engage in a battle of deception rather than a straightforward physical confrontation.
• Zheng Que taunts and psychologically pressures Liao by revealing that the fragment has already been taken and demanding information instead.
• Liao questions Zheng Que’s origins, leading to the revelation that Daoist Qu is his master.
• Liao attacks the illusion of Fairy Drifting Lantern and later attempts to destroy Zheng Que along with himself, but Zheng Que remains one step ahead and leaves him to detonate inside the illusion.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liao Zhanbo triggers a powerful self-destruction, destroying the Yuwen Estate.
• Zheng Que obtains the final fragment of the "Anomaly," strengthening his control over "Law."
• Song Jiaoyin regains her senses and escapes the "Anomaly."
• Xue Shuangzi is immobilized by an unknown technique.
• Yin Congyi escapes the ghost tide with the help of Yan Bingyi's methods.
• Yan Bingyi's incomplete form begins to fill out as she absorbs the power of the "Rouge Baleful Intent."

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates his cunning and strategic thinking in manipulating Liao Zhanbo and obtaining the fragments.
• Song Jiaoyin shows resilience and independence by leaving the "Anomaly" despite the danger outside.
• Xue Shuangzi displays vulnerability and fear when immobilized by the unknown technique.
• Yin Congyi shows obedience and fear towards Yan Bingyi.
• Yan Bingyi reveals her power and ruthlessness in absorbing the "Rouge Baleful Intent" to restore her form.

Significant Themes

• Power and Control: Characters use various methods to gain power and control over others, such as Zheng Que's manipulation of Liao Zhanbo and Yan Bingyi's absorption of the "Rouge Baleful Intent."
• Consequences of Actions: Characters face the consequences of their actions, like Liao Zhanbo's self-destruction and Song Jiaoyin's decision to leave the "Anomaly."
• Fear and Vulnerability: Characters experience fear and vulnerability in the face of powerful forces, like Xue Shuangzi's immobilization and Yin Congyi's fear of the ghost tide.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que manipulates Liao Zhanbo and interacts with Song Jiaoyin and Xue Shuangzi.
• Song Jiaoyin interacts with Zheng Que, slapping him for his manipulation.
• Yin Congyi interacts with Yan Bingyi, showing obedience and fear.
• Yan Bingyi interacts with Yin Congyi, giving him commands and absorbing the "Rouge Baleful Intent."

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que uses the [Yin-Yang Joyous Union Secret Record] to help Xue Shuangzi, who is suffering from a mysterious technique's erosion.
• Xue Shuangzi's body begins to transform, becoming more human-like, and her aura becomes more powerful.
• Zheng Que's cultivation speed increases rapidly, and he becomes immersed in cultivation.
• Meanwhile, Yan Bingyi, the master of Thousand Faces Peak, is affected by a karmic backlash due to her interference in Zheng Que's tribulation. She is unable to stop the erosion of her body and eventually flees into the Incense Burner.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que: Becomes more powerful as he cultivates with Xue Shuangzi's help, but remains unaware of the true nature of Xue Shuangzi's transformation.
• Xue Shuangzi: Her body transforms, and her aura becomes more powerful, suggesting she might be regaining her human form or undergoing a significant change.
• Yan Bingyi: Suffers karmic backlash, leading to her inability to control her body and eventually fleeing into the Incense Burner.

Significant Themes

• Karmic backlash: Yan Bingyi's interference in Zheng Que's tribulation leads to consequences for her.
• Power dynamics: The transformation of Xue Shuangzi's body and the increase in Zheng Que's cultivation power highlight the shifting balance between them.
• Consequences of actions: Yan Bingyi's inability to control her body and Zheng Que's immersion in cultivation illustrate the immediate and delayed effects of their choices.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que and Xue Shuangzi: Zheng Que cultivates with Xue Shuangzi, leading to a rapid increase in his power and a transformation in Xue Shuangzi's body.
• Yan Bingyi and Yin Congyi: Yan Bingyi's karmic backlash occurs while Yin Congyi is present, but she hides her condition from him, instructing him to focus on his cultivation instead.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que wakes up in the Underworld's Wide Hall, having absorbed Yin Energy from cultivating with Xue Shuangzi, which rapidly increased his cultivation to the Peak Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
• He summons Xue Shuangzi, who has fully recovered, and uses the Yin Energy gained from slaying the [Charred Wraith] to raise her cultivation from [Scissor Hell] to the ninth level of [Scissor Hell].
• Zheng Que learns about the true nature of the Yuwen Market "Anomaly" from the memories of its five original figures and the fragments they left behind.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que: His cultivation has significantly increased, and he has gained new insights into the nature of the "Anomaly" and the secrets behind the six great sects.
• Xue Shuangzi: She has fully recovered and had her cultivation raised by Zheng Que.

Significant Themes

• The power of Yin Energy and its role in cultivation.
• The true nature of the "Anomaly" and the secrets behind the six great sects.
• The relationship between cultivators and ghosts, and the experiments conducted on ghosts by the six great sects.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que interacts with Xue Shuangzi, raising her cultivation and confirming her recovery.
• Zheng Que learns about the five figures from the Yuwen Market "Anomaly" and their connection to the six great sects.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que gains memories from four figures in the Anomaly, including Liao Zhanbo, who was once a Spirit Transformation cultivator.
• He discovers a new name, Yan Bingyi, on the sixth page of the [Life and Death Book], revealing she's a Void Insight Realm cultivator without a physical body.
• Zheng Que decides to test his new Law and awaits the ghost tide's end.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que's power grows with his increasing Fate Threads and cultivation at the peak of Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
• Yan Bingyi, Yin Congyi's Master, is severely weakened and desperate to regain her physical body.

Significant Themes

• The power of Zheng Que's Fate Threads and the [Life and Death Book].
• The struggle of cultivators to maintain or regain their physical bodies and power.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que reflects on his newfound knowledge and plans his next moves.
• Yin Congyi cultivates and awaits his Master's return, unaware of her dire situation.
• Yan Bingyi vows revenge against Zheng Que after her failed attempt to reclaim her power.

Chapter Summary: “The Second ‘Law’”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que awakens in the restored main hall of the Yuwen Estate after the earlier battle. The rift and damage have disappeared, and the hall is left with only one chair.
• Xue Shuangzi has returned to normal after being rescued, but she reveals that she accidentally consumed three poisonous black incense sticks from the Incense Burner connected to Yin Congyi’s master, Yan Bingyi.
• Zheng Que realizes the incense may still threaten her, especially because Yan Bingyi’s methods are beyond Xue Shuangzi’s current cultivation level.
• Xue Shuangzi demonstrates that she cannot vomit up or locate the incense sticks. She even opens her body and examines her black, lifeless organs, but finds no physical trace of them despite sensing that they remain inside her.
• Zheng Que advises her to stay close to him, believing his “Law” can suppress whoever or whatever is affecting her.
• After leaving the chair, Zheng Que discovers that it, like the other four chairs, dissolves into smoke and vanishes.
• He attempts unsuccessfully to rearrange the fragments of his Law, then begins testing a newly acquired Law with Xue Shuangzi.
• The new Law is ultimately revealed to amplify the senses of his Dao companion while his original Law is active. Zheng Que concludes that it is impractical and nearly useless.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que becomes more cautious and protective toward Xue Shuangzi, recognizing the lingering danger posed by Yan Bingyi’s incense. He also continues investigating and experimenting with his Laws.
• Xue Shuangzi is restored from her earlier condition and gains confidence from the increase in cultivation granted through the Underworld mission. However, she remains unknowingly afflicted by the hidden incense and agrees to remain near Zheng Que.
• Yan Bingyi remains an indirect threat. Though physically weakened and unable to immediately retaliate, his methods continue to affect the protagonists.
• Xue Shuangzi’s cultivation has been raised twice as a reward, motivating her to pursue further missions and breakthroughs.

Significant Themes

• Hidden danger and lingering consequences: Even after the immediate crisis ends, Yan Bingyi’s influence remains embedded within Xue Shuangzi.
• Power and cultivation: Strength gained through Underworld rewards offers hope that future threats can eventually be overcome.
• Experimentation and uncertainty: Zheng Que must test and interpret unfamiliar Laws, revealing that new powers may not always be useful.
• Dark supernatural body imagery: Xue Shuangzi’s corpse-like physiology emphasizes the chapter’s eerie Underworld setting.
• Humor amid danger: The discovery that Zheng Que’s newly forged Law is essentially useless undercuts the serious supernatural developments with comic frustration.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que questions Xue Shuangzi about her condition and listens to her account of obtaining the Incense Burner and Green Sun Lamp.
• Xue Shuangzi expresses anger toward the cultivator responsible for the poisonous incense and displays her supernatural body while trying to locate it.
• Zheng Que reassures her that his Law may protect her and instructs her to remain by his side.
• The two then test Zheng Que’s new Law together. Its embarrassing and unexpectedly intimate effect leaves Xue Shuangzi flustered and Zheng Que disappointed by the Law’s lack of practical value.

Chapter Summary: “Charnel Grove Fire”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After testing his newly acquired “Law,” Zheng Que returns from the Underworld and examines the ornate bronze lamp taken from Xue Shuangzi.
• He fails to activate the lamp with any of his techniques, including the [Heavenly Wheel Mystic Fire Art]. He concludes that it requires a unique activation method and was likely not created by the Heavenly Artifact Sect.
• Zheng Que stores the lamp away to prevent Xue Shuangzi from swallowing it, since the artifact appears to suppress her racial ability, [Rouge Weeping Dew].
• Rather than leaving the Anomaly, Zheng Que reviews the cultivation techniques in his memories. Most are unsuitable because they depend on specific artifacts, abundant spiritual energy, rare materials, or dangerous body-exchange practices.
• He selects [Charnel Grove Fire], one of five imperial-court Foundation Establishment techniques associated with the corpse path.
• Using three Blood Skulls created through the [Blood Skull Technique], Zheng Que successfully cultivates [Charnel Grove Fire]. The spell’s black flames prevent a breach into Blood Pass from healing and allow blood mist and Killing Intent to seep into the Anomaly.
• He determines that the technique requires a corpse or corpse-like vessel. Since he follows the Ghost-Controlling path, only his Blood Skulls can currently carry the flames.
• Zheng Que compares the technique’s power to [Soul Explosion Technique], noting that it is stronger and has a dangerous lingering effect, though he avoids fully testing it to prevent attracting powerful ghosts from deeper levels of Hell.
• He then challenges Xue Shuangzi to a sparring match to assess his improved strength after receiving the Underworld’s enhancement.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que: Demonstrates increased caution and strategic thinking. He analyzes the bronze lamp’s origin and limitations, selects the most practical cultivation method available, and successfully advances his combat abilities with [Charnel Grove Fire]. He also recognizes that his Soul-Calling Banner has not reached its full potential because its Main Soul, Qing Li, is only a Resentful Soul; he intends to wait for an Anomaly that could replace or upgrade it.
• Xue Shuangzi: Remains irritated by Zheng Que’s constant experimentation and provocative behavior. Although she complains about being treated as a sparring partner, she is eager to fight once given the opportunity.
• Qing Li: Though not physically present, she becomes important through Zheng Que’s realization that the Soul-Calling Banner requires an Anomaly as its Main Soul to unleash its full power.

Significant Themes

• Adaptation and resourcefulness: Zheng Que works around the limitations of his available techniques, choosing one compatible with his current environment and abilities.
• Power and experimentation: His cultivation involves carefully testing new techniques while balancing the danger of attracting stronger supernatural entities.
• Artifact inheritance and ownership: The bronze lamp highlights different systems of artifact control and the protective measures used to prevent outsiders from wielding powerful objects.
• The corpse and ghost paths: The chapter contrasts the requirements of different cultivation traditions and reinforces Zheng Que’s identity as a Ghost-Controlling cultivator rather than a corpse-path practitioner.
• Strategic restraint: Although Zheng Que gains a powerful new spell, he deliberately limits further testing to avoid destabilizing the Anomaly.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que and Xue Shuangzi continue their tense, irreverent partnership. He confiscates the bronze lamp from her, then asks her to spar.
• Xue Shuangzi accuses Zheng Que of wasting time on indulgent and inappropriate behavior instead of focusing on Lord Mu Xiangu’s mission.
• Despite her complaints, she agrees to the fight—though her theatrical act of loosening her clothes suggests that their exchanges remain deliberately provocative and comedic.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que and Xue Shuangzi enter Blood Pass, where they encounter a ghost tide.
• Zheng Que uses the [Yin-Yang Joyous Union Secret Record] to control the ghost tide.
• After three days, the ghost tide subsides, leaving Blood Pass in ruins.
• Yan Dong, who had been swallowed by a ghost, emerges from its belly and flees.
• Song Jiaoyin, disguised as a ghost, kills several ghosts in a mountain hollow.
• A group of five cultivators, led by Zang Daosun, survive the ghost tide using a cloud canopy artifact.
• Zheng Que, back in the Wide Hall, sees the second door of the [Life and Death Book] become clear, revealing Scissors Hell.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates his ability to control ghosts using the [Yin-Yang Joyous Union Secret Record].
• Yan Dong shows cunning by hiding inside a ghost to survive the ghost tide.
• Song Jiaoyin displays her combat skills against several ghosts.
• Zang Daosun reveals his knowledge of other powerful examinees and their potential survival strategies.

Significant Themes

• Survival and adaptation in the face of sudden, dangerous events (ghost tide).
• The use of unique abilities and artifacts to gain an advantage (Zheng Que's ghost control, Zang Daosun's cloud canopy).
• The elimination of weaker competitors, leading to a smaller but stronger group of survivors.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que and Xue Shuangzi continue to cultivate together, though the specifics of their interaction are not detailed in this chapter.
• Yan Dong, Song Jiaoyin, and the group led by Zang Daosun do not interact directly with each other in this chapter, but their actions and survival strategies are revealed.

Key Plot Points and Events

1. Zheng Que enters Scissors Hell, where he finds Yuwen Market intact but with an "Anomaly" causing scenes to vanish and reappear.
2. He attempts to sit on the chief seat in Yuwen Estate, causing the market's "Anomaly" to crack and nearly collapse.
3. Zheng Que realizes he cannot confer his Imperial Edict on the entire "Anomaly" and considers other methods to control it.
4. Back in reality, Zheng Que returns to Blood Pass after the ghost tide subsides, and Mu Xiangu and her companions find him.

Character Developments

1. Zheng Que demonstrates his ability to enter and interact with the Underworld, showing growth in his powers as the Emperor.
2. Mu Xiangu shows concern for Zheng Que's well-being, indicating a growing bond between them.

Significant Themes

1. The power and limitations of Zheng Que's Imperial Conferment.
2. The nature of "Anomalies" and their control within the Underworld.

Character Interactions

1. Zheng Que interacts with the "Anomaly" of Yuwen Market, attempting to control it.
2. Mu Xiangu and Zheng Que reunite after the ghost tide, showing mutual concern for each other's safety.

Chapter Summary: “Nether Lamp Mother”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que reunites with Mu Xiangu and learns that the unrest in Blood Pass is much larger than the ghost tide alone. The disturbance has severely weakened the Iron Tree Hells’ ability to sense events within the area, and the court examiners outside can no longer monitor the examination.
• Realizing he can now act without external supervision, Zheng Que decides to locate his scattered Ghost Servants and accelerate his plans to establish a market, claim resource points, and organize merchant caravans.
• Using the Ghost Controlling Technique, he identifies the approximate positions of Qing Li, Ku Lan, and Nian Nu. He then travels in that direction with Mu Xiangu, Xue Shuangzi, Shu Yunying, and Linghu Yuniang.
• Along the way, they encounter a group of Water Ghosts from Scissor Hell. Zheng Que insists on handling them alone and destroys the entire group within ten breaths using only the Netherworld Finger.
• Zheng Que is surprised by how overwhelming his strength has become after obtaining five Fate Threads. Ordinary Scissor Hell ghost creatures can no longer meaningfully test him, prompting him to hope for an encounter with a stronger, special ghost creature.
• The group passes through a boulder-strewn area populated by ghost creatures from Tongue-Pulling Hell and Scissor Hell. Zheng Que allows Shu Yunying and Linghu Yuniang to handle these enemies.
• They then encounter the Nether Lamp Mother, a massive jellyfish-like ghost creature from the first level of Iron Tree Hell. Its body contains countless hands and a huge vertical eye, and its aura is nearly as powerful as Mu Xiangu’s.
• Zheng Que chooses to fight it personally. Mu Xiangu warns that although he may be able to injure the Nether Lamp Mother, its attacks are extremely dangerous. She agrees to let him fight only if Xue Shuangzi and Shu Yunying accompany him, while she and Linghu Yuniang stand by to intervene.
• As Mu Xiangu withdraws, the Nether Lamp Mother loses its hesitation, instantly appears behind Zheng Que, and splits open its body to reveal a massive, tooth-filled maw poised to bite him.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que: Becomes more confident and proactive after learning that the examiners can no longer observe Blood Pass. His five Fate Threads have dramatically increased his combat strength, allowing him to effortlessly defeat ordinary Scissor Hell creatures. However, he recognizes the vast difference between Scissor Hell and Iron Tree Hell and accepts the need to fight strategically.
• Mu Xiangu: Continues to act as Zheng Que’s adviser and protector. She accurately assesses the danger of the Nether Lamp Mother and insists that Zheng Que bring reinforcements rather than recklessly fight alone.
• Xue Shuangzi and Shu Yunying: Demonstrate loyalty and courage by agreeing to fight an Iron Tree Hell creature despite being only at the Scissor Hell level. Their willingness contrasts with the likely fear or rebellion of ordinary Ghost Servants.
• Linghu Yuniang: Remains with Mu Xiangu and helps support the group, though she does not directly participate in the initial confrontation.
• The Nether Lamp Mother: Is established as an intelligent and highly dangerous predator. It initially hesitates because of Mu Xiangu’s presence but immediately attacks once she withdraws.

Significant Themes

• Growth versus overconfidence: Zheng Que’s rapid increase in strength gives him confidence, but the Nether Lamp Mother reminds him that advancement across Hell realms creates an enormous power gap.
• Freedom from oversight: The examiners’ inability to monitor Blood Pass gives Zheng Que greater freedom to organize his plans and act decisively.
• Loyalty and trust: Xue Shuangzi and Shu Yunying willingly risk themselves at Zheng Que’s command, showing the strength of their bond and loyalty.
• Strategy and cooperation: Even though Zheng Que has become powerful, Mu Xiangu emphasizes that survival against stronger enemies requires teamwork and preparation.
• Escalating danger: The chapter shifts from Zheng Que effortlessly crushing low-level enemies to confronting a far more formidable Iron Tree Hell creature, raising the stakes of the examination.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que consults Mu Xiangu about Luo Fuyu and the conditions within Blood Pass.
• Mu Xiangu explains the loss of sensing and surveillance, indirectly encouraging Zheng Que’s plans.
• Zheng Que commands his Ghost Servants while demonstrating his newfound strength against the Water Ghosts.
• He later delegates combat to Shu Yunying and Linghu Yuniang, showing confidence in their abilities.
• Mu Xiangu challenges Zheng Que’s willingness to fight the Nether Lamp Mother alone and negotiates a safer arrangement: Zheng Que fights with Xue Shuangzi and Shu Yunying while she observes.
• The chapter ends with the Nether Lamp Mother exploiting Mu Xiangu’s withdrawal and launching a sudden attack on Zheng Que.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que, Shu Yunying, and Xue Shuangzi team up to fight [Nether Lamp Mother], a powerful ghost.
• Zheng Que uses the Phantom Escape Technique to dodge an attack, then deploys the Soul-Calling Banner's Nether Soul Wind.
• Shu Yunying employs the Lesser Heaven-Supporting Hand technique, while Xue Shuangzi uses her racial talent, Rouge Weeping Dew.
• [Nether Lamp Mother] breaks free from their attacks and absorbs Yin Energy from their techniques.
• Zheng Que uses the Heavenly Wheel Mystic Fire Art to temporarily close [Nether Lamp Mother]'s vertical pupil, allowing Shu Yunying and Xue Shuangzi to attack.
• [Nether Lamp Mother] regains control and freezes Xue Shuangzi's mist form, but Shu Yunying blocks its sight with the Lesser Heaven-Supporting Hand.
• [Nether Lamp Mother] becomes enraged and multiplies its arms, attempting to seize all three cultivators.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates his Phantom Escape Technique, Soul-Calling Banner, and Heavenly Wheel Mystic Fire Art.
• Shu Yunying showcases her Lesser Heaven-Supporting Hand technique.
• Xue Shuangzi reveals her ability to transform into mist and uses her racial talent, Rouge Weeping Dew.
• [Nether Lamp Mother] displays its ability to absorb Yin Energy, freeze targets, and multiply its arms.

Significant Themes

• Teamwork and strategy in battle.
• The power of combined attacks versus a single powerful enemy.
• The importance of adaptability in response to an opponent's abilities.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que, Shu Yunying, and Xue Shuangzi work together to fight [Nether Lamp Mother].
• Zheng Que uses his techniques to create openings for Shu Yunying and Xue Shuangzi to attack.
• Shu Yunying and Xue Shuangzi support each other's attacks and escape when necessary.
• [Nether Lamp Mother] reacts to and counters the cultivators' attacks, demonstrating its intelligence and adaptability.

Key Plot Points and Events

1. Zheng Que faces the [Nether Lamp Mother], a formidable ghost at the [Iron Tree Hell] level.
2. The [Nether Lamp Mother]'s vertical pupil immobilizes Zheng Que, Xue Shuangzi, and Shu Yunying.
3. Zheng Que uses the [Blood Skull Technique] and [Charnel Grove Fire] to destroy the [Nether Lamp Mother]'s arms and blind its vertical pupil.
4. Xue Shuangzi and Shu Yunying coordinate their attacks, with Xue Shuangzi using [Rouge Weeping Dew] to obscure the [Nether Lamp Mother]'s vision and Shu Yunying using the [Lesser Heaven-Supporting Hand] to restrain it.
5. Zheng Que, Xue Shuangzi, and Shu Yunying work together to defeat and slay the [Nether Lamp Mother].

Character Developments

1. Zheng Que's strength advances significantly, allowing him to solo a powerful [Iron Tree Hell] ghost with the help of Xue Shuangzi and Shu Yunying.
2. Xue Shuangzi and Shu Yunying demonstrate their abilities and importance in the battle, showcasing their unique skills and teamwork with Zheng Que.
3. Mu Xiangu observes the battle and decides not to intervene, acknowledging Zheng Que's improved strength.

Significant Themes

1. Teamwork and coordination: Zheng Que, Xue Shuangzi, and Shu Yunying work together to overcome a powerful enemy, highlighting the importance of teamwork in their battles against ghosts.
2. Adaptability: Zheng Que adapts his strategies to counter the [Nether Lamp Mother]'s vertical pupil, demonstrating his ability to think on his feet and adjust his tactics as needed.

Character Interactions

1. Zheng Que, Xue Shuangzi, and Shu Yunying fight side by side, relying on each other's strengths to defeat the [Nether Lamp Mother].
2. Mu Xiangu observes the battle from the sidelines, ultimately deciding not to intervene, indicating her trust in Zheng Que's abilities and her willingness to let him grow stronger.
3. Linghu Yuniang accompanies Mu Xiangu, but her role in this chapter is minimal, serving mainly as a companion to Mu Xiangu.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que and Mu Xiangu escape from [Iron Tree Hell] ghosts, attracting a stronger, mysterious force.
• Examiners retreat to a mountaintop as Blood Pass's boundaries expand, and Rogue Cultivators enter the area.
• Jing Zhengjie is trapped in an Anomaly within Blood Pass, unable to escape, and receives a voice transmission from his Master, Shi Qi Patriarch.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que shows concern for Mu Xiangu's safety and decides to leave quickly to avoid attracting more [Iron Tree Hell] ghosts.
• Jing Zhengjie becomes increasingly frustrated and terrified as he remains trapped in the Anomaly, realizing the difficulty and danger of the Immortal Examination.
• Shi Qi Patriarch, Jing Zhengjie's Master, is revealed to be nearby in Blood Pass.

Significant Themes

• The theme of fate and destiny, as mentioned by the chief examiner, suggesting that some people might cheat through the opportunity presented by the anomaly.
• The theme of the unknown and the dangerous, represented by the mysterious force that appears after Zheng Que's battle and the Anomaly that traps Jing Zhengjie.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que and Mu Xiangu work together to escape from danger, showing a level of cooperation and understanding.
• Jing Zhengjie's interaction with his Master, Shi Qi Patriarch, provides him with a glimmer of hope amidst his despair.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que and his group enter a stone forest in Blood Pass, finding a large pit filled with destroyed ghost husks.
• They encounter Qing Li and Nian Nu, who had been fighting. Zheng Que recalls them into the Soul-Calling Banner.
• Zheng Que uses the [Ghost Controlling Technique] to locate Ku Lan and heads towards her.
• They find Ku Lan at a mining site, who claims that all her mined Spirit Stones were swept away by the ghost tide.
• Zheng Que orders Ku Lan to use the Yin art [Red Attire] to communicate with Luo Fuyu, but something goes wrong, and Ku Lan loses control, heading deeper into Blood Pass.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates calm and composure in the face of destruction and danger.
• Ku Lan shows resourcefulness in surviving the ghost tide and maintaining her mining site.
• Mu Xiangu exhibits knowledge and caution in dealing with Ku Lan's loss of control.

Significant Themes

• The destructive power of the ghost tide and its impact on the environment and resources.
• The relationship between ghosts and spiritual energy, with ghosts avoiding places rich in it.
• The consequences of using powerful Yin arts like [Red Attire], which can cause loss of control.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que and Qing Li maintain their tense relationship, with Qing Li still arrogant despite her weakened state.
• Zheng Que and Mu Xiangu work together to handle Ku Lan's situation, showcasing their trust and cooperation.
• Ku Lan and Ghost Bride's connection is explored, with Ku Lan losing control and heading towards Ghost Bride, suggesting a strong bond between them.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que follows Ku Lan into Blood Pass, encountering no ghosts along the way.
• They reach a grand estate filled with Yin Energy, similar to the Ghost Bride's aura.
• Inside, they find Luo Fuyu (Ghost Bride) in distress due to her missing dowry, which has affected her [Ten-Mile Red Baleful Intent], creating an "Anomaly" of [Iron Tree Hell].
• Luo Fuyu asks Zheng Que to find her missing dowry or provide her with new ghost attendants to recover.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que: Realizes the importance of the Ghost Bride's dowry and decides to help her find it to prevent further complications.
• Luo Fuyu: Struggles with the consequences of her missing dowry, which has affected her powers and created an "Anomaly."
• Mu Xiangu: Becomes offended by Luo Fuyu's demand for ghost attendants and is ready to fight, showing her loyalty and protectiveness towards Zheng Que.

Significant Themes

• The importance of dowry in ghost marriages and its impact on the Ghost Bride's powers.
• The consequences of disrupting the natural order of ghost marriages, leading to "Anomalies" and chaos.
• The loyalty and protectiveness of ghost attendants towards their master.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que and Luo Fuyu: Zheng Que tries to help Luo Fuyu recover her powers by finding her missing dowry, while Luo Fuyu provides clues to aid his search.
• Mu Xiangu and Luo Fuyu: Mu Xiangu becomes offended by Luo Fuyu's demand for ghost attendants and is ready to fight, showing her loyalty and protectiveness towards Zheng Que.
• Zheng Que and Mu Xiangu: Zheng Que stops Mu Xiangu from fighting Luo Fuyu to prevent both from being grievously wounded, showing his desire to maintain peace and order.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que and Mu Xiangu are trapped in a strange residence with [Bottle Woman] and other ghosts.
• Ku Lan, now dressed in [Red Attire], leads Zheng Que and Mu Xiangu out of the residence.
• They find themselves at Blood Pass, and Mu Xiangu reveals that Zheng Que's Ghost Servant has been rescued.
• Zheng Que decides to cultivate, asking Mu Xiangu to guard him.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que shows concern for Luo Fuyu's well-being and agrees to help find something for her.
• Ku Lan regains her senses after leading Zheng Que and Mu Xiangu out of the residence, indicating she was under some form of control or influence.
• Mu Xiangu displays knowledge about the Ghost Bride's fate and seems to take pleasure in it.

Significant Themes

• The theme of deception and manipulation is evident, with the residence and its inhabitants trying to trap Zheng Que and Mu Xiangu.
• The power dynamics between ghosts and cultivators are explored, with Mu Xiangu holding authority over the Ghost Bride.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que and Mu Xiangu work together to escape the residence, with Ku Lan's help.
• Zheng Que and Mu Xiangu have a brief exchange about the Ghost Bride's fate, revealing Mu Xiangu's indifference towards her.
• Zheng Que asks Mu Xiangu to guard him while he cultivates, showing trust in her abilities.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que, the Underworld's Lord, cultivates and senses a powerful ghost creature approaching.
• He meets Luo Fuyu, a Ghost Bride with control issues over her racial talent, [Ten-Mile Red Baleful Intent].
• Zheng Que uses Yin Energy to temporarily stabilize Luo Fuyu's cultivation but decides to find a scapegoat to return her dowry.
• He selects [Evil Shadow Play], a ghost creature with a history of fleeing and a prior connection to Luo Fuyu's dowry.
• Zheng Que orders [Evil Shadow Play] to take Luo Fuyu's dowry and ghost creatures and deliver them to a human cultivator, without revealing the source.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que: Shows strategic thinking and decisiveness in handling Luo Fuyu's problem and finding a scapegoat.
• Luo Fuyu: Her cultivation is temporarily stabilized, but her underlying issue remains unsolved.
• [Evil Shadow Play]: It is used as a scapegoat and ordered to deliver the dowry without knowing the reason behind it.

Significant Themes

• Power and Control: Zheng Que's power allows him to manipulate events and creatures in the Underworld, but he's cautious about revealing his true identity.
• Secrets and Lies: Zheng Que keeps secrets about his identity and the true source of Luo Fuyu's dowry, using [Evil Shadow Play] to maintain his deception.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que interacts with Luo Fuyu, helping her control her power and dismissing her afterward.
• Zheng Que summons and orders [Evil Shadow Play], using it as a scapegoat without revealing the full context.

Chapter Summary: “Three Iron Tree Hells”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Ghost Bride completes a mysterious ritual in the manor, surrounded by Bottle Women, servants, wedding decorations, and overwhelming crimson killing intent.
• Her manor vanishes and transforms into a wedding procession. She has recovered from her previous crisis and reached the third level of Iron Tree Hell.
• The Ghost Bride remembers almost nothing about the danger she encountered near Blood Pass. She realizes that the lord of the Underworld saved her despite missing Law fragments and an incomplete dowry, reinforcing his extraordinary power.
• Believing Zheng Que may know the whereabouts of her missing dowry, she redirects the wedding procession toward him.
• Evil Shadow Play returns from the Underworld to Blood Pass and searches for Zheng Que. It discovers that Zheng Que is being protected by Mu Xiangu, a Painted Skin at Iron Tree Hell.
• Evil Shadow Play and Mu Xiangu confront each other through divine sense but refrain from fighting. Evil Shadow Play withdraws, partly because it senses Mu Xiangu’s intimidating presence and partly because it wants privacy to inspect the items entrusted to it by the Underworld lord.
• Evil Shadow Play reveals the Ghost Bride’s former dowry and subordinates from its shadows, preparing to deliver them to Zheng Que.
• Meanwhile, Mu Xiangu and Ku Lan continue guarding Zheng Que. Mu Xiangu realizes that the Iron Tree Hell who had been observing them—apparently Evil Shadow Play—has been tracking Zheng Que.
• The Ghost Bride’s recovered aura is detected approaching, and her red bridal sedan emerges from the blood mist.

Character Developments

• Ghost Bride/Luo Fuyu: Recovers completely and advances to the third level of Iron Tree Hell. Her gratitude and awe toward the Underworld lord deepen, as she recognizes that he restored her power despite seemingly impossible limitations. She also resumes her practical goal of recovering her dowry.
• Evil Shadow Play: Returns from the Underworld humbled but curious. Although it is powerful and claims not to fear Mu Xiangu, it avoids confrontation and prioritizes examining the items entrusted to it. Its possession of the Ghost Bride’s dowry suggests it is now cooperating with the Underworld lord.
• Mu Xiangu: Demonstrates strong vigilance and loyalty toward Zheng Que. She immediately detects Evil Shadow Play, interprets its surveillance as a threat, and restrains herself from attacking only because she must continue protecting Zheng Que.
• Zheng Que: Remains in cultivation and becomes the focus of several powerful ghosts and protectors. His connection to the Ghost Bride’s missing dowry and the interest of multiple Iron Tree Hells make him increasingly important.
• Ku Lan: Continues assisting Mu Xiangu in guarding Zheng Que, though no major independent action occurs in the chapter.

Significant Themes

• The Underworld lord’s overwhelming authority: His ability to manipulate or disregard laws and restore the Ghost Bride’s condition establishes him as far beyond ordinary cultivators and ghosts.
• Recovery and transformation: The Ghost Bride’s return to normal and advancement in cultivation mark a major shift from vulnerability to renewed strength.
• Tension beneath ceremony: The wedding imagery—red lanterns, music, sedan bearers, and festive characters—is contrasted with killing intent, blood mist, and supernatural danger.
• Power restrained by uncertainty: Despite their immense strength, Evil Shadow Play and Mu Xiangu avoid direct conflict because neither fully understands the other’s capabilities or circumstances.
• Protection and obligation: Several powerful beings are drawn into protecting Zheng Que, suggesting that his survival is tied to larger forces and responsibilities.

Character Interactions

• The Ghost Bride reflects on the Underworld lord’s intervention and then deliberately seeks out Zheng Que for information about her dowry.
• Evil Shadow Play and Mu Xiangu engage in a silent standoff through divine sense. Neither attacks, but both recognize the other as a formidable Iron Tree Hell.
• Mu Xiangu and Ku Lan jointly guard Zheng Que, with Mu Xiangu taking the lead in detecting threats.
• Evil Shadow Play prepares to return the Ghost Bride’s dowry and former subordinates to Zheng Que.
• The chapter ends as Mu Xiangu recognizes the Ghost Bride’s approaching procession, setting up a likely meeting between the Ghost Bride, Zheng Que, and the two Iron Tree Hells.