Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yin Congyi (Jing Zhengjie) wakes up in an unfamiliar market district, remembering he's a Golden Core Realm rogue cultivator.
• He encounters his junior sister, Yin Huier, and their master, Shi Qi Patriarch.
• Yin Congyi resists paying respects to Shi Qi Patriarch, triggering a confrontation.
• Yin Congyi wakes up in the wilderness, facing Shi Qi Patriarch and Shadow Puppets.
• Master Yan Bingyi intervenes, telling Yin Congyi to retreat.
• A female Core Formation cultivator battles Zheng Que, ultimately defeating him using an [Iron Tree Hell] Corpse Puppet's self-destruction.
• Zheng Que survives and absorbs the "Tricky Specter," regaining his peak strength.

Character Developments

• Yin Congyi (Jing Zhengjie) shows resistance to Shi Qi Patriarch, hinting at a possible past conflict or secret.
• Yin Huier displays loyalty and concern for her senior brother, Jing Zhengjie.
• Shi Qi Patriarch shows impatience and a desire to control his disciples.
• Zheng Que's survival and absorption of the "Tricky Specter" reveal his resilience and cunning.

Significant Themes

• Resistance vs. Obedience: Yin Congyi's resistance to Shi Qi Patriarch contrasts with Yin Huier's obedience, raising questions about free will and control.
• Power and Control: The struggle between characters highlights the desire for power and control, both within the cultivation world and in relationships between masters and disciples.

Character Interactions

• Yin Congyi (Jing Zhengjie) and Shi Qi Patriarch: Their tense interaction hints at a past conflict or secret, with Shi Qi Patriarch attempting to assert control and Yin Congyi resisting.
• Yin Congyi (Jing Zhengjie) and Yin Huier: Their interaction shows Yin Huier's concern and loyalty towards her senior brother, while Yin Congyi seems distant and distracted.
• Female Core Formation Cultivator and Zheng Que: Their battle showcases the cultivator's strategic use of Corpse Puppets and Zheng Que's resilience and cunning.

Chapter Summary: “All Escaped. (First Update!)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Core Formation female cultivator is shocked when Zheng Que survives the self-destruction of an Iron Tree Hell Corpse Puppet completely unharmed, revealing that his Heaven-Grade Dao Foundation gives him strength far beyond ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators.
• She realizes Zheng Que can suppress and command Iron Tree Hell entities, including the hidden Tricky Specter, and concludes that his talent is extraordinary.
• Just as Zheng Que prepares to attack her again, Evil Shadow Play warns him that something is wrong with Yin Congyi and that it cannot stop him. Zheng Que deduces that Yan Bingyi has intervened.
• To prevent Yan Bingyi from tracking him through the Demon Soul Substitute Puppet, Zheng Que detonates his Soul Puppet and all recently summoned Ghost Servants with the Soul Explosion Technique, creating massive explosions and obscuring the battlefield.
• Zheng Que escapes, leaving only the Belly Specter behind. Evil Shadow Play also flees immediately, abandoning its Shadow Puppets after sensing an overwhelmingly powerful hidden cultivator.
• The Core Formation female cultivator likewise escapes, but she is later struck by two United Heart Ghost Hands and crashes into a cliff, suffering severe internal injuries.
• At Blood Pass, Yin Congyi retreats under Yan Bingyi’s instruction. He later discovers the injured female cultivator and moves to save her.
• Yan Bingyi explains that the woman’s second Ghost Hand strike damaged her foundation. Yin Congyi must first remove the lingering Yin Energy, then use healing and foundation-stabilizing pills to treat her.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates exceptional combat strength, strategic caution, and resourcefulness. Rather than remain to fight an unknown high-level enemy, he destroys his own tracking-linked puppets and retreats.
• Evil Shadow Play becomes increasingly wary of Zheng Que and the forces connected to him. Its fear of the mysterious attacker shows that it recognizes the presence of a cultivator even more powerful than itself.
• Yin Congyi shows gratitude and moral responsibility by trying to save the female cultivator who previously assisted him. Although still not strong enough to face Zheng Que directly, he is developing into a capable and compassionate cultivator.
• Yan Bingyi continues acting as Yin Congyi’s experienced guide. She analyzes the injuries and Zheng Que’s unusual control over the Iron Tree Hell entities, while warning Yin Congyi not to confront him prematurely.
• The Core Formation female cultivator shifts from confidence to desperation. She recognizes Zheng Que’s overwhelming talent but remains determined to survive; after fleeing, she becomes dependent on Yin Congyi’s aid.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming talent hidden beneath low cultivation: Zheng Que’s Foundation Establishment realm disguises power capable of suppressing far stronger supernatural beings.
• Caution and survival over pride: Zheng Que abandons the battlefield rather than risk confronting an unknown high-level cultivator, emphasizing the importance of recognizing danger and retreating intelligently.
• Mystery of unconventional power: Yan Bingyi cannot identify how Zheng Que controls the Iron Tree Hell entities, suggesting that his abilities derive from something beyond ordinary sorcery or Law, possibly resembling a Nine Nether Relic.
• Interdependence and hidden alliances: Powerful cultivators and supernatural entities influence events from behind the scenes, while characters repeatedly rely on masters, puppets, or summoned beings.
• Compassion amid conflict: Yin Congyi’s decision to rescue an injured former opponent contrasts with the chapter’s violence and highlights his growing sense of responsibility.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que and the Core Formation female cultivator: Their confrontation reveals Zheng Que’s superiority and forces her to recognize that she cannot defeat him conventionally.
• Zheng Que and Evil Shadow Play: Evil Shadow Play warns Zheng Que about Yan Bingyi’s intervention, while both ultimately flee from the unseen high-level threat.
• Yan Bingyi and Yin Congyi: Yan Bingyi protects and advises her disciple, criticizing neither his retreat nor his earlier struggle. She warns him to avoid Zheng Que until his Dao Foundation becomes truly Heaven-Grade.
• Yin Congyi and the injured female cultivator: Yin Congyi repays her earlier assistance by attempting to save her, beginning the process of removing the Ghost Hand’s Yin Energy and treating her damaged foundation.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que successfully escapes from Yan Bingyi using a soul puppet.
• Zheng Que decides to retrieve his powerful "Belly Specter" and grant it an Imperial Conferment.
• The Rogue Cultivators' corpses turn into ghosts and continue fighting each other.
• A burly Golden Core cultivator is attacked by a powerful ghost, which enters his Corpse Puppet and poisons him.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates his cunning and strategic thinking by escaping and planning to retrieve his "Belly Specter."
• The ghosts, once Rogue Cultivators, exhibit intense hatred and continue fighting, showing their lingering resentment.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of greed and ambition, as seen in Zheng Que's actions and the ghosts' lingering resentment.
• The power dynamics between cultivators and ghosts, with ghosts displaying unexpected strength and cunning.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que's internal monologue reveals his plans and fears, showing his calculating nature.
• The ghosts' interactions highlight their intense hatred and desire for vengeance, even in death.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que finds his market under attack by other examinees.
• Luo Fuyu and Mu Xiangu are occupied, while his ghost servants are fighting intruders.
• Zheng Que decides to assist his ghost servants first.
• He encounters two battlefields: one with Qing Li, Nian Nu vs. a burly Golden Core cultivator, and another with Xue Shuangzi, Ku Lan, Shu Yunying vs. an elderly Golden Core cultivator.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que: Shows strategic thinking by deciding to help his ghost servants first. Demonstrates his calm and composed demeanor under pressure.
• Qing Li, Nian Nu, Xue Shuangzi, Ku Lan, Shu Yunying: Display their abilities and teamwork in fighting against the intruding cultivators.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and Protection: Zheng Que's decision to help his ghost servants first highlights his loyalty and responsibility towards them.
• Teamwork and Strategy: The female ghosts work together to fight against the Golden Core cultivators, showcasing the importance of teamwork and strategic planning.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que and the Female Ghosts: Zheng Que is addressed by the female ghosts as 'Young Master' or 'Human little... Zheng Que,' indicating their familiarity and loyalty towards him.
• The Female Ghosts and the Golden Core Cultivators: The female ghosts and the Golden Core cultivators engage in combat, with each side trying to gain the upper hand.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que sides with his female ghosts against the two intruding Golden Core cultivators.
• The two Golden Core cultivators attack Zheng Que simultaneously, but he deflects their attacks with a single palm strike.
• Zheng Que defeats both Golden Core cultivators with ease, using his [United Heart Ghost Hand] technique.
• After dealing with the intruders, Zheng Que uses the Soul-Calling Banner to capture the Rogue Cultivator ghosts.
• Zheng Que decides to bring Xue Shuangzi with him to handle an important task, while the other female ghosts clean up the battlefield.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates his formidable strength, easily defeating two Golden Core cultivators.
• The female ghosts, especially Xue Shuangzi, show loyalty and obedience to Zheng Que.
• The intruding Golden Core cultivators reveal their weakness and underestimation of Zheng Que's power.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between cultivators and the importance of strength in the cultivation world.
• The loyalty and obedience of Ghost Servants to their master.
• The ruthlessness and efficiency of Zheng Que in dealing with threats.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que interacts with his female ghosts, showing trust and reliance on them.
• The two intruding Golden Core cultivators underestimate Zheng Que and his female ghosts, leading to their demise.
• Zheng Que and Xue Shuangzi share a moment of understanding, as Zheng Que entrusts her with an important task.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Rogue cultivators attack the market, but Mu Xiangu and Luo Fuyu handle them.
• Zheng Que learns that Luo Fuyu's opponents are likely imperial court cultivators, including a mid-stage Golden Core.
• Zheng Que tasks Xue Shuangzi with activating [Soul Sight] to locate the Immortal's opportunity.
• Yin Congyi treats a heavily injured Golden Core female cultivator using Master's method.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que shows concern for the market's safety and his disciples' well-being.
• Xue Shuangzi is eager for opportunities to advance her cultivation.
• Yin Congyi demonstrates loyalty and concern for the dynasty's stability.
• Yan Bingyi reveals knowledge about Zheng Que's techniques and encourages Yin Congyi's uprightness.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and the importance of cultivation level (Zheng Que's Ghost Servants, Luo Fuyu's opponents).
• Trust and betrayal (Xue Shuangzi's hesitation in involving Ku Lan, Zheng Que's concern for his disciples' safety).
• Ambition and unscrupulous methods (Zheng Que's scheme, Yin Congyi's determination to expose it).

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que and Xue Shuangzi: Zheng Que guides Xue Shuangzi and uses her to locate the Immortal's opportunity.
• Yin Congyi and Yan Bingyi: Master and disciple discuss Zheng Que's techniques and Yin Congyi's plans to expose Zheng Que's scheme.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Bingyi, Yin Congyi's master, is injured and needs to suppress her injuries using Bone Incense.
• Yin Congyi notifies his fellow cultivators about Zheng Que's scheme regarding the high-level cultivator's tomb.
• Zheng Que attacks Yan Bingyi using his "Law" while she's suppressing her injuries, trying to extract information about Yin Congyi's countermeasures against his spells.
• [Evil Shadow Play], Zheng Que's puppet, flees to Blood Pass to open a trade route for Zheng Que.

Character Developments

• Yan Bingyi struggles to resist Zheng Que's attacks while suppressing her injuries.
• Zheng Que shows ruthlessness and determination in extracting information from Yan Bingyi.
• [Evil Shadow Play] shows initiative in seeking a trade route for Zheng Que.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and vulnerability: Yan Bingyi's injuries and Zheng Que's attack highlight the power imbalance and vulnerability of those in weaker positions.
• Information and knowledge: The struggle between Yan Bingyi and Zheng Que emphasizes the value of information and knowledge in gaining an advantage.
• Resource acquisition: [Evil Shadow Play]'s actions in Blood Pass underscore the importance of resources and trade in the cultivation world.

Character Interactions

• Yan Bingyi and Yin Congyi: Yan Bingyi's instructions to Yin Congyi show her concern for his safety and her desire to protect him.
• Yan Bingyi and Zheng Que: Their interaction reveals Zheng Que's ruthlessness and Yan Bingyi's vulnerability and resistance.
• [Evil Shadow Play] and the grotesque ghost creature: Their communication demonstrates the potential for cooperation and trade among ghost creatures.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que learns a more ingenious application of his [United Heart Ghost Hand] technique from Yan Bingyi.
• He practices this new application on Xue Shuangzi while continuing to cultivate.
• Zheng Que also learns about the potential dangers of his [Yin Spirit Devours Resentment] technique and how to manage it.
• Yan Bingyi reveals some combat applications for Zheng Que's other spells.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates his eagerness to learn and improve, showing adaptability and quick understanding of new techniques.
• Xue Shuangzi is further humiliated and used as a practice target by Zheng Que.
• Yan Bingyi shows reluctance to discuss Yin Congyi's disciple, hinting at her protective nature towards them.

Significant Themes

• The importance of learning and adaptability in cultivation and combat.
• The potential dangers and control issues of powerful techniques.
• The protective nature of mentors towards their disciples.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que interacts with Yan Bingyi through voice transmission, learning new techniques and applications.
• Zheng Que continues to practice his techniques on Xue Shuangzi, causing her humiliation and distress.
• Yan Bingyi's reluctance to discuss Yin Congyi's disciple hints at a potential conflict or alliance in the future.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A Belly Specter, a ghost creature from the Iron Tree Hell, is devouring Yin Energy and resentment in a pit near a hillside.
• A group of eight Rogue Cultivators, led by a Golden Core cultivator, arrives. They plan to explore a nearby high-level cultivator's tomb.
• The Belly Specter, initially ignored, attacks the group. It forces the cultivators' mouths open and enters them, devouring them from the inside out.
• The group's leader, a Golden Core cultivator, attempts to fight back but is ultimately killed. The other disciples try to flee but are also consumed by the Belly Specter.

Character Developments

• The Brown-Robed Golden Core Cultivator: Initially confident and in control, he becomes desperate and panicked as he realizes he cannot defeat the Belly Specter. His attempts to save himself and his disciples fail, and he is the first to be killed.
• The Disciples: They start as a cohesive group but become terrified and disorganized when their leader is killed. They try to flee but are also consumed by the Belly Specter.

Significant Themes

• Hubris: The cultivators underestimate the danger they face, leading to their downfall.
• Desperation: As the situation becomes dire, the cultivators become increasingly desperate, leading to poor decisions.
• Powerlessness: Despite their cultivation levels, the cultivators are ultimately powerless against the Belly Specter.

Character Interactions

• The Brown-Robed Golden Core Cultivator interacts with his disciples, initially giving orders and later trying to warn them. However, his attempts to protect them fail.
• The cultivators interact with the Belly Specter, initially ignoring it and later trying to fight or flee from it. None of their attempts succeed.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que successfully cultivates with Yan Bingyi, reaching the peak of Foundation Establishment Late Stage.
• He decides to enslave a ghost from [Iron Tree Hell] to form his core.
• Zheng Que retrieves the "Belly Specter" from [Iron Tree Hell], facing a tricky specter and two court examiners.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que's cultivation progresses significantly.
• The two court examiners remain neutral, observing the situation but not intervening.

Significant Themes

• The theme of cultivation and progression continues, with Zheng Que's cultivation reaching a critical stage.
• The theme of power and control is evident in Zheng Que's intention to enslave a ghost from [Iron Tree Hell].

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que interacts with the "Belly Specter" and the two court examiners, though the examiners do not engage with him directly.
• The examiners discuss the situation and Zheng Que's actions, revealing their observations and intentions.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que arrives at the battlefield with two Scissor Hell Ghost Servants.
• The "Belly Specter" from Iron Tree Hell, now intelligent, confronts Zheng Que.
• Zheng Que attempts to control the Belly Specter but fails, and it attacks him.
• Zheng Que reveals his true strength, fighting the Belly Specter at the level of a Golden Core cultivator.
• The examiners realize Zheng Que's true power and suspect he has a trump card (the remaining Scissor Hell Ghost Servant).

Character Developments

• Zheng Que: Reveals his true strength, showing he's more powerful than initially thought.
• The Belly Specter: Displayed intelligence and adaptability in its attacks.

Significant Themes

• The power of Ghost Controlling techniques and the limits of Zheng Que's control.
• The examiners' underestimation of Zheng Que's capabilities.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que vs. The Belly Specter: A fierce and evenly matched battle, showcasing both characters' abilities and adaptability.
• The Examiners: Discuss Zheng Que's strength and suspect he has a hidden trump card.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que battles the "Belly Specter" in the [Iron Tree Hell].
• Zheng Que uses his [United Heart Ghost Hand] technique and knowledge of the Belly Specter's weakness to gain the upper hand.
• The Belly Specter enters a [Scissor Hell] Ghost Servant, taking control of it and becoming much stronger.
• Zheng Que is caught off guard and killed in two moves by the possessed Ghost Servant.
• The examiners observe the battle and decide to follow the Belly Specter to Zheng Que's true body.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates his strategic thinking and combat skills but ultimately underestimates the Belly Specter's adaptability.
• The Belly Specter shows cunning and resourcefulness, using the Ghost Servant as a host to enhance its power.

Significant Themes

• Adaptability and resourcefulness in combat.
• The importance of understanding one's enemy's abilities and limitations.
• The consequences of underestimating an opponent.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que vs. the Belly Specter: Zheng Que initially has the upper hand but underestimates the Belly Specter's cunning, leading to his defeat.
• The examiners: They observe the battle, initially underestimating Zheng Que's chances, then his true strength, and finally deciding to intervene if necessary.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que attempts to capture the "Belly Specter" using Ghost Servants, but all three are defeated.
• Zheng Que decides to use a substitute Ghost Servant and his [Vital Essence Withering-Prospering Art] to confront the "Belly Specter" directly.
• Two examiners observe the battle from a distance, discussing Zheng Que's strategy and the art he's using.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates his strategic thinking and willingness to take risks, using a substitute Ghost Servant to absorb the backlash of a powerful art.
• The "Belly Specter" shows increased strength and cunning, actively seeking out Zheng Que for a second battle.

Significant Themes

• The theme of risk-taking and calculated gambles is emphasized through Zheng Que's use of the [Vital Essence Withering-Prospering Art].
• The power dynamics between cultivators and ghosts are explored, with the "Belly Specter" proving to be a formidable opponent.

Character Interactions

• The two examiners discuss Zheng Que's actions and strategies, revealing their knowledge of his techniques and the power of the art he's using.
• Zheng Que and the "Belly Specter" engage in their second battle, with Zheng Que using a substitute to absorb the brunt of the powerful art's backlash.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que engages in a fierce battle with the Fierce Soul parasitized by the Belly Specter.
• He uses the [United Heart Ghost Hand] to temporarily restrain the Fierce Soul.
• The Belly Specter escapes from the Fierce Soul and flees, with Zheng Que in pursuit.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates improved control over his arts and divine abilities, managing to keep up with the Belly Specter's speed using the [United Heart Ghost Hand].
• The Belly Specter shows cunning by escaping from the Fierce Soul when Zheng Que's power boost wears off.

Significant Themes

• The power of preparation and strategy, as Zheng Que uses his knowledge of the [United Heart Ghost Hand] to gain an advantage.
• The importance of timing, as Zheng Que waits for the right moment to strike and the Belly Specter escapes when Zheng Que's power boost ends.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que vs. Fierce Soul (parasitized by the Belly Specter): A battle of speed, strategy, and power.
• Zheng Que vs. Belly Specter: A chase sequence where Zheng Que pursues the fleeing Belly Specter.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que uses [Vital Essence Withering-Prospering Art] to boost his new soul puppet's power, while the "Belly Specter" takes control of Zheng Que's previous soul puppet.
• Zheng Que uses [United Heart Ghost Hand] to chase and evade the "Belly Specter," leading to a stalemate.
• Zheng Que eventually captures and defeats the "Belly Specter" using his improved control over [United Heart Ghost Hand].

Character Developments

• Zheng Que's proficiency in using [United Heart Ghost Hand] improves significantly during the battle.
• The "Belly Specter" is severely weakened and defeated, losing its power and oppressive presence.

Significant Themes

• The theme of perseverance and improvement is shown through Zheng Que's growing mastery of [United Heart Ghost Hand].
• The struggle between the two entities, each trying to gain the upper hand, highlights the theme of persistence and determination.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que and the "Belly Specter" engage in a prolonged battle, each trying to outmaneuver and outwit the other.
• Zheng Que's new soul puppet and the "Belly Specter"-controlled ghost creature clash, leading to the "Belly Specter's" eventual defeat.

Chapter Summary: “Reforging”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que attempts to retrieve the powerful “Belly Specter” using his Soul-Nurturing Bag, but the bag cannot contain it.
• His Ghost Controlling Technique also fails because the individual resentful souls within the specter have been fused together, rendering their original blood seals ineffective. Only Yin Spirit Devours Resentment can affect it.
• Carrying the specter back physically would be dangerous because Blood Pass’s dense Yin Energy and Killing Intent could restore its strength, while other ghosts might provide it an escape route.
• Zheng Que summons his third and final Scissor Hell Ghost Servant. Rather than using it to fight, he inhales both the Belly Specter and the servant into his own stomach.
• He begins refining the Belly Specter anew, combining the thirty Ninth Layer Scissor Hell souls that formed it with one additional soul. His goal is to reach his actual limit and erase the specter’s emerging intelligence, making it obedient once again.
• Meanwhile, two examiners observe Zheng Que from afar. They praise his extraordinary ability to master a difficult ghost-controlling technique within only a few dozen breaths.
• After defeating the Iron Tree Hell’s Tricky Specter, Zheng Que appears to have won the battle. The examiners confidently attribute his success to his Heaven-Grade Dao Foundation—only to be shocked when he voluntarily swallows the Belly Specter.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates exceptional adaptability and ruthlessness. Instead of relying on conventional containment methods, he devises a dangerous internal-reforging method.
• His mastery of the United Heart Ghost Hands and Yin Spirit Devours Resentment improves rapidly during combat, showing remarkable learning speed.
• Zheng Que reveals that the Belly Specter was not yet beyond his true limit; by adding another Scissor Hell Resentful Soul, he attempts to strengthen and reclaim it while eliminating its independent intelligence.
• The examiners’ assessment of Zheng Que changes from viewing him as merely talented to recognizing him as an unprecedented genius among recent Immortal Examination candidates.

Significant Themes

• Adaptation under pressure: Zheng Que overcomes a seemingly impossible containment problem by inventing a new method rather than repeating failed techniques.
• Control versus autonomy: The Belly Specter’s fused souls have developed enough independence to resist Zheng Que, making his attempt to erase its intelligence a struggle to reassert control.
• Exceptional talent in a changing world: The examiners discuss how Heaven-Grade talent once guaranteed recognition and protection from powerful sects, but the post-Heavenly-Change era has made aptitude less decisive.
• Dangerous cultivation and self-sacrifice: Zheng Que risks allowing the Belly Specter into his own body, demonstrating both confidence and willingness to endanger himself for greater power.
• Human potential amid disorder: The examiners emphasize the continued superiority of humanity despite the disruption of yin and yang and the rise of formerly insignificant supernatural beings.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que interacts indirectly with the Belly Specter through repeated attempts to capture, suppress, and refine it.
• He uses the third Scissor Hell Ghost Servant as a component in his reforging plan, treating it as both a resource and a means to reclaim the specter.
• The two examiners discuss Zheng Que’s progress, admiring his talent while reflecting wistfully on how different his prospects might have been before the Heavenly Change.
• Their confident prediction that Zheng Que would defeat the Iron Tree Hell specter is undercut by his startling decision to swallow the Belly Specter, leaving them surprised once again.

Key Plot Points & Events

• Zheng Que battles and defeats the Iron Tree Hell tricky specters using his unique arts and a soul puppet.
• Examiners watch the battle but are ordered not to interfere by Chief Examiner Ning Jiushan.
• Evil Shadow Play, an Iron Tree Hell entity, approaches Zheng Clan Market with other ghostly entities, seeking to trade.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que demonstrates his prowess and understanding of his inherited arts, defeating powerful enemies.
• Examiners show concern for Zheng Que's safety but follow orders not to interfere.
• Evil Shadow Play shows cunning and caution, sending a scout to ensure safety before approaching the market town.

Significant Themes

• The power of Zheng Que's inherited arts and his strategic use of them.
• The examiners' duty and the rules of the Immortal Examination.
• The cunning and caution of the Iron Tree Hell entities.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que battles against the Iron Tree Hell tricky specters, showcasing his skills and determination.
• Examiners communicate with Chief Examiner Ning Jiushan, receiving orders and reporting their observations.
• Evil Shadow Play communicates with a subordinate ghost, sending it to scout the market town and later interacting with Mu Xiangu.

Key Plot Points

• The [Iron Tree Hell] ghosts arrive at Zheng Clan Market to trade but lack the human skin or ghost skin Mu Xiangu wants.
• Mu Xiangu, displeased, leaves, and Xue Shuangzi takes over.
• The ghosts must pay a transaction tax to enter the market, which Xue Shuangzi improvises.
• Shu Yunying arrives and insists on collecting rent for the houses the ghosts occupy.
• Qing Li and Nian Nu arrive, and Qing Li decides to charge a protection fee for the ghosts' safety in the market.

Character Developments

• Mu Xiangu shows his displeasure and leaves when the ghosts don't have what he wants.
• Xue Shuangzi demonstrates initiative in charging a transaction tax but is later reprimanded by Qing Li for not thinking of other fees.
• Shu Yunying shows strictness in collecting rent for the houses.
• Qing Li shows cunning in charging a protection fee and demonstrates her authority as the Ghost of Destiny.

Significant Themes

• Greed and opportunism, as seen in the characters' eagerness to profit from the ghosts' presence in the market.
• The power dynamics between the ghosts and the market's management, with the ghosts being subject to various taxes and fees.

Character Interactions

• Mu Xiangu and Xue Shuangzi: Mu Xiangu leaves after the ghosts don't have what he wants, and Xue Shuangzi takes over.
• Xue Shuangzi and Qing Li: Xue Shuangzi is reprimanded by Qing Li for not thinking of other fees.
• Xue Shuangzi and Ku Lan: Xue Shuangzi calls Ku Lan to help with the resources, and Ku Lan suggests a Yin Energy tax.

Chapter Summary: Examination Hall Situation

Key Plot Points and Events

• At Blood Pass, Examiner Ning Jiushan supervises the Immortal Examination from a cliff overlooking a sea of blood mist.
• Because the upheaval in Blood Pass has weakened the court’s control, she coordinates multiple examiners investigating suspected cheating by Golden Core cultivators assisting examinees.
• Reports arrive about:
  • A powerful late-Golden Core cultivator near Seven Locust Village.
  • An early Foundation Establishment candidate who has inexplicably built a market, seized resources, and eliminated nearby ghosts.
  • Yin Congyi, who has achieved Heaven-Grade Foundation Establishment but is accompanied by a female Golden Core Rogue Cultivator.
• Ning Jiushan orders surveillance and tests to determine whether the candidates are receiving prohibited assistance. She emphasizes that even an examinee who has achieved Heaven-Grade Foundation Establishment will be disqualified if evidence proves they were escorted or aided.
• An examiner delivers a recording Jade Slip documenting Zheng Que’s battle with an [Iron Tree Hell] “Tricky Specter.”
• The recording reveals that Zheng Que’s true body never appeared. He controlled Ghost Servants from a distance, repeatedly sending only three to fight the powerful specter while withholding his stronger female Ghost Servants.
• Ning Jiushan concludes that Zheng Que defeated the specter across realms without using his full strength and has no need to cheat. She orders the examiners to stop monitoring him and focus on the other candidates.

Character Developments

• Ning Jiushan is shown as calm, decisive, and highly experienced. She carefully distinguishes suspicion from proof and insists that the examination remain fair. Her assessment of Zheng Que changes from interest to strong confidence in his exceptional talent.
• Zheng Que emerges as an extraordinary Ghost Controlling cultivator. His ability to command multiple Ghost Servants remotely while keeping his true body hidden demonstrates both strategic discipline and overwhelming potential. He is also committed to developing his own Dao rather than relying excessively on external help.
• Yin Congyi is presented as disciplined and proud. Ning Jiushan believes he would not normally cheat, though his cooperation with a female Golden Core cultivator remains under investigation.
• The examiners function as Ning Jiushan’s surveillance network, tracking suspicious cultivators and candidates throughout Blood Pass.

Significant Themes

• Fairness and evidence: Ning Jiushan refuses to punish candidates based solely on suspicion, insisting on concrete proof of cheating.
• True strength versus external assistance: The chapter contrasts candidates who may rely on Golden Core backers with Zheng Que, whose abilities appear to be entirely his own.
• Following one’s Dao: Zheng Que’s restrained use of his Ghost Servants reflects his determination to cultivate independently and authentically.
• Hidden power and strategic concealment: Zheng Que’s concealed true body and remote control of his Ghost Servants highlight the importance of patience, preparation, and deception.
• Recognition of genuine talent: Ning Jiushan’s evaluation shows that extraordinary ability can be identified through both results and the methods used to achieve them.

Character Interactions

• Ning Jiushan directs the examiners through sound-transmission talismans, assigning them to track suspicious Golden Core cultivators and investigate abnormal candidates.
• She instructs one examiner to lure an [Iron Tree Hell] ghost as a test, intending to expose any hidden Golden Core protector.
• Regarding Yin Congyi, she orders continued secret observation rather than immediate judgment.
• After receiving the Jade Slip, Ning Jiushan questions the examiner about Zheng Que’s true body and learns the full extent of his methods.
• She ultimately praises Zheng Que’s approach, declaring that he is incapable of needing to cheat and releasing him from further surveillance.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Que successfully refines the Belly Specter, gaining a profound sensation of clarity.
• He retrieves fallen Storage Bags and Soul-Nurturing Bags from the hillside where the [Five Baleful Ghost-Eye Orchid] is located.
• He transfers the Belly Specter into a new Ghost Servant and disperses the original Soul Puppet.
• Upon leaving the Market Lord's Residence, he finds the market overrun by ghost creatures.
• He encounters Shu Yunying lecturing ghosts and collecting Spirit Stones from them.

Character Developments

• Zheng Que becomes stronger after refining the Belly Specter and gains a sense of clarity, possibly related to his Dao Heart.
• Shu Yunying is seen managing the influx of ghost creatures, collecting Spirit Stones, and lecturing them.

Significant Themes

• The refinement of the Belly Specter and the subsequent sense of clarity suggest Zheng Que's spiritual growth and potential enlightenment.
• The overrun market and Shu Yunying's actions highlight the sudden influx of ghost creatures and the changes in the market's dynamics.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Que interacts with the Soul Puppet and the new Ghost Servant during the refinement process.
• He encounters Shu Yunying managing the ghost creatures, but they do not interact directly.
• The ghosts in the queue interact with Shu Yunying, showing deference and following her instructions.