Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group decides to wait passively for the next day, conserving their energy.
• Ning Ning encounters Chen Lubai, who expresses her unwillingness to get married.
• The horses in the stable go mad due to demonic aura, causing chaos.

Character Developments

• Chen Lubai: Reveals her reluctance to marry and her contentment with life in the Chen Residence.
• Zheng Weiqi: Demonstrates her decisive and aggressive nature by attempting to subdue the mad horses.
• He Zhizhou and Ning Ning: Reminisce about their past experiences with horses, showing their shared history.

Significant Themes

• The influence of demonic aura on living beings, with horses being more perceptive than humans.
• The contrast between Chen Lubai's carefree life and the impending danger in Futu Tower.

Character Interactions

• Ning Ning and Chen Lubai: Share a conversation about marriage and life in the Chen Residence.
• Zheng Weiqi and He Zhizhou: Zheng Weiqi orders He Zhizhou to handle the mad horses, highlighting their dynamic as senior and junior disciples.
• He Zhizhou and Ning Ning: They share a moment of understanding and connection through their memories of riding horses.

Key Plot Points and Events

• He Zhizhou attempts to help Zheng Weiqi tame the Thousand-Gold Treasure Horse but ends up kicking her off instead.
• The horse, now uncontrollable, is eventually killed by Ning Ning.
• He Zhizhou, traumatized by the event, shares a humorous anecdote about riding an electric horse as a child.

Character Developments

• He Zhizhou: Shows bravery in attempting to help Zheng Weiqi but ends up causing more chaos. His humor is revealed through his childhood story.
• Zheng Weiqi: Falls off the horse due to He Zhizhou's misguided help but is otherwise unharmed. She shows concern for He Zhizhou's well-being.
• Chen Lubai: Mourns the loss of her horse, displaying her affection for it.

Significant Themes

• Humor and irony: The situation is filled with comedic irony, with He Zhizhou's good intentions leading to disastrous results.
• Cultivation and growth: Despite the setback, both He Zhizhou and Zheng Weiqi remain unharmed, highlighting their resilience as cultivators.

Character Interactions

• He Zhizhou and Zheng Weiqi: Their interaction is filled with humor and misfortune, with He Zhizhou's actions leading to Zheng Weiqi's fall.
• Chen Lubai and He Zhizhou: Chen Lubai shows concern for He Zhizhou's well-being, despite her mourning for her horse.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Old Master Chen suggests having a horse meat feast due to the chaos caused by the horses.
• Pei Ji reveals he has found a lead in the case.
• The group discusses their plan to confront the demon at night, but they secretly suspect they're being watched by the mastermind.
• Ning Ning suggests that Zhao Yunluo's possession might not be due to the Futu Tower but an issue with her own spiritual sense.
• They deduce that the illusions might be created by Chen Lubai, who is aware of the limitations of the Futu Tower's illusions.
• They realize that the current Goose City might be a memory illusion created by Chen Lubai.

Character Developments

• He Zhizhou shows curiosity and eagerness to understand the situation.
• Zheng Weiqi demonstrates her analytical skills.
• Pei Ji reveals his knowledge about illusion creation, showing his academic prowess.
• Ning Ning displays her strategic thinking and leadership.

Significant Themes

• The power of illusion and its limitations.
• The use of past memories to create illusions.
• The importance of critical thinking and analysis in problem-solving.

Character Interactions

• The group works together, sharing their thoughts and deductions using Voice Transmission to avoid detection.
• He Zhizhou feels left out initially but later contributes to the discussion.
• Pei Ji, Zheng Weiqi, and He Zhizhou show respect for Ning Ning's leadership and analytical skills.

Key Plot Points and Events

• He Zhizhou suggests that Chen Lubai created the Goose City illusion to cope with her grief.
• Pei Ji questions the difficulty level of the tower and Chen Lubai's power.
• Zheng Weiqi proposes sending one person to investigate Goose City's oddities while others stay with Chen Lubai.
• Pei Ji discovers a barrier around Goose City, strange behavior from Chen Lubai, and a possible Locust Ghost manifestation.
• Zheng Weiqi remembers Goose City's history of being conquered by demons during the Immortal-Devil War.
• The group realizes that all inhabitants of the illusion are doomed to die, and they discuss the purpose behind their trapping.

Character Developments

• He Zhizhou shows empathy and concern for the illusory characters' fates.
• Zheng Weiqi demonstrates her knowledge of historical events and strategic thinking.
• Pei Ji exhibits calm and analytical thinking, despite his taciturn nature.

Significant Themes

• The power of memory and illusion to cope with grief and loss.
• The consequences of past actions (the Immortal-Devil War's impact on Goose City).
• The struggle between survival and inevitable doom.

Character Interactions

• He Zhizhou and Zheng Weiqi work together to piece together the mystery.
• Pei Ji shares his findings and contributes to the group's understanding.
• Chengying provides comic relief with his exaggerated reactions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Lubai, possessed by the Locust Ghost, attempts to send a letter to an ancient locust tree, which is revealed to be a portal to the outside world.
• Ning Ning and Zheng Weiqi discover Chen Lubai's deception and confront her.
• The Locust Ghost admits to creating an illusion to keep the four cultivators trapped in Goose City until the Soul Refining Array can be activated at the hour of the Rat.
• Zheng Weiqi attempts to destroy the locust tree, but the Locust Ghost dissipates, warning that there are more enemies outside the illusion.

Character Developments

• Chen Lubai/Locust Ghost: Reveals her true intentions and shows no remorse for her actions.
• Zheng Weiqi: Shows anger and determination to break free from the illusion and defeat the demons.
• Ning Ning: Demonstrates quick thinking and understanding of Chen Lubai's character, helping to expose her true nature.

Significant Themes

• Deception and true intentions: The Locust Ghost's illusion and Chen Lubai's initial facade highlight the theme of deception and the importance of uncovering true intentions.
• The cost of power: The Soul Refining Array's requirement for a living catalyst raises questions about the cost of obtaining power.

Character Interactions

• Chen Lubai/Locust Ghost vs. Zheng Weiqi and Ning Ning: The confrontation between the possessed Chen Lubai and the two cultivators reveals the Locust Ghost's sinister plans and her lack of remorse.
• Zheng Weiqi and Ning Ning: Their teamwork and understanding of each other's abilities allow them to expose Chen Lubai's deception and plan their next move.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Ning finds herself in the real Goose City backyard, with the locust tree monstrously grown and roots binding her.
• The city is shrouded in a blood-red moon, and other trees are withered, indicating a dark, eerie atmosphere.
• A skeleton of a child is discovered amidst the ruins, hinting at a past tragedy.
• Demons, including the Locust Ghost (disguised as Chen Lubai), surround the group, trapping them in the backyard.

Character Developments

• Ning Ning: She's more cautious and analytical, noticing the smoothness of their journey and suspecting a trap.
• Pei Ji: He shows concern for Ning Ning's well-being, asking her what's wrong, indicating a subtle change in his attitude towards her.
• Zheng Weiqi: She's strategic and resourceful, suggesting they break through the demon's array and escape Goose City before the hour of the Rat.

Significant Themes

• Deception and Truth: The illusion vs. reality contrast highlights the theme of deception, with the Locust Ghost's true form and intentions being revealed.
• Power and Vulnerability: The demons' power is emphasized, contrasting with the cultivators' vulnerability, highlighting the challenges they face.
• Time Pressure: The approaching hour of the Rat creates a sense of urgency and tension.

Character Interactions

• Ning Ning and Pei Ji: Pei Ji shows rare concern for Ning Ning, while she's surprised by his attention.
• The Group: They discuss their strategy, with Zheng Weiqi suggesting a plan, and He Zhizhou supporting it. Ning Ning shares her suspicions but keeps them to herself after considering He Zhizhou's input.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Locust Ghost, a demon, reveals her true form, blending human and tree features.
• She invites others to capture the humans and return to Lingquan Temple for credit.
• Zheng Weiqi pursues Locust Ghost, but is blocked by other demons.
• The narrator's biased account reveals the group's prowess, startling nearby demons.
• The group defeats the demon cultivators, deciding to leave quickly.

Character Developments

• Locust Ghost demonstrates her deceptive nature and strength.
• Zheng Weiqi shows her formidable swordsmanship and determination.
• Ning Ning displays empathy and respect for the deceased Chen Yueming.

Significant Themes

• Deception and true nature (Locust Ghost)
• Power dynamics and underestimation of opponents
• Empathy and respect for the deceased (Ning Ning)

Character Interactions

• Locust Ghost and Zheng Weiqi: Adversaries with a clear power imbalance.
• Zheng Weiqi and Pei Ji: Junior siblings working together.
• Ning Ning and Chen Yueming (through diary): A connection formed posthumously.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group realizes they're being pursued by powerful Demon Cultivators.
• They discuss the Soul Refining Array and its similarity to the Buddhist Soul-Crossing Array.
• Ning Ning suspects that Chen Lubai might not be a demon but a human possessed by the Locust Ghost.
• They theorize that Chen Lubai could have grafted the locust tree onto herself to deceive them.

Character Developments

• Zheng Weiqi demonstrates her strength and leadership, even in dire situations.
• Ning Ning shows keen observational skills and deductive reasoning, piecing together the truth about Chen Lubai.
• Pei Ji, despite his reserved nature, quickly understands Ning Ning's speculations.

Significant Themes

• The theme of deception and truth is further explored, with the group realizing they've been manipulated.
• The idea of transformation and change is highlighted, with the possibility of Chen Lubai's human form changing due to possession or grafting.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Weiqi and Pei Ji work together to fight off pursuers, showing camaraderie.
• Ning Ning shares her theories with the group, fostering a collaborative problem-solving dynamic.
• He Zhizhou, despite his initial excitement about modifying the array, shows understanding and acceptance when faced with the reality of the situation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Lubai, a human survivor disguised as a demon, has been secretly planning revenge against the demons who destroyed her city.
• She poisons the demons at a banquet in Lingquan Temple, leaving only a few great demons conscious.
• Chen Lubai reveals her plan to the narrator and the reader: she wants to use the four human cultivators who broke into the city to attract the demons' attention while she activates the Soul-Crossing Array to defeat them.
• Ming Liu, a high-level demon cultivator, discovers Chen Lubai's deception and attacks her.

Character Developments

• Chen Lubai: She shows remarkable resilience, cunning, and determination in her quest for revenge. Despite her initial timidity, she demonstrates great courage and resourcefulness.
• Ming Liu: He is revealed to be more perceptive than the other demons, noticing Chen Lubai's manipulations. He is also highly temperamental and aggressive.

Significant Themes

• Revenge: Chen Lubai's single-minded pursuit of revenge drives the plot and reveals her character growth.
• Deception and Manipulation: Both Chen Lubai and Ming Liu use deception to achieve their goals, highlighting the importance of perception and cunning in their world.

Character Interactions

• Chen Lubai and Ming Liu: Their interaction reveals the power dynamics between them. Ming Liu's discovery of Chen Lubai's plan puts her in grave danger, showcasing the ruthlessness of the demon cultivators.
• Chen Lubai and the Narrator: Their interaction is subtle but significant, with the narrator providing hints and acknowledging Chen Lubai's plan, indicating a level of understanding or even approval.

Key Plot Points & Events

• Ning Ning infiltrates Lingquan Temple to sabotage the Soul Refining Array.
• Ming Liu, the array's guardian, engages in battle with Ning Ning.
• Chen Lubai modifies the array using her own blood, preparing to activate it.
• Ming Liu begs Ning Ning to stop, offering wealth and even his cultivation base, but she remains resolute.

Character Developments

• Ning Ning demonstrates her agility, skill, and determination in battle.
• Chen Lubai reveals her true feelings for Goose City and the Chen Residence.
• Ming Liu shows desperation and panic as his plans unravel.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice for the greater good (Ning Ning and Chen Lubai's determination to stop the array).
• The corrupting influence of power (Ming Liu's desperation to maintain control).
• The importance of home and family (Chen Lubai's memories of her loved ones).

Character Interactions

• Ning Ning and Chen Lubai share a look of understanding and determination.
• Ming Liu's attempts to bargain with Ning Ning highlight the stark contrast between their values.
• Chen Lubai's memories of her family emphasize the emotional stakes driving her actions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Ning activates the Soul-Crossing Array, annihilating all demons in Goose City.
• The array's power, amplified by the souls sealed within the city, proves unstoppable.
• The trial of the Goose City level in the Futu Tower ends with Chen Lubai's sacrifice.

Character Developments

• Ning Ning: She grows more mature and empathetic, feeling the loss of the people she encountered in the illusion. She also gains confidence and financial independence after successfully passing the Goose City trial.
• Chen Lubai: Her heroic sacrifice to save Goose City and avenge its people is revealed. She becomes a symbol of bravery and selflessness for Ning Ning.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice: Chen Lubai's selfless act highlights the theme of sacrifice for the greater good.
• Memory and Loss: The desolation of Goose City serves as a reminder of the past and the people lost to it.
• Growth: Ning Ning's emotional and financial growth demonstrates her development as a character.

Character Interactions

• Ning Ning and Chen Lubai: Though not interacting directly, Ning Ning's admiration and respect for Chen Lubai's bravery deepen her understanding of selflessness.
• Ning Ning and Tian Xianzi: They discuss the Goose City incident, with Tian Xianzi revealing its connection to their sect, fostering a sense of shared history.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The scenes in the Futu Tower are based on real events. Chen Lubai, with the help of disciples, successfully completed the Soul-Crossing Array, purging evil.
• The disciples who volunteered to go to Goose City are revealed to still be in Xuanxu, with Meng Jue being one of them.
• After the Goose City trial, the disciples meet to divide their spoils and discuss the upcoming Ten Directions Dharma Assembly.

Character Developments

• Ning Ning feels sadness for the old locust tree's fate but understands its choice.
• Meng Jue is introduced as a gifted, calm, and somewhat mysterious senior brother who excels in both literary and martial arts.
• Zheng Weiqi is shown to be diligently preparing for an exam, highlighting her studious nature.

Significant Themes

• Fate and Choice: The old locust tree's decision to assist Chen Lubai, understanding the final outcome, emphasizes the theme of choice and its consequences.
• Cultivation and Growth: The upcoming Ten Directions Dharma Assembly signifies the disciples' growth and the challenges they face in their cultivation journey.

Character Interactions

• Ning Ning and Tian Xianzi: Their conversation reveals the true events of the past and the fates of the disciples involved.
• Meng Jue and Zheng Weiqi: Their interaction shows Meng Jue's calm and composed demeanor, while Zheng Weiqi's frustration with her studies is evident.
• The Disciples: Their reunion is filled with camaraderie and shared experiences, setting the stage for their future interactions and challenges.

• Key Plot Points: Zheng Weiqi, the shopkeeper, lures the disciples into trying on women's clothes as a prank. He Zhizhou, Pei Ji, Meng Jue, and Ning Ning are tricked into wearing the clothes.

Character Developments

• He Zhizhou: Enthusiastic and duty-bound, but later feels tricked and embarrassed.
• Pei Ji: Initially reluctant, but ends up wearing women's clothes, feeling helpless and miserable.
• Meng Jue: Reveals a mischievous side, tricking He Zhizhou into wearing the clothes.
• Ning Ning: Joins in the prank, laughing at He Zhizhou and Pei Ji's predicament.
• Significant Themes: Trust, deception, and the consequences of one's actions.
• Character Interactions: The disciples interact with each other, revealing their personalities and dynamics. Zheng Weiqi manipulates them for her amusement.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Ning helps Pei Ji fix his disheveled clothes and hair, revealing Pei Ji's scarred arms from past abuse.
• Tian Xianzi finds an unusual scene in Zheng Weiqi's courtyard: Pei Ji in a disarrayed dress, Ning Ning fussing over him, He Zhizhou admiring Pei Ji, and Zheng Weiqi laughing maniacally while doing a handstand.

Character Developments

• Pei Ji shows vulnerability as Ning Ning helps him with his clothes, revealing his past abuse and his discomfort with being seen in that state.
• Tian Xianzi's perception of his disciples changes after witnessing their strange behavior.

Significant Themes

• Appearance vs Reality: The scene in Zheng Weiqi's courtyard challenges the expected norms and appearances, reflecting the theme of reality not always matching expectations.
• Past Trauma: Pei Ji's scarred arms hint at his past abuse, suggesting the theme of overcoming trauma.

Character Interactions

• Ning Ning and Pei Ji: Ning Ning's gentle care for Pei Ji contrasts with his past experiences, showing a potential change in their relationship.
• Tian Xianzi and His Disciples: Tian Xianzi's reaction to his disciples' behavior highlights the theme of changing perceptions and expectations.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Weiqi leaves for her written exam, carrying blessings and luck from her friends.
• Ning Ning, driven by the system, visits Qingxu Valley to execute a scheme against Wen Hemian.

Character Developments

• Zheng Weiqi: Shows determination and anxiety about her exam, revealing her competitive spirit and desire to prove herself.
• Ning Ning: Demonstrates cunning and ruthlessness in her plan against Wen Hemian, highlighting her villainous nature.

Significant Themes

• Determination and Perseverance: Zheng Weiqi's resolve to pass her exam despite her past failures.
• Manipulation and Deception: Ning Ning's scheme against Wen Hemian, showcasing her willingness to use underhanded methods to achieve her goals.

Character Interactions

• Support and Encouragement: Meng Jue, Pei Ji, and Ning Ning support Zheng Weiqi before her exam, showing their camaraderie and care for her.
• Anticipation: The friends wait for Zheng Weiqi's exam results, reflecting their shared investment in her success.
• Tension: Ning Ning's impending confrontation with Wen Hemian, foreshadowing conflict and potential consequences.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Ning finds the desolate Qingxu Valley eerie and boring.
• She captures a gray wolf to use against Wen Hemian, as per the original plot.
• She spots Wen Hemian under a tree, engrossed in a book.
• Ning Ning releases the wolf, but Wen Hemian sees her before the wolf can attack.

Character Developments

• Ning Ning shows compassion, not wanting Wen Hemian to be hurt as in the original novel.
• Wen Hemian remains calm and collected even when faced with an unexpected situation.

Significant Themes

• The theme of deviation from the original plot continues, as Ning Ning's actions don't align with the novel's events.
• The theme of truth and deception is explored as Ning Ning tries to cover up her actions.

Character Interactions

• Ning Ning and Wen Hemian's first interaction is awkward and embarrassing for Ning Ning.
• Ning Ning tries to deceive Wen Hemian about the wolf's behavior, but he remains composed and sees through her attempt.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Ning encounters the grey wolf, Xiao Jiu, which she had previously knocked out, and it now harbors a grudge against her.
• Ning Ning tries to befriend Xiao Jiu, but it continues to attack her, leading to a chase scene.
• Wen Hemian watches them, believing they are playing and getting along well, while Ning Ning is desperate for help.

Character Developments

• Ning Ning: She shows courage and agility while trying to evade Xiao Jiu. Her desperation highlights her vulnerability and need for help.
• Wen Hemian: He remains oblivious to the real situation, interpreting the chase as a friendly game. His naivety and overthinking are further emphasized.

Significant Themes

• Perception vs Reality: Wen Hemian's interpretation of the situation differs greatly from Ning Ning's reality, highlighting the theme of how people perceive events differently.
• Communication Breakdown: Ning Ning's desperate calls for help go unheeded by Wen Hemian, emphasizing the lack of understanding and communication between them.

Character Interactions

• Ning Ning and Xiao Jiu: Their interaction is tense and hostile, with Xiao Jiu pursuing Ning Ning relentlessly.
• Ning Ning and Wen Hemian: Despite Ning Ning's pleas for help, Wen Hemian misinterprets the situation, leading to a lack of assistance from him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Ning returns from a sparring session with a wolf, claiming the wolf hit a tree, not her spiritual energy.
• Lin Xun finds Ning Ning disheveled and pale, likening her to a vengeful ghost.
• Zheng Weiqi's exam results are posted. Despite her anxiety, she passes and scores in the middle tier.

Character Developments

• Ning Ning demonstrates her combat skills and deception by knocking out the wolf and covering it up.
• Zheng Weiqi shows her determination and resilience in facing her exam results, growing from her previous failures.
• Lin Xun reveals his concern and surprise at Ning Ning's appearance, hinting at his growing affection.

Significant Themes

• Appearance vs. Reality: Ning Ning's appearance deceives others, hiding her true strength and actions.
• Resilience and Growth: Zheng Weiqi's persistence in facing her exam results shows her character development.
• Affection and Concern: Lin Xun's reaction to Ning Ning's appearance indicates his growing feelings for her.

Character Interactions

• Ning Ning and Wen Hemian: They engage in a sparring session, with Ning Ning showing her skill and cunning.
• Ning Ning and Lin Xun: Lin Xun expresses his surprise and concern at Ning Ning's appearance, hinting at his affection.
• Zheng Weiqi and Ning Ning: Zheng Weiqi relies on Ning Ning for support during the exam results, and Ning Ning helps her find her name on the list.

Key Plot Points and Events

• He Zhizhou is assigned to Tian Xianzi's group for the exam.
• Zheng Weiqi celebrates passing the written exam excessively.
• He Zhizhou and Ning Ning encounter Ye Zongheng, a disciple of the Wanjian Sect, in Luan City.
• Ye Zongheng fakes an injury to avoid a confrontation with He Zhizhou.

Character Developments

• Zheng Weiqi shows her eccentricity and gratitude towards her seniors and teachers for her success.
• He Zhizhou reveals his grudge against Ye Zongheng, showing his competitive and vengeful side.
• Ye Zongheng demonstrates his cowardice and cunning by faking an injury to avoid a fight.

Significant Themes

• Competition and rivalry among cultivators and sects.
• The consequences of one's actions and the importance of facing them.
• The contrast between appearance and reality, as seen in Ye Zongheng's innocent face and cowardly behavior.

Character Interactions

• He Zhizhou and Ning Ning bond over their shared dislike of Ye Zongheng.
• Zheng Weiqi shows her seniority by defending Ye Zongheng's actions, albeit in a playful manner.
• He Zhizhou and Ye Zongheng's animosity escalates, leading to a tense encounter in the city.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Zongheng attempts to scam He Zhizhou by faking an injury and demanding compensation.
• He Zhizhou turns the tables by accusing Ye Zongheng of robbery, causing a scene.
• Ye Zongheng, embarrassed, uses his sword intent to 'injure' himself, escalating the situation.
• He Zhizhou spins a dramatic story about Ye Zongheng stealing money meant for his ailing father, turning public opinion against Ye Zongheng.

Character Developments

• Ye Zongheng: Shows cunning and deceit, but also a tendency for reckless and self-destructive behavior.
• He Zhizhou: Proves to be resourceful and quick-witted, using his acting skills to manipulate the situation.

Significant Themes

• Deception and its consequences.
• The power of perception and public opinion.
• The thin line between victory and defeat.

Character Interactions

• The interaction between Ye Zongheng and He Zhizhou is marked by deception, escalation, and mutual manipulation.
• The crowd's reaction demonstrates their gullibility and willingness to take sides based on the most persuasive narrative.