Chapter Summaries

After reaching the Violet Mansion Realm, Wang Daoyuan explored the Spirit Pearl’s new abilities and assessed his strength before returning to Jade Spring Peak to obtain the complete Cloud Smoke Evasion. He began mastering the technique at Dragon Fall Ridge, preparing to face the Crimson Fox in the future.

• Wang Daoyuan discovered that he could control how quickly the Spirit Pearl absorbed purple qi, though he still could not move it or enter the Spirit Pearl Space with his body.
• Wang Daoyuan checked on the Yellow Springs Bead and resolved to refine the Black Tortoise Shield before confronting the Crimson Fox, while also deciding to learn the complete Cloud Smoke Evasion.
• Wang Daoyuan surveyed the Five Elements Secret Realm, paid respects to his deceased relatives, and instructed the three Foundation Establishment brothers to keep his Violet Mansion breakthrough secret.
• Wang Daoyuan returned to Jade Spring Peak, revealed his Violet Mansion cultivation to Great-Grandfather, and obtained the complete Cloud Smoke Evasion Jade Slip.
• Wang Daoyuan studied the technique and went to Dragon Fall Ridge to practice, quickly grasping its basics and expecting to cross the void in midair within half a month.

Wang Daoyuan sought Third-order Water Attribute materials to refine his first Natal Artifact and followed Great-Grandfather into the Wang Clan’s secret treasury. There he learned that the clan’s old ancestor had left behind a Pseudo Dragon Pearl, whose condition remained unknown as Great-Grandfather revealed the hidden vault where it was stored.

• Wang Daoyuan completed minor cultivation of the fourth layer of Wutu Divine Thunder and decided to refine a Water Attribute Natal Artifact using the Yellow Springs Bead.
• At the Executive Hall, Wang Daochang told Wang Daoyuan that Third-order materials were kept in the secret treasury and that only the clan head and Supreme Elder could access it.
• Wang Daoyuan explained his five-element Natal Artifact plan to Great-Grandfather, who led him into the secret treasury beneath Jade Dragon Spring.
• Wang Daoyuan found Third-order Black Water Iron Crystal for his Water Attribute artifact and told Great-Grandfather that another artifact required an intact Pseudo Dragon Pearl.
• Great-Grandfather revealed that the Wang Clan possessed a damaged Pseudo Dragon Pearl from the old ancestor’s dragonfish, then opened a passage to the vault beneath Jade Spring Peak where the dragonfish’s corpse and pearl were stored.

Wang Daoyuan discovered the Wang Clan’s preserved Dragonfish corpse and learned how it had grown from a Clear River Carp into a powerful dragon-blooded beast. Great-Grandfather entrusted him with the Dragonfish’s legacy and, impressed by his Five Elements Divine Beasts Violet Mansion phenomenon, declared that the clan’s future rested on him and Shouye; Wang Daoyuan left hoping to cultivate Jade Dragon Algae and raise another Dragonfish.

• Great-Grandfather led Wang Daoyuan through a hidden passage to the chamber where the Wang Clan’s Dragonfish corpse was preserved.
• Great-Grandfather explained that the Dragonfish had begun as a mutant Clear River Carp and described its growth, dragon traits, and death in battle.
• Wang Daoyuan examined the cracked dragon pearl and judged that it could only serve as a limited-use tool or contribute its essence to a Natal Artifact.
• Great-Grandfather gave Wang Daoyuan a Jade Slip, a jade sword, and a command token, then learned that Wang Daoyuan had manifested the Five Elements Divine Beasts phenomenon when opening his Violet Mansion.
• Wang Daoyuan and Great-Grandfather reactivated the protective formation, collected Black Water Iron Crystal, and left the secret vault with the Black Tortoise Shield’s materials gathered.
• Wang Daoyuan considered cultivating Jade Dragon Algae in his Spirit Pearl Space to feed Clear River Carp and possibly raise another Dragonfish.

Wang Daoyuan collected Jade Dragon Algae and refined the Black Tortoise Shield as his Natal Artifact. He began studying its Black Tortoise Mystical Charm and planned to test the shield’s strength against Fifth Uncle-Grandfather.

• Wang Daoyuan used his divine sense and the Water Dragon Technique to retrieve several Jade Dragon Algae from Jade Dragon Spring, then planted them in the Spirit Pearl Space.
• Wang Daoyuan purified Black Water Iron Crystal with Gui Water Nether Flame, fused its essence into the Yellow Springs Bead, and pledged the material to himself with his blood essence.
• Wang Daoyuan shaped the nurtured Yellow Springs Bead into a Black Tortoise Shield and spent more than half a year condensing its tool patterns.
• Wang Daoyuan summoned the Black Tortoise Phantom from his Violet Mansion Phenomenon and began merging his insights into the shield to improve its power.
• Wang Daoyuan decided to practice against Fifth Uncle-Grandfather rather than risk provoking third-order demon beasts.

Wang Daoyuan sparred with Fifth Uncle-Grandfather and advised him to forge a Natal Artifact suited to his dragonfish phenomenon, prompting him to enter seclusion. Wang Daoyuan then set out for Returning Goose Market to confront the Crimson Fox and discovered that Wu Yi was still alive and under house arrest.

• Wang Daoyuan and Fifth Uncle-Grandfather tested their Natal Artifacts, and their Black Tortoise and black dragon phantoms fought to a draw.
• Wang Daoyuan explained that the Black Dragon Covering Sea Sword did not suit Fifth Uncle-Grandfather’s dragonfish phenomenon, so Fifth Uncle-Grandfather decided to create a more suitable Natal Artifact in seclusion.
• Wang Daoyuan returned to his cave dwelling, prepared his other magical artifacts, and headed toward Returning Goose Market to demand compensation from the Crimson Fox.
• Wang Daoyuan sensed that Bai Sheng was safe and that Lu Zong remained under suspicion but had avoided punishment.
• Wang Daoyuan learned that the Crimson Fox had kept Wu Yi alive under house arrest after her interrogations failed to reveal the truth.

Wang Daoyuan’s identity was exposed by Crimson Fox, who threatened the Wang Clan and challenged him to a fight. Their battle began evenly, and it left off as both prepared their strongest techniques.

• Crimson Fox deduced that Wu Yi was Wang Daoyuan and threatened to report his infiltration of Blood Shadow to headquarters, putting the Wang Clan at risk.
• Wang Daoyuan agreed to meet Crimson Fox at their previous battlefield, and she arrived hours later to confront him.
• Crimson Fox said she intended to break Wang Daoyuan’s pride and recruit him into her plan before attacking with her Flying Sword.
• Wang Daoyuan defended himself with his Blazing Plains Sword and Blazing Flame Profound Iron Shield while they battled with weapons, spells, and divine sense.
• Crimson Fox abandoned a battle of attrition, and Wang Daoyuan recalled his weapons and water dragon before summoning a Golden Roc Phantom.

Wang Daoyuan and Crimson Fox fought a fierce battle, each using their Violet Mansion abilities and artifacts to counter the other. After both were badly weakened, they faced off with a Wutu Divine Thunder and a volatile red bead, leaving the outcome uncertain.

• Crimson Fox summoned a powerful Crimson Luan and drove Wang Daoyuan to use the Golden Roc, Bi Fang, and Cloud Smoke Evasion to fight back.
• Wang Daoyuan detonated the Golden Roc Phantom, damaging Crimson Fox's Natal Artifact and forcing her to recall it.
• Crimson Fox used Violet Mansion Resonance to empower the Crimson Luan, while Wang Daoyuan attempted the same art through his Black Tortoise Shield.
• The Black Tortoise manifestation weakened the Crimson Luan before it exploded against the shield, badly damaging Wang Daoyuan's artifact and injuring him.
• Both fighters exhausted most of their strength, then Wang Daoyuan raised a Wutu Divine Thunder as Crimson Fox revealed a volatile fiery red bead.

Wang Daoyuan and the Crimson Fox negotiated a truce after she threatened to detonate a powerful Bing Fire Thunder Pearl. They agreed to cooperate, with Wang Daoyuan joining Blood Shadow under a hidden identity and providing Violet Rhyme Pills in exchange for intelligence and resources.

• Wang Daoyuan recognized the Crimson Fox’s Bing Fire Thunder Pearl and warned that its explosion would kill them both.
• The Crimson Fox demanded that Wang Daoyuan release Wu Yi, but he explained that Wu Yi was already under his control and proposed joining Blood Shadow instead.
• Wang Daoyuan agreed to join Blood Shadow without revealing his identity, and the Crimson Fox accepted his offer to help suppress Mysterious Sable and supply Violet Rhyme Pills.
• The Crimson Fox agreed to provide Wang Daoyuan with what he needed in return and asked for Ink Jade Nether Lotus seeds.
• Wang Daoyuan and the Crimson Fox negotiated a cautious exchange of wine and two seeds, then Wang Daoyuan retreated five li to safety.

Wang Daoyuan and Zhou Luan ended their fight and planned how he could infiltrate Blood Shadow and become Deputy Hall Master. They settled on using Mysterious Sable’s ambitions and stewards to make his appointment seem advantageous to headquarters.

• Zhou Luan recovered her spiritual power, and Wang Daoyuan recognized her Crimson Luan phantom as an imperial Zhou Clan inheritance.
• Zhou Luan revealed that her name was Zhou Luan, while she identified Wang Daoyuan’s Golden Roc technique as linked to the ancient True Lord Golden Roc.
• Wang Daoyuan proposed infiltrating a Blood Shadow branch as a Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator before advancing to Violet Mansion cultivation, but Zhou Luan explained that she could not appoint a Deputy Hall Master.
• Zhou Luan advised Wang Daoyuan to earn Mysterious Sable’s trust through one of her stewards, then arrange events so Mysterious Sable would recommend him to headquarters.
• Wang Daoyuan suggested using Wu Yi’s death and recruiting or removing subordinates to make Mysterious Sable’s apparent forces exceed Zhou Luan’s.
• Zhou Luan suspected Wang Daoyuan controlled Lu Zong, and Wang Daoyuan confirmed that Lu Zong was his man.

Wang Daoyuan repaired his damaged Black Tortoise Shield and renewed his cooperation with Zhou Luan, then received Bai Ying’s request to forge swords from Bloodthirsty Azure Wolf fangs. The materials suggested the White Fox Tribe was fighting the powerful wolf clan, but his clones knew nothing about the conflict.

• Zhou Luan gave Wang Daoyuan a communication talisman and arranged to contact him after Mysterious Sable’s two stewards were sent on a mission.
• Wang Daoyuan spent more than three months repairing the Black Tortoise Shield at Wu's Artifact Refining Workshop, while Crimson Fox prepared a mission to lure the stewards out.
• Bai Ying visited Wang Daoyuan and asked him to refine two sets of materials into Low-grade Third-order Flying Swords, offering Spirit Stones as payment.
• Wang Daoyuan recognized the two fangs as belonging to Bloodthirsty Azure Wolves and accepted the forging request.
• Wang Daoyuan searched Wu Yi and Lu Zong’s memories for information about the White Fox Tribe’s war but found nothing.

Wang Daoyuan visited Zhou Luan and learned why the White Fox Tribe had been fighting the Bloodthirsty Azure Wolves. He asked Blood Shadow to target the wolves so he could investigate the conflict and make the region unstable before his clan tried to settle there.

• Wang Daoyuan controlled Wu Yi to visit Zhou Luan, and they exchanged teasing remarks before discussing the White Fox Tribe's conflict with the Bloodthirsty Azure Wolves.
• Zhou Luan explained that several Half-demon tribes had joined forces against a weakened Azure Wolf pack and that the White Fox Tribe had recruited human cultivators as live-in sons-in-law to strengthen itself.
• Wang Daoyuan revealed that Bai Ying had brought him fresh wolf fangs to forge into Flying Swords, exposing that he had been working from the Wu Clan Artifact Workshop.
• Wang Daoyuan said he wanted to stir up conflict between the Demon Race and Half-demons, though his real concern was preparing a safer route for his clan to settle east of the Skyrend Mountain Range.
• Wang Daoyuan asked Zhou Luan to assign Mysterious Sable's two managers missions to assassinate Bloodthirsty Azure Wolves so he could try to control one and investigate the situation.
• Zhou Luan questioned how Wang Daoyuan knew about the ancient Devil Race invasion, and he claimed he had learned of it from an Ancient Cultivator's inheritance before she agreed to assign the missions.

Wang Daoyuan learned that Blood Shadow might help him obtain materials for his Natal Artifacts, while Zhou Luan warned him about Luo Jiuyou and the inheritance’s potential hidden traps. Months later, Blood Shadow arranged a lucrative mission to block three routes through the Skyrend Mountain Range and prevent Bloodthirsty Azure Wolves from seeking reinforcements.

• Zhou Luan recognized that Wang Daoyuan was cultivating the Five Elements Subduing Demon Seal and explained what materials Blood Shadow could help him obtain.
• Zhou Luan warned Wang Daoyuan that Luo Jiuyou might have concealed tricks in the seal’s sacrificial refinement method.
• Wang Daoyuan refined two Wolf Fang Swords from Bloodthirsty Azure Wolf fangs and gave them to Bai Ying.
• Over the following months, Bai Ying repeatedly brought Wang Daoyuan wolf bones to refine into artifacts as Blood Shadow collected materials from at least five slain wolves.
• Zhou Luan informed Wang Daoyuan that Blood Shadow had arranged a mission requiring three Foundation Establishment Peak Cultivators to block three routes through the Skyrend Mountain Range.
• The White Fox and Silver Fox Tribes offered Blood Shadow four hundred thousand Spirit Stones to stop the Bloodthirsty Azure Wolves from sending a plea for aid to other wolf packs.

Wang Daoyuan arranged for Blood Shadow to intercept Bloodthirsty Azure Wolves while secretly ensuring some would escape to keep tensions between the Demon Race and Half-demons alive. At the central pass, he sabotaged Mo Yu’s formation, and the wolves broke through as Mo Yu fled into the air.

• Wang Daoyuan decided to let some Bloodthirsty Azure Wolves escape so the conflict between the Demon Race and Half-demons would deepen.
• Zhou Luan began clearing unreliable subordinates, while Wu Yi, Lu Zong, and Mo Yu led teams to defend three passes through Clear Stream Mountain.
• Wang Daoyuan followed Mo Yu to the central pass, where Mo Yu’s team set up the Golden Sword Slaying Demon Formation and waited for wolf demons.
• Ten second-rank high-grade Bloodthirsty Azure Wolves entered the pass, and Mo Yu activated the formation while three Foundation Establishment Cultivators held them back.
• Wang Daoyuan deflected a cultivator’s Flying Sword into a formation plate, and the wolves smashed the exposed plate, breaking the formation.
• The Bloodthirsty Azure Wolves slew the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators, while Mo Yu escaped by Sword Flight.

Wang Daoyuan used his avatars and his true identity to infiltrate Blood Shadow as Nether Tiger, completing missions and earning Mysterious Sable’s support for a steward position. After a tense dispute with Zhou Luan and Wu Yi in the council hall, he was appointed steward, with Mysterious Sable accepting responsibility for any trouble.

• Wang Daoyuan’s avatars dealt with the Bloodthirsty Azure Wolves, while his true body returned to Returning Goose Market and prepared to infiltrate Blood Shadow.
• Mo Yu’s avatar recruited Luo Song and other cultivators, then brought Wang Daoyuan, disguised as an elderly Rogue Cultivator, into Blood Shadow as Nether Tiger.
• Nether Tiger killed a Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer evil cultivator, joined Blood Shadow, and completed five missions over half a year.
• Mysterious Sable proposed making Nether Tiger a steward, but Zhou Luan objected and Wu Yi suggested testing his strength.
• Wang Daoyuan challenged Wu Yi and accused Zhou Luan of favoritism, while Mysterious Sable defended his right to pursue the Yin Yang Violet Jade.
• Zhou Luan agreed to appoint Nether Tiger as a steward, and Mysterious Sable accepted responsibility for any problems.

Wang Daoyuan became Mysterious Sable’s fifth steward and built up a powerful following in Returning Goose Market. His growing strength helped Mysterious Sable regain the advantage over Zhou Luan, while he positioned himself to claim the Deputy Hall Master role in the future.

• Mysterious Sable gave Wang Daoyuan the fifth steward’s token and promised him the Deputy Hall Master position if he broke through to the Violet Mansion Realm and suppressed Crimson Fox.
• Mysterious Sable ordered Cold Crow and Mo Yu to transfer subordinates to Wang Daoyuan, and each gave him ten Qi Condensation cultivators and two Foundation Establishment cultivators; Mo Yu also transferred Luo Song.
• Wang Daoyuan recruited brokers and two Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivators to help gather recruits, while he personally selected suitable targets.
• Wang Daoyuan completed dangerous missions for several years and expanded his following to more than two hundred Qi Condensation cultivators and over twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators.
• Crimson Fox eliminated most of Ghost Wolf’s former subordinates, while Wang Daoyuan’s growing forces helped Mysterious Sable regain the upper hand over Zhou Luan.

Wang Daoyuan arranged Wu Yi’s death and recovered the Split Soul, then claimed he had an opportunity to open a Violet Mansion so he could seek Yin Yang Violet Jade. The Mysterious Sable forced Zhou Luan to consider the exchange, and Zhou Luan agreed on the condition that she had yet to reveal.

• Zhou Luan assigned Wu Yi a suicide mission to attack the Red Beard Bandits’ Fourth Commander, who wielded poisoned Mother-Child Needles.
• Wu Yi attacked the Fourth Commander, was poisoned, and fled while Wang Daoyuan obstructed the pursuit and retrieved his Split Soul.
• Zhou Luan concealed Wu Yi’s death for several months, then let the Mysterious Sable discover it and promoted some of Wu Yi’s subordinates.
• Wang Daoyuan told the Mysterious Sable that he had sensed an opportunity to open a Violet Mansion and had enough resources to exchange for Yin Yang Violet Jade.
• The Mysterious Sable confronted Zhou Luan at the council hall, invoking her authority and threatening to report Zhou Luan to headquarters if she refused the exchange.
• Zhou Luan agreed to let Wang Daoyuan exchange for Yin Yang Violet Jade, but said she had one condition.

Wang Daoyuan killed the Red Beard Bandits' Fourth Commander and exchanged his head for the Yin Yang Violet Jade. After preparing to open his Violet Mansion in the Skyrend Mountain Range, he traveled north and reached the area near Blood Wolf Mountain.

• Zhou Luan ordered Wang Daoyuan to kill the Red Beard Bandits' Fourth Commander and bring back his head to earn the Yin Yang Violet Jade.
• Wang Daoyuan ambushed the Red Beard Bandits' flying boat, destroyed it, and beheaded the Fourth Commander after defeating his black needles.
• Wang Daoyuan exchanged the head for the Yin Yang Violet Jade and received Mysterious Sable's notes and supplies for opening his Violet Mansion.
• Wang Daoyuan told Mysterious Sable he would leave to open his Violet Mansion in a predecessor's cave abode in the Skyrend Mountain Range, while Mysterious Sable watched Zhou Luan.
• Wang Daoyuan traveled into the Skyrend Mountain Range to search for spirit plants and reached near Blood Wolf Mountain.

Wang Daoyuan returned from the Skyrend Mountain Range disguised as a Violet Mansion Cultivator and persuaded Mysterious Sable to request his appointment as Deputy Hall Master and seek Grand Unity Essence Gold for him. He then asked Zhou Luan whether a pledged Deputy Hall Master token could reveal his identity to Blood Shadow headquarters or let them track him.

• Wang Daoyuan explored the Skyrend Mountain Range for more than three months, gathered several spirit herbs and Bone-Binding Vine, and returned to Mysterious Sable's cave abode.
• Wang Daoyuan revealed his Violet Mansion aura, and Mysterious Sable celebrated his breakthrough and said she would request his appointment as Deputy Hall Master.
• Wang Daoyuan requested materials for a Grand Unity Divine Tiger Sword, including Grand Unity Essence Gold, and claimed his Violet Mansion Phenomenon was the Golden-eyed Jade Tiger.
• Mysterious Sable promised to recommend Wang Daoyuan to Elder Xu and arranged to report the news to Blood Shadow headquarters.
• Wang Daoyuan sent his clone Lu Zong to Zhou Luan, who said Mysterious Sable still believed she had been subdued.
• Wang Daoyuan asked Zhou Luan whether pledging the Deputy Hall Master's token could expose his identity or allow headquarters to monitor him.

Wang Daoyuan learned that Blood Shadow could only sense the approximate direction of his token, then became Deputy Hall Master of the Northern Mountain Branch. The Mysterious Sable prepared to return to headquarters, leaving Wang Daoyuan with a communication formation and the task of keeping Crimson Fox in check.

• Zhou Luan told Wang Daoyuan that Blood Shadow could not identify or closely track him through his token unless he entered the Southern Wilderness.
• Wang Daoyuan monitored events for several months as the Red Beard Bandits raided the Returning Origin Sword Sect's businesses after he killed their Fourth Commander.
• The Mysterious Sable gave Wang Daoyuan his Deputy Hall Master token and the Returning Origin Sword Canon, and explained how he could apply for Grand Unity Essence Gold.
• Wang Daoyuan pledged allegiance to the token, officially became Deputy Hall Master, and received a book detailing the branch and his responsibilities.
• The Mysterious Sable said she would take her headquarters subordinates back, leave Mo Yu under Wang Daoyuan's command, and warned him to avoid confronting Crimson Fox directly.
• The Mysterious Sable showed Wang Daoyuan the communication formation linked to his token and Crimson Fox's Hall Master token.

Wang Daoyuan took control of the Northern Mountain Branch, replaced Cold Crow with a clone, and received the Grand Unity Essence Gold he needed for the White Tiger Blade. He left the blade unrefined until he could return to Jade Spring Peak, while the five subordinates Mysterious Sable had left behind died on arranged missions.

• Wang Daoyuan assumed the Deputy Hall Master position, and Mysterious Sable returned to headquarters after leaving five direct subordinates behind.
• Wang Daoyuan struck Cold Crow with the Soul Splitting Blade, installed a Split Soul in him, and made the resulting clone continue managing his subordinates alongside Mo Yu.
• A Three Rivers Branch cultivator delivered Grand Unity Essence Gold to Wang Daoyuan, who verified it and reported its receipt to headquarters.
• Wang Daoyuan decided to postpone forging the White Tiger Blade until he returned to Jade Spring Peak, since working the hard metals would cause too much commotion in Northern Mountain.
• Two months later, Wang Daoyuan and Zhou Luan arranged for Mysterious Sable’s five direct subordinates to die on missions.