Chapter Summaries

Jiang Wang, Su Qiyun, and Wu Quji divided Yan Xiao’s remains and carried Qing Qishu’s body toward the exit, but the Dragon God still had not opened the passage. When Jiang Wang sensed night arriving early, he rushed back to the wooden house and lit the Dragon God Incense just as darkness suddenly fell.

• Jiang Wang accepted that Qing Qishu was dead and wondered why killing Yan Xiao had not opened the Exit Realm Passage.
• Jiang Wang claimed Beak of Yan Xiao, Su Qiyun revealed her real name and took Yan Xiao’s wings, and Wu Quji planned to take the remaining corpse for study.
• Su Qiyun told Jiang Wang that Zhu Biqiong had vouched for him, while Wu Quji learned that he was the only one using his real name.
• Jiang Wang picked up Qing Qishu’s body, and the three returned from Swallow Nest to the wooden house before heading through the Forest of Hanging Skulls.
• Jiang Wang noticed that night had arrived early, turned the group back, and lit the Dragon God Incense as darkness suddenly descended.

Jiang Wang explained why Yan Xiao’s death did not prove the Night Invasion was over, then told Su Qiyun and Wu Quji the story of Guanyan and the origins of Mutual Hunt. He pointed to an unexplained gap of nearly three hundred years between Yan Xiao’s appearance and the tradition’s beginning, leaving the group to consider what happened during that period.

• Jiang Wang said Yan Xiao was dead but the Night Invasion might remain, while Wu Quji noticed that Yan Xiao’s Swallow Nest had disappeared.
• Jiang Wang, Su Qiyun, and Wu Quji searched the wooden house but found nothing unusual, then decided to wait there until dawn.
• Su Qiyun asked Jiang Wang to explain his doubts about the Night Invasion, and he recounted the High Priestess’s story about the monk Guanyan.
• Jiang Wang connected Yan Xiao’s appearance and the Head Offering to events around eight hundred years earlier, then asked what had happened in the nearly three hundred years before Mutual Hunt began.

Jiang Wang and the others considered whether the Forest Sea Holy Clan had once sacrificed other tribes to Yan Xiao, while weighing how to uncover the truth about the Dragon God’s decree. Su Qiyun refused to leave before learning how Xiao Yu vanished and walked into the night to face the Night Invasion herself.

• Jiang Wang and Su Qiyun suspected the Forest Sea Holy Clan had hunted other tribes and offered their heads to Yan Xiao during the realm’s most chaotic period.
• Jiang Wang argued they needed to learn how the High Priestess and Guanyan had shaped the Holy Clan before deciding whether its people were enemies.
• Su Qiyun said she cared only about discovering how the Night Invasion happened and how to destroy it, and vowed to spend her whole life seeking answers for Xiao Yu.
• Su Qiyun told Jiang Wang and Wu Quji that she intended to see the Night Invasion for herself, then declared she would no longer run away and walked out into the night.

Su Qiyun fell asleep beyond the Dragon God Incense’s range, and Jiang Wang and Wu Quji woke her before Night Invasion could take hold. After she described hearing Xiao Yu and an unfamiliar voice in her dream, the God-Sending Jade suddenly floated into the air, accompanied by the voice Su Qiyun recognized.

• Su Qiyun collapsed asleep as soon as she left the Dragon God Incense’s range, so Jiang Wang and Wu Quji carried the incense over and woke her.
• Su Qiyun explained that her God-Sending Jade was meant to hold a fragment of her divine consciousness, but she had fallen asleep before she could use it.
• Su Qiyun said she had heard Xiao Yu’s voice and an unfamiliar voice that may have said “come back” while she slept.
• Su Qiyun agreed to try sleeping again so Jiang Wang could investigate the voices, and Jiang Wang promised she could trust him.
• The God-Sending Jade blazed with frosty light, untied itself, and floated before Su Qiyun, Jiang Wang, and Wu Quji as a sigh sounded.

Jiang Wang, Su Qiyun, and Wu Quji watched Guanyan manifest through the God-Sending Jade and learned that he was a remnant of True Spirit sharing his memories. His memories revealed how Yan Xiao fueled the Forest Sea Source Realm’s Dark Era, and ended with Guanyan discovering that resentment powered it.

• Frost Light gathered around the God-Sending Jade and formed the monk Guanyan, who read Jiang Wang’s thoughts and said Xiao Fan had told him about Jiang Wang.
• Guanyan explained that he was a tiny remnant of True Spirit temporarily manifesting through Su Qiyun’s jade, then showed them his memories.
• Guanyan’s memories showed the Forest Sea Holy Clan slaughtering other tribes and sacrificing their heads to Yan Xiao, which grew stronger by consuming their resentment.
• Guanyan fell in love with Xiao Fan, a young woman who protected him, and resolved to end the Forest Sea Source Realm’s Dark Era by destroying Yan Xiao.
• After losing to Yan Xiao, Guanyan used a stratagem to hunt the Snake King and watched Yan Xiao from the Forest of Hanging Skulls for a year.
• Guanyan discovered that resentment was the source of Yan Xiao’s power.

Through Guanyan's memories, Jiang Wang and the others learned that the Forest Sea Holy Clan created the Night Invasion to continue feeding Yan Xiao without sacrificing its own people. Guanyan later transformed the clan and revealed that he had preserved a fragment of Su Qiyun's friend's True Spirit in Chaos.

• The Forest Sea Holy Clan's Council of Elders rejected Guanyan's advice and created the Night Invasion to make outsiders die without awareness or resentment for Yan Xiao to consume.
• Xiao Fan ignited the Dragon God Wood's heartwood, allowing Guanyan to remain awake and discover that the Forest Sea Holy Clan's own malice had caused the dark era.
• Guanyan burned his Sarira, manifested as Vajra, killed the Council of Elders and nearly all the Holy Clan Warriors, then made Xiao Fan the sole High Priestess and reshaped the clan's traditions.
• After five centuries of weakening Yan Xiao and guiding the Forest Sea Holy Clan, Guanyan's body decayed and only a fragment of his True Spirit remained.
• Guanyan admitted that he had planted misleading records to steer future visitors toward Yan Xiao, apologized to Su Qiyun, and revealed that he had preserved a fragment of her friend's True Spirit in Chaos.

Guanyan told Su Qiyun that Xiao Yu's True Spirit could be preserved in the God-Sending Jade and might be resurrected, then answered Jiang Wang's questions about Yan Xiao and the way out of the Forest Sea Source Realm. As Guanyan's manifestation faded, he asked Jiang Wang to find a monk's robe in the Library and burn it before his master's grave at the Hanging Temple.

• Guanyan explained that Xiao Yu had called out to Su Qiyun, shattering her consciousness, and promised to place Xiao Yu's True Spirit in the God-Sending Jade with a method for resurrection.
• Su Qiyun thanked Guanyan and promised to prepare resurrection materials for him so he could reunite with Grandmother Xiaofan.
• Guanyan explained that Yan Xiao grew stronger by devouring traces of Chaos, but accumulated negative effects caused its yearly periods of weakness.
• Guanyan refused to explain why the Exit Realm Passage had not opened because it concerned the Dragon God, and said Grandmother Xiaofan could help Jiang Wang and Wu Quji leave through the Tree Altar at dawn.
• Guanyan asked Jiang Wang to find a monk's robe hidden in the Library and burn it before his master's grave at the Hanging Temple.
• As his Frost Light faded, Guanyan gazed at the dark sky and said he had watched it for five hundred years without seeing a bright moon.

After Qing Qishu died and Guanyan’s lingering spirit faded, Jiang Wang recovered a monk’s robe from the Forest Sea Holy Clan’s Library. He and Su Qiyun and Wu Quji prepared to leave as the clan gathered to thank them.

• Su Qiyun caught the God-Sending Jade containing a sliver of Xiao Yu’s True Spirit, and the three waited for dawn.
• Jiang Wang and the others returned Qing Qishu’s body to the clan, where Qing Jiuye asked what Qishu had said to Qinghua.
• Jiang Wang relayed Qishu’s wish that Qinghua see the edge of the world, then asked the High Priestess to open the altar and let him visit the Library.
• The High Priestess guided Jiang Wang to the Library, where he found and took Guanyan’s moon-white monk’s robe without reading the records.
• The Forest Sea Holy Clan gathered at the Tree Altar and bowed to Jiang Wang, Su Qiyun, and Wu Quji, thanking them and praying for the Dragon God to protect them.

The Forest Sea Holy Clan rewarded Jiang Wang, Wu Quji, and Su Qiyun before the Tree Altar sent them out of the Forest Sea Source Realm. Reborn through the realm’s World Origin and strengthened by its blessing, the three reached the Seven Star Tower Secret Realm, where they had to choose whether to continue or leave.

• The High Priestess gave Wu Quji Green Wood Needles, Su Qiyun a bow and arrows, and Jiang Wang a Dragon God Wood scabbard.
• Qinghua thanked Jiang Wang on Qishu’s behalf before the Throne of Light carried the three away from the Forest Sea Holy Clan.
• Jiang Wang heard Yan Xiao’s resentful cry just before the Throne of Light vanished.
• The World Origin of the Forest Sea Source Realm brought Jiang Wang, Wu Quji, and Su Qiyun forth, blessing their bodily origins and filling Jiang Wang’s Heaven and Earth Isolated Island with vitality.
• The three found themselves in the Seven Star Tower Secret Realm and considered whether to explore another star or leave with their gains.

After Su Qiyun and Wu Quji left the Seven Star World, Jiang Wang used the High Priestess’s guidance to find the hidden Yinyuan Star and entered its world in search of a life-extending treasure. He cautiously crossed a vast desert until he spotted a group of people, leaving their identity and intentions unknown.

• Su Qiyun left to prepare for Xiao Yu’s resurrection, and Wu Quji ended his exploration and wished Jiang Wang a safe return to Linzi.
• Jiang Wang considered which star might lead to a life-extending treasure, then the mark from the Forest Sea Holy Clan’s High Priestess revealed the two hidden stars.
• Jiang Wang chose the companion star, Yinyuan, and entered its world, a seemingly lifeless sea of sand.
• Jiang Wang advanced across the desert in cautious five-li stretches, scouting from the Red Makeup Mirror before each move.
• Jiang Wang spotted a group of people within the Red Makeup Mirror’s field of vision.

Jiang Wang discovered that the Tian Clan had secretly entered the Hidden Star World and followed Tian Chang’s group toward their destination. He watched them take shelter as a sudden sandstorm swept over the desert.

• Jiang Wang recognized Tian Chang and the thirteen Tian Clan members, then hid beneath his Hidden Cloak after scouting them with the Red Makeup Mirror.
• Jiang Wang overheard the group discuss Tian Anping’s deduction and mock a Chongxuan Family retainer who had left their company.
• Jiang Wang decided to follow the Tian Clan, waited until they were nearly out of sight, and trailed them south across the sand dunes.
• After two and a half shichen, a sandstorm approached, and the Tian Clan formed a buried fortress to shelter from it.
• The sky darkened as the sandstorm roared toward the group, hurling sand and stones through the air.

Jiang Wang was caught in a powerful sandstorm and fought his way to its eye, where he discovered a giant insect generating the storm. After blinding it with his sword, he escaped as the storm weakened.

• Jiang Wang's Vine Snake Wall failed to hold against the sandstorm, and he was swept into the air.
• Jiang Wang used Flame Flowers and his sword to clear a path through the storm and push toward its eye.
• Jiang Wang entered the calm eye of the storm and encountered a giant caterpillar-like insect.
• The insect tried to suck Jiang Wang into its mouth, but he sent Flame Sparrows into its belly to weaken it.
• Jiang Wang let the insect draw him close, then used the Sword of the Destitute Scholar to slash both its eyes.
• Jiang Wang transformed into a Flame Meteor and escaped as the sandstorm weakened and Wind Blades filled the space around the insect.

Jiang Wang escaped the giant insect’s sandstorm, stole its Wind-Fixing Pearl, and resumed tracking the Tian Family. Meanwhile, Tian Chang sensed that the group had overlooked something, though the others trusted Tian Anping’s plans.

• The Golden-Footed Centipede, the yellowish-brown toad, and the White-Tailed Scorpion attacked the weakened giant insect, and the scorpion’s poison rapidly deflated and killed it.
• Jiang Wang emerged from hiding, cut open the giant insect, and snatched the Wind-Fixing Pearl before escaping as the three beasts pursued him.
• Jiang Wang tested the pearl’s ability to disperse wind-element Dao arts, stored it, and used Remembrance Grass to follow the Tian Family’s auras.
• Tian Chang voiced a bad feeling about the group’s journey, but Tian Yong and Liu Si dismissed his concern and trusted Tian Anping’s preparations.

The Tian Clan reached the oasis surrounded by Nine-Spiral Quicksands, where Tian Chang tested the way ahead with Tian Yong’s Mo Warrior. The puppet vanished into the rings, and Tian Chang asked formation expert Gongyang Lu to investigate.

• Tian Chang stopped the Tian Clan outside the Nine-Spiral Quicksands and warned that the oasis might be dangerous.
• Tian Chang ordered Tian Yong to send his Double-Winged Puppet ahead, and Tian Yong reluctantly released the Mo Warrior.
• Jiang Wang hid nearby and watched the Tian Clan through the Red Makeup Mirror as the Mo Warrior crossed the quicksand and disappeared.
• Tian Yong could still faintly sense the Mo Warrior but could not control it, and Tian Chang suspected the quicksand formed a maze that might distort space.
• Tian Chang challenged Tian Yong to retrieve the puppet himself, then turned to Gongyang Lu and asked what he had learned about the formations.

Tian Chang led most of his party into the Nine-Spiral Quicksand array, leaving Liu Si and Tian He outside as backup. Jiang Wang watched Tian He kill Liu Si and calmly leave the scene.

• Gongyang Lu estimated that the group had a seventy percent chance of escaping the maze array with the Star-Guiding Compass, and Tian Chang ordered the party inside.
• Tian Chang left Liu Si and Tian He outside to guard the area while Tian Yong entered to search for his Mo Warriors.
• Liu Si took nineteen of Tian He's Dao Essence Stones and demanded a share of his mission reward.
• When Liu Si threatened to accuse him of molestation, Tian He stabbed her repeatedly and killed her.
• Jiang Wang watched through the Red Makeup Mirror as Tian He wiped his knife and walked away without showing panic.

Jiang Wang confronted Tian He after witnessing him stage the aftermath of Liu Si’s death, and Tian He chose to reveal the Tian Family’s plans in exchange for help claiming the Hidden Star World’s treasure. They agreed to cooperate while keeping Tian He’s continued place with the Tian Family outside their deal.

• Tian He used the gray giant wolf to disguise Liu Si’s death as an attack, then staged his own injuries and exhaustion for Tian Chang and the others to find.
• Jiang Wang approached Tian He and asked why he had killed Liu Si, while both men acknowledged that the other could be dangerous.
• Tian He told Jiang Wang about the Tian Family’s search for a longevity-extending treasure, its powerful members, and its killing formation.
• Jiang Wang asked Tian He to help him claim the treasure without revealing his identity, and Tian He agreed while refusing to leave the Tian Family.
• Jiang Wang promised not to interfere with Tian He’s future plans, then donned the Hidden Cloak as Tian He watched the quicksand.

Jiang Wang stole the three-petaled flower from the Tian Clan after Gongyang Lu broke the Nine-Spiral Quicksand formation, then hid in the shallow lake. When the Tian Clan searched the area, he launched a surprise attack and killed four men before fleeing.

• Gongyang Lu broke the Nine-Spiral Quicksand formation, allowing Tian Chang and the Tian Clan members to reach the oasis and see the flower.
• Tian He warned the group as Jiang Wang rushed past them, cut the flower free, and plunged into the lake.
• Tian Chang and five others searched the lake, while A-Ming found no sign of movement underground.
• Tian He claimed Jiang Wang had used a gray wolf to attack them, abducted Liu Si, and tricked him into warning the group.
• Tian Yong and the others blasted the lake and surrounding sand in frustration, giving Jiang Wang an opening to emerge and kill four men.
• Tian Yong ordered the Tian Clan to kill Jiang Wang as the Mo Warrior pursued him.

Jiang Wang fought off the Tian Clan while hiding his identity, but his disguise was torn away and they recognized him. He unleashed the Sword of the Destitute Scholar and Eight-Sound Flame Sparrow, clearing the battlefield around himself.

• Jiang Wang blocked the Mo Warrior and was surrounded by Tian Chang, Tian Yong, and the other Tian Clan members.
• Tian Chang trapped Jiang Wang in Heavy Water Dao Art rain while Tian Yong's Mo Warrior pressed the attack.
• Jiang Wang used his sword and simple Wood Element Dao Arts to disrupt the Tian Clan's coordinated assaults.
• The Mo Warrior tore Jiang Wang's makeshift head covering, revealing his identity to the Tian Clan.
• Jiang Wang drew Longing, split the rain, the incoming Daoist Arts, and the Mo Warrior with the Sword of the Destitute Scholar.
• Jiang Wang unleashed Eight-Sound Flame Sparrow, driving every enemy within thirty zhang away.

Jiang Wang defeated the Tian Clan members who threatened him, but Tian Yong’s threat prompted Tian Chang and Gongyang Lu to slaughter their own clanmates. Tian Chang offered Jiang Wang a choice over whether to kill him or let him go, leaving Jiang Wang to decide what to do with a dangerous survivor.

• Jiang Wang explained that he had killed four Tian Clan members to prevent their killing formation from taking shape, then started to leave with the treasure.
• Tian Yong threatened to have the Tian Clan trap Jiang Wang in Great Marsh Prefecture, so Jiang Wang turned back and prepared to kill the group.
• Tian Chang drew the missing Tidal Message Blade and killed Tian Yong, then attacked the other Tian Clan members.
• Gongyang Lu activated his formation against the Tian Clan, and Tian Chang and Gongyang Lu killed every remaining clan member while Jiang Wang watched.
• Tian Chang told Jiang Wang he could kill him or let him go, arguing that he could conceal the team’s deaths and that both men had leverage over each other.

Jiang Wang left Tian Chang and Tian He in the Sand Sea after consuming the nameless flower, which restored the lifespan he had lost. Tian Chang then tested Tian He's loyalty by making him eat raw flesh from a dead clansman.

• Jiang Wang questioned Tian Chang about whether Tian He could be trusted, then left after accepting Tian Chang's assurance that he could settle the matter.
• Once out of sight, Jiang Wang swallowed the nameless flower and felt his lost years restored, along with a renewed sense of confidence and clarity.
• Tian Chang checked Tian He's injuries and rejected his apology, taking responsibility for the failed mission.
• Tian Chang offered Tian He a crushed pill mixed with fresh human flesh, using the demand to secure leverage over him.
• Tian He accepted the flesh and swallowed it raw while Tian Chang and Gongyang Lu watched.