Chapter Summaries

Plot Points and Events

• Shen Mu visits the Black Market in Copper Mountain County and buys an ironstone for 800,000 taels.
• The stall owner and another man, both Meridian-Opening Martial Artists, try to rob Shen Mu of the ironstone.
• Shen Mu uses Phantom Lost Trace to escape and returns to the Firewood Gang, where Chai Yingtong kills the two robbers.
• Shen Mu discovers that the ironstone is actually Nirvana Red Gold, a valuable material for forging weapons with self-repair abilities.

Character Developments

• Shen Mu demonstrates his courage and resourcefulness in handling the attempted robbery.
• Chai Yingtong shows his prowess as a Copper Skin martial artist and his concern for Shen Mu's safety.

Significant Themes

• The value of treasures and the risks associated with possessing them.
• The importance of caution and carefulness in dealing with potential threats.

Character Interactions

• Shen Mu and Chai Yingtong's relationship deepens as they face a shared threat and discuss the value of the Nirvana Red Gold.
• Shen Mu's interaction with the stall owner and the other robber highlights the danger of underestimating opponents and the importance of vigilance.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Mu trains in the Siphon Hand technique but finds it too energy-consuming for his current cultivation.
• Chai Yingtong and Shen Mu visit Mist Peak Ridge due to the sudden death of a workshop master, Kong Mingyuan.
• They discover that Kong Mingyuan and another workshop master, Pan Tai, were cursed to death by a wizard from Southern Zhao.
• Chai Yingtong decides to halt the mining of the Mysterious Essence Copper Mine until the wizard is found and dealt with.
• The remaining workshop masters flee Copper Mountain County to avoid further curse killings.

Character Developments

• Shen Mu realizes the difficulty of training high-level martial skills without sufficient energy.
• Chai Yingtong shows concern for the safety of his men and the success of the mining operation.
• The workshop masters show fear and desperation in the face of the wizard's curse killings.

Significant Themes

• The power and unpredictability of wizards/witch doctors, contrasting with martial artists.
• The consequences of carelessness and underestimating one's enemies.
• The importance of caution and vigilance in the face of unknown threats.

Character Interactions

• Chai Yingtong and Shen Mu work together to investigate the curse killings and decide on a course of action.
• The workshop masters rely on Shen Mu's advice to escape the wizard's curse.
• The wizard shows ruthlessness and a desire for revenge, targeting the workshop masters without mercy.

Plot Points and Events

• Shen Mu and Chai Yingtong investigate a wizard who forced the closure of the Mysterious Essence Copper Mine and killed two Market Masters of the Firewood Gang.
• Shen Mu stakes out Blossom Tower, where he overhears girls discussing a mysterious man who buys bodily fluids left behind by martial artist customers.
• Shen Mu tails the man to a secluded alley and discovers his hideout. He observes the man performing a curse-killing ritual and using a black compass to collect a living soul.
• Shen Mu decides not to act immediately and instead informs Chai Yingtong of the man's location.

Character Developments

• Shen Mu demonstrates his stealth and investigative skills, successfully finding the wizard's hideout.
• The wizard shows his ruthlessness and desperation in his pursuit of power, using curse-killing techniques and devouring living souls.

Significant Themes

• The pursuit of power and its consequences: The wizard's actions highlight the dangers of unchecked ambition and the harm caused by seeking power at any cost.
• The vulnerability of martial artists: Despite their formidable strength, martial artists can be vulnerable to attacks like the wizard's curse-killing techniques, which target their weaknesses.

Character Interactions

• Shen Mu and Chai Yingtong work together to investigate and deal with the wizard, showcasing their trust and cooperation.
• The wizard's interactions with Blossom Tower girls reveal his manipulative and exploitative nature, as he uses them to obtain bodily fluids for his curse-killing rituals.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Mu follows the sickly man and discovers his true identity as a wizard named Yu Luosheng.
• Shen Mu witnesses Yu Luosheng using a Soul-Binding Compass to collect living souls and learns about the witch cultivation system.
• Chai Yingtong launches a sneak attack on Yu Luosheng, but the latter uses a paper effigy and a protective barrier to escape.
• Shen Mu ambushes the real Yu Luosheng and severs both his arms, then interrogates him about the Soul-Binding Compass and the witch cultivation system.
• Shen Mu learns about soul jade, a cultivation resource for both witches and high-grade martial artists, and the connection between the five great dynasties and the Southern Zhao Dynasty's witch system.

Character Developments

• Shen Mu demonstrates his cunning and patience in tracking Yu Luosheng and ambushing him.
• Chai Yingtong shows his strength as a Seventh Grade Bronze Skin Martial Artist but underestimates Yu Luosheng, leading to his escape.
• Yu Luosheng reveals his desperation and fear when captured by Shen Mu, providing information about the witch cultivation system and the Soul-Binding Compass.

Significant Themes

• The interconnectedness of the five cultivation systems and the five great dynasties.
• The exploitation and control of resources and people by the powerful, as seen in the Southern Zhao Dynasty's witch system and the Great Yu Dynasty's martial artist system.
• The consequences of offending those with hidden powers, such as witches.

Character Interactions

• Shen Mu and Chai Yingtong work together to track Yu Luosheng but ultimately fail to capture him.
• Shen Mu interrogates Yu Luosheng, revealing the latter's fear and desperation.
• Shen Mu and Yu Luosheng engage in a battle of wits, with Shen Mu ultimately emerging victorious.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yu Luosheng, an Eighth Grade Wizard, is killed by Shen Mu, who ambushes him after he retrieves the Soul-Binding Compass.
• Qin Shulang and Jiang Zhixu, Deacons of the Spirit Witch Sect, capture Yu Luosheng's living soul and learn about Shen Mu from his memories.
• Qin Shulang and Jiang Zhixu plan to track Shen Mu through the Black Market if he tries to sell the Soul-Binding Compass.
• Chai Yingtong fails to capture Yu Luosheng and regrets not using close combat against the wizard.
• Shen Mu asks Chai Yingtong about the Fourth Grade Divine Court realm and learns about Soul Jade as a cultivation resource for this stage.

Character Developments

• Yu Luosheng's death and the capture of his living soul by the Spirit Witch Sect.
• Chai Yingtong's frustration and humiliation after letting Yu Luosheng escape.
• Shen Mu's growing wariness of other cultivation systems and his curiosity about the Divine Court realm.

Significant Themes

• The dangers and unpredictability of facing cultivators from different systems (wizards, in this case).
• The importance of understanding one's enemy and their methods for successful combat.
• The vast gap between martial artists and cultivators from other systems, and the difficulty of reaching higher realms without proper resources and techniques.

Character Interactions

• Qin Shulang and Jiang Zhixu work together to capture Yu Luosheng's living soul and plan to track Shen Mu.
• Chai Yingtong and Shen Mu discuss the Divine Court realm, with Chai Yingtong cautioning Shen Mu to focus on his current cultivation stage.

Plot Points and Events

• Shen Mu visits the Black Market to buy an Ancient Martial Technique.
• He encounters a stall selling a Soul-Binding Compass, which he realizes is used by witches to track and capture living souls.
• He suspects that the witch at the stall is looking for him due to Yu Luosheng's living soul being captured.
• Shen Mu decides not to sell his Soul-Binding Compass and leaves the Black Market.

Character Developments

• Shen Mu becomes aware of the threat posed by witches and their ability to capture and interrogate living souls.
• He decides to learn more about witches and their methods to protect himself in the future.

Significant Themes

• The power of witches and their ability to track and capture living souls.
• The importance of caution and secrecy when dealing with powerful enemies.

Character Interactions

• Shen Mu observes the witch at the stall without being noticed.
• Shen Mu interacts with a potential seller of an Ancient Martial Technique but finds it unsuitable.
• Shen Mu decides not to engage with the witch at the stall to avoid detection.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gong Zhen, a seventh-grade witch, arrives in Copper Mountain County to retrieve the stolen Soul-Binding Compass.
• He visits Chai Yingtong, suspecting that the person who killed Yu Luosheng (and took the compass) is connected to the Firewood Gang.
• Chai Yingtong denies any knowledge of the compass or the killer.
• Gong Zhen warns that if the compass isn't returned, there will be consequences.
• Chai Yingtong warns Shen Mu and Chai Ying not to leave the house, hinting at the witch's presence.

Character Developments

• Shen Mu: Realizes the danger of the witch and hides the Soul-Binding Compass. He understands Chai Yingtong's warning and decides to lay low.
• Chai Yingtong: Suspects Shen Mu killed Yu Luosheng but wants to distance himself from the incident. He warns Shen Mu and Chai Ying about the witch's presence.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: The witch's arrival shifts the power dynamics in Copper Mountain County. Chai Yingtong feels pressured to protect his gang and warns Shen Mu.
• Trust and Betrayal: Chai Yingtong's warning to Shen Mu shows a level of trust, but he also wants to distance himself from the potential danger Shen Mu might have brought.

Character Interactions

• Shen Mu and Chai Yingtong: Their interaction shows a level of mutual respect and understanding. Chai Yingtong warns Shen Mu without directly implicating him.
• Chai Yingtong and Gong Zhen: Their interaction is tense, with Gong Zhen trying to intimidate Chai Yingtong into cooperating, but Chai Yingtong stands his ground.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Mu successfully opens his Qian Dragon Meridian, advancing to Eighth Grade Meridian Opening.
• The seventh-grade wizard, Gong Zhen, decides to leave Copper Mountain County after a month of fruitless searching for the Soul-Binding Compass.
• Shen Mu plans to visit Xuanning Prefecture with Chai Ying to find suitable martial techniques and strengthen his mystic weapon.

Character Developments

• Shen Mu's cultivation improves significantly, reaching Eighth Grade Meridian Opening.
• Chai Ying feels a growing gap between her and Shen Mu's cultivation levels.
• Chai Yingtong is impressed by Shen Mu's rapid progress and sees great potential in him.

Significant Themes

• The importance of martial cultivation techniques in determining one's future on the martial path.
• The political intrigue and power struggles within the Great Yu Dynasty.
• The tension between the local powers and the court, and the potential for rebellion.

Character Interactions

• Shen Mu and Chai Ying grow closer, with Shen Mu reassuring her of his love and commitment.
• Shen Mu and Chai Yingtong discuss Shen Mu's plans for Xuanning Prefecture and the need for caution.
• Chai Yingtong reflects on Shen Mu's potential and the limitations of his chosen body-tempering technique.

Summary of Chapter

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Mu and Chai Ying travel to Xuanning Prefecture.
• They encounter a roadblock due to the He Family's Origin Bees swarming, causing a delay.
• They witness a group of aristocratic descendants, including Ji Chenhuan, He Qiyun, and Long Lingxiao, racing past on the official road.

Character Developments

• Shen Mu gains a deeper understanding of Xuanning Prefecture's ten great powers and their influence.
• Chai Ying shares her knowledge of Xuanning Prefecture's aristocratic families and their social circles.
• Ji Chenhuan is introduced as a prominent figure among Xuanning Prefecture's younger generation.

Significant Themes

• The power and influence of Xuanning Prefecture's ten great powers.
• The social hierarchy and divisions among Xuanning Prefecture's aristocratic families.

Character Interactions

• Shen Mu and Chai Ying discuss the situation in Xuanning Prefecture and its aristocratic families.
• Shen Mu observes the interaction between Ji Chenhuan and the other aristocratic descendants, highlighting the social divisions among them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Mu arrives at Xuanning Prefecture and is impressed by its grandeur.
• He visits Treasure Pavilion, where he buys a storage ring and learns about an upcoming auction featuring a Cloud Suan Kite's bones.
• He then goes to Hundred Weapons Workshop to strengthen his Mystic Yang Saber using Nirvana Red Gold.
• Later, he visits the Wedding Garment Workshop to order custom stockings.

Character Developments

• Shen Mu shows his resourcefulness and decisiveness in purchasing the storage ring and arranging for the saber's strengthening.
• He also demonstrates his mischievous side by ordering the unique stockings.

Significant Themes

• The power and wealth of Xuanning Prefecture's ten great powers are emphasized through the city's architecture and businesses.
• Shen Mu's resourcefulness and adaptability are highlighted as he navigates the city's shops and makes purchases.

Character Interactions

• Shen Mu interacts with various shopkeepers and staff, showcasing his negotiation skills and ability to connect with people from different backgrounds.
• He also shares a heart-to-heart with Chai Ying and Hua Yurong, strengthening their bond as a family.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Mu and Chai Ying visit Hua Jinyang, Chai Ying's maternal grandfather.
• Shen Mu spars with Cao Mengyu, a Five Tendon-Changing martial artist, and defeats him effortlessly, revealing his Meridian Opening cultivation to Hua Jinyang and Hua Jincheng.
• Hua Jinyang and Hua Jincheng discover Shen Mu's potential and treat him warmly, while Hua Yufan feels envious and pressured.
• Hua Jincheng instructs Hua Yufan to build a good relationship with Shen Mu for future benefits.

Character Developments

• Shen Mu: Proves his strength and potential, impressing the Hua Family and earning their respect.
• Hua Jinyang: Recognizes Shen Mu's potential and treats him warmly, seeing him as a promising addition to the family.
• Hua Jincheng: Discovers Shen Mu's cultivation and sees the potential benefits for his branch of the family, instructing Hua Yufan to build a relationship with Shen Mu.
• Hua Yufan: Feels envious and pressured by Shen Mu's cultivation and is instructed by Hua Jincheng to build a relationship with him.

Significant Themes

• The importance of strength and potential in the martial world.
• The power dynamics within the Hua Family and the competition among its members.
• The limitations of body-tempering cultivation techniques and the struggle to advance in the martial path.

Character Interactions

• Shen Mu and Cao Mengyu: Cao Mengyu underestimates Shen Mu and is soundly defeated, leading to a loss of face.
• Hua Jinyang and Hua Jincheng: The two uncles discuss Shen Mu's potential and the benefits it could bring to their respective branches of the family.
• Hua Yufan and Hua Jincheng: Hua Jincheng instructs Hua Yufan to build a relationship with Shen Mu, seeing the potential benefits for their branch of the family.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Mu attends an auction hosted by Lin Shuying at the Lin Family auction house in Xuanning Prefecture.
• He buys a Beauty-Preserving Gu for 3 million taels, a Yuan-Storage Ring for 2.3 million taels, and an Earth-rank Ancient Martial Technique, Dragon Ward, for 1 million taels.
• He also buys the skeleton of a fourth-tier flying demonic beast, the Mystic Suanyuan Kite, for 200,000 taels to cultivate the flight-type martial technique, Phoenix Dance.
• Lin Shuying, who hosts the auction, is revealed to have feelings for Shen Mu.
• Chai Ying feels threatened by Lin Shuying's presence and is jealous of her.

Character Developments

• Shen Mu demonstrates his willingness to help Lin Shuying out of a predicament by bidding on the Earth-rank Ancient Martial Technique, Dragon Ward.
• Chai Ying feels threatened by Lin Shuying's feelings for Shen Mu and is jealous of her.
• Hua Yufan enjoys watching the drama unfold between Shen Mu, Chai Ying, and Lin Shuying.

Significant Themes

• The power of money and connections in Xuanning Prefecture.
• The competition and jealousy between women in love.
• The regret of missed opportunities in martial arts cultivation.

Character Interactions

• Shen Mu, Chai Ying, and Hua Yufan attend the auction together.
• Shen Mu interacts with Lin Shuying, who hosts the auction and has feelings for him.
• Chai Ying feels threatened by Lin Shuying's presence and is jealous of her.
• Hua Yufan enjoys watching the drama unfold between Shen Mu, Chai Ying, and Lin Shuying.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Mu successfully cultivates the flight-type martial skill, Phoenix Dance, using the Cloud Suan Kite's bone wings.
• He tests Phoenix Dance's speed and discovers its immense vital energy consumption, nearly depleting all his energy in just one flap of the wings.
• After returning to Xuanning Prefecture, Shen Mu retrieves his reinforced Mystic Yang from the Hundred Weapons Workshop.
• Gu Shaoyang, a member of the Gu Family, expresses interest in purchasing Mystic Yang, but Shen Mu refuses.
• Wang Chujiang, the shopkeeper, warns Shen Mu about the Gu Family's influence and advises him to leave quickly.
• Shen Mu is followed by Gu Shaoyang's men after leaving the workshop.

Character Developments

• Shen Mu advances his Phoenix Dance martial skill to the beginner level, gaining a new trump card.
• He learns about the Gu Family's influence and the potential consequences of offending them.
• Wang Chujiang reveals himself to be a Seventh Grade Copper Skin martial artist, showing his concern for Shen Mu's safety.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics and influence of major families in Xuanning Prefecture.
• The importance of vital energy in cultivating martial skills, especially flight-type ones.
• The consequences of offending powerful families and the need for caution.

Character Interactions

• Shen Mu interacts with Wang Chujiang, learning about the Gu Family and seeking his advice.
• He encounters Gu Shaoyang and his men, leading to a tense standoff.
• Gu Shaoyang's men follow Shen Mu, setting up a potential conflict.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Mu successfully shakes off trouble from the wedding and collects his custom-ordered black silk stockings.
• He returns to the Chai residence and meets Hua Yufan, who gives him a Shadow Steed (Black Vanguard) as a gift.
• Shen Mu decides to return to Copper Mountain County with Chai Ying the next morning.
• Upon their return, they find the Copper Mountain Garrison's soldiers outside the Firewood Gang, and Lin Xingwei, the Thousand-Man Commander, inside.
• Chai Yingtong reveals that some of his men discovered an ancient martial warrior mausoleum while clearing wasteland, and Lin Xingwei wants a share of the spoils.

Character Developments

• Shen Mu: He continues to focus on his cultivation, showing pragmatism and a business mind. He also demonstrates his ability to accept gifts graciously and maintain relationships.
• Hua Yufan: He shows his understanding of Shen Mu's potential and his willingness to befriend him, following Hua Jincheng's advice.
• Chai Yingtong: He faces a dilemma with the ancient martial warrior mausoleum discovery and Lin Xingwei's involvement, showing his concern for the Firewood Gang's interests.

Significant Themes

• The importance of relationships and alliances in the martial world.
• The value of gifts and their potential long-term benefits.
• The struggle for resources and power among different factions.

Character Interactions

• Shen Mu and Hua Yufan: Their relationship grows closer as Hua Yufan gifts Shen Mu the Shadow Steed, and they discuss their future plans.
• Shen Mu and Chai Yingtong: They discuss the situation with the ancient martial warrior mausoleum and Lin Xingwei's involvement, showing their mutual respect and trust.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

+ Chai Yingtong and Lin Xingwei agree to open the ancient martial artist's tomb together.
+ They set three conditions: share the top-grade body-tempering technique if found, split other treasures evenly with Chai Family choosing first, and each side sends one Ninth Grade Tendon-Changing martial artist into the tomb while they wait outside.
+ Shen Mu volunteers to enter the tomb.

Character Developments

+ Chai Yingtong shows his strategic thinking and willingness to compromise for mutual benefit.
+ Lin Xingwei displays his ambition and desire for power, as well as his understanding of the delicate balance between forces in Xuanning Prefecture.
+ Shen Mu demonstrates his quick thinking, resourcefulness, and concern for his grandfather's safety.

Significant Themes

+ The delicate balance of power between major forces in Xuanning Prefecture.
+ The importance of top-grade body-tempering techniques for advancing martial artists to higher cultivation levels.
+ The potential danger and allure of ancient martial artists' tombs.

Character Interactions

+ Chai Yingtong and Lin Xingwei engage in a negotiation filled with hidden meanings and strategic posturing.
+ Chai Yingtong and Shen Mu discuss the details of the plan and express their concerns for each other's safety.
+ Shen Mu and Chai Ying have a brief exchange, with Shen Mu keeping the matter of the tomb from her to avoid worry.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

+ Lin Xingwei and Chai Yingtong form an alliance to explore an ancient martial artist's mausoleum.
+ Lin Xingwei sends his son, Lin Beichi, and Chai Yingtong sends his grandson's husband, Shen Mu, into the mausoleum.
+ Inside the mausoleum, they find an armored puppet guarding the tomb owner's remains. Lin Beichi is attacked but saved by Shen Mu.
+ They discover a beast hide recording an Ancient Martial Technique saber art, "Furious Sea Saber," but no body-tempering technique.
+ Shen Mu retrieves the tomb owner's skeleton, weapons, and rings using his "Siphon Hand" martial skill.
+ Lin Xingwei and Chai Yingtong divide the treasures: Chai Yingtong takes a storage ring and an Essence-Receiving Ring, while Lin Xingwei takes a Mysterious Grade weapon and armor.
+ Lin Xingwei leaves with Lin Beichi, and Chai Yingtong gives Shen Mu both rings as a gift.

Character Developments

+ Lin Beichi shows cowardice and greed but is saved by Shen Mu.
+ Shen Mu demonstrates his resourcefulness, quick thinking, and martial prowess.
+ Chai Yingtong shows generosity and wisdom in handling the treasure division.
+ Lin Xingwei remains calm and collected despite not finding the desired body-tempering technique.

Significant Themes

+ Greed and its consequences (Lin Beichi's near-death experience)
+ Alliance and betrayal (Lin Xingwei's initial plan to send a spy)
+ The value of ancient martial techniques and treasures
+ The potential danger and safeguards in ancient tombs

Character Interactions

+ Lin Beichi and Shen Mu form a temporary alliance inside the mausoleum.
+ Lin Xingwei and Chai Yingtong maintain a tense but civil relationship throughout the expedition.
+ Chai Yingtong shows favoritism toward Shen Mu, giving him both rings as a gift.
+ Lin Xingwei shows gratitude toward Shen Mu for saving his son but does not dwell on the matter.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Mu and Chai Yingtong discover a puppet in the mausoleum, which they defeat and find to be powered by a piece of Spirit-Communing Sand Gold.
• They also find a suit of heavy armor, which Shen Mu keeps.
• Chai Yingtong gives each of his subordinates 300,000 taels of silver as a reward and orders them to cover the mausoleum with soil and plant grass and trees.
• Shen Mu studies the beast hide from the mausoleum, learning about ancient martial cultivation and the near-extinction of humanity.

Character Developments

• Shen Mu becomes more cautious and strategic, understanding the value of information and the importance of historical records.
• Chai Yingtong shows his generosity and wisdom, rewarding his subordinates and giving Shen Mu the heavy armor.

Significant Themes

• The value of historical knowledge and the importance of learning from the past.
• The power dynamics between the martial world and the court, and the risks of possessing heavy armor.
• The near-extinction of humanity and the potential causes behind it.

Character Interactions

• Shen Mu and Chai Yingtong work together to explore the mausoleum and divide its treasures.
• Chai Yingtong rewards his subordinates and gives orders regarding the mausoleum's covering.
• Shen Mu shares his thoughts and findings with Chai Yingtong, showing his respect and trust in his grandfather.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Mu successfully opens his second meridian, the Kun Dragon Meridian.
• Lin Beichi, son of Copper Mountain County's Thousand-Man Commander, visits Shen Mu to thank him for saving his life and invites him to a banquet.
• Shen Mu tours the Copper Mountain Garrison with Lin Beichi and learns about the military camp's structure and promotion system.
• Two Hundred-Man Commanders lead a force of soldiers out of the garrison to assist in capturing a demonic cultivator who has fled to Xuanning Prefecture.

Character Developments

• Shen Mu continues to improve his cultivation, opening his second meridian and refining origin energy more efficiently.
• Lin Beichi shows respect and friendship toward Shen Mu, aiming to form an alliance between their families.
• Shen Mu learns about the military camp's corruption and the buying and selling of military merit.

Significant Themes

• The disparity between the rich and the poor, and the opportunities for social mobility.
• The corruption and nepotism within the military camp and the imperial court.
• The power dynamics between the imperial court, prominent families, and martial artists of the jianghu.

Character Interactions

• Shen Mu and Lin Beichi strengthen their relationship, with Lin Beichi showing Shen Mu around the Copper Mountain Garrison and sharing information about the military camp.
• Shen Mu learns about the buying and selling of military merit from Lin Beichi, highlighting the corruption within the military camp.
• Shen Mu and Lin Beichi discuss the emergence of a demonic cultivator in neighboring Golden Spring Prefecture, showcasing their shared interest in local affairs.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xue Taihong, a Demon Cultivator, appears in Great Yu, causing concern and a hunt by the imperial court and various powers.
• Xue Taihong possesses a secret art that allows him to switch between martial artist and demonic cultivator cultivation, making him a high-value target.
• The major powers of Xuanning Prefecture are searching for Xue Taihong, aiming to seize the secret art and prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.

Character Developments

• Shen Mu learns about Demon Cultivation, its advantages, and drawbacks, as well as the temptation it poses to martial artists stuck at bottlenecks.
• Chai Yingtong reveals the true reason behind the hunt for Xue Taihong, the secret art, and the potential threat it poses to the balance of power in Xuanning Prefecture.

Significant Themes

• The temptation of power and the lengths people will go to obtain it.
• The delicate balance of power among the major families and the potential consequences of disrupting it.
• The struggle between martial artists and demonic cultivators, and the differences between their cultivation systems.

Character Interactions

• Shen Mu interacts with Lin Beichi, learning about Xue Taihong and the hunt for him.
• Shen Mu speaks with Chai Yingtong, who reveals the true reason behind the search for Xue Taihong and the secret art.
• Chai Yingtong plans to participate in the search for Xue Taihong to maintain appearances, while secretly hoping that no one obtains the secret art to preserve the balance of power.

• Shen Mu cultivates the Extreme Palm Scripture and plans to search for the Extreme Palm Scripture's origin while looking for a Seventh Grade body-tempering cultivation art.
• Chai Yingxian, Chai Ying's grandfather, arrives in Xuanning Prefecture, seeking a secret art in Xue Taihong's possession. He warns Chai Yingtong to keep a closer watch on the situation.
• Shen Mu visits the Black Market to buy ancient martial techniques and body-tempering cultivation arts. He purchases a map of the Great Yu Dynasty and learns about the Indestructible Vajra Scripture, a top-tier Seventh Grade body-tempering cultivation art.
• Shen Mu meets Xue Taihong, who uses him as a pawn to confuse the pursuers. Shen Mu escapes, and the pursuers surround the Black Market, believing Xue Taihong is still inside.
• Key plot points: Chai Yingxian's arrival, Shen Mu's visit to the Black Market, learning about the Indestructible Vajra Scripture, Xue Taihong's use of Shen Mu as a pawn.
• Character developments: Shen Mu's cultivation progress, Chai Yingxian's character revealed, Xue Taihong's cunning nature.
• Significant themes: The search for ancient martial techniques and body-tempering cultivation arts, the pursuit of Xue Taihong, the use of pawns in strategy.
• Character interactions: Shen Mu with Chai Yingxian, Shen Mu with Xue Taihong, the pursuers' interaction with Shen Mu.