Chapter Summaries

Lu Ye used Nine Infants to locate the scattered Bifu and offered to trade them to the Battle Alliance. Yan Hong and Yan Yong learned he could provide ten, and Lu Ye began considering what price to ask.

• Lu Ye asked Nine Infants to locate the Bifu, and Nine Infants borrowed his body to sense their positions.
• Lu Ye marked the Bifu locations on a Star Map and contacted Yan Hong to propose a deal with the Battle Alliance.
• Yan Hong consulted Yan Yong, who initially thought the Yan Family could buy the Bifu itself.
• Yan Hong told Yan Yong that Lu Ye could provide ten Bifu, leaving Yan Yong stunned.
• Lu Ye considered the Bifu's value and sent Yan Hong a proposed price.

Lu Ye traded a buried Bifu to the Yan Family for two thousand Dao Bones and persuaded Nine Infants to teach him Dao Artifact forging. After learning that the other major families offered only eighteen hundred Dao Bones per Bifu, Lu Ye was left facing a lower price for future trades.

• Yan Yong and Yan Hong questioned Lu Ye’s demand, then followed his directions and found a Bifu buried deep underground.
• Lu Ye asked Nine Infants about Dao Artifacts and convinced it to teach him how to forge them.
• Yan Hong accepted Lu Ye’s offer of two thousand Dao Bones for the Bifu, and Lu Ye agreed to trade all at once.
• After You Die gave Lu Ye a Stone Worm, he met Yan Hong and Yan Xiaowu in the Ruins and received the two thousand Dao Bones.
• Yan Hong told Lu Ye that the major families were interested in Bifu but had set their offer at only eighteen hundred Dao Bones each.

Lu Ye traded Bifu locations to the Human Race Alliance while secretly growing stronger and improving his artifact-refining skills. After a year of preparation, he asked You Die whether she wanted to leave Variegated, leaving her excited by the possibility.

• Lu Ye accepted Yan Hong’s offer of eighteen hundred Dao Bones for a Bifu and marked another Bifu location on Yan Xiaowu’s Star Map.
• Yan Hong asked Lu Ye whether he was Merging Dao or Entering Dao, and Lu Ye said he could be regarded as Merging Dao.
• Lu Ye returned to You Die’s Insect Nest and refined Dao Bones, while You Die set aside four hundred for him to use with her Annihilating Flame Power.
• Over the next year, Lu Ye raised his power to one hundred and sixty strands and traded six more Bifu to the Battle Alliance for over ten thousand Dao Bones.
• Lu Ye reached the limit of what he could learn from Nine Infants and decided the time had come to enact his plan.
• Lu Ye asked You Die if she wanted to leave Variegated, and she realized he had been searching for a way out.

Lu Ye brought You Die’s Soul Body into the Ruins, intending to use her Merging Dao Peak strength to escape Variegated and pursue his plans for refining it. As they traveled deeper into the Ruins, his message also prompted the Human Race to launch a counterattack across the Yellow Springs Great War Zone.

• You Die realized Lu Ye needed her strength to leave Variegated, and she agreed to enter the Ruins as a Soul Body after arranging affairs in the war zone.
• You Die transferred Lu Ye three thousand Dao Bones, and he carried her Soul Body in his sealed Divine Sea to the Sacrificial Altar.
• Lu Ye sent Yan Xiaowu a message, prompting Ziying to persuade Yellow Springs that the Insect and Blood Races’ contracting defenses offered a chance to counterattack.
• Yellow Springs approved the assault, and Battle Alliance Guards across the war zone attacked less than half an incense stick after Lu Ye entered the Ruins.
• Lu Ye unsealed his Divine Sea inside the Ruins, and You Die emerged, looked around, and linked her arm through his as they set off.

Lu Ye brought You Die to the Ruins’ second great hall, where she discovered the Dao Soldier Core and began refining Variegated with help from Nine Infants. As the refinement proceeded, the Human Race Alliance advanced against the disorganized Insect and Blood Races outside.

• Lu Ye told You Die that the Ruins’ trials had disappeared, allowing Dao Entry cultivators to enter, and led her through the first hall to the second.
• You Die tried and failed to break one of the two sealed doors, but Lu Ye told her the key to leaving Variegated was Nine Infants’ statue.
• You Die shattered the statue and found the Dao Soldier Core, which she realized could let her control Variegated and leave.
• You Die failed to refine the core alone, so Lu Ye summoned Nine Infants to help her; her power then began to refine it slowly.
• While You Die focused on refining the core inside the Ruins, the Human Race Alliance took advantage of the chaos among the absent You Die’s forces and pushed the Insect and Blood Races back.

You Die’s attempt to refine Variegated’s core turned into a deadly struggle when the core began consuming her Dao Power, and Nine Infants revealed its treachery. Lu Ye used the Talent Tree and a new power-sharing connection to replenish You Die, leaving them able to continue resisting the core’s drain.

• You Die replenished her Dao Power with Dao Bones while refining the Variegated core, reaching halfway progress after several weeks.
• At the halfway point, the core began devouring You Die’s Dao Power, and she could no longer stop the refinement.
• Nine Infants claimed the danger was normal and urged Lu Ye to wait, prompting Lu Ye to seal off the Divine Sea and recognize its scheme.
• You Die asked Lu Ye to release their Life Chain so her death would not take him with her, but he refused and began absorbing the Dao Bones with the Talent Tree.
• Lu Ye created a new connection with You Die and sent his Dao Power into her, allowing the core to consume his power instead of draining hers.

Lu Ye helped You Die finish refining the Variegated core, then expelled her from the Ruins as part of his plan to claim it himself. With the Human Race pressing its advantage outside, Lu Ye began using their Life Chain to replace You Die’s imprint on the core.

• Lu Ye used Twin Phoenixes Flying to replenish You Die’s Dao Force as she refined the core, and she was astonished by his immense reserves.
• You Die completed the refinement and believed she would rule Variegated, but the Ruins expelled her to the Sacrificial Altar before she could take the core.
• You Die learned that the Human Race had launched a major offensive while she was cut off, and she angrily ordered the defenses to respond.
• Lu Ye revealed that expelling You Die was the second step of his plan and reached out to the core with his Dao Force.
• Lu Ye found that the Life Chain let his Dao Force enter the core and began trying to replace You Die’s imprint.

Lu Ye successfully refined the Variegated Core, severing You Die’s ownership and gaining control of the Ruins, though his limited strength restricted how much he could use it. He uncovered Nine Infants’s scheme to escape by endangering You Die and killed its remaining spiritual consciousness despite their oath, leaving him in control of Variegated.

• Lu Ye replaced You Die’s imprint on the Variegated Core, while You Die sensed her connection fading and then being severed.
• Lu Ye used the core to glimpse You Die, a vast battlefield, and the Human Race Alliance’s home star before the strain forced him to stop.
• Lu Ye returned the Variegated Core to its pit and confronted Nine Infants in his Divine Sea.
• Lu Ye accused Nine Infants of plotting to endanger You Die so that Lu Ye would die and Nine Infants could regain its freedom.
• Nine Infants admitted it had schemed for survival and assumed their oath would protect it, but Lu Ye burned away its spiritual consciousness without being harmed.

After killing Nine Infants, Lu Ye collected Dao Comprehension Tea leaves and tried to take control of Variegated, only to find that his strength was insufficient. He entered the Giant Race's territory to replenish his Dao Power by seeking Bifu, while Yan Xiaowu and his group concealed themselves as someone approached.

• Lu Ye visited the Medicine Garden, tricked the Dao Comprehension Tea Tree into giving him more leaves, and left her weeping and vowing to make him pay next time.
• Lu Ye tried to collect Variegated but realized that, despite refining its core, he was too weak to control the powerful Dao Soldier.
• Lu Ye managed to slow Variegated's drift briefly, then returned inside to replenish the Dao Power he had exhausted.
• Lu Ye discovered that Variegated had carried him into the Giant Race's territory and learned that Yan Xiaowu's group had been unable to find the Bifu there.
• Lu Ye traveled to Yan Xiaowu's location, where Yan Xiaowu sensed someone approaching and told his cultivators to hide.

Lu Ye used his newly gained authority as Variegated’s master to teleport to a battlefield where the Human Race was retreating, despite the heavy cost in Dao Power and mental energy. He and his Clone attacked the pursuing Insect and Blood Races from behind, turning the tide of the battle as the Human Race commander realized something had changed.

• Lu Ye located a buried Bifu for Yan Xiaowu, who gathered his people and left to exchange it for Dao Bones.
• Lu Ye sensed that the Human Race was losing a distant battle and discovered he could teleport within Variegated by anchoring his mind to a location.
• Lu Ye teleported to the battlefield, spending nearly all his reserved Dao Power and arriving behind the enemy army after it had moved on.
• Lu Ye summoned his Talent Tree Clone, gave it spare clothes, and charged with it into the Insect and Blood Races' rear ranks.
• The Human Race commander saw the Blood Race opponent falter and regained ground as Lu Ye and his Clone killed enemies and collected their Dao Bones.

After refining Variegated’s core, Lu Ye used its authority to appear across battlefields, slaughtering enemy forces and turning major battles into Human Race victories. He continued fighting while telling You Die to wait for his return, and the Human Race’s suspicions that he was a traitor began to fade.

• Lu Ye and his Clone devastated an Insect and Blood Races army, allowing the Human Race to turn a retreat into victory.
• Lu Ye teleported to another battlefield, killed an Insect Race Merging Dao cultivator, and helped the Human Race rout its enemies.
• Lu Ye spoke to You Die across the distance, told her he would return when finished, and stopped her from injuring herself to summon him.
• Over the next half month, Lu Ye appeared at several large battles and helped the Human Race win each one.
• Reports of Lu Ye’s actions reached the Human Race’s main star, and accusations that he was a traitor gradually faded.

Lu Ye collected the last Bifu from Yan Xiaowu in exchange for Dao Bones, then used the resulting Dao Power to try to stop Variegated from drifting. He nearly exhausted his reserves and only slowed it to a crawl, leaving him to gather more Dao Power before he could halt it completely.

• Lu Ye entered the Ruins after Yan Xiaowu reported that he could no longer activate the Sacrificial Altar, then adjusted the Ruins with the Variegated Core so Yan Xiaowu could enter.
• Yan Xiaowu delivered Dao Bones from several clans, and Lu Ye gave him the last of the Bifu in return.
• After Yan Xiaowu departed, Lu Ye sealed the Ruins and refined the Dao Bones, bringing his Dao Power reserves to an estimated two or three hundred thousand.
• Lu Ye spent about ten days using Dao Power to slow Variegated's drift, nearly exhausting his reserves without stopping it completely.
• Lu Ye decided to gather more Dao Power before trying again and wondered how matters were progressing back in the starry sky.

Lu Ye returned to Variegated and learned that You Die had summoned Merging Dao cultivators to hunt him, so he changed course and went to meet Ziying at Dusty World Stronghold. The chapter ended as Ziying welcomed him and expressed relief that he was unharmed.

• Lu Ye studied the miniature starry sky and used the Star Map to choose where he would enter Variegated, arriving near You Die's war zone.
• You Die contacted Lu Ye through a Stone Worm and warned him that she had summoned Merging Dao cultivators to encircle him, while secretly urging him to flee.
• Lu Ye asked You Die whether she could lure the pursuers to him one at a time, but she refused and warned that the war zone's stability affected both their safety.
• Lu Ye crushed the Stone Worm and headed for Dusty World Stronghold, where Ziying commanded the Battle Alliance forces.
• Lu Ye reached Ziying's palace, revealed his true appearance, and greeted her; Ziying welcomed him and said she was glad he was unharmed.

Lu Ye revealed to Ziying that he was still at the Dao Entry Realm despite killing Merging Dao cultivators, and offered to take her out of Variegated so she could reach the Dao Union Realm. Ziying agreed to seek a replacement for her post before leaving and became Lu Ye’s sworn elder sister, promising to return and help him after advancing.

• Ziying discovered through a palm exchange that Lu Ye was still at the Dao Entry Realm and was astonished by his ability to kill Merging Dao cultivators.
• Lu Ye told Ziying that Variegated prevented cultivators from advancing beyond the Merging Dao Peak and revealed that he could take her outside.
• Ziying considered leaving with Lu Ye but decided she could not abandon Dusty World Stronghold while it remained at risk.
• Lu Ye suggested that Ziying ask the main star to send a replacement, and she agreed to find someone despite the difficulty.
• Lu Ye asked Ziying to return to Variegated after advancing to the Dao Union Realm and help him; Ziying trusted him and proposed they become siblings.

Lu Ye stopped Variegated from drifting, but was ambushed by a hidden Merging Dao Peak cultivator and nearly killed. He escaped to the Insect Nest, where You Die began helping him recover.

• Lu Ye asked Ziying about trading passage out of Variegated for Dao Bones, and she warned him to wait until his strength rivaled a Merging Dao Peak cultivator.
• After hunting across Variegated, Lu Ye emerged and killed the gathered cultivators who attacked him.
• Lu Ye spent more than three hundred thousand Dao Power to stop Variegated in a fixed location.
• A concealed attacker struck Lu Ye with a soul attack and grievously wounded him, but he escaped back into Variegated.
• Lu Ye used the Life Chain to reach You Die in the Insect Nest and asked her to heal him.
• You Die enveloped Lu Ye with her power, and his injuries gradually began to recover.

After recovering, Lu Ye confirmed that distance could weaken the Life Chain and told You Die he had refined the Variegated Core and could leave Variegated. He asked her to help him obtain Dao Bones from the Insect and Blood Races, then used his authority as Variegated's master to escape when she tried to stop him.

• Lu Ye realized his severe injuries had not affected You Die because the Life Chain could fail across a great distance.
• You Die asked how Lu Ye refined the Variegated Core, and he explained that Nine Infants' restriction had expelled her while he remained and completed the refinement.
• Lu Ye told You Die he could leave Variegated, and she became excited at the prospect of escaping and reaching the Dao Union Realm.
• Lu Ye asked You Die to help him obtain Dao Bones from the Insect and Blood Races, but she accused him of asking her to betray them.
• You Die tried to keep Lu Ye from leaving, but he used Variegated's authority to evade her perception and vanished.

Lu Ye continued hunting across Variegated’s battlefields, forcing the Insect and Blood Races onto the defensive while building his strength. After Ziying arranged to leave her post, Lu Ye brought You Die into an oath-bound alliance and prepared to take her out of Variegated, wary of the powerful enemy who had ambushed him before.

• Lu Ye and his Clone slaughtered enemies across several battlefields, reducing Human Race Alliance losses and driving the Insect and Blood Races to adopt a defensive strategy.
• The Human Race Alliance invited Lu Ye to the main star, but he ignored the invitation and continued gathering Dao power while keeping in touch with Ziying.
• Two months later, Ziying told Lu Ye that a replacement would guard her Stronghold, and he sent her a location to meet him once she was ready.
• Lu Ye returned to Yinshuo War Star, where You Die agreed to help him in exchange for his aid in advancing to Harmonizing Dao; they swore mutual oaths in the name of the Star Abyss Will.
• You Die sent only her Soul Body into Lu Ye’s Divine Sea to leave Variegated, and Lu Ye warned her about the possible Merging Dao Peak cultivator who had ambushed him.
• Lu Ye revealed that another person would accompany them, intending for that ally and You Die to face the suspected attacker together.

Lu Ye brought You Die into the Ruins to meet Ziying and explained how the Life Chain bound his life to the Insect Mother’s. After warning Ziying about an enemy who might be waiting outside, he prepared to lead them out, but Ziying insisted on taking the risk herself.

• Lu Ye entered the Ruins with You Die and waited for Ziying, who arrived through a passage.
• You Die greeted Ziying intimately, prompting Ziying to recognize her as the Insect Mother and suspect Lu Ye had been bewitched.
• Lu Ye explained the Life Chain and his history with You Die, persuading Ziying not to attack her.
• Lu Ye told Ziying that a possible Merging Dao Peak had ambushed him and might still be waiting outside, so he needed her and You Die to help deal with the threat.
• At the exit, Lu Ye said he would go first and asked Ziying to wait three breaths, but Ziying objected and offered to go instead.

Lu Ye lured out a Ghost Race Merging Dao cultivator who had ambushed him, then helped You Die and Ziying discover that leaving Variegated had freed them from its restraint on advancement. He gave Ziying guidance toward the Union Dao Realm before returning to Variegated with You Die, who tried to coax the same information from him.

• Lu Ye left Variegated with You Die hidden in his Divine Sea and was ambushed by a Ghost Race Merging Dao cultivator.
• You Die fought the ambusher, but he fled before Lu Ye and Ziying could catch him.
• You Die and Ziying sensed that the restraint preventing advancement to the Union Dao Realm had disappeared outside Variegated.
• Lu Ye gave Ziying a Jade Slip containing guidance from Nine Infants, and she decided to pursue advancement without using a harmful shortcut.
• Ziying stayed outside Variegated to cultivate, while Lu Ye and You Die returned; You Die then coaxed Lu Ye for a copy of the Jade Slip.

You Die agreed to help Lu Ye lure the eight Merging Dao cultivators in the war zone to the Insect Nest so they could be ambushed. After the cultivators gathered, You Die presented a restrained Lu Ye, leaving the group puzzled and Che Lin unaware of her betrayal.

• You Die bargained with Lu Ye for the same benefits Ziying had received and agreed to summon all eight Merging Dao cultivators.
• Lu Ye told You Die that he commanded 167 Dao, and she explained that Che Lin was the strongest of the eight while two Insect cultivators were under her absolute control.
• Lu Ye rejected You Die’s suggestion to summon the cultivators one by one and insisted they gather together for a single attack.
• You Die summoned the eight cultivators and ordered the Strongholds to tighten their defenses and keep their forces inside.
• The eight Merging Dao cultivators gathered in the Insect Nest, where You Die presented a restrained Human Race cultivator and a Blood Race cultivator recognized him as Lu Ye.