Chapter Summaries

The Mountain Ghost Camp used the Five Star-Dipper Lots to foresee and steer events, knocking the Forest Heart away and then arranging for a little gu beast to seize it. The lots revealed a third favorable future in which Red Rose delivered the last Blood Jade into the pool and awakened the supreme existence lurking within.

• No Taboos used the Five Star-Dipper Lots’ first prediction to shoot the Forest Heart away from the formation while I Alone Reign Supreme extinguished Jiang Jingwei’s fireball.
• Red Rose used the Soul-Seizing Mirror to immobilize the Ghost Bride, while I Alone Reign Supreme struck Zhao Chenghuang with a wave and No Taboos wounded him with two arrows.
• Kou Beiyue fought Nine-Leak Fish as A Yi distracted the defenders, allowing a little gu beast to frighten the Forest Heart into falling and seize it.
• Zhang Yuanqing, Guan Ya, and Zhao Chenghuang realized the Mountain Ghost Camp could predict their actions, and Zhao Chenghuang explained the limits of Star Official foresight.
• The third Star-Dipper Lot predicted that the Mountain God Camp would be unable to stop Red Rose, who carried the real Blood Jade to the pool and awakened the supreme existence.

Red Rose threw the Blood Jade into the pool, awakening the crimson demon god and plunging the slaughter dungeon into despair. As Zhang Yuanqing attempted a sacrifice that failed, the Demon Subduing Pestle awakened and summoned the ancient Golden Crow’s divine consciousness through the dungeon’s barrier.

• Zhang Yuanqing used the Yin Jade Doll and Ghost Mirror while his allies fought No Taboos and the chubby boy for the Blood Jade.
• Red Rose secretly reached the blood pool and threw in the Blood Jade, summoning an enormous eight-armed demon god.
• The Female Marshal vowed to hunt the evil organization leaders after the instance, while Fear Heavenly King explained that a strand of the demon god’s will had descended.
• Zhang Yuanqing realized the sacrificial ritual might provide power to oppose the demon god, but the fourth lot predicted that the ritual would fail and A Yi would attack him.
• Zhang Yuanqing used the Yin Jade Doll to trap A Yi, then performed the sacrifice, but no power appeared and his allies lost hope.
• The fifth lot revealed that the Demon Subduing Pestle held a high-ranking Sovereign’s Yang soul, which awakened and resonated with the unseen being; the pestle expanded into a golden pillar as the ancient Golden Crow’s presence filled the dungeon.

Yuanshi Tianzun’s sacrifice summoned Lady of Three Paths Mountain, who possessed him and used the Demon Subduing Pestle to destroy the demon god. As she connected the demon god’s remains to something beyond the instance, Zhang Yuanqing saw a pair of immense eyes and his thoughts shattered.

• The golden light spread through the instance, and Lady of Three Paths Mountain sent her consciousness past the world barrier and descended beside Zhang Yuanqing.
• Lady of Three Paths Mountain reclaimed the Demon Subduing Pestle’s resonance and told Zhang Yuanqing to use it in a future instance so her true body could retrieve it.
• Lady of Three Paths Mountain entered Zhang Yuanqing’s body and wielded Solar Power to battle the demon god, while the other walkers fled the devastated park.
• Zhang Yuanqing and Lady of Three Paths Mountain used the Demon Subduing Pestle to pierce the demon god’s chest and head, then destroyed it with a final strike.
• Lady of Three Paths Mountain touched the demon god’s remains and formed a connection with something unseen, and Zhang Yuanqing’s vision rose to a pair of enormous eyes that shattered his thoughts.

Zhang Yuanqing used the Solar Power granted through Lady of Three Paths Mountain to defeat the Mountain Ghost Camp, protect the surviving Orderly Walkers, and break the park barrier. The slaughter instance ended with him setting a new points record, but he suddenly remembered that his full moon mark could expose him as the Demon Lord’s successor.

• Lady of Three Paths Mountain traced the Blood Pool Demon God’s true body, nearly destroying Zhang Yuanqing before her golden light calmed his mind, then left him in control of the remaining Solar Power.
• Zhang Yuanqing killed No Taboos, A Yi, I Alone Reign Supreme, Nine-Leak Fish, and Red Rose, while sparing Little Fatty at Kou Beiyue’s request after badly injuring him.
• Zhang Yuanqing divided the spoils, shattered the park barrier with his final Solar Power, and ordered the arriving Orderly Walkers to hunt the remaining Mountain Ghost Camp fugitives in teams.
• Zhang Yuanqing collapsed from exhaustion, slept through most of the day, and later found that his score had reached a new record; twenty-two Saint slots went to Orderly Walkers, while Kou Beiyue and Little Fatty took the other two.
• The mission ended at dawn with Zhang Yuanqing first on the final leaderboard at 1,628 points, but he remembered that his black full moon mark could reveal his connection to the Demon Lord and hurried away.

Zhang Yuanqing completed the slaughter instance, advanced to Star Official, and received several powerful rewards, including a mysterious item he suspected was Demon Lord's true inheritance. After returning to the Fu Family Bay villa, he learned Fu Qingyang had not yet emerged from the Saint Realm instance and headed to help Guan Ya.

• Zhang Yuanqing advanced to Level 4 Star Official as Lunar Power and starlight transformed his body, and he gained four new skills, including Astral Physiognomy and Star Escape Art.
• Zhang Yuanqing inspected the Mountain God Scepter and Great Luo Star Chart, then suspected the unidentifiable watch-face reward was Demon Lord's true inheritance.
• The Five Elements Alliance elders watched the Transcendence Realm Walkers leave, and the Female Marshal ordered Dog Elder to have Fu Qingyang meet her after the Slaughter Instance ended.
• Zhang Yuanqing returned to the Fu Family Bay villa with Blood Rose, learned Fu Qingyang was still in the Saint Realm instance, and asked for a car to visit Guan Ya.

The author reflected on the first volume’s length and performance, focusing on the structural problems in the Slaughter Dungeon arc and what they learned from writing it. They reported that the volume had ended and postponed a planned day off to continue working on the next volume.

• The author said the first volume reached 1.2 million words, exceeding the original estimate of 900,000.
• The author reported that subscriptions had recovered from a slump and that the volume’s average subscriptions had reached 133,000.
• The author judged the Slaughter Dungeon arc structurally unsuccessful because it was too complicated, included too many characters, and had too many planned reveals.
• The author concluded that future writing should involve subtraction and said the difficult arc had still taught them how to handle a large-scale dungeon.
• The author said the first volume was finished and postponed a planned day off to work on the second volume.

Zhang Yuanqing sought Ling Jun’s advice about helping Guan Ya with the suit’s price, then went to her apartment with a plan to gain her trust. Meanwhile, Asano Ryo returned home, revealed her fifth-place finish and Yuanshi Tianzun’s role in her survival, and left her elders stunned by his achievements.

• Zhang Yuanqing called Ling Jun to ask whether helping Guan Ya with the suit’s side effects would count as taking advantage of her vulnerability, and Ling Jun urged him to pursue her carefully.
• Zhang Yuanqing read a promising romantic sign in his reflection and set out for Guan Ya’s apartment.
• Asano Ryo reunited with her family and teacher, then told them she had ranked fifth in the slaughter instance.
• Asano Ryo explained that Yuanshi Tianzun had saved her three times and scored 1,628 points, shocking Asano Nakakyo and Ryuzaki Hajime.
• Zhang Yuanqing persuaded Guan Ya to let him inside by claiming he could help resolve the suit’s price.
• Zhang Yuanqing presented Guan Ya with a bronze mirror, and she recognized it as a possible solution.

Zhang Yuanqing used the Ghost Mirror and Perfect Skin to manage Guan Ya’s intense desire after the armor’s price ended, stopping before their encounter went further and then helping her endure the remaining effects. Meanwhile, Kou Beiyue reunited with Little Round, and the Five Elements Alliance and Taiyi Sect announced the Evil faction’s defeat and Yuanshi Tianzun’s record-breaking score.

• Zhang Yuanqing lent Guan Ya the Ghost Mirror to suppress the desire caused by the armor, but hid that its effect would last only two hours.
• When the Ghost Mirror’s effect ended, Zhang Yuanqing carried Guan Ya to her bedroom, kissed her, and asked her to be his girlfriend, but stopped before they had sex.
• Zhang Yuanqing used Perfect Skin to transfer Guan Ya’s desire to Blood Rose, then helped Guan Ya endure the remaining hour of the armor’s price.
• Kou Beiyue returned to Wuhen Hotel and told Little Round that he had become a Saint and ranked fourth on the points leaderboard; Little Round learned that Yuanshi Tianzun had scored 1,628 points.
• Guan Ya sent Zhang Yuanqing away after recovering, and he left Tianchen Apartments with Blood Rose.
• The Five Elements Alliance and Taiyi Sect announced that the Evil faction had been wiped out in the Transcendence Realm Slaughter Dungeon and that Yuanshi Tianzun had broken the historical points record.

The official announcement of the Slaughter Dungeon revealed that Yuanshi Tianzun had wiped out the Evil Camp and scored a record 1,628 points, stunning the organization. After discussing Guan Ya and his promotion, Zhang Yuanqing arranged to pressure A Good Minister Chooses His Master Before Dying, while Master Wuhen recognized the being Yuanshi Tianzun summoned as an ancient Day Wanderer.

• Peony Fairy published an account of the dungeon in which Yuanshi Tianzun led the Orderly Camp, defeated the Blood Pool Boss, and wiped out the Mountain Ghost Camp.
• Official Walkers celebrated the Evil Camp's destruction and Yuanshi Tianzun's record score, while All Under Heaven Returns to Fire objected that the post had overlooked his and Guan Ya's contributions.
• Annie abruptly left Ling Jun after hearing Yuanshi Tianzun had scored 1,628 points, and Ling Jun then advised Zhang Yuanqing to show Guan Ya more affection and flirt with her.
• Zhang Yuanqing planned to send Guan Ya flowers, reported his situation to Li Dongze, and asked him to revoke the wanted order on A Good Minister Chooses His Master Before Dying while spreading rumors that he had betrayed the Evil Camp.
• Kou Beiyue told Master Wuhen about the dungeon, and Master Wuhen identified Yuanshi Tianzun's summoned being as an ancient Day Wanderer and asked whether A Good Minister Chooses His Master Before Dying was evil by nature.

After returning home, Zhang Yuanqing uncovered more of Demon Lord and Brother Bing’s past through the Cat King Speaker, including the Fallen Holy Grail’s threat and a lead pointing to Lian Sanyue. He then examined the Demon Subduing Pestle, which summoned the goddess who had heard him call her an old hag.

• Zhang Yuanqing returned to the Five Elements Alliance forum, saw that Yuan Ting’s post had been deleted, and worried that revelations about the Hundred Flowers Society and Demon Eye Heavenly King would implicate him.
• Zhang Yuanqing went home with gifts, endured his grandmother’s scolding, and promised to bring his girlfriend to dinner.
• Annie received orders to recruit Zhang Yuanqing into the Goddess of Beauty Association, while Ling Jun separately tried to invite her to dinner.
• Zhang Yuanqing questioned the Cat King Speaker and heard Demon Lord and Brother Bing discuss the Fallen Holy Grail’s corruption, their plan to kill Judge of Ghostly Eyes, and Lian Sanyue’s research.
• Zhang Yuanqing took out the Demon Subduing Pestle, which shone and summoned a goddess who coldly asked him why he had called her an old hag.

Lady of Three Paths Mountain projected her consciousness into Zhang Yuanqing’s room through the Demon Subduing Pestle and explained the ancient cultivation world, the decline of spiritual energy, and her history. After Zhang Yuanqing told her about Princess Yinyao, she praised him and took White Orchid to explore the modern world, leaving him alone as his aunt arrived home.

• Lady of Three Paths Mountain silenced the Cat King Speaker, confronted Zhang Yuanqing over calling her an old hag, and explained that she could project herself through the Demon Subduing Pestle for two days at a time.
• Lady of Three Paths Mountain examined the modern world and questioned Zhang Yuanqing about Spirit Realm Walkers, ancient cultivation, the Spirit Realm, and the decline of spiritual energy.
• Lady of Three Paths Mountain told Zhang Yuanqing that her disciple, the Temple Keeper, had killed his followers and used her Solar Power to purify Spirit Crystals.
• Zhang Yuanqing told Lady of Three Paths Mountain that Princess Yinyao had survived as a yin corpse in Speechless Village, dungeon 1018, and she promised him a reward.
• Lady of Three Paths Mountain asked to see the outside world, so Zhang Yuanqing summoned White Orchid to accompany her, and the two left through the window.
• Zhang Yuanqing lay down to consider their conversation, then heard Aunt arrive and ask whether the beast she had raised had come home.

After returning home, Zhang Yuanqing searched for the elusive Lian Sanyue and used his new astrolabe to glimpse Li Chunfeng in the Yin-Yang Town dungeon. At dinner, he learned of a string of missing women and saw that his cousin Chen Yuanjun faced a fatal tribulation.

• Zhang Yuanqing reunited with Jiang Yu'er, revealed that his supposed girlfriend was a lie, and later searched the official database for Lian Sanyue, finding no match.
• Zhang Yuanqing asked Ling Jun about Lian Sanyue, then used his astrolabe to divine an image of Li Chunfeng alongside Eating Lotus and Guan Ya in the Yin-Yang Town dungeon.
• Zhang Yuanqing concluded that Li Chunfeng might be connected to Lian Sanyue and decided to contact him later.
• At dinner, Chen Yuanjun told Zhang Yuanqing that thirty young women had gone missing across Songhai and that investigators were pursuing a suspicious individual seen before several disappearances.
• Zhang Yuanqing used Astral Physiognomy on Chen Yuanjun and saw signs of a fatal tribulation.

Zhang Yuanqing foresaw that Chen Yuanjun would face a deadly attack within seven days and secretly assigned Little Doubi to watch over him. Meanwhile, Kou Beiyue learned that Yuanshi Tianzun had been placed on the Earth Ranking and appeared to be protecting him, before Zhang arrived at the Second Team’s celebration.

• Zhang Yuanqing saw a bloody omen around Chen Yuanjun and sent Little Doubi to guard and monitor his cousin.
• Kou Beiyue met Human Blood Bun, learned Yuanshi Tianzun was wanted with a hundred-million bounty, and heard rumors that A Good Minister Chooses a Lord to Slay had betrayed the Freelancers.
• Kou Beiyue told Little Round about the rumors, and she deduced that Yuanshi Tianzun had arranged for the warrant against A Good Minister Chooses a Lord to Slay to be withdrawn.
• Little Round advised Kou Beiyue to wait before approaching Master Wuhen about recruiting the accused traitor.
• Zhang Yuanqing traveled to the Kangyang District Public Security Bureau for a celebration with Guan Ya and Jiang Jingwei, carrying the Cat King Speaker in his waist pack.
• Zhang Yuanqing entered the celebration and saw Guan Ya move shyly to a corner before Li Dongze greeted him.

After learning that powerful figures watched the Slaughter Dungeon, Zhang Yuanqing worried about what they had seen and tried to move his relationship with Guan Ya forward. Fu Qingyang returned from the dungeon injured but newly advanced to the Sovereign Realm, and asked to see the Transcendence Realm leaderboard.

• Jiang Jingwei told Zhang Yuanqing that the Alliance Leader and Elders watched the Slaughter Dungeon, prompting him to worry that they had noticed his suspicious items and the Role Card concealing his identity.
• Zhang Yuanqing warned Kou Beiyue that powerful figures might be watching, and Kou Beiyue said he would keep a low profile while Little Round checked whether he was wanted.
• Zhang Yuanqing invited Guan Ya to dinner at his grandmother's house, kissed her earlobe when she called them colleagues, and watched her leave after she refused to commit.
• Zhang Yuanqing brought Blood Rose home as a backup for the dinner invitation and expected Fu Qingyang to return the next morning.
• Fu Qingyang returned to Fu Family Bay badly injured after advancing to the Sovereign Realm, then ordered the Rabbit Girls to show him the Transcendence Realm Slaughter Dungeon leaderboard.

Fu Qingyang learned that Yuanshi Tianzun had survived the Transcendence Realm Slaughter Dungeon and set a record, then traveled to the Capital City at the Marshal’s command. The Marshal summoned him into a non-death Spirit Realm and accused him of shielding the Demon Lord’s successor.

• Fu Qingyang healed his injuries, read the forum accounts of Yuanshi Tianzun’s dungeon victory, and learned that the Marshal wanted to see him immediately.
• Zhang Yuanqing returned home after a sleepless night of stargazing, then checked the forum and saw that Fu Qingyang, Silver Moon Divine General, and Ghost King of Fengdu had advanced to Sovereign.
• Zhang Yuanqing tried to call Fu Qingyang to congratulate him, but Fu Qingyang’s phone was switched off.
• Fu Qingyang arrived at the Marshal’s estate in the Capital City and was pulled into the SSS-difficulty, non-death Spirit Realm called “Marshal’s Study.”
• The Marshal confronted Fu Qingyang over shielding the Demon Lord’s successor.

The Female Marshal questioned Fu Qingyang about whether Yuanshi Tianzun was the Demon Lord’s successor, but Fu Qingyang refused to surrender his subordinate and was beaten in a duel. Back at home, Zhang Yuanqing went to fetch Guan Ya while Lady of Three Paths Mountain possessed Blood Rose’s body and joined his grandmother for dinner.

• The Female Marshal argued that Yuanshi Tianzun’s exceptional achievements and use of one of the Demon Lord’s items made him suspicious, and she explained that the Demon Lord’s Role Card held an item tied to the Light Compass prophecy.
• The Female Marshal offered to verify Yuanshi Tianzun’s identity and transfer his opportunity to the Taiyi Sect Master if Fu Qingyang did not consider him a trusted subordinate; Fu Qingyang insisted that Yuanshi belonged to him and challenged anyone who tried to take him.
• The Female Marshal sparred with Fu Qingyang, leaving him badly injured, and he recovered with Life Essence before ordering his assistant to prepare for their return to Songhai.
• Zhang Yuanqing urged Guan Ya to come to his family dinner, then left to meet her while his grandmother and Jiang Yu’er finished cooking.
• Lady of Three Paths Mountain possessed Blood Rose’s body and entered the living room, where Zhang Yuanqing’s grandmother welcomed her to sit and eat.

Zhang Yuanqing's family mistook Lady of Three Paths Mountain, who introduced herself as White Orchid, for his girlfriend and invited her to dinner. He arrived with Guan Ya, leaving both women face-to-face at the family table.

• Grandmother welcomed Lady of Three Paths Mountain and called her Lanylan, while the old fossil claimed she was over a thousand years old and had been awakened from a stone coffin beneath the Mountain God Temple.
• White Orchid warned Lady of Three Paths Mountain that her answers were frightening the family, so she said she had been joking.
• Zhang Yuanqing met Guan Ya outside, gave her roses, and brought her home to introduce her to his family.
• In the elevator, Zhang Yuanqing learned that the old banger had returned and frightened Little Doubi.
• Zhang Yuanqing entered with Guan Ya and found his family dining with Lady of Three Paths Mountain; Grandmother, Uncle, Aunt, and Jiang Yu'er were stunned by the two women together.

Zhang Yuanqing tried to manage an awkward family dinner attended by Guan Ya and Lady of Three Paths Mountain, but Jiang Yu'er’s remarks made the evening unbearable for Guan Ya. After Guan Ya stormed out, Zhang Yuanqing chased her to explain, and her hurt reaction made him recognize his feelings for her.

• Zhang Yuanqing found Lady of Three Paths Mountain still eating at his family’s home and introduced Guan Ya as his girlfriend while calling the Mountain Goddess a friend.
• Guan Ya recognized Jiang Yu'er from Pingtai Hospital, while Zhang Yuanqing tried to keep the dinner from turning more awkward.
• Jiang Yu'er explained that a girlfriend meant a lover or fiancée and then mentioned Guan Ya’s visit to the obstetrics and gynecology department, embarrassing her in front of the family.
• Lady of Three Paths Mountain left after dinner, and Zhang Yuanqing escorted her out and returned home to find Guan Ya leaving.
• Zhang Yuanqing chased Guan Ya to her car, where she angrily questioned their relationship, and he realized he loved her.

After a tense family dinner, Zhang Yuanqing reconciled with Guan Ya and explained their relationship to his grandparents, while the Stop-Killing Palace Lord reflected on his fate and the cost of saving him. The next morning, Fu Qingyang summoned Zhang Yuanqing to Fu Family Bay.

• Guan Ya left Zhang Yuanqing in the car after his family treated her coldly, and Ling Jun advised him to comfort her rather than keep explaining.
• Zhang Yuanqing kissed Guan Ya until her anger subsided, and the two discussed his family, Jiang Yu'er, and his female Spirit Servants.
• Zhang Yuanqing returned home and clarified to his grandparents that Guan Ya was his girlfriend and that her visit to Pingtai Hospital had been part of an investigation.
• The Ghost Bride asked Zhang Yuanqing whether Guan Ya was his fiancée, and he called her a concubine.
• The Stop-Killing Palace Lord learned that Guan Ya belonged to the Fu Family and was Fu Qingyang's maternal cousin, then discussed Zhang Yuanqing's destiny and her sacrifices with a hidden speaker.
• Fu Qingyang messaged Zhang Yuanqing to come to Fu Family Bay the next morning.

Zhang Yuanqing checked his fortune, saw signs of trouble ahead, and went to Fu Qingyang’s villa, where he chose to join the Songhai patrol team. The meeting turned into a planned sparring match, and Zhang Yuanqing realized everyone was ready to record his humiliation.

• Zhang Yuanqing saw that Chen Yuanjun still faced a bloodshed calamity and asked White Orchid to protect him.
• Zhang Yuanqing read black qi in his Calamity and Relationships Palaces and red light in his Labor Palace, then took the Cat King Speaker with him to Fu Family Bay.
• Fu Qingyang told Zhang Yuanqing that he could join Songhai’s patrol team or remain in the Second Team under All Under Heaven Returns to Fire, and Zhang Yuanqing chose the patrol team alongside Guan Ya.
• Fu Qingyang challenged Zhang Yuanqing to a spar over his record and his insult to the Marshal, while Dog Elder supplied barbed clubs instead of swords.
• Zhang Yuanqing noticed that the assembled Walkers had taken out their phones, ready to record him being beaten.