Chapter Summaries

Shen Changchuan tested the Flying Spirit-Splitting Ant King's devastating spatial attack, but decided its weaknesses made it unsuitable for direct combat and that he should refine it into a Void-Escaping Gu. Back in Dawan Village, he reunited with Nangong Cheng, whose rapid rise from Qi Induction Realm to the fifth level of the Out of Body Realm surprised him.

• Shen Changchuan ordered the Flying Spirit-Splitting Ant King to attack, and its spatial impact blasted a huge gap through a mountain and destroyed defensive artifacts.
• Shen Changchuan assessed the Ant King's inability to target opponents and its weak defenses, then decided to refine it into a Void-Escaping Gu.
• Shen Changchuan returned to Dawan Village and went to meet his visiting old friend Nangong Cheng.
• Nangong Cheng recalled their friendship and remarked on how far Shen Changchuan had surpassed him since they last met.
• Shen Changchuan noticed Nangong Cheng had reached the peak of the fifth level of the Out of Body Realm after less than ten years and wondered if he came from an outer-domain land.

Nangong Cheng reunited with Shen Changchuan and explained the history of the Elephant Mountain Sect’s betrayal and destruction. He warned Shen Changchuan that powerful sects were sending prodigies to investigate the returning Grotto-Heaven Ruins, and those prodigies were interested in him.

• Shen Changchuan welcomed Nangong Cheng and invited him to a banquet, but Nangong Cheng said he had to leave soon after delivering a warning.
• Nangong Cheng recounted how the Elephant Mountain Sect and the Nether Sect once attacked the Jade Clarity Immortal Sect’s forces, turning the tide of a war against the Heavenly Demon Sect.
• Nangong Cheng explained that the Jade Clarity Immortal Sect later destroyed the Elephant Mountain Sect, and its mountain-gate secret realm vanished into the void.
• Shen Changchuan realized that others might suspect his rise was connected to the Elephant Mountain Sect’s lost treasures.
• Nangong Cheng warned that forces whose core inheritances were lost in the old betrayal had sent their geniuses to investigate the ruins, and those prodigies were interested in Shen Changchuan.

Shen Changchuan returned to Dawan Village intending to refine the Void-Escaping Gu, but rumors about the Elephant Mountain Sect ruins and the arrival of Roaming Dragon brought new complications. Roaming Dragon left with Lu Haoxuan, while Shen Changchuan remained focused on cultivation and hoped the rumors would not disrupt his plans.

• Nangong Cheng warned Shen Changchuan that outside-region talents planned to challenge him, and Shen Changchuan decided to focus on refining the Void-Escaping Gu and preparing for the Immortal Sect Grand Competition.
• Shen Changchuan returned to Dawan Village, where Roaming Dragon arrived to investigate rumors about the Elephant Mountain Sect ruins on the Immortal Sect's orders.
• Shen Changchuan told Roaming Dragon he knew little about the ruins and offered to investigate, but Roaming Dragon refused and urged him to concentrate on cultivation.
• Roaming Dragon asked Shen Changchuan to bring out Lu Haoxuan, gave Shen Changchuan Purple Cloud Spirit-Nurturing Pills, and left with Lu Haoxuan.
• Shen Changchuan lamented the trouble surrounding the ruins and returned to his plans, hoping the rumors would not cause too much disruption.

As prodigies from other regions stirred up conflict across Tiannan while seeking information about the Elephant Mountain Sect ruins, Shen Changchuan focused on cultivation and preparing to refine the Void-Escaping Gu. After raising his realm and honing his gu arts, he became eighty to ninety percent confident he could succeed, and decided the time had come.

• Prodigies from beyond Tiannan sought local help or used force to investigate the Elephant Mountain Sect ruins, causing conflicts while most local forces were occupied in Southern Yue.
• Shen Changchuan postponed refining the Void-Escaping Gu and used the Purple Cloud Spirit-Nurturing Pills to cultivate, reaching the late stage of the seventh level of the Out-of-Body Realm in two months.
• Shen Changchuan recognized that advancing further would grow increasingly difficult and doubted he could reach the ninth level within nine years, but concluded that he still needed the Void-Escaping Gu to compete with the great region’s strongest prodigies.
• After another month of practice and study, Shen Changchuan reached an eighty-to-ninety-percent chance of successfully refining the Void-Escaping Gu and decided to begin.

One month later, Shen Changchuan successfully refined the Void-Escaping Gu and tested its ability to teleport through space. He discovered that its spatial power was difficult to control, but proved he could still wield it for a devastating attack as he continued developing his techniques.

• Shen Changchuan emerged in a nameless valley ten li from where he had started and realized he had successfully refined the Void-Escaping Gu.
• Shen Changchuan examined the silver patterns in his palm and recognized that the Gu let him teleport rapidly, bypassing ordinary formations.
• Shen Changchuan tested the Gu repeatedly and found he could not precisely control the direction or distance of its spatial power.
• Shen Changchuan worried that his plans for techniques such as Space Slash and Dimension Slash would be difficult to achieve without finer control.
• Shen Changchuan unleashed a crude spatial attack that shattered the upper half of a distant mountain, then resolved to keep improving his control.

Shen Changchuan told Wei Yuting that he had fled the land of Southern Yue after a Grand Supreme Ancestor of the Corpse Refining Sect ambushed him, and explained why the Demonic Path Alliance considered him a threat. Wei Yuting then revealed that she had come to ask for his help with a problem caused by prodigies entering the Tiannan Region.

• Shen Changchuan returned to the Half-Mountain Courtyard and reunited with Wei Yuting, who was struck by how much his cultivation had advanced.
• Shen Changchuan explained that a Grand Supreme Ancestor of the Corpse Refining Sect had ambushed him in Juetian Valley, forcing him to leave the land of Southern Yue.
• Wei Yuting blamed herself for the danger Shen Changchuan faced, but he said the Demonic Path Alliance likely targeted him because of his Gu Control Secret Technique.
• Wei Yuting admitted she had come to ask Shen Changchuan for help with a sect problem caused by prodigies from the outer regions entering the Tiannan Region.

As rumors spread that the lost mountain gate of the Elephant Mountain Sect would reappear, outsiders and rogues flooded the Tiannan Region, stirring up conflict and burdening the Dragon Firmament Sect. At a gathering in Tiannan City, Bai revealed that Shen Changchuan’s cultivation history suggested a close connection to the ruins.

• Rumors of the Elephant Mountain Sect’s return drew foreign sects’ prodigies and rogue cultivators into the Tiannan Region to search for treasures lost three hundred years earlier.
• Foreign arrivals and local opportunists caused unrest across the region, and forces under the Dragon Firmament Sect faced repeated trouble while Wei Yuting managed the sect’s affairs.
• Wei Yuting asked Shen Changchuan to help intimidate the petty villains troubling the sect’s subordinate forces while senior disciples remained on the Southern Yue front.
• At a Tiannan City banquet, Bai proposed that the gathered prodigies exchange intelligence because they had searched for the ruins for half a year without success.
• Bai pointed out that a young man had practiced the Elephant Mountain Qi Refining Manual, mastered Azure Wood Sword Light, and advanced rapidly, suggesting he was connected to the ruins.

Bai argued that Shen Changchuan’s achievements and techniques proved he knew the secret of the Elephant Mountain Sect ruins, but learned the information had already spread through the city, apparently leaked by the Shen Family Estate’s First Madam. After several outsiders decided to confront Shen Changchuan at Dawan Village, Bai and his companions followed to watch.

• Bai claimed Shen Changchuan’s rapid cultivation and use of Elephant Mountain Sect techniques showed he had obtained the sect’s inheritance.
• The gathered cultivators revealed that Bai’s supposedly secret information had already circulated widely, likely because the First Madam was spreading it to target Shen Changchuan.
• Bai insisted the rumors were true and proposed discussing the Elephant Mountain Sect ruins, prompting doubts about confronting Shen Changchuan’s strength and connections.
• A burly cultivator dismissed local cultivators as weak, declared he would force Shen Changchuan to reveal the secret, and flew toward Dawan Village.
• Other cultivators set off after the burly man, and Bai and his companions decided to follow and watch.

Shen Yingxia reported Shen Changchuan’s growing reputation to First Madam, who ordered him watched while secretly plotting his death. Meanwhile, Shen Changchuan found that learning to control the Void-Escaping Gu’s spatial power was far beyond his current abilities, leaving him worried about the time remaining before the Immortal Sect’s Centennial Grand Competition.

• Shen Yingxia received an attendant’s report about the prodigies from beyond the domain and passed the news to First Madam.
• First Madam celebrated the prospect of Shen Changchuan being defeated and ordered Shen Yingxia to monitor his every move.
• Shen Yingxia secretly sent a Message Talisman and met Shen Fuxing, who regretted not winning Shen Changchuan over earlier but focused on protecting Xiao Yang’s growth.
• Shen Changchuan admitted that a month of studying the Void-Escaping Gu had brought him almost no progress in controlling its spatial power.
• Shen Changchuan worried that mastering the Gu could take decades, while only about eight years remained before the Immortal Sect’s Centennial Grand Competition.

Shen Changchuan gave up on mastering the Void-Escaping Gu’s spatial power for the Immortal Sect Grand Competition and shifted his focus to cultivation and spells. As he prepared for his next training period, his cheap elder brother Shen Chong secretly came to visit.

• Shen Changchuan realized that mastering spatial power would take too long and decided to prioritize reaching the ninth level of the Out-of-Body Realm.
• Shen Changchuan recognized that the Void-Escaping Gu could still protect his life by letting him escape ten li, even if it offered limited help in arena battles.
• Shen Changchuan planned to perfect the Thousand Shadow Azure Sword Rain Art and Golden Body Tyrant Art while stabilizing his cultivation and pursuing the eighth level of the Out-of-Body Realm.
• Shen Changchuan intended to test his spells against the outer-region geniuses causing trouble near the sect after Senior Sister Wei asked him to help.
• Shen Chong secretly arrived to visit Shen Changchuan.

Shen Chong visited Shen Changchuan and gave him a token to enter the Elephant Mountain Sect Ruins before leaving to settle old grudges. Soon after, Xiong Kuangdao arrived at Dawan City and challenged Shen Changchuan, drawing a crowd eager to witness the clash between the two regions’ prodigies.

• Shen Changchuan greeted Shen Chong and congratulated him on reaching the ninth level of the Out of Body Realm.
• Shen Chong gave Shen Changchuan a White Jade Token that served as a credential for entering the Elephant Mountain Sect Ruins, along with information about its opportunities and entrance.
• Shen Chong said he intended to leave the Tiannan Region after settling some grudges, then departed Dawan Village.
• Xiong Kuangdao roared for Shen Changchuan to come out, and cultivators in Dawan City identified him as the East Sea Ranger’s personal disciple and a peerless prodigy from the Dongping Region.
• Cultivators gathered around Dawan City to watch as Xiong Kuangdao hovered above it with his blade, anticipating a fight against Shen Changchuan.

Prodigies from other domains gathered above Dawan City to watch Shen Changchuan face Xiong Kuangdao, but Shen did not appear as Xiong tried to force him out. Xiong unleashed a massive blade strike toward the city, leaving Shen's response unresolved.

• Foreign-domain prodigies predicted that Xiong Kuangdao would defeat Shen Changchuan, citing his higher cultivation and battle record.
• Xiong Kuangdao released his oppressive aura over Dawan City to force Shen to appear, making weaker cultivators collapse to their knees.
• The watching prodigies wondered whether Shen had been frightened into hiding while Xiong considered how to obtain information about the Elephant Mountain Sect Ruins.
• Xiong Kuangdao drew on his divine ability power, formed the phantom tides into a vast translucent saber, and slashed it down toward Dawan City.

Shen Changchuan returned to Dawan City in time to stop Xiong Kuangdao's first saber strike from hitting the city. After Xiong Kuangdao unleashed his full North Sea Azure Dragon Blade, Shen Changchuan used the Void-Escaping Gu's spatial power to shatter the attack.

• Xiong Kuangdao sent a saber-light toward Dawan City to force Shen Changchuan to appear, and Shen Changchuan's sword-light cut it apart.
• Shen Changchuan returned from sending Shen Chong away, and Han Qinhu and the people of Dawan City welcomed him with relief.
• Xiong Kuangdao demanded the secret of the Elephant Mountain Sect ruins and threatened Shen Changchuan, who grew furious after realizing the strike had endangered his family and home.
• Xiong Kuangdao unleashed the North Sea Azure Dragon Blade, and the watching heavenly prodigies doubted Shen Changchuan could withstand it.
• Shen Changchuan activated the Void-Escaping Gu in his palm and collapsed Xiong Kuangdao's thousand-zhang saber-light with a spatial attack.

Shen Changchuan used the Void-Escaping Gu’s spatial force to shatter Xiong Kuangdao’s divine ability and defeat him in a single strike. He chose to stick with his existing cultivation plan, then flew to the collapsed mountain as Xiong Kuangdao rose in fury and threatened to kill him.

• Shen Changchuan’s spatial attack destroyed Xiong Kuangdao’s saber technique, shattered his weapon, and sent him crashing into a mountain.
• Shen Changchuan assessed the Void-Escaping Gu’s power and considered developing a spatial cutting technique, but decided to focus on improving his cultivation and spells instead.
• Shen Changchuan flew to the collapsed mountain and cleared away the dust to reveal Xiong Kuangdao in the crater.
• Xiong Kuangdao glared at Shen Changchuan, roared that he wanted him dead, and let his aura surge.

Shen Changchuan defeated Xiong Kuangdao with the Three Forest Senluo Sword Array after Xiong Kuangdao charged at him in a rage while gravely injured. The watching foreign-region prodigies were stunned by Shen Changchuan’s strength, and some suspected he had gained the Elephant Mountain Sect’s Enlightenment Secret Realm inheritance.

• Xiong Kuangdao attacked Shen Changchuan again despite his injuries, and Shen Changchuan countered with the Three Forest Senluo Sword Array.
• The sword array smashed Xiong Kuangdao into a crater and left him unconscious and badly wounded.
• The watching prodigies were shocked that Shen Changchuan defeated the Dongping Region’s top prodigy with only two attacks.
• The prodigies discussed Shen Changchuan’s early transformation of his Divine Ability Seed and his command of powerful spells.
• One watcher claimed Shen Changchuan must have gained the Elephant Mountain Sect’s Enlightenment Secret Realm opportunity.

After defeating Xiong Kuangdao, Shen Changchuan became the focus of attention across the Cultivation World, while the Heavenly Demon Sect’s Quasi-Saintess investigated how he had wielded spatial power. The chapter left her increasingly interested in him as she suspected the Void-Escaping Gu was the source of his ability.

• A white-clothed young man suspected Shen Changchuan had used spatial power and worried that the watching geniuses would underestimate his strength.
• Shen Changchuan dragged the badly wounded Xiong Kuangdao back to prison in Dawan City, and the surrounding prodigies did not dare stop him.
• News of the battle spread through Tiannan and beyond, drawing the attention of factions to Shen Changchuan.
• The First Madam cursed Shen Changchuan and vowed to take revenge after the Zhou Clan completed its major undertaking.
• The Heavenly Demon Sect’s Quasi-Saintess learned of Shen Changchuan’s spatial power and heard Aunt Song suggest that he had obtained the Void-Escaping Gu in Southern Yue.
• After reviewing Shen Changchuan’s Southern Yue records, the Quasi-Saintess concluded the Void-Escaping Gu was likely the source and said she was becoming more interested in him.

After Shen Changchuan defeated Xiong Kuangdao, the outer-region prodigies backed off, but rumors tied his abilities to the Elephant Mountain Sect Ruins and left him wary of the forces seeking the ruins. His worries remained unresolved until his master, Roaming Dragon, returned.

• Shen Changchuan locked Xiong Kuangdao in the dungeon and decided to wait for Roaming Dragon before determining his fate.
• The outer-region prodigies restrained themselves after witnessing Shen Changchuan defeat Xiong Kuangdao, easing unrest in the Dragon Firmament Sect's territory.
• Shen Changchuan read rumors claiming the Elephant Mountain Sect Ruins' Enlightenment Secret Realm had caused his rapid progress, though he knew his gains came from the Progress Bar Panel.
• Shen Changchuan suspected the foreign-domain forces had deeper motives than reclaiming the Elephant Mountain Sect's stolen inheritances and feared the calm would not last.
• Roaming Dragon returned, giving Shen Changchuan a turning point.

Roaming Dragon returned and praised Shen Changchuan for defeating Xiong Kuangdao, then explained that Shen's generation was unusually fortunate when Shen asked why so many cultivators could form both Spirit Bodies and Divine Ability Seeds. Roaming Dragon's presence quieted the threats around the Elephant Mountain Sect, and he brought Shen a precious quota to enter the Spirit Transformation Pool.

• Roaming Dragon returned and praised Shen Changchuan for defeating Xiong Kuangdao, while Shen explained that Xiong's arrogance and the Void-Escaping Gu had helped secure the victory.
• Shen Changchuan asked why Xiong Kuangdao and other cultivators had formed both Spirit Bodies and Divine Ability Seeds, despite Roaming Dragon's earlier claim that the feat was exceedingly rare.
• Roaming Dragon said Shen's generation was extremely fortunate but gave no further explanation.
• Roaming Dragon's return deterred those coveting the Elephant Mountain Sect and temporarily ended the unrest around its territory.
• Roaming Dragon brought Shen Changchuan the promised quota to enter the Jade Clarity Immortal Sect's Spirit Transformation Pool, which might help Shen advance to the eighth level of the Out of Body Realm.

Shen Changchuan prepared to enter the Spirit Transformation Pool and break through to the eighth level of the Out of Body Realm. Before leaving Dawan City with Roaming Dragon, he secured his family with a protective array and considered investigating the Elephant Mountain Sect Ruins after his cultivation improved.

• Roaming Dragon taught Shen Changchuan about cultivation for nearly half a month, helping him understand the path to the eighth level of the Out of Body Realm.
• Roaming Dragon placed a Four Symbols Guardian Array around Shen Changchuan’s family’s residence and gave him the array disc.
• Shen Changchuan handed the disc to his grandfather and warned him to watch the extraterrestrial prodigies near Dawan City.
• Roaming Dragon and Shen Changchuan boarded a Flying Boat and departed for the Jade Clarity Immortal Sect’s mountain gate.
• Shen Changchuan resolved to prioritize his breakthrough and considered exploring the Elephant Mountain Sect Ruins to improve his comprehension and develop spatial attacks.

Roaming Dragon used the Dragon-Headed Flying Boat to traverse space, giving Shen Changchuan a rare chance to perceive spatial laws. Shen Changchuan failed to grasp the insight, and the Flying Boat carried them to Jade Clarity Immortal Mountain.

• Roaming Dragon activated the Flying Boat and told Shen Changchuan to sit still and focus on the spatial phenomenon.
• Shen Changchuan sensed the spatial laws resonating around the ship and tried to comprehend their patterns.
• Shen Changchuan emerged from the experience with only a faint, elusive insight into space, while Roaming Dragon explained that the opportunity was unlikely to recur.
• Shen Changchuan asked whether he could use the Flying Boat to study spatial power again, and Roaming Dragon explained that the effect only worked the first time.
• Roaming Dragon and Shen Changchuan arrived at Jade Clarity Immortal Mountain.