Recaps

Chen Changming left Cangnan City to hunt for food after learning that the Black Tortoise Division was taking in unregistered Foundation Establishment cultivators. He encountered his Senior Sister Luo Lan at the East Gate, then flew toward the spreading Demonic Qi to hunt stronger Beasts.

• Chen Changming challenged the Cangnan Pavilion attendant over his rent and learned that the pavilion’s token would protect him from being recruited by the Black Tortoise Division.
• At the East Gate, Luo Lan and her subordinates surrounded Chen Changming to recruit him, but let him pass when he showed his Cangnan Pavilion token.
• Chen Changming left the city and flew toward the Demonic Qi, finding that its edge had spread to within just over three thousand li of Cangnan City.
• At the edge of the Demonic Qi, Chen Changming swallowed Pigeon Eggs to restore his spiritual energy before entering the corrupted area.

Chen Changming hunted demonized beasts in the Demonic Qi Region while hiding his Body Cultivator abilities, then encountered Li Xiushan and the Black Tortoise Division. After Chen Changming declined Li Xiushan’s invitation to join, the cultivators aboard the Spirit Boat turned hostile.

• Chen Changming used the Geng-Gold Sword to kill more than a hundred Iron-Armored Wolves, including demonized Level 3 beasts that could briefly stay airborne.
• Chen Changming spent seven or eight days hunting demonized beasts, killing over a thousand and feeding some wild animals to the Demon Spirit Vine.
• Li Xiushan and several Foundation Establishment cultivators emerged from the Demonic Qi aboard a Spirit Boat and questioned Chen Changming about surviving without protection.
• Chen Changming claimed he had practiced body cultivation and explained that he was an unaffiliated cultivator from Cangnan City.
• Li Xiushan invited Chen Changming to join the Black Tortoise Division, but Chen Changming politely refused, angering the cultivators aboard the Spirit Boat.

Chen Changming joined the Demon-Slaying Alliance and was assigned to Breeze Hall in Mo'ya City. After seeing his injured Senior Sister undergoing treatment for Demonic Qi, he received his identity token and was offered a place in the Ninth Incense.

• Chen Changming agreed to join the Black Tortoise Division after Li Xiushan appealed to his duty to defend the Chu Kingdom.
• Chen Changming traveled with Li Xiushan to Mo'ya City, where Li Xiushan placed him in Breeze Hall under Zhao Ziying.
• Chen Changming saw his injured Senior Sister inside the Four Symbols Array, where cultivators were being treated to purge Demonic Qi.
• Li Qi explained Breeze Hall's organization and helped Chen Changming register as a member, after which he received a Black Tortoise emblem.
• Li Qi offered to assign Chen Changming to Incense Master Liao's understaffed Ninth Incense.

Chen Changming joined the Ninth Incense of the Tenth Flag in the Demon-Slaying Alliance and met its members, including Incense Master Liao Yunfang. After settling into his room, he kept his body-refining cultivation secret and began studying the Clear Light Art.

• Li Qi gave Chen Changming the Clear Light Art and told him that the Ninth Incense belonged to the Tenth Flag and was led by Liao Yunfang.
• A woman from Breeze Hall escorted Chen Changming through Mo'ya City to the Ninth Incense courtyard, where Chen Hu warmly welcomed him.
• Liao Yunfang introduced herself, showed Chen Changming the available rooms, and invited him to a welcome banquet that night.
• Chen Changming chose an empty room, suspected Liao Yunfang of practicing yin-harvesting techniques, and decided not to reveal his body-refining cultivation.
• Chen Changming found that the room's array blocked spiritual sense and opened the Clear Light Art booklet to study it.

Chen Changming mastered the Clear Light Art and strengthened it twice before joining Ninth Incense members for a welcome dinner. At the lavish Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, he was stunned by the cultivators’ decadent revelry.

• Chen Changming learned the Clear Light Art and practiced it until he enhanced it once, then continued training through the afternoon.
• Chen Changming achieved a second breakthrough in the Clear Light Art as dusk fell, restoring his magic power with Pigeon Eggs and the Golden Glow Art.
• Chen Hu summoned Chen Changming to Incense Master Liao Yunfang’s welcome dinner, and Chen Changming suspected Chen Hu wanted to redirect Liao’s attention toward him.
• Liao Yunfang introduced Chen Changming to Sun Bozhong, Tang Mengshao, Qiu Qianlang, Zhao Tailai, and Ying Buli, members of Ninth Incense.
• Chen Changming followed the group to the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion and was astonished by the lavish restaurant and its dancing Qi Refining cultivators.

Chen Changming attended a welcome banquet for joining the Ninth Incense and learned how its members endured life in Mo'ya City. Liao Yunfang and Chen Hu tried to get him drunk so she could make him her cultivation furnace, but Chen Hu passed out first.

• Sun Bozhong explained that cultivators in the Black Tortoise Division were confined to Mo'ya City unless they received orders, and described how Foundation Establishment cultivators sought pleasure amid danger.
• Chen Hu told Chen Changming to sit beside Liao Yunfang, who welcomed him to the Ninth Incense banquet.
• The Ninth Incense members toasted Chen Changming while dancers performed, and he drank cup after cup without becoming drunk.
• Liao Yunfang intended to get Chen Changming drunk and make him her cultivation furnace, while Chen Hu eagerly helped her in hopes of escaping her attention.
• Chen Hu drank against Chen Changming, passed out after finishing a jar, and Liao Yunfang signaled to the others when Chen Changming remained conscious.

Chen Changming outdrank the guests at Liao Yunfang’s banquet and tried to leave the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, but Liao Yunfang stopped him for the promised Night Flower Rainbow Dance. The chapter ends with Liao Yunfang beginning the dance before Chen Changming and Sun Bozhong.

• Zhao Tailai, Qiu Qianlang, and the other guests drank with Chen Changming until they passed out.
• Liao Yunfang tried to keep Chen Changming close, and her spiritual sense scan of him delighted her.
• Chen Changming drank five jars of wine, then pretended to be too drunk to continue and headed for the door.
• Liao Yunfang blocked Chen Changming and announced that the banquet still had its main event.
• Sun Bozhong seated Chen Changming to watch as Liao Yunfang began her Night Flower Rainbow Dance, leaving only her pink undergarment.

Chen Changming escaped Liao Yunfang’s bewitching Heavenly Demon Dance, then returned to his room and tried to cultivate the Three-Nine Divine Aperture Technique. At dawn, Sun Bozhong arrived at his door, pale and exhausted, with something to tell him.

• Liao Yunfang used her Heavenly Demon Dance on Chen Changming and Sun Bozhong, but Chen Changming broke free and fled the room.
• Liao Yunfang gave up pursuing Chen Changming and forced Sun Bozhong to stay with her.
• Chen Changming worried that his soul was too weak and decided to cultivate the Three-Nine Divine Aperture Technique while hiding his true strength.
• After hours of unsuccessful cultivation, Chen Changming heard Sun Bozhong arrive at the courtyard and opened the door to help him to his room.

Chen Changming learned that Liao Yunfang had attacked Sun Bozhong and was plotting with Ma Xiao to kill him. Seven days later, Liao Yunfang announced that the Demonic Qi Well had stopped spewing Demonic Qi and led Ninth Incense on a counteroffensive.

• Sun Bozhong told Chen Changming that Liao Yunfang had drained his yang energy and warned him she might try to poison him, then asked him to return his remains to Locust Tree Village after his death.
• Sun Bozhong gave Chen Changming his Storage Ring and passed out, leaving Chen Changming to judge that he would not survive three days.
• Liao Yunfang met with Ma Xiao and arranged for him to turn Chen Bai into a Blood Child so he could drain his blood essence and advance his cultivation.
• Seven days later, Liao Yunfang told Ninth Incense that the Demonic Qi Well had stopped spewing Demonic Qi and ordered Foundation Establishment cultivators to increase Beast-slaying operations.
• Liao Yunfang launched her Spirit Boat toward the outskirts of Mo'ya City as Spirit Boats from across the city gathered in the sky.

Chen Changming joined a Demonic Qi-clearing campaign, where Liao Yunfang separated him from the others and lured him into a trap. He killed Ma Xiao and then Liao Yunfang, leaving the campaign behind with both conspirators dead.

• Liao Yunfang explained the month-long Beast-hunting quotas and divided the cultivators into two teams inside the Demonic Qi.
• Liao Yunfang led Chen Changming deeper into a ravine, intending for Ma Xiao to ambush him.
• Ma Xiao attacked Chen Changming with his Blood Demon Art, but Chen Changming moved faster and twisted off his head.
• Chen Changming returned to Liao Yunfang's Spirit Boat and seized her before she could react.
• Chen Changming killed Liao Yunfang and stored both bodies in his Storage Bag.

Chen Changming searched the area after killing Liao Yunfang, then watched a Black Tortoise Division Incense be wiped out before slaughtering the attacking Demonic Beasts himself. After completing his mission, he returned to Mo'ya City and found it deserted.

• Chen Changming used his Spirit-Devouring Insects to confirm no cultivators had witnessed him kill Liao Yunfang, then hunted Demonic Beasts and fed the Demon Spirit Vine the two evil cultivators' corpses.
• Chen Changming watched from hiding as an Iron-Armored Wolf pack and an Iron-Backed Azure Eagle killed all eight cultivators of a Black Tortoise Division Incense.
• The Iron-Backed Azure Eagle spotted Chen Changming, so he killed it with the Geng-Gold Sword and slaughtered the Iron-Armored Wolves that charged him.
• Chen Changming left the Demonic Qi Region after killing enough Demonic Beasts and returned to Mo'ya City to report back.
• Chen Changming found the Ninth Incense courtyard and the rest of Mo'ya City almost entirely deserted.

Chen Changming returned from the campaign claiming Incense Master Liao had died and revealed his top-grade metal-type magical sword, earning respect from the Ninth Incense. The newly appointed Incense Master He Changlie then announced a longer Beast-slaying campaign and asked Chen Changming to summon his sword for inspection.

• Chen Changming told the returning group that Incense Master Liao had perished and explained that she had covered his escape during the battle.
• Chen Changming confirmed he had slain thirty Level 2 Demonic Beasts and displayed his top-grade Geng-Gold Sword, impressing his companions and Flag Master Zheng Xian.
• Zheng Xian recorded the report and told the group to rest until a new Incense Master was assigned.
• He Changlie arrived as the Ninth Incense's new Incense Master and ordered the group to slay seventy Beasts during a two-month campaign.
• He Changlie called Chen Changming over and asked him to summon his top-grade magical sword for inspection.

Chen Changming refused He Changlie’s attempt to take his Geng-Gold Sword, then was assigned to hunt Beasts alone with the Incense Master during the Demon-Slaying Alliance’s second offensive. In a remote ravine, He Changlie demanded another sword exchange and attacked when Chen Changming refused.

• He Changlie tried to trade a mid-grade Flying Sword for Chen Changming’s Geng-Gold Sword, but Chen Changming refused and claimed it came from a powerful elder.
• He Changlie secretly planned to kill Chen Changming during the offensive and blame a Beast so he could take the sword.
• The Demon-Slaying Alliance launched its second attack, and He Changlie split Ninth Incense into two groups, keeping Chen Changming with him.
• He Changlie took Chen Changming to an isolated mountain ravine and again demanded that they exchange swords.
• Chen Changming firmly refused, and He Changlie drove his Flying Sword toward Chen Changming’s chest.

Chen Changming killed He Changlie, returned to Mo'ya City, and continued cultivating while the Ninth Incense reported its losses. At the Demonic Qi Well, Holy Mother Wusheng delayed the Demon-Slaying Alliance and focused on breaking through to the Golden Core Realm, still searching for the thief who had taken the Ouyang Family’s breakthrough secret method.

• Chen Changming caught He Changlie’s Flying Sword, killed him, and searched the area with Spirit-Devouring Insects before returning to the Demonic Qi Region.
• Chen Changming spent four days killing seventy Level 2 Demonic Beasts, then returned to the Ninth Incense courtyard and cultivated for two months.
• Qiu Qianlang, Ying Buli, and Tang Mengshao returned to the courtyard, where Chen Changming reported He Changlie’s death and the group learned Chen Hu had also fallen.
• The four reported their kills to Zheng Xian, who revealed that He Changlie had planned to keep ten Demonic Beasts’ worth of credit for himself.
• Tang Mengshao secretly offered incense before a black idol and reported the Ninth Incense’s deaths.
• Holy Mother Wusheng received a battle report, ordered her followers not to disturb her for three years, and vowed to use the Demonic Qi Well to break through and take revenge on Shangguan Xiong.

Chen Changming led Ninth Incense through successful Beast hunts and, over three years, broke through to the sixth layer of Body-Refining Foundation Establishment. Meanwhile, Holy Mother Wusheng emerged from the Demonic Qi Well after reaching Golden Core and began setting her plan against Shangguan Xiong in motion.

• Chen Changming led Qiu Qianlang, Ying Buli, and Tang Mengshao to kill a pack of Iron-Armored Wolves, including two Level 3 Beasts, and the group made him the heart of their team.
• Ninth Incense completed its Beast-slaying mission early, and Chen Changming urged his companions to focus on cultivation and breaking through.
• Over three years, Chen Changming focused on the Heavenly Furnace Body-Forging Art and reached the sixth layer of Body-Refining Foundation Establishment.
• Holy Mother Wusheng broke through to Golden Core, rose from the Demonic Qi Well, and began putting her plan against Shangguan Xiong into action.

As demonic qi retreated across the Chu Kingdom, the Demon-Slaying Alliance held its positions while Chen Changming cultivated and later discovered that Breeze Hall’s new Hall Master, Luo Lan, was his long-lost Senior Sister. Their reunion ended with Chen Changming asking who led the Black Lotus Sect, and Luo Lan naming Yu Tiangong.

• A colossal creature inside the Demonic Qi Well drew demonic qi into its mouth, prompting the Alliance to investigate its retreat and Shangguan Xiong to order the divisions to hold their positions.
• Chen Changming focused on body-tempering cultivation as the Alliance reorganized its units and the demonic qi continued to withdraw.
• Luo Lan took over Breeze Hall and told its members to prepare for an all-out attack once the retreat stopped.
• Chen Changming met Luo Lan privately and revealed that he was her Little Junior Brother, and they rejoiced at finding each other alive.
• Chen Changming declined Luo Lan’s offer to make him a steward and asked who led the Black Lotus Sect; Luo Lan answered that Yu Tiangong was its leader.

Chen Changming warned Luo Lan that Holy Mother Wusheng might be plotting behind the Black Lotus Sect, then joined the Demon-Slaying Alliance's general assault on Mysterious Yin Mountain. The battle began with Tang Mengshao suddenly turning on his companions and ordering an attack.

• Chen Changming told Luo Lan about his past conflict with the Black Lotus Sect and urged her to beware of Holy Mother Wusheng.
• After the Demonic Qi stopped retreating, Shangguan Xiong ordered the Demon-Slaying Alliance's four divisions to launch a general assault on Mysterious Yin Mountain.
• Chen Changming and his companions entered the Demonic Qi with the Black Tortoise Division and encountered several Level 3 Iron-Backed Azure Eagles.
• Tang Mengshao leapt onto an Iron-Backed Azure Eagle, revealed his hostility, and ordered it to kill Chen Changming and the others.
• More than a dozen poisonous wasps flew from the Demonic Qi toward Qiu Qianlang and Ying Buli.

Chen Changming killed Tang Mengshao and the beasts in the ambush, learning that the Black Lotus Sect could control Demonized Beasts. Trapped inside a vast formation on Mysterious Yin Mountain, he concluded that Holy Mother Wusheng was targeting the Golden Core Immortal and planned to exploit their coming battle to escape.

• Tang Mengshao revealed his Black Lotus Sect allegiance and ordered the beasts to kill Chen Changming, but Chen Changming killed him and stored his body in the Beast Taming Bracelet.
• Chen Changming killed the Iron-Backed Azure Eagles and poisonous bees, then realized the Black Lotus Sect had used the beasts to ambush the Demon-Slaying Alliance.
• Chen Changming tried to flee but was thrown back by a formation spanning five thousand li of Mysterious Yin Mountain.
• Chen Changming reasoned that Holy Mother Wusheng had gained the power to control Demonized Beasts inside the Demonic Qi Well and intended to wear down the Golden Core Immortal.
• Chen Changming decided to become a variable in the coming fight between the two Golden Core cultivators and strike Holy Mother Wusheng when she was gravely wounded.

Chen Changming ventured into the battle to rescue Luo Lan and revealed his formidable body-forging strength by killing the Black Lotus Sect disciple and the Beasts besieging her. He brought Luo Lan to the edge of the grand formation, where he planned to wait for the battle to weaken the Golden Core fighters before deciding whether to strike.

• Chen Changming entered the Demonic Qi to search for Luo Lan while avoiding battles that did not involve her.
• He found Luo Lan surrounded by Beasts and killed the Black Lotus Sect middle-aged man with a punch.
• Chen Changming killed the Beasts attacking Luo Lan, and she realized he had saved her from certain death.
• He collected the corpses and escorted Luo Lan beyond the grand formation, explaining that the Black Lotus Sect had trapped them inside.
• Chen Changming told Luo Lan he planned to return after the battle had weakened the Golden Core cultivators, shocking her with his intention to attack one.

Chen Changming and Luo Lan joined Shangguan Xiong as he rallied the Demon-Slaying Alliance to attack the Demonic Qi Well. The Black Lotus Sect revealed that Holy Mother Wusheng had reached the Golden Core realm, halting Shangguan Xiong's advance.

• Chen Changming and Luo Lan rested inside a formation before Shangguan Xiong arrived and found them.
• Luo Lan explained that the Black Lotus Sect had ambushed their teams and sealed Mysterious Yin Mountain with a formation.
• Shangguan Xiong led more than three thousand Demon-Slaying Alliance cultivators toward the Demonic Qi Well, while Chen Changming warned Luo Lan to be cautious.
• Holy Mother Wusheng appeared above the Demonic Qi Well with a Golden Core aura, and Yu Tiangong and the Black Lotus Sect followers greeted her.
• Shangguan Xiong stopped in midair after realizing that Holy Mother Wusheng had broken through to the Golden Core realm.

Holy Mother Wusheng revealed that she was Shangguan Wan'er, then fought Shangguan Xiong as their forces clashed. After both sides withdrew from the costly battle, Chen Changming considered their hidden advantages and began cultivating while waiting for a chance to act.

• Holy Mother Wusheng revealed her identity as Shangguan Wan'er and accused Shangguan Xiong of framing her family.
• Holy Mother Wusheng and Shangguan Xiong fought while the Black Lotus Sect and Demon-Slaying Alliance battled, leaving both forces heavily depleted.
• Holy Mother Wusheng and Shangguan Xiong reached a stalemate and withdrew with their surviving followers.
• Shangguan Xiong established a defensive camp and said he would refine the Four Symbols Seal before killing Holy Mother Wusheng.
• Luo Lan set up an Isolation Formation for Chen Changming and planned to cultivate toward a breakthrough.
• Chen Changming judged that Holy Mother Wusheng might have a hidden treasure of her own, then used his Heavenly Furnace to burn away demonic qi and cultivate.

Holy Mother Wusheng and Shangguan Xiong completed their treasures and began their long-awaited battle, while Chen Changming watched from hiding. The chapter left Shangguan Xiong facing the Black Flame Earth Buddha’s superior power as the two armies fought nearby.

• Holy Mother Wusheng learned that Shangguan Xiong was still recovering, ordered repeated attacks, and continued refining the Black Flame Earth Buddha with the Ancient Demon's blood.
• The Black Lotus Sect and beast horde wore down the Demon-Slaying Alliance, whose numbers fell from more than a thousand to just over five hundred while Chen Changming and Luo Lan focused on surviving.
• Shangguan Xiong completed the Four Symbols Seal, and Holy Mother Wusheng finished refining the Black Flame Earth Buddha into a mid-rank magic treasure.
• Holy Mother Wusheng attacked the Alliance and challenged Shangguan Xiong, then revealed that she was Shangguan Wan'er, leader of the Black Lotus Sect and ninth-generation successor of the Black Buddha Sect.
• Shangguan Xiong's Four Symbols Seal clashed with the Black Flame Earth Buddha, and Chen Changming secretly watched from the forest as he realized the Buddha was a mid-rank magic treasure.

Holy Mother Wusheng and Shangguan Xiong fought a fierce battle until both were badly wounded, giving Chen Changming the opening to kill Holy Mother Wusheng. As he pursued her Primordial Spirit, Shangguan Xiong ambushed him with an arrow, which exploded against Chen Changming’s purple bone.

• Holy Mother Wusheng and Shangguan Xiong exchanged treasures, talismans, and attacks, exhausting their blood essence and magical power.
• Shangguan Xiong detonated the Four Symbols Seal, then wounded Holy Mother Wusheng with a hidden arrow from his small bow.
• Holy Mother Wusheng sent the Black Flame Earth Buddha after Shangguan Xiong, but he fired another arrow, which she stopped by sacrificing the Buddha’s head.
• Chen Changming rushed in and beheaded Holy Mother Wusheng with the Geng-Gold Sword, then pursued her escaping Primordial Spirit with Spirit Finger Flicks.
• Shangguan Xiong secretly shot Chen Changming in the back, but the arrow stopped at his purple bone and exploded.

Chen Changming killed Shangguan Xiong by throwing his Geng-Gold Sword, then burned away Shangguan Xiong’s surviving Primordial Spirit and healed his wounds with the Heavenly Furnace Body-Forging Art. As the battle between the Demon-Slaying Alliance and the Black Lotus Sect raged on, he secretly helped Luo Lan escape the melee by driving off a Beast for her to pursue.

• Shangguan Xiong shot Chen Changming with a small arrow, but Chen Changming hurled the Geng-Gold Sword through his head.
• Shangguan Xiong’s Primordial Spirit tried to possess Chen Changming, but Chen Changming’s reinforced skull stopped it and his purple flames burned it away.
• Chen Changming healed his wounds, collected the Little Bow and Storage Rings, and stored the Black Flame Earth Buddha, damaged black net, and black lotuses.
• Chen Changming returned to the battle and used his thrown Geng-Gold Sword to kill an Iron-Backed Azure Eagle attacking Luo Lan.
• Chen Changming warned Luo Lan that both Golden Core cultivators had fallen and urged her to leave the battlefield; he then drove an Iron-Backed Azure Eagle away so she could pursue it out of the melee.

Chen Changming rescued Luo Lan from the Iron-Backed Azure Eagle, then watched the battle and learned that Holy Mother Wusheng’s Primordial Spirit was inside the Ancient Demon’s body. The Demon-Slaying Alliance and Black Lotus Sect agreed to stop fighting, and the four Vice Alliance Leaders headed toward the battlefield where the Golden Core cultivators had fought.

• Chen Changming killed the Iron-Backed Azure Eagle with the Geng-Gold Sword and helped Luo Lan retreat to a concealed mountaintop.
• Yu Tiangong entered the Demonic Qi Well and learned that Holy Mother Wusheng’s Primordial Spirit had escaped into the Ancient Demon’s body, but she could not help him without her Storage Ring.
• Holy Mother Wusheng cried out as the Ancient Demon’s remnant consciousness appeared to try to devour her.
• Yu Tiangong returned to the battle, where Cheng Hanhai called for a ceasefire because both sides had suffered devastating losses.
• Yu Tiangong withdrew with the Black Lotus Sect disciples and Beasts, while Cheng Hanhai and the other Vice Alliance Leaders flew toward the Golden Core battlefield.