Recaps

Chen Changming traveled toward a Medicine Sect teleportation array and stopped in Flying Sunset City to buy herbs for a Spirit Transformation Pill. At the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, Alchemist Wen recognized the significance of his purchase and decided to meet him herself.

• Chen Changming used his Medicine Sect identity token to locate a teleportation point and headed toward it after putting distance between himself and the Elder Council.
• Chen Changming reached Flying Sunset City after two days and entered to gather supplementary herbs for a Spirit Transformation Pill.
• Chen Changming gave Qi Xiaoqi a list of herbs at the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, and Qi Xiaoqi dismissed him as a poor Rogue Cultivator.
• Alchemist Wen examined the list, realized the herbs were for a Spirit Transformation Pill, and learned Chen Changming was at the Fifth Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm.
• Alchemist Wen ordered Qi Xiaoqi to take her to Chen Changming, but Qi Xiaoqi questioned why she would receive such a minor cultivator in person.

Chen Changming met Wen Xiaoyu, a former comrade now a Void Refinement Realm alchemist, at Myriad Medicine Pavilion while concealing their past connection. Wen Xiaoyu offered to pay double the market price for his Spirit Transformation Herb, then revealed she was collecting herbs to refine pills for an old friend whose cultivation had stalled.

• Pill Master Wen came to the hall expecting to find someone else, then asked Chen Changming whether he wanted Spirit Transformation Pills.
• Chen Changming recognized Wen Xiaoyu from their years in Yi Fire Third Squad but kept his identity hidden.
• Wen Xiaoyu learned Chen Changming had a Spirit Transformation Herb and offered him two hundred thousand Spirit Jade for it.
• Qi Xiaoqi objected to Wen Xiaoyu paying so far above market price, while Shopkeeper Zhao remarked that she had already bought several such herbs.
• Wen Xiaoyu explained that she wanted to refine Spirit Transformation Pills for an old friend whose cultivation had been stagnant for many years.

Chen Changming realized Wen Xiaoyu wanted to buy his Spirit Transformation Herb to make pills for the cultivation avatar he had left in Vermilion Bird Barracks. He agreed to sell it at the normal price, then asked Wen Xiaoyu to help with an incomplete pill formula.

• Wen Xiaoyu explained that Divine Physician Ning had saved her life and guided her in the Vermilion Bird Barracks, so she wanted to refine Spirit Transformation Pills for him.
• Shopkeeper Zhao recognized Divine Physician Ning’s reputation and offered Chen Changming a ten percent discount on future purchases from Myriad Medicine Pavilion if he sold the herb.
• Chen Changming agreed to sell the Spirit Transformation Herb to Wen Xiaoyu for one hundred thousand spirit jade instead of the doubled price she had offered.
• Chen Changming asked Wen Xiaoyu to help complete some ingredient ratios in an incomplete pill formula he possessed.

Chen Changming used an incomplete pill formula as a pretext to meet Wen Xiaoyu privately and reveal Captain Cheng Lie. The old comrades reunited in Flying Sunset City and agreed to share a drink.

• Wen Xiaoyu invited Chen Changming to a sealed private room to examine his supposed pill formula.
• Chen Changming summoned Cheng Lie, startling Wen Xiaoyu, who recognized him as her former captain.
• Cheng Lie revealed that Chen Changming was Ning Jin, and Wen Xiaoyu excitedly recognized her old comrade.
• Chen Changming explained that he had traveled the world, while Cheng Lie kept his current strength and danger from Wen Xiaoyu.
• The three Yi Fire Third Squad comrades celebrated their reunion and agreed that Wen Xiaoyu would pay for a drink.

Chen Changming, Wen Xiaoyu, and Cheng Lie reunited over a lavish meal at the Heavenly Pavilion, where they drank and shared old camaraderie. Wen Xiaoyu gave Chen Changming enough herbs for ten batches of Spirit Transformation Pills, offering him a chance to greatly advance his cultivation.

• Wen Xiaoyu told Shopkeeper Zhao that she and Chen Changming had business to discuss, then led Chen Changming to the Heavenly Pavilion.
• Wen Xiaoyu reserved Heaven No. 9 Private Room and ordered the tavern's finest wine and dishes.
• Wen Xiaoyu activated the room's formation, and Chen Changming summoned Cheng Lie from the Universe Pagoda.
• Chen Changming, Wen Xiaoyu, and Cheng Lie toasted their reunion and began drinking together.
• Wen Xiaoyu gave Chen Changming a Storage Ring containing herbs for ten batches of Spirit Transformation Pills.

Chen Changming received the ingredients Wen Xiaoyu had gathered for Spirit Transformation Pills while keeping his true strength secret from her. Their drinking was interrupted by Ding Yunhe, who brought Dong Xueqi to Heavenly Pavilion and asked for the Ninth Heaven Room.

• Wen Xiaoyu gave Chen Changming nine Spirit Transformation Herbs and many supplementary medicines to help him refine Spirit Transformation Pills and reach the Void Refinement Realm.
• Cheng Lie kept silent about Chen Changming's true identity and strength while drinking with Chen Changming and Wen Xiaoyu.
• Ding Yunhe arrived at Heavenly Pavilion with Dong Xueqi and greeted Shopkeeper Xu, who treated him deferentially because he was the deputy city lord's son.
• Ding Yunhe tried to charm Dong Xueqi, but she remained cold and privately resolved not to pursue the marriage alliance her sect wanted.
• Ding Yunhe told Shopkeeper Xu to take him and Dong Xueqi to the Ninth Heaven Room.

Ding Yunhe demanded Heavenly Character Room No. 9 for himself and Dong Xueqi, forcing Shopkeeper Xu to ask Wen Xiaoyu and her companions to move. As Chen Changming prepared to leave Flying Sunset City to evade the Elder Council, Shopkeeper Xu’s request reached the room, leaving Wen Xiaoyu to respond.

• Ding Yunhe ordered Shopkeeper Xu to make Wen Xiaoyu give up Heavenly Character Room No. 9 and move to No. 6.
• Ding Yunhe assured Dong Xueqi that his family’s influence would secure the room, while she showed her dislike of his arrogance.
• Chen Changming told Cheng Lie he would leave for another province to evade a powerful enemy, and Cheng Lie agreed to stay in Flying Sunset City.
• Wen Xiaoyu offered Chen Changming a safe hiding place, but he refused so he would not endanger her or Cheng Lie.
• Shopkeeper Xu activated the room’s communication formation and asked Wen Xiaoyu and her companions to move to No. 6, offering them a fifty-percent discount.

Wen Xiaoyu refused Shopkeeper Xu’s repeated offers to leave her private room, even as Ding Yunhe arrived and ordered the room’s formation shut down. With the room about to be opened, Chen Changming asked Wen Xiaoyu to hide Cheng Lie in her Spatial Spirit Treasure.

• Wen Xiaoyu rejected Shopkeeper Xu’s requests to move rooms and refused his offer of a free meal.
• Shopkeeper Xu offered to waive Wen Xiaoyu’s bills for a month, but she refused again.
• Ding Yunhe mocked Shopkeeper Xu, ordered him to deactivate the formation, and said he would speak with Wen Xiaoyu himself.
• Shopkeeper Xu used a formation token to begin disabling the room’s protective formation.
• Chen Changming asked Wen Xiaoyu to conceal Cheng Lie in a Spatial Spirit Treasure, and she confirmed that she had one.

Chen Changming stayed behind after Wen Xiaoyu left to avoid being implicated in Ding Yunhe’s dispute over the private room. As Ding Yunhe’s guard demanded that Chen leave, Dong Xueqi grew curious about the calm middle-aged cultivator.

• Wen Xiaoyu stored Cheng Lie in her Spatial Spirit Treasure as the room’s restriction vanished.
• Ding Yunhe’s guard smashed open the door, and Ding mocked Wen Xiaoyu for meeting Chen Changming, whom he dismissed as a minor cultivator.
• Chen Changming told Wen Xiaoyu to leave, and she departed after claiming they no longer owed each other anything.
• Wen Xiaoyu said Chen would pay for the wine and dishes, then left the restaurant without looking back.
• Dong Xueqi watched Chen Changming with curiosity while Ding Yunhe’s guard shouted at him to get out.

Chen Changming seized Ding Yunhe and demanded compensation after learning he was the Young City Lord, then attacked a guard who had insulted him. The guards remained too frightened to retaliate, while Chen Changming kept Ding Yunhe in his grasp.

• Chen Changming suddenly grabbed Ding Yunhe by the throat, revealing the close-combat power of his Body Cultivation.
• Ding Yunhe ordered his guards to back away, and Shopkeeper Xu offered compensation to save him.
• Chen Changming demanded five million Ling Yu, and Ding Yunhe told Shopkeeper Xu to pay.
• Chen Changming confirmed the Storage Ring contained five million Ling Yu but continued holding Ding Yunhe.
• Chen Changming struck the Fifth Layer guard twice, knocking him unconscious as the other guards watched in fear.

Chen Changming escaped Flying Sunset City with Ding Yunhe as a hostage while Ding Feng and the guards held back to avoid provoking him. After flying into a desolate mountain range, Chen Changming discovered Dong Xueqi hiding nearby and warned her that she could not save Ding Yunhe.

• Chen Changming took the Ling Yu, threatened to kill Ding Yunhe if anyone pursued him or used tricks, and fled the Heavenly Pavilion with Ding Yunhe.
• The guards chased Chen Changming out of Flying Sunset City, but Dong Xueqi soon flew off in another direction while one guard went to alert Ding Feng.
• Ding Feng located Chen Changming with his divine sense but refrained from closing in, fearing Chen Changming would kill his son; He Yumu appeared and offered help, which Ding Feng refused.
• After an hour of flight, Chen Changming asked Ding Yunhe about his father's cultivation, and Ding Yunhe said Ding Feng was at the Second Layer of the Fusion Realm and promised his father would not retaliate if he were released.
• Chen Changming sensed Dong Xueqi concealed nearby and told her that he could crush Ding Yunhe before she could save him.

Dong Xueqi revealed herself and offered to become Chen Changming’s hostage in exchange for Ding Yunhe, hoping to help him escape and end his pursuit of her. Chen Changming remained suspicious of her motives as she urged him to accept the exchange.

• Chen Changming detected Dong Xueqi hiding nearby, and she revealed herself with an Invisibility Talisman.
• Dong Xueqi asked Chen Changming to release Ding Yunhe, but he refused until he could secure his safety from Ding Feng.
• Dong Xueqi offered to take Ding Yunhe’s place as a hostage, and Ding Yunhe agreed to stop pestering her in return for her help.
• Dong Xueqi explained that Ding Feng would have less reason to attack Chen Changming if Ding Yunhe was no longer the hostage.
• Chen Changming questioned Dong Xueqi’s motives, while she insisted the exchange would benefit all three of them.

Chen Changming helped Dong Xueqi take Ding Yunhe’s place as a hostage, allowing Ding Yunhe to escape and Ding Feng to return to Flying Sunset City. After they reached a secluded valley, Dong Xueqi revealed that she had sought Chen Changming out to team up and explore the cave abode of an ancient Body Cultivator named Marquis Xuangang.

• Dong Xueqi willingly became Chen Changming’s hostage, and Chen Changming released Ding Yunhe.
• Ding Yunhe escaped, thanked Dong Xueqi, and promised not to pursue her as a Dao companion; Ding Feng then took him back to Flying Sunset City.
• Chen Changming flew several thousand li with Dong Xueqi and confirmed that no Second Layer of the Fusion Realm cultivators were nearby.
• Dong Xueqi asked about Chen Changming’s body-refining cultivation, and he challenged her to explain her real purpose.
• Dong Xueqi revealed that she wanted a Body Cultivator partner to explore Marquis Xuangang’s cave abode, an ancient opportunity tied to a cultivator who had nearly reached the Mahayana Realm.

Dong Xueqi tried to persuade Chen Changming to accompany her into Marquis Xuangang's cave abode, promising valuable treasures for both body and sword cultivators. Intrigued by the Xuangang Battle Armor, Chen Changming agreed to go with her while warning her not to deceive him.

• Chen Changming questioned why Dong Xueqi sought his help instead of her fellow sect members, and she explained that the cave abode admitted only body cultivators.
• Dong Xueqi said she wanted to obtain the natal Flying Swords stored inside so she could refine their sword intent and advance her cultivation.
• Dong Xueqi described Marquis Xuangang's Undying Xuangang Scripture and the Xuangang Battle Armor, which Chen Changming found especially appealing because it used vital energy and blood.
• Chen Changming decided to enter the cave abode, confident he could handle any tricks Dong Xueqi attempted.
• Chen Changming warned Dong Xueqi he would hold her accountable if the cave abode yielded nothing, and she promised to die in apology if he gained nothing.

Chen Changming learned about the three trials guarding Marquis Xuangang’s inheritance and agreed to travel with Dong Xueqi to attempt them. As their journey began, Dong Xueqi secretly consulted a mysterious senior about why it favored Chen Shan.

• Dong Xueqi told Chen Changming that two Body Cultivators had died in the puppet trial and described the Nine-Pattern Astral Gate and Thousand-Weight Astral Passage.
• Chen Changming agreed to risk the trials, confident he could claim Marquis Xuangang’s inheritance.
• Dong Xueqi brought out an Immortal Boat, and the two set off together; Chen Changming introduced himself as Chen Shan and claimed to be a wandering cultivator.
• Dong Xueqi praised the prospects of obtaining Marquis Xuangang’s inheritance and Xuangang Battle Armor, while Chen Changming responded without revealing his true thoughts.
• Dong Xueqi used her divine sense to ask a dark bluish-green stone senior why it favored Chen Shan and whether it could see through his cultivation.

Dong Xueqi and the voice within the Dark Teal Stone discussed how to handle Chen Changming while pursuing Marquis Xuangang’s inheritance. A month later, Dong Xueqi led Chen Changming to the cave abode’s hidden entrance, and they entered a whirlpool beneath a gorge’s river.

• The voice in the Dark Teal Stone estimated that Chen Changming had not reached the Fusion Realm and advised Dong Xueqi to seek the side chamber’s sword intent if he remained dangerous.
• Dong Xueqi and Chen Changming traveled through the Falling Cloud Mountains aboard an Immortal Boat while Chen Changming refined Spirit Transformation Pills.
• The Dark Teal Stone’s senior concluded that Chen Changming’s alchemy skills meant his body cultivation was probably no higher than the Seventh Layer of the Void Refinement Realm, easing Dong Xueqi’s concerns.
• Chen Changming stayed wary of Dong Xueqi, while the Heaven-Escaping Spirit Root concealed his body cultivation from Elder Council inspections.
• Dong Xueqi brought Chen Changming to a deep gorge, showed him the whirlpool leading to the hidden world, and flew into it with him following.

Chen Changming and Dong Xueqi reached the first trial at Marquis Xuangang’s cave dwelling, where nine Rune Stones had to be pressed into a gate by a Body Cultivator. Chen Changming began pressing one stone, while Dong Xueqi judged that his strength could help her pursue the inheritance.

• Dong Xueqi led Chen Changming through the stone gate and into the underground chamber containing Marquis Xuangang’s black gate.
• Dong Xueqi demonstrated that attacks against the gate were reflected, and explained that only Body Cultivators could safely press its nine Rune Stones.
• Chen Changming inspected the gate’s warning and asked whether pressing all nine Rune Stones would open it.
• Chen Changming gradually increased his strength until the first Rune Stone began sinking into the gate.
• Dong Xueqi recalled killing two weaker Body Cultivators who had failed the trial and concluded that Chen Changming’s body cultivation was at least above the Sixth Layer of the Void Refinement Realm.

Chen Changming pressed all nine Rune Stones into the stone door, opening the way to Xuangang Marquis's Cave Mansion. He entered the Thousand-Weight Astral Passage ahead of Dong Xueqi, where his magical power was suppressed and Astral Wind Blades awaited.

• Chen Changming pressed the nine Rune Stones into the stone door while pretending to strain against their recoil.
• The stone door opened, revealing the Thousand-Weight Astral Passage, and Dong Xueqi asked Chen Changming to protect her from its Astral Wind Blades.
• Chen Changming entered the passage and discovered that its power suppressed most of his magical power but left his body-refining cultivation unaffected.
• Chen Changming suspected Dong Xueqi could handle the first two trials herself but needed a Body Cultivator to defeat the puppet in the third.
• Chen Changming led Dong Xueqi deeper into the passage and saw dense holes in the walls and ceiling from which Astral Wind Blades could shoot.

Chen Changming crossed the Thousand-Weight Astral Path without injury and reached the third trial, where he discovered that the Silver Puppet resembled those of the Ancient Human Clan. The puppet could not determine Chen Changming’s body-cultivation level and asked whether he was a Body Cultivator.

• Chen Changming punched apart the Astral Wind Blades as he led Dong Xueqi through the corridor, while she compared his performance to Liu Heita’s.
• Chen Changming reached the stone door with Dong Xueqi and refused to reveal his cultivation level when she questioned him.
• Chen Changming entered the stone chamber and saw a Silver Puppet at its center.
• Chen Changming wondered whether Marquis Xuangang or the cave’s formation master had ties to the Ancient Human Clan because the puppet resembled their creations.
• The Silver Puppet failed to discern Chen Changming’s cultivation and asked whether he was a Body Cultivator.

Chen Changming concealed his Body Cultivator strength from the Silver Puppet and claimed to be at the Sixth Layer of the Void Refinement Realm. As the Silver Puppet matched that level, Dong Xueqi and the aged voice worried that Chen Changming’s lie could provoke a fight with a puppet capable of reaching the Tenth Layer.

• Chen Changming confirmed that he was a Body Cultivator, though the Silver Puppet could not discern his true strength.
• Dong Xueqi heard the aged voice urge her to secure Chen Changming’s hidden opportunity after she obtained the sword intent.
• Dong Xueqi activated a defensive Spirit Treasure and prepared to retreat into the Thousand-Weight Astral Passage if the fight became dangerous.
• The Silver Puppet asked Chen Changming’s cultivation level, and Chen Changming claimed he was at the Sixth Layer of the Void Refinement Realm.
• The Silver Puppet matched Chen Changming’s claimed cultivation and announced that defeating him would grant access to Marquis Xuangang’s legacy.
• The aged voice recognized Chen Changming’s claim as a lie and warned Dong Xueqi that the puppet could rise to the peak of the Tenth Layer of the Void Refinement Realm.

Chen Changming fought the Silver Puppet after claiming to be at the Sixth Layer of the Void Refinement Realm, then revealed his violet skin to test whether the puppet recognized his connection to the Ancient Human Clan. The Silver Puppet attacked him at the Tenth Layer, and their battle ended in a standstill as Dong Xueqi and the aged voice watched.

• Chen Changming struck the Silver Puppet with strength from the Seventh Layer and sent it flying, prompting it to question his claimed cultivation.
• Chen Changming insisted that a true genius could fight above his level, and the Silver Puppet's cultivation surged to the Tenth Layer of the Void Refinement Realm.
• Dong Xueqi retreated behind the stone doorway to avoid the Silver Puppet and watched the fight from safety.
• Chen Changming revealed his violet skin, and the Silver Puppet reacted with surprise before declaring that it would test whether he was the real thing.
• Chen Changming and the Silver Puppet exchanged rapid blows, fighting to a standstill while Dong Xueqi and the aged voice recognized his extraordinary strength.

Chen Changming passed the Silver Puppet’s trial and was transported into Marquis Xuangang’s main chamber, while Dong Xueqi entered the Sword Lodge side chamber to seek its sword intent. Chen Changming found heaps of bones, a dead man, and a set of blood-red armor beside instructions for obtaining the Undying Xuangang Scripture.

• Dong Xueqi planned to claim the Elder Sword Intent, then kill Chen Changming and take his secrets.
• The Silver Puppet stopped fighting, confirmed Chen Changming had passed, and revealed a stone door.
• Dong Xueqi congratulated Chen Changming and agreed to search the Sword Lodge while he entered Marquis Xuangang’s main chamber.
• A formation transported Chen Changming through the main chamber’s door, while Dong Xueqi opened the side chamber and entered amid fierce sword intent.
• Chen Changming found piles of bones, a dead middle-aged man, blood-red armor, and instructions to wear the Xuangang Battle Armor and perform discipleship rites to obtain the Undying Xuangang Scripture.

Chen Changming discovered that Marquis Xuangang had hidden a remnant soul inside the Xuangang Battle Armor to seize a suitable body. After putting on the armor, Chen Changming resisted the trap and questioned Marquis Xuangang about his connection to the Ancient Human Clan.

• Chen Changming inspected Marquis Xuangang's corpse and the Xuangang Battle Armor, then tested the corpse by knocking it over before setting it upright again.
• Chen Changming asked the Heaven-Escaping Spirit Root to examine the armor, and it warned him that Marquis Xuangang planned to use the Bloodline Body-Seizing Art to take his body.
• Chen Changming realized the bones in the chamber belonged to Body Cultivators who had passed the trials and become victims of Marquis Xuangang's scheme.
• Chen Changming put on the Xuangang Battle Armor, awakening Marquis Xuangang's remnant soul inside it.
• Marquis Xuangang admitted that he had been waiting for someone whose bloodline suited him, and Chen Changming asked what connected him to the Ancient Human Clan.

Chen Changming learned that Marquis Xuangang was half Ancient Human and had created the Undying Xuangang Scripture after being barred from the Ancient Human Clan’s core inheritance. Marquis Xuangang tried to possess him, but Chen Changming’s defenses repelled both his weakened attack and a desperate surge of power, leaving the marquis shaken and defeated.

• Marquis Xuangang explained that his human mother made his Ancient Human bloodline impure, preventing him from cultivating the deeper parts of the Immortal Furnace Body-Forging Art.
• Chen Changming deduced that Marquis Xuangang had created the Undying Xuangang Scripture after failing to reach the Mahayana Realm, then lured Body Cultivators to his cave to seek a new body.
• Marquis Xuangang sent blood-red light from the Xuangang Battle Armor to enter Chen Changming, but Chen Changming’s body repelled it.
• Marquis Xuangang drew on the armor’s stored blood and vitality to surge to the Second Layer of the Fusion Realm and attack again.
• Chen Changming strengthened his defenses with the power of his Indestructible Demonic Heart and repelled the attack, leaving Marquis Xuangang fearful and unable to understand his strength.

Chen Changming defeated Marquis Xuangang and agreed to avenge him in exchange for the Xuangang Battle Armor. Marquis Xuangang named Li Chengfeng as his enemy and offered Chen Changming the Undying Xuangang Scripture as a complete path to the Mahayana Realm.

• Chen Changming overwhelmed Marquis Xuangang, who accepted his defeat and asked how Chen had become so powerful.
• Chen Changming admitted he wanted the Xuangang Battle Armor, and Marquis Xuangang offered it in exchange for killing his lifelong enemy.
• Chen Changming agreed to avenge Marquis Xuangang, who identified Li Chengfeng, a Mahayana Realm sword cultivator on the Purple Flame Continent, and warned Chen not to confront him recklessly.
• Marquis Xuangang summoned an ancient Jade Slip containing the Undying Xuangang Scripture and offered it to Chen Changming as a complete cultivation path to the Mahayana Realm.