Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Feng encounters two powerful spirit creatures, a Black Wolf and an Ape Spirit, sent by the Valley Master to test him.
• He uses his Gu techniques and Exotic Gu to outmaneuver and poison the spirit creatures, eventually defeating them.
• Liu Feng discovers a silk scroll on the Ape Spirit, revealing it practiced Buddhism, not martial arts.

Character Developments

• Liu Feng demonstrates his ability to use Gu techniques and Exotic Gu effectively in combat, showcasing his adaptability and resourcefulness.
• He discovers the true nature of the Ape Spirit, hinting at a deeper connection between Buddhism and the spirit creatures.

Significant Themes

• The power of adaptability and resourcefulness in combat.
• The connection between Buddhism and the spirit creatures, hinting at a deeper mystery.

Character Interactions

• Liu Feng faces off against the Black Wolf and Ape Spirit, showcasing his ability to strategize and use his Gu techniques effectively.
• The Gu Servants, including Ma Kun, watch the battle and discuss Liu Feng's potential, hoping he will challenge Liu Xing.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Feng encounters an Ape Spirit and a Black Wolf Spirit, which he defeats and absorbs their essence to cultivate.
• He finds a Buddhist cultivation manual, the Diamond Demon-Subduing Sutra, which focuses on cultivating Buddha power through the skeleton.
• Liu Feng decides to cultivate this path to reach the First Buddha Root realm and patch up his shortcomings.

Character Developments

• Liu Feng: Becomes intrigued by the Buddhist cultivation method and decides to pursue it.
• Ape Spirit: Reveals prejudice against spirits and monsters, but also shows knowledge of the Buddha's path.

Significant Themes

• The combination of martial arts, Taoist, and Buddhist cultivation methods.
• The pursuit of power and self-improvement.
• The struggle for survival and self-preservation among Gu children.

Character Interactions

• Liu Feng interacts with the Ape Spirit, showing disregard for its prejudice against spirits and monsters.
• Liu Feng's actions and decisions influence the other Gu children, who now see him as a powerful force to be reckoned with.
• The Gu children, including Su Jing and Su Anjie, and the Gu Servants, discuss Liu Feng's actions and the potential outcomes for their own futures.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Feng sprouts a wisp of golden light on his spine, indicating progress in the Buddhist Guidance Technique.
• Liu Feng encounters Third Senior Brother Zhu Li and Second Senior Brother Shen Yushu, who order him to the Valley Master.
• The five new Gu Masters are summoned to the Valley Master, who orders them to fight to the death within a stone chamber, with only two survivors allowed.

Character Developments

• Liu Feng shows maturity and calmness in the face of danger.
• Liu Xing's madness and resentment resurface.
• Yan Hongda accepts his fate and is ready to die.
• The Valley Master, Lu Huai, is revealed to be a ruthless and powerful figure who views humans as nourishment.

Significant Themes

• Survival of the fittest and the harsh environment of the Insect Valley.
• The power dynamics and cruelty of the Valley Master.
• The struggle for survival and the consequences of failure.

Character Interactions

• Liu Feng and Yan Hongda form a temporary alliance.
• Liu Xing, Niu Yuanshan, and Chen Xiaocui show hostility toward Liu Feng.
• The Valley Master shows no mercy or regard for the lives of the new Gu Masters.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter takes place in the Gu Cave, where five Gu Masters are forced to fight to the death due to the swarm of Gu insects and toxic mist.
• Liu Feng, Liu Xing, Chen Xiaocui, Niu Yuanshan, and Yan Hongda are the participants.
• Liu Feng uses his Mind Eye Technique to outmaneuver his opponents, while Liu Xing, Chen Xiaocui, and Niu Yuanshan rely on their Twenty-Two Eyes and other Gu techniques.
• Liu Feng kills Chen Xiaocui, Niu Yuanshan, and Liu Xing, using his superior Gu and physical prowess.
• He traps Yan Hongda in a trance, planning to kill him last to prevent any alerts to the Valley Master.

Character Developments

• Liu Feng demonstrates his superior Gu skills and physical strength, using his Mind Eye Technique to anticipate and counter his opponents' moves.
• Liu Xing feels powerless and frustrated, comparing himself to his failed past and the inferiority of his Exotic Gu against Liu Feng.
• Chen Xiaocui, Niu Yuanshan, and Yan Hongda show their desperation and fear as they struggle to defeat Liu Feng.

Significant Themes

• The power of Gu and the importance of mastering them.
• The consequences of underestimating an opponent.
• The struggle for survival and dominance in the Gu world.

Character Interactions

• Liu Feng vs. Liu Xing, Chen Xiaocui, Niu Yuanshan, and Yan Hongda: Liu Feng demonstrates his superiority, while the others struggle to keep up.
• Liu Xing vs. Liu Feng: Liu Xing feels inferior and frustrated, comparing himself to his past self and the power of Liu Feng's Gu.
• Chen Xiaocui, Niu Yuanshan, and Yan Hongda vs. Liu Feng: They attempt to work together but fail due to Liu Feng's overwhelming power.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Feng, Liu Xing, Niu Yuanshan, and Yan Hongda compete in a deadly trial to become the fourth disciple of Insect Valley.
• Liu Feng uses his Gu arts and Soldier Gu "Split-Tooth" to defeat his opponents, killing them one by one.
• Liu Feng spares Yan Hongda, but Valley Master Lu Huai intervenes and feeds Yan Hongda to his Soldier Gu "Intestine Fish."
• Liu Feng is declared the fourth disciple of Insect Valley.

Character Developments

• Liu Feng demonstrates his prowess in Gu arts and his ruthlessness in eliminating his opponents.
• Yan Hongda shows kindness and loyalty by wanting to save his fellow Gu Children, but ultimately meets a tragic end.
• Valley Master Lu Huai reveals his cold and calculating nature, using the Gu Children as resources for his own purposes.

Significant Themes

• Survival of the fittest: Only the strongest Gu Master survives the trial, reflecting the harsh and unforgiving world of the Insect Valley.
• Ruthlessness and pragmatism: Liu Feng and Lu Huai exhibit no mercy in their pursuit of power and knowledge, even at the cost of others' lives.
• Manipulation and control: Lu Huai manipulates the Gu Children to further his own goals, demonstrating his power and influence within the Insect Valley.

Character Interactions

• Liu Feng and his opponents (Liu Xing, Niu Yuanshan, and Yan Hongda) engage in a deadly battle, showcasing their Gu arts and strategies.
• Liu Feng and Yan Hongda briefly interact, with Liu Feng offering to save Yan Hongda's life in exchange for an Exotic Gu.
• Lu Huai interacts with Liu Feng and Yan Hongda, revealing his true intentions and ultimately deciding their fates.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Feng witnesses Yan Hongda, his senior brother, being swallowed alive by a monster fish, causing him to reflect on his own precarious position in Insect Valley.
• Lu Huai orders Liu Feng to recuperate and prepare for a journey with his senior brothers once the Medicine Slave awakens.
• Liu Feng returns to Insect Valley, where he is greeted by the Gu Children and learns that he is now the Fourth Senior Brother.
• He kills Ma Kun, a former leader of the Gu Children who had become a Gu Servant, to eliminate a potential threat.
• Liu Feng asks Fang Xing and Hu Xiangyang, two Gu Servants, to secretly look after Leng Qiuyue while he is away and rewards them with Blood Qi Pills.
• Leng Qiuyue arrives at the Stone Chamber, and Liu Feng gives her pills to strengthen her physique. He also notices her bashful behavior towards him.

Character Developments

• Liu Feng becomes more assertive and confident in his role as the Fourth Senior Brother, demonstrating his power and authority by killing Ma Kun.
• He shows concern for Leng Qiuyue's well-being and takes steps to protect her, indicating a growing attachment.
• Leng Qiuyue develops feelings for Liu Feng, likely due to his repeated acts of kindness and his new status in Insect Valley.

Significant Themes

• Survival of the fittest and the harsh reality of the Gu Master's path.
• The power dynamics within Insect Valley and the importance of status and strength.
• The development of romantic feelings between Liu Feng and Leng Qiuyue.

Character Interactions

• Liu Feng interacts with Lu Huai, his master, who orders him to recuperate and prepare for a journey.
• He confronts Ma Kun, killing him to eliminate a potential threat.
• Liu Feng interacts with Fang Xing and Hu Xiangyang, asking them to look after Leng Qiuyue and rewarding them with pills.
• He meets Leng Qiuyue, giving her pills to strengthen her physique and noticing her bashful behavior towards him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Feng examines Leng Qiuyue's Poison Qi and accidentally touches her face, causing her to react strangely.
• Liu Feng decides to refine three Exotic Gu and a Blood Vine to recover from his injuries and improve his skills.
• The Medicine Slave, Li Si, awakens in the Insect Valley, and the Third and Second Senior Brothers, Zhu Li and Shen Yushu, prepare to control him.

Character Developments

• Liu Feng: Realizes Leng Qiuyue's dependence on him and decides to help her become a Gu Master. He also plans to improve his skills by refining Gu and practicing the Diamond Demon-Subduing Sutra.
• Leng Qiuyue: Becomes more bashful and distracted after her encounter with Liu Feng, possibly developing feelings for him.
• Li Si (Medicine Slave): Awakens with a muddled mind but regains some clarity after Shen Yushu uses a Nightmare Gu Larva on him.

Significant Themes

• Control and Power: The Senior Brothers' control over the Medicine Slave and the Gu Children highlights the power dynamics within the Insect Valley.
• Dependence and Manipulation: Leng Qiuyue's dependence on Liu Feng and Li Si's manipulation by the Senior Brothers showcase the theme of dependence and its consequences.
• Transformation and Growth: Liu Feng's decision to improve his skills and Leng Qiuyue's potential romantic feelings indicate personal growth and transformation.

Character Interactions

• Liu Feng and Leng Qiuyue: Liu Feng's accidental touch causes Leng Qiuyue to blush and flee, hinting at a growing connection between them.
• Zhu Li and Shen Yushu: The two Senior Brothers work together to control Li Si upon his awakening, displaying their partnership and shared responsibility.
• Li Si and Shen Yushu: Li Si recognizes Shen Yushu from his past and follows his orders, showing the power dynamics between a Medicine Slave and a Gu Master.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Si, the Medicine Slave, wakes up and mutters incoherently.
• Liu Feng and Zhu Li are tasked with taking Li Si to Shao Mountain to investigate Eldest Senior Brother Pang Gang's whereabouts.
• Insect Valley Young Miss Lu Yao tries to join the trip and flirts with Liu Feng.
• Liu Feng is given an Insect Crystal by Lu Yao as a reward.
• The group departs in a carriage driven by hunters.

Character Developments

• Liu Feng: Shows reluctance to accept Lu Yao's advances and is given an Insect Crystal, adding to his burden and suspicions.
• Lu Yao: Demonstrates her interest in Liu Feng and uses her charm to try and join the trip.
• Li Si: Wakes up but remains incoherent, suggesting his mental state is still fragile.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and manipulation within Insect Valley, as seen through Lu Yao's attempts to join the trip and her gift to Liu Feng.
• The pursuit of strength and resources, represented by the Insect Crystal given to Liu Feng.

Character Interactions

• Liu Feng and Lu Yao: Lu Yao flirts with Liu Feng, trying to join the trip and giving him an Insect Crystal, while Liu Feng remains guarded and reluctant.
• Liu Feng and Zhu Li: Zhu Li handles Lu Yao's advances, and the two discuss their plans for the trip.
• The Gu children and Insect Valley residents: They watch the interactions between Liu Feng, Lu Yao, and the others, gossiping and speculating about the events unfolding.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Refugees struggle to survive along a dried-up river, scavenging for food.
• A group of servants recruit children to serve as servants, offering food and shelter.
• A troop of soldiers, led by Captain Ma, arrives and massacres the refugees blocking their path.
• Another carriage, carrying a mysterious Second Master and his hunters, passes by the scene of the massacre.

Character Developments

• The refugees are desperate and willing to do anything for survival, including selling their children.
• Captain Ma is indifferent to human life and orders the massacre without hesitation.
• The Second Master is mysterious and powerful, slaughtering those who block his path.

Significant Themes

• Survival of the fittest: The strong prey on the weak in this chaotic world.
• Desperation: Refugees are willing to sell their children to ensure their own survival.
• Indifference: Captain Ma shows no remorse for ordering the massacre of innocent people.

Character Interactions

• Refugees clash with servants over recruiting children.
• Captain Ma orders his soldiers to massacre the refugees.
• The Second Master's hunters clear the road of corpses without interacting with the remaining refugees.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group travels through a stormy night in a carriage.
• They arrive at an abandoned manor, seeking shelter from the rain.
• Inside the manor, they meet two hunters who offer them food and shelter.
• Unbeknownst to the humans, Gu insects have infested the manor.

Character Developments

• Shen Yushu (Second Master): He remains calm and collected, showing no concern about the potential danger in the manor.
• Liu Feng (Fourth Junior Brother): He continues to practice Buddhism, showing progress in his bone body cultivation.
• Zhu Li (Third Senior Brother): He remains vigilant and is ready to act if necessary.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural Evils: The presence of Gu insects underscores the prevalence of supernatural evils in this world.
• Greed and Ambition: Shen Yushu's comment about Liu Feng's greed for both Gu Master and Buddhist methods hints at the characters' ambitions.

Character Interactions

• Shen Yushu and Liu Feng: There's a tense dynamic between them, with Shen Yushu often provoking Liu Feng, who remains indifferent.
• The Group and the Hunters: The group interacts with the hunters, accepting their hospitality without revealing their true intentions or powers.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group enters a hunter's home, where they find a large haul of game and smoked meat.
• They are led to a side room after dinner, where they discover black specks (Gu insects) crawling in through the cracks.
• Shen Yushu identifies the insects as Gu insects released by the hunter's son, who is a Gu Master.
• They learn there are twelve Living Dead in other side rooms.
• Shen Yushu's vegetation Gu worms detect something draining their vitality.
• Liu Feng's Soldier Gu, Split-Tooth, finds a Corpse-Eating Gall hidden in the debris.
• Zhu Li leaves to investigate a commotion at the stables.
• Liu Feng and Shen Yushu discover a hidden space beneath the floor, from which black water starts bubbling up.
• Shen Yushu uses his Gu worms to pinpoint and attack the source of the black water.

Character Developments

• Old Huang and Little Fuzi are exhausted and fall into a deep sleep, unaware of the danger.
• Shen Yushu demonstrates his sensitivity to vitality through his Gu worms and his ability to control them.
• Liu Feng uses his Soldier Gu, Split-Tooth, to find and destroy the Corpse-Eating Gall.
• Zhu Li shows his combat prowess by rushing out to investigate the stables without hesitation.

Significant Themes

• The theme of survival is evident as the group faces an unknown threat draining their vitality.
• The theme of Gu Masters and their Gu insects is explored, with Shen Yushu and the hunter's son both using Gu.

Character Interactions

• Old Huang and Little Fuzi interact with the hunter and his son, with Old Huang exchanging pleasantries.
• Liu Feng, Shen Yushu, and Zhu Li work together to identify and combat the threat in the room.
• Liu Feng and Shen Yushu coordinate their actions, with Liu Feng keeping watch while Shen Yushu uses his Gu worms to find and attack the source of the black water.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Feng and Shen Yushu encounter an Evil Specter, a woman buried alive by the Old Hunter.
• The Old Hunter appears, revealing himself to be a Walking Corpse, a powerful undead creature.
• Li Si, a Medicine Slave, arrives and subdues the Walking Corpse with immense strength.
• Shen Yushu uses the Vine Wood Spirit to drain the Walking Corpse's vitality.
• Zhu Li, the Third Senior Brother, is engaged in a fierce battle with another Walking Corpse at the stables.

Character Developments

• Shen Yushu's true nature is revealed; he is a cruel and power-hungry Gu Master.
• The Old Hunter is revealed to be a Walking Corpse, a powerful undead creature.
• Li Si, the Medicine Slave, demonstrates immense strength and is ordered to assist Zhu Li.

Significant Themes

• The corrupting influence of power and the pursuit of immortality.
• The consequences of burying the living, as seen with the Evil Specter.
• The struggle between the living and the undead.

Character Interactions

• Liu Feng and Shen Yushu work together to face the Walking Corpse but have different goals.
• The Old Hunter and Shen Yushu clash, with the Old Hunter seeking revenge for his daughter-in-law.
• Li Si assists Liu Feng and Shen Yushu, demonstrating his immense strength and loyalty to Shen Yushu.
• Zhu Li is engaged in a separate battle, with Liu Feng ordered to assist him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Feng and Zhu Li encounter and defeat two Walking Corpses and seven Living Dead at an abandoned manor.
• Shen Yushu arrives and decides to track and eliminate a Hunting Falcon Spirit Monster that fled the scene.
• The group follows the falcon to a bandit hideout, where they discover a white-haired old man (Grand Master) submerged in a pool of Blood Medicine.

Character Developments

• Liu Feng: Shows bravery and skill in combat, learns to use a Blood Crystal, and begins to understand the risks and rewards of their mission.
• Shen Yushu: Demonstrates his tracking abilities with the "Mountain God" Exotic Gu and his willingness to take risks for greater rewards.
• Zhu Li: Shows no hesitation in consuming a Blood Crystal and follows Shen Yushu's lead without question.
• The Falcon Spirit Monster: Reveals its ability to speak and expresses fear when facing Grand Master.

Significant Themes

• Risk and reward: The characters are willing to take risks to gain greater rewards, as seen in Shen Yushu's decision to track the Hunting Falcon.
• Power dynamics: The group's power dynamics are evident in their interactions, with Shen Yushu taking the lead and Zhu Li following his orders.
• The consequences of actions: The fate of the manor's inhabitants serves as a reminder of the harsh consequences of their actions.

Character Interactions

• Liu Feng and Zhu Li: Work together to defeat the Walking Corpses and Living Dead, with Zhu Li showing concern for Liu Feng's safety.
• Shen Yushu, Zhu Li, and Liu Feng: The trio works together to track and eliminate the Hunting Falcon, with Shen Yushu taking the lead and Liu Feng following reluctantly.
• The Falcon Spirit Monster and Grand Master: The falcon shows fear when facing Grand Master, hinting at the old man's power and influence.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Feng and his companions track down the bandits and their leader, a Corpse Refiner, to a cave.
• Liu Feng uses his Gu insects and Mind Eye Technique to defeat the bandits, while his companions pursue the Corpse Refiner.
• The Corpse Refiner, revealed to be the Grand Master of the bandits, faces off against Shen Yushu, Zhu Li, and Li Si in a stone cavern.

Character Developments

• Liu Feng demonstrates his power and strategic thinking in defeating the bandits.
• Shen Yushu and Zhu Li show their teamwork and Gu Master skills against the Corpse Refiner.
• Li Si, the Medicine Slave, reveals his hidden strength and becomes a formidable fighter.

Significant Themes

• The power and danger of Gu Masters.
• The ruthlessness and desperation of the bandits and their leader.
• The importance of teamwork and strategy in combat.

Character Interactions

• Liu Feng works independently to handle the bandits while his companions pursue the Corpse Refiner.
• Shen Yushu and Zhu Li coordinate their attacks against the Corpse Refiner, using Li Si as a powerful weapon.
• The Corpse Refiner underestimates his opponents, leading to his eventual defeat.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Feng defeats the Falcon Spirit Monster and leaves fourteen bandits to be hosts for the Gu.
• Liu Feng reaches the stone chamber to find Li Si battling a white-haired Corpse Refiner.
• The Corpse Refiner, on the brink of death, uses a secret technique to boost his power.
• Liu Feng uses his Insight Eye to identify the Corpse Refiner's weaknesses and guides Li Si to strike them.
• Li Si extracts a unique blood crystal from the Corpse Refiner's heart.

Character Developments

• Liu Feng demonstrates his growth by defeating the Falcon Spirit Monster and using his Insight Eye to analyze the Corpse Refiner.
• Li Si, as the Medicine Slave, shows improved combat prowess under Liu Feng's guidance.
• The white-haired Corpse Refiner reveals a hidden power-up technique.

Significant Themes

• The power of observation and insight, as demonstrated by Liu Feng's Insight Eye.
• The theme of hidden strengths and secrets, shown by the Corpse Refiner's technique and the unique blood crystal.
• The consequences of one's actions, as the bandits face the same fate they had inflicted on others.

Character Interactions

• Liu Feng, Zhu Li, and Shen Yushu work together to combat the Corpse Refiner, with Liu Feng guiding Li Si.
• The dynamic between Liu Feng and Li Si changes as Liu Feng takes on a more active role in guiding the Medicine Slave.
• Zhu Li and Shen Yushu consider abandoning Li Si but ultimately decide against it.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Feng and his group discover a tiny, diamond-shaped blood crystal in the Stone Chamber, which is incredibly powerful and dangerous.
• They realize that the Corpse Refiner's blood crystal has been taken, and he is dying.
• Liu Feng uses his Fate Eye to see a vision of the future where Shen Yushu betrays him and Zhu Li, leading to their deaths.
• They decide to sell the blood crystal as soon as possible to avoid trouble.

Character Developments

• Liu Feng becomes more cautious and suspicious, especially of Shen Yushu.
• Zhu Li and Shen Yushu remain mostly the same, but Shen Yushu's true colors are hinted at.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal and trust: Liu Feng's vision shows Shen Yushu's potential betrayal, highlighting the theme of trust and its fragility.
• Power and danger: The blood crystal's immense power also brings great danger, emphasizing the double-edged nature of power.

Character Interactions

• Liu Feng, Zhu Li, and Shen Yushu work together to sell the blood crystal but grow increasingly wary of each other.
• Liu Feng's relationship with Shen Yushu becomes strained due to the vision of betrayal.
• Liu Feng, Zhu Li, and Shen Yushu encounter a group of Red Moon Cult demons and soldiers on their way to sell the crystal, setting up potential future conflicts.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group encounters soldiers who mistake them for bandits due to the presence of the Blood Crystal.
• Shen Yushu, in disguise, leaves to sell the Blood Crystal to the notorious magistrate of Lunan County.
• Liu Feng and Zhu Li discuss their plans to reach Shao Mountain and find Eldest Senior Brother, potentially facing the White Sun Sect.

Character Developments

• Liu Feng becomes more cautious and strategic, considering the potential consequences of his actions.
• Shen Yushu demonstrates his cunning and resourcefulness in his plan to sell the Blood Crystal.
• Zhu Li shows concern for Liu Feng's safety and offers guidance.

Significant Themes

• Causality and the potential consequences of actions.
• The struggle between good and evil, represented by the Red Moon Cult and the group's mission.
• The power dynamics between different factions, such as the Insect Valley and the White Sun Sect.

Character Interactions

• Liu Feng and Zhu Li discuss their plans and share their thoughts on the situation.
• Shen Yushu parts ways with the group to sell the Blood Crystal, demonstrating his independent nature.
• The group encounters a disheveled Daoist at the restaurant, foreshadowing potential future events or encounters.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A slovenly Daoist is beaten by fellow disciples of the White Sun Sect, suspected of mocking them.
• Liu Feng discovers the Daoist has no internal organs and is filled with a colorless, muddy sludge, suggesting he's not human.
• Liu Feng receives a piece of spirit medicine from Shen Yushu, which allows him to hatch his second Exotic Gu, 'Fire Eater,' ahead of schedule.
• Liu Feng experiences a significant chill and heat while hatching the Exotic Gu, also affecting nearby disciples.

Character Developments

• Liu Feng: Shows concern for the unjustly beaten Daoist and is excited about hatching his second Exotic Gu.
• Zhu Li: Shows concern for Liu Feng's well-being when he senses the unusual cold coming from Liu Feng's room.
• The Daoist: Revealed to be inhuman and potentially dangerous.

Significant Themes

• Injustice: The Daoist is beaten unfairly.
• Supernatural Elements: The Daoist's inhuman nature and the Exotic Gu's hatching process.
• Power Dynamics: The White Sun Sect disciples' bullying of the Daoist.

Character Interactions

• Liu Feng and Zhu Li: Zhu Li checks on Liu Feng after sensing the cold from his room.
• Liu Feng and the Daoist: Liu Feng observes the Daoist's unusual nature but keeps his distance.
• The White Sun Sect disciples and the Daoist: The disciples beat the Daoist, suspecting he mocked them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Feng hatches the "Fire Eater" Exotic Gu, which transforms his blood and allows him to generate Gu fire by burning his own blood.
• A scream from a nearby room reveals a gruesome murder: a man is found dead, his internal organs spread out and stuck to the wall, a result of a Daoist's sinister art.
• Liu Feng, Shen Yushu, and Zhu Li decide to leave for Shao Mountain, stopping to pick up their waiting bandits.

Character Developments

• Liu Feng: He successfully hatches the "Fire Eater" Gu, gaining a new ability and demonstrating his growing prowess as a Gu Master.
• Shen Yushu: She shows concern for the safety of others and decides to leave for Shao Mountain to investigate the murder.
• Zhu Li: He expresses knowledge about the history of Daoist sects and their decline into demonic practices.

Significant Themes

• The dark side of Daoist cultivation and the decline of orthodox Daoist practices.
• The chaotic and dangerous nature of the world, as seen through the gruesome murder and the presence of a cat demon.

Character Interactions

• Liu Feng, Shen Yushu, and Zhu Li: They work together to investigate the murder and decide to leave for Shao Mountain.
• Liu Feng and the tavern guests: They witness the aftermath of the murder and discuss the nature of the Daoist's art.
• Liu Feng and the tavern keeper: The keeper offers a word of comfort to the young woman who lost her senior brother.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Four madmen appear in Yi Family Village near Shao Mountain, driven out by villagers due to their violent behavior.
• Three carriages, carrying Shen Yushu, Zhu Li, Liu Feng, and others, ignore the villagers' warnings and head towards Shao Mountain.
• Upon reaching the mountain, two bandits sent to investigate disappear without a trace.
• The group decides to proceed together, tied by vines, towards a suspicious old man in green robes on the mountainside.

Character Developments

• The four madmen from the village are revealed to have been normal before entering Shao Mountain, suggesting the mountain's influence.
• Liu Feng demonstrates his caution and analytical thinking by suggesting a change in path.
• Shen Yushu shows confidence and decisiveness in his approach to the situation, believing the path won't make a difference due to the White Sun Sect's traps.

Significant Themes

• The corrupting influence of Shao Mountain on those who enter it.
• The danger posed by the White Sun Sect's traps and the need for caution.
• The dynamics of leadership and decision-making within the group.

Character Interactions

• The villagers' fear and hostility towards the four madmen and the outsiders.
• The bandits' willingness to follow orders despite the supernatural danger.
• Liu Feng, Shen Yushu, and Zhu Li's strategic discussion and decision-making process.
• The old man in green robes' eerie behavior and interaction with the group from a distance.