Chapter Summaries

Yu Ci created Equality Heaven to stabilize his inner void by offering up several powerful forces, but the Tai Xuan Seal manifested in an unexpected way. He then contacted Tie Lan and tested a technique that caused sword qi to rise within Chengqitian.

• Yu Ci offered up the Nether Sun Illusory Light, the Jade Tower Sword Sound, and the demonic text, but their clashing power threatened the inner void’s stability.
• Yu Ci bowed toward the south to offer up the Tai Xuan Seal, which appeared without a dharma aspect and instead made the new celestial domain glow throughout.
• Yu Ci sensed how Zhan Shuicheng’s past use of the Tai Xuan Seal had left bodily memories that helped him understand its operation.
• The inner void stabilized and gained a new layer that Yu Ci named Equality Heaven.
• Yu Ci contacted Tie Lan through the Shadow Ghost and asked him to assist with a technique.
• After Yu Ci and Tie Lan meditated, sword qi surged from Chengqitian, and Yu Ci shifted his mind toward it.

True Man Guangwei investigated Du Hu Shan’s unexplained death and heard accounts of others disturbed during meditation. In the Dead Yin Abyss, Yu Ci demonstrated his new Mind Image Clone ability and sought the Shadow Ghost’s advice, leaving the Shadow Ghost strangely unsettled after hearing that Yu Ci had fought Du Hu Shan.

• Jiang Wang led True Man Guangwei to inspect Du Hu Shan’s untouched corpse, which bore no external wounds but showed signs of an attack in his brain palace.
• Zhi Shui and Hong An told Guangwei that they had been disturbed during meditation by an unusual realm, and Guangwei noted that Du Hu Shan’s death made the incidents serious.
• Yu Ci appeared in the Dead Yin Abyss through his Mind Image Clone, astonishing the Shadow Ghost and Tie Lan.
• Yu Ci explained that his ability let him travel through people connected to Chengqitian, but it required both him and his host to expend vital strength.
• Yu Ci described his battle with Du Hu Shan and asked the Shadow Ghost for guidance on the Void Stepping Domain, prompting an unusually strange reaction.

Yu Ci tried to learn how to use his domain from Shadow Ghost while a group of cultivators approached the Yellow Springs River and a powerful attack disturbed the area. Shadow Ghost pushed Yu Ci to test his domain in combat, and Yu Ci discovered he could control an enemy’s breathing.

• Shadow Ghost explained that using a domain for defense demanded an extremely high level of technique, then paused to consider how to guide Yu Ci.
• Eight cultivators gathered by the Yellow Springs River, spread out to investigate, and killed newcomers who provoked them.
• A fire dragon blasted a node in the river’s aura flow, triggering a backlash that swept Yu Ci and Shadow Ghost away despite the Five Sacred Peaks True Form Diagram.
• Yu Ci and Shadow Ghost returned toward the Yellow Springs Secret Mansion, where the group attacked them; Shadow Ghost used Little Five to repel the magical artifacts and suggested Yu Ci practice his domain.
• Yu Ci expanded his starry domain to trap six cultivators and summoned the Black Tortoise Dharma Aspect, then used control over the domain to make one enemy choke and bleed.

Yu Ci used Shadow Ghost’s instruction to conceal himself within his domain and combine it with the Rainbow Cutting Light Extinguishing Method to kill Gao Yong and his subordinates. Shadow Ghost warned that a stronger expert had arrived, leaving Yu Ci to decide how to respond.

• Yu Ci disrupted an enemy’s blood and qi circulation through his domain, and Shadow Ghost urged him to conceal his true position and exploit the domain more fully.
• Gao Yong led his remaining subordinates in a charge, but Yu Ci vanished from their perception beneath the starry domain.
• Gao Yong sensed Lord Hun Liao approaching and redirected his group toward a disturbance in the spiritual light.
• Yu Ci unleashed the Rainbow Cutting Light Extinguishing Method with the tiger Dharma Aspect, killing Gao Yong’s group and destroying their escaping primordial spirits.
• Shadow Ghost praised Yu Ci’s use of the domain and talisman, then pointed out that an expert had arrived.

Yu Ci and his companions concealed themselves while observing Hun Liao, whose sword intent had revealed a hidden expert with power at least equal to a Longevity True Man. As the expert attacked Hun Liao with Crimson Fire Demonic Flame, Hun Liao unleashed a strange sword domain that opened a patch of space in the boiling strata.

• Yu Ci withdrew his domain, then used Xiao Wu’s earth-qi barrier and Grand Unity Star Pivot Clones to hide his group and mislead the approaching swordsman.
• Yu Ci recognized the swordsman as Hun Liao, whom he had fought before, and watched him ignore the clones’ false trails.
• A distant clone detected a hidden expert, so Yu Ci made it explode and drew Hun Liao toward the expert’s location.
• The hidden expert revealed overwhelming power and attacked Hun Liao with a giant flaming hand, which Shadow Ghost identified as Crimson Fire Demonic Flame.
• Shadow Ghost said Yu Ci might survive such a threat by using his domain, then watched Hun Liao’s sword light twist into a fierce ghostlike form and carve out space in the boiling strata.

Yu Ci, Little Five, and the Shadow Ghost watched “Hun Liao” escape a giant hand, only for Zhao Ziyue’s Karmic Fire domain to engulf him. The opposing domains withdrew before they could identify one another, and Karmic Fire then spread toward Little Five and the others.

• The Shadow Ghost recognized “Hun Liao” as a skilled wielder of Spirit-Infused Sword Intent as he escaped the giant hand and used a fire dragon’s attack on the Yellow Springs Secret Mansion to cover his flight.
• A second domain of Karmic Fire appeared, fused with the giant hand’s domain, and burned “Hun Liao” to death.
• The expanding domains reached Little Five, but both sides abruptly withdrew instead of fighting, preventing Yu Ci and the others from identifying their opponent.
• Yu Ci concluded that Zhao Ziyue had escaped Solitary Hell with Karmic Fire and that his symbiotic cat had received him outside; the Shadow Ghost remembered Yu Ci’s devil seed was still inside the secret mansion.
• Karmic Fire spread along the edge of Little Five’s domain, and Yu Ci stopped Little Five as it prepared to seal the flame away.

Yu Ci tested a way to borrow the Grand Profound Seal, then brought Shadow Ghost into his Inner Void. Shadow Ghost saw a way to perfect Yu Ci’s domain, but demanded an oath before helping him.

• Yu Ci invited divine intent into his domain and borrowed the Grand Profound Seal to suppress the Karmic Fire, though the attempt drained him heavily and remained difficult to control.
• Shadow Ghost recognized that Yu Ci had imitated Xin Yi’s method of inviting divine intent and offered to advise him inside the Inner Void.
• Yu Ci brought Shadow Ghost’s true spirit into the Inner Void and showed him Equality Heaven and its manifested sword scripture.
• Shadow Ghost praised the potential of Yu Ci’s void divine ability combined with his domain and said he could help perfect it if Yu Ci swore an oath.

Yu Ci questioned Shadow Ghost’s demand for an oath, and Shadow Ghost revealed that he wanted to replace the Karmaless Sword Immortal. Shadow Ghost argued that Yu Ci needed to establish a Great Luo Heaven in his Inner Void to connect it to the heavenly Dao, then offered to help him do so.

• Shadow Ghost asked Yu Ci to help him become the Karmaless Sword Immortal and replace him.
• Yu Ci challenged Shadow Ghost’s ambition, pointing out the vast gap between their current position and the Karmaless Sword Immortal’s.
• Shadow Ghost promised to aid Yu Ci and asked only for future freedom to pursue his goal without Yu Ci obstructing him.
• Shadow Ghost said Yu Ci’s Inner Void lacked a Great Luo Heaven, which was necessary to communicate with the heavenly Dao and develop profound mysteries.
• Yu Ci admitted he could not establish the Great Luo Heaven, and Shadow Ghost offered to help.

Old Daoist Xusheng reported the inspection of the Sanlian Bastions to a timid girl at the Celestial Immortal’s altar, where a celestial phenomenon began to reveal the Azure Heavens. Meanwhile, Yu Chi prepared to use Yinggui’s theory of the Great Luo Heaven to manifest the internal scenery externally.

• Old Daoist Xusheng waited for the inspectors to leave and used his mind-will to reach the Celestial Immortal’s realm.
• Old Daoist Xusheng found a little girl at the altar and reported that True Man Guangwei and other cultivators were inspecting the Sanlian Bastions over the Du Hu Shan affair.
• The little girl said Senior Apprentice Brother was cultivating, then noticed the star Bei Luo Shi Men growing brighter as the altar’s ritual implements and golden-horned black dragon responded.
• The little girl warned Old Daoist Xusheng that the scene would manifest and told him to work hard; a beam of light cleared the clouds and revealed the Azure Heavens.
• Yinggui called for preparations as Yu Chi considered Yinggui’s theory that the Great Luo Heaven was the root of divine power.

Yu Ci used the Jade Chen Spirit Opening Opens Heaven and Earth Gate Method to draw power from beyond the realms into his inner void, reinforcing its separation from his physical body while risking the destruction of Chengqitian. After the Jade God Cave Spirit Seal transformed the destructive energy, Dian Dian urged Old Daoist Xusheng to go outside and help Yu Ci succeed.

• Yu Ci prepared to widen the disconnection between his inner void and physical body by making the inner void grow faster.
• Yu Ci manifested the Jade Chen Spirit Opening Opens Heaven and Earth Gate Method and opened a gateway to draw power from beyond the realms.
• The resulting rosy light ravaged Chengqitian and destroyed more than half of its newly formed scenery.
• The Jade God Cave Spirit Seal divided and transformed the destructive light, leaving Chengqitian scarred but more vivid.
• Dian Dian asked Old Daoist Xusheng to go outside, saying it would improve Senior Brother's chances of success.

Yu Ci used Little Wu and Old Daoist Xusheng to make the Inner Void interact with the Azure Sky Domain, finding key atmospheric nodes for his attempt to manifest it outward. Shadow Ghost copied those nodes and prepared to use them to deceive heaven.

• Little Wu demonstrated that she could send the Primordial Magnetic Divine Light beyond Chengqitian, and Old Daoist Xusheng realized he needed to cross into the Azure Sky Domain himself.
• Yu Ci recognized that Little Wu’s manifestation strengthened the Inner Void’s connection to the outside world and considered how to approximate Great Luo Heaven without its supreme mental formula.
• Old Daoist Xusheng crossed the five-colored clouds into the Azure Sky Domain, where the gang winds nearly dispersed his manifested phantom.
• Little Wu rescued Old Daoist Xusheng, and Yu Ci and Shadow Ghost identified the atmospheric change caused by his passage as a critical node.
• Shadow Ghost copied the key atmospheric conditions and began using them as a framework to deceive heaven.

Feng Wang investigated a surge in demonic intent at the Earth Fire Demon Palace and discovered a trace of the Devil Master's Yama Seal in the Sacred Canon. He left the cause unresolved, with the sign pointing to a connection involving Blood Prison Ghost Manor.

• Feng Wang hurried to the Earth Fire Demon Palace after its demonic intent intensified, and learned that Di Tianluo was inside.
• Feng Wang entered the abyss platform and asked Di Tianluo what had caused the change; she said she had seen mysterious light from the Sacred Canon.
• Feng Wang used the platform's restrictions to examine the Sacred Canon and traced the light to the Blood Prison Division, linked to the Great Brahma Demon King.
• Feng Wang noticed a faint pattern in the Blood Prison Division and recognized it as a Yama Seal, a trace of the Devil Master's divine awareness.

Yu Ci and Shadow Ghost tricked Heaven’s Will into recognizing Chengqitian as part of the Azure Sky Domain, then endured the backlash and brought the Inner Void to completion. The Azure Sky Domain settled with a new city-like expanse among its clouds.

• Feng Wang reacted with alarm to the appearance of a Yama Seal and hurried away, while Di Tianluo resumed her ritual.
• Shadow Ghost gathered Chengqitian’s auras and spread a false mark as Yu Ci sealed away the realm’s true traces.
• Yu Ci’s plan made Chengqitian pass Heaven’s Will’s judgment, but the resulting backlash scattered Shadow Ghost’s true spirit and threatened Yu Ci.
• Yu Ci invoked the Jade God Cave Spirit Seal to disrupt the forming vortex, exhausting his vital energy and injuring his main body.
• Yu Ci called on Little Five, whose Five Sacred Peaks True Form Diagram subdued the turbulent vital energy.
• The restored flow of vital energy completed Yu Ci’s Inner Void, and colorful clouds formed a city-like area in the Azure Sky Domain.

The cultivators investigating the fiend in Fengdu City reached Jiu Yan’s cave residence, where Yu Ci had just emerged from seclusion. After he answered their routine questions without drawing suspicion, Xin Yi noticed something unusual in his image and asked how much lifespan he had left.

• The sect cultivators argued over how to investigate the fiend, and Daoist Yang Yin led them to Jiu Yan’s cave residence.
• Guan Zheng arrived and urged the group not to disturb Jiu Yan, explaining that he was a fragrance master and an honored guest at Yuangguang Pavilion.
• Jiu Yan opened the door, and Tai Heng explained the search and asked him to answer questions.
• Yu Ci answered the investigators while concealing his identity and intentions, and his image was sent to the senior figures for review.
• Xin Yi stopped the water-mirror image and asked the others to estimate how much lifespan Jiu Yan had left.

True Man Guangwei suspected that a demon had drained Jiu Yan’s Innate Vital Energy, while Zhan Shuicheng confronted Jiu Yan about his recent seclusion. Yu Ci tried to conceal his identity by claiming his seclusion followed an insight from a sealing wager, leaving the onlookers astonished by his implied connection to Zhan Shuicheng and Xin Yi.

• True Man Guangwei estimated that Jiu Yan had only twenty years of life left, but Xin Yi and Zhan Shuicheng said he should have decades more.
• True Man Guangwei suspected the demon had harvested Jiu Yan’s Innate Vital Energy, and Zhan Shuicheng went to question him.
• Huang Zhao tried to praise Jiu Yan’s supposed favor with Zhan Shuicheng, but Zhan Shuicheng rebuked him and demanded to know why Jiu Yan had secluded himself.
• Yu Ci claimed he had gained an insight after playing chess with Zhan Shuicheng and Xin Yi, then said it concerned sealing.
• The people nearby were stunned by Yu Ci’s claim to have gained insight from the sealing wager of two celebrated masters.

Yu Ci concealed how he had survived Zhan Shuicheng’s attack by claiming he possessed an Analysis Divine Ability, but Zhan Shuicheng warned that using it had cost him lifespan. With only twenty years left, Yu Ci delivered the remaining Infant Tongue Incense to Half-Mountain Island and departed after Su Yu tried to reassure him.

• Zhan Shuicheng attacked Yu Ci with ice, but he used Profound Ice Dissolution to cough it out.
• Yu Ci claimed he had obtained an Analysis Divine Ability, and Zhan Shuicheng warned that using divine abilities below the Void-Stepping realm consumed Innate Vital Energy and lifespan.
• Su Yu learned that Yu Ci had only twenty years left to live and worried about the sect’s incense supply.
• Yu Ci visited Su Yu and Guan Zheng and delivered the remaining Infant Tongue Incense.
• Yu Ci left before Su Yu could ask about the lifespan rumors, and Su Yu called after him to say there would be a way to help.

Su Yu and Guan Zheng considered how Jiu Yan might recover his damaged Innate Vital Energy, while Gu Zhi and Shen Wan offered Yu Ci ways to extend his life and improve his cultivation. Yu Ci realized the Marrow Burning Curse could leave him with ten years or less and asked to be left alone to think.

• Guan Zheng tried to comfort Su Yu after Jiu Yan left, but could not think of a way to replenish Innate Vital Energy.
• Yu Ci joined Gu Zhi in a carriage, where Gu Zhi described the benefits and risks of the Immortality Pill and the scarcity of the Profound Truth Condensing Void Pill.
• Yu Ci recalled that the Marrow Burning Curse could halve his remaining lifespan, leaving him ten years or possibly less.
• Shen Wan joined them and offered Suixin Pavilion's alchemist's list of medicines that could extend life while supporting cultivation.
• Gu Zhi agreed that Evergreen Gate could also provide elixirs, but Yu Ci declined to choose and asked for more time alone.

Yu Ci traced the drain on his Innate Vital Energy, discovered that several major techniques and powers had consumed most of it, and tested the Sun Moon Washing and Refining Talisman. The talisman drew two needle-thin rays from Chengqitian into his body, where they dissolved into his spiritual soul and vital energy.

• Yu Ci entered the inner void and examined Chengqitian, whose core had been devastated but was rapidly expanding with vitality.
• Yu Ci manifested his Primordial Spirit’s records and found that deduction, founding Equality Heaven, summoning great powers, and fighting had consumed most of his Innate Vital Energy.
• Yu Ci formed the Sun Moon Washing and Refining Talisman from the stars of Starry Sky Heaven and used it to sort and refine the inner void’s vital energy.
• Yu Ci used the Black Tortoise Dharma Aspect to draw two needle-thin rays from Chengqitian, causing Bei Luo Shi Men to brighten.
• Yu Ci guided the rays through his body and watched them dissolve into his spiritual soul and vital energy.

Yu Ci absorbed two wisps of Essence Profound Truth and calculated how little Innate Vital Energy they restored, while the Marrow Burning Curse interfered with the process. He reconsidered Zhan Shuicheng’s warning about his rapidly burning lifespan and was left confronting his fear of death.

• Yu Ci absorbed the Essence Profound Truth, but the Marrow Burning Curse made the change difficult to assess.
• Yu Ci devised a system that divided his estimated sixty years of consumed lifespan into six hundred points and calculated the costs of his recent techniques.
• Yu Ci estimated that the Essence Profound Truth had restored less than five days of Innate Vital Energy, far less than he needed.
• Yu Ci recalled Zhan Shuicheng’s explanation that his depleted Innate Vital Energy could make his life burn away faster and that taking medicine in small amounts might worsen it.
• Yu Ci recognized that he feared death as he considered the shadow of his dwindling lifespan.

Yu Ci faced a death demon tribulation spreading through his Inner Void and fought the demons with the Nameless Tribulation Star Soul Shattering Divine Light. When a death demon attacked Old Daoist Xusheng in Chengqitian, Yu Ci's power and the Golden Horned Black Dragon's flames destroyed the demons, but the tribulation's cause remained unclear.

• Yu Ci entered the Inner Void and found reddish clouds and death demons spreading across its heavenly domains.
• Yu Ci used the White Fox Dharma Image and the Nameless Tribulation Star Soul Shattering Divine Light to destroy the demons, but more shadows appeared.
• A death demon attacked Old Daoist Xusheng in Chengqitian, and he cried out for the Immortal to save him.
• The Golden Horned Black Dragon shattered the death demon and released a powerful roar that opened a gap in the clouds.
• Golden flames descended over Chengqitian, burned away the clouds, and destroyed the surrounding death demons.