Key Plot Points and Events

• Ren Qing, a Corpse-Liberation Immortal, arrives in a new world and starts working at his father's coffin shop.
• A decapitated corpse of Song Baizhou, a local Daoist master connected to the Immortal Ascension Sect, is delivered to the shop.
• Ren Qing discovers an "Ascension Record" hidden in Song Baizhou's shoes, detailing two methods of "immortal ascension."
• After being placed in a coffin, Song Baizhou's corpse transforms into a clay immortal statue and escapes, leaving behind only mud stains.

Character Developments

• Ren Qing: Shows his resourcefulness and determination in seeking immortality and the Dao. He is calm and collected even in the face of the supernatural.
• Ren Shanshi: Initially appears as a simple, hardworking coffin maker, but reveals his knowledge of local gossip and fear of the Immortal Ascension Sect.
• Song Baizhou: Initially portrayed as a kind and amiable Daoist master, but later revealed to be connected to the Immortal Ascension Sect and practicing a dark, dangerous method of "immortal ascension."

Significant Themes

• The pursuit of immortality and the Dao, and the consequences of unchecked ambition.
• The blurred line between the supernatural and the mundane, and the fear it instills in ordinary people.
• The dual nature of religious figures, who can be both revered and feared.

Character Interactions

• Ren Qing and Ren Shanshi: The father-son relationship is shown to be close, with Ren Shanshi caring for his youngest son's health and Ren Qing being filial and helpful.
• Ren Qing and Song Baizhou: Though not directly interacting, Ren Qing's actions led to Song Baizhou's downfall, and his discovery of the Ascension Record hints at a connection between them.
• Ren Qing and the Immortal Ascension Sect: Ren Qing's interest in the Immortal Ascension Sect is piqued by Song Baizhou's connection to it, and he seems determined to investigate further.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ren Qing, a Daoist who achieved immortality through corpse liberation, arrives in Water Mouth City.
• Song Baizhou, a corpse, ascends to immortality, leaving behind an Ascension Record.
• Zhao Xiaoliu, a constable, knows about Song Baizhou's ascension and warns Ren Qing and his father not to speak of it.
• Ren Qing suspects Zhao Xiaoliu is cultivating the Yellow Mud Immortal Ascension Method from the Ascension Record.

Character Developments

• Ren Qing: Shows his determination to pursue the Dao and avoid mediocrity. He plans to strengthen himself quickly to avoid exposure.
• Ren Shanshi: Shows concern for his son's well-being and is willing to take risks to protect him.
• Zhao Xiaoliu: Reveals his knowledge of the Immortal Ascension Sect's activities and hints at his involvement in the Yellow Mud Immortal Ascension Method.

Significant Themes

• The pursuit of the Dao and immortality.
• The consequences of pursuing power through unorthodox methods.
• The importance of maintaining a calm and focused mind in the face of adversity.

Character Interactions

• Ren Qing and Ren Shanshi: The father-son relationship is tested, with Ren Shanshi showing concern for his son's safety and Ren Qing showing determination to protect his father.
• Ren Qing and Zhao Xiaoliu: Their interaction hints at Zhao Xiaoliu's involvement in the Immortal Ascension Sect's activities and Ren Qing's suspicion of him.
• Ren Qing and Sparrow Dao Child: The Dao Child serves as Ren Qing's eyes and ears, providing him with information about Zhao Xiaoliu's activities.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ren Qing decides to keep the Ascension Record and find a way to send it away later.
• He leaves the coffin shop at night, accompanied by his Dao children.
• In an abandoned house, Ren Qing attempts to cultivate immortal ascension arts using the Rebirth Ascension Method.
• He creates a Yellow Mud Eye, a talisman treasure that allows him to sense his surroundings differently.
• Ren Qing discovers his Niwan Palace and releases divine sense, accompanied by a phenomenon.

Character Developments

• Ren Qing shows his determination to preserve himself and find a way to adapt to this world.
• He demonstrates his knowledge of various Daoist lineages and methods.
• Ren Qing's actions reveal his resourcefulness and adaptability.

Significant Themes

• The pursuit of immortality and the Dao.
• The fusion of different Daoist lineages and methods.
• The struggle for self-preservation and adaptation in a new environment.

Character Interactions

• Ren Qing interacts with his Dao children, showing a level of care and understanding for their abilities.
• There's no direct human interaction in this chapter, but Ren Qing's thoughts and actions imply his concern for his grandfather, Ren Shanshi.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Yellow Mud Immortal (Song Baizhou) is about to shed his mortal shell and ascend to immortality.
• Six Taoists carry a sedan chair with a clay statue of the immortal, accompanied by eleven child statues.
• The statue cracks open, revealing an insect cocoon-like structure.
• The Taoists discuss their anticipation of becoming immortal and living forever.
• Chen Jiuliang, the highest-ranking Taoist, uses a Soul-Peering Talisman to investigate an anomaly in the child statues.
• He encounters a colossal human figure in his mind and is instantly killed.
• The remaining Taoists, terrified, rush back to Wish-Fulfillment Abbey with the immortal statue.

Character Developments

• The Taoists' eagerness for immortality blinds them to the consequences of their actions and their own mortality.
• Chen Jiuliang's death demonstrates the danger of underestimating the power of the Immortal Ascension Sect's methods.

Significant Themes

• The corrupting influence of power and immortality.
• The consequences of one's actions and the karmic retribution that may follow.

Character Interactions

• The Taoists display a hierarchical structure, with Chen Jiuliang holding the highest status.
• Sun Zu questions Chen Jiuliang's actions, showing a level of ambition and curiosity.
• The Taoists' fear and panic after Chen Jiuliang's death reveal their vulnerability and lack of true power.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Xiaoliu, now stronger after cultivating the Yellow Mud Immortal Ascension Method, takes the coffin and warns Ren Shanshi not to spread rumors about the Immortal Ascension Sect.
• Ren Qing realizes he's in the Immortal Realm after seeing spiritual materials like a ginseng with human-like roots and a green fish with human-like eyes.
• Ren Qing decides to complete his first Molting (a cultivation process) as soon as possible.

Character Developments

• Zhao Xiaoliu: Shows increased strength and divine consciousness after cultivating the Yellow Mud Immortal Ascension Method.
• Ren Qing: Realizes he's in the Immortal Realm and decides to complete his first Molting. He also uses his divine consciousness to influence his father, Ren Shanshi.
• Ren Shanshi: Becomes more accepting of Ren Qing's actions after being influenced by Ren Qing's divine consciousness.

Significant Themes

• The Immortal Realm's unique characteristics, such as spiritual materials becoming more human-like over time.
• The power of divine consciousness and its influence on mortals.
• The importance of completing cultivation processes (like Molting) in the Immortal Realm.

Character Interactions

• Ren Shanshi and Ren Qing: Ren Shanshi becomes more accepting of Ren Qing's actions after being influenced by his divine consciousness.
• Ren Qing and the market crowd: Ren Qing observes the crowd and uses his divine consciousness to see the true nature of spiritual materials in the Immortal Realm.

Chapter Summary: Mortal Shedding, Corpse Liberation

Key Plot Points

• Ren Qing visits a market in Water Mouth City, examining mountain ginseng but declining to buy—he has no use for spiritual materials, though he speculates about whether fully-transformed living creatures could be enlightened as Daoist attendants.
• He purchases roe from the belly of a large black carp as a low-stakes experiment in hatching.
• He acquires a butcher's boning knife—though ordinary iron, the Yellow Mud Eye reveals faint black Killing Intent coiled around it, making it a suitable baleful artifact for the Liberation by Violence method of Corpse Liberation.
• Ren Qing reflects on the various documented methods of Corpse Liberation from his past life: Liberation by Violence, Staff Dissolution, Garment Dissolution, Coffin Dissolution, Water Dissolution, Fire Dissolution, and Medicine Dissolution. In his previous life, he achieved Corpse Liberation via Medicine Dissolution after secluding himself in a psychiatric hospital for five years ("enlightenment at Dragon Field").
• His plan crystallizes: combine Corpse Liberation with Mortal Shedding to transform his flesh into an immortal body.
• He observes Wish-Fulfillment Abbey, noting that all of Song Baizhou's disciples are already practicing the Yellow Mud Immortal Ascension Method—disciples are treated as expendable consumables by the Immortal Ascension Sect.
• Many outsiders (elderly former martial artists, nobles, and common believers) have come to the abbey seeking immortality; the imperial court seems to do nothing to stop the sect's activities.
• A mysterious noblewoman (16–17 years old, vermilion mole between her brows, unnaturally pale, blood seeping from her skin) arrives in an ebony carriage that stops near the abbey.
• Returning to his lodgings, Ren Qing resolves to obtain other Daoist inheritances from the Immortal Ascension Sect after completing Mortal Shedding and Corpse Liberation.

Character Developments

• Ren Qing: Utterly pragmatic and methodical; he improvises with available resources and experiments cheaply. His past life is further illuminated: he already achieved Corpse Liberation once, and his previous life's final years were spent in a psychiatric hospital. He deliberately distances himself from women ("Women only hinder the Dao heart"). His immediate problem is a lack of funds—he must make his cover identity (the old man) earn more money by changing professions.
• The Noblewoman: Appears near death (only days of life left) and seems strangely drawn to Ren Qing, holding her gaze on him for several breaths. Her purpose is unclear, but she is mortal and without cultivation.
• The Butcher/Fishermen: Incidental figures who are subtly influenced by Ren Qing's presence; the butcher unconsciously sells his thirty-year-old knife for silver.

Significant Themes

• Corpse Liberation and Mortal Shedding: The core pursuit of the chapter. Ren Qing details the multiple forms of Corpse Liberation and adapts them to the Immortal Realm's resources (mundane killing intent replacing rare materials).
• Resourcefulness within Limits: Ren Qing cannot recklessly use divine sense on mortals; he must work within constraints (money, ordinary objects, careful experimentation).
• The Commodification of Seekers: The Immortal Ascension Sect treats disciples as fodder while the desperate and dying flock to their gates—immortality is both a promise and a trap.
• Detachment as a Cultivation Principle: Ren Qing's rejection of women and worldly entanglement reflects a core Daoist ideal, reinforced by his cautious paranoia.
• The Past Life Echoing the Present: Ren Qing is replaying and refining his previous method of ascension, now with better resources and knowledge.

Character Interactions

• Fishermen: Brief transaction—Ren Qing asks for the black carp's roe, presses copper coins into the bearded man's hand, and leaves.
• Butcher: Ren Qing asks to buy the boning knife; the butcher initially refuses but instinctively accepts the silver, awakening too late to find Ren Qing already gone.
• Daoists of Wish-Fulfillment Abbey: Overheard/observed from a distance; they are thin, distracted, and already practicing the poisonous Yellow Mud Method.
• The Noblewoman: A silent but charged exchange—she glances at Ren Qing specifically through the carriage curtain for several breaths, unsettling him; he dismisses it as mortal curiosity but remains watchful.

Key Details to Remember

• The boning knife's Killing Intent is the "baleful artifact" required for Liberation by Violence.
• Ren Qing's previous Corpse Liberation method was swallowing medicinal pills (Medicine Dissolution).
• The imperial court of this realm is called "Da" (surname or dynasty name).
• The noblewoman's face is memorable: vermilion mole, deathly pale, blood seeping from skin on exposure to wind.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ren Qing returns home with fish roe, which he believes are demon eggs, and asks the toad acolyte to guard them in the well.
• Ren Qing finds his father, Ren Shanshi, in a panic due to rumors about the prefectural governor's arrival.
• Ren Qing uses his divine consciousness to influence Ren Shanshi, causing him to forget his worries temporarily.
• Ren Qing confines himself in an abandoned house's well to cultivate, drawing talismans on the walls with his blood and suspending his boning knife above him. He then stabs himself with the knife and dies, entering a state of corpse liberation.

Character Developments

• Ren Qing: He continues to explore his cultivation path, using his divine consciousness and talismans to aid his progress. He also shows concern for his father's well-being.
• Ren Shanshi: He is worried about the prefectural governor's arrival but is temporarily relieved by Ren Qing's influence.

Significant Themes

• Cultivation and Immortality: Ren Qing's pursuit of immortality through the Immortal Ascension Method and Liberation by Violence is the central theme.
• Family and Responsibility: Ren Qing's concern for his father's well-being shows his sense of family responsibility.

Character Interactions

• Ren Qing and Ren Shanshi: The father-son duo interacts briefly, with Ren Qing showing concern for his father's well-being and Ren Shanshi being temporarily relieved of his worries.
• Ren Qing and the Toad Acolyte: Ren Qing orders the toad acolyte to guard the fish roe in the well, showing his authority over his spiritual companions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Yao uses the Duoji True-Seeking Thangka to reveal the true visage of an immortal behind a recent event. The thangka reflects the Three Incense Lady of the Immortal Ascension Sect, a benevolent immortal.
• The thangka unexpectedly reveals a second, mysterious True Immortal, causing Li Yao shock and confusion.
• Li Yao decides to leave Wish-Fulfillment Abbey due to the unpredictable situation and Song Baizhou's violent actions.
• Ren Qing, who was presumed dead, revives in a well and successfully undergoes his first 'corpse liberation,' becoming a Daoist Boy. He gains 20% control of his divine consciousness and develops the Metamorphosis Immortal Art.

Character Developments

• Li Yao: Recognizes the Three Incense Lady's benevolence and decides to seek her sect for immortality. Discovers a mysterious, non-immortal entity and decides to leave Wish-Fulfillment Abbey.
• Ren Qing: Successfully undergoes his first transformation, gaining control over his divine consciousness and developing the Metamorphosis Immortal Art.

Significant Themes

• Immortality and the Dao: Both Li Yao and Ren Qing seek immortality, each in their own way.
• Unpredictability and danger: The Immortality Ascension Assembly is filled with unexpected events and threats.
• Transformation: Ren Qing's transformation from a corpse to a Daoist Boy highlights the theme of change and growth.

Character Interactions

• Li Yao and Uncle Zhang: Li Yao instructs Uncle Zhang to leave Wish-Fulfillment Abbey, showing her decisive nature and concern for their safety.
• Ren Qing and Black Rat Daoist Boys: Ren Qing's revival startles the nearby Black Rat Daoist Boys, hinting at their awareness of his transformation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ren Qing, after three days of practicing his Liberation by Violence technique, gains better control over his divine consciousness, which causes a strange phenomenon when activated.
• He discovers that his divine consciousness can peer into others to a limited extent, but it's less effective than sending it out of his body.
• Ren Qing's physical body begins to exhibit signs of a leakless body, reducing his daily need for sleep and making him less susceptible to illnesses.
• He plans to prepare for the subsequent corpse liberation molt and fulfill the simpler requirements for water liberation, fire liberation, and garment liberation.
• The Immortal Ascension Sect's immortal statue, Song Baizhou, hasn't caused any trouble recently, but Ren Qing expects the situation in Water Mouth City to become livelier due to the incoming prefectural governor and the sect's persistence.
• Ren Qing's fish fry hatches and is enlightened by him, growing and gaining a sleeveless Daoist robe.
• Ren Qing discovers that enlightening his Dao Children with a piece of his flesh allows them to grow stronger and gain new abilities, but it's not successful with all types of Dao Children.

Character Developments

• Ren Qing's control over his divine consciousness improves, and he discovers new abilities and limitations of his powers.
• His physical body begins to exhibit signs of a leakless body, extending his life and making him more resilient.
• Toad Dao Child grows significantly in size and strength after being enlightened by a piece of Ren Qing's flesh, becoming an outer sect disciple.
• The Black Rat Dao Children all die when Ren Qing attempts to enlighten them with his flesh, suggesting that not all Dao Children are compatible with his enlightenment method.

Significant Themes

• The pursuit of immortality and the leakless body in cultivation.
• The compatibility and limitations of enlightenment on different types of Dao Children.
• The growing tension and liveliness in Water Mouth City due to external influences.

Character Interactions

• Ren Qing interacts with Toad Dao Child and the Black Rat Dao Children, enlightening them and observing their growth and limitations.
• Ren Qing's thoughts and plans revolve around the Immortal Ascension Sect and the incoming prefectural governor, suggesting his growing awareness of external threats.

Key Plot Points and Events

+ Ren Qing discovers the toad Daoist child has become a storage bag and decides to use it.
+ Ren Qing plans to use his undershirt for garment liberation.
+ Ren Qing and Ren Shanshi deliver coffins to Wish-Fulfillment Abbey and Treasure Gathering Pawnshop.
+ Wish-Fulfillment Abbey is short on hands and offers Ren Qing a position, which he declines.
+ Sun Zu, a Wish-Fulfillment Abbey Taoist priest, plans to use the captured outsiders and city residents as sacrifices to satisfy Song Baizhou's hunger.

Character Developments

+ Ren Qing continues to advance his cultivation and discovers new uses for his abilities.
+ Ren Shanshi remains cautious and worried about their situation.
+ Sun Zu becomes more desperate and ruthless in his pursuit of power.

Significant Themes

+ The consequences of unorthodox cultivation methods (Wish-Fulfillment Abbey's actions).
+ The struggle for resources and power (Ren Qing's desire for the Immortal Ascension Sect's inheritance, Sun Zu's desperation).

Character Interactions

+ Ren Qing and Ren Shanshi work together to deliver coffins.
+ Ren Qing interacts with Sun Zu, declining the offer to join Wish-Fulfillment Abbey.
+ Sun Zu discusses plans with other Wish-Fulfillment Abbey Taoist priests, showing his growing desperation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ren Qing and Ren Shanshi deliver a coffin to Treasure Gathering Pawnshop, where they find Accountant Zhou's flattened corpse used as a painting.
• Ren Qing suspects Accountant Zhou is connected to an unfamiliar path to immortality.
• Zhang Qilin, representing Fuyang Chamber of Commerce, arrives and reveals Accountant Zhou had been deranged, talking about immortality.
• Ren Shanshi tells Ren Qing about Zhao Xiaoliu's disappearance and Accountant Zhou's drunken claim of an immortal imparting the Dao to him.
• Li Yao and Zhang Qilin discuss plans after the constables leave, deciding to keep the painting in the main hall for the immortal opportunity.

Character Developments

• Ren Qing: Shows keen observation and deduction skills, noticing the unusual painting and connecting it to immortality.
• Ren Shanshi: Reveals his fear of the situation and his debt to Head Constable Chen, which led him to take the job.
• Li Yao: Demonstrates her strategic thinking and calm demeanor when facing the dangerous painting, showing she is well-prepared and knowledgeable about the immortal opportunities.
• Zhang Qilin: Shows excitement and eagerness to seize the immortal opportunity, but also fear when facing the painting.

Significant Themes

• Immortality and its pursuit, leading to dangerous consequences.
• The Immortal Ascension Sect's influence and the fear they instill in the people of Water Mouth City.
• The desperation and greed that drive people to seek immortality, even at great risk.

Character Interactions

• Ren Qing and Ren Shanshi: Father and son work together, with Ren Qing showing concern for his father's safety.
• Chen Qi and Zhang Qilin: The head constable and the representative of Fuyang Chamber of Commerce discuss the pawnshop's situation, with Chen Qi expressing fear of the Immortal Ascension Sect.
• Li Yao and Zhang Qilin: Li Yao gives orders, and Zhang Qilin follows, showing their hierarchical relationship and Li Yao's leadership.
• The Yellow Mud Eye (Black Rat Dao Child): Observes the events from the shadows, revealing the presence of Dao Children watching the Immortal Ascension Sect's activities.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ren Qing discovers that Three Incense Lady is spreading Daoist inheritances in Water Mouth City through the Immortal Ascension Sect.
• He learns about the Immortal Ascension Sect's unscrupulous method of recruiting disciples.
• Ren Qing plans to obtain the method of becoming immortal from Treasure Gathering Pawnshop before Three Incense Lady notices.
• At Wish-Fulfillment Abbey, people are being used as expendable material for the Rebirth Ascension Method.
• Ren Qing decides to complete another corpse-release rebirth (water release) before Zhou Can becomes immortal.
• An old beggar, Su Huo, visits the coffin shop to order a coffin for himself and offers his external martial art, the Iron Body Art, as payment.

Character Developments

• Ren Qing: He becomes more determined to obtain the method of becoming immortal and shows contempt for the practices of Wish-Fulfillment Abbey and the Immortal Ascension Sect.
• Ren Shanshi: He shows empathy towards Su Huo and expresses interest in learning the Iron Body Art.

Significant Themes

• The pursuit of immortality and the methods used to achieve it, which often involve exploitation and unscrupulous practices.
• The contrast between the orthodox Daoist faith and crooked paths.
• The value of life and the treatment of expendable material.

Character Interactions

• Ren Qing and Black Rat Dao Child: They communicate through gestures, with Ren Qing understanding the Dao Child's meaning.
• Ren Qing and Ren Shanshi: They discuss the Iron Body Art, with Ren Qing encouraging his father to learn it.
• Ren Shanshi and Su Huo: They interact briefly, with Ren Shanshi showing kindness and understanding towards the old beggar.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ren Qing discovers annotations in the Iron Body Art, suggesting Su Huo's fear of losing his external art after death.
• Ren Qing brews medicine for his external art cultivation and begins preparing talismans for rebirth.
• Ren Qing undergoes his second metamorphosis (corpse liberation) in the well, successfully completing it.
• After rebirth, Ren Qing drinks a large dose of medicinal brew and uses the Metamorphosis Immortal Art to heal his injuries.

Character Developments

• Ren Qing: Shows determination and confidence in his cultivation, successfully completes his second metamorphosis, and gains a new ability with the Metamorphosis Immortal Art.
• Ren Shanshi: Begins practicing the Iron Body Art, showing a newfound desire to improve himself.

Significant Themes

• Cultivation and determination: Ren Qing's unwavering dedication to his cultivation path, even in the face of challenges and setbacks.
• Transformation and growth: Ren Qing's second metamorphosis represents his physical and spiritual growth, as well as his increasing control over his powers.
• Fear of loss: Su Huo's annotations in the Iron Body Art highlight the fear of losing one's hard-earned knowledge and skills, which can drive one to ensure their preservation.

Character Interactions

• Ren Qing and Ren Shanshi: Ren Qing encourages his father to cultivate the Iron Body Art, showing care and support for his family despite his focus on his own cultivation.
• Ren Qing and his Dao Children: Ren Qing interacts with his Dao Children, giving them tasks and acknowledging the Trash Fish Dao Child as an outer disciple.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ren Qing dismisses the idea of collecting external martial arts, focusing on his Metamorphosis Immortal Art.
• The Black Rat Dao Children disappear, and Ren Qing suspects Zhou Can has begun his immortality cultivation.
• Ren Qing discovers that Treasure Gathering Pawnshop is isolated but not sealed, and decides to investigate.
• Wang Si, now addressed as Immortal Elder, brings three beggars to Treasure Gathering Pawnshop for Zhou Can's immortality cultivation.
• Zhang Qilin agrees to Wang Si's demands, including providing more people for Wish-Fulfillment Abbey.

Character Developments

• Ren Qing's divine sense improves, allowing him to sense the Black Rat Dao Children and the Toad Dao Child.
• Wang Si enters the Yellow Mud Immortal Ascension Method, gaining a wisp of divine consciousness.
• Zhang Qilin becomes more subservient to Wang Si, fearing his power and influence.

Significant Themes

• The pursuit of immortality and the consequences of unchecked ambition.
• The growing power dynamics between the Fuyang Chamber of Commerce, Wish-Fulfillment Abbey, and the immortality cultivators.

Character Interactions

• Ren Qing interacts with the Black Rat Dao Children, sending them to monitor Treasure Gathering Pawnshop.
• Zhang Qilin interacts with Wang Si, showing deference and agreeing to his demands.
• Wang Si interacts with Zhang Qilin, displaying his growing arrogance and impatience.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Qilin seals the side door of the pawnshop, leaving guards to prevent anyone from opening it.
• The three beggars awaken and beg for help, but their pleas are silenced by a mysterious bell.
• Ren Qing and the beggars are led to a Daoist temple inside the pawnshop, where Zhou Can, now an "immortal," preaches about the method of becoming immortal.
• Zhou Can transforms two of the beggars into desks and paper, demonstrating his power and ruthlessness.
• Ren Qing realizes that Zhou Can is holding an Immortality Ascension Assembly, selecting suitable disciples for the Immortal Ascension Sect.

Character Developments

• Zhang Qilin: Shows his authority and ruthlessness by sealing the beggars inside and ordering the guards not to open the door.
• Zhou Can: Has become an "immortal" and is now preaching about the method of becoming immortal, demonstrating his power and cruelty.
• Ren Qing: Shows his adaptability and resourcefulness by writing down Zhou Can's teachings and understanding the true purpose of the assembly.
• Su Huo: Is near death, having given up hope of escaping the pawnshop. He passes a note to Ren Qing, containing his observations about Zhou Can's teachings.

Significant Themes

• The desire for immortality and power, and the consequences of pursuing it at any cost.
• The contrast between the imagined reality of Zhou Can's "immortality" and the harsh truth of his actions.
• The theme of selection and initiation into a secret society, as seen in the Immortality Ascension Assembly.

Character Interactions

• Ren Qing and the beggars: Ren Qing is the only one who seems aware and unaffected by Zhou Can's illusions, while the beggars are terrified and confused.
• Ren Qing and Su Huo: Su Huo passes a note to Ren Qing, showing that he still has some hope despite his dire situation. Ren Qing, however, does not show any reaction, maintaining his composure.
• Zhou Can and the disciples: Zhou Can preaches to his disciples, showing his power and ruthlessness, while the disciples are terrified and eager to please him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Yao, critically ill, takes a life-extending pill to prolong her life while seeking the method of immortality.
• Zhang Qilin, her loyal servant, betrays her to gain immortality for himself, drugging Li Yao and planning to use her as a sacrifice for Zhou Can.
• Zhou Can, the Daoist preaching immortality, is revealed to be cultivating a method called "Immortal in the Painting," which requires the heart's blood of living people to regain vitality.
• Ren Qing, an immortal, completes eighty percent of the method while under Zhou Can's illusion. He then reveals his true power, terrifying Zhou Can and causing the illusion to collapse.

Character Developments

• Li Yao: Desperate for immortality to prolong her life, she is betrayed by her loyal servant, Zhang Qilin.
• Zhang Qilin: Betrays Li Yao for his own gain, showing his true colors and ambition for immortality.
• Zhou Can: Revealed to be cultivating a dangerous and unethical method of immortality, he is terrified by Ren Qing's true power.
• Ren Qing: Reveals his immense power and divine consciousness, easily breaking Zhou Can's illusion and causing fear and awe.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal and trust: Zhang Qilin's betrayal of Li Yao highlights the theme of trust and loyalty, while Li Yao's desperation for immortality shows the lengths people will go to for power and longevity.
• The cost of immortality: Zhou Can's method of immortality requires the heart's blood of living people, raising questions about the morality and ethics of pursuing immortality at any cost.
• Power dynamics: Ren Qing's true power is revealed, demonstrating the vast differences in power and status between cultivators and mortals.

Character Interactions

• Li Yao and Zhang Qilin: Their interaction highlights the theme of betrayal and trust, as Zhang Qilin betrays Li Yao for his own gain.
• Zhou Can and Ren Qing: Their interaction reveals the vast difference in power between them, with Ren Qing easily breaking Zhou Can's illusion and causing him great fear.
• Ren Qing and Black Rat Dao Child: They work together to escape Zhou Can's illusion and ensure the safety of the ascension record.

Key Plot Points and Events

+ Zhang Qilin rushes to the pawnshop, seeking Zhou Can to become an immortal.
+ Zhou Can's temple illusion collapses, revealing his gruesome death.
+ Zhang Qilin dies from the shockwave, and Li Yao discovers immortal records and an unknown immortal's aura.
+ Su Huo leaves the coffin shop, having decided to pursue immortality.
+ Ren Qing prepares for Fire Dissolution in his cave abode.

Character Developments

+ Zhang Qilin's ambition leads him to his death, highlighting the dangers of pursuing immortality.
+ Li Yao extends her life with a pill and discovers an unknown immortal's aura, fueling her ambition.
+ Su Huo decides to leave the coffin shop to seek immortality, showing his determination and renewed vigor.
+ Ren Qing focuses on preparing for Fire Dissolution, demonstrating his dedication to cultivation and self-improvement.

Significant Themes

+ The dangers and allure of immortality.
+ The importance of cultivation and self-improvement.
+ The consequences of ambition and greed.

Character Interactions

+ Zhang Qilin's interaction with Zhou Can leads to his death, highlighting the power imbalance between them.
+ Li Yao's interaction with the unknown immortal's aura fuels her ambition and desire for power.
+ Su Huo's interaction with Ren Qing and Ren Shanshi shows his gratitude and newfound determination.
+ Ren Qing's interaction with the Black Rat Dao Children demonstrates his leadership and care for their well-being.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ren Qing returns to the coffin shop after a few days of cultivation.
• Ren Shanshi brings venison for the New Year, but Ren Qing declines due to his fasting for seclusion.
• Ren Shanshi mentions recent deaths at the yamen and the renovation of Wish-Fulfillment Abbey's main hall with an immortal statue resembling Song Baizhou.
• Ren Qing visits the market and discovers hunters catching unusually large numbers of wild beasts, some of which show human-like features.
• He suspects a demonic influence and considers it might be connected to the prefectural governor.

Character Developments

• Ren Qing: Becomes more open with Ren Shanshi about his true nature and plans. He also shows concern for his nominal father's well-being and happiness.
• Ren Shanshi: Shows affection and care for Ren Qing, trying to find a suitable match for him. He also expresses his concerns about the recent events in the city.

Significant Themes

• The influence of divine sense and the Great Dao on Ren Qing's life and decisions.
• The contrast between the normalcy of the New Year preparations and the abnormal events happening in the city.
• The potential danger posed by the Immortal Ascension Assembly and Song Baizhou's actions.

Character Interactions

• Ren Qing and Ren Shanshi: Their relationship deepens as they begin to speak more openly with each other. Ren Qing shows understanding and consideration for his nominal father.
• Ren Qing and the hunters: Ren Qing learns about the unusual behavior of the wild beasts from the hunters, which leads him to suspect a demonic influence.
• Ren Qing and Wish-Fulfillment Abbey: Ren Qing observes the increased devotion of the believers and the renovation of the main hall, further solidifying his resolve to stop Song Baizhou.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ren Qing arrives at his cave dwelling to find it improved but notices expensive materials used, hinting at his disciples' secretive activities.
• He enters the cultivation chamber to undergo the Fire Dissolution, a painful process lasting three days.
• After the Fire Dissolution, Ren Qing emerges with a leakless body, enhanced divine consciousness, and a lifespan of over a hundred years.
• He decides to attempt the Painting Immortality Method and successfully creates a human-skin painting from his own skin, also recreating the middle dantian.

Character Developments

• Ren Qing demonstrates his ability to adapt and innovate, using his divine consciousness to guide his skin and create a human-skin painting, and recreating the middle dantian.
• The Black Rat Dao Children show dedication and hard work in maintaining the cave dwelling and assisting Ren Qing's cultivation.

Significant Themes

• Adaptation and innovation: Ren Qing's ability to adapt to his new environment and innovate using his knowledge from his previous life is a key theme.
• The power of divine consciousness: Ren Qing's divine consciousness plays a crucial role in his cultivation and is significantly enhanced after the Fire Dissolution.
• The cost of cultivation: The process of cultivation is shown to be painful and demanding, with Ren Qing pushing his limits to advance.

Character Interactions

• Ren Qing interacts with his disciples, the Black Rat Dao Children, giving instructions and expressing his disapproval of their secretive activities.
• While not physically present, Zhou Can's teachings and the Painting Immortality Method he transmitted to Ren Qing significantly influence Ren Qing's actions and decisions.

Chapter Summary: Vapor-Feeding Immortal Art

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ren Qing confirms that the Human Skin Scroll can absorb the “dawn glow” at sunrise, validating his theory that he can cultivate an Earth Immortal–style path by consuming heavenly vapors rather than ordinary spiritual qi.
• Using the Qi Consumption Method, he draws a strand of rosy dawn light into his middle dantian. The light colors the Human Skin Scroll, representing progress in the “coloring” stage of the Painting Immortality Method.
• When the sun fully rises, the dawn glow becomes intensely powerful and burns the Human Skin Scroll, forcing Ren Qing to stop and repair it with divine sense. He realizes the scroll is still too fragile to absorb stronger forms of sunlight.
• Ren Qing tests the stored dawn glow offensively. A tiny amount instantly melts snow, ice, and icicles in the courtyard, demonstrating its formidable destructive potential.
• He renames the Human Skin Scroll the Imperial Court Scroll, and renames the Painting Immortality Method the Vapor-Feeding Immortal Art.
• Ren Qing experiments with water vapor from the well. Instead of coloring the scroll, it makes it damp and unstable. He concludes that the scroll cannot yet contain multiple types of heavenly and earthly vapor because it was refined after the fact.
• He imagines the technique’s future potential: consuming water vapor, smoke, miasma, cold air, cloud vapor, and even foul air could eventually grant countless abilities.
• Ren Qing plans to focus on dawn glow cultivation before the upcoming Immortal Ascension Assembly. He also begins preparing for the next stages of his other cultivation methods, Mortal Shedding and Corpse Liberation.
• The chapter ends with Ren Shanshi bringing troubling news: Head Constable Chen Qi has died by drowning. Since three constables have recently died, Ren Qing suspects something unnatural, possibly connected to the Immortal Ascension Sect. He agrees to help deliver Chen Qi’s coffin.

Character Developments

• Ren Qing gains a clearer understanding of his new immortal cultivation path and its stages: sizing the cloth, outlining, coloring, and mounting the scroll.
• He demonstrates growing confidence and pride in his Dao path, joking that his strange techniques become elegant and orthodox in his hands.
• At the same time, he recognizes the limits of his current foundation. His Human Skin Scroll is fragile, and replenishing dawn glow consumes a large amount of divine sense.
• His ambition expands as he realizes the Vapor-Feeding Immortal Art may eventually draw on all kinds of worldly vapors and reproduce powerful abilities.
• Trash Fish Dao Child has grown rapidly after emerging from the well, while Toad Dao Child remains asleep and has become much larger.
• Ren Shanshi appears deeply worried and saddened by the death of Head Constable Chen Qi, revealing the growing tension beneath Water Mouth City’s recent calm.

Significant Themes

• Experimentation and adaptation: Ren Qing develops his cultivation method through trial and error, learning from both successful absorption and dangerous backlash.
• Orthodox versus unorthodox cultivation: He contrasts his vapor-based immortal path with Zhou Can’s blood-fed, unorthodox Painting Immortality Method and insists on preserving his Dao heart.
• The dangers of power: Dawn glow grants immense destructive force but can also damage Ren Qing’s immortal foundation if used recklessly.
• Transformation through naming and interpretation: Ren Qing reshapes an inherited method into something uniquely his own by redefining its terminology and purpose.
• Foreshadowing of hidden danger: The deaths of multiple constables suggest that Water Mouth City’s apparent peace conceals a growing supernatural crisis.

Character Interactions

• Ren Qing interacts with Trash Fish Dao Child and observes Toad Dao Child’s continued hibernation while testing the effects of water vapor.
• He briefly reflects on Zhou Can and the contrast between their cultivation methods.
• Ren Shanshi informs Ren Qing of Chen Qi’s death, prompting Ren Qing to suspect a connection to the Immortal Ascension Sect.
• Ren Qing agrees to accompany his father to deliver Chen Qi’s coffin, bringing him closer to the developing mystery surrounding the constables’ deaths.