Chapter Summaries

Zhang Xiaofan and Luo Yunji got lost while walking to Small Bamboo Peak, and Zhang Xiaofan accidentally struck himself with heavenly thunder while trying to signal for help. Small Bamboo Peak disciples found them, and Wen Min took Luo Yunji to see Shuiyue while Zhang Xiaofan went to clean up.

• Luo Yunji led Zhang Xiaofan in circles through the woods because he could not find the way to Small Bamboo Peak.
• Zhang Xiaofan climbed a tree and used an incorrectly formed hand seal to summon heavenly thunder, which struck and blackened him.
• Luo Yunji explained the difference between lightning and heavenly thunder as Zhang Xiaofan recovered from the shock.
• Five Small Bamboo Peak disciples arrived, recognized Luo Yunji, and learned that he and Zhang Xiaofan had gotten lost.
• Wen Min checked that Luo Yunji was safe, then took him to see Shuiyue while Zhang Xiaofan went to wash up.

Luo Yunji delivered a rejuvenating prescription to Shuiyue, but his family discovered he had gotten lost on the way to Small Bamboo Peak. Back at Big Bamboo Peak, his senior brothers teased him about his poor sense of direction as the sect prepared to return to its repaired front mountain.

• Luo Yunji told Shuiyue he had brought a prescription to slow aging and improve the skin, and Shuiyue read it with interest.
• Tian Buyi and Su Ru rushed to Small Bamboo Peak after learning Luo Yunji and Zhang Xiaofan had not returned, then found them safe and heard that they had gotten lost.
• Tian Buyi scolded Luo Yunji, who confidently blamed the similar-looking trees for his confusion.
• The Big Bamboo Peak disciples learned Luo Yunji had a terrible sense of direction, and Sixth Senior Brother promised to guide him while the others teased him.
• Tian Buyi and the disciples returned to Big Bamboo Peak's repaired front mountain, where Luo Yunji struggled to pack his belongings.

He Dazhi’s breakthrough with Heaven’s Heart wrecked Big Bamboo Peak again, and Tian Buyi decided to send most of his disciples down the mountain to gain experience. The seven departing disciples left Tian Linger and the others behind, and the chapter ended with Tian Linger grieving the sudden quiet.

• He Dazhi broke through to the sixth level, gained Heaven’s Heart, and unleashed a tornado that destroyed Big Bamboo Peak’s newly repaired buildings.
• Luo Yunji shared food and cultivation medicine with Shuiyue True Person, who returned to Small Bamboo Peak satisfied.
• Tian Buyi decided that all his disciples except Song Daren and Tian Linger should go down the mountain, and Tian Linger persuaded Su Ru to let her join them.
• The next day, seven disciples left Big Bamboo Peak while Tian Buyi and Su Ru saw them off.
• Tian Linger mourned the empty mountain, and Song Daren comforted her by promising to bring her spiritual medicine left by Zhang Xiaofan.

Luo Yunji complained about the heat during the group's journey and revealed that he was practicing force-exertion techniques to lose weight. After Zhang Xiaofan demonstrated their power, Luo Yunji explained their benefits, and the group began practicing them as they traveled, slowing their journey to twice its expected length.

• Luo Yunji stopped to complain about the heat, and Zhang Xiaofan explained that he was exercising to lose weight.
• Luo Yunji taught the senior brothers his force-exertion techniques, and several of them struggled to perform them.
• Zhang Xiaofan struck a tree with Vibration Force, and Luo Yunji explained that Zhang Xiaofan's force had scattered.
• Luo Yunji dispersed He Dazhi's wind blade using only the strength he had trained through his body.
• Luo Yunji explained how body training could improve spiritual power, and the group practiced the techniques during their journey, which took twice as long because of their sprains.

Zhang Xiaofan and his Senior Brothers reached the abandoned ruins of Grass Temple Village, where he faced the grief of losing his home and family. As he sobbed in Luo Yunji’s arms, Luo Yunji resolved to keep those around him from suffering such pain.

• While camping on Azure Cloud Mountain, Zhang Xiaofan and his Senior Brothers joked and shared dinner before preparing to leave the mountain.
• The group visited Grass Temple Village at Zhang Xiaofan’s request and found it completely abandoned and ruined.
• Zhang Xiaofan entered the village alone to look for where his home had stood while Wu Dayi stopped Luo Yunji from following him.
• When Zhang Xiaofan returned, his Senior Brothers embraced and comforted him, and they agreed to spend the night in the village.
• Zhang Xiaofan broke down sobbing in Luo Yunji’s arms, and Luo Yunji resolved that he would not let those around him suffer such pain.

Zhang Xiaofan and his senior brothers stayed at his home in Grass Temple Village, where he honored the villagers' graves and reunited with Big Yellow and Little Gray. After breakfast, they decided to travel north to Heyang City, leaving the village behind.

• Zhang Xiaofan cleaned his home with the help of his senior brothers, then tended every grave behind the village and paid his respects with incense, candles, and kowtows.
• Zhang Xiaofan took over cooking when Du Bishu struggled with the meal, and the group rested for the night.
• Big Yellow and Little Gray arrived at dawn and reunited with Zhang Xiaofan; He Dazhi said he would write to Shiniang to let her know.
• Zhang Xiaofan fed Luo Yunji breakfast, and the senior brothers discussed where to go next.
• Wu Dayi agreed with He Dazhi's suggestion to head north to Heyang City, and the group prepared to broaden their horizons there.

The group stayed in Heyang City and sampled the Mountain and Sea Pavilion’s signature Clear-Stewed Sleepy Fish, which Zhang Xiaofan and Luo Yunji prepared to the delight of their senior brothers. After several days, the proprietor obtained Zhang Xiaofan’s recipe in exchange for covering the group’s expenses.

• He Dazhi led the group to the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, where they stayed in its separate courtyard and ordered the restaurant’s signature dishes.
• The group praised the Clear-Stewed Sleepy Fish, and Luo Yunji bought all eight fish so he and Zhang Xiaofan could prepare their own version.
• Luo Yunji and Zhang Xiaofan cooked two fish in the kitchen, and the group quickly ate them while other diners tried to buy some.
• After learning the restaurant had no more fish until morning, Sixth Senior Brother persuaded Zhang Xiaofan to make the dish again the next day.
• The group spent several days in Heyang City, and the Mountain and Sea Pavilion proprietor obtained Zhang Xiaofan’s recipe by waiving their expenses.

Zhang Xiaofan’s cooking and candied fruits entertained the group as they traveled to visit their hometowns and clans. In He Dazhi’s hometown, a clan elder asked him to deal with a Monster Beast on Black Mountain, and his Senior Brothers eagerly joined the undertaking.

• Zhang Xiaofan’s candied fruits impressed the shopkeeper and delighted Luo Yunji, while He Dazhi delivered some to Big Bamboo Peak and Du Bishu learned that Zhang Xiaofan had taken Tian Buyi’s treasured spirit fruits.
• Zhang Xiaofan gave candied fruits to a hungry little girl, and Luo Yunji added some of his own to her bamboo tube.
• The group agreed to visit their hometowns in order of distance, but several Senior Brothers found their old homes changed and their clans gone or diminished.
• Du Bishu reunited with surviving relatives, then went with them to He Dazhi’s neighboring hometown, where He Dazhi’s clan welcomed him and built him a shrine.
• A clan elder told He Dazhi that a Monster Beast on Black Mountain was harming townspeople and threatening poor families’ livelihoods, so He Dazhi agreed to capture it.
• He Dazhi told his Senior Brothers about the Monster Beast, and they eagerly agreed to get involved.

Wu Dayi and the others decided to investigate the monster on Black Mountain and set out after He Dazhi said he was ready to leave his clan. As they explored the mountain, Luo Yunji and Zhang Xiaofan found unusual black fruit, and the group stopped to pick it.

• Wu Dayi questioned He Dazhi about the monster, and the group agreed to investigate Black Mountain before deciding what to do.
• He Dazhi said he had no reason to stay longer, so Wu Dayi led the brothers to bid farewell to the clan elder and leave that day.
• The brothers climbed Black Mountain and discovered that its soil was black, though the mountain otherwise seemed ordinary.
• Luo Yunji found black fruit, and Zhang Xiaofan brought out a bundle for the brothers to taste.
• The brothers enjoyed the fruit's alternating sweet and sour flavor and joined Zhang Xiaofan in picking more for Luo Yunji.

The group searched the mountain for a monster and saw a huge, seemingly transparent blue snake, though it left no tracks. Luo Yunji discovered an invisible substance on the ground and placed it on Zhang Xiaofan’s fingertip, leaving him stunned.

• The senior brothers reached what they thought was the summit and saw a huge blue snake that seemed to vanish without leaving any trace.
• Sixth Senior Brother urged everyone to follow the snake, and the group continued toward a higher peak while Luo Yunji and Zhang Xiaofan trailed behind.
• Luo Yunji noticed something invisible in the soil and felt it in his hand, though Zhang Xiaofan and the others could not see it.
• After the group found no sign of the snake, Luo Yunji found the invisible substance again and placed it on Zhang Xiaofan’s fingertip.

Zhang Xiaofan and Luo Yunji discovered a nearly invisible blue material and used spiritual energy to reveal and extend it. The senior brothers followed the material in hopes of finding the giant snake, but after Luo Yunji stopped, the trail vanished and the group rested.

• Zhang Xiaofan and Luo Yunji felt a fine, invisible material and revealed it as blue mist by channeling spiritual energy into it.
• Luo Yunji spread and played with the blue material while Zhang Xiaofan gathered it into a bundle.
• Wu Dayi, He Dazhi, and the other senior brothers came over, examined the material, and wondered whether the giant snake had left it behind.
• At the senior brothers' urging, Luo Yunji extended the blue mist as the group followed it in search of the giant snake.
• Luo Yunji stopped from exhaustion, and the far end of the blue mist disappeared while the gathered bundle remained.
• Sixth Senior Brother tried to find the material on the ground so he could channel spiritual energy into it, but found only black soil.

Du Bishu and the other senior brothers struggled to channel spiritual power into the blue mist, while Luo Yunji and Zhang Xiaofan succeeded. He Dazhi discovered that the two juniors could control much smaller amounts of spiritual power, and the group suspected Zhang Xiaofan had developed that precision through cooking.

• Du Bishu failed to make the mist spread, even after trying different amounts of spiritual power, while Luo Yunji refused to help again because it was tiring.
• Zhang Xiaofan injected a tiny amount of spiritual power into the mist, causing it to spread gold, and He Dazhi rolled up the material as Zhang continued.
• Lu Daxin tried to channel spiritual power into the golden mist but failed, just as Du Bishu had.
• Zhang Xiaofan injected spiritual power into He Dazhi, who sensed that it was about a quarter of the smallest amount he could control.
• He Dazhi concluded that Zhang Xiaofan and Luo Yunji had more precise control of spiritual power, and Zheng Dali suggested Zhang Xiaofan had trained that control through cooking.

The group followed the giant snake’s strange trail through an illusionary cliff into a dark cave, where Luo Yunji’s Night-Shining Pearl helped them continue their search. As the older disciples noticed the passage winding downhill, Luo Yunji and Zhang Xiaofan began painting a pattern with spiritual power on the snake’s strange material.

• The disciples debated practicing precise spiritual power control, then followed the giant snake’s trail to a sheer cliff where Big Yellow revealed an illusionary entrance by passing through it.
• The group entered the cave, lit their way with Zhang Xiaofan’s candle, and then used Luo Yunji’s Night-Shining Pearl after realizing they had brought no torches.
• The disciples continued collecting the giant snake’s strange material, puzzled that it took up almost no space and that they had found no other traces.
• Wu Dayi and Lu Daxin noticed the cave passage seemed to circle downhill, while He Dazhi began to form an idea about their route.
• Luo Yunji instructed Zhang Xiaofan to fill gaps in the material with spiritual power, and the two began making a pattern across it.

Zhang Xiaofan and the Little Fatty explored a cave with their senior brothers, who discovered a giant Yanshe Snake and panicked when the two children disappeared. The children returned safely from a small opening in the cave wall, and He Dazhi led the group toward it to investigate.

• The Little Fatty showed Zhang Xiaofan and the others his spiritual-power painting of Big Bamboo Peak as they descended through the cave.
• He Dazhi identified a giant creature coiled around a stone pillar as a Yanshe Snake and explained what he knew about it.
• Du Bishu noticed Zhang Xiaofan and the Little Fatty had vanished, so the group searched for them while worrying the snake might attack.
• He Dazhi realized the children were likely near the Night-Shining Pearl and led everyone back toward its light.
• Zhang Xiaofan explained that he and the Little Fatty had entered a nearby hole and then lost sight of the senior brothers, who had taken the pearl.
• The Little Fatty pointed out the opening in the cave wall, and He Dazhi asked the group to investigate it.

Zhang Xiaofan and Luo Yunji returned to the cave after Luo Yunji sensed a treasure there, while their senior brothers debated how to deal with the Yanshe Snake. They searched again, and Zhang Xiaofan spotted a glimmer high on the cave wall.

• Wu Dayi and the others found nothing unusual in the cave and debated whether to confront the Yanshe Snake or turn back.
• Luo Yunji told Zhang Xiaofan that the giant bug had made its nest throughout the original Black Mountain and that he sensed a treasure in the cave.
• Zhang Xiaofan and Luo Yunji got permission from He Dazhi to return to the cave and search again.
• Luo Yunji used a Water Ribbon to lift the Night-Shining Pearl, and Zhang Xiaofan spotted a glimmer on the high cave wall.

Zhang Xiaofan and Luo Yunji discovered a hidden trove of glowing gemstones inside a cave and collected Luo Yunji’s favorite colors. Their senior brothers found them and joined in, while He Dazhi tried to persuade Luo Yunji to choose food over carrying a bag full of stones.

• Zhang Xiaofan climbed the cave wall and pried two emerald-green gemstones from the stone for Luo Yunji.
• Luo Yunji scraped the cave walls with his Water Ribbons, revealing countless gemstones that glittered like a starry sky.
• Zhang Xiaofan persuaded Luo Yunji to take only his favorite gemstones and leave the rest behind a formation until they returned.
• Wu Dayi and the others entered the cave, saw the glittering walls, and asked how Zhang Xiaofan and Luo Yunji had found the gemstones.
• He Dazhi warned that carrying a Bamboo Bag full of stones would be tiring, then offered Luo Yunji the choice of gemstones or tasty food.

He Dazhi realized that Zhang Xiaofan's black stick was a blood-refined magic treasure that only Xiaofan could control, and Xiaofan accepted it as his own. He flew it to retrieve a gem for Luo Yunji, who eagerly claimed the blue-and-green stone.

• He Dazhi questioned Zhang Xiaofan about the black stick and asked him to test whether he could control it.
• Zhang Xiaofan made the stick float effortlessly, confirming He Dazhi's suspicion that it was a blood-refined magic treasure bound to its wielder.
• Zhang Xiaofan overcame his embarrassment about the stick's appearance and promised to accept it as his magic treasure.
• Zhang Xiaofan flew on the stick to retrieve a large blue-and-green gem for Luo Yunji.
• Luo Yunji joyfully hugged the gem and watched his senior brothers warily.

While Zhang Xiaofan and the others explored the real Black Mountain, Wu Dayi and Sixth Senior Brother developed headaches, and Luo Yunji heard a strange voice. Luo Yunji and Zhang Xiaofan discovered a giant lizard attacking the Yanshe Snake, and Zhang Xiaofan sent the Fire Poker at the lizard to help.

• Zhang Xiaofan explained that the gemstone cavern was inside the real Black Mountain, while the mountain outside was a nest built by the Yanshe Snake.
• Luo Yunji asked Zhang Xiaofan to carve a two-colored gemstone, but the senior brothers reminded everyone that they had come to eliminate the monster.
• Wu Dayi clutched his head in pain, and Sixth Senior Brother said that his head also hurt.
• Luo Yunji heard a strange voice ordering them away, then led Zhang Xiaofan out of the cavern to find a giant lizard confronting the Yanshe Snake.
• The giant lizard wounded the Yanshe Snake and clung to its back, so Zhang Xiaofan launched the Fire Poker at it.

Zhang Xiaofan and Luo Yunji killed the giant gecko monster by restoring the Fire Poker, then learned the wounded Yanshe Snake had been hiding its eggs in stone pillars. The senior brothers cautiously approached the snake to help return its eggs.

• Zhang Xiaofan and Luo Yunji tried attacking the gecko with the Fire Poker and a hairpin, but neither harmed it while the Fire Poker was broken.
• Zhang Xiaofan restored the Fire Poker's power and drove it into the gecko, which fell and shriveled into its skin.
• He Dazhi suspected the blood-refined Fire Poker had devoured the gecko's flesh and blood, while Luo Yunji asked Zhang Xiaofan to wash the weapon and hairpin.
• The Yanshe Snake thanked Luo Yunji and asked him to return its eggs, which it had hidden inside stone pillars.
• Fourth Senior Brother agreed to help the Yanshe Snake, and the senior brothers cautiously approached it.

Luo Yunji healed the dying Yanshe Snake with the hairpin and joined his senior brothers on a trip to Quhu’s lair. There they found a strange black stone rod that affected Wu Dayi, while Luo Yunji realized his spiritual attribute let him understand creatures’ speech.

• The Yanshe Snake told Luo Yunji that it was dying and asked him to put its unhatched eggs into its wound, then revealed that Quhu’s lair held a treasure.
• At He Dazhi’s suggestion, Luo Yunji pierced the Yanshe Snake with the hairpin, and its blood and vital energy restored it to health.
• The Yanshe Snake carried Luo Yunji and his senior brothers across a field of black Coal Stone toward Quhu’s lair on Black Mountain.
• The group found a black stone rod near the lair, and Wu Dayi’s head began hurting when he passed it.
• Luo Yunji said he had realized his spiritual attribute let him understand what the Yanshe Snake and Quhu said.