Chapter Summaries

Shen Xiu fought Li Tianhua, who accused him of murdering Shen Fei, while the narrative shifted to a separate encounter in which Shen Xiu was poisoned during a meal and taken toward the Shen Residence. The chapter ended with Liu Zhihua presenting his token to the Shen Family guards after dark.

• Li Tianhua attacked Shen Xiu with an iron hammer, then revealed himself and accused Shen Xiu of killing Shen Fei, Shen Mengyun’s Personal Disciple.
• Li Tianhua overwhelmed Shen Xiu with increasingly fierce attacks and raised his hammer over the wounded, disarmed Shen Xiu.
• Liu Zhihua and Zhao Zhihua invited Shen Xiu to Old Madam Shen’s birthday banquet, but Shen Xiu refused to return to the Shen Residence.
• Shen Xiu suffered severe abdominal pain after drinking wine and suspected he had been poisoned; he lashed out when Zhao Zhihua tried to restrain him.
• Liu Zhihua stopped Zhao Zhihua from pressing Shen Xiu and took the drowsy Shen Xiu with their companions toward the Shen Family.
• At night, Liu Zhihua showed his token to the Shen Residence guards, who verified it and treated him with respect.

Shen Xiu recovered at Shen Residence, refused Zhao Zhihua’s advances and the Duke of Zhenguo’s guards’ invitation, then visited Shen Zhan at the military camp. That evening, he hid in a deserted courtyard when two cloaked figures approached, leaving their intentions unknown.

• Shen Xiu accepted Liu Zhihua’s offer to stay at Liu Mansion, then returned to Shen Residence and rejected Zhao Zhihua when he asked about his romantic preferences.
• Shen Xiu took medicinal pills to restore his combat power and reassured Madam Su and Old Madam Shen that he had escaped an attempt on his life.
• Li Yan, Wang Lin, and Chen Haonan came under orders to take Shen Xiu back to Duke Zhenguo’s Mansion, but he refused and warned them not to harm him.
• Shen Xiu told Shen Zhan that bandits had attacked him and said he would remain at the military camp until his mother recovered, then left without explaining his distress.
• Shen Xiu wandered into a deserted courtyard that evening and hid in the grass when two cloaked figures cautiously approached.

Shen Xiu fought off several attackers, escaped Shen Qiwen, and was captured by a powerful red-clothed girl in the forest. As she choked him with her whip, someone rode up shouting for her to let go of his father.

• Shen Xiu defeated a hired assassin who blamed the Shen Family for his brother’s death, then killed him when the man attacked again.
• A masked man in black killed the assassin and fought Shen Xiu before escaping with a smoke bomb; Shen Xiu was interrupted by Shen Qiwen and fled.
• Shen Qiwen’s guards captured the poisoned masked man at Xiangguo Temple, and Shen Qiwen accused him of trying to steal a treasure map.
• Shen Xiu fled into the forest, where a red-clothed girl attacked, bound him, and demanded his name.
• The girl tightened her whip around Shen Xiu’s neck and struck him, but a rider arrived and shouted for her to release his father.

Shen Xiu returned to the Shen residence injured after a girl ambushed him, then warned his family that someone was targeting him and urged them to prepare to leave. He infiltrated the Fourth Prince's Consort's bedroom, killed a masked attacker, and later suspected his Third Uncle had been targeted by an unknown mastermind.

• A girl attacked Shen Xiu but spared him, and he returned to the residence wounded, believing she might be trying to drive him back to the borderlands.
• Shen Xiu returned to the Shen family gathering, warned Second Madam and Third Madam that someone wanted to kill him, and urged them to leave the capital.
• Shen Qingyun ordered the Fourth Branch watched, while Shen Xiu told Old Madam Shen he had arranged for his family to relocate and planned to identify the culprit first.
• Shen Xiu entered the Fourth Prince's Consort's bedroom and killed a masked man who threatened him for interfering.
• Shen Xiu told Old Master Shen and Madam Li that he suspected Third Uncle, but also believed an unknown mastermind might be targeting Third Uncle.

Shen Xiu left Qingshan Town for the capital, while deaths and uncertainty plunged the Shen Family into turmoil. After learning Shen Xiu was alive and his body had been brought to the capital, Old Master Shen moved the family there, where they arrived at Yongchang Marquis Mansion and were lodged in a guest courtyard.

• Shen Xiu set out for the capital, leaving Madam Li and Old Master Shen to manage the family in Qingshan Town.
• Eldest Young Mistress died, and Shen Chengye later died of illness; Madam Shen fell gravely ill and never woke.
• Old Master Shen rejected plans to divide the estate and made Second Master Shen sign a contract placing the Shen Family property under his control.
• Old Master Shen learned from the Emperor that Shen Xiu was alive and had been brought to the capital, then led the family there.
• Old Grandfather Shen and Old Master Shen brought their relatives to Yongchang Marquis Mansion, whose guards admitted them to a guest courtyard after the Marquis returned.

The Shen family returned to the Imperial City, where Shen Chengye discovered that Shen Chengbi had taken control of the family’s properties and that his son Chengan was missing. Shen Chengye tried to rescue him and escape, but the family’s power struggle forced him to retreat; the chapter ended with Shen Chenghui leaving Shen Garden for her wedding.

• Old Grandfather Shen told Shen Chengze he would need to live on his own, but Shen Chengye reassured him that the family would stay together until Second Aunt recovered.
• The steward reported that Chengan was missing, and Old Grandfather Shen ordered the family to return to the Imperial City.
• Shen Chengye found that Shen Chengbi had bought up the family’s shops and refused to help recover Chengan, so Shen Chengye decided to leave for Suzhou City.
• Shen Chengye tried to reach the docks but Shen Chengbi’s guards stopped him; he then knelt outside the old residence for two days, seeking Old Grandfather Shen’s help.
• Shen Chengye eventually stopped openly challenging Shen Chengbi, and tensions between the First Branch and Second Branch gradually eased.
• Shen Chenghui completed her wedding rites and left Shen Garden in a bridal sedan chair.

Shen Rui’s wedding day brought the Shen family together, where they discussed Shen Xiu’s prospective match with Zhu Zhongjun and Shen Yuqiao’s resentment. Zhu Zhongjun met his grandfather Zhu Chengyou, whose rebuke prompted him to acknowledge Madam Zhao as his eldest aunt, though their exchange remained cold.

• Shen Yanshan and Shen Chengyou worried that A Yi might be bullied in Nanchang and agreed to watch over his future marriage prospects.
• Shen Chengze escorted Shen Jin to Shen Rui’s wedding, where Shen Rui prepared for the ceremony and asked after A Zi.
• Madam Zhao and the others discussed Zhu Zhongjun’s background and his possible marriage to Shen Xiu, while Shen Yuqiao grew resentful.
• Zhu Zhongjun told Madam Zhao that he and Shen Xiu shared interests, and the family set their wedding date for the sixth day of the fifth month next year.
• Shen Yuqiao left dinner abruptly, and Shen Xiu defended her conduct despite Madam Zhao’s disappointment.
• Zhu Chengyou arrived as Zhu Zhongjun was leaving, reprimanded him for his manner toward Madam Zhao, and watched him offer her an indifferent apology.

Zhu Zhongjun left the Zhu residence with Madam Zhao and later rode toward the capital with Xiao Jingchen, who wanted to train in the northwest military camp. The chapter then shifted abruptly to Shen Xiu's battle with the Netherworld Saint Lord, who overwhelmed him with several deadly techniques and left him badly wounded.

• Zhu Zhongjun asked Madam Zhao to ride with him and questioned her during their journey away from the Zhu residence.
• Zhu Zhongjun told Xiao Jingchen that he disliked Madam Zhao because she disliked his mother, and Xiao Jingchen discussed his wish to serve in the northwest military camp.
• The Netherworld Saint Lord kicked Shen Xiu and exchanged powerful blows with him, revealing strength at the peak of two-star Martial Master.
• The Netherworld Saint Lord used a flying sword and then his Ghost Sting technique, piercing Shen Xiu's chest with seven steel needles.
• The Netherworld Saint Lord engulfed Shen Xiu in black mist with the Netherworld Divine Skill and struck him repeatedly, blasting him to the ground.

Shen Xiu was overwhelmed by Netherworld Saint Lord, the Nether King's Cauldron, and the ancient ghosts guarding it. As the skeletons closed in to devour his soul, they abruptly stopped, leaving Netherworld Saint Lord to taunt him into continuing his search for treasure.

• Netherworld Saint Lord revealed that his father was the Rakshasa Nether King and chased Shen Xiu, whose attacks failed against his superior strength.
• Netherworld Saint Lord attacked the Nether King's Cauldron, but its golden light struck him back and summoned the phantom of a Three-legged Golden Crow.
• The cauldron awakened the vicious ghosts in the mausoleum, and the skeletal spirits attacked Shen Xiu as he tried to flee.
• Gui Gu Yuan Feng joined the fight, and Netherworld Saint Lord struck Shen Xiu down before ordering two skeletons to devour his soul.
• The black mist engulfed Shen Xiu, but the skeletons suddenly stopped, and Netherworld Saint Lord emerged and told him to keep digging for treasures.

Shen Xiu fought the Netherworld Saint Lord, who revealed his plan to break the seal beneath the mausoleum and tried to enslave him with the Nether King's Cauldron. Shen Xiu struck back with Nine Lotuses Burning the World, broke through to the Martial Emperor Realm, and left the wounded Saint Lord vowing to destroy the forces of Earth Circle Continent once he recovered.

• The Netherworld Saint Lord explained that he had hidden the mausoleum to keep its ancient powerhouses sealed and had established Hades Manor after Old Ancestor Sanqing defeated him.
• The Netherworld Saint Lord and Hades attacked Shen Xiu, who was battered by the skeletons and the Nether King's Cauldron until his Corpse Fiend intervened.
• The Netherworld Saint Lord demanded that Shen Xiu become his slave, but Shen Xiu refused and used Nine Lotuses Burning the World to badly wound him.
• Shen Xiu stabbed the Netherworld Saint Lord with the Hades Sword and learned that he had advanced from the Martial Marquis Realm to the Martial Emperor Realm.
• The Netherworld Saint Lord threatened to destroy the forces of Earth Circle Continent after recovering his strength.

Shen Xiu was attacked by Nether King Saint Lord’s army, but Yellow Springs Holy Lord’s dragon soul defeated the invaders before fighting and destroying another dragon soul. Yellow Springs Holy Lord then revealed himself as the Yellow Springs Saint Emperor, threatened Shen Xiu, and demanded to know where his Nether Pearl was.

• Nether King Saint Lord led millions of soldiers against Shen Xiu, beat him down, and surrounded him with walls of flame.
• Yellow Springs Holy Lord’s dragon soul attacked, shattered Nether King Saint Lord’s scythe, and battered him before swallowing him and his soul.
• The dragon soul burned the remaining guards, then moved to attack Shen Xiu, but the Golden Flame Fire Dragon intervened.
• Yellow Springs Holy Lord fought the Golden Flame Fire Dragon and destroyed it with the Nether Pearl.
• Yellow Springs Holy Lord identified himself as the Yellow Springs Saint Emperor and said he would kill Shen Xiu after recovering, then asked where his Nether Pearl was.
• Shen Xiu told Yellow Springs Holy Lord that the Golden Flame Fire Dragon had given him the pearl.

The Yellow Springs Holy Lord seized the Nether Pearl and threatened Shen Xiu, but Ao Kun defeated him and reclaimed the pearl. After it crumbled and lightning struck Shen Xiu unconscious, the story shifted to Yue Wuya’s forces fighting Zhang Ping’s rebellion at Nuwa Temple, where Han Bing and the Frost White Dragon turned the battle.

• The Yellow Springs Holy Lord absorbed power from the pool, bound Shen Xiu, and tried to make him his prey.
• Ao Kun appeared, struck the Yellow Springs Holy Lord unconscious, took the Nether Pearl, and gave Shen Xiu a Purple Sun Pill before leaving.
• Shen Xiu found the Nether Pearl had crumbled into powder, then was struck by lightning and knocked unconscious.
• At Nuwa Temple, Zhang Ping led West Cang troops against Yue Wuya’s forces and formed the Immortal Slaying Sword Array.
• Zhang Ping accused Yue Wuya of betraying his promise about the Princess Consort and ordered his troops to kill the opposition.
• Han Bing and the Frost White Dragon attacked the West Cang soldiers, scattering them, as Yue Wuya summoned the Overlord Hammer.

Yue Wuya defeated Zhang Ping’s force and led his troops toward the Northern Camp, while Meng Ao appointed Yue Feng ruler of West Cang amid an invasion by Hades. Elsewhere, Shen Xiu struck down the Netherworld Saint Lord, who revealed his hidden strength and grievously wounded him.

• Yue Wuya spared the wounded Zhang Ping and his soldiers, and Han Bing persuaded the West Cang troops to surrender.
• Yue Wuya led his forces toward the Northern Camp and ordered an attack on the Southern Cloud army.
• Meng Ao learned that Hades had attacked West Cang, and Zhang Jiao left the Northern Camp to go to the battlefield.
• At the West Cang imperial palace, Meng Ao declared Yue Feng the new ruler despite Yuwen Yan’s objections.
• Shen Xiu hit the Netherworld Saint Lord with his Sky-Breaking Fist, but the Saint Lord revealed his hidden strength and blasted Shen Xiu away with the Nether Demon Claw.

The Netherworld Saint Lord attacked Shen Xiu to seize his treasures and subdue him, but a monstrous Fierce Beast appeared over the Kunlun Sect and disrupted the fight. Shen Lang then engaged the Netherworld Saint Lord while Ouyang Zhennan urged him to escape, leaving Shen Lang to unleash a powerful blue attack instead.

• The Netherworld Saint Lord struck Shen Xiu and tried to recruit him, then revealed that he wanted Shen Xiu’s Yin Yang Bead and demanded the Yin Yang Secret Manual.
• The Netherworld Saint Lord used the Netherworld Palm and Yin Yang Rope to overpower and bind Shen Xiu.
• A giant Fierce Beast appeared over the Kunlun Sect and attacked Shen Xiu and the Netherworld Saint Lord, while Yue Feng was dragged toward a pool by black tentacles.
• Shen Lang drew the Frost Sword and fought the Netherworld Saint Lord with the Frost Domain as Ouyang Zhennan called for him to escape using Shape Shift.
• Ouyang Zhennan offered to hold off the Netherworld Saint Lord, but Shen Lang refused to abandon him and launched a sphere of blue light at their enemy.

Shen Lang escaped the Netherworld Saint Lord with Ouyang Yunqing and learned about the danger they faced and a talisman that could summon help. Back at the Green Jade Altar, he consumed black blood from a bone fragment, survived a devastating transformation, and emerged with greater physical strength and cultivation.

• Shen Lang appeared to be knocked unconscious by the Netherworld Saint Lord, then suddenly escaped with Ouyang Yunqing as approaching figures forced the Netherworld Saint Lord and the Heavenly Revelation Soldiers to retreat.
• Shen Lang told Ouyang Yunqing he sought a treasure in the Green Jade Altar to find Fairy Su, and she explained the Netherworld Saint Lord's power and used a Sound Transmission Talisman to contact a powerful senior.
• Ouyang Yunqing warned Shen Lang about the Netherworld Saint Lord and the Seven Demon Alliance, and offered to teach him how to use the talisman to request rescue.
• Shen Lang crushed a pitch-black bone fragment and drank its blood while Ouyang Changfeng watched over him.
• The blood triggered a violent transformation: Shen Lang took on the form of a Golden-Eyed Stone Ape, and his bones and meridians shattered before his body healed.
• Shen Lang awoke with greatly increased physical strength and cultivation, while Ouyang Changfeng congratulated him.

Shen Lang studied the Nine Revolutions Dao Scripture, refined the Blood Soul Talisman, and tested his strengthened abilities while preparing to advance his cultivation. Three days before the sect war, he reached Cangluan City and secluded himself on a nearby mountain to practice the Nine Li Sword Array and attempt a breakthrough to the Core Formation Stage.

• Ouyang Changfeng praised Shen Lang's physique, explained his connection to Ancestor Tianying, and told him to rest before his master guided his cultivation.
• Shen Lang studied the Nine Revolutions Dao Scripture, spent time with Su Ruoxue, Liu Xiaoxiao, and Hua Ziling, and eventually decided to pursue a breakthrough.
• Shen Lang refined the Blood Soul Talisman into his divine soul, then tested his power and the defensive abilities of the Primordial Pearl Umbrella.
• Shen Lang trained in the northern Southern Ridge Mountains but found that his progress beyond Void Refining Peak depended on advancing his sword canon cultivation.
• Shen Lang heard that Cangluan City had been wiped out, continued west, and arrived there three days before the great war between sects.
• Shen Lang set up a soundproofing restriction on a nearby mountain, practiced the Nine Li Sword Array for a week, and prepared to attempt a breakthrough.

Shen Lang broke through to the Core Formation Stage, used the Nine Li Sword Array to kill Iron Mountain, and traveled to Azure Mist City. After entering the Azure Mist Ancient Restriction, he defeated an Ancient Azure Wolf but was ambushed by a far stronger white wolf and barely knocked it down.

• Shen Lang successfully formed his core and absorbed the Coral Water Droplet, greatly increasing his strength and the power of the Nine Li Sword Array.
• Shen Lang used the Nine Li Sword Array to kill Iron Mountain, then gathered his spoils and left seclusion with Xiao Rou.
• Shen Lang traveled to Azure Mist City and encountered an Ancient Azure Wolf emerging from the Azure Mist Ancient Restriction.
• Shen Lang killed the Ancient Azure Wolf with the Nine Li Sword Array and Heavenly Xin Sword Talisman, then entered the restriction.
• A white azure wolf ambushed Shen Lang and crushed the bones in his right arm, but Shen Lang struck its abdomen and temporarily knocked it down.

Shen Lang struggled through the Ancient Beast Forest to reach the sealed palace, then encountered the Nether King Sacred Turtle, who offered him the Nether River Divine Pearl if he passed a deadly trial. Shen Lang accepted and arrived at the trial site, where he saw the stone platforms and armed bronze puppets awaiting him.

• Azure Wolf’s ghostly attack overwhelmed Shen Lang’s Heavenly Demon Blood Claw, badly injuring him, but the Mithril Holy Robe kept him alive as he pressed toward the ruins.
• Shen Lang found a palace protected by an unbreakable seven-colored barrier, then endured a month of attacks and injuries while making his way through the Ancient Beast Forest.
• Shen Lang destroyed a skeleton rising from a marshy lake, releasing the Nether King Sacred Turtle, who offered him the Nether River Divine Pearl in exchange for passing a perilous trial.
• Shen Lang agreed to the trial, which required him to cross the Yellow Springs Marsh and reach its final stone platform, or lose his Reincarnation Body and soul.
• Shen Lang reached the lake and saw stone platforms in the four directions, chains forming the Sealing Formation of the Land of Heavenly Fall, and three formidable bronze puppets.

Shen Lang fought through the Yellow Springs Marsh and entered the Land of Heavenly Fall, where he tried to seize a blood-red sphere that transformed into a deadly Crimson Giant Python. Lan Xian'er and the Golden Ox puppet rescued him from its first attack, and the battle remained unresolved.

• Shen Lang destroyed the three bronze puppets in the Yellow Springs Marsh, then collapsed from exhaustion.
• Shen Lang encountered a black storm and a red flower that transported him into a stone chamber in the Land of Heavenly Fall.
• Shen Lang approached the blood-red sphere, endured its curse, and damaged it with a thunder dragon before his Scarlet Firmament Battle Axe shattered against it.
• The blood-red sphere transformed into a Crimson Giant Python, which overwhelmed Shen Lang and attacked him.
• Lan Xian'er rushed to protect Shen Lang, but the Golden Ox puppet emerged and knocked the python back.
• Shen Lang and Lan Xian'er used the Golden Ox puppet and Yellow Turban Warrior to hold off the Crimson Giant Python as the fight continued.

Golden Ox killed the Crimson Giant Python, and Yun Chen led Shen Lang and Lan Xian'er to Ten Thousand Snow Cave, where Shen Lang accidentally activated a dangerous seal. Trapped in the Ice Crystal Palace as his body rapidly aged, Shen Lang fought Yun Chen, who revealed his treachery and attacked him for the Xuan Hua Battle Axe.

• Golden Ox defeated the Crimson Giant Python, and Lan Xian'er recovered after Shen Lang protected her.
• Yun Chen arrived and led Shen Lang and Lan Xian'er to Ten Thousand Snow Cave, where they found a Blood Sandalwood Holy Demon corpse and defeated eight Six-Winged Centipede Kings.
• Yun Chen guided Shen Lang and Lan Xian'er into the Ice Crystal Palace, where Shen Lang picked up a blue-green tortoise shell that shattered and released white light, causing him to age rapidly and activating the seal.
• Shen Lang tried and failed to destroy the unbreakable Cold Soul Profound Crystal shell as the Centipede Kings roared below, while Yun Chen revealed his hostile intentions and unleashed Netherworld Demonic Wind.
• Shen Lang protected Lan Xian'er with the Nine Revolutions Seal and struck back with the Xuan Hua Battle Axe, forcing Yun Chen to block with the Frost Giant Python Staff.