Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Qin An’s arrival turns the battle in the Skycloud Forbidden Land into a rout. He kills several demons and False Gods with ease, and the surviving enemies flee.
• Human cultivators are stunned by Qin An’s Peerless Foundation and strength, especially given how recently he entered the Crowning Realm. Their leader hopes to recruit him, but Qin An declines, saying he has more urgent matters.
• Zhou Wuming asks Qin An to pass his regards to the being at Myriad Poison Cloud Peak and declares that the Holdouts are prepared to sacrifice themselves. The exchange makes the gathered cultivators realize Qin An has powerful backing.
• Qin An leaves the Forbidden Land safely and decides to seek answers at Myriad Poison Cloud Peak before returning to advance his cultivation methods and professions.
• In the Starlight Forbidden Land, Starlight learns that his attempts to stop Qin An have failed. Unable to leave the Forbidden Lands or risk exposing his forces, he uses the costly Star-Dipper Transmission to warn the Betrayers and ask them to coordinate Qin An’s death. He will need a year to recover.
• Qin An reaches Myriad Poison Cloud Peak unharmed. Its ruler, Leng Qing, welcomes him at the summit and agrees to explain the world’s truth. She begins by describing an ancient era—the War of Ten Thousand Kingdoms—and the mysterious being whose appearance ended it.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An has become a formidable Crowning Realm cultivator with a Peerless Foundation. Though others seek his allegiance, he remains focused on uncovering the larger conspiracy. His direct manner sets the tone for his meeting with Leng Qing.
• The human cultivators shift from awe at Qin An’s power to recognition of his influence when Zhou Wuming addresses him as “Lord.”
• Starlight moves from frustration at failing to kill Qin An to a broader strategy: informing the other Betrayers. His concern shows that Qin An’s advancement has made him a serious threat.
• Zhou Wuming signals the Holdouts’ commitment and respect for Qin An.
• Leng Qing treats Qin An as someone ready to learn the truth, inviting him to speak with her and beginning a historical account.

Significant themes

• Power and shifting allegiance: Qin An’s strength changes the course of battles and alters how others regard him.
• A widening conflict: The struggle extends beyond the battlefield, involving the Betrayers, Holdouts, and forces across the Forbidden Lands.
• Truth and hidden history: Qin An’s next goal is not simply greater strength but understanding the origins and stakes of the conflict.
• Strategic restraint: Both Qin An and Starlight recognize limits—Qin An avoids unnecessary entanglements, while Starlight hesitates to commit vital forces recklessly.

Plot points and events

• Leng Qing explains the history of the Ten Thousand Nations Era: the Heavenly Demon, an unknown being from beyond the world, recruited people as Betrayers and helped bring the era to ruin.
• The era’s heroes united as the Holdouts and initially defeated the Betrayers. But desire later drew new traitors from within the Holdout faction, triggering another devastating conflict.
• To stop the war from destroying the world, the Holdouts sacrificed themselves to create the Forbidden Lands, imprisoning both Betrayers and Holdouts. Their descendants became the Natives, who inherited the duty of guarding the prison.
• Leng Qing reveals a prophecy: a future “Savior” will free the world, and Holdouts must obey and support him. She believes Qin An may be that figure, but Qin An rejects the idea that prophecy can determine the future.
• Qin An leaves Myriad Poison Cloud Peak and returns to the Evil Extermination Division. Onlookers sense that he has advanced beyond Essence Transformation and reached the Crowning Realm, and the news spreads through the compound.
• A noble young visitor arrives, attracting deference from the Division members. He tells Li Moyun that Qin An interests him and says they can meet the next day if not that night.

Character developments

• Qin An learns the broad history behind the Holdouts, Betrayers, and Forbidden Lands. He respects the ancient Holdouts’ sacrifice but remains skeptical of prophecy and intends to follow his own judgment.
• Leng Qing shares painful history and shows how deeply the ancient conflict still affects her. She accepts Qin An’s freedom to choose, though she fears he may take unnecessary risks.
• The young visitor is introduced as influential and aristocratic, with an immediate interest in Qin An.

Significant themes

• Desire and betrayal: ambition or temptation can undermine even a victorious alliance.
• Sacrifice and inherited duty: the Holdouts created the Forbidden Lands at great cost, and their descendants continue their mission.
• Fate versus free will: the prophecy presents Qin An as the world’s destined savior, while he insists that his choices should remain his own.
• Unresolved danger: the Heavenly Demon’s identity and motives remain unknown, leaving the central threat mysterious.

Character interactions

• Leng Qing recounts the past to Qin An, who listens respectfully, questions her about the Savior prophecy, and ultimately refuses to let it dictate his actions.
• Leng Qing warns Qin An to avoid needless risks and escorts him from the peak; he departs without further discussion.
• At the Division, members react with awe to Qin An’s apparent breakthrough.
• Li Moyun approaches the visiting noble, who halts him and expresses interest in meeting Qin An.

• The Third Prince visits the Skycloud Circuit: Li Moyun recognizes the finely dressed visitor as the Third Prince and treats him with great deference. The prince praises the Evil Extermination Division’s improved conditions, acknowledging that Qin An is responsible for driving back the demons and False Gods. He regrets that Li Moyun did not alert him to Qin An’s potential sooner, but accepts Li’s explanation and tells him to keep the circuit secure while earning merits for the prince’s political standing.
• The prince’s aim: Li Moyun worries that the Third Prince wants to recruit Qin An, who serves the emperor as a Forbidden Land Envoy. The prince clarifies that he wants Qin An as a friend, not a subordinate—someone who might support him in a future contest for the crown prince’s title. He asks Li Moyun not to arrange a formal introduction and settles into a room at the division.
• Qin An and the prince meet: After a rare, restful night, Qin An goes out for breakfast. The Third Prince approaches him at the stall, introduces himself, and proposes friendship. Qin An doubts that the prince has traveled so far without an ulterior motive and says he would rather make a straightforward bargain than pretend to trust one another.
• They negotiate an alliance: Qin An agrees to consider cooperation if the prince can help him stay safe from trouble caused by the First and Second Princes and support his growth. He specifically asks for Demon Cores and Cultivation Methods, which he needs to strengthen himself for dangerous future missions. The Third Prince says resources should be manageable, while Cultivation Methods may be harder to obtain, and asks Qin An to prepare a list.
  Character developments and interactions: Li Moyun’s regret over overlooking Qin An’s talent deepens, but the Third Prince forgives him and gives him practical responsibility. The Third Prince reveals a pragmatic, politically minded approach: he seeks useful allies while respecting the emperor’s authority. Qin An remains wary and direct, turning a potentially unequal friendship into a negotiated partnership focused on survival and strength.
  Themes: The chapter explores loyalty and political ambition, the value of recognizing talent early, and the tension between trust and self-interest. Its central interaction contrasts the prince’s offer of friendship with Qin An’s insistence on clear terms and tangible support.

Plot points and events

• Qin An asks the Third Prince for 100 Demon Cores and four Cultivation Methods—blade, fist, movement, and defense techniques—all powered by killing intent. The prince agrees to provide them within half a month, though he is curious about Qin An’s choice.
• Qin An keeps his reasons private. Unlike ordinary practitioners, he is protected from killing intent’s corrupting effects by the Skycloud Mind Method, now integrated into his Colorless Formless Mystic Yellow Art.
• Over the following months, the Evil Extermination Division steadily wipes out the remaining Demons and False Gods. Qin An’s role in the earlier conflict makes him famous, and factions across the Skycloud Circuit seek him out, but he remains secluded.
• Through sustained practice, Qin An raises both his Butcher and Blacksmith professions to level 21. Their new traits increase proficiency gains and grant fusion talents for Essence Transformation Realm techniques. He also reforges Cold Star and his Soft Armor, imbuing them with greater spiritual power.
• After receiving the prince’s gifts, Qin An studies the Killing Intent Horizontal Blade Technique. His talent brings it to perfection, but he initially fails to fuse it with his existing blade art. By burning Blood Essence and using the Demon Cores, he gains enough insight to combine them into the Colorless Formless Killing Intent Horizontal Blade.
• The new technique reaches the Crowning Realm and removes a weakness in Qin An’s blade skills, giving him formidable power against opponents of his own level. He then turns to the supplied Fist Technique.

Character development and interactions

• Qin An is ambitious but measured: he requests resources essential to his growth, keeps his secrets guarded, and prioritizes balanced cultivation. His mastery of killing-intent arts reflects confidence in his unusual immunity to their dangers.
• The Third Prince proves generous and pragmatic, accepting Qin An’s terms and arranging the resources while respecting his refusal to explain himself.
• Qin An’s growing reputation contrasts with his preference for quiet seclusion. The public and many factions await his return, but he remains focused on training.
• The Third Prince and Qin An’s meeting is brief and businesslike: they establish a deal, exchange a few questions, and part on respectful terms.

Significant themes

• Power and its price: Killing-intent techniques offer great strength but threaten to erode the practitioner’s mind; Qin An’s protection makes him an exception.
• Growth through discipline and sacrifice: Repetitive training advances Qin An’s professions, while burning Blood Essence and consuming rare Demon Cores enable a breakthrough.
• Secrecy and reputation: Qin An withholds personal truths even as his public fame spreads.
• Synthesis and balance: Qin An’s progress comes from fusing techniques and aligning them with his Mind Method, while he remains intent on developing multiple aspects of his abilities.

Key plot points and events

• Qin An studies the Kill God Fist, quickly mastering it at Perfection. He then attempts to fuse it with his Nine-Turn Blood-Burning Sacred Demon Hand. After burning a large amount of Blood Essence to fuel his derivation, he succeeds in creating the Colorless Formless Kill God Fist at Initial Proficiency in the Crowning Realm.
• The new technique combines the fist’s killing intent with Blood Essence, greatly strengthening its attacks. Qin An decides he has enough demon essence and no need to take ordinary Merit missions; he plans instead to improve his Movement and Body-Protection techniques.
• Before he can begin training, his Forbidden Land Envoy token summons him to a mandatory group mission. An anomaly in the Reincarnation Forbidden Land has sparked a brutal, ongoing conflict among two factions and the Natives, with all sides suffering losses.
• Qin An accepts the mission and travels to the Reincarnation Sea, where more than a hundred powerful Evil Extermination Division Envoys have assembled. The Forbidden Land’s Reincarnation Power can reverse age or transform life and death, making it dangerous even for powerful cultivators.
• The assembled Envoys debate Qin An’s inclusion: some respect his recent achievements, while others dismiss them as luck. Qin An ignores the discussion and focuses on completing the mission.
• Nangong Xuan, a Crowning Realm expert at Perfection, volunteers to lead. Before anyone can object, Yue Wushuang, another Perfection-level expert, challenges him and claims she should lead instead. The chapter ends as their rivalry begins to surface.

Character developments

• Qin An shows both resourcefulness and single-minded ambition: he sacrifices Blood Essence to create a powerful new technique, then remains uninterested in status or others’ opinions. His priority is steadily increasing his strength.
• Nangong Xuan is introduced as a formidable, icy, confident leader who expects his strength to be accepted.
• Yue Wushuang emerges as Nangong Xuan’s powerful rival, openly challenging his authority.

Significant themes

• Strength through sacrifice and innovation: Qin An spends Blood Essence to push beyond his current limits and invent a stronger technique.
• Duty versus personal goals: His training plans are interrupted by a compulsory mission, which he must obey.
• Reputation, merit, and pride: The Envoys disagree over whether Qin An deserves his standing, revealing the faction’s competitive culture.
• The dangers of forbidden power: The Reincarnation Forbidden Land’s ability to alter life and age makes it a serious threat even to elite cultivators.

Character interactions

• Qin An’s new technique is developed through repeated attempts and costly self-sacrifice, though no other character is involved in the process.
• At the gathering, Envoys argue over Qin An’s abilities; he hears them but does not respond.
• Nangong Xuan assumes leadership without opposition, but Yue Wushuang immediately disputes his claim, setting up a likely clash over command.

• Leadership dispute: Before entering the Reincarnation Forbidden Land, Nangong Xuan and Yue Wushuang clash over who should lead the compulsory mission. Yue challenges Nangong’s judgment, citing a past mission where his stubborn decision allegedly caused more than half the team to die. The argument exposes Nangong’s shame and anger, as well as Yue’s long-standing distrust of his leadership.
• Gu Yuan takes command: Just as the two prepare to fight, the formidable Mountain Patrol Envoy Gu Yuan steps in, warning that infighting could endanger the mission. Both rivals defer to him, and the assembled Envoys accept him as leader. He orders a brief rest before they proceed.
• Qin An and Yue form an alliance: During the rest, Yue approaches Qin An, warning that his lower cultivation could put him at risk and proposing they help each other. Qin agrees, recognizing that he is a newcomer among experienced Envoys. Yue’s interest is based on information she gathered about his reputation; Nangong notices their conversation but stays silent.
• Entry into the Forbidden Land: After resting, the Envoys follow Gu Yuan into the Reincarnation Sea and pass through an enormous whirlpool to enter the Forbidden Land.
• A threat awakens: In a palace beneath the sea, a powerful armored figure commands the submission of green-furred monsters. Sensing Qin An’s “Savior’s aura,” it recognizes his arrival and declares that he is there.
  Character developments and interactions: Nangong’s insistence on leading appears driven partly by a desire to prove himself after his past failure, while Yue remains openly critical of him but ultimately accepts Gu Yuan’s authority. Gu Yuan establishes control through calm firmness. Yue’s alliance with Qin An signals trust in his rumored ability despite his junior cultivation, and Qin accepts the practical support.
  Themes: Leadership carries responsibility and lasting consequences; rivalry can threaten collective safety; reputation and trust shape alliances; and the mission’s apparent purpose is complicated by the hostile figure waiting for Qin An.

Plot points and events

• The Betrayers’ leader in rusted armor learns that Qin An—the “Savior”—has entered the Reincarnation Forbidden Land with a powerful group from the Evil Extermination Division. Hoping to erase the Betrayers’ past disobedience to Heavenly Demon, he orders them to gather and kill Qin An.
• The leader says he has already released the aura of the Reincarnation Supreme Treasure, provoking the Human Faction and Demon False Gods to fight and weaken each other. He refuses to recall the treasure, since it is difficult to control and keeps the factions occupied.
• Qin An and the Forbidden Land Envoys descend through the Reincarnation Sea. Its Reincarnation Power threatens to reverse life and age, but Qin An’s Colorless Void Essence protects him. Yue Wushuang explains that Crowning Realm cultivators can resist the power by continuously cycling their Void Essence.
• The group reaches Reincarnation Mountain and then Reincarnation City, home of the Human Faction. The city is full of exhausted, injured cultivators. Asked why the former balance between humans and Demon False Gods collapsed, a guide reveals that the Forbidden Land’s supreme treasure has appeared, and both factions are fighting to claim it.

Character developments and interactions

• The Betrayers’ leader turns a long-neglected mission into a chance at redemption, persuading his followers that killing Qin An could restore their standing.
• Qin An remains observant and cautious, testing the strange environment while keeping a hand near his saber. He and Yue Wushuang communicate easily through their alliance.
• Yue Wushuang respects Qin An’s reputation and apparent hidden strength, and explains the Forbidden Land’s dangers without challenging Gu Yuan’s authority.
• Gu Yuan takes charge of the mission and decides to investigate the Human Faction first. Nangong Xuan resents losing the leadership role to him, but keeps quiet; Gu Yuan understands his ambition and tolerates it because Nangong is capable and dependable.
• The Human guide’s hatred of the Demon False Gods is clear, though he confirms that both sides have suffered heavily.

Significant themes

• Opportunity and redemption: The Betrayers see Qin An’s arrival as a chance to undo past failures, though their motives are self-serving.
• Power and manipulation: The Supreme Treasure’s aura has been used to inflame conflict and weaken rival factions.
• Leadership and ambition: Gu Yuan’s authority contrasts with Nangong Xuan’s desire for status.
• Survival amid danger: The Reincarnation Power continually threatens the group, making vigilance and cooperation essential.

Plot points and events

• The Forbidden Land Envoys learn that the Reincarnation Supreme Treasure’s aura has become unstable, creating an opportunity for the Human Faction, the demons and False Gods, and the Natives to seize it.
• Wang Xueming, patriarch of the Human Faction, explains that a major war with the demons and False Gods has raged for months. He says they attacked unexpectedly, despite their declining strength and before locating the treasure.
• Gu Yuan questions why the Natives have stayed out of the conflict and suspects the war’s timing is abnormal. Wang nonetheless proposes a decisive assault against the demons and False Gods in three days.
• Gu Yuan agrees that the Envoys will support the assault and help prevent the Natives from interfering.
• After the meeting, Yue Wushuang visits Qin An privately. They agree that the Natives—not just the opposing army—may pose the greatest threat, and that useful intelligence about them could earn additional mission Merits.
• Yue reveals a small green mirror, presenting it as a means of gathering information on the Natives.

Character developments and interactions

• Gu Yuan remains cautious and perceptive, identifying the strategic danger of ignoring the Natives and the suspicious nature of the war. Despite his doubts, he accepts Wang’s plan within the Envoys’ role.
• Wang Xueming appears exhausted by the prolonged fighting but determined to end it with a final assault. He believes the Envoys’ arrival can secure victory.
• Qin An quietly notices the same strategic inconsistencies as Gu Yuan, then discusses them with Yue. He is interested in gaining more resources but also weighs the risks of investigating the Natives.
• Yue Wushuang shows initiative and strategic ambition: rather than simply wait for the battle, she seeks an opportunity to obtain intelligence and increase their Merits. Her mirror suggests she has a concrete plan.

Significant themes

• Suspicion and hidden agendas: The unexplained attack and the Natives’ inaction make the apparent conflict seem more complicated than it first appears.
• Strategy versus momentum: The Envoys recognize the danger of acting without understanding the full situation, but the Human Faction believes the impending battle cannot be delayed.
• Ambition and risk: Qin An and Yue consider turning intelligence-gathering into greater rewards, while acknowledging that the effort could expose them to serious danger.

Key plot points and events

• Yue Wushuang reveals her Void Mirror, a rare artifact that can view places within a certain range. Each use weakens her and adds cracks to the mirror; while using it, she is nearly defenseless. Qin An agrees to guard her in exchange for the intelligence.
• The mirror shows a magnificent underwater palace inhabited by powerful Betrayers. Its ruler asks whether Qin An has been located. The Betrayers decide not to attack immediately, instead waiting for the Human Faction and demon False Gods to exhaust each other before striking Qin An and the Evil Extermination Division.
• After the vision ends, Yue suggests sharing the intelligence with Gu Yuan and the other Envoys. Qin An agrees, recognizing that the group’s strength is preferable to facing the threat alone.
• Back in the palace, the armored leader reveals that a Betrayer agent has infiltrated the Skycloud Circuit’s forces. He contacts the spy, who reluctantly agrees to monitor Qin An and the Evil Extermination Division and report after their battle with the demon False Gods.
• Gu Yuan convenes the Envoys to plan how to protect Qin An. As they consider their options, Nangong Xuan proposes using Qin An as bait.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An is direct and pragmatic: he asks Yue about the mirror, accepts the risk of guarding her, and keeps the Betrayers’ interest in him secret. He recognizes that he is especially vulnerable because the Betrayers may target him as the supposed Savior.
• Yue Wushuang explains the mirror’s cost and trusts Qin An to protect her. She shares the vision openly to help the mission, but respects his refusal to reveal why he is important.
• The armored Betrayer leader shows patience and strategic calculation, preferring to exploit a battle between rival factions rather than attack prematurely. He also activates a carefully placed spy.
• Gu Yuan responds quickly to the warning and seeks a collective plan rather than making decisions alone. The Envoys focus on practical outcomes, and Nangong Xuan’s bait proposal introduces a risky strategy.

Significant themes

• Information and its price: The Void Mirror provides vital intelligence, but each use damages it and leaves Yue vulnerable.
• Trust and secrecy: Qin An and Yue cooperate effectively, yet Qin An withholds dangerous knowledge about the larger conflict.
• Strategy over force: The Betrayers favor timing, infiltration, and exploiting others’ losses over a direct assault.
• Collective action versus personal risk: The Envoys must balance protecting Qin An with the mission’s broader goals—and may consider putting him in danger to gain an advantage.

Key plot points and events

• At a strategy meeting, Nangong Xuan proposes using Qin An as bait to lure out the Reincarnation Forbidden Land’s Natives. Gu Yuan and the other Envoys reject the plan as an unacceptable risk to their colleague.
• Qin An refuses to be coerced, then reveals an alternative: cooperate with the Demons and False Gods to confront the Natives first, as he once did in the Scorching Heat Forbidden Land.
• Gu Yuan agrees to approach the opposing faction, though he and Yue Wushuang warn that the Demons and False Gods will distrust any alliance. Qin An insists they should try.
• Gu Yuan goes to Wang Xueming’s residence. Wang sends an envoy to the Demons and False Gods with an offer of cooperation and a promise not to attack them immediately afterward.
• The Ape Demon Chief dismisses the offer at first, suspecting a trap. The envoy explains that Wang is a Blood Oath Master who can create an oath binding both sides. The chief accepts.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An stands firm against Nangong Xuan’s pressure and proposes a strategic alternative that avoids sacrificing him as bait. He remains calm and direct.
• Gu Yuan defends Qin An, shuts down Nangong Xuan’s repeated pressure, and supports Qin An’s proposal despite its risks.
• Yue Wushuang condemns Nangong Xuan’s willingness to endanger Qin An and supports the concerns about trusting the Demons and False Gods.
• Nangong Xuan argues that risking Qin An may be necessary to prevent the Natives from exploiting a costly final battle; his contemptuous manner earns the group’s disapproval.
• Wang Xueming acts discreetly to open negotiations, relying on his Blood Oath Master ability to make the proposed truce credible.
• The Ape Demon Chief begins distrustful and rejects ordinary promises, but changes his mind when he learns the oath would be magically binding.

Significant themes

• Principle versus expediency: The Envoys refuse to sacrifice a colleague simply for strategic advantage.
• Trust and betrayal: Cooperation between former enemies is difficult because each expects the other to turn on them.
• Shared survival: The approaching Native threat may force hostile factions to unite before resolving their own conflict.
• Choice and autonomy: Qin An insists that no one can compel him to act against his will.

Key plot points

• The Ape Demon Tribe chief accepts Gu Yuan’s proposal to cooperate with the humans against the Reincarnation Forbidden Land’s Natives. He explains that neither faction can afford to weaken itself while the Natives wait to strike, and compels his followers to obey.
• In Reincarnation City, Gu Yuan credits Qin An’s plan: the humans and demons will use a Blood Oath to secure their alliance and wait for the Natives to reveal their intentions. Qin An cautions that the enemy may have another move prepared.
• Nangong Xuan, secretly working as an inside man for the Natives, reports that the alliance threatens their plan to kill Qin An. His contact tells him to remain undercover while the matter is brought to their leader.
• The Betrayers’ leaders discuss using the Reincarnation Supreme Treasure against Qin An. Though drawing on its power would leave them dangerously weakened, the armored leader accepts the cost, believing the attack could kill Qin An and both allied factions—and earn favor with Lord Heavenly Demon.
• Several days later, the demons arrive in Reincarnation City, where the human faction and its allies have sworn a Blood Oath. In a tense meeting, the Ape Demon chief demands to know how long they will wait. Qin An intimidates him into backing down and recommends that they remain still until the Natives act.
• Just as the group settles on waiting, a scream echoes through the city. A messenger reports that Nangong Xuan has suddenly gone mad.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An proves both strategically patient and forceful. He advocates waiting for the enemy’s move, but confronts the Ape Demon chief directly when the chief pressures the group.
• The Ape Demon Tribe chief begins as a decisive ally but becomes impatient with the delay. Qin An’s display of power and apparent willingness to risk the Blood Oath make him retreat.
• Gu Yuan trusts Qin An’s judgment and supports his plan, while helping bring the human–demon alliance together.
• Nangong Xuan is shown to be a compromised insider, afraid of being exposed if the Betrayers are defeated. His sudden apparent madness becomes the chapter’s cliffhanger.
• The Betrayers’ armored leader escalates the conflict, choosing a costly, potentially devastating use of the Supreme Treasure rather than abandon the attempt on Qin An.

Significant themes

• Unity against a greater threat: former enemies cooperate because division would leave them vulnerable to the Natives.
• Patience versus impatience: Qin An argues that waiting is a strategic choice, while the Ape Demon chief fears indefinite inaction.
• Betrayal and self-preservation: Nangong Xuan’s secret allegiance places him between the faction he infiltrated and the danger of exposure.
• Power at a price: the Betrayers are willing to accept severe weakness in exchange for a chance to eliminate their enemies.

Key plot points and events

• A Cultivator reports that Nangong Xuan has gone mad, screaming in pain as the aura of the Reincarnation Supreme Treasure emerges from his body.
• Nangong accuses his allies of betraying him and dies. Qin An concludes that Nangong had long been planted inside the Evil Extermination Division by the Forbidden Land’s Natives, who used him to trigger the treasure’s power.
• Reincarnation Power surges, engulfing Reincarnation City and trapping everyone in a blank expanse. A white stairway appears, leading to Wang Yue and the green-furred monsters above.
• Wang Yue declares that the survivors must climb the Reincarnation Stairway to escape the aura, but warns that the Natives will be waiting at the top. Staying behind is also deadly, leaving the group with two dangerous choices.
• Gu Yuan leads the Forbidden Land Envoys onto the stairway. Qin An follows, then urges the humans, Demons, and False Gods to unite rather than die separately. Wang Xueming, the Ape Demon patriarch, and the others join them.
• Climbers vanish as they step onto the stairway. Qin An and Yue Wushuang enter together; Qin An is transported to a house, where he appears as an old man surrounded by people mourning him.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An identifies Nangong’s betrayal and recognizes the Natives’ trap. He remains composed under pressure and becomes a rallying figure, persuading former enemies to face the stairway together.
• Gu Yuan takes decisive leadership, choosing action over waiting for death and setting the Envoys’ course.
• Wang Xueming moves from despair to resolve after Qin An’s appeal, agreeing to fight the Natives.
• The Ape Demon patriarch sets aside his earlier conflict with Qin An and accepts cooperation, reasoning that the Demons and False Gods cannot survive alone.
• Yue Wushuang acknowledges the danger and exchanges a brief, supportive farewell with Qin An before they enter.
• Wang Yue reveals himself as the Native leader and taunts the group, framing the climb as both a trap and a challenge.

Significant themes

• Betrayal and manipulation: Nangong’s death exposes the Natives’ infiltration and willingness to sacrifice their own pawn.
• Unity amid desperation: Humans, Demons, and False Gods overcome old hostilities when survival depends on standing together.
• Courage versus despair: The group chooses a perilous fight over certain erosion and death.
• Trials and uncertainty: The stairway offers a possible escape but appears to subject climbers to strange, personal experiences, leaving Qin An’s fate—and the meaning of his vision—unclear.

Plot points and events

• The Reincarnation Stairway subjects climbers to repeated visions of their deaths. Each passage drains their life force, and Qin An realizes that continuing to die could kill them before they reach the top.
• Qin An, Yue Wushuang, Gu Yuan, and the others press onward despite their exhaustion. Yue rejects resting, reasoning that it would only delay another ordeal. The visions grow more personal: Qin An is killed by someone he once slew, then attacked by a group of former enemies.
• The climbers become increasingly weakened, while Wang Yue and the other Betrayers wait above, confident the group cannot overcome them. Gu Yuan urges everyone to persevere for the sake of the Skycloud Circuit.
• Qin An’s next passage brings him to a room where he meets Reincarnation, a False God born from the Reincarnation Disk—the supreme treasure that also seals the Forbidden Land.
• Reincarnation offers to end the Stairway’s life-draining effect and restore the climbers, in exchange for leaving the Forbidden Land with Qin An. She proposes joining the two spiritual essences in his sword, Cold Star, and becoming its new spirit, while the original Disk remains behind to keep the seal intact.
• Qin An accepts, judging that Reincarnation has little reason to deceive him and that refusing would leave them to die. She disappears, and he returns to the Stairway just as the group reaches its limit. The chapter ends as he senses an unusual change in Cold Star.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An remains perceptive and decisive: he identifies the Stairway’s danger, recognizes Reincarnation as a treasure-born False God, and accepts her proposal quickly under pressure.
• Yue Wushuang shows determination, refusing to pause despite her severe exhaustion. Qin An offers her the option to rest, but she insists on facing the ordeal directly.
• Gu Yuan acts as a resolute leader, encouraging the group to climb and protect the Skycloud Circuit even as his own life force fades.
• Reincarnation presents herself as detached from the cycles she has witnessed, yet chooses to intervene and offers Qin An a potentially powerful ally—and source of knowledge about the Betrayers.
• Wang Yue taunts the climbers from above, while Gu Yuan openly vows that they will make the Betrayers pay if they escape.

Significant themes

• Mortality and endurance: The Stairway makes death an accumulating physical threat, forcing the climbers to persist despite dwindling life.
• Trust under pressure: Qin An must decide whether to accept help from a being whose motives and promises cannot yet be verified.
• Rebirth and transformation: Reincarnation’s proposed union with Cold Star echoes the chapter’s recurring movement between life and death, as well as change through opposing forces.
• Duty and defiance: The group’s climb is not merely self-preservation; Gu Yuan frames it as a fight to protect their world and resist the Betrayers.

Plot points and events

• At Reincarnation’s urging, Qin An drives Cold Star into the Reincarnation Stairway. The blade absorbs its power, shattering the structure; its fragments carry Qin An and the others up to the level where Wang Yue and the Betrayers are waiting.
• The Stairway’s destruction weakens the Reincarnation aura in the area, easing the group’s pressure. Qin An learns that most Betrayers are too depleted to join the fight, leaving Wang Yue with just over a hundred elite fighters.
• Wang Yue realizes the Reincarnation Supreme Treasure has recognized Qin An and orders his forces to kill everyone, especially Qin An. The two sides clash in a battle that quickly becomes a stalemate.
• Qin An’s newfound connection to Reincarnation strengthens his blade technique, letting him kill two Betrayers in one strike. But Wang Yue attacks him with a palm technique infused with life-and-death power.
• Gu Yuan intercepts Wang Yue twice, but is ultimately badly injured. He warns Qin An to flee; Qin refuses, knowing there is no escape.
• Qin An summons Reincarnation through Cold Star and uses the Replication Jade to create a Phantom Image. Their combined attack—along with Qin An’s Blood and Qi, killing intent, and Reincarnation Power—damages Wang Yue severely.
• Wang Yue presses on, arguing that Reincarnation is exhausted and Qin An’s other attacks are insufficient. Qin An recalls Reincarnation into Cold Star and thrusts the blade into Wang Yue’s incoming palm, exploiting Wang Yue’s reliance on Reincarnation Power. The chapter ends on this confrontation.

Character developments

• Qin An emerges as the pivotal force in the conflict. He gains the Reincarnation Supreme Treasure’s recognition, fights with greater confidence, and combines his existing abilities with Reincarnation Power.
• Reincarnation becomes more directly involved by merging with Cold Star and fighting beside Qin An, though the union leaves her weakened.
• Gu Yuan shows courage and loyalty by repeatedly shielding Qin An from Wang Yue, despite the danger and the severe injury he suffers.
• Wang Yue remains a ruthless, confident commander, but Qin An’s power and the damage to his body begin to unsettle him.
• Yue Wushuang fights fiercely but is outnumbered and cannot reach Qin An when he is in danger.

Significant themes

• Power and recognition: Qin An’s unexpected bond with the Supreme Treasure overturns the Betrayers’ assumptions and the group’s long struggle to claim it.
• Sacrifice and loyalty: Gu Yuan risks himself to protect Qin An, while Reincarnation spends her limited strength to aid him.
• Adaptation in battle: Qin An survives by combining different sources of power and turning Wang Yue’s use of Reincarnation Power against him.
• Fear and resolve: The Betrayers’ panic contrasts with Wang Yue’s attempts to maintain control, while Qin An refuses to retreat even when outmatched.

Character interactions

• Reincarnation guides Qin An through Cold Star, then fights beside him before returning to the blade at his call.
• Wang Yue taunts and threatens Qin An, while Qin calmly faces him and identifies the danger of his Reincarnation-based attacks.
• Gu Yuan repeatedly intervenes to protect Qin An and urges him to escape; Qin rejects the advice.
• Yue Wushuang is trapped fighting multiple Betrayers, leaving her unable to support Qin An.
• The opposing armies engage across the battlefield, with the Envoys, humans, and demon False Gods balancing the Betrayers’ superior individual skill through their numbers.

Key plot points and events

• Wang Yue, empowered by Reincarnation Power, attacks Qin An and boasts that no one can challenge him. Qin An counters with Cold Star, revealing that he can wield Reincarnation’s aura more effectively because he has touched true Reincarnation.
• Qin An steadily overwhelms Wang Yue, ignores his pleas and threats, shatters his hands, and kills him. The Betrayers lose heart and begin to flee.
• Gu Yuan leads the Envoys, human cultivators, and demon False Gods in a coordinated assault. The Betrayers rally briefly, but the battle ends with them all dead; both sides suffer casualties.
• Afterward, Qin An decides the demon False Gods may still be useful. He forces them to swear allegiance to the Human Faction under Chief Wang’s Blood Oath, threatening to kill them if they refuse. The Ape Demon Chief reluctantly agrees.
• Qin An privately summons Reincarnation and asks whether the Forbidden Land holds other treasures. She tells him of the dangerous Nine-Story Reincarnation Tower, whose summit contains a treasure capable of forging a Peerless Foundation for the next realm.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An shifts from a presumed last hope to the decisive force in the battle. His mastery of Reincarnation Power surpasses Wang Yue’s, and he proves both ruthless in combat and pragmatic afterward, sparing the demons only because they may be useful.
• Wang Yue goes from arrogant confidence to disbelief, fear, and desperate bargaining before Qin An kills him.
• Gu Yuan recognizes Qin An’s impact and follows his lead, organizing the counterattack and managing the surrender.
• Yue Wushuang is rescued by Qin An and is newly awed by how far his power exceeds her expectations.
• The Ape Demon Chief, who had earlier opposed Qin An, becomes fearful and submits to the Human Faction.
• Reincarnation serves as Qin An’s trusted source of knowledge, revealing the next potential objective.

Significant themes

• True understanding versus years of study: Qin An’s direct contact with Reincarnation gives him an advantage over Wang Yue’s long but incomplete study.
• Power changes allegiance: Wang Yue’s death turns the Betrayers’ confidence into panic, while Qin An’s strength compels the demon False Gods to submit.
• Pragmatism and future danger: Qin An chooses not to eliminate every potential ally, recognizing that the Forbidden Land may produce new threats.
• Victory leads to new ambition: Having survived the battle, Qin An immediately seeks greater rewards—and learns of a perilous tower and a foundation-building treasure.

Key plot points and events

• Qin An asks Reincarnation about the One-Unity Realm, the realm beyond Crowning. She explains that practitioners there can channel the might of heaven and earth through their Void Essence.
• To build a Peerless Foundation for that realm, Qin An must collect the five elemental Sources. The Metal Source lies within the Nine-Story Reincarnation Tower.
• After the group’s mission ends, Qin An stays behind to seek the tower. His allies thank him for saving them, but he declines their praise and keeps his plans private.
• Reaching the tower, Qin An learns that each three-floor section is guarded by a powerful monster. The first guardian, on the third floor, is a giant golden-scaled snake empowered by the Metal Source. Its defense is weak, but its attacks are devastating.
• Reincarnation proposes using Qin An’s Replication Jade to create a Phantom Image that can withstand the snake long enough for him to strike. Qin An accepts the risk.
• The snake’s attack shreds the Phantom Image, but it creates a small opening in the scales. Qin An slips through and confronts the exposed creature, preparing to kill it. The chapter ends before the outcome is shown.

Character developments

• Qin An shows ambition and strategic judgment: he seeks the materials for a Peerless Foundation, keeps his intentions discreet, and willingly risks himself for the Metal Source.
• Reincarnation acts as a knowledgeable guide, explaining the next realm and tower’s dangers while offering a tactical plan. Her confidence in Qin An is evident, though she does not minimize the danger.
• Gu Yuan, Yue Wushuang, and the other Envoys express deep gratitude and loyalty after Qin An saves them. Qin An responds modestly rather than claiming credit.
• The Ape Demon Chief and other demons have been bound by a blood oath to serve the Human Faction.

Significant themes

• Ambition and advancement: Qin An pursues the rare Sources needed to reach a higher realm.
• Risk and reward: Obtaining the Metal Source may require facing a nearly lethal opponent.
• Strategy over brute force: Qin An and Reincarnation exploit the snake’s weakness—its lack of defense—rather than trying to overpower its attacks directly.
• Trust and discretion: Qin An relies on Reincarnation’s knowledge while keeping his private objective from his allies.

Character interactions

• Qin An questions Reincarnation about the One-Unity Realm, the tower, and the guardian; she answers and helps devise a plan.
• The Envoys offer Qin An their gratitude and future assistance. He declines their praise, and they respect his wish to stay behind alone.
• In the tower, Qin An and the giant snake clash immediately: he attacks with blade energy, while it counters with overwhelming force and weaponized scales.

Key plot points

• Qin An kills the first monster, a giant snake, with Cold Star empowered by the Replication Jade. The Jade’s allotted time expires afterward.
• Reincarnation explains that the next opponent is a tiger whose Metal Source-enhanced power is concentrated in its four claws. She proposes drawing its attacks while Qin An targets its less-protected body.
• On the sixth floor, the tiger’s opening strike knocks Qin An into a wall. Reincarnation intercepts its next attack, giving him time to wound its waist.
• When the tiger turns on him, Qin An evades by climbing onto its back, where its claws cannot reach. He repeatedly stabs the wound until the tiger dies, then takes pills to recover.
• Reincarnation describes the final monster: a golden tree on the top floor, with deadly leaves and swordlike branches. Its roots and the tower’s confines restrict its reach, while its leaves cannot detach from its branches.
• From the stairs, Qin An sees the tree trembling and discovers a face on its trunk, contorted in pain.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An remains composed under severe pressure, relying on quick judgment and improvisation rather than brute force. His victory over the tiger comes from recognizing and exploiting its limitations.
• Reincarnation acts as both guide and combat partner: she identifies the tiger’s weakness, draws its attack, and helps create Qin An’s opening. She, too, admits relief after the dangerous fight.
• Their relationship is practical and trusting. Qin An gives Reincarnation a direct role in the plan, while she advises him without taking offense at his blunt questions.

Significant themes

• Strategy over strength: Each victory depends on understanding an enemy’s weakness.
• Cooperation and trust: Qin An’s success against the tiger requires Reincarnation to take the dangerous role of decoy.
• Composure in danger: Qin An’s calm assessment lets him act decisively when an attack nearly proves fatal.
• Escalating peril and mystery: The monsters grow stronger floor by floor, and the tree’s strange, suffering face raises new questions about the final confrontation.

Plot points and events

• Qin An and Reincarnation reach the final floor of the Nine-Story Tower, where they find a giant tree whose face is contorted with pain.
• Reincarnation explains that the Metal Source—an extreme force of the Metal Attribute—is slowly consuming the tree, which is made of wood. The tree resists becoming a mindless monster but cannot escape its torment.
• When the tree briefly regains its senses, it confirms that Qin An and Reincarnation seek the Metal Source. It reveals that the source is buried inside its trunk and has been using the tree as nourishment.
• The tree shows them a golden Orb within a crack in its trunk. Reaching it will provoke the Metal Source to take control and attack through the tree. The tree promises to restrain half its strength, though the remaining attacks will still be formidable.
• Qin An chooses to make the attempt. As he advances, the tree’s pain returns and its branches attack. Reincarnation Power emerges from Cold Star, while Qin An fights back with his blade and fists. He is injured but remains ten meters from the tree when the chapter ends.

Character developments

• Qin An shows compassion for the tree but remains focused on his goal. His caution and resolve coexist: he carefully assesses the danger, then chooses to risk his life rather than abandon the opportunity.
• Reincarnation reveals her sympathy for the tree and her limited knowledge of the Metal Source. She trusts Qin An to make the final decision and joins the fight through Cold Star.
• The giant tree is revealed as gentle and intelligent, struggling to preserve its mind and resist the force consuming it. Despite its suffering, it cooperates with Qin An and tries to limit the danger he faces.

Significant themes

• The Five Elements’ cycle of restraint: Metal’s dominance over wood drives the central conflict.
• Suffering and resistance: The tree endures constant pain while fighting to retain its identity.
• Risk, courage, and resolve: Qin An knowingly accepts danger in pursuit of the Metal Source.
• Compassion alongside purpose: Qin An and Reincarnation pity the tree, yet continue with their mission, which may also free it.

Character interactions

• Reincarnation explains the tree’s condition to Qin An, who responds with sympathy and asks how to proceed.
• The tree and Qin An speak directly: Qin An addresses it respectfully as “Senior,” while the tree warns him honestly about the lethal risk.
• Reincarnation stays silent when Qin An must decide, then enters Cold Star to support him.
• During the attack, Qin An fights the tree’s branches while the tree’s remaining lucidity limits the assault to half its strength.

Key plot points and events

• Qin An battles the giant tree guarding the Metal Source, enduring severe injuries as its branches and leaves overwhelm him. Reincarnation urges him to retreat, but he refuses, treating the fight as a chance to test and strengthen himself.
• He breaks through the tree’s defenses by combining his Reincarnation Power, Blood and Qi Power, and saber force with the killing intent he gained in the Tianyun Forbidden Land. The killing intent disrupts the tree’s offensive force, opening a gap for him to reach its hollow trunk.
• Qin An absorbs the Metal Source. Its power painfully floods through him, heals his injuries, and transforms his Void Essence, linking it to immense offensive force.
• With the Metal Source gone, the giant tree returns to its original form and thanks Qin An for freeing it from its torment. Qin An sees their encounter as an exchange rather than a favor. The tree invites him to return to the Nine-Story Tower.
• The tree reveals that a powerful figure planted it there long ago. The Forbidden Lands’ Betrayers reportedly called this figure a “Heavenly Demon Envoy.”
• After Qin An leaves, the Heavenly Demon Envoy appears. He explains that the tree was planted as the final barrier intended to kill the Savior, Qin An, and reprimands it for helping him. Declaring the tree useless after its failure, he rejects its plea for another chance.
• The tree attacks the Envoy in desperation, but the chapter ends before the outcome is shown.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An shows fierce resolve, improvisational skill, and growing confidence. Rather than meeting overwhelming force head-on, he identifies its connection to killing intent and uses that insight to break through. He remains practical and modest afterward, calling the outcome a trade.
• Reincarnation worries about Qin An’s recklessness but is impressed by his ingenuity. She prompts the tree to explain its origins, helping uncover the Heavenly Demon Envoy’s involvement.
• The giant tree shifts from hostile guardian to grateful, restored ally after Qin An removes the Metal Source. Its later encounter with the Envoy reveals its fear and dependence on its creator—then, when sentenced to death, it fights back.
• The Heavenly Demon Envoy emerges as a powerful agent of the Heavenly Demon, revealing that Qin An’s confrontation with the tree was part of a larger plan to stop the Savior.

Significant themes

• Resolve and ingenuity under pressure: Qin An succeeds through both endurance and a timely change in strategy.
• Mutual exchange and gratitude: Qin An and the tree interpret their encounter as a reciprocal transaction, even though it saves the tree from suffering.
• Hidden destinies and larger schemes: The “Savior” prophecy and the Envoy’s revelation place Qin An’s journey within a wider conflict.
• Usefulness, loyalty, and betrayal: The Envoy’s treatment of the tree exposes the ruthless logic of the Heavenly Demon’s faction, while the tree’s attack marks its refusal to accept its fate.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• The Heavenly Demon’s envoy destroys the giant tree that had attacked him, condemning it for losing the Metal Source and cooperating with Qin An. He vows to kill Qin An and retaliate against all of Skycloud Circuit, but then vanishes.
• Several months pass in relative peace. With demons and False Gods greatly reduced, the Evil Extermination Division has little to do. Qin An returns from the Reincarnation Forbidden Land celebrated for his accomplishments, but avoids visitors and keeps to a demanding routine: training as a physician at the Medical Hall and as a dancer at the Division.
• Qin An’s Dancer and Physician Professions both reach Level 21. Their abilities and Talents advance to Essence Transformation Realm Perfection, and each gains a new fusion Talent. The Dancer can now channel Void Essence into his performances; the Physician can use Void Essence to temper medicinal ingredients.
• Using Demon Cores to fuel deductions, Qin An masters the Killing Intent Movement Technique and the Slaughter Dharma Form. He fuses them with existing techniques to create the Nine-Turn Dragon’s Roar Killing Intent Step and the Nine-Turn Baleful Sea Life-Slaying Dharma Form. Both combine his established techniques with killing intent, complementing his Mind Method.
• After spending twenty Demon Cores, Qin An still has eighty. He decides to pause assignments unless the Forbidden Land requires them, focusing instead on raising his remaining Professions—Alchemist and Formation Master—to Level 21 and preparing for the dangers ahead.
• The next morning, as Qin An prepares to go out, Bai Lingfeng visits and tosses him an object.

Character development

• Qin An continues to prioritize preparation over recognition. His months of disciplined training produce major professional advances, and his willingness to spend Blood Essence and Demon Cores on deductions shows his determination to strengthen himself amid growing threats.
• The Heavenly Demon’s envoy emerges as a future danger, openly targeting both Qin An and Skycloud Circuit.
• Bai Lingfeng appears at Qin An’s door, setting up a new interaction whose purpose is not yet revealed.

Significant themes

• Preparation in the face of danger: Qin An chooses long-term growth over taking assignments, anticipating threats from demons, Forbidden Lands, Betrayers, and the Heavenly Demon.
• Persistence and sacrifice: Failed attempts at fusion do not deter him; he keeps burning Blood Essence until he succeeds.
• Transformation and synthesis: Qin An’s strongest advances come from combining compatible techniques, professions, and forms of power—especially killing intent and Void Essence.
• Uneasy peace: Skycloud Circuit’s calmer months offer respite, but the envoy’s threat makes clear that the peace may not last.

Character interactions

• The envoy confronts and destroys the giant tree, then speaks of his hatred of Qin An and his intention to punish Skycloud Circuit.
• Qin An keeps the Evil Extermination Division’s visitors at a distance, concentrating on training.
• Bai Lingfeng visits Qin An personally; their conversation has only just begun when the chapter ends.