Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Qin An reports the Golden Formation Gate incident and the Myriad Rat Cave’s possible ability to locate Earth Vein Crystals to Gold Captain Yang Quanfeng. Yang agrees to alert the Chief Prefecture Master, who remains occupied by the Demon Hall and rumors of its Demon Transformation Pool.
• Qin An returns to his quarters and concentrates on raising his Formation Master level, using simple teacup formations to build proficiency quickly.
• His Level Three advancement grants mastery of Qi Concealment Realm formations, but not yet the ability to locate earth veins. Qin An concludes he must reach Level Eight to master Returning Treasury Realm formations, and commits to training for about twenty days rather than taking assignments.
• At the Myriad Rat Cave, the Cave Master learns that three elders have died, likely at Qin An’s hands. He wants revenge, but his advisers persuade him to focus on collecting Earth Vein Crystals and preparing for the Evil Extermination Division’s response.
• The Cave Master recalls the Rat Demons, orders the cave’s formations reinforced, and refuses to seek help from the Demon Hall, unwilling to share the crystals.
• After twenty-two days of uninterrupted practice, Qin An completes his training; the chapter ends as a new notification begins to appear.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An is pragmatic and intensely focused. He treats fieldwork as secondary to strengthening his foundation, judging the sacrifice of short-term assignments worthwhile if it lets him reach the Meridian Condensation Realm safely.
• Yang Quanfeng takes Qin An’s intelligence seriously and moves to consult the other Gold Captains and the absent Chief Prefecture Master.
• The Myriad Rat Cave’s Cave Master shifts from rage at Qin An to cautious strategy. His ambition to use the Earth Vein Crystals to elevate his faction outweighs his desire for immediate revenge.
• The Cave Master’s subordinates relay news, advise restraint, and carry out orders. Their exchanges reveal both the Cave Master’s authority and the faction’s internal priorities.

Significant themes

• Long-term preparation over immediate gain: Qin An gives up assignments to build the strength and knowledge needed for future advancement.
• Power and strategic information: The ability to locate Earth Vein Crystals could reshape the balance between the Evil Extermination Division and its enemies.
• Ambition and factional self-interest: The Cave Master refuses Demon Hall assistance because he will not share the resource that could secure his faction’s rise.
• Escalating conflict: Qin An’s actions have drawn the Myriad Rat Cave’s attention, while both sides anticipate a broader confrontation.

Plot points and events

• Qin An advances his Formation Master profession to level eight, gaining Great Accomplishment in Returning Treasury Realm Formations and resistance to Formations at that level. He now knows how to locate Earth Veins.
• Before he can begin searching for a withered Earth Vein, Yang Quanfeng summons him to hear a confidential order from the Chief Prefecture Master: destroy the Myriad Rat Cave. The nine Gold Captains must remain in Ling Prefecture, so Mountain Patrol Captains of every rank may take part.
• The Gold Captains worry that the Chief Prefecture Master has not returned because the Demon Hall may pose a mortal threat to him. Qin An urges them to focus on the immediate mission.
• Qin An realizes the expedition could also let him seize the Myriad Rat Cave’s Earth Vein Crystals. A direct raid seems faster than searching for Earth Veins himself, and could earn him both cultivation resources and Merits.
• He accepts the mission, obtains a swift horse, and rides north. Mountain Patrol Captains across the prefecture also set out for the Myriad Rat Cave.
• In a hidden lair, Elder Monkey refuses to help the Myriad Rat Cave, openly wishing for its destruction.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An’s rapid growth makes him exceptionally skilled in Formations. He remains practical, balancing his personal goal of obtaining Earth Vein Crystals with the larger campaign.
• Yang Quanfeng and the Gold Captains share grave concerns about the Chief Prefecture Master’s predicament, but proceed with the mission through proper channels.
• Wan Ziqing and Mo Chuan articulate the danger: the Demon Hall’s leader may rival the Chief Prefecture Master and threaten him while he is away.
• Elder Monkey displays contempt for the Myriad Rat Cave, violently silencing a subordinate who asks whether the Demon Hall will intervene.

Significant themes

• Power and ambition: Qin An’s exceptional advancement equips him to pursue both greater strength and status.
• Duty amid uncertainty: The captains carry out their orders despite fearing the Chief Prefecture Master may be in serious danger.
• Political maneuvering and shifting alliances: The Demon Hall’s apparent refusal to protect the Myriad Rat Cave suggests that larger rivalries may be shaping its fate.
• Opportunity within crisis: The attack offers Qin An a chance to obtain the scarce Earth Vein Crystals he needs.

Plot points and events

• Elder Monkey explains that the Fire Raven Clan was destroyed because it acted selfishly, and warns that Myriad Rat Cave will face the same fate if it proves disloyal. He treats the loss of the Frenzied Blood Pill as a setback and says Qin An must eventually die—but only after the Demon Hall obtains the Demon Transformation Pool.
• At a major Evil Extermination Division mission gathering, elite Mountain Patrol Captains assemble, including three Gold-token captains and several celebrated Five-Yang-Pill prodigies.
• Dongfang Mo, Zhao Hai, Yan Li, and Cheng Hong seek out Guo Jinfa, hoping to find Qin An and form an alliance with him. Guo is startled to learn that Qin An has built a supreme foundation with five Yang Pills.
• Lin Qianyu arrives and clashes with Cheng Hong over an old dispute about mission rewards. She threatens Cheng Hong and belittles her reliance on intelligence work.
• Qin An appears unexpectedly, agrees to join the alliance, and then intervenes when Lin Qianyu insults Cheng Hong, ending the chapter by telling her to “Get lost.”

Character developments

• Elder Monkey reveals his ruthless, strategic approach: he values unity only insofar as it serves the Demon Race’s power, and he intends to eliminate Qin An when the timing is advantageous.
• Guo Jinfa discovers how dramatically Qin An has advanced and is moved by the respect Qin An’s reputation brings him.
• Cheng Hong is shown to be capable and resourceful, but vulnerable to Lin Qianyu’s dismissal of the effort behind her success.
• Qin An demonstrates both pragmatism and loyalty: he accepts cooperation for a dangerous mission and stands up for Cheng Hong.
• Lin Qianyu emerges as powerful and proud, but also openly hostile and resentful.

Character interactions

• Elder Monkey intimidates the Tiger Demon, striking him for overestimating his own ability to kill Qin An.
• The elite captains approach Guo Jinfa respectfully because he may know Qin An, then welcome Qin as a potential ally.
• Lin Qianyu’s past grievance with Cheng Hong erupts into a public confrontation; Dongfang Mo and the others try to keep the dispute from disrupting the mission.
• Qin An’s arrival shifts the gathering’s focus. He forms an alliance with the group and directly confronts Lin Qianyu on Cheng Hong’s behalf.

Significant themes

• Unity versus selfishness: Elder Monkey frames factional loyalty as essential to collective survival, though his methods are coercive.
• Power and reputation: Qin An’s unexpected advancement has transformed how others regard him.
• Cooperation and self-reliance: Qin An prefers working alone but recognizes when an alliance is useful.
• Recognition and respect: Cheng Hong’s conflict with Lin Qianyu highlights the value of skill and effort beyond raw strength.
• Tension beneath shared purpose: Even during a major mission, rivalry and personal grudges threaten cooperation.

Key plot points and events

• Qin An humiliates Lin Qianyu after she challenges him. She nearly draws her sword, but Golden Mountain Patrol Captain Old Li intervenes, reminding them not to fight during the mission. Lin agrees to postpone their dispute, warning Qin An not to die before she can settle it.
• Old Li speaks privately with Qin An and asks Cheng Hong, the “Hundred-Knowledge Woman,” for intelligence on the Myriad Rat Cave. Cheng explains that its powerful Formations and maze-like tunnels can separate intruders, making alliances of limited use.
• The Mountain Patrol Captains gather at the cave entrance and form groups before descending. The three Golden Captains enter first; Qin An’s group follows among the others.
• Underground, Qin An realizes the surrounding footsteps have vanished: the cave’s Formations have split the groups apart. His companions wonder why their own party remains together.
• Qin reveals that Formations do not affect him and tells the others to stay close. His Formation Master ability neutralizes the traps as they continue.
• The party reaches a junction with three passages and finds three Rat Demon corpses. A bloodied, sword-bearing figure stands nearby, setting up the next encounter.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An remains blunt, confident, and unmoved by Lin Qianyu’s status. He shows practical caution about the mission, but his confidence grows from his immunity to Formations.
• Lin Qianyu is proud and easily provoked, yet backs down when Old Li intervenes. Her anger toward Qin An remains unresolved, and she watches him as they enter the cave.
• Old Li acts as a mediator and experienced leader. He values Qin An’s ruthless resolve and stresses that completing the mission matters more than rushing for personal credit.
• Cheng Hong shares what little intelligence she has, while tactfully refusing payment; Old Li recognizes this as a way to build goodwill.
• Qin An’s companions are impressed—and increasingly bewildered—by the range of his abilities. Dongfang Mo especially struggles to reconcile Qin An’s strength in multiple disciplines.

Significant themes

• Cooperation versus competition: The Captains compete for credit, but mission success must come first.
• Pride and restraint: Lin’s wounded pride threatens conflict, while Old Li’s intervention postpones it.
• Preparation and uncertainty: Even a large, coordinated force can be undermined by the cave’s Formations.
• Exceptional ability and trust: Qin An’s unusual immunity may keep his group together, but his companions must rely on him as they enter a dangerous, unfamiliar environment.

Key plot points and events

• The group discovers a dead Silver Mountain Patrol Captain, apparently killed alongside three Demons. His death makes clear how dangerous Myriad Rat Cave is.
• Qin An chooses the middle passage because it bears the strongest traces of Formations. Using his Formation resistance and skill, he guides the group through the maze.
• They find three Silver Mountain Patrol Captains nearly overwhelmed by Rat Demons and rush to help. Qin An joins the fight but suspects the cave’s Demons are following a larger plan.
• The Cave Master reveals that his fighters are deliberately sacrificing themselves to buy time. He distributes Earth Vein Crystals to more than twenty Returning Treasury Realm Rat Demons, intending to strengthen them before the Mountain Patrol forces reach him.
• The Great Elder and Second Elder break through to Meridian Condensation after refining their primary meridians. The Cave Master rallies his forces, declares they will fight to the death, and orders them to kill Qin An, whom he blames for ruining the cave’s plans.
• Elsewhere, Lin Qianyu continues killing Rat Demons and senses that the enemies are growing stronger. Two Great Completion Rat Demons—also strengthened through Earth Vein Crystals—attack her, and their coordinated Formation-like combat forces her onto the defensive.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An demonstrates strong judgment and leadership by choosing the most heavily guarded route and navigating its Formations. He remains alert to the possibility that the Rat Demons’ apparent weakness is a trap.
• The group acts with solidarity despite rivalry among the Mountain Patrol Captains, immediately answering the trapped captains’ plea for help.
• The Cave Master emerges as a calculating, desperate strategist: he spends his resources to prepare for a much larger force and turns the deaths of his kin into a rallying cause. His personal hostility toward Qin An is explicit.
• Lin Qianyu is confident in her ability and has already refined two primary meridians, but the newly empowered Rat Demons challenge her for the first time. She also remains fixated on Qin An, wishing to see him humbled or in need of her help.

Significant themes

• Survival and sacrifice: Both sides face mounting losses, while the Rat Demons knowingly spend lives and resources to preserve their faction.
• Strategy under uncertainty: Qin An must read the cave’s Formations, while the Cave Master prepares for the Patrol Captains’ full strength.
• Escalating danger: The Rat Demons’ use of Earth Vein Crystals shifts the threat from scattered skirmishes to a coordinated, powerful resistance.
• Rivalry and grudges: The Mountain Patrol Captains cooperate against a common enemy, even as personal resentment—especially the Cave Master’s hatred of Qin An and Lin Qianyu’s antagonism toward him—remains.

Plot points and events

• Qin An’s group fights a powerful band of Returning Treasury Realm Rat Demons, all strengthened by Earth Vein Crystals. Though Qin An kills three and counts twenty Demon Cores in total, Dongfang Mo, Zhao Hai, Yan Li, Cheng Hong, and Guo Jinfa are badly wounded.
• The patrol captains realize the weaker demons they met earlier were delaying them while the stronger forces prepared. Despite their injuries, they continue deeper into the Myriad Rat Cave, trusting Qin An’s knowledge of Formations and leadership.
• They hear Old Li confronting the Cave Master. The group decides not to join a Meridian Condensation Realm battle they could not influence, and instead presses onward to fight the Returning Treasury Realm demons.
• Qin An’s group reaches a major battlefield, where dozens of Silver Mountain Patrol Captains are fighting an equal number of Rat Demons. They join the battle.
• Qin An kills a meridian-tempered Rat Demon with one strike and extracts its core, bringing his count to twenty-one. His display draws the demons’ attention: they have been offered a reward for killing him.
• The Rat Demons form a Killing Formation, combining their strength. The formation overwhelms the patrol captains’ first charge, injuring many and leaving them at a severe disadvantage.
• Lin Qianyu is knocked back and wounded again. The lead Rat Demon threatens the women among the captains, then turns his attention to Qin An, setting up the next confrontation.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An remains composed and decisive, leading the group through the cave and choosing the mission’s most useful course over a futile attempt to aid the Golden Captains. His effortless victory reveals his exceptional strength and makes him a priority target.
• Dongfang Mo and the others show loyalty to Qin An’s leadership, continuing despite their injuries. Their concern for the Golden Captains is real, but they accept that the Meridian Condensation battle is beyond them.
• Lin Qianyu is badly hurt and increasingly unsettled by Qin An’s strength. His success forces her to recognize why he previously dismissed her, though pride makes her insist she could match him by using her Secret Art. Her wounded pride and frustration remain unresolved.
• The Rat Demons move from individual combat to coordinated tactics, showing that their preparation and formations pose a greater threat than raw strength alone. Their leader’s cruelty intensifies the danger and provokes the captains.

Significant themes

• Trust and collective duty: The patrol captains rely on one another and follow Qin An, even when the way forward is uncertain.
• Pragmatism under pressure: They choose targets they can realistically defeat rather than rushing into a higher-level battle.
• Strength and pride: Qin An’s display shifts how others—especially Lin Qianyu—judge his ability, while her pride resists that conclusion.
• Individual power versus coordinated force: Qin An can kill a powerful demon alone, but the Rat Demons’ Killing Formation turns their combined strength into a threat that overwhelms the captains.

Key plot points and events

• The wounded Silver Mountain Patrol Captains face a powerful group of Rat Demons, whose Earth Vein Crystal-tempered meridians are amplified by a Killing Formation. The Rat Demon leader singles out Qin An, while the captains prepare to fight to the death.
• Qin An calmly claims he can break the formation and asks the others to hold the demons off for three breaths. As they engage the enemy, he reads the formation’s shifting weak point, slips through its defenses, and strikes it precisely.
• The blow triggers a backlash and disrupts the formation. Qin An kills the leader by tearing off his head, then takes his Demon Core. With the formation broken, the captains regain the advantage and defeat the remaining Rat Demons; Qin An kills many of them himself.
• Afterward, the captains thank and praise Qin An, offering their help. Qin An reflects that his growing reputation may protect him from those above, though he still needs to become a Golden Mountain Patrol Captain. He notices something in a corner and warns that the situation is not over.

Character developments

• Qin An demonstrates exceptional formation knowledge, composure, and lethal skill. His decisive victory establishes him as one of the strongest Silver Mountain Patrol Captains and earns widespread respect.
• Lin Qianyu abandons her resentment and competitiveness. Recognizing the gap between herself and Qin An, she apologizes and resolves to control her temper.
• The other captains shift from despair to confidence once Qin An breaks the formation. Their trust and admiration for him deepen.
• Dongfang Mo renews his sense of debt to Qin An, who has now saved his life twice.

Significant themes

• Skill overcoming apparent odds: Qin An turns the battle by identifying the formation’s weakness rather than matching its power head-on.
• Humility and self-awareness: Lin Qianyu accepts that there are always stronger people and lets go of her pride.
• Reputation and protection: Qin An’s achievements strengthen his standing, but he knows greater rank and influence are still needed for lasting security.
• Courage and solidarity: The injured captains stand together despite expecting to die, buying Qin An the time he needs.

Character interactions

• Cheng Hong recognizes Qin An’s calm as a sign that he has a plan, while Dongfang Mo responds first to his request and leads the counterattack.
• The captains risk themselves to keep the Rat Demons occupied; Qin An repays their trust by destroying the formation and turning the battle.
• Lin Qianyu apologizes directly. Qin An accepts without ceremony, and Cheng Hong chooses not to mock her.
• The captains collectively express gratitude and pledge support, cementing Qin An’s place among them.

Plot points and events

• After the Returning Treasury Realm Rat Demons are defeated, Qin An refuses to leave for the ongoing battle between the three Golden Mountain Patrol Captains and the Myriad Rat Cave’s leaders. He has discovered a powerful Formation concealed in a seemingly ordinary cavern wall.
• Qin An reveals that the Formation is linked to the Cave Master and likely protects something he deeply values. Disrupting it could unsettle him and give Old Li and the other Golden Captains an opening. However, Qin An estimates that studying and breaking it will take about as long as an incense stick burns.
• The group gathers around Qin An to protect him while he works. He suspects the hidden chamber may contain the Earth Vein Crystal, the object of his journey, but keeps that thought to himself.
• Meanwhile, Old Li and two Golden Mountain Patrol Captains are being overwhelmed by the Cave Master and his two elders. The Rat Demons’ coordinated Formation gives them an advantage over the captains, who are more accustomed to fighting independently.
• Facing defeat, Old Li orders a desperate assault aimed at killing the Cave Master, even if the captains die in the attempt. The attack fails: the Rat Demons’ Blade Array knocks them back, leaving both sides injured but the captains nearly spent.
• The Great Elder then senses that all the Myriad Rat Cave’s younger Rat Demons have been killed. Enraged, the Cave Master orders the captains—and ultimately every Silver Mountain Patrol Captain—slain. As the Rat Demons prepare another Formation, the Cave Master suddenly turns toward something off-screen, his expression changing to horror.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An demonstrates his knowledge of Formations and takes charge of a risky plan, calmly accepting that the outcome may depend on fate. His focus and resolve strengthen the group’s confidence in him.
• Yan Li follows Qin An without hesitation, signaling trust despite his fiercely independent, fiery nature. Dongfang Mo notices this and follows suit.
• Lin Qianyu openly expresses complete confidence in Qin An and takes up a guard position, revealing the depth of her trust. Even Cheng Hong, despite her history of conflict with Lin Qianyu, recognizes Qin An’s unusual ability to inspire loyalty.
• Old Li and the other Golden Captains remain composed and determined despite grave injuries. Their final attack shows their willingness to sacrifice themselves to weaken the Myriad Rat Cave, though their poor coordination leaves them at a disadvantage.
• The Cave Master shifts from triumph to fury when he learns his forces have been wiped out, then to alarm when he senses an unexpected development.

Significant themes

• Trust and leadership: Qin An’s authority is shown less through commands than through the confidence others willingly place in him.
• Teamwork versus individual skill: The Rat Demons’ coordinated Formation exploits the Golden Captains’ lack of practiced cooperation.
• Sacrifice and duty: The captains are prepared to give their lives to remove the Cave Master and protect Ling Prefecture.
• Risk, patience, and fate: Qin An’s plan requires time the embattled captains may not have, leaving the outcome uncertain.
• Hidden power and secrets: The concealed Formation hints at a valuable treasure—and potentially the Earth Vein Crystal—behind the wall.

Key plot points and events

• During the fight between the Golden Mountain Patrol Captains and the Myriad Rat Cave’s elders, the Cave Master abruptly abandons the battle and rushes deeper into the cave. His departure breaks the enemy formation and leaves the two elders outnumbered. Old Li’s group renews its assault, putting the Rat Demons in grave danger.
• The Cave Master races through the cave’s maze-like tunnels toward something he considers more valuable than the cave itself, believing it could let the Myriad Rat Cave rise again even if he alone survives.
• Elsewhere, Qin An steadily dismantles more than a hundred concealed Formations without triggering their mechanisms. The Silver Mountain Patrol Captains guard him, increasingly impressed by his many high-level abilities.
• Qin An uncovers a hidden passage and breaks through its bronze door. Inside, they find human corpses connected by tubes of flesh to a huge, pulsing tumor that feeds on them. Three Earth Vein Crystals lie nearby.
• Cheng Hong recognizes the crystals’ significance and urges Qin An to take them before trouble begins. She explains that most of the cave’s Earth Vein Crystals were diverted to nourish the tumor, which helps explain why its Returning Treasury Realm Rat Demons refined so few primary meridians.
• Cheng Hong identifies the tumor as connected to an ancient, deranged Demon who sought to prolong its life by joining its damaged body with False Gods and becoming a Demon–False God hybrid. The chapter ends as she begins revealing the old secret.

Character developments and interactions

• The Cave Master reveals his ruthless priorities: he is willing to abandon his followers and the cave’s defenses to protect the secret object deeper inside.
• The Great and Second Elders are shocked and angered by his sudden retreat. Their betrayal leaves them exposed to the Golden Mountain Patrol Captains’ renewed attack.
• Qin An demonstrates exceptional Formation mastery and remains decisive under pressure, taking the Earth Vein Crystals when Cheng Hong warns him to. His companions treat him as their anchor.
• The Silver Mountain Patrol Captains, including Lin Qianyu, Dongfang Mo, Zhao Hai, and Guo Jinfa, recognize the extraordinary breadth of Qin An’s abilities. Their admiration is mixed with awe, discouragement, or envy, but they continue guarding him.
• Cheng Hong becomes the source of crucial knowledge. Her horror at the tumor prompts Qin An to question her, and she explains its link to the cave’s crystals and the ancient Demon.

Significant themes

• Sacrifice and self-preservation: The Cave Master values the hidden secret above his followers and organization.
• Power and hard-earned mastery: Qin An’s skill impresses others not merely because of talent, but because of the effort behind it.
• Horror and corruption: The tumor’s feeding on human corpses and the Demon’s plan to merge with False Gods reveal the monstrous cost of pursuing survival and power.
• Hidden truths and consequences: The cave’s labyrinth and concealed chambers hide a dangerous history that is only beginning to surface.

Key plot points and events

• Cheng Hong explains that the fleshy mass was created in a failed attempt to merge a human consciousness with a False God using Earth Vein Crystals. It remains dangerous because it could still be used to complete the merger.
• Qin An and Zhao Hai discover that ordinary attacks cannot harm the mass. Qin An, however, cracks it by channeling power from three Demon Cores through his hands.
• Qin An deliberately stops short of destroying it. He plans to use the damaged mass as leverage against the returning Cave Master, whose power far exceeds the patrol captains’.
• The Cave Master arrives and charges, but halts when he sees Qin An poised to destroy the mass. Qin An demands that he retreat, arguing that otherwise he will destroy the Cave Master’s treasured project.
• With the other battles turning against him and the Myriad Rat Cave likely to fall, the Cave Master accepts the gamble and withdraws.
• Once the Cave Master is gone, Qin An destroys the mass completely.

Character developments

• Qin An demonstrates tactical judgment, composure, and resolve. Rather than simply destroy the threat, he recognizes its value as a bargaining chip and confronts a stronger enemy without flinching.
• Lin Qianyu has shed her earlier arrogance and now respects Qin An’s strength and nerve. She is also relieved that she previously admitted her mistake.
• The Silver Mountain Patrol Captains are willing to fight despite grim odds, but they come to rely on Qin An’s plan to survive.
• The Cave Master is revealed as ambitious and deeply invested in the mass: he hopes to merge with it and gain immense power, but his desire to preserve it forces him to retreat.

Significant themes

• Strategy over brute strength: Qin An turns an indestructible object into a weapon of negotiation rather than relying on force.
• Courage under pressure: He holds his ground against a far more powerful opponent while his allies face near-certain death.
• Ambition and its costs: The Cave Master’s grand designs make him vulnerable, and the likely collapse of his organization narrows his choices.
• Trust and respect: Qin An’s actions earn the patrol captains’ confidence and change Lin Qianyu’s view of him.

Character interactions

• Cheng Hong provides the crucial history of the mass, prompting the group to understand the danger.
• The patrol captains warn Qin An not to waste time attacking it, but Guo Jinfa recognizes that Qin An may have another plan.
• Qin An directs the captains to stand behind him, then uses the mass to force the Cave Master into a choice between preserving his work and attacking.
• Lin Qianyu and the others watch Qin An’s negotiation with anxiety, then acknowledge his success once the Cave Master retreats.

Key plot points and events

• After defeating the Cave Master’s fleshy growth, Qin An takes the Pseudo Origin and orders the Silver Mountain Patrol Captains to flee. His plan had been to both escape and destroy the growth, winning their wager on his own terms.
• The Cave Master pursues them, but turns back when he senses the Golden Mountain Patrol Captains approaching. He decides to flee and seek revenge later.
• Qin An reveals that he can track the Cave Master through lingering traces of the formations he used. Old Li and two other Golden Mountain Patrol Captains join Qin An in pursuit, while the Silver Mountain team stays behind to clear the remaining Rat Demons.
• Qin An’s group catches the Cave Master in the tunnels. Surrounded, the Cave Master makes a desperate attempt to attack Qin An but is killed by the three Golden Mountain Patrol Captains.
• Old Li acknowledges Qin An’s major contribution. The group prepares to return, believing the Myriad Rat Cave has been completely destroyed—but the ground suddenly shakes.

Character developments

• Qin An demonstrates strategic foresight, decisiveness, and growing expertise: he destroys the growth despite the wager, then uses his knowledge of formations to track the fleeing Cave Master. His companions increasingly see him as a future Golden Mountain Patrol Captain.
• The Cave Master shifts from furious pursuit to self-preservation, then to vengeful desperation. Trapped and facing certain defeat, he attacks Qin An rather than surrendering.
• The Silver Mountain Patrol Captains move from shock and fear to relief and gratitude, while recognizing that Qin An’s abilities are taking him beyond their own level.
• Old Li trusts Qin An’s judgment and acts quickly on his lead, later recognizing the importance of Qin An’s role in the mission.

Significant themes

• Strategic thinking and resolve: Qin An anticipates the outcome and pursues more than a narrow victory.
• Consequences and accountability: The Cave Master’s crimes and hostility leave him no path to safety or mercy.
• Growth and changing status: Qin An’s achievements widen the gap between him and his peers.
• Victory with uncertainty: The Cave Master is dead and his organization destroyed, but the sudden tremor signals that the mission may not be over.

Character interactions

• Qin An’s command to flee prompts the Silver Mountain Patrol Captains to follow without hesitation.
• His tactical insight persuades Old Li to abandon the initial plan and pursue the Cave Master.
• Dongfang Mo, Zhao Hai, and Yan Li voice their admiration—and envy—of Qin An’s rapid rise.
• The Cave Master confronts Qin An with accusations and pleas, but Qin An makes clear that the Cave Master’s own hatred drove the pursuit.

Plot and key events

• The Mountain Patrol Captains escape as the Myriad Rat Cave collapses after its Cave Master dies and the formation fails. Nearly half of the group has been killed.
• Old Li recognizes that Qin An’s actions were decisive: he broke the formation and helped keep the Cave Master occupied, saving the remaining captains and the mission. He predicts Qin An will eventually become a Golden Mountain Patrol Captain.
• Qin An returns to the Evil Extermination Division and counts his gains: twenty Demon Cores, one Pseudo Origin, and three Earth Vein Crystals. He immediately uses the crystals to refine five of his Eight Main Vessels, greatly improving the purity of his True Qi and combat strength.
• Qin An plans to raise four professions to Level Seven, complete more cultivation techniques, and strengthen himself before pursuing the remaining Earth Vein Crystals. He also intends to advance his cultivation and avoid being vulnerable over the Yang Pill issue.
• The chapter shifts to the Demon Hall. Elder Monkey learns that the Myriad Rat Cave is destroyed and Qin An survived. He chooses to let Qin An live for now, focusing instead on a sealed letter and the Chief Prefecture Master’s expected reply.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An earns the respect and gratitude of the surviving captains. He remains calm about their praise and focuses on systematic preparation rather than celebrating his victory.
• Old Li openly treats Qin An as a future peer, asking him to remember their bond if he reaches the Golden rank.
• Lin Qianyu apologizes for her earlier offense and offers her life in repayment. Qin An brushes aside her guilt, revealing that he holds no lasting grudge.
• Dongfang Mo, Zhao Hai, Yan Li, and the others thank Qin An and offer their loyalty or assistance. Cheng Hong lightens the mood by promising to provide information for free.
• Elder Monkey is powerful and cruel, but insists on framing his appetites in refined scholarly language. His subordinate, the tiger demon, flatters and obeys him, while Elder Monkey’s hostility toward Qin An remains evident.

Significant themes

• The cost of duty: The mission succeeds, but the deaths of nearly half the captains underline the constant danger of their work.
• Recognition and earned trust: Qin An’s actions reshape how his peers view him, turning rivalry and distance into gratitude and respect.
• Preparation as survival: Qin An treats strength as something to build across multiple disciplines, not through cultivation alone.
• Power and political leverage: Advancing to Golden rank could protect Qin An when the Yang Pill matter resurfaces.
• Hypocrisy and self-justification: Elder Monkey’s “scholarly” euphemisms contrast sharply with his brutality and predatory behavior.

Key plot points and events

• Elder Monkey tells a subordinate that the Demon Hall is waiting for the Chief Prefecture Master’s return. If he returns, the Demon Hall will seize the Demon Transformation Pool; if not, the Evil Extermination Division may be destroyed. He warns the tiger demon not to ask questions, then has a wounded woman brought to him.
• Several weeks later, Qin An’s reputation has spread through Ling Prefecture. A storyteller’s tale about his “Fist and Blade Dual Mastery” sparks a near-fight between patrons arguing over whether fists or blades deserve top billing. Ye Lengshuang and Ye Lengyu stop the disturbance simply by being recognized as officers of the Evil Extermination Division.
• Qin An emerges after twenty days of intensive training. He has raised his Alchemist, Blacksmith, Physician, and Dancer professions to Level Seven, bringing their talents to Jade Bone Realm mastery.
• He visits the Confidential Archives to exchange merits for three Returning Treasury Realm methods: a fist technique, a movement technique, and a defensive method.
• Back in his room, Qin An studies Dragon Subduing Fist. With the aid of his system and by burning qi and blood, he reaches initial proficiency, then attempts to fuse it with Blood Burning Mad Demon Hand. The chapter ends as he gains the insight needed to complete the fusion.

Character developments

• Qin An demonstrates relentless discipline and a methodical approach to growth, using his system and physical reserves to overcome insufficient talent and improve his techniques.
• Ye Lengyu admires Qin An and hopes to become strong enough to follow him, while recognizing the gulf between their abilities.
• Ye Lengshuang is protective and pragmatic: she cautions her sister not to disturb Qin An and understands that his private training is beyond their concern.
• Elder Monkey appears calculating and ruthless, keeping strategic information secret and using intimidation to control his subordinates.

Significant themes

• Relentless self-improvement: Qin An accepts grueling repetition and bodily cost in pursuit of advancement.
• Reputation and public perception: Stories about Qin An spread quickly, even as popular admiration becomes exaggerated or contentious.
• Power and hierarchy: The Demon Hall’s plans and the sisters’ deference to Qin An show how strongly influence and status shape relationships.
• Secrecy and danger: Elder Monkey’s warning underscores the lethal stakes of political knowledge.

Character interactions

• Elder Monkey intimidates the tiger demon, who apologizes and ingratiates himself; the exchange reveals the Demon Hall’s internal hierarchy.
• Ye Lengshuang gently but firmly reins in Ye Lengyu’s admiration of Qin An, balancing affection with realism.
• The storytellers and inn patrons turn Qin An’s reputation into a public spectacle, while the two sisters restore order through their official authority.
• Qin An interacts respectfully with the Archives clerk, then focuses on training alone, underscoring both his elevated standing and his independence.

Key plot points and events

• Qin An spends three Demon Cores and a Pseudo Origin to deduce three new Minor Completion techniques:
  • Blood Burning Dragon Demon Hand, combining Blood Burning Mad Demon Hand and Dragon Subduing Fist.
  • Dragon’s Roar Wind Shadow Steps, combining his existing movement technique with Shadow Transformation Technique and granting convincing afterimages.
  • Mysterious Gang Medical Body, combining Mysterious Gang Body with the Art of Medical Armor, giving him rapid healing.
• He confirms the new healing technique by cutting his arm and watching the wound close almost instantly.
• Qin An plans to raise his Scholar Profession to Level Eight, obtain a Mind Method, and advance it to Great Completion. He also intends to use his Formation Master abilities to search for Earth Vein Crystals.
• With the Confidential Archives nearly exhausted as a source of reading material, he visits Junzi Bookstore in Ling Prefecture. His Mountain Patrol Captain badge frightens most customers away, but he pays the shopkeeper fairly for the lost business and reads until dusk.
• The shopkeeper mentions a woman from outside Ling Prefecture who regularly visits to read local gazetteers. After Qin An leaves, she arrives and asks whether he will return.
• The woman later meets two followers, who address her as Sect Master. She says the Chief Prefecture Master summoned her using an old favor, and reveals she has found someone capable of using Formations—apparently Qin An.

Character development and interactions

• Qin An grows markedly stronger and more versatile, adding powerful offense, deceptive movement, and fast recovery to his abilities. He is methodical about planning his advancement and shows fairness by compensating the bookstore owner rather than taking advantage of his position.
• The bookshop owner is cautious around Qin An because of the fearsome reputation of Mountain Patrol Captains, but he recognizes Qin An’s sincerity and returns part of the payment.
• The green-clad woman is introduced as a mysterious, composed figure. Her interest in Qin An and his Formation skills connects him to a larger matter involving the Chief Prefecture Master and her sect.

Significant themes

• Strength through synthesis: Qin An combines existing techniques into more effective, specialized abilities.
• Preparation and resource management: He carefully budgets Demon Cores and plans the next steps in his cultivation.
• Reputation versus character: Qin An’s official role drives readers from the bookstore, even though his conduct is considerate and fair.
• Hidden connections and looming intrigue: The woman’s inquiries and mission suggest Qin An’s skills may draw him into a wider conflict or investigation.

Key plot points

• After noticing Qin An’s apparent skill with formations, Gao Lingyu, Sect Master of the Xuantian Formation Sect, secretly asks the Junzi Bookstore owner about him.
• The owner warns Qin An. Rather than leave, Qin An stays at the bookstore until Gao Lingyu arrives and confronts her directly.
• Gao Lingyu reveals that the Chief Prefecture Master sent her to locate the Demon Transformation Pool. She suspects its location can be inferred from unusual formations in Ling Prefecture’s terrain.
• She asks Qin An to help, believing his formation talent could speed the search. Qin An refuses, warning that involving him will expose her group sooner. He offers no further explanation and leaves.
• Gao Lingyu, stung by the rejection and intrigued by his warning, orders her two companions to investigate Qin An and find out how he reached that conclusion.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An remains cautious and direct. He assesses Gao Lingyu’s intentions before following her, questions her identity and motives, and refuses a potentially valuable alliance because he believes it would endanger her mission.
• Gao Lingyu moves from curiosity about Qin An’s talent to frustration at his cold manner and refusal. Despite her status and confidence, his warning unsettles her enough to investigate him.
• The bookstore owner is anxious about being caught between powerful people. He tells Qin An about Gao Lingyu’s inquiries and is relieved when their meeting ends without violence.
• Gao Lingyu’s two sect companions distrust Qin An and urge her to proceed without him, but she chooses to learn more about him.

Significant themes

• Caution and survival: Qin An treats suspicion as a practical necessity, shaped by past encounters with danger.
• Secrecy and trust: Gao Lingyu’s mission must remain hidden, while Qin An’s refusal suggests he sees risks she may not recognize.
• Talent, status, and pride: Gao Lingyu expects her position and the mission’s importance to persuade Qin An, but his independence challenges her assumptions.

Key plot points and events

• Qin An declines to get involved in the Demon Transformation Pool matter, judging that a rash move could expose Gao Lingyu. He prioritizes strengthening himself: tempering his remaining Main Vessels and reaching the Meridian Condensation Realm.
• After several days studying at Junzi Bookstore, Qin An advances to Scholar Level Eight. His enhanced talents let him master Returning Treasury Realm methods with extraordinary speed and achieve Great Completion in comprehension and sudden enlightenment.
• He leaves the bookstore for an extended period, exchanges Merits for the Breaking Gold Triple Secret, and instantly brings it to Great Completion. He then fuses it with the Bodhi Profound Scripture, creating the Bodhi Vajra Water Fire Scripture, also at Great Completion.
• Qin An has five Main Vessels tempered and his internal organs filled with True Qi, but chooses not to spend his remaining Demon Cores pushing further. He keeps them in reserve because he still lacks three Main Vessels and may need the blood-essence-burning Blood Burning Dragon Demon Hand in an emergency.
• To find more Earth Vein Crystals, he obtains materials from the Confidential Archives and sets up a Vein-Seeking Formation. It detects one ready-formed crystal to the north and two withering Earth Veins to the east and west. Qin An rides north to pursue the ready-made crystal.
• Gao Lingyu senses a Formation being set up near the Evil Extermination Division but cannot identify it. Concerned about the secret task assigned by the Chief Prefecture Master, she decides to join her elders in investigating sites across Ling Prefecture.
• The Second Elder gives Gao Lingyu a report on Qin An. She is stunned to learn that the Demon Hall and the Three Demons hate him, and that he indirectly contributed to the destruction of the Crow Clan and Myriad Rat Cave.

Character developments

• Qin An becomes considerably stronger and more resourceful, combining his Scholar talents with cultivation to master and fuse methods rapidly. He remains disciplined and cautious, choosing steady preparation over exhausting his Demon Cores.
• Gao Lingyu shifts from resentment over Qin An’s refusal to wary curiosity and alarm as she learns the scale of his power and enemies.
• The bookstore owner recognizes Qin An’s fairness and underlying kindness, despite his cold demeanor and reputation as a ruthless Mountain Patrol Captain.

Significant themes

• Preparation and restraint: Qin An refuses to let urgent political matters distract him from building the strength needed to survive.
• Talent, study, and cultivation: His Scholar profession transforms learning into a direct source of martial power.
• Power balanced by caution: Qin An reserves resources rather than pursuing immediate advancement at any cost.
• Contrasting reputations and character: Qin An’s outwardly cold, violent image coexists with principled behavior.

Character interactions

• Qin An politely but firmly ends his association with the bookstore for now, leaving its owner to reflect on his character.
• He deals with the Evil Extermination Division’s clerk to exchange Merits for cultivation materials, while the clerk is too intimidated to question him.
• Gao Lingyu consults the Second Elder about the terrain survey, plans their next investigation, and receives the report that dramatically changes her view of Qin An.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Gao Lingyu learns the extent of Qin An’s record: he has killed demons, helped destroy major demon forces, and repeatedly thwarted the Demon Hall. She realizes that recruiting him could expose the Xuantian Formation Sect to danger, so she stops pressing him to join.
• After hearing that Qin An has left Ling Prefecture, Gao suspects he may have triggered the formation she sensed. She sets out with the second elder to search for the Demon Transformation Pool, but privately resolves to meet Qin An once that urgent task is complete.
• Qin An rides to remote Huaiyun County, following the formation’s guidance toward an Earth Vein Crystal. He disguises his appearance and aura, avoids trouble at the gate with a modest bribe, and enters the county.
• The formation leads him to a lakeside Flower Boat. Qin An senses faint Killing Intent there and suspects demons or False Gods may be involved.
• He pays local informant Wu San for information. The boat is newly established by a wealthy merchant, operates only after dark, and has become popular enough to attract visitors from outside the county.
• After waiting until nightfall, Qin An boards the boat. Its red lantern makes the Killing Intent stronger. He notices that the beautiful women aboard carry an eerie quality and may be dangerous. A courtesan invites him into her room, leaving the encounter poised to begin.

Character developments

• Gao Lingyu shifts from frustration with Qin An to respect and warmth after learning about his achievements. She recognizes the risks his reputation brings and hopes to get to know him later.
• Qin An remains cautious and practical: he disguises himself, uses a calculated bribe to avoid delays, hires an informant, and trusts his demon-hunting instincts when he senses danger on the boat.

Character interactions

• Gao discusses Qin An’s departure and record with the second elder, then orders the search for the Demon Transformation Pool.
• Qin An bargains with Huaiyun County’s constables for easy passage and pays Wu San for local knowledge.
• At the Flower Boat, the Turtle Groom explains the entry fee and bidding rules. Once aboard, Qin An is approached by a courtesan.

Significant themes

• Reputation and risk: Qin An’s impressive record makes him valuable, but also a target whose allies could be endangered.
• Caution amid hidden threats: The Flower Boat appears to offer ordinary entertainment, yet Qin An detects danger beneath its attractive surface.
• A troubled society: Huaiyun County’s poverty and the people’s struggle to survive reflect the wider instability caused by demons and False Gods.

Key plot points and events

• Qin An enters a private room aboard the Flower Boat with a veiled woman, intending to investigate a faint Killing Intent and a sense that the Earth Vein Crystal is nearby.
• He notices that both the incense and wine contain a mind-clouding substance. The pipa music and dimming lanterns further distract the guests and make the growing Killing Intent difficult to detect.
• Qin An realizes the women are not the source of the threat: the Flower Boat itself is a False God.
• When the veiled woman attacks, Qin An easily defeats her. He threatens to destroy the ship unless its true nature reveals itself.
• A second woman appears from the Killing Intent. She identifies herself as Lian Yu, the ship’s False God, and explains that she was abducted into a life as a courtesan, then drowned herself; her obsessive grievance made her a False God bound to the boat.
• Lian Yu begins revealing a deeper connection, saying that everything aboard is linked to the Demon Hall, but the chapter ends before she can explain further.

Character developments

• Qin An remains calm and observant, using his medical knowledge and cultivation to resist the drugs and see through the Flower Boat’s deception. He shifts from investigating quietly to confronting its occupants directly.
• Lian Yu is introduced as a tragic figure transformed by abduction, humiliation, and death into a False God. Though afraid of Qin An, she shows concern for the injured veiled woman, whom she calls her sister.
• The Woman in Gauze first acts as an alluring hostess and then reveals murderous hostility when Qin An exposes the ship. She is quickly overpowered.

Significant themes

• Deception and perception: The Flower Boat’s seductive atmosphere, drugs, music, and lighting conceal danger in plain sight.
• Obsession, injustice, and transformation: Lian Yu’s unresolved trauma binds her to the ship and turns her into a False God.
• Appearance versus reality: The women seem to be the threat, but the vessel itself is the supernatural entity.
• Power and vulnerability: Qin An’s strength gives him control, while Lian Yu’s account reveals how coercion and suffering shaped her fate.

Character interactions

• Qin An and the Woman in Gauze engage in a tense, flirtatious exchange that quickly turns hostile once he identifies the ship.
• Qin An threatens the Flower Boat, forcing Lian Yu to appear.
• Lian Yu tries to protect the injured Woman in Gauze, while Qin An questions them and shows his Evil Extermination Division badge.
• Lian Yu’s confession shifts the encounter from a confrontation toward an investigation of the Flower Boat’s connection to the Demon Hall.

Plot points and events

• Qin An presses Lian Yu about the Flower Boat’s connection to the Demon Hall. She explains that Elder Monkey arranged for the boat to lure martial artists into sexual encounters, where accumulated killing intent would eventually drain them until they died.
• Qin An suspects this scheme conceals a larger plan, but Lian Yu knows nothing more. He asks her about the Earth Vein Crystal; she has never heard of it.
• After searching all three decks of the Flower Boat and finding nothing, Qin An concludes the crystal must be beneath the lake. He takes Lian Yu with him and descends to the lakebed.
• Beneath the boat, Qin An discovers a hidden pit and follows it through an underwater passage into a dry cavern protected by a formation. There he finds the Earth Vein Crystal, wrapped in threads that draw in killing intent, and a fox-headed demon guarding it.
• Qin An slips through the formation and attacks the demon. Their first exchange shows the creature is a formidable Returning Treasury Realm fighter. It recognizes Qin An as the “Fist and Blade Dual Master,” a figure Elder Monkey has been seeking, and hopes to claim a reward by killing him.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An remains controlled and suspicious, probing Lian Yu for information while pursuing his own objective. His formation expertise lets him enter the cavern unnoticed, and his confidence is tested by the demon’s strength.
• Lian Yu is frightened and submissive under Qin An’s pressure. She cooperates to protect herself and the Flower Boat, though she has little knowledge of the Demon Hall’s plans.
• The fox-headed demon emerges as a powerful guardian and an enemy with a personal incentive: capturing or killing Qin An would earn Elder Monkey’s favor.
• Qin An and Lian Yu’s relationship is entirely shaped by his authority and her inability to resist; he uses her as a guide and keeps her restrained during the descent.

Significant themes

• Hidden schemes and incomplete knowledge: The Flower Boat’s apparent vice operation may serve a broader Demon Hall plot that remains unexplained.
• Power and coercion: Qin An’s superior strength dictates Lian Yu’s choices, while the demons’ scheme exploits their victims.
• Pursuit and danger: Qin An’s search for the crystal leads him from investigation into direct confrontation with a powerful foe.
• Ambition and exploitation: The killing intent gathered aboard the Flower Boat is directed toward the crystal, suggesting that people’s suffering is being used to fuel a larger purpose.

Plot points and events

• Qin An confronts Hu Sandao, a fox demon and elite fighter of the Demon Hall, who recognizes him despite his disguise. Hu refuses to reveal the Demon Hall’s plans and attacks.
• Hu uses a concealed blade-spitting technique, but Qin An evades it with an afterimage created by his Dragon’s Roar Wind Shadow Steps and kills him. Qin An concludes that Returning Treasury Realm opponents are no longer a serious threat to him and takes Hu’s Demon Core.
• Qin An frees the Earth Vein Crystal from its ropes and takes it, though he cannot determine why the Demon Hall had guarded it so carefully.
• When the ropes stop feeding Killing Intent into the crystal, Lian Yu suffers a violent transformation. Her cultivation surges from the Jade Bone Realm to the Returning Treasury Realm, and she releases a powerful charm that nearly overwhelms Qin An.
• Qin An restrains and examines her, finding several kinds of Killing Intent gathering within her. He suspects the Demon Hall intended to use the crystal to create an Innate Charm Body.
• As Qin An prepares to take Lian Yu back for the Evil Extermination Division to investigate, a phantom of Elder Monkey appears and demands that she be released. Qin An refuses, recognizing how important she is to his enemy.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An shows confidence and tactical skill, defeating Hu quickly and resisting Lian Yu’s supernatural charm, though only with effort. He prioritizes securing evidence and handing Lian Yu over to the authorities rather than pursuing unsupported theories.
• Hu Sandao is fiercely loyal to the Demon Hall and confident in his secret technique, but is outmaneuvered by Qin An’s movement skill.
• Lian Yu changes from a restrained captive into a newly powerful, dangerously alluring figure, apparently as a result of the Killing Intent’s sudden disruption.
• Elder Monkey appears unusually frantic and threatening when Qin An takes Lian Yu, revealing how much he values her.

Significant themes

• Strength and deception: Qin An’s victory depends not only on power but on misleading Hu with an afterimage.
• Power’s hidden costs and purposes: Lian Yu’s sudden transformation suggests the Demon Hall’s scheme involves manipulating Killing Intent to produce a particular kind of power.
• Rivalry and leverage: Qin An refuses to return Lian Yu because her importance to Elder Monkey makes her valuable in their conflict.
• Uncertainty and investigation: The Earth Vein Crystal’s true purpose remains unclear, leaving the Demon Hall’s larger plan unresolved.