Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Daoist Qingyan arrives, unexpectedly aiding the Su Clan with his Golden Core cultivation.
• The Su Clan prepares to activate the Devouring Essence Array to extend Su Gan's lifespan, using a thousand late-stage Qi Refinement Rogue Cultivators as fuel.
• The Du Clan, aware of the Su Clan's plans, approaches Clearpeace Mountain, led by a Golden Core cultivator.

Character Developments

• Song Wen: Feels disappointed and anxious due to the unexpected aid to the Su Clan and the Du Clan's delay in attacking.
• Su Gan: Shows his ruthless side, ready to sacrifice a thousand cultivators to extend his lifespan.
• Su Anping: Demonstrates his strategic prowess, preparing the Su Clan for the Du Clan's attack.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: The balance of power shifts with Daoist Qingyan's arrival, and the Su Clan's preparation for the Devouring Essence Array.
• Sacrifice: The Su Clan's willingness to sacrifice a thousand cultivators for their ancestor's lifespan extension.
• Revenge: The Su Clan's eagerness to settle their grievances with the Du Clan.

Character Interactions

• Su Gan and Daoist Qingyan: Work together to activate the Devouring Essence Array, with Su Gan in control and Daoist Qingyan assisting.
• Su Anping and the Su Clan Members: Coordinate their defenses against the approaching Du Clan, demonstrating unity and determination.
• Song Wen and the Du Clan: Though not directly interacting, their actions are intertwined, with Song Wen waiting for the Du Clan's attack and the Du Clan approaching Clearpeace Mountain.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Su Clan activates their mountain-protecting formation to defend against Du Tianhua's attack.
• Du Tianhua leads the Du Clan in looting the Su Clan's resources while he focuses on breaking the formation around Su Gan's seclusion valley.
• Su Gan activates the Devouring Essence Array, using it to drain the life force of captured Rogue Cultivators to strengthen the formation and himself.
• Daoist Qingyan leaves the Devouring Essence Array to confront Du Tianhua, while Su Gan considers her a potential threat to his plans.

Character Developments

• Du Tianhua: Shows ruthlessness and strategic planning, aiming to destroy the Su Clan's reputation and seize their resources.
• Su Anping: Demonstrates concern for his clan's safety and tries to reason with Du Tianhua.
• Su Gan: Reveals his willingness to sacrifice others for his own gain, considering even Daoist Qingyan a potential threat.
• Daoist Qingyan: Shows confidence in her abilities and underestimates Du Tianhua's strength.

Significant Themes

• Ruthlessness and power dynamics in the Cultivation World.
• The consequences of keeping secrets and the importance of reputation.
• The lengths one might go to for personal gain or survival.

Character Interactions

• Du Tianhua and Su Anping: Engage in a standoff, with Du Tianhua mocking the Su Clan's secrets and Su Anping trying to appeal to righteousness.
• Su Gan and Daoist Qingyan: Show a sibling-like relationship, with Su Gan warning her and Daoist Qingyan displaying confidence in her abilities.
• Su Gan and Su Wenshi: Share a secret plan, with Su Gan considering Daoist Qingyan a potential threat to his goals.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Daoist Qingyan, an unexpected and powerful cultivator, joins the battle, forcing Du Tianhua to reassess the situation.
• Daoist Qingyan and Du Tianhua engage in a fierce battle, with Daoist Qingyan initially gaining the upper hand.
• Du Tianhua uses a Spirit-Hiding Mist to conceal himself, making it difficult for Daoist Qingyan to locate and attack him.
• Daoist Qingyan enters the mist, and Du Tianhua exploits her disadvantage to wound her severely.

Character Developments

• Daoist Qingyan: Shows immense magical power and skill but underestimates Du Tianhua's cunning, leading to her injury.
• Du Tianhua: Demonstrates strategic thinking and resourcefulness by using the Spirit-Hiding Mist to turn the tables on Daoist Qingyan.

Significant Themes

• The importance of intelligence and preparation in battle (Du Tianhua's surprise at Daoist Qingyan's appearance).
• The dangers of underestimating one's opponent (Daoist Qingyan's injury).
• The use of strategy and tactics to overcome superior strength (Du Tianhua's use of the Spirit-Hiding Mist).

Character Interactions

• Daoist Qingyan vs. Du Tianhua: A battle of strength vs. strategy, initially favoring Daoist Qingyan but turning in Du Tianhua's favor.
• Su Clan vs. Du Clan: The Su Clan takes advantage of the Du Clan's distraction to attack and drive them off Clearpeace Mountain.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Daoist Qingyan is attacked by Du Tianhua's flying sword while trying to escape the Spirit-Hiding Mist, resulting in a severe wound across her back.
• The Su Clan members help disperse the Spirit-Hiding Mist, but Du Tianhua escapes.
• Daoist Qingyan returns to the valley, injured, and plans to help Su Gan control the Devouring Essence Array after healing.
• The Devouring Essence Array extracts the blood, flesh, and vitality of a thousand Rogue Cultivators.
• Su Gan betrays Daoist Qingyan, using the Devouring Essence Array to control her and planning to plunder her cultivation to break through his bottleneck.

Character Developments

• Daoist Qingyan shows resilience and determination, even after being severely wounded.
• Su Gan reveals his true colors, displaying ambition and ruthlessness in his pursuit of greater cultivation.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal: Su Gan's betrayal of Daoist Qingyan highlights the theme of trust and loyalty in cultivation relationships.
• Ambition: Su Gan's willingness to use extraordinary methods to advance his cultivation underscores the theme of ambition and its consequences.
• Power dynamics: The use of the Devouring Essence Array to control and plunder others' cultivation emphasizes the power dynamics between cultivators.

Character Interactions

• Daoist Qingyan and Su Gan: Their interaction shifts from apparent cooperation to betrayal, with Su Gan manipulating Daoist Qingyan for his own gain.
• Daoist Qingyan and Du Tianhua: Their conflict continues, with Du Tianhua evading Daoist Qingyan's pursuit and escaping the Spirit-Hiding Mist.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qingyan is trapped in the Devouring Essence Array by Su Gan, who intends to kill her.
• An Ironback Turtle, Qingyan's spirit beast, appears and saves her from the array.
• Qingyan reveals she knew about the array's purpose and had planned to seize it for her own cultivation.
• Su Gan attacks Qingyan, but his flying sword is deflected by the Ironback Turtle's shell.
• Su Gan temporarily seals the array and asks Su Wenshi to activate the Four Symbols Reversal Formation to trap the Ironback Turtle.

Character Developments

• Qingyan: Shows her cunning side, having secretly planned to take the Devouring Essence Array for herself. Her injuries worsen due to the array's suppression.
• Su Gan: Reveals his true colors, confirming his malicious intent towards Qingyan. He underestimates the Ironback Turtle's power and is forced to change his strategy.

Significant Themes

• Deception and Trust: Both Qingyan and Su Gan deceive each other, highlighting the lack of trust in their relationship.
• Power and Ambition: The desire for power drives both characters to scheme against each other.
• Friendship Betrayed: Their past friendship is betrayed as both characters prioritize their own interests.

Character Interactions

• Qingyan and Su Gan: Their friendship is strained as they reveal their true intentions, leading to a confrontation.
• Qingyan and the Ironback Turtle: The turtle demonstrates loyalty and protectiveness towards Qingyan, aiding her in her plan.
• Su Gan and Su Wenshi: Su Gan seeks help from Su Wenshi to turn the tide of the battle, showing his desperation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Gan's flying sword clashes with the Ironback Turtle's water column, but its power is greatly diminished.
• Daoist Nun Qingyan plans to use the Ironback Turtle to wear down Su Gan, then capture him.
• Su Gan activates the Four Symbols Reversal Formation to trap Daoist Nun Qingyan and the Ironback Turtle.
• Su Gan uses his most powerful strike, but the Ironback Turtle's shell withstands it.
• Su Gan and Su Wenshi shrink the formation's range, trapping only Daoist Nun Qingyan and the Ironback Turtle.
• Su Gan personally activates the Four Symbols Reversal Formation, straining his body.
• The Ironback Turtle repeatedly rams the formation's barrier, weakening both itself and the formation.

Character Developments

• Su Gan: Shows determination and power but is aging and has limited mana.
• Daoist Nun Qingyan: Injured but resourceful, plans to capture Su Gan alive.
• Su Wenshi: Struggles to maintain the formation, shows a flicker of resentment towards Su Gan.
• Ironback Turtle: Fiercely defends against the formation, becomes severely injured.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between power and endurance, as seen in the clash between Su Gan and the Ironback Turtle.
• The consequences of overusing mana, as seen in Su Gan's deteriorating condition.
• The strategic planning and resourcefulness of Daoist Nun Qingyan.

Character Interactions

• Su Gan and Daoist Nun Qingyan: Engage in a battle of wits and power, each trying to outmaneuver the other.
• Su Gan and Su Wenshi: Tension between them increases as Su Wenshi struggles with the formation and Su Gan criticizes him.
• Daoist Nun Qingyan and the Ironback Turtle: Work together to withstand the formation's might, with the Ironback Turtle taking the brunt of the damage.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Daoist Qingyan breaks the Four Symbols Reversal Formation, injuring Su Gan critically.
• Qingyan captures the Ironback Turtle and attempts to capture Su Gan.
• Su Anping and Su Wenshi attack Qingyan, leading to a fierce battle.
• Qingyan defeats and kills most of the Su Clan cultivators but is severely injured.
• Su Anping and Su Wenshi capture Qingyan and plan to use her and Su Gan in the Devouring Essence Array.

Character Developments

• Daoist Qingyan: Shows formidable combat skills but suffers severe injuries, leading to her capture.
• Su Gan: Defeated and severely injured, on the brink of death.
• Su Anping & Su Wenshi: Reveal their ambition to form Golden Cores, plotting against Su Gan and Qingyan.

Significant Themes

• Ambition and Betrayal: Su Anping and Su Wenshi's ambition leads them to betray their patriarch, Su Gan.
• Power Dynamics: The struggle for power and resources within the Su Clan and between cultivators.
• Consequences of Actions: Qingyan's actions lead to her capture, while Su Anping and Su Wenshi's actions reveal their true intentions.

Character Interactions

• Qingyan vs. Su Clan: Qingyan's battle against the Su Clan cultivators, leading to her capture.
• Su Anping & Su Wenshi: Their alliance and plot against Su Gan, revealing their true intentions.
• Su Gan, Anping, & Wenshi: The power struggle within the Su Clan, with Anping and Wenshi planning to usurp Su Gan's position.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qingyan and Su Gan, both severely injured, are thrown into the Devouring Essence Array by Su Wenshi and Su Anping.
• Su Wenshi and Su Anping activate the Devouring Essence Array to plunder their cultivation.
• Song Wen intervenes, using the Great Cavern Divine Thunder and a silver corpse puppet to stop them.
• A thunderclap from the sky strikes the Devouring Essence Array.

Character Developments

• Su Wenshi: Ambitions to use the Devouring Essence Array to break through to the Golden Core realm, showing ruthlessness by sacrificing his great-grandfather, Su Gan.
• Su Anping: Initially cooperative with Su Wenshi, later shows concern for his own safety and struggles to maintain the Devouring Essence Array.
• Su Gan: Desperate and fearful, realizes his end is near, and laments his greed.
• Qingyan: Conscious but helpless, feels sorrow and irony at their shared fate.
• Song Wen: Determined to stop the Devouring Essence Array, uses the Great Cavern Divine Thunder and a silver corpse puppet to engage Su Anping and Su Wenshi.

Significant Themes

• Greed: The title's theme, explored through Su Gan's desire for longevity and Su Wenshi's ambition for power.
• Betrayal: Su Wenshi and Su Anping betray their ancestors and masters, respectively.
• Power and Sacrifice: Characters are willing to sacrifice others (and themselves) to gain power.

Character Interactions

• Su Wenshi and Su Anping: Work together to activate the Devouring Essence Array but prioritize their own safety when threatened.
• Su Wenshi and Su Gan: Master and ancestor, now enemies, as Su Wenshi sacrifices Su Gan for his own gain.
• Song Wen and the Silver Corpse Puppet: Work together to stop the Devouring Essence Array, showcasing Song Wen's control over the puppet.
• Qingyan and Su Gan: Enemies who schemed against each other, now share a tragic fate.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Gan and Qingyan are dragged out of the Devouring Essence Array by Gu insects, disrupting the array's operation.
• Su Wenshi attempts to kill Song Wen with a flying sword, but Song Wen summons the Black-Armored Ghost King to block it.
• Su Anping and Su Wenshi retreat, but Su Anping is killed by Du Tianhua's surprise attack, and Su Wenshi is killed by the silver corpse.
• Du Tianhua returns, injures, and challenges Song Wen, who prepares to fight back with the Ghost King and silver corpse.

Character Developments

• Song Wen demonstrates his power by summoning the Black-Armored Ghost King, revealing his strength and resourcefulness.
• Du Tianhua's injuries are severe, limiting his strength, but he remains confident and arrogant.
• Su Anping and Su Wenshi show cowardice and prioritize their own survival over their clan's interests.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and the consequences of underestimating opponents.
• The importance of adaptability and resourcefulness in the face of unexpected situations.
• The corrupting influence of power and the moral decay of those who abuse it.

Character Interactions

• Song Wen and the Ghost King work together to defend against Su Wenshi's flying sword.
• Du Tianhua and Song Wen engage in a battle of words before their fight.
• Su Anping and Su Wenshi show a lack of loyalty and unity, ultimately leading to their demise.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Du Tianhua, a Golden Core expert, clashes with the Ghost King and a silver corpse controlled by Song Wen.
• Du Tianhua uses his dark crimson flying sword and a broadsword to fight against the Ghost King and the silver corpse.
• Song Wen, using substitute-death puppets, surprises Du Tianhua and injures him with a short spear imbued with lightning power.
• Du Tianhua is severely injured and falls to the ground. He uses a white pellet to create a Spirit-Hiding Mist, blocking Song Wen's spiritual sense.

Character Developments

• Du Tianhua shows his prowess as a Golden Core cultivator but is ultimately outsmarted and injured by Song Wen.
• Song Wen demonstrates strategic thinking and resourcefulness, using substitute-death puppets to turn the tide of the battle.

Significant Themes

• The power of strategic thinking and resourcefulness over brute strength.
• The importance of adaptability in battle, as shown by Du Tianhua's use of the Spirit-Hiding Mist to counter Song Wen's advantage.

Character Interactions

• Du Tianhua vs. Ghost King and silver corpse (controlled by Song Wen): Du Tianhua initially has the upper hand but is eventually overwhelmed and injured.
• Du Tianhua vs. Song Wen: Song Wen surprises Du Tianhua with substitute-death puppets, turning the tide of the battle.
• Du Tianhua and Song Wen: Du Tianhua attempts to negotiate with Song Wen, but Song Wen refuses, showing determination to defeat Du Tianhua.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Wen sends Sacred Beetle Gu to scout the Spirit-Hiding Mist but loses contact with them.
• He decides to focus on devouring the blood serpent in the Devouring Essence Array.
• Song Wen's cultivation rapidly increases as he absorbs the blood serpent's spiritual power, reaching the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
• He then devours Su Wenshi's soul and kills Su Gan, absorbing his soul but repelling it using his sea of consciousness.
• Song Wen approaches Daoist Qingyan, who begs for her life, but he reveals that he's there to kill her.

Character Developments

• Song Wen's cultivation in the Longevity Art advances significantly, reaching the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
• Daoist Qingyan's condition worsens, and her aura becomes unstable.
• Su Gan, initially near death, improves slightly but remains non-combative.

Significant Themes

• The power and danger of devouring essence blood and spiritual power.
• The consequences of past actions (Daoist Qingyan's pursuit of the Longevity Art cultivator outside East Birch Market).

Character Interactions

• Song Wen interacts with the Sacred Beetle Gu, using them to monitor the Spirit-Hiding Mist.
• He engages with Su Gan and Daoist Qingyan, killing both and absorbing their souls (though he repels Su Gan's).

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qingyan dies, and her soul is absorbed by Song Wen.
• Song Wen seals the bodies of Su Gan, Qingyan, and Su Wenshi for corpse puppet refinement.
• Song Wen devours Su Anping's soul but leaves his body due to severe damage.
• Song Wen enters the Spirit-Hiding Mist to search for Du Tianhua.
• Du Tianhua escapes from the mist but is pursued by Song Wen.
• Du Tianhua is killed by Song Wen, the silver corpse, and the Black-Armored Ghost King.
• Song Wen clears the area, taking in everything within a sixteen-li radius using the Sacred Beetle Gu.

Character Developments

• Qingyan's regret and realization that she should not have involved herself in Su Gan's life-extension matter.
• Du Tianhua's desperation and willingness to gamble his life to escape.
• Song Wen's strategic thinking, patience, and relentless pursuit of his enemies.

Significant Themes

• Power and Weakness: The balance of power shifts between characters, with Song Wen's strength growing and Du Tianhua's waning.
• Regret and Consequences: Qingyan's regret highlights the theme of consequences resulting from one's actions.
• Pursuit of Goals: Characters' single-minded pursuit of their objectives, even in the face of adversity.

Character Interactions

• Song Wen vs. Du Tianhua: The relentless pursuit and eventual defeat of Du Tianhua by Song Wen.
• Song Wen and his puppets: Song Wen's command and use of his corpse puppets and the Black-Armored Ghost King in battle.
• Qingyan and Su Gan: Qingyan's involvement in Su Gan's life-extension matter, leading to her eventual demise.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Wen reverses his blood and qi, absorbs vital blood from corpses, and takes inventory of their storage rings.
• He finds valuable items, including spirit stones, pills, cultivation techniques, and tokens.
• The tokens reveal connections to a sect called Longevity Hall, which is likely ancient and defunct.
• Song Wen discovers a secret art called Darkness-Breaking Technique in Du Tianhua's storage ring, which allows spiritual sense to probe dense mist.
• He also finds a breath-concealing art and Spirit-Hiding Mist spheres.
• After inspecting all storage rings, Song Wen finds he has amassed a fortune of over a million spirit stones and two magic treasures.
• He decides to kill Daoist Qingyan's Ironback Turtle spirit beast due to the risk of trouble from selling it.

Character Developments

• Song Wen demonstrates strategic thinking and caution in dealing with the Ironback Turtle.
• He shows curiosity and resourcefulness in exploring the tokens' connections to Longevity Hall.

Significant Themes

• Power and Wealth: Song Wen's growing wealth and resources reflect his increasing power and potential.
• Caution and Strategy: Song Wen's decision to kill the Ironback Turtle shows his careful consideration of potential risks and troubles.

Character Interactions

• Song Wen interacts with the deceased cultivators' storage rings and spirit beasts, revealing their wealth, skills, and secrets.
• Though not physically present, the cultivators' actions and items provide insight into their characters and relationships with Song Wen.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Wen leaves the karst cave and sets up a perimeter to examine the Ironback Turtle from Qingyan's spirit beast pouch.
• The Ironback Turtle awakens and offers to acknowledge Song Wen as its master, but he refuses due to its potential danger and connection to Qingyan.
• Song Wen kills the Ironback Turtle, and his six Sacred Beetle Gu consume half of its demon core before he seals the corpse for later use.
• Song Wen returns to the karst cave, heals his Black-Armored Ghost King and silver corpse, and stabilizes his cultivation.
• Half a year later, a father-daughter duo of low-level Rogue Cultivators, Li Qingqing and her father, gather herbs. Qingqing falls into a hole while her father is collecting Wind Spirit Grass.

Character Developments

• Song Wen demonstrates his cautious nature and strategic thinking in handling the Ironback Turtle situation.
• Li Qingqing shows her excitement and eagerness when spotting Wind Spirit Grass.
• Li Qingqing's father displays his love and concern for his daughter's safety, prioritizing her rescue over the gathered herbs.

Significant Themes

• Danger and caution: Song Wen's careful approach to the Ironback Turtle and Li Qingqing's father's concern for his daughter's safety highlight the importance of caution and preparedness in the cultivation world.
• Father-daughter bond: The strong bond between Li Qingqing and her father is emphasized through his immediate response to her distress call.

Character Interactions

• Song Wen and the Ironback Turtle: Song Wen's brief consideration of accepting the Ironback Turtle as his spirit beast, followed by his refusal, shows his awareness of potential threats.
• Li Qingqing and her father: Their interaction demonstrates their close bond, with Li Qingqing's excitement over the Wind Spirit Grass and her father's quick response to her distress call emphasizing their connection.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Wen, a cultivator in seclusion, encounters a young girl who falls into his cave. He feels lustful urges due to his excessive vital essence.
• The girl's father arrives, panicked, and flees with his daughter after noticing Song Wen's barrier. Song Wen lets them go without incident.
• Song Wen, unable to suppress his lust, decides to follow his heart and goes to East Birch Market.
• He rents a courtyard from Zhao Dapeng, who has a mysterious prisoner in his underground chamber.

Character Developments

• Song Wen: Struggles with his lustful desires due to the excessive vital essence from the Blood Serpent. He decides to act on his lust, showing a darker side to his character.
• Zhao Dapeng: Revealed to have a mysterious prisoner in his courtyard, hinting at his shady dealings and unethical practices.

Significant Themes

• Lust and Desire: Song Wen's struggle with his lust highlights the theme of human desires and their consequences.
• Power and Control: The dynamic between Song Wen and the girl's father illustrates the power imbalance and fear that comes with cultivators' strength.
• Secrecy and Deception: Zhao Dapeng's hidden prisoner and Song Wen's disguise suggest the prevalence of secrets and deception among cultivators.

Character Interactions

• Song Wen and the Girl's Father: The father's fear and Song Wen's nonchalance highlight the power dynamic between cultivators and non-cultivators.
• Song Wen and Zhao Dapeng: Their interaction shows Zhao Dapeng's shrewdness and Song Wen's ability to navigate complex social situations while hiding his true intentions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Wen arrives at his new courtyard and goes to the market, noticing an increase in cultivators.
• He disguises himself and visits the Blissful Union Spring Night Tower to gather information.
• A Yao, a courtesan, reveals that the war between the righteous and demonic factions has temporarily ceased, with both sides suffering heavy losses.
• The Corpse Demon Sect's main forces have vanished, and their territory was raided by the righteous faction, who were then ambushed by the demonic faction and the Nine Palaces Sect.

Character Developments

• Song Wen maintains his disguise and demonstrates restraint in his interactions with A Yao, showing growth in his self-control.
• A Yao shows intelligence and knowledge about current events, proving to be more than just a courtesan.

Significant Themes

• Disguise and Deception: Song Wen uses disguises to gather information and hide his true identity.
• Power Dynamics: The shifting alliances and power struggles between sects highlight the ruthless nature of the cultivation world.
• Betrayal: The Nine Palaces Sect's betrayal of the righteous faction underscores the lack of trust and loyalty among cultivators.

Character Interactions

• Song Wen interacts with A Yao, using her to gain information while also experiencing human connection after his long seclusion.
• A Yao, despite her profession, shows empathy and understanding, making Song Wen's task easier.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Wen learns about the aftermath of the battle between righteousness and evil. Primordial Unity Temple and the Lei Clan suffered heavy losses, while the righteous side's other great sects, including the Blissful Union Sect, sustained minimal damage.
• The Corpse Demon Sect, after suffering significant losses, is recruiting new disciples and welcoming back those who left during the battle, despite the risk of severe punishment.
• Song Wen spends time with A Yao, a disciple of the Blissful Union Sect, and later encounters an enigmatic, powerful woman who visits him in his room.

Character Developments

• Song Wen: Becomes more cautious and vigilant after encountering the mysterious woman, realizing the danger she poses.
• A Yao: Shows reverence and fear towards the dignified woman, indicating her high status within the sect.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and the cultivation world's hierarchy are emphasized through the dignified woman's interaction with A Yao and Song Wen.
• The consequences of the battle between righteousness and evil continue to unfold, affecting various sects differently.

Character Interactions

• A Yao and the dignified woman: A Yao shows deference to the dignified woman, addressing her as "Eldest Senior Sister" and following her orders.
• Song Wen and the dignified woman: They engage in a sexual encounter, during which the dignified woman plants a hidden mark on Song Wen without his knowledge.

Plot Points and Events

• Song Wen, disguised as Yan Feng, leaves the Blissful Union Spring Night Tower at midnight to purchase Yellow Essence Fungus.
• He visits various shops in East Birch Market and the Mountain Ravine Ghost Market, eventually buying five forty-year-old Yellow Essence Fungus for 1,500 spirit stones each from a shop in the ghost market.
• He learns that he can only buy four Yellow Essence Fungus per month from this shop.

Character Developments

• Song Wen demonstrates his resourcefulness and determination in obtaining the necessary ingredients for his alchemy.
• The dignified woman (Blissful Union Sect Ancestor) shows interest in Song Wen's true identity.

Significant Themes

• The importance of connections and regular supply chains for valuable resources (Yellow Essence Fungus).
• The challenges and difficulties of alchemy, as Song Wen struggles to refine Profound Qi Pills and encounters issues with the Su Clan's Yellow Essence Fungus.

Character Interactions

• Song Wen interacts with various shopkeepers, negotiating prices and making purchases.
• The dignified woman and A Yao discuss Song Wen's departure and his true identity.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Wen visits the Ghost Market's intelligence shop to gather information about the Righteous-Demonic War and the Corpse Demon Sect.
• He learns that the Corpse Demon Sect has suffered minimal losses in high-level combat strength and has even occupied a large spirit mine with the Nine Palaces Sect.
• The Corpse Demon Sect has issued a proclamation forgiving past actions and summoning back scattered disciples, but Song Wen is skeptical of their intentions.
• Song Wen inquires about the Golden Core Realm cultivation method of the Longevity Art and learns that it's possessed by the Beast Taming Sect, Mysterious Heaven Sword Sect, and Blissful Union Sect.
• In Zhao Dapeng's courtyard, three Beast Taming Sect cultivators, led by Elder Xia, retrieve the rat-eyed man (Ding-97) and reward Zhao Dapeng for his efforts.

Character Developments

• Song Wen: Shows strategic thinking and caution, prioritizing gathering information and planning his next steps.
• Elder Xia: Demonstrates authority and indifference, focusing on the task at hand (obtaining Ding-97) and rewarding Zhao Dapeng accordingly.
• Zhao Dapeng: Proves himself loyal and useful to the Beast Taming Sect, earning rewards for his work with Ding-97.

Significant Themes

• Information and knowledge are power in the cultivation world.
• The Corpse Demon Sect's resilience and adaptability are highlighted, showing that they remain a significant threat despite their losses.
• The value of low-level disciples and the potential danger they face, as seen in the Corpse Demon Sect's recruitment of Rogue Cultivators and their treatment of menial disciples.

Character Interactions

• Song Wen interacts with the intelligence shopkeeper, exchanging information for spirit stones.
• Elder Xia and Zhao Dapeng interact, with Elder Xia rewarding Zhao Dapeng for his work and providing further instructions.
• The rat-eyed man (Ding-97) interacts with Zhao Dapeng and Elder Xia, displaying his savage, animalistic nature.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Wen discovers that Zhao Dapeng's cultivation of living corpses was instructed by the Beast Taming Sect.
• Song Wen decides to use special Yellow Essence Fungus to nourish Silver Corpse.
• Song Wen sells Profound Qi Pills to the Flowing Radiance Pill Shop, meeting Ning Feng, the manager.
• Song Wen attends pill refiners' gatherings, learns new refinement techniques, and cultivates in peace for two years.

Character Developments

• Song Wen: Improves his pill-refining skills, deepens his understanding of the Dao of pill refinement, and stabilizes his Longevity Art cultivation. He also resumes cultivating the Myriad Poisons Primordial Body.
• Zhao Dapeng: Revealed to be cultivating living corpses under the Beast Taming Sect's instructions, including his own brother.

Significant Themes

• The cruelties of cultivation, as seen in Zhao Dapeng's treatment of his brother.
• The profit-driven nature of the cultivation world, exemplified by the pill shop's pricing of pills.
• The importance of networking and connections, as seen in Ning Feng's offer of assistance to Song Wen.

Character Interactions

• Song Wen and Zhao Dapeng: Song Wen learns about Zhao Dapeng's actions, further cementing his disdain for the man.
• Song Wen and Ning Feng: They meet during the pill transaction and later at pill refiners' gatherings, forming a friendly relationship.
• Song Wen and other pill refiners: Song Wen becomes acquainted with other Rogue Cultivator pill refiners during the gatherings.