Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• A brutal battle between a brawny woman and a gaunt old man on an arena platform for a wager of 1,000 high-grade spirit stones.
• The old man, boosted by a spiritual medicine secretly given by Gao Cang, wins and kills the woman.
• Hui Zhen, who lost the wager, is humiliated and stomps on the woman's corpse.
• Gao Cang provokes Hui Zhen to gamble again, offering 2,000 high-grade spirit stones, but Hui Zhen refuses to use his protective jade Buddha as stakes.
• Song Wen suspects Gao Cang of cheating during the wager and suggests gambling again to expose him.

Character Developments

• Hui Zhen: Shows pride, anger, and desperation due to his loss and humiliation. He values his protective jade Buddha and is unwilling to risk it.
• Gao Cang: Displayed smug triumph and provocation after winning. He's willing to cheat to win and shows no remorse for the woman's death.
• Song Wen: Shows cunning and strategic thinking. He suspects Gao Cang's cheating and suggests gambling again to expose him.

Significant Themes

• Humiliation and Pride: Both Hui Zhen and Gao Cang are driven by their desire to avoid humiliation and gain pride.
• Greed and Ambition: Gao Cang's desire for the protective jade Buddha and Hui Zhen's eagerness to win back his loss show their greed and ambition.
• Cruelty and Indifference: The young masters and ladies watch the brutal battle with excitement, showing their indifference to the suffering of others.

Character Interactions

• Hui Zhen vs. Gao Cang: Their rivalry is evident in their interactions, with Gao Cang provoking Hui Zhen and Hui Zhen refusing to back down.
• Hui Zhen and Song Wen: They form a temporary alliance, with Song Wen offering advice and Hui Zhen considering his suggestions.
• The Crowd: They show collective indifference and cruelty, enjoying the brutal battle and Hui Zhen's humiliation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Wen, a Rogue Cultivator, meets Hui Zhen, who possesses a Jade Buddha, a powerful defensive treasure.
• Hui Zhen shows off the Jade Buddha, which can withstand an early Void Refinement cultivator's full-force strike and protects its master from mortal threats.
• Song Wen abducts Hui Zhen using a gu worm, a tiny, seemingly harmless creature that can devour brain marrow.
• Song Wen delivers a message to Withered Zen Temple via Ming Cheng, demanding a thousand Bodhi Spirit Stamens in exchange for Hui Zhen's safe return.

Character Developments

• Hui Zhen: Initially arrogant and boastful about his Jade Buddha, he becomes terrified and desperate for survival when Song Wen abducts him.
• Song Wen: Demonstrates cunning and strategic thinking, using a seemingly insignificant gu worm to outsmart Hui Zhen and abduct him.
• Ming Cheng: Realizes the gravity of the situation and falls into despair, understanding the consequences of his actions and the potential retribution from Withered Zen Temple.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: The power imbalance between Song Wen and Hui Zhen is evident, with Song Wen using his gu worm to overpower Hui Zhen despite the latter's powerful Jade Buddha.
• Karmic Retribution: Ming Cheng reflects on the "cycle of karmic retribution," acknowledging the consequences of his actions and the potential retribution from Withered Zen Temple.
• The Value of Treasures: The Jade Buddha, though powerful, is ultimately discarded by Song Wen due to the risk it poses, highlighting the transient value of treasures.

Character Interactions

• Song Wen and Hui Zhen: Their interaction is marked by deception and power play, with Song Wen manipulating Hui Zhen's arrogance to achieve his goal.
• Ming Cheng and Withered Zen Temple: Ming Cheng's fear of Withered Zen Temple and the potential consequences of his actions drive his despair and realization of karmic retribution.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Wen, disguised as Mi Hai, abducts Hui Zhen, son of Du'e, and seals his spiritual power.
• Song Wen demands a thousand Bodhi Spirit Stamens in exchange for Hui Zhen's safety.
• Du'e, unaware of Song Wen's true identity, believes Hui Zhen was abducted by a clan and threatens Song Wen.
• Song Wen lies about Hui Zhen's condition to pressure Du'e into gathering the stamens quickly.
• Du'e agrees to exchange one thousand four-hundred-year Bodhi Spirit Stamens for Hui Zhen.

Character Developments

• Song Wen: Demonstrates cunning and ruthlessness in his plan to obtain the Bodhi Spirit Stamens, showing no qualms about threatening and deceiving others.
• Hui Zhen: Despite his initial defiance, Hui Zhen becomes compliant after being struck by Song Wen, revealing his fear of death.
• Du'e: Shows concern for his son's safety, prioritizing his rescue over punishing those involved in his abduction.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and Deception: Song Wen uses lies and threats to control the situation and achieve his goals.
• Power Dynamics: The characters' actions are driven by their desire for power and control, with Song Wen and Du'e both seeking to maintain the upper hand.
• Family and Love: Du'e's willingness to exchange a large number of rare spiritual stamens for his son's safety highlights the importance of family in his life.

Character Interactions

• Song Wen and Hui Zhen: Their interaction is marked by power imbalance, with Song Wen dominating and threatening Hui Zhen.
• Song Wen and Du'e: Their interaction is characterized by deception and manipulation, with Song Wen using lies to pressure Du'e into complying with his demands.
• Ming Cheng: Though not physically present, his messages to Song Wen reveal Du'e's trust in him and his willingness to help in the exchange, despite his fear of Du'e.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Wen (disguised as Mi Hai) agrees to exchange the Bodhi Spirit Stamen for Hui Zhen, but insists on a desert location for the trade to avoid Du'e's potential traps.
• On the third day, Song Wen lures Du'e's Nascent Soul Realm monk, Jie Wang, into a desert, using a Gu insect to lead him to a remote location.
• Song Wen trades the Bodhi Spirit Stamen for Hui Zhen, then escapes, leaving behind a sinister corpse qi in Hui Zhen.
• Du'e arrives to save Hui Zhen and pursues Song Wen, but loses the trail and returns empty-handed.

Character Developments

• Song Wen: Proves himself cunning and resourceful, outsmarting Du'e and successfully obtaining the Bodhi Spirit Stamen.
• Du'e: Shows concern for his son's safety but is ultimately outmaneuvered by Song Wen. He reveals his fear of Moon-Covering Hall upon learning of the Bodhi Spirit Stamen's forbidden status.
• Hui Zhen: Becomes a pawn in the exchange, showing impatience and resentment when his father fails to capture Song Wen.

Significant Themes

• Cunning vs. Force: Song Wen's cunning and strategic planning outwit Du'e's brute force and direct approach.
• Family and Loyalty: Du'e's actions are driven by his desire to protect his son, while Song Wen uses Hui Zhen as a bargaining chip.
• Fear of Authority: Du'e's fear of Moon-Covering Hall highlights the power dynamics within the cultivation world.

Character Interactions

• Song Wen vs. Du'e: Song Wen outmaneuvers Du'e, demonstrating his superior strategic planning and resourcefulness.
• Du'e vs. Hui Zhen: Du'e's concern for Hui Zhen's safety is evident, but he also imposes restrictions on Hui Zhen to prevent further incidents.
• Hui Zhen vs. Song Wen: Hui Zhen's resentment towards Song Wen grows after his failed attempt to capture him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Wen, after obtaining the Bodhi Spirit Stamen, hides in a desert to evade Du'e but decides to return to Cloud-Hidden City to find a suitable place to establish a cave dwelling.
• He spots Shi Man in the city, accompanying a young cultivator named Chi Pei, searching for an unknown treasure.
• Song Wen, disguised as Gou Jun, approaches them, offering his assistance to Chi Pei.

Character Developments

• Song Wen: He has obtained the Bodhi Spirit Stamen but is still cautious and strategic in his actions. He's also curious about Shi Man and Chi Pei's mission.
• Shi Man: She has joined Moon-Covering Hall and become an outer sect elder, but she's subservient to Chi Pei, suggesting she's prioritizing her new status and alliance.
• Chi Pei: He's a young, powerful cultivator with a cold and dismissive attitude, indicating he's used to being obeyed.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: Chi Pei's behavior towards Shi Man and Song Wen highlights the power dynamics in their relationships.
• Curiosity and Ambition: Song Wen's curiosity about Chi Pei's mission drives him to approach them, showing his ambition and willingness to take risks.

Character Interactions

• Song Wen (disguised as Gou Jun) interacts with Shi Man and Chi Pei, initially trying to ingratiate himself with Chi Pei to learn more about their mission. However, Chi Pei dismisses him, showing his disdain for lower-ranked cultivators. Shi Man, despite knowing Gou Jun, prioritizes her alliance with Chi Pei over their acquaintance.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Wen fails to flatter Chi Pei and decides not to give up.
• Song Wen contacts Shi Man, who boasts about her new status and Moon-Covering Hall's resources.
• Song Wen learns that Chi Pei is seeking Heart-Corroding Chill, a poison Xiao Ying possesses.
• Song Wen decides to give some Heart-Corroding Chill to Chi Pei to gain favor.
• Song Wen meets Shi Man at Moon-Soothing Tower, but Chi Pei does not appear.

Character Developments

• Song Wen: Persistent in his goal to gain Chi Pei's favor, he decides to give the Heart-Corroding Chill to Chi Pei. He also shows caution about joining Moon-Covering Hall due to the Divine Blood Sect's practices.
• Shi Man: Boasts about her new status and Moon-Covering Hall's resources. She tries to take credit for finding the Heart-Corroding Chill.

Significant Themes

• Ambition and manipulation (Song Wen's desire to gain Chi Pei's favor and Shi Man's boasting)
• Trust and deception (Shi Man's attempt to claim credit for finding the poison)
• Power dynamics (Moon-Covering Hall's influence and the Divine Blood Sect's practices)

Character Interactions

• Song Wen and Shi Man: Song Wen flatters Shi Man, and she shares information about Chi Pei and Moon-Covering Hall. They arrange to meet at Moon-Soothing Tower.
• Song Wen and Chi Pei: Chi Pei is not present at the meeting, showing Shi Man's attempt to take credit for finding the Heart-Corroding Chill.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Wen (disguised as Gou Jun) tricks Senior Shi Man into believing he has obtained Heart-Corroding Chill, a rare ingredient, by giving her a small amount.
• Chi Pei, the young master of Moon-Covering Hall, wants to find the source of the Heart-Corroding Chill, leading to a chase to find a non-existent stall owner.
• Song Wen encounters Ye Bing, who gives him an Earth Escape Talisman and asks to buy the Five-Viscera Spiritwood from him.

Character Developments

• Song Wen/Gou Jun: Shows cunning and deception, manipulating Shi Man and Chi Pei. He also displays caution when dealing with Ye Bing.
• Ye Bing: Shows growth in her ability to read situations and people, using seduction to try and persuade Song Wen to sell her the Five-Viscera Spiritwood.

Significant Themes

• Deception and Manipulation: Song Wen uses lies and manipulation to gain advantage, while Ye Bing tries to use her charm to persuade Song Wen.
• Trust and Caution: Both Song Wen and Ye Bing are cautious in their interactions, not fully trusting the other.

Character Interactions

• Song Wen and Shi Man: Song Wen deceives Shi Man, making her believe he has more Heart-Corroding Chill than he does.
• Song Wen and Chi Pei: Song Wen leads Chi Pei on a wild goose chase to find a non-existent stall owner.
• Song Wen and Ye Bing: They meet again, and Ye Bing tries to persuade Song Wen to sell her the Five-Viscera Spiritwood, while Song Wen remains cautious and non-committal.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Bing seeks Song Wen's help to find the rare Five-Viscera Spiritwood for refining the Void-Merging Origin-Breaking Pill.
• Song Wen refuses to give the herb for free but is open to selling it.
• Ye Bing reveals she lacks several other rare herbs and is low on spirit stones.
• Song Wen expresses interest in becoming Ye Bing's neighbor.
• Ye Bing takes Song Wen to her cave abode, a small island with abundant spiritual energy.
• Song Wen offers to sell the Five-Viscera Spiritwood for 1,000 high-grade spirit stones and requests to plant Demon Radiance Grass on her island.

Character Developments

• Ye Bing shows her resourcefulness and determination in finding the Five-Viscera Spiritwood but is struggling due to lack of resources.
• Song Wen displays his shrewdness and bargaining skills, initially refusing to sell the herb but later agreeing with a high price and additional conditions.

Significant Themes

• The pursuit of power and resources (Ye Bing's desperation for the Five-Viscera Spiritwood).
• Manipulation and deception (Song Wen's true intentions in wanting to become Ye Bing's neighbor).
• The importance of strategic alliances and neighbors in cultivation (Song Wen's interest in Ye Bing's island).

Character Interactions

• Ye Bing and Song Wen engage in a tense negotiation, with Ye Bing initially trying to seduce Song Wen but later resorting to bargaining and offering a trade.
• Song Wen maintains a calm and composed demeanor throughout the negotiation, subtly manipulating Ye Bing to his advantage.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Bing reveals that the marsh has many fifth-rank demon beasts but no sixth-rank ones, making it suitable for Song Wen's cave abode.
• Song Wen trades the Five-Viscera Spiritwood to Ye Bing for intelligence about the marsh and asks her to cultivate Bodhi Spirit Stamens for him.
• Song Wen discovers an island at the marsh's northern end with abundant spiritual energy but no plants, deciding to establish his cave abode there.
• Song Wen travels to Cloud-Hidden City to buy a pill formula for luring demon beasts and a fifth-rank superior-grade trapping-and-killing formation but finds none available.
• Shi Man contacts Song Wen, summoning him to Moon-Covering Hall, which puzzles and concerns him.

Character Developments

• Ye Bing shows hospitality and eagerness to have Song Wen stay on her island, revealing her loneliness and need for protection.
• Song Wen demonstrates his resourcefulness and strategic thinking, planning to use the marsh's demon beasts as cultivation resources and reducing threats to his future cave abode.

Significant Themes

• Trust and deception: Song Wen is cautious about fully trusting Ye Bing and reveals only part of his capabilities to her.
• Resourcefulness: Song Wen adapts his plans based on new information and uses the environment to his advantage.

Character Interactions

• Song Wen and Ye Bing: They engage in a mutually beneficial trade, with Song Wen gaining valuable information and Ye Bing obtaining the Five-Viscera Spiritwood. However, their relationship remains guarded.
• Song Wen and Shi Man: Shi Man's sudden summons to Moon-Covering Hall creates tension and uncertainty between them, as Song Wen fears his identity might be exposed.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Wen, disguised as an elderly cultivator, leaves a tavern after communicating with Shi Man.
• Shi Man reveals that Moon-Covering Hall has found a suspect matching "Master Extreme Yin's" description, a poison cultivator named Shi Chang.
• Song Wen meets Shi Man and Wu Yuan above Cloud-Hidden City, and they travel together to Shi Chang's lair.
• Shi Man accuses Shi Chang of refining Heart-Corroding Chill, but Shi Chang denies it.
• Wu Yuan suggests searching Shi Chang's cave abode to prove his innocence or guilt.

Character Developments

• Song Wen continues his investigation while trying to protect Shi Chang, a cultivator resembling his master.
• Shi Man shows arrogance and aggression, abusing her power from Moon-Covering Hall.
• Wu Yuan displays indifference and disrespect towards Shi Man, hinting at his true intentions.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics and corruption within cultivation sects (Moon-Covering Hall).
• The consequences of false accusations and the abuse of power.
• The importance of discerning truth from falsehood.

Character Interactions

• Song Wen interacts with Shi Man and Wu Yuan, maintaining his disguise and trying to protect Shi Chang.
• Shi Man and Wu Yuan interact with Shi Chang, accusing him of refining Heart-Corroding Chill.
• Wu Yuan shows disrespect towards Shi Man, highlighting the power imbalance between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wu Yuan, a late-stage Spirit Transformation cultivator and deacon of Moon-Covering Hall, confronts Shi Chang, a mid-stage Spirit Transformation cultivator, suspecting him of being the person they seek.
• Wu Yuan attacks Shi Chang's defensive grand formation with his powerful corpse qi, eventually breaking it.
• Shi Chang attempts to flee but is cornered by Wu Yuan's corpse qi. He surrenders, but Wu Yuan spares him only to capture him alive.

Character Developments

• Wu Yuan demonstrates his immense power and ruthlessness, showing no mercy towards Shi Chang despite his surrender.
• Shi Chang, initially confident in his defensive formation, becomes desperate and panicked as he realizes the power gap between him and Wu Yuan.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics: Wu Yuan's strength and status as a deacon allow him to dominate Shi Chang, who is both weaker and lower in status.
• Desperation and surrender: Shi Chang's attempt to flee and his eventual surrender highlight the desperation of his situation.

Character Interactions

• Wu Yuan and Shi Chang: Wu Yuan's overwhelming power and lack of mercy contrast with Shi Chang's desperation and pleas for mercy.
• Shi Man and Song Wen: Shi Man harbors resentment towards Wu Yuan, while Song Wen admires Wu Yuan's strength and cultivation technique.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wu Yuan, Shi Man, and Song Wen capture Shi Chang, who they believe is the stall owner who sold the Heart-Corroding Chill.
• Wu Yuan severs Shi Chang's hand to retrieve his storage ring, but finds no trace of the Heart-Corroding Chill inside.
• Wu Yuan searches Shi Chang's soul and confirms he has no information about the Heart-Corroding Chill.
• Wu Yuan kills Shi Chang, deeming him a criminal for using people as vessels for cultivating poison.
• Song Wen shows Wu Yuan a rare Withered Corpse Bamboo plant, which can aid corpse-path cultivators in their cultivation.

Character Developments

• Wu Yuan demonstrates his immense power and righteous demeanor, but also shows signs of suspicion towards Song Wen.
• Shi Man remains loyal to Chi Pei and believes in Song Wen's innocence.
• Song Wen becomes increasingly determined to kill Wu Yuan and plans to create an opportunity to do so.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: Wu Yuan's power and status are evident, but Song Wen's ambition challenges this hierarchy.
• Trust and Betrayal: Shi Man trusts Song Wen, while Wu Yuan becomes suspicious of him, highlighting the theme of trust and its fragility.
• Cultivation and Ambition: The desire for power and resources drives the characters' actions, with Song Wen's ambition growing as he sees an opportunity to advance his cultivation.

Character Interactions

• Wu Yuan and Shi Man work together to capture Shi Chang but have differing views on how to handle the situation.
• Wu Yuan becomes suspicious of Song Wen, while Shi Man remains supportive of him.
• Song Wen plans to betray both Wu Yuan and Shi Man, highlighting the tense and shifting alliances among the characters.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Wen shows Shi Man and Wu Yuan a Withered Corpse Bamboo, which Wu Yuan identifies as a rare treasure, the Baleful-Pattern Bamboo, capable of forging a pseudo-spirit treasure.
• Shi Man and Wu Yuan part ways; Shi Man returns to Moon-Covering Hall, while Wu Yuan pursues Song Wen, aiming to seize the Baleful-Pattern Bamboo.
• Wu Yuan loses track of Song Wen but picks up his trail again after a long pursuit. He plans to ambush Song Wen near an evil qi-filled canyon to kill him and feed his body and soul to the ghosts residing there.

Character Developments

• Song Wen (Gou Jun): Shows cunning and caution by changing directions and using a concealment formation to evade Wu Yuan.
• Wu Yuan: Reveals his greed and ruthlessness in pursuing Song Wen to seize the Baleful-Pattern Bamboo, even planning to kill him in a hidden canyon.

Significant Themes

• Greed and its consequences: Wu Yuan's desire for the Baleful-Pattern Bamboo leads him to pursue and plan to kill Song Wen.
• Cunning and survival: Song Wen's cautious behavior helps him evade Wu Yuan's pursuit, highlighting the importance of carefulness in the cultivation world.

Character Interactions

• Shi Man and Wu Yuan: They part ways, with Shi Man returning to Moon-Covering Hall and Wu Yuan pursuing Song Wen. Shi Man shows little concern for Wu Yuan's delay in returning to Moon-Covering Hall.
• Wu Yuan and Song Wen: Wu Yuan pursues Song Wen, aiming to seize the Baleful-Pattern Bamboo. Their interaction is marked by Wu Yuan's deception and Song Wen's evasive maneuvers.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Wen (disguised as Ye Hua) and Wu Yuan enter a thousand-li-wide gorge filled with ghostly qi.
• Wu Yuan attacks Song Wen, injuring him severely.
• Song Wen falls and is buried under rubble on a cliff platform.
• Wu Yuan reveals his true face and intentions to a weakened Song Wen.
• Wu Yuan plans to kill Song Wen, but a violet-gold lightning strike interrupts him.

Character Developments

• Song Wen: Disguised and injured, he remains resilient and resourceful.
• Wu Yuan: Reveals his true intentions and affiliation with the Divine Blood Sect, showing pride in his status.

Significant Themes

• Deception and Trust: Wu Yuan deceives Song Wen, while Song Wen maintains his disguise.
• Power Dynamics: Wu Yuan's pride in his Divine Blood Sect affiliation highlights the power struggle within the sect.

Character Interactions

• Song Wen and Wu Yuan: Their interaction reveals Wu Yuan's true intentions and sets the stage for a potential confrontation.
• Wu Yuan and Shi Man: Wu Yuan's revelation about Shi Man hints at a power imbalance within the Moon-Covering Hall.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wu Yuan faces a powerful violet-gold lightning attack, which he initially believes to be from a cultivator with lower cultivation than him.
• He discovers a divine-sense attack (Nine Transparent Blades) targeting his sea of consciousness, which he barely withstands.
• A black spear (low-grade spirit treasure) is launched at him, revealing a trap.
• Wu Yuan summons a mid-stage fifth-tier spirit corpse to defend himself.
• Song Wen, the antagonist, appears and uses a substitute-death technique, attacking Wu Yuan's jade token (which protects against divine-sense attacks) with a mid-grade spirit treasure blade.
• Wu Yuan is injured by another divine-sense attack (Nine Transparent Blades) and struggles to escape.

Character Developments

• Wu Yuan demonstrates his power and resourcefulness but is ultimately outmatched and overwhelmed by the trap set for him.
• Song Wen reveals his cunning and strategic planning, using a substitute-death technique and targeting Wu Yuan's weak point (the jade token).

Significant Themes

• Trap and Deception: The chapter highlights the danger of underestimating opponents and falling into traps, as Wu Yuan does.
• Resourcefulness vs. Power: Wu Yuan's various resources and techniques are not enough to save him from a strategically superior opponent.

Character Interactions

• Wu Yuan and Song Wen's interaction is one of cat and mouse, with Song Wen setting traps and Wu Yuan trying to escape and counterattack.
• Wu Yuan's spirit corpse puppet defends him but ultimately cannot save him from the divine-sense attacks.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Wen (disguised as Ye Hua) attacks Wu Yuan, an enforcer of Moon-Covering Hall.
• Wu Yuan survives initial attacks due to his black armor but is eventually killed and his soul captured.
• Song Wen reveals that Wu Yuan and others like him are merely cultivation resources for the Divine Blood Sect.

Character Developments

• Wu Yuan's arrogance and loyalty to Moon-Covering Hall are challenged and ultimately shattered.
• Song Wen's cunning and ruthlessness are demonstrated as he manipulates Wu Yuan and reveals the truth about Moon-Covering Hall.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty: Wu Yuan's unwavering loyalty to Moon-Covering Hall, even in the face of betrayal, is a central theme.
• Deception and Truth: The revelation that Wu Yuan's loyalty is misplaced, and the truth about Moon-Covering Hall, highlights the theme of deception and the search for truth.
• Power Dynamics: The power imbalance between Wu Yuan and Song Wen, and the revelation of the Divine Blood Sect's true intentions, explores the theme of power and its corrupting influence.

Character Interactions

• Song Wen vs. Wu Yuan: The power struggle between Song Wen and Wu Yuan, with Song Wen manipulating and ultimately defeating Wu Yuan, is the primary interaction.
• Wu Yuan's Internal Struggle: Wu Yuan's mental turmoil as he grapples with the truth about Moon-Covering Hall and his own role within it is a significant internal interaction.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Wen reveals he has advanced to the middle stage of Spirit Transformation by devouring Wu Yuan's cultivation.
• Wu Yuan reveals details about Moon-Covering Hall's personnel, including 27 Spirit Transformation cultivators and 4 Void Refinement cultivators.
• Song Wen devours Wu Yuan's soul.
• Shi Man reports to Chi Pei about the failed mission to obtain the Heart-Corroding Chill.
• Chi Pei learns about Wu Yuan's death and suspects a precious treasure in Shi Chang's storage ring might be the cause.

Character Developments

• Song Wen: Shows his ability to devour cultivation and reveals his true purpose, indicating he is a core disciple of the Divine Blood Sect.
• Wu Yuan: Reveals information about Moon-Covering Hall and accepts his death, hoping for revenge.
• Shi Man: Fails to obtain the Heart-Corroding Chill and tries to shift blame onto Wu Yuan.
• Chi Pei: Shows concern for the Heart-Corroding Chill and suspects Wu Yuan's death might be related to a treasure.

Significant Themes

• Power and Ambition: Characters seek power and influence, as seen in Song Wen's cultivation advancement and Chi Pei's interest in the Heart-Corroding Chill.
• Loyalty and Betrayal: Shi Man's loyalty is questioned, and Wu Yuan's betrayal is suspected.
• Secrets and Mysteries: The true nature of the Heart-Corroding Chill and Wu Yuan's death remain unsolved mysteries.

Character Interactions

• Song Wen and Wu Yuan: Song Wen reveals his true power and devours Wu Yuan's cultivation and soul.
• Shi Man and Chi Pei: Shi Man reports to Chi Pei, trying to shift blame onto Wu Yuan. Chi Pei suspects Wu Yuan's death might be related to a treasure.

Chapter Summary: “Grateful at Heart”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Wen retreats to a remote mountain cave and uses a Five-Element Concealment Formation to safely devour Wu Yuan’s remains.
• The enormous amount of spiritual power and essence blood from Wu Yuan’s corpse pushes Song Wen through his bottleneck, allowing him to break into the middle stage of Spirit Transformation.
• Afterward, Song Wen burns Wu Yuan’s remains and searches his storage ring, obtaining several valuable treasures:
  • The Profound Abyss Scale Armor, a flexible defensive inner armor gifted to Wu Yuan by the Divine Blood Sect.
  • A blood-red corpse coffin containing a middle-stage fifth-rank corpse puppet.
  • Five thousand high-grade spirit stones.
  • The Baleful Spirit Ghost Scroll, a secret art that uses Killing Intent or corpse-baleful aura.
  • The Corpse-Baleful Spirit-Severing Formation, a high-grade fifth-rank trapping and killing formation particularly suited to Song Wen’s corpse-path abilities.
• Song Wen relocates to a barren island in the Withered Marsh and names it Wu Yuan Island, sarcastically or pragmatically commemorating Wu Yuan as a “treasure-delivering” benefactor.
• Rather than sealing the whole island, he builds a large underground cave abode beneath the silt and rocks, leaving the island’s occupation less obvious.
• Over the next twenty years, Song Wen:
  • Stabilizes his new cultivation.
  • Refines Wu Yuan’s treasures.
  • Studies the Baleful Spirit Ghost Scroll.
  • Helps several Gu insects advance in rank.
  • Uses Demon-Luring Powder and the new formation to kill twelve fifth-rank demon beasts and many weaker ones.
  • Devours their souls, accumulating soul fragments that may help his divine sense reach the late stage of Spirit Transformation through the Soul-Banishing Technique.
• Song Wen repeatedly visits Cloud-Hidden City to purchase cultivation resources and maintain his relationship with Shi Man.
• He initially worries that Wu Yuan’s death and the failed exchange involving Heart-Corroding Chill might make Shi Man suspicious. However, Shi Man reveals that Chi Pei has already obtained the Heart-Corroding Chill, easing Song Wen’s concerns.
• The chapter ends with Song Wen meeting Shi Man at Moon-Soothing Tower. This time, she arrives with an attractive female middle-stage Spirit Transformation cultivator whose identity and purpose have not yet been revealed.

Character Developments

• Song Wen: Becomes stronger and more resourceful after advancing to the middle stage of Spirit Transformation. He expands his arsenal with defensive armor, a powerful corpse puppet, a fifth-rank formation, and a new secret art. His careful planning and opportunism remain evident, especially in the way he exploits Wu Yuan’s remains and maintains Shi Man as a useful connection.
• Wu Yuan: Though dead, he continues to benefit Song Wen through his corpse, treasures, and accumulated resources. Song Wen’s naming of the island after him reflects a cynical form of gratitude.
• Shi Man: Remains connected to Song Wen and continues meeting him despite Wu Yuan’s death. Her revelation about Chi Pei’s acquisition of Heart-Corroding Chill indirectly reassures Song Wen that his deception remains safe.
• Chi Pei and Shi Chang: Their actions influence Song Wen’s security. Chi Pei’s possession of the Heart-Corroding Chill prevents further investigation into the supposed identity of Shi Chang.
• Gu insects and Nether Fox: Their continued growth and need for space shape the design of Song Wen’s new underground residence.

Significant Themes

• Pragmatic gratitude and exploitation: Song Wen treats Wu Yuan’s death as both a victory and a source of resources, showing gratitude only in a practical, self-interested form.
• Power gained through predation: Song Wen’s cultivation and abilities advance by devouring corpses, spiritual power, and demon-beast souls.
• Caution and concealment: He carefully hides his residence, avoids exposing his movements, and monitors whether others might connect him to Wu Yuan’s death.
• Preparation and accumulation: The twenty-year period emphasizes Song Wen’s long-term strategy—stabilizing his realm, collecting treasures, improving his techniques, and strengthening his summoned creatures.
• Moral ambiguity: Song Wen’s methods are ruthless and corpse-oriented, yet he remains disciplined, calculating, and focused on survival rather than wanton destruction.

Character Interactions

• Song Wen’s only direct interaction with Wu Yuan occurs through questioning him before the latter’s soul completely dissipates; this allows Song Wen to learn the origins and functions of the Profound Abyss Scale Armor and other treasures.
• Song Wen maintains a mutually useful relationship with Shi Man, meeting her regularly in Cloud-Hidden City while concealing his involvement in Wu Yuan’s death.
• Shi Man reassures Song Wen that Chi Pei has obtained the Heart-Corroding Chill, removing the immediate danger of suspicion.
• The final interaction introduces an unknown female cultivator accompanying Shi Man, setting up a likely new alliance, threat, or complication for Song Wen.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shi Man introduces Qiluo, a Void Refinement cultivator from Moon-Covering Hall, to Song Wen (disguised as Ye Hua).
• Qiluo senses Song Wen's vigorous blood vitality, which could potentially expose his true identity.
• Shi Man asks Qiluo to teach her seduction and bedchamber arts to pursue Chi Pei, a core disciple of the Divine Blood Sect.
• Qiluo agrees to help Shi Man, suggesting that Chi Pei, like Song Wen, has no experience with women.

Character Developments

• Song Wen: Maintains his disguise as Ye Hua, becomes aware that his blood vitality might expose him.
• Shi Man: Reveals her admiration for Chi Pei and her intention to learn seduction arts to pursue him.
• Qiluo: Shows expertise in sensing blood vitality and offers to help Shi Man seduce Chi Pei.

Significant Themes

• Disguise and identity: Song Wen's fear of exposure, Shi Man's attempt to present a desirable image to Chi Pei.
• Power dynamics: Qiluo's influence within Moon-Covering Hall, Shi Man's desire to gain more power through Chi Pei.
• Desire and pursuit: Shi Man's unrequited feelings for Chi Pei, Qiluo's expertise in matters of desire.

Character Interactions

• Shi Man and Qiluo: Shi Man seeks Qiluo's help in seducing Chi Pei, Qiluo agrees and offers guidance.
• Song Wen and Qiluo: Qiluo senses Song Wen's blood vitality, which could potentially reveal his true identity.
• Shi Man and Song Wen: Shi Man treats Song Wen as a subordinate, ordering him to pour wine and not to leave when she discusses her feelings for Chi Pei.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shi Man receives a message from Chi Pei, who is coming to meet them.
• Chi Pei arrives and asks about a Blood-Eyed Divine Ape in Rotting Miasma Ridge.
• Song Wen reveals he heard about a similar giant ape from a Spirit Transformation cultivator in Phoenix Plume City.
• Chi Pei shows a map of Rotting Miasma Ridge, identifying the Gloom Miasma Mountains as the likely location of the Blood-Eyed Divine Ape.

Character Developments

• Shi Man: Shows deference to Chi Pei but maintains composure.
• Song Wen: Initially surprised by Chi Pei's courtesy, reveals information about the Blood-Eyed Divine Ape cautiously.
• Chi Pei: Demonstrates his power and influence by producing a detailed map of Rotting Miasma Ridge.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics: Chi Pei's authority is evident in his interactions with Shi Man and Song Wen.
• Information control: Chi Pei seeks information about the Blood-Eyed Divine Ape discreetly, excluding Qiluo.

Character Interactions

• Shi Man and Chi Pei: Shi Man shows respect and obedience to Chi Pei, while Chi Pei treats her with some familiarity.
• Song Wen and Chi Pei: Song Wen is initially surprised by Chi Pei's attention but reveals information cautiously, aware of the potential danger.
• Chi Pei and Qiluo: Chi Pei excludes Qiluo from the conversation, indicating that he does not trust her with this information.