Chapter Summaries

The black-clad guard tried to bribe Lou Benwei with pills and then attacked him, but Lou Benwei’s dismissive response left the guard falling into the river. Huang Wujing reprimanded his guard and began scrutinizing Yi Feng’s black-robed guard, suspecting he might explain what happened.

• The black-clad guard showed Lou Benwei a King Grade Pill and an Emperor Grade Pill, offering the latter if Lou Benwei jumped off the boat.
• Lou Benwei called the Emperor Grade Pill dog food and said his dog ate such pills.
• The black-clad guard lunged at Lou Benwei, but Lou Benwei tilted his head and the guard fell into the river.
• Yi Feng and Huang Wujing turned around, and the black-clad guard stammered out what had happened.
• Huang Wujing rebuked the black-clad guard and then scrutinized Yi Feng’s black-robed guard.

Huang Wujing gave Yi Feng a protective jade pendant, and Yi Feng returned the gesture with a small wood carving. They ended the evening exchanging keepsakes as the boat sailed downstream.

• Huang Wujing warned Yun Lang not to fall into the water again and threatened to send him to Wuxin Cliff.
• That night, Yi Feng and Huang Wujing enjoyed a lively gathering aboard a rented ship while Lou Benwei watched resentfully from the cabin with Ao Qing.
• Lou Benwei saw a bald monk surrounded by young women on a passing pleasure boat and lamented his own lack of luck.
• Huang Wujing gave Yi Feng a Venerable Grade jade pendant and told him to keep it on at all times.
• Yi Feng gave Huang Wujing a carved Gourd Baby, and Huang Wujing agreed to keep it as a keepsake.

Huang Wujing took Yi Feng to the Land of Chaos, treating the dangerous journey as a sightseeing trip while Yun Lang went ahead to deal with those watching them. As Huang Wujing and Yi Feng waited in the mountains for Yun Lang, Huang Wujing sensed that something had gone seriously wrong.

• Yi Feng asked Huang Wujing to take him to the Land of Chaos, mistaking the notorious realm for a tourist attraction, and Huang Wujing agreed.
• Huang Wujing brought Yi Feng through the cave entrance into the Land of Chaos, where hidden inhabitants watched them.
• Huang Wujing sent Yun Lang to quietly deal with the people lurking nearby, then led Yi Feng through the mountains.
• When Yun Lang failed to return, Huang Wujing stopped with Yi Feng to wait for him.
• After a long wait, Huang Wujing grew grave as he sensed an unforeseen crisis and wondered what had happened to Yun Lang.

Huang Wujing was lured into a killing array by the Chaos Five Elements, who sought revenge for Gold Element. Trapped and immobilized, he faced Fire Element’s deadly attack with no way to defend himself.

• Huang Wujing entered the fog to find Yi Feng, but it blocked his vision and divine sense, so he turned back.
• A killing array struck Huang Wujing, and Yi Feng, Lou Benwei, and the dog vanished from his sight.
• Fire Element, Wood Element, and Earth Element revealed themselves and accused Huang Wujing of killing their eldest brother, Gold Element.
• Wood Element bound Huang Wujing with roots, while Earth Element’s gravity art forced his legs into the ground.
• Fire Element launched a massive fireball at Huang Wujing, who could not resist and feared his life was about to end.

Huang Wujing’s wooden carving transformed into a giant, killed Fire Element, Wood Element, and Earth Element, then cracked after spending its power. While Huang Wujing remained trapped in the killing formation, Yi Feng went into the fog to find him, and Huang Wujing panicked when Yi Feng approached.

• The carving Yi Feng gave Huang Wujing became a giant that caught Fire Element’s attack and hurled it back, killing him.
• The giant lifted a mountain and crushed Wood Element and Earth Element before shrinking back into a cracked carving.
• Huang Wujing guessed the carving was an ancient immortal keepsake whose stored power had been exhausted, and put it away.
• After waking from a nap and finding Huang Wujing and Yun Lang still missing, Yi Feng told Lou Benwei to wait and entered the fog with his dog.
• Yi Feng’s dog led him to Huang Wujing, and Huang Wujing’s expression changed when Yi Feng walked toward him.

Yi Feng walked through the killing formation unharmed and reunited with Huang Wujing, who wrongly concluded that the formation had vanished on its own. As they continued through the fog, Huang Wujing hid the truth about his identity and worried that Water Element was nearby.

• Huang Wujing warned Yi Feng about the killing formation, but Yi Feng failed to hear him and walked straight through it unharmed.
• Yi Feng reached Huang Wujing and called him over to follow, leaving Huang Wujing baffled by the formation's failure to attack.
• Huang Wujing cautiously stepped forward, found that the formation had disappeared, and assumed it had vanished just as Yi Feng arrived.
• Yi Feng asked whether Huang Wujing had found Yun Lang, and Huang Wujing chose not to reveal that Yi Feng's wood carving had saved his life.
• Yi Feng reassured Huang Wujing that Yun Lang would be fine, while Huang Wujing privately feared that Water Element was also in the mountains.

Yun Lang encountered Water Element while searching for Huang Wujing and tried to protect Lou Benwei from her. Water Element ignored Yun Lang and focused on the water-attributed demon core Lou Benwei held, then asked him who he was.

• Lou Benwei idly played with a demon core while chatting with the Night Wind Centipede.
• Yun Lang emerged from the mist, demanded to know where his master was, and then recognized Water Element.
• Yun Lang greeted Water Element and tried to take Lou Benwei away, but Lou Benwei admired her aloud and stayed put.
• Water Element noticed the Two-Life Demon Emperor's water-attributed demon core in Lou Benwei's hand and ignored Yun Lang's plea to let him go.
• Water Element knocked Yun Lang unconscious with a palm of water and asked Lou Benwei who he was.

Lou Benwei gave Shui Xing the Demon Core in exchange for her promise to spend a lovely night with him, but she took it and vanished. Furious at being deceived, he tried to summon her back, leaving Yun Lang incredulous.

• Shui Xing recognized the Demon Core and warily confronted Lou Benwei, asking him to hand it over.
• Lou Benwei offered Shui Xing the Demon Core if she would spend a lovely night with him, and she agreed.
• Lou Benwei gave Shui Xing the Demon Core, but she thanked him and disappeared into the mist.
• Yun Lang got back to his feet and asked Lou Benwei what had happened, while Lou Benwei lamented Shui Xing's departure.
• Lou Benwei vowed to catch Shui Xing and raised his hand, commanding her to come back.

Lou Benwei captured Shui Xing after she stole the Two-Life Demon Emperor's Demon Core, then forced her and Yun Lang to dance, drink, and praise him. Later, Yi Feng and Huang Wujing followed the dog near Lou Benwei, while Huang Wujing remained worried about Shui Xing and planned to get Yi Feng out of the Land of Chaos.

• Lou Benwei caught Shui Xing as she tried to flee with the Two-Life Demon Emperor's Demon Core and crushed the core in his hand.
• Shui Xing begged for mercy, agreed to serve Lou Benwei, and awkwardly danced for him.
• Yun Lang gave Lou Benwei wine, and he made Yun Lang and Shui Xing drink while the Night Wind Centipede demanded their apologies and praise for Lou Benwei.
• Yi Feng and Huang Wujing followed the dog to a place near Lou Benwei, and Yi Feng noticed Huang Wujing was troubled.
• Huang Wujing worried that Shui Xing might appear and resolved to send Yi Feng out of the Land of Chaos if the fog dispersed.

Yi Feng and the others returned to camp, where Huang Wujing discovered that the woman massaging Lou Benwei’s legs was Water Element. Yun Lang explained how Yi Feng’s guard had effortlessly captured Water Element, leaving Huang Wujing wondering who Yi Feng really was as a scolding erupted nearby.

• Yi Feng and Huang Wujing returned to camp and found Lou Benwei relaxing while a woman massaged his legs.
• Yun Lang told Huang Wujing that strange fog had delayed him, and Huang Wujing explained how Fire Element and the others had ambushed them.
• Huang Wujing warned Yun Lang that Water Element remained a threat and ordered him to lead Yi Feng and the others away once the fog cleared.
• Yun Lang directed Huang Wujing to look closely at the woman, and Huang Wujing recognized her as Water Element.
• Yun Lang recounted how Yi Feng’s guard had casually seized Water Element and pulled him back after sending him flying.
• Yi Feng scolded a dog nearby, and Huang Wujing and Yun Lang turned to see what had happened.

Yi Feng humbled Lou Benwei and revealed that he had carved several powerful Gourd Babies, convincing Huang Wujing that Yi Feng was a far greater expert than he had imagined. Yi Feng maintained their friendly relationship and warned Shui Xing not to travel alone, leaving her shaken by his apparent warning.

• Yi Feng repeatedly kicked Lou Benwei until he begged for forgiveness, shocking Huang Wujing and the others.
• Huang Wujing asked about the wood carving, and Yi Feng said he had made it himself and offered him the rest of the Gourd Baby set.
• Huang Wujing realized Yi Feng was the true big brother between them, but Yi Feng insisted they remain friends and helped him up when he bowed.
• Yi Feng helped Shui Xing to her feet and advised her not to wander alone, making her tremble at the warning.

Yi Feng and Huang Wujing reached Mountain Water City, where they drank together while Lou Benwei went out with Yun Lang. Their gathering was interrupted by a woman and an elderly man seeking to discuss the Five Elements, and the woman discovered Yi Feng in the courtyard and mistook him for a mere mortal.

• Shui Xing thanked Yi Feng and vanished into the mist, which soon dispersed.
• Yi Feng and Huang Wujing crossed the mountain range and arrived in Mountain Water City.
• Huang Wujing brought Yi Feng to his courtyard, where they drank and Lou Benwei received money to go out with Yun Lang.
• A beautiful woman in a long dress and an elderly man in gray robes came to discuss the Five Elements with Huang Wujing.
• The woman probed the courtyard, sensed Yi Feng, and mocked Huang Wujing for drinking with someone she believed was just a mortal.

Huang Wujing told the beautiful woman in the long dress that Yi Feng was likely an immortal and reluctantly agreed to introduce them. He brought her and the Old Man in Grey Clothes to meet Yi Feng in the inner courtyard.

• Huang Wujing warned the beautiful woman in the long dress not to spread the claim that Yi Feng was an immortal.
• The beautiful woman in the long dress laughed at Huang Wujing's claims and insisted on meeting Yi Feng.
• Huang Wujing asked Yi Feng for permission to bring his two old friends, and Yi Feng welcomed them.
• Huang Wujing warned the visitors to show Yi Feng respect and conceal their identities and his own cultivation.
• The beautiful woman in the long dress persuaded the Old Man in Grey Clothes to come, and Huang Wujing led them into the inner courtyard to meet Yi Feng.

Yi Feng rebuffed Meng Lixian’s probing questions, and she left in anger while Huang Wujing felt relieved. Yi Feng then began playing Huang Wujing’s qin as Meng Lixian heard the music from outside the courtyard.

• Huang Wujing introduced Meng Lixian and Yin Shengfu to Yi Feng, but Yin Shengfu ignored Yi Feng.
• Meng Lixian questioned Yi Feng about his talents, and Yi Feng asked why he should demonstrate them to someone he barely knew.
• Meng Lixian left in anger, while Huang Wujing worried that Yi Feng might take offense.
• Yi Feng continued drinking with Huang Wujing, then asked to play the qin and sat down to perform.
• Meng Lixian grew angrier outside the courtyard and left as the sound of Yi Feng’s qin drifted out.

Meng Lixian returned to the inner courtyard after recognizing the immense Power of the Great Dao in Yi Feng’s zither music. Just as she neared a breakthrough by listening, Yi Feng stopped playing and refused to continue for her.

• Meng Lixian heard Yi Feng’s zither music and realized it contained a vast Power of the Great Dao beyond her understanding.
• She hurried back to the inner courtyard, while Huang Wujing sensed the Dao power and Yin Shengfu briefly glanced at Yi Feng.
• Meng Lixian listened intently and felt the music’s Dao power bringing her close to a breakthrough.
• Yi Feng abruptly stopped playing, and Meng Lixian cried out in dismay.
• Yi Feng refused to let Meng Lixian listen further and returned to the wine table, still holding a grudge over her earlier contempt.

Meng Lixian apologized to Yi Feng for doubting him, while Yin Shengfu refused to play chess with him because he believed no one could excel in two paths. Pressured by Huang Wujing and Meng Lixian, Yin Shengfu agreed to one game, and Yi Feng prepared to show him what his chess skill could do.

• Meng Lixian regretted dismissing Huang Wujing's claims, apologized to Yi Feng with a cup of wine, and reconciled with him.
• Yi Feng invited Yin Shengfu to play chess, but Yin Shengfu refused and ignored him.
• After Yi Feng left, Huang Wujing and Meng Lixian challenged Yin Shengfu for insulting Yi Feng, and Yin Shengfu agreed to play one game.
• When Yi Feng returned, Huang Wujing and Meng Lixian urged him to play Yin Shengfu, and Yi Feng reluctantly accepted.
• Yin Shengfu warned Yi Feng that he would show him no special consideration and would play only once, angering Yi Feng.

Yi Feng played a chess game against Yin Shengfu, who assumed the novice had lost and mocked him for giving up quickly. After Yi Feng claimed he had not lost, Yin Shengfu saw that the board left him with no safe move and was shocked.

• Yin Shengfu challenged Yi Feng to a chess game, while Huang Wujing privately urged Yin Shengfu to go easy on him.
• Yin Shengfu grew impatient as Yi Feng made moves that seemed unskilled and told him to surrender soon.
• Yi Feng made one final move, left the board, and returned to the wine table, leading Yin Shengfu to assume he had conceded.
• Huang Wujing and Meng Lixian tried to comfort Yi Feng, but Yi Feng said he had not lost.
• Yin Shengfu examined the board and discovered that every move he could make led to defeat.

Yin Shengfu lost to Yi Feng in chess and glimpsed a path to improving his skill, but Yi Feng refused to play again and shattered Yin Shengfu’s Dao Heart with a blunt insult.

• Yin Shengfu, Huang Wujing, and Meng Lixian realized Yi Feng had won through a deliberate strategy, and they sensed the Power of the Great Dao in his chess.
• Yin Shengfu studied Yi Feng’s moves and believed another game could help him break through in chess.
• Yin Shengfu apologized and begged Yi Feng for another game, but Yi Feng mocked his earlier arrogance and refused.
• Yi Feng called Yin Shengfu terrible and dismissed him, causing Yin Shengfu to spit blood and collapse after his Dao Heart broke.

Yin Shengfu's shattered Dao heart left Meng Lixian worried that he might never recover. Meanwhile, the black-clad woman and Old Daoist Lin Mo plotted to approach Yi Feng through seduction so they could stay near Zhong Qing and discover whether he had a divine body.

• Meng Lixian recognized that she and Yin Shengfu had both squandered a great opportunity, and she worried that he might never recover from the loss of his Dao heart.
• The black-clad woman told Old Daoist Lin Mo how Zhong Qing had insulted her by calling her an auntie and advising her not to pursue an older man.
• The black-clad woman rejected the idea of capturing Yi Feng, fearing Zhong Qing would resist if he learned they had mistreated his master.
• The black-clad woman decided to approach Yi Feng instead, reasoning that he might be more receptive than Zhong Qing.
• Yi Feng emerged from the Land of Chaos after learning through a Sound Transmission Jade Slip that Zhong Qing had reached Wolong City, and he set out to meet his disciple.
• The black-clad woman sent Old Daoist Lin Mo away and pursued Yi Feng.

Yi Feng reunited with Zhong Qing in Wolong City and learned that Meng Tian’s constant attentions had left his disciple exhausted. As they drank in a tavern, a woman in black arrived and waited for Yi Feng and Zhong Qing to invite her to sit with them.

• Yi Feng arrived in Wolong City alone because Wu Yonghong had an urgent matter at home and Lou Benwei had gotten into trouble after catching a bridal ball.
• Yi Feng met Zhong Qing and invited him to share a meal and wine at a tavern.
• Zhong Qing told Yi Feng that Meng Tian clung to him several times a day, leaving him thin and weak, and that he had used an errand in Pingjiang City as an excuse to leave her.
• Yi Feng comforted Zhong Qing and promised to get him something nourishing when they returned to Pingjiang City.
• A woman in black entered the crowded tavern and waited for Yi Feng and Zhong Qing to offer her a seat.