Chapter Summaries

Su Shi'er used the Five Thunders Orthodox Method to destroy Song Mingyang's formation while Song Mingyang rushed to finish refining the Thousand Evil Sword. The formation's destruction left Song Mingyang shielding himself with a wall of fire as he turned his murderous attention toward Feng Fei.

• Song Mingyang spilled his blood over the flying swords, strengthening Feng Wuren and Luo Ying's soul bodies as he hastened the Thousand Evil Sword's refinement.
• Su Shi'er attacked the Netherworld Absolute Kill Formation with the Heaven Sword, but the formation absorbed and dispersed the force.
• Su Shi'er flooded the formation with river water and unleashed the Five Thunders Orthodox Method, channeling lightning through the water and into his sword.
• The combined strike shattered the formation and split Song Mingyang's altar apart.
• Song Mingyang used his True Yuan to raise a wall of yin fire, then fixed his killing gaze on Feng Fei.

Su Shi'er, disguised as Li Canghai, disrupted Song Mingyang's attempt to forge the Thousand Evil Sword and pursued him when he tried to escape. Song Mingyang summoned the resentful spirits of Feng Wuren and Luo Ying to hold Su Shi'er back while he fled.

• Song Mingyang tried to kill Feng Fei to finish forging the Thousand Evil Sword, but ice spikes and three Ice Soul Spiders protected her.
• Song Mingyang recalled Feng Wuren and Luo Ying into his twin swords and threatened to seek revenge on Su Shi'er.
• Su Shi'er gave Song Mingyang the name Li Canghai and declared that he would not let him escape.
• Song Mingyang fled, but Su Shi'er caught up and struck him with Heavenly Thunder Summon.
• Song Mingyang summoned Feng Wuren and Luo Ying as resentful spirits to attack Su Shi'er while he tried to escape.

Su Shi'er captured Feng Wuren and Luo Ying in the Myriad Soul Banner, but their resentment destabilized the artifact and overwhelmed his mind with evil thoughts. He used a Buddhist scripture to regain control, while a warm sensation appeared in his chest.

• Su Shi'er used the Myriad Soul Banner to capture Feng Wuren and Luo Ying, causing the banner to shake as their souls absorbed its resentment.
• Su Shi'er struck at Song Mingyang with heavenly lightning, and two Ice Soul Spiders froze Song Mingyang and sent him crashing onto the altar.
• Su Shi'er gave Feng Fei Foundation Cultivation Pills to distribute, then moved away to stabilize the Myriad Soul Banner.
• The souls' resentment filled Su Shi'er's mind with negative emotions and stirred the Demonic Qi in his body.
• Su Shi'er recited a Buddhist scripture, drove back the negative thoughts, and regained his reason.
• A warm sensation appeared in Su Shi'er's chest as ghostly qi and Demonic Qi continued to flow around him.

Su Shi'er discovered that the Buddhist mark from his broken Rock Shield could purify the souls trapped in the Myriad Soul Banner. After delivering the souls, he learned that Feng Wuren and Luo Ying still worried about Feng Fei, and suggested they remain in the twin swords to protect her.

• A Buddhist swastika mark emerged from Su Shi'er's chest, erased the Demonic Qi and ghostly qi around him, and settled onto the Myriad Soul Banner.
• Su Shi'er resumed chanting, and the Buddhist light delivered thousands of innocent souls and ten Lustful Demonic Beings from the banner.
• Feng Wuren and Luo Ying regained their reason and thanked Su Shi'er for freeing them.
• Feng Wuren and Luo Ying said they would soon fade away and confessed that they could not stop worrying about Feng Fei.
• Su Shi'er suggested that they remain in the twin swords, which he would give to Feng Fei so they could protect her.

Su Shi'er learned that Feng Wuren and Luo Ying had chosen to die and promised to protect Feng Fei. He discovered that the Myriad Soul Banner had gained spiritual essence, recovered Thousand Year Strike, and began dealing with the captured Song Mingyang.

• Feng Wuren and Luo Ying declined Su Shi'er's offer to save them and asked him to look after Feng Fei, then went to see her.
• Su Shi'er noticed that the Myriad Soul Banner's grade had risen and wondered whether the delivered souls had changed it.
• The Spirit Devouring Rat returned Thousand Year Strike, and Su Shi'er discovered that the sword could enter his dantian but was too difficult for him to wield.
• An Ice Soul Spider brought Song Mingyang to Su Shi'er, who melted the ice around him and struck his abdomen as Song Mingyang began circulating his true essence.

Su Shi'er destroyed Song Mingyang’s cultivation and forced him to reveal that Old Man Feng had been taken to a secluded valley by the Duanmu Family. Song Mingyang identified the family’s forces and their goal as the Thousand Year Jade Marrow Liquid, leaving Su Shi'er preparing to find and rescue Old Man Feng.

• Su Shi'er destroyed Song Mingyang’s dantian, leaving him crippled, and demanded to know where Old Man Feng was.
• When Song Mingyang refused to cooperate, Su Shi'er threatened him with the Myriad Soul Banner, and Song Mingyang agreed to confess in exchange for a quick death.
• Song Mingyang revealed that Duanmu Family disciples had taken Old Man Feng to a secluded valley where he had once gathered Three-Leaf Ganoderma.
• Song Mingyang said the Duanmu Family had sent five others: three at the middle Foundation Establishment stage and two at the late Foundation Establishment stage, led by Li Mu, the patriarch’s maternal granddaughter.
• Song Mingyang revealed that the Duanmu Family sought the Thousand Year Jade Marrow Liquid, and Su Shi'er asked what the treasure was.

Su Shi'er learned that the Thousand Year Jade Marrow Liquid could accelerate spirit herb growth and killed Song Mingyang, preserving his corpse to implicate Li Canghai of Demon Shadow Palace. He returned to Feng Fei as her parents' spirits vanished, caught her when she collapsed, and let her remain unconscious.

• Song Mingyang told Su Shi'er that the Thousand Year Jade Marrow Liquid could cultivate Level 4 spirit herbs and had been found through Three-Leaf Ganodermas taken from Old Man Feng's home.
• Su Shi'er beheaded Song Mingyang, took his Storage Pouch, and left his corpse unburned after seeing the message naming Li Canghai of Demon Shadow Palace as the killer.
• Su Shi'er returned to the altars, where Feng Wuren and Luo Ying said goodbye to Feng Fei and disappeared as their souls dispersed.
• Feng Fei collapsed from grief, and Su Shi'er caught her and decided not to wake her with a spiritual pill.

Su Shi'er secured Feng Fei and the Xiaohe Village villagers, then secretly encountered Li Mu and the Duanmu Family cultivators in the forest. He learned they had obtained the Thousand Year Jade Marrow Liquid and planned to seek the Six Bends Spirit Ginseng at Night Demon Cloud City, leaving him startled by the news.

• Su Shi'er apologized to the Xiaohe Village villagers, moved them to shore, and promised to help rebuild their village and compensate them.
• Su Shi'er found two mysterious rainbow-lit droplets after the Spirit Devouring Rat reacted to them, then left Feng Fei protected inside a formation with two Ice Soul Spiders.
• Su Shi'er concealed himself and discovered Li Mu and four Duanmu Family cultivators recovering beneath an ancient tree; Old Man Feng was absent.
• Li Mu and Senior Brother Wen discussed surviving a dangerous formation and obtaining the Thousand Year Jade Marrow Liquid.
• Li Mu revealed that Night Demon Cloud City would open in a month and that she hoped to find the Six Bends Spirit Ginseng for her grandfather, prompting Su Shi'er to catch his breath.

Su Shi'er learned that Six Bends Spirit Ginseng might be found at Night Demon Cloud City and watched Li Mu’s group argue over whether to go there. Their dispute was interrupted by an ambush from ten Ice Soul Spiders, leaving the survivors facing a dangerous fight.

• Su Shi'er realized he could seek Six Bends Spirit Ginseng at Night Demon Cloud City to help obtain the ingredients for his Spirit Sculpting Pill.
• Li Mu decided to go to Night Demon Cloud City with Senior Brother Wen, while Junior Brother Ma was ordered to take the others back to the family.
• Junior Brother Ma warned the group of an incoming demonic beast attack as hundreds of icy cones shot out of the forest.
• Junior Brother Ma, Li Mu, and Senior Brother Wen defended themselves with protective treasures, but the other two cultivators were pierced by the icy cones and fell mortally wounded.
• Ten Ice Soul Spiders emerged, and Li Mu demanded that Junior Brother Ma find a way to get them out of danger.

Su Shi'er ambushed Li Mu and Senior Brother Wen as they tried to escape, revealing that they faced cultivators rather than demon beasts. Senior Brother Wen died in the attack, leaving Li Mu stunned by the danger beyond the Duanmu Family.

• Senior Brother Wen urged Li Mu to use Escape Talismans to flee, while Su Shi'er assessed their limited combat ability from hiding.
• Su Shi'er summoned crimson lightning, breaking through the talismans and knocking Li Mu and Senior Brother Wen to the ground as Junior Brother Ma survived behind his shield.
• Senior Brother Wen and Li Mu shouted threats at their unseen attacker, and Senior Brother Wen revealed three defensive flags.
• The Ice Soul Spiders froze Senior Brother Wen's flags, and Su Shi'er's Neither-Knife-Nor-Sword pierced his heart and destroyed his meridians and dantian.
• Senior Brother Wen died with his schemes unfulfilled, and Li Mu froze in shock as she realized how dangerous the outside world was.

Su Shi'er confronted Li Mu and Junior Brother Ma while searching for Old Man Feng, and learned that the old man was alive but unconscious. He killed Li Mu and destroyed the other corpses, then collected their Storage Pouches and treasures.

• Su Shi'er emerged from the forest and demanded to know where Old Man Feng was.
• Li Mu insulted Old Man Feng and threatened Su Shi'er with her status as the Duanmu Family Head's granddaughter.
• Junior Brother Ma told Su Shi'er that Old Man Feng was alive in a secluded valley and offered to lead him there.
• Su Shi'er killed Li Mu with a sword strike despite her Cloud Mist Golden Light Shield.
• Su Shi'er burned the corpses and gathered the four Storage Pouches and their treasures.

Su Shi'er took the Thousand Year Jade Marrow Liquid from Li Mu's Storage Pouch and hurried to the secluded valley to rescue Old Man Feng. He entered the activated third-grade formation and navigated its illusions, reaching the valley still shrouded in gray mist.

• Su Shi'er found the Thousand Year Jade Marrow Liquid in Li Mu's Storage Pouch and set out for the secluded valley.
• Su Shi'er spared Junior Brother Ma but crippled his cultivation and took his Storage Pouch; Junior Brother Ma abandoned his attempt to kill himself and fled.
• Su Shi'er discovered that a powerful third-grade formation had trapped Old Man Feng inside the secluded valley.
• Su Shi'er entered the formation and saw illusions of fire, waves, and demon-filled forests, which could not harm him while the killing formation remained inactive.
• Su Shi'er used a compass and a route based on the Seven Stars and Eight Trigrams to pass through the illusions and reach the mist-shrouded valley.

Su Shi'er found Old Man Feng unconscious in a cave containing the remains of a Thousand Year Jade Marrow Liquid pool, then discovered a mysterious figure sealed inside a golden statue. The figure stopped Su Shi'er from leaving and demanded his identity, but immediately saw through the false name and sect he gave.

• Su Shi'er entered the cave and found Old Man Feng unconscious beside the drained pool of Thousand Year Jade Marrow Liquid.
• Su Shi'er gave Old Man Feng a medicinal pill and prepared to carry him out, but an aged voice spoke from the pool.
• A golden statue rose from the pool, and Su Shi'er saw a figure bound by golden chains inside it.
• The mysterious figure threatened to activate the Five Elements Eight Trigrams Killing Formation if Su Shi'er continued retreating, then asked about his background.
• Su Shi'er claimed he was Li Canghai from Demon Shadow Palace, but the mysterious figure angrily accused him of lying.

Su Shi'er resisted the mysterious man’s attempts to trick him into breaking the Golden Statue and refused his offer of an opportunity. As Su Shi'er left, the man warned that a divine-sense Tracking Mark had been placed on him and that a powerful enemy could soon catch up.

• Su Shi'er presented a genuine Demon Shadow Palace Identity Token, but could not answer the mysterious man’s question about its founding patriarch, Huangfu Jingtao.
• The mysterious man threatened Su Shi'er and urged him to strike the Golden Statue as a test, claiming he needed to confirm Su Shi'er's identity.
• Su Shi'er realized the request was a scheme to get him to break the seal and cautiously confirmed that the man could not leave while the Golden Statue remained intact.
• The mysterious man offered Su Shi'er a tremendous opportunity in exchange for breaking the statue, but Su Shi'er refused and turned to leave.
• The mysterious man warned Su Shi'er that someone had placed a divine-sense Tracking Mark on him and could soon come for his life.

Su Shi'er negotiated with the mysterious man trapped inside the Golden Statue for help removing a Spiritual Sense Tracking Mark and rewards in exchange for striking the statue. After they swore heart demon oaths, Su Shi'er found the mark but could not remove it with True Yuan.

• Su Shi'er feared the Duanmu Family might be tracking him and asked the mysterious man what deal he wanted to make.
• The mysterious man offered to remove Su Shi'er's Spiritual Sense Tracking Mark and give him two Grade 3 Top-tier Puppets and the Five Elements Puppet Technique if Su Shi'er attacked the Golden Statue.
• Su Shi'er demanded the benefits first and required the mysterious man to swear not to harm him after escaping; they agreed to swear heart demon oaths.
• Su Shi'er and Li Canghai of the Demon Shadow Palace swore their respective oaths, with Su Shi'er promising one attack using his strongest move.
• At the mysterious man's instruction, Su Shi'er examined his Tanzhong acupoint and discovered a foreign Spiritual Sense Imprint attached to a meridian.
• Su Shi'er tried to erase the mark with True Yuan but failed, realizing he could not use Spiritual Sense because his Sea of Consciousness was damaged.

Su Shi'er removed the Spiritual Sense Tracking Mark using Spirit Gathering Body Condensation, then learned the Five Elements Puppet Technique from the mysterious man in the Golden Statue. He discovered two powerful puppets embedded in the cave walls but hesitated to retrieve them, wary of weakening the seal.

• Su Shi'er used Spirit Gathering Body Condensation to control the Spiritual Sense Tracking Mark and tried to transfer it into ironstone, but the imprint vanished in blue smoke.
• Su Shi'er asked the mysterious man for the promised puppets and Puppet Technique, and the man began teaching him the Five Elements Puppet Technique.
• Su Shi'er recorded the technique in a Jade Slip and noticed that it contained over a hundred thousand words, with omissions that might include altered information.
• The mysterious man told Su Shi'er that two puppets were inside the cave walls and invited him to break them open.
• Su Shi'er used the Heavenly Eye Technique to see a humanoid puppet embedded in each wall, but he hesitated to retrieve them because he feared disturbing the seal.

Su Shi'er uncovered two supposedly Grade 3 Top-tier Puppets and discovered they were incomplete, requiring rare materials and a Golden Core or Third-Rank Demonic Beast core to function. He realized he already possessed what he needed to activate one, but concealed his excitement and accused the mysterious man of breaking their agreement.

• Su Shi'er decided to honor his heart demon oath and used Mortal Combat Skills to break open the wall, revealing a collapsed puppet.
• Su Shi'er punched through the opposite wall and retrieved a second puppet, then challenged the mysterious man for giving him incomplete treasures.
• The mysterious man explained that the puppets needed rare ironstone materials, a Golden Core or Third-Rank Demonic Beast core, and a Spirit Gathering Formation to reach Golden Core-level strength.
• Su Shi'er realized he had Western Extreme Geng Metal and Xu Chaoyang's Golden Core, giving him a way to activate at least one puppet.
• Su Shi'er hid his excitement and asked whether the mysterious man had violated their agreement.

Su Shi'er tried to escape his deal with the mysterious man but felt the threat of a heart demon's backlash and agreed to make his promised attack. He used the Five Thunders Orthodox Method to strengthen the Golden Statue's seal, then claimed his damaged Sea of Consciousness prevented him from using his sword techniques and offered to return after recovering.

• Su Shi'er felt a deadly pressure when he considered leaving, so he abandoned the idea of breaking his oath.
• Su Shi'er activated the Five Thunders Orthodox Method and struck the Golden Statue with crimson lightning.
• The attack made the Five Elements Eight Trigrams Formation absorb its power and strengthen the seal around the mysterious man.
• The mysterious man accused Su Shi'er of deliberately choosing an ineffective attack because metal restrained the wood-aligned Lightning Law.
• Su Shi'er claimed his damaged Sea of Consciousness kept him from using his sword techniques and promised to help again after he recovered.

Su Shi'er escaped the secluded valley with Old Man Feng after learning about the Thousand Year Jade Marrow Liquid and Six Bends Spirit Ginseng, then set his sights on obtaining the Nine Bends Spirit Ginseng and advancing toward Golden Core. Meanwhile, You Ruo and Tan Fengchen pursued him, and the Duanmu Family learned that Mu's Natal Soul Tablet had shattered and prepared to retaliate against Qinghe City.

• Su Shi'er carried Old Man Feng out of the cave and through the Five Elements Eight Trigrams Formation, unaware that a golden light flashed across Old Man Feng's brow.
• Su Shi'er headed toward little Feng Fei, anticipating that the Nine Bends Spirit Ginseng would let him pursue the Spirit Sculpting Pill and Golden Core.
• You Ruo questioned Tan Fengchen about a possible problem with the divine sense Tracking Mark on Su Shi'er, but Tan Fengchen concealed his suspicions and continued the search.
• You Ruo sent more than a hundred communication talismans in different directions as she and Tan Fengchen continued toward the south of Muyun Prefecture.
• Uncle Cheng told the Duanmu Family Head that Mu's Natal Soul Tablet had shattered and that Rogue Cultivators had gathered in Qinghe City.
• The Duanmu Family Head ordered an investigation and sent for the Third Master, threatening to punish whoever killed Mu and make Qinghe City pay.

Su Shi'er brought Feng Fei and her gravely ill grandfather to Qinghe City, where he noticed an unusual influx of cultivators from different factions. Old Man Feng suddenly worsened, and Su Shi'er struggled to tell Feng Fei that her grandfather might be near death.

• Su Shi'er returned to Feng Fei with Old Man Feng, found the villagers gone, and took them away from the site where Song Mingyang had fallen.
• Su Shi'er settled Feng Fei and Old Man Feng in a residence in Qinghe City and set up a defensive formation.
• Su Shi'er noticed that Qinghe City had attracted many cultivators, including Foundation Establishment experts and a golden core expert, and hid his identity as a merchant.
• Old Man Feng coughed up blood and collapsed in pain, prompting Su Shi'er to give him another pill and try to revive him.
• Feng Fei asked Su Shi'er about her grandfather's condition, but he could not bring himself to tell her how close Old Man Feng seemed to death.