Chapter Summary: “Fifth-Rank Divine Mountain”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Yuanchen gives the Azure-Scaled Dragon King a wisp of blood-red energy extracted from the ancient Luochuan Dragon King’s remains. Because the Azure-Scaled Dragon King is a flood dragon, this energy is exceptionally valuable and significantly boosts his cultivation.
• Liu Yuanchen relocates the Azure-Scaled Dragon King to the Luochuan Blessed Land, a powerful cultivation site rich in yang energy and Heavenly-Yang Dragon Qi. The Dragon King vows to cultivate diligently and eventually transform into a true dragon.
• Liu Yuanchen considers using a fragment of the Luochuan Dragon King’s Dragon Pearl to investigate the dangerous Minor Grotto-Heaven beneath Blazing Sun Valley. He ultimately decides against it, fearing the fragment could be lost, the grotto-heaven could emerge prematurely, or the discovery could attract the greed of powerful factions.
• He merges the high-grade fifth-rank Earth Baleful Pearl, given to him by the Iron-Armed Ghost King, into the Earth Vein Mark on the Earth Book. The formerly intangible mark condenses into a genuine Earth Vein, greatly increasing the flow of Earth Vein Baleful Intent.
• The stronger Earth Vein enhances the Dongyang Blessed Land. Its spiritual-energy concentration rises from low-grade fifth rank to mid-grade fifth rank, while the Ginseng Fruit Tree absorbs the increased baleful qi and converts it into pure spiritual energy.
• Liu Yuanchen plans to obtain more fifth-rank Spirit-Vein Jade Lingzhi and Spirit Stone Marrow to increase the number of spirit veins in the Dongyang Blessed Land. His goal is eventually to gather nine spirit veins and accelerate its development toward a Grotto-Heaven.
• Using the Profound-Yin Spirit Jade Ore Seed gifted by the Jade Mountain Ghost King, Liu Yuanchen creates a massive jade ore vein beneath the Netherworld’s Coiled Dragon Mountain. He employs the Transmuting Stone into Ore Authority for three days, causing the seed to grow into an ore vein over ten li long.
• The newly formed ore vein triggers Coiled Dragon Mountain’s advancement. The mountain trembles violently, rises in height, expands in length, and causes disturbances across the surrounding land and the Coiled Dragon River.
• After a full day, the transformation ends. Coiled Dragon Mountain grows to over five hundred zhang high and more than three hundred li long, successfully advancing into a proper fifth-rank Divine Mountain.
• Ling Yu confirms that Liu Yuanchen has consequently become a proper fifth-rank Heavenly Dao True God, powerful enough to be regarded as a regional lord. However, Liu Yuanchen believes the mountain is close to its current limit and that further advancement will be difficult.

Character Development

• Liu Yuanchen demonstrates increasing mastery of resources, Earth Book techniques, Divine Path authorities, and Blessed Land development. He becomes more strategic, balancing the potential gains of dangerous exploration against the risks of losing valuable treasures or attracting powerful enemies.
• He also shows a long-term focus on strengthening his foundation. Rather than immediately pursuing dangerous treasures, he invests in cultivation environments, spirit veins, ore veins, and the growth of his Divine Mountains.
• The Azure-Scaled Dragon King gains both a powerful cultivation resource and access to a superior cultivation environment. His loyalty deepens, and he becomes determined to transform into a true dragon and serve Liu Yuanchen.
• Ling Yu continues to act as an experienced observer and adviser, evaluating Liu Yuanchen’s achievements and explaining their significance within the Divine Path system.
• Yin Linzi, the enlightened Silver-Scaled Fish, remains responsible for managing the Luochuan Blessed Land, though his lack of dragon blood limits his future cultivation potential.

Significant Themes

• Accumulation and foundation-building: Liu Yuanchen’s progress comes from steadily strengthening his Blessed Lands, Earth Book, Divine Mountains, and subordinate forces rather than relying solely on direct cultivation.
• Resource management and strategic restraint: Valuable treasures can offer enormous benefits, but Liu Yuanchen recognizes that greed and reckless exploration may create even greater dangers.
• Transformation and advancement: The Azure-Scaled Dragon King seeks transformation into a true dragon, while Coiled Dragon Mountain evolves into a higher-rank Divine Mountain. Both developments reflect the broader theme of growth through accumulated power and resources.
• Interdependence between treasures and cultivation: The Earth Book, Earth Vein, Ginseng Fruit Tree, Blessed Lands, ore veins, and Divine Mountains reinforce one another, creating a self-sustaining system that accelerates Liu Yuanchen’s cultivation.
• Power and political danger: The potential discovery of a Minor Grotto-Heaven could provoke powerful factions, including the Eastern Plains Grand General. Liu Yuanchen must therefore conceal his advantages while expanding his influence.

Important Character Interactions

• Liu Yuanchen rewards and relocates the Azure-Scaled Dragon King, encouraging him to cultivate in the Luochuan Blessed Land and directing him to seek guidance from Yin Linzi.
• Liu Yuanchen’s relationship with the Azure-Scaled Dragon King shifts toward that of a benevolent master and loyal subordinate, with the Dragon King eager to repay his support.
• Liu Yuanchen indirectly relies on the Iron-Armed Ghost King and Jade Mountain Ghost King through the treasures they provide, using both gifts to strengthen his Earth Book and Divine Path foundations.
• Ling Yu visits during Coiled Dragon Mountain’s transformation, questions Liu Yuanchen about the disturbance, and then recognizes the successful advancement of the mountain and Liu Yuanchen’s promotion to a proper fifth-rank Heavenly Dao True God.
• Liu Yuanchen and Ling Yu differ slightly in outlook: Ling Yu emphasizes the enormous cost and significance of the advancement, while Liu Yuanchen views the expenditure as a worthwhile investment in his long-term foundation.

Chapter Summary: “Nine-Vein Blessed Land”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Yuanchen considers how divine mountain rankings are determined. Besides physical factors—mountain size, Spirit and Ore Veins, and population—“soft power,” such as reputation and importance to living beings, is also crucial.
• Coiled Dragon Mountain is physically ordinary and lacks prestige, making it unlikely to reach first-rank status naturally. However, the Divine Court has asked Liu Yuanchen to connect it to Blackcloud Ridge, the former Origin Spirit Realm Ancestral Vein. By joining Blackcloud Ridge, Coiled Dragon Mountain can borrow its prestige and authority.
• The Yin- and Yang-Realm versions of Coiled Dragon Mountain merge their authorities, with the higher-ranked Netherworld mountain taking precedence. Its advancement causes the mountain’s form and Heavenly Dao Authority to change, while also gradually strengthening the Yang-Realm mountain.
• The Earth Book unexpectedly recovers much faster than usual after being drained. Liu Yuanchen discovers that the Earth Vein Mark has transformed from an illusion into a true Earth Vein, producing more than ten times the previous amount of Earth Vein Baleful Intent. He attributes this improvement to the Earth Baleful Pearl given to him by the Iron-Armed Ghost King.
• This increased energy greatly accelerates Liu Yuanchen’s plan to extend Coiled Dragon Mountain toward Blackcloud Ridge. His clone has already created twenty or thirty hills over two years, extending the mountain nearly one hundred li and completing roughly one-sixth of the connection.
• Liu Yuanchen invests Incense Silver to raise the Earth Book’s Coiled Dragon Mountain Mark to a genuine fifth-rank Heavenly Dao Authority, making the Earth Book substantially more powerful.
• He begins expanding Dongyang Blessed Land by imprinting Spirit Veins stored in the Earth Book. His goal is to create nine Spirit Veins, the basic condition for a Blessed Land to become a Grotto-Heaven.
• After purchasing several Spirit Stone Marrows and Spirit-Vein Jade Lingzhi through his Divine Path Clone, Liu Yuanchen merges the best treasures into the Earth Book. Over two years, they develop into four additional Spirit Veins.
• He imprints these Spirit Veins into Dongyang Blessed Land. The first three severely drain the Blessed Land’s energy and halt its growth temporarily, but after recovery he adds the ninth and final Spirit Vein.
• The ninth Spirit Vein manifests as a weak, single-horned white-jade Flood Dragon. It absorbs energy from the First Spirit Nexus, sinks underground, and becomes the Blessed Land’s ninth Spirit Vein.
• The newly formed Spirit Vein triggers a major transformation. Earth Vein Baleful Intent and energy are absorbed by the Blessed Land’s Spirit Veins, causing all lower-ranked veins to rapidly rise. Within half a month, all nine Spirit Veins reach the fourth rank, though Dongyang Blessed Land’s spiritual energy and feedback to Liu Yuanchen temporarily decline.
• Heavenly Clear Essence accumulated above the Blessed Land is absorbed into its spatial barrier. The barrier changes from dark-gold rock into a soft, resilient, pale-blue sky.
• The new sky begins allowing chaotic energy from the void to seep into Dongyang Blessed Land. Liu Yuanchen realizes that the Nine-Vein Blessed Land is already an embryonic Grotto-Heaven and should eventually develop into one if its sky expands sufficiently.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Liu Yuanchen becomes increasingly strategic and ambitious. He recognizes that linking Coiled Dragon Mountain to Blackcloud Ridge will benefit him personally as well as fulfill the Divine Court’s request, allowing him to compete with the Demon Race for Blackcloud Ridge’s authority.
• He demonstrates careful resource management by purchasing extra spiritual treasures to disguise his true objective while retaining useful surplus materials for strengthening Spirit Veins and the Earth Book.
• Liu Yuanchen’s relationship with his Divine Ability Clones is shown as highly coordinated. Clone One steadily extends the Yang-Realm Coiled Dragon Mountain, while Clone Two investigates the newly formed sky inside Dongyang Blessed Land.
• The Divine Court indirectly supports Liu Yuanchen by providing the Spirit-Vein Jade Lingzhi and possibly influencing the Hongling Bureau’s market, though it also limits his access to higher-grade treasures.
• The Iron-Armed Ghost King’s Earth Baleful Pearl proves far more valuable than Liu Yuanchen expected, dramatically improving the Earth Book’s recovery rate.
• Liu Yuanchen remains aware of the limits of the Replica Earth Book. Unlike Grand Immortal Zhenyuan’s original Earth Book, it does not automatically advance when associated mountains rise in rank, leaving Liu Yuanchen uncertain whether this is due to the replica’s quality, its connection to Dongyang Blessed Land, or his own insufficient cultivation.

Significant Themes

• Power through connection and borrowed authority: Coiled Dragon Mountain can rise in status by linking itself to the prestigious Blackcloud Ridge, showing that influence and symbolic importance can be as valuable as inherent strength.
• Accumulation and transformation: Liu Yuanchen’s long-term cultivation strategy depends on gradually gathering Spirit Veins, resources, authority, and land until they trigger qualitative advancement.
• Hard power versus soft power: Divine mountain rank depends not only on physical resources but also on reputation, historical significance, and the reverence of living beings.
• The limits of knowledge: Liu Yuanchen repeatedly encounters mysteries surrounding the Earth Book, Heavenly Dao Authority, and the transition from Blessed Land to Grotto-Heaven.
• Growth through balance and sacrifice: Creating the ninth Spirit Vein accelerates the Blessed Land’s development but temporarily drains its spiritual energy and weakens the power it provides Liu Yuanchen.
• Embryonic worlds and cosmic evolution: The transformation of Heavenly Clear Essence into a functional sky marks Dongyang Blessed Land’s transition from an enclosed domain toward a self-sustaining world capable of drawing energy from the void.

Character Interactions

• The Divine Court’s request motivates Liu Yuanchen’s plan to connect Coiled Dragon Mountain and Blackcloud Ridge, while the potential benefits encourage him to pursue the task enthusiastically.
• Liu Yuanchen makes practical use of the Iron-Armed Ghost King’s gift, whose Earth Baleful Pearl strengthens the Earth Book’s recovery and supports his mountain-building plans.
• Liu Yuanchen works through his clones as extensions of his own will: one develops Coiled Dragon Mountain, and another tests the boundaries of the new sky.
• His interaction with the emerging Spirit Veins is largely supervisory and investigative, as he observes their growth, tracks their energy consumption, and realizes that Dongyang Blessed Land has entered the initial stage of Grotto-Heaven formation.

Chapter Summary: “Merit Secret Art”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dongyang Blessed Land continues evolving toward a Grotto-Heaven, the next major stage of development. A Grotto-Heaven is distinguished by the formation of the sun, moon, and stars, allowing it to absorb void energy and the essence of the Three Luminaries.
• The chapter explains that Grotto-Heavens can accumulate Innate Primordial Qi and store it as origin, which is essential for later advancing into larger worlds. This makes them vastly superior to Blessed Lands.
• Liu Yuanchen’s Dongyang Blessed Land possesses unusual advantages:
  • It draws energy directly from Earth Veins through the Earth Book.
  • Its Earth Vein Baleful Intent contains traces of Innate Primordial Qi.
  • Its Spatial Barriers include a piece of mysterious Blackgold Stone, likely originating from the Primordial World.
  • It is suppressed by the Ginseng Fruit Tree, the finest Acquired Spirit Root.
• These advantages allow Dongyang Blessed Land to grow far faster than ordinary Blessed Lands. A small patch of sky forms, causing its spiritual energy to temporarily fall before quickly recovering.
• The Blessed Land expands visibly, while Liu Yuanchen receives substantial cultivation power from it. His cultivation speed increases dramatically: four hours of cultivation produce more than two inches of Spirit Platform growth, allowing him to potentially reach the Peak Spirit Platform Realm before age two hundred.
• Liu Yuanchen’s Immortal Seed transforms into the form of the Ginseng Fruit Tree, triggering a vision of Grand Immortal Zhenyuan.
• In the vision, Zhenyuan repairs a shattered mountain-range imprint within the Earth Book, causing the actual mountain range to be restored as well. This act generates a trace of Earthly Dao Merit.
• Zhenyuan then explains the nature, origins, classifications, and uses of Merit, introducing the Merit Secret Art.
• Liu Yuanchen learns that Merit can be used to offset karma, improve fortune, gain the favor of heaven and earth, refine Merit Spirit Treasures, form a Merit Golden Body, and reduce resistance when advancing Blessed Lands or Grotto-Heavens.

Character Development

• Liu Yuanchen becomes increasingly confident in the potential of Dongyang Blessed Land. He recognizes that its exceptional foundation gives him a major advantage over other Earth Immortal Path cultivators.
• His improved cultivation speed alleviates one of his greatest weaknesses: although he possesses powerful inheritances and treasures, his low cultivation previously prevented him from using them effectively.
• He gains a deeper understanding of the Earth Book and its connection to the Primordial World through Zhenyuan’s vision.
• Liu Yuanchen is especially interested in Merit because it offers powerful defensive and survival benefits, including protection from curses, mind-control techniques, karma, and Heavenly Tribulations.
• Grand Immortal Zhenyuan is portrayed as both a supreme Earth Immortal expert and a teacher. His ability to repair entire mountain ranges demonstrates the immense authority he once held over the Primordial Land.

Significant Themes

• Growth through foundations and resources: The chapter emphasizes that a Blessed Land’s future depends on its origin, Spirit Veins, Spatial Barriers, and core treasures. Liu Yuanchen’s exceptional foundation ensures unusually rapid development.
• Power and cultivation limitations: Possessing treasures and inheritances is not enough; cultivation must be sufficiently advanced to unlock their true value.
• The relationship between heaven, earth, and living beings: Merit reflects how actions contribute to the development or preservation of the Great World, its land, its laws, and its inhabitants.
• Accumulated virtue as power: Merit is not merely moral recognition. It has direct practical effects, improving fortune, reducing karma, strengthening defenses, and aiding breakthroughs.
• Legacy and restoration: Zhenyuan’s repair of the mountain range illustrates the importance of preserving the achievements of the Primordial World and continuing the work of earlier great figures.

Character Interactions

• Liu Yuanchen does not interact directly with other characters in the present timeline. His main “interaction” is with the vision and teachings of Grand Immortal Zhenyuan.
• Through Zhenyuan’s exposition, Liu Yuanchen learns the difference between:
  • Great Dao Merit, associated with world creation;
  • Heavenly Dao Merit, gained by advancing the Heavenly Dao;
  • Earthly Dao Merit, earned by preserving or developing the earth and its existing achievements;
  • Human Dao Merit, gained by aiding or protecting living beings.
• Zhenyuan’s actions serve as a practical lesson: repairing a broken mountain range earns Earthly Dao Merit, while Liu Yuanchen realizes that organizing Spirit Veins and Earth Veins with the Earth Book may allow him to obtain similar Merit.
• The chapter also references historical figures such as Nuwa, the Three Pure Ones, Shennong, and the founders of various cultivation paths to demonstrate how different forms of Merit were earned.

Overall Significance

The chapter marks an important turning point for Liu Yuanchen. Dongyang Blessed Land begins a period of rapid growth, greatly accelerating his cultivation. At the same time, he obtains the foundation of the Merit Secret Art, opening a new path toward stronger defenses, improved fortune, safer breakthroughs, and potentially powerful Merit-based treasures.

Chapter Summary: “Merit Lightwheel”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Yuanchen reflects on the rarity and power of Merit Spirit Treasures and Merit Golden Bodies. Merit treasures can arise through major contributions to Heaven and Earth, infusion through secret techniques, or natural birth with merit.
• He concludes that a Merit Golden Body is beyond his current reach because it requires enormous merit and Heavenly Tribulation. It also binds its owner more closely to the Heavenly Dao.
• Instead, he considers transforming his Replica Earth Book into a Merit Spirit Treasure. The Earth Book has helped restore Spirit Veins and Earth Veins, cultivate spirit plants, strengthen spiritual regions, and repair the damaged environment of the Red Wasteland.
• Using the Merit Dharma Eye, Liu Yuanchen discovers that the Earth Book contains accumulated Earthly Dao Merit and that he himself possesses a brilliant Merit Lightwheel.
• The Merit Lightwheel contains roughly equal amounts of Human Dao Merit and Earthly Dao Merit, far more than Liu Yuanchen expected.
• He realizes that his merit may have come from several sources:
  • Spreading knowledge of the Earth Immortal Path.
  • Restoring Heaven and Earth through the Earth Book.
  • Saving living beings.
  • Suppressing the Demon Qi Black Lotus.
  • Killing the extremely sinful Luochuan Dragon King and preventing the destruction of the Myriad Demons Blessed Land.
• Liu Yuanchen suspects that destroying the Luochuan Dragon King’s soul earned him a particularly large amount of merit because the Dragon King had committed mass slaughter, used blood sacrifices, violated Heavenly Dao laws, and nearly destroyed a natural Grotto-Heaven.
• He considers refining the Earth Book into a Merit Dharma Treasure, but decides against it. The Earth Book is still growing, and prematurely altering it might interfere with its future development.
• He plans instead to accumulate more merit by:
  • Developing the Dongyang Divine Prefecture.
  • Establishing a small Divine Court.
  • Governing more territory in the Red Wasteland.
  • Gaining the Heavenly Dao Authority of Blackcloud Ridge.
  • Restoring the Blackcloud Ridge Great Spirit Vein.
• Liu Yuanchen also considers exploiting sustainable methods of gaining merit, such as suppressing evil demons rather than killing them, or converting them and helping them accumulate virtue.
• Examining the Moonwater Demon Lotus, he discovers that it continuously generates small amounts of merit because it has absorbed and restrained the Demon Qi Black Lotus. He realizes this allows him to “farm” merit over time by turning a demonic force toward beneficial purposes.

Character Development

• Liu Yuanchen becomes more aware of the significance of his past actions and their connection to the Heavenly Dao.
• He shifts from merely reacting to events to deliberately planning how to accumulate merit and strengthen his future cultivation.
• His cautious nature is evident when he refuses to refine the Earth Book prematurely, prioritizing its long-term growth over immediate benefits.
• He also reveals a pragmatic and opportunistic side. After understanding how merit is awarded, he begins considering ways to obtain it efficiently through suppression, redemption, and restoration.
• His confidence increases as he realizes that his merit may help him gain further Heavenly Dao Authorities, especially that of Blackcloud Ridge.

Significant Themes

• Merit and karma: Merit rewards actions that benefit Heaven, Earth, and living beings, while Karmic Force results from destructive or sinful actions. Killing or restraining heavily karmic individuals can generate merit.
• The relationship between power and responsibility: Merit Spirit Treasures offer immense protection, but Merit Golden Bodies bind their owners to the Heavenly Dao.
• Restoration versus destruction: Repairing Spirit Veins, restoring ruined lands, and stabilizing Grotto-Heavens are presented as major contributions to the world.
• Long-term cultivation and patience: Liu Yuanchen chooses not to rush the Earth Book’s development, recognizing that short-term power could damage its future potential.
• The Heavenly Dao as a system with exploitable rules: Liu Yuanchen begins viewing merit not only as a moral reward but also as a resource governed by rules that can be strategically used.
• Redemption and transformation: Even demonic forces may be turned toward beneficial ends, allowing destructive power to become a source of merit.

Character Interactions

• Liu Yuanchen recalls his cooperation with his junior brothers and sisters, Xia Lingkai and Xia Longting, and An Changsheng, during the effort to disrupt the Luochuan Dragon King’s blood sacrifice.
• He also recognizes the indirect contributions of his master and grandmaster, whose hidden contingencies made it possible to destroy the Dragon King’s soul.
• His relationship with the Earth Book is central: the treasure acts almost as a partner in restoring the Red Wasteland and accumulating merit.
• The Luochuan Dragon King serves as Liu Yuanchen’s major past adversary; the Dragon King’s evil actions become one of the main sources of Liu Yuanchen’s unexpected merit.
• The Moonwater Demon Lotus is no longer merely a dangerous demonic object. Liu Yuanchen uses it as a means of suppressing and potentially redeeming the Demon Qi Black Lotus, turning an enemy force into a continuing source of merit.

Chapter Summary: “Stealing Authority”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Yuanchen reflects on his growing sources of Merit. His cultivated Moonwater Demon Lotus has advanced from three layers of petals to four, increasing the Merit he receives from suppressing it, though its growth is limited by the four-layer Black Jade Lotus Platform supporting the Demon Qi Black Lotus.
• He considers the enormous reserves of Incense Merit accumulated by the Divine Court over tens of thousands of years. Since schemes are unlikely to work against the Divine Court’s veteran leaders, he plans eventually to seize the Divine Court openly by becoming powerful enough to replace the Great Emperor Lord. For now, however, he prioritizes uniting humanity against the Demon Race.
• Liu sends a divine clone to Netherworld Coiled Dragon Mountain and returns to the Yang Realm. Influenced by its Netherworld counterpart, Coiled Dragon Mountain has expanded into a long southern branch, its Spirit Vein has advanced to Fourth-Rank Lower-Grade, and its territory and mountain body are gradually growing.
• Using his Merit Dharma Eye, Liu confirms that Xia Longting and Xia Lingkai possess Merit from his earlier victory over the Luochuan Dragon King. He also observes that most loose cultivators carry Karmic Force, while Earth Immortal cultivators and members of the Eight Desolations Pavilion possess varying amounts of Merit.
• Liu summons and publicly rides Azure Scale, the powerful Azure-Scaled Flood Dragon King he subdued in the Netherworld. His appearance impresses the market’s cultivators, while Xia Longting envies the mount and An Changsheng resolves to obtain an even better dragon.
• Liu uses the Earth Book’s Gathering Qi into Stone Authority to extend Coiled Dragon Mountain southward. Over several months, he constructs hills and a connecting peak until Coiled Dragon Mountain reaches and physically joins Blackcloud Ridge.
• Because merely joining the mountains does not immediately make Blackcloud Ridge accept Coiled Dragon Mountain, Liu enters the Blackcloud Ridge Great Spirit Vein, repairs some of its damage, and imprints a branch Spirit Vein linking it to Coiled Dragon Mountain.
• After more than half a year, Blackcloud Ridge finally accepts Coiled Dragon Mountain. Liu gains access to the Blackcloud Ridge Heavenly Dao Authority, which is Fifth-Rank and covers roughly a hundred-mile radius. He recognizes that this is only a partial success, since a Demon expert possesses a stronger Fourth-Rank authority over Blackcloud Ridge from a much greater distance.

2. Character Developments

• Liu Yuanchen becomes increasingly ambitious and strategic. He moves from simply cultivating his territory and gathering Merit to planning the eventual seizure of the Divine Court and the replacement of its supreme ruler.
• His confidence and influence grow as he develops Coiled Dragon Mountain, acquires a powerful dragon mount, and successfully steals part of Blackcloud Ridge’s authority.
• Liu also demonstrates greater mastery of Earth Vein and Spirit Vein techniques, repairing the damaged Blackcloud Ridge Spirit Vein and using it to force the mountain to acknowledge his territory.
• Azure Scale is presented as a formidable and dignified mount with the potential to transform into a True Dragon. His comfort in the Yang Realm highlights the difference between his natural yang nature and the restrictive Netherworld environment.
• Xia Longting remains sociable and boastful, but becomes openly envious of Liu’s mount and fantasizes about obtaining a dragon of his own.
• An Changsheng reacts competitively, feeling humiliated that Liu’s mount surpasses his own and deciding to hunt a Northern Frontier Snow Flood Dragon.

3. Significant Themes

• Accumulation and control of Merit: Merit is portrayed as both a spiritual resource and a source of political and magical power. Liu continually seeks more efficient ways to obtain it through environmental restoration, suppressing threats, and protecting life.
• Authority through territory: Expanding mountains, connecting Spirit Veins, and gaining recognition from a region’s will allow Liu to acquire Heavenly Dao Authority. Physical geography becomes a means of political and divine control.
• Legitimacy versus force: Liu recognizes that trickery cannot easily overcome the Divine Court, so he plans to seize its authority through overwhelming strength and a “grand and righteous” justification.
• Long-term strategy and patience: Although Liu has grand ambitions, he understands that the Divine Court cannot yet be challenged. He focuses first on strengthening his base and preparing for future conflicts.
• Competition and status: The reactions to Azure Scale reveal the importance of powerful mounts, reputation, and outward displays of strength among cultivators.
• Humanity’s broader struggle: Liu’s personal ambitions are balanced against the need for the Human Race to unite against the Demon Race, making his plans part of a larger political and existential conflict.

4. Character Interactions

• Liu silently observes Xia Longting and Xia Lingkai with his Merit Dharma Eye, confirming that their Merit comes from his actions involving the Luochuan Dragon King.
• Xia Longting and Xia Lingkai discuss Liu’s Azure-Scaled Flood Dragon, correctly guessing that Liu likely subdued it in the Netherworld.
• Xia Longting expresses excitement at the prospect of obtaining a similar mount, while An Changsheng reacts with jealousy and vows to find a superior dragon.
• Liu does not directly engage the market’s spectators but deliberately travels through the sky on Azure Scale, strengthening his public image and inspiring awe.
• Liu’s most important interaction is with Blackcloud Ridge itself: through the repaired Spirit Vein and the linked mountain range, he gradually forces the mountain’s consciousness to accept Coiled Dragon Mountain and grants himself access to its Heavenly Dao Authority.

Chapter Summary: Method for Advancing the Death-Substitute Clone

Key Plot Points and Events

• Coiled Dragon Mountain becomes a recognized branch range of Blackcloud Ridge, connected by a Branch Spirit Vein. Liu Yuanchen can now exercise limited Heavenly Dao Authority over Blackcloud Ridge within roughly a hundred miles.
• This authority is only a tiny fraction of Blackcloud Ridge’s total power, so the Demon Race cultivator who controls a much larger portion has not yet sensed Liu Yuanchen. However, Liu Yuanchen knows that a future territorial conflict is inevitable.
• The Demon Race opponent is powerful enough to use a fourth-grade Mount Tai Crushes the Crown technique and already controls a branch range hundreds of thousands of miles away. Liu Yuanchen therefore prioritizes increasing his strength and ensuring that he can withstand the enemy’s attacks.
• Because Blackcloud Ridge is enormous, Liu Yuanchen realizes that his current two Death-Substitute Clones are insufficient. He needs additional clones to patrol the territory, protect its spiritual resources, nurture plants with Spring Wind and Rain, and expand his Heavenly Dao Authority.
• Liu Yuanchen returns to the Dongyang Divine Prefecture, where his master, Zhao Hong, introduces several senior martial relatives who have come to work under him:
  • Third Martial Uncle Dong Peng, who researches storage artifacts.
  • Fourth Martial Uncle Sun Baicao, skilled in alchemy and spiritual-plant cultivation.
  • Fifth Martial Uncle Yi Jiuding, a spirit chef and wine brewer with an enormous appetite and love of alcohol.
  • Martial Uncle Jiao Hualong, Young Pavilion Master of the Eight Desolations Pavilion and Yan Yang’s master.
• Liu Yuanchen assigns the visiting cultivators work, primarily involving operations in the Netherworld, where manpower is needed.
• Jiao Hualong’s arrival appears suspicious. Although he is the wealthy heir of the Eight Desolations Pavilion, he claims he wants to work in the Dongyang Divine Prefecture. Liu Yuanchen suspects he may be trying to suppress Liu’s growing influence or support Yan Yang.
• Liu Yuanchen later consults Patriarch Zhang Lingxu about improving the Minor Divine Clone Technique. Zhang demonstrates a basic clone spell and explains that true clone techniques are especially compatible with wood-attribute cultivators.
• Zhang reveals that the key to improving the technique lies in understanding how plants reproduce from one into many. He points Liu Yuanchen toward the Grand Evolution Divine Tree, a unique ancient divine tree renowned for producing countless offshoots and avatars.
• Visualization diagrams and living branches of the Grand Evolution Divine Tree may be available through the Hongling Bureau, providing Liu Yuanchen with a possible method for strengthening his Death-Substitute Clone.

Character Developments

• Liu Yuanchen: Becomes increasingly aware of the strategic burden created by his expanding territory and responsibilities. He recognizes that his clone technique is now a major limitation and begins seeking a systematic method to improve it. He also shows growing political awareness by questioning Jiao Hualong’s true motives.
• Zhang Lingxu: Demonstrates his mastery of clone-related techniques and offers Liu Yuanchen both a conceptual explanation and a practical direction for further study. His advice shifts Liu Yuanchen’s understanding of clones from mere labor substitutes or escape tools to a profound wood-attribute cultivation path.
• Yi Jiuding: Is established as friendly, enthusiastic, and highly valuable because of his expertise in spirit cuisine and wine brewing. His interest in Netherworld materials could benefit the Dongyang Divine Prefecture.
• Sun Baicao: Appears gentle and knowledgeable, specializing in spiritual plants and alchemy despite having weak combat ability.
• Jiao Hualong: Is introduced as talented, powerful, and likely to become the next Pavilion Master. His polite request to work under Liu Yuanchen masks a possible attempt to influence or challenge Liu’s position.

Significant Themes

• Expansion brings responsibility: Gaining Heavenly Dao Authority gives Liu Yuanchen power but also forces him to defend and cultivate a vast territory.
• The inevitability of future conflict: Liu Yuanchen’s rivalry with the Demon Race cultivator is presented as a long-term struggle for control of Blackcloud Ridge.
• The value and limitations of clones: Clones allow Liu Yuanchen to manage multiple realms and protect himself, but too few clones restrict his growth and prevent him from fully exploiting his authority.
• Learning through nature: The chapter emphasizes the wood-attribute principle that one organism can divide into many while retaining a shared origin. Plants become a model for understanding avatars and divine techniques.
• Political alliances and hidden motives: The arrival of senior members of the Eight Desolations Pavilion highlights Liu Yuanchen’s growing influence, while Jiao Hualong’s motives suggest possible internal competition.
• Cooperation and resource exchange: Liu Yuanchen’s control of Netherworld resources allows him to attract talented allies and create new economic opportunities.

Important Character Interactions

• Zhao Hong introduces Liu Yuanchen to the visiting martial uncles and frames the Dongyang Divine Prefecture as a place where they can work and prosper.
• Liu Yuanchen welcomes Sun Baicao and receives his spiritual-plant cultivation notes as a greeting gift.
• He offers Yi Jiuding unrestricted access to Coiling Dragon Drunk and promises to help him obtain rare Netherworld ingredients, immediately establishing mutual benefit.
• Jiao Hualong praises Liu Yuanchen while comparing him favorably to Yan Yang, but his request to work under Liu creates an undercurrent of rivalry.
• Liu Yuanchen consults Zhang Lingxu, who uses his own deceptive clone spell and a growing tree to illustrate the principles behind clone techniques.
• Zhang identifies the Grand Evolution Divine Tree as the ideal model for Liu Yuanchen’s cultivation and points him toward visualization diagrams and living offshoots as potential resources.

Chapter Summary: Grand Evolution Divine Tree

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Yuanchen realizes that obtaining a living Grand Evolution Divine Tree could greatly improve his clone Minor Divine Ability. The Divine Ability Seed from the Jumang Ancestral Witch Inheritance could extract the tree’s abilities and potential, though doing so would severely drain or even kill the plant.
• He consults his grandmaster, Zhang Lingxu, who warns him not to neglect cultivation for the sake of nurturing clones. Zhang emphasizes that strengthening his Grotto-Heaven and Blessed Land, and following the Earth Immortal Path, is more important.
• Zhang gives Liu Yuanchen a beast-hide book containing his past research and deductions on clone techniques. The notes explain that the number and strength of clones depend heavily on the cultivator’s vitality, much like branches depend on the vitality of a mother tree.
• Liu Yuanchen studies the book and recognizes the value of the Eight Desolations Pavilion’s accumulated inheritance, which helps disciples avoid mistakes and build upon the experience of past generations.
• He experiments with strengthening his clones through increased vitality. His Withered Wood Longevity Art, Yin-Yang Spirit Flame, and Jumang inheritance all help preserve or replenish his vitality, but the improvement remains slow.
• Liu Yuanchen continues pursuing greater cultivation because of future opportunities involving the Blackcloud Ridge Heavenly Dao Authority, the Demon Race competitor, and the possible division of the Myriad-Longevity Flat Peach within the Innate Grand Formation at Severed-Head Mountain.
• His Divine Path Clone secretly searches the Hongling Bureau for a Grand Evolution Divine Tree, since openly seeking one could alert the wary Divine Court.
• After three years, a living tree finally appears for sale. Liu Yuanchen purchases it for five million Low-Grade Spirit Stones and has it delivered to the Dongyang Divine Prefecture.
• He plants the tree in the Dongyang Blessed Land. With the aid of the Heaven-and-Earth Rejuvenation divine ability, it quickly takes root and grows new branches.
• Liu Yuanchen successfully plants one branch separately, proving that the tree can reproduce through cuttings.
• He first attempts to gain the tree’s power through visualization, but the resulting True-Form Diagram produces no immediate effects.
• He then uses the Jumang Divine Ability Seed to extract the Grand Evolution Divine Tree’s ability. The seed absorbs the tree’s energy for half a day, causing the tree to wither and nearly die.
• Liu Yuanchen continuously supplies it with spiritual power through the Jia Wood Withering-and-Flourishing Art, ultimately preserving its life. The Divine Ability Seed completes the extraction and is merged into his body.

Character Developments

• Liu Yuanchen becomes increasingly focused on improving his clone ability, not merely for combat but to allow clones to manage affairs independently and accelerate his overall cultivation progress.
• He demonstrates caution and foresight by creating a new sapling before extracting the tree’s ability, ensuring that the Grand Evolution Divine Tree can continue to propagate even if the original dies.
• His understanding of cultivation deepens as he recognizes the importance of inheritance, accumulated experience, vitality, and the relationship between plants and clone techniques.
• Zhang Lingxu is portrayed as a thoughtful mentor who supports Liu Yuanchen’s ambitions while reminding him to maintain proper priorities. He also reveals his own past attempts to develop advanced clone arts.
• Liu Yuanchen’s family members—his father, elder brother, and sister-in-law—die of old age during the three-year period. Because his brother and sister-in-law enter the Divine Path Spirit Realm and receive Divine Positions, Liu Yuanchen accepts their deaths calmly rather than grieving deeply.

Significant Themes

• Inheritance and accumulated knowledge: The beast-hide book and the Eight Desolations Pavilion’s records show how powerful sects grow through the preserved experience of earlier generations.
• Vitality and longevity: Vitality is the foundation of both clone creation and survival. Liu Yuanchen’s various inheritances allow him to replenish and preserve it better than ordinary cultivators.
• Balance between ambition and fundamentals: Zhang Lingxu warns that powerful techniques and auxiliary methods should not cause Liu Yuanchen to neglect cultivation itself.
• Growth through replication: The Grand Evolution Divine Tree serves as a metaphor for clones, with branches representing independent extensions of a greater original body.
• Risk and experimentation: Liu Yuanchen is willing to endanger the divine tree to obtain its ability, but he takes precautions and actively sustains it, balancing ruthless efficiency with preservation.
• Longevity and future power struggles: The pursuit of greater cultivation is connected to Liu Yuanchen’s plans involving Heavenly Dao authority, the Demon Race, and the Myriad-Longevity Flat Peach.

Character Interactions

• Liu Yuanchen discusses his clone ambitions with Zhang Lingxu, who clarifies the connection between vitality and clone strength and gives him his personal research notes.
• Zhang encourages Liu Yuanchen by predicting that he may eventually lead the Human Race against the Demon Race and establish a path toward longevity.
• Liu Yuanchen’s Divine Path Clone works through the Hongling Bureau to locate the divine tree while avoiding the Divine Court’s suspicion.
• After obtaining the tree, Liu Yuanchen personally experiments with planting branches, visualization, and the Divine Ability Seed, using his own powers to keep the damaged tree alive.
• The chapter ends with Liu Yuanchen successfully extracting the tree’s ability while preserving its survival, setting up the next stage of his clone cultivation.

Based on the chapter provided, here is a concise summary:

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Yuanchen absorbs the Grand Evolution Divine Tree's Divine Ability Seed, significantly boosting his cultivation to nearly Mid Spirit Platform Realm.
• The Yin Baleful Wood phantom in his Sea of Consciousness merges into the Grand Evolution Divine Tree phantom, creating a hybrid clone ability.
• He experiments with his new clone ability, discovering he can now create four clones instead of two, with cultivation at Late Condensed Origin Realm.
• Clone Number Three is sent to guard Blackcloud Ridge; Clone Number Four is sent to the Red Wasteland Academy in Azure Elixir City.
• At the Academy, Xia Longting breaks through to the Spirit Platform Realm, condensing a Three-Origin Spirit Platform.
• Xia Longting begs Liu Yuanchen's clone for help avoiding an arranged marriage his uncle set up.

2. Character Developments

• Liu Yuanchen: Displays strategic wisdom, recognizing both the benefits and drawbacks of his plundering cultivation method (he reflects on the Golden-Winged Roc as a cautionary tale). Shows pragmatic expansion of his enterprise and knowledge base.
• Xia Longting: Reveals hidden capability by condensing an excellent Three-Origin Spirit Platform, despite being a "wastrel." Shows his cunning by offering an Ancestral Shaman Statue as a bribe for help.
• Xia Lingkai: Acts as an intermediary and provides information, expressing helplessness about his cousin's situation.

3. Significant Themes

• Cultivation Philosophy: The danger of relying too heavily on external shortcuts. Liu Yuanchen emphasizes that using his plundering method as a main path would hinder long-term growth, prioritizing stability over speed.
• Strategic Resource Management: The value of knowledge accumulation and having multiple clones for efficiency, as well as the importance of possessing valuable items like Ancestral Shaman Statues.
• Interpersonal Entanglements: The clash between family obligations/arranged marriages and personal freedom.

4. Character Interactions

• Liu Yuanchen and His Clones: Shows his growing confidence and mastery over his abilities through testing and deploying them tactically.
• Liu Yuanchen and Xia Longting: A comedic and tense dynamic. Xia Longting dramatically begs for help, popping out of nowhere and grabbing his leg, while Liu Yuanchen initially dismisses him, only to be drawn in by the offer of an Ancestral Shaman Statue.
• Liu Yuanchen and Xia Lingkai: A calm, collegial interaction where Xia Lingkai explains the situation and provides context.

Chapter Summary: Roushou Ancestor Witch Inheritance

Key Plot Points and Events

• More than a decade has passed since the Eight Desolations Pavilion revealed the value of the Ancestral Shaman Statues, yet no new statues have appeared. Liu Yuanchen realizes that the major Human Race factions are likely hiding them, hoping to unlock their inheritances independently before sharing them.
• Xia Longting claims that he obtained a statue before the Witch Race inheritance became public knowledge. His subordinate, Xia Lingkai, confirms that Xia Longting had searched for one after Liu Yuanchen previously showed interest in the Jumang statue.
• Xia Longting presents Liu Yuanchen with a well-preserved Roushou Ancestral Shaman Statue, depicting the Metal Ancestor Witch with a tiger’s body, golden scales, an ear-piercing snake, and a battle-axe.
• Liu Yuanchen agrees to hide Xia Longting in the Netherworld, warning him that the environment weakens lightning techniques and that he will be unable to move freely. Xia Longting asks only that his presence remain secret.
• Liu Yuanchen secretly transports the statue to Coiled Dragon Mountain by swapping places between his true body and avatar through Form-Shifting Shadow-Exchange.
• He activates the statue with Astral Force and Three-Origin Power, entering a vision of a metallic wasteland where Roushou’s overwhelming killing intent nearly crushes him. Roushou then transforms into silver light and enters Liu Yuanchen’s consciousness as an inheritance seed.
• The inheritance includes cultivation methods, metal-absorbing techniques, combat methods, Witch Patterns, part of the Twelve-Celestial Capital Gods and Fiends Formation, and methods for refining Roushou statues and puppets.
• Roushou’s two primary divine abilities are revealed:
  • Heaven and Earth Slaughter, which permanently creates an autumn-like domain and gradually transforms earth and stone into metal.
  • Metal Baleful Return to Origin, which absorbs metal energy from the environment, ores, artifacts, and even raw metal, strengthening the body and producing specialized abilities.
• Liu Yuanchen gives the statue to his junior sister, Tie Junlan, whose Roushou bloodline allows her to make better use of the inheritance. She receives it and reaches a new path toward breaking through to the Spirit Platform Realm. The damaged statue is restored completely during her inheritance ceremony.
• Liu Yuanchen records the inheritance for the Eight Desolations Pavilion’s experts, who are studying both the Witch Race techniques and the Innate Formation on Severed-Head Mountain to advance their understanding of laws.
• He then cultivates the Roushou Ancestral Shaman Visualization Method and forms a third Ancestral Witch True-Form Diagram within his Immortal Seed. He begins wondering whether gathering all twelve diagrams might allow him to personally cast the Twelve-Celestial Capital Gods and Fiends Formation.

Character Developments

• Liu Yuanchen continues to act strategically and discreetly. He secures the statue through negotiation, hides its transfer using his avatar technique, and prioritizes both his own cultivation and the growth of his sect and companions.
• Xia Longting proves more capable and farsighted than his usual foolish appearance suggests. He had recognized the statue’s value early and preserved it for future leverage, though he remains dependent on Liu Yuanchen for protection.
• Xia Lingkai serves as the reliable and perceptive counterbalance to Xia Longting, explaining the statue’s history and noticing Liu Yuanchen’s body exchange.
• Tie Junlan receives a major opportunity for advancement. Her Roushou bloodline and sharp metal aura make her an ideal inheritor, and the new cultivation method may allow her to enter the Spirit Platform Realm soon.
• Zhang Lingxu, Liu Yuanchen’s master ancestor, encourages Tie Junlan and supports Liu Yuanchen’s efforts to preserve and distribute the inheritance.

Significant Themes

• Hidden power and selfishness: Major factions conceal valuable statues to monopolize their inheritances, reflecting the political competition surrounding rare resources.
• Strategic cooperation: Liu Yuanchen balances personal gain with the interests of his allies, allowing Xia Longting shelter while ensuring the inheritance benefits Tie Junlan and the Eight Desolations Pavilion.
• The dangers of power: Roushou’s inheritance is associated with slaughter, destruction, and the merciless consumption of metal energy, making it more violent than Jumang’s life-based methods.
• Law comprehension and long-term cultivation: The inheritance is valuable not merely for combat, but because its Witch Patterns, formation knowledge, and elemental laws can help cultivators progress toward higher realms.
• Elemental balance: Roushou’s metal inheritance complements the previously obtained wood and fire inheritances, contributing to the future development of Liu Yuanchen’s Grotto-Heaven and Blessed Land.
• Inheritance and bloodline: Although Liu Yuanchen can study the inheritance, Tie Junlan’s Roushou bloodline allows her to unleash it more fully, emphasizing the importance of compatibility between cultivator and legacy.

Important Character Interactions

• Liu Yuanchen and Xia Longting negotiate the exchange of the Roushou statue for protection in the Netherworld.
• Xia Lingkai clarifies how Xia Longting obtained the statue and recognizes Liu Yuanchen’s unusual body-swapping technique.
• Liu Yuanchen discusses the inheritance with Zhang Lingxu and invites Tie Junlan to receive it.
• Zhang Lingxu encourages Tie Junlan to cultivate diligently, while Liu Yuanchen reassures her that they are family and urges her to pursue a breakthrough.
• Liu Yuanchen later shares a written record of the inheritance with the Eight Desolations Pavilion, expanding the benefits of Roushou’s legacy beyond himself.

Summary of “Sea of Clouds General’s Gift”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Yuanchen returns to the Netherworld because cultivation there is much faster than in the Yang Realm. The Netherworld’s abundant yin qi is especially beneficial for nurturing his Yin-Yang Spirit Flame and restoring the Jadeglow Twofold Ceremonial Lamp.
• At Coiled Dragon Mountain, he encounters Xia Longting fishing with Xia Lingkai. Xia complains humorously about the lack of brothels and the oppressive resentment outside Coiled Dragon City. Liu Yuanchen suggests that he associate with Yan Yang, whose abundant yang qi would help him survive the Netherworld.
• The Jadeglow Twofold Ceremonial Lamp continues recovering as it absorbs the Netherworld’s yin qi. Its damaged lampstand is gradually repairing itself, and it may eventually become a complete Acquired Spirit Treasure.
• The Luochuan Dragon King’s cracked Dragon Pearl also begins healing. Liu Yuanchen suspects this is due either to the Earth Book’s newly acquired Dragon Vein or to the energy of the Luochuan River basin nourishing the Luochuan Blessed Land inside the pearl.
• Liu Yuanchen discovers that his authority over Coiled Dragon Mountain is expanding. A branch connecting Coiled Dragon Mountain to Blackcloud Ridge appears within his Sea of Consciousness, indicating that he is gradually acquiring Blackcloud Ridge’s Heavenly Dao Authority.
• To compete with a Demon Race cultivator who is also trying to seize Blackcloud Ridge’s authority, Liu Yuanchen creates a Netherworld version of Coiled Dragon Mountain using his Gathering Qi into Stone Authority. He duplicates the mountain’s Yang Realm structure and connects it to Blackcloud Ridge in both realms.
• Over the following year, he successfully extends a Spirit Vein from Blackcloud Ridge’s Ancestral Vein to Coiled Dragon Mountain and claims additional authority over Blackcloud Ridge. He decides that one of his divine ability clones must eventually help manage this undertaking.
• An envoy named Wei Yun arrives from Sea of Clouds General, the long-established guardian of Demon Cloud Sea. He offers three gifts and proposes trade between Netherworld specialties and spiritual items from the Yang Realm.
• Liu Yuanchen accepts the proposal and assigns Qing Sha to handle future negotiations. He then examines the gifts:
  • Skyweeping Grass, which evokes sorrow and can help condense one of the Seven Po Souls.
  • Ghostface Grass, which evokes fear and can assist in condensing another Seven Po Soul.
  • A mysterious black crystal with powerful soul-strengthening properties, potentially useful for forming a primordial spirit.

Character Developments

• Liu Yuanchen becomes increasingly strategic and ambitious. Rather than confront the Demon Race directly over Blackcloud Ridge, he develops a parallel plan in the Netherworld to seize authority from another direction.
• His control over spiritual treasures, Dragon Vein power, mountain authority, and regional Heavenly Dao influence continues to expand.
• He also demonstrates caution and political awareness. Although he welcomes Sea of Clouds General’s gifts, he immediately suspects that the general wants access to Yang Realm resources.
• Xia Longting remains frivolous and pleasure-seeking, but the Netherworld’s dangers force him to behave more cautiously. His complaints provide comic relief and contrast with Liu Yuanchen’s serious cultivation and territorial planning.
• Sea of Clouds General is established as a powerful, experienced figure who has guarded Demon Cloud Sea for over five thousand years. His long tenure suggests that his cultivation may have reached the Soul Condensation or even Primordial Spirit Realm.
• Qing Sha continues to serve as a reliable veteran of Coiled Dragon Mountain and takes responsibility for managing the proposed trade.
• Wei Yun acts as a courteous intermediary, easing relations between the two neighboring forces.

Significant Themes

• Cultivation through environmental advantage: The chapter emphasizes the difference between the Yang Realm and Netherworld, especially the Netherworld’s superior yin qi and its impact on spiritual growth.
• Expansion of authority and territory: Liu Yuanchen’s power grows not only through personal cultivation but also by linking mountains, Spirit Veins, blessed lands, and Heavenly Dao Authorities.
• Strategic competition: Instead of confronting rivals directly, Liu Yuanchen uses parallel operations in the Yin-Yang Realms to gain an advantage over the Demon Race.
• Political alliances and trade: The meeting with Sea of Clouds General highlights how cultivation forces rely on diplomacy, mutual benefit, and resource exchange.
• Preparation for higher realms: The gifts foreshadow Liu Yuanchen’s future advancement. The Skyweeping Grass and Ghostface Grass will aid in condensing the Seven Po Souls, while the black crystal may strengthen his soul for the formation of a primordial spirit.
• Caution toward mysterious power: Liu Yuanchen recognizes the value of the black crystal but refuses to use it recklessly until its nature is understood.

Character Interactions

• Liu Yuanchen teases Xia Longting about his unusual obedience and listens to his complaints about life in the Netherworld.
• Xia Longting compares his situation with Yan Yang’s, taking comfort in believing that Yan Yang suffers more under strict cultivation, pill-refining, and artifact-forging demands.
• Wei Yun respectfully introduces himself as Sea of Clouds General’s envoy and explains the purpose of the visit.
• Liu Yuanchen responds diplomatically, acknowledging Sea of Clouds General’s seniority while carefully probing his intentions.
• The two sides establish the foundation for commercial cooperation, with Qing Sha designated to manage the practical negotiations.
• Through his examination of the gifts, Liu Yuanchen recognizes that Sea of Clouds General understands his cultivation needs and may be deliberately cultivating a mutually beneficial relationship.

Chapter Summary: Secrets of the Demon Cloud Sea

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Yuanchen brings the mysterious black crystal given to him by the Sea of Clouds General to his second and fifth martial uncles in Coiled Dragon City for identification.
• He finds his martial uncles enjoying a feast prepared by Yi Jiuding, whose cooking is extremely nourishing but visually grotesque. Liu Yuanchen suspects he is being used as a poison tester because of his Poison-Resistant Physique, though the food proves delicious and beneficial.
• The black crystal is identified as a Fifth-Tier Upper-Grade Life Soulstone, an exceptionally rare treasure worth at least ten million Spirit Stones at auction and likely far more.
• Yi Jiuding explains that a Life Soulstone helps cultivators control and manifest the Life Soul when breaking through from the Spirit Platform Realm to the Soul Condensation Realm. Compared with the cheaper Soul-Gathering Grass, it offers a much higher success rate and protects the soul from damage if the breakthrough fails.
• Because Liu Yuanchen possesses a powerful Three-Origin Spirit Platform, one Life Soulstone may not be enough for his breakthrough. He decides to prepare additional stones, potentially by trading with the Eastern Plains Grand General.
• Meanwhile, Liu Yuanchen’s second divine ability clone visits the Iron-Armed Ghost King in Iron-Arm City to investigate the Sea of Clouds General before engaging in business with him.
• The Iron-Armed Ghost King reveals that the Sea of Clouds General is nominally subordinate to the Eastern Plains Grand General but does not truly obey him. More importantly, he was appointed directly by the Netherworld King over five thousand years ago, suggesting an unusually powerful background.
• The Iron-Armed Ghost King recounts a major anomaly from seven hundred years earlier: the Demon Cloud Sea temporarily turned entirely to blood, and a vast blood mist appeared. The Eastern Plains Grand General led an expedition there, but more than half of his experts died before the sea suddenly returned to normal.
• Rumors claim the Demon Cloud Sea contains remnants of an ancient battle against Extraterritorial Lifeforms. The lingering power of the dead may still affect the region and create both extreme dangers and extraordinary opportunities. The Sea of Clouds General may have remained there for thousands of years specifically to pursue those opportunities.

Character Developments

• Liu Yuanchen demonstrates caution and practicality by consulting his elders rather than speculating about the black crystal. He also shows growing strategic awareness by investigating the Sea of Clouds General before conducting business with him.
• His confidence and status are increasing. He comfortably invokes his powerful backers and offers the Iron-Armed Ghost King protection, a position on his Myriad Gods List, and the possibility of becoming a City God in the Yang Realm.
• Yi Jiuding is established as a master chef whose creations look horrifying but possess exceptional medicinal value. His unreliable, playful personality is highlighted by his attempt to use Liu Yuanchen as a poison tester.
• Ling Yu, Liu Yuanchen’s second martial uncle, acts as the more perceptive and teasing observer, exposing Yi Jiuding’s trick and explaining the significance of the Life Soulstone.
• The Iron-Armed Ghost King is shown to be cautious but knowledgeable. Though tempted by Liu Yuanchen’s offer, he remains hesitant to leave the Netherworld; however, the promise of protection persuades him to reveal sensitive information.
• The Sea of Clouds General becomes a more mysterious and potentially influential figure: he possesses rare treasures, has direct ties to the Netherworld King, operates independently of the Eastern Plains Grand General, and may be pursuing secrets buried in the Demon Cloud Sea.

Significant Themes

• Value of knowledge and experienced guidance: Liu Yuanchen relies on elders and informed allies to understand rare treasures and dangerous political situations.
• Cultivation and preparation: The Life Soulstone emphasizes the importance of reducing risk, protecting the soul, and investing resources to ensure a successful breakthrough.
• Hidden power structures: The Sea of Clouds General’s direct appointment by the Netherworld King reveals that official hierarchies do not always reflect true authority.
• Dangerous places concealing opportunity: The Demon Cloud Sea is both a site of death and a possible repository of ancient treasures or inheritances.
• Rumor versus truth: The Iron-Armed Ghost King repeatedly warns that the stories about Extraterritorial Lifeforms are unverified, emphasizing the difficulty of separating historical fact from speculation.
• Humor amid serious cultivation affairs: The grotesque but delicious feast provides comic relief while also illustrating the unusual personalities and resources within Liu Yuanchen’s sect.

Important Character Interactions

• Liu Yuanchen exchanges banter with Yi Jiuding over the suspicious-looking food, while Ling Yu exposes Yi Jiuding’s intention to test it on Liu Yuanchen.
• His martial uncles explain the Life Soulstone’s function and warn that Liu Yuanchen’s unusually powerful soul may require several of them.
• Liu Yuanchen presents a gift to the Iron-Armed Ghost King and directly questions him about the Sea of Clouds General.
• To overcome the Ghost King’s hesitation, Liu Yuanchen assures him of protection and offers a future position in the Dongyang Divine Prefecture.
• The Ghost King responds by revealing the Sea of Clouds General’s powerful appointment, the blood-sea incident, and the possible ancient connection between the Demon Cloud Sea and Extraterritorial Lifeforms.
• The chapter ends with Liu Yuanchen recognizing that the Demon Cloud Sea may conceal a major secret linked to ancient wars, dead experts, and possibly the same Extraterritorial threat that once affected the Yang Realm.

Chapter Summary: “Demon Cloud”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Yuanchen takes seriously the Iron-Armed Ghost King’s suspicion that the Netherworld may once have been invaded by Extraterritorial Lifeforms. The Netherworld’s vast resources, powerful resentment, and connection to the Black Jade Lotus Platform make it a likely target.
• He reasons that the strange phenomena surrounding the Demon Cloud Sea may be remnants of an ancient battle and may conceal another treasure related to the Black Jade Lotus Platform. Such a discovery could strengthen the Moonwater Demon Lotus and increase the Merit Liu Yuanchen gains from suppressing the Black Lotus.
• Because the Demon Cloud Sea is extremely dangerous, Liu Yuanchen decides to investigate through a Divine Ability Clone rather than risk his true body.
• The Iron-Armed Ghost King clarifies that the Demon Cloud Sea’s disturbance over seven hundred years ago and the appearance of the Minor Grotto-Heaven near Blazing Sun Valley were probably unrelated coincidences. The Red Wasteland has otherwise remained relatively stable.
• Liu Yuanchen asks about the Sea of Clouds General. He learns that, over five thousand years earlier, the general openly refused to obey the Eastern Plains Grand General. After personally visiting Eastern Plains City, he was no longer challenged. Rumors claim the two generals fought to a draw.
• Based on this information, Liu Yuanchen greatly revises his estimate of the Sea of Clouds General’s power, concluding that he is likely at least at the Supernatural Ability Realm and may be connected closely to the Netherworld King.
• Liu Yuanchen’s clone travels east across Blackcloud Ridge. The region is damaged by ancient warfare, filled with chaotic auras and Earth Vein Baleful Intent. Liu Yuanchen senses that the local vegetation responds to him because of his partial control over Blackcloud Ridge, though he has not yet gained its full recognition.
• After bypassing several small cities, the clone reaches the enormous Demon Cloud Sea, a lake stretching over ten thousand li. Cities and settlements exist along its shores and on its islands.
• Strange blood-colored demon clouds repeatedly emerge above the lake, briefly taking the forms of grotesque beings such as a headless giant and a wounded dragon. Local inhabitants appear accustomed to these phenomena.
• Disguised as an ordinary Ghost Cultivator, Liu Yuanchen enters Linhai City to gather information. There, a broker named Qian Long offers to guide him and explain local legends.
• Qian Long claims that ancient experts died in a battle against the Netherworld King and were sealed beneath the Demon Cloud Sea. Their resentment and residual power leak through the seal, forming the demon clouds.
• According to the legend, the clouds contain fragments of supreme laws. The Flame Valley Grand General allegedly comprehended laws from a Demon Cloud Eruption and rose from the Soul Condensation Realm to the peak of the Divine Ability Realm within a few hundred years.
• Liu Yuanchen becomes particularly interested in the claim that Demon Cloud Eruptions occur according to a pattern, suggesting that he may be able to predict or exploit the next eruption.

Character Developments

• Liu Yuanchen becomes increasingly ambitious and cautious. He recognizes the enormous opportunities hidden in the Demon Cloud Sea but avoids unnecessary danger by using a clone. His assessment of the Sea of Clouds General’s strength also becomes much more conservative.
• He demonstrates growing strategic awareness, considering not only treasures but also political forces, ancient history, local authority, and the potential risks posed by powerful Netherworld officials.
• The Iron-Armed Ghost King serves as a limited but useful source of intelligence. Though unable to provide definitive facts, he shares military rumors that help Liu Yuanchen evaluate the Sea of Clouds General.
• Qian Long is introduced as a shrewd, opportunistic local broker. He recognizes Liu Yuanchen as a potential source of profit and uses his knowledge of local stories and connections to gain employment.
• The Sea of Clouds General remains offscreen but is established as an exceptionally powerful and possibly politically important figure, potentially independent of the Eastern Plains Grand General and close to the Netherworld King.

Significant Themes

• Danger versus opportunity: The Demon Cloud Sea is portrayed as both a deadly remnant of ancient conflict and a place where cultivators may obtain extraordinary opportunities.
• The value of indirect investigation: Liu Yuanchen relies on clones, rumors, legends, and local informants rather than exposing his true body or acting recklessly.
• Hidden history beneath legends: Qian Long’s stories may contain exaggerations, but they also preserve clues about the ancient war, the sealed corpses, and the origin of the demon clouds.
• Power and political hierarchy: The chapter emphasizes the immense strength of the Netherworld’s upper ranks and raises questions about why the Netherworld King, despite possessing overwhelming power, has not expanded into the Yang Realm.
• Remnants of ancient warfare: Damaged earth veins, lingering baleful intent, strange clouds, and restless resentment show how ancient battles continue to shape the present.
• Authority and recognition: Liu Yuanchen’s partial control of Blackcloud Ridge suggests that power over territory depends not only on possession but also on earning the land’s natural recognition.

Character Interactions

• Liu Yuanchen questions the Iron-Armed Ghost King about the Red Wasteland and the Sea of Clouds General. The Ghost King initially hesitates, but Liu Yuanchen reassures him that he will not be punished for repeating uncertain rumors.
• The Ghost King explains the Sea of Clouds General’s defiance of the Eastern Plains Grand General, giving Liu Yuanchen valuable insight into the general’s strength and status.
• In Linhai City, Qian Long approaches Liu Yuanchen and offers his services as a guide and intermediary. Liu Yuanchen tests his credibility by offering rewards for useful information.
• Qian Long recounts the origin of the demon clouds and the Flame Valley Grand General’s rise, prompting Liu Yuanchen to focus on the timing and recurrence of Demon Cloud Eruptions.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points

• Liu Yuanchen's avatar questions Qian Long, an informant in Linhai City, about the "Demon Cloud Eruption" — a catastrophe that occurs in the Demon Cloud Sea roughly every 700 years, shrouding the region in lethal blood mist that destroys yin souls
• Qian Long explains the history: five eruptions have occurred, the last being over 700 years ago, meaning another could happen at any time
• Liu Yuanchen leaves to investigate the "Enlightenment Stone" — the site where Great General Yan Gu attained enlightenment over 2,100 years ago
• While meditating on the stone, the avatar absorbs strange blood-red energy that floods his Sea of Consciousness with chaotic fragmented battlefield images
• Using the Earth Book and Ginseng Fruit Tree (with its three Ancestor Witches), Liu Yuanchen stabilizes the vision, revealing a continuous historical scene
• The vision shows a Second-Rank Black Lotus (six layers, 54 petals) empowering an army of bizarre creatures against a Witch Race army
• The Witch Race deploys the Twelve-Celestial Capital Gods and Fiends Formation, condensing twelve Ancestor Witch phantoms into a great axe that splits heaven and earth, destroying the Black Lotus
• Liu Yuanchen realizes this Black Lotus shares origin with the Demon Qi Black Lotus and is likely connected to the Twelve-Petaled World-Ending Black Lotus — the treasure of Devil Ancestor Luo Hou

Character Developments

• Liu Yuanchen demonstrates patience and diligence in information gathering, though initially unsuccessful
• He shows prudent restraint — recognizing the Enlightenment Stone's value but deciding not to attempt seizing it, knowing the Netherworld King and Witch Race would be formidable enemies
• He displays resilience and resourcefulness by using his internal treasures (Earth Book, Ginseng Fruit Tree) to survive and extract meaning from a dangerous spiritual encounter
• He demonstrates deductive reasoning, linking historical visions to current mysteries (Demon Qi Black Lotus → World-Ending Black Lotus → Devil Ancestor Luo Hou)

Significant Themes

• The cyclical nature of catastrophe — the Demon Cloud Eruption follows a temporal pattern, and history may soon repeat
• The seduction of power vs. wisdom — Liu Yuanchen resists the temptation to steal a priceless treasure due to higher strategic considerations
• Hidden history and cosmic threats — ancient events reveal that forces connected to primordial devils may still threaten the world
• The immense power of the Witch Race — the Twelve-Celestial Capital Gods and Fiends Formation demonstrates devastating might, splitting heaven and earth with a single axe stroke
• Knowledge as currency — information is bought, sold, and carefully guarded in the Netherworld

Character Interactions

• Liu Yuanchen & Qian Long: A transactional patron-informant relationship; Liu pays generously and establishes an ongoing arrangement for future intelligence
• Liu Yuanchen & the Enlightenment Stone: His attempt to comprehend the stone leads to an involuntary spiritual invasion, which he overcomes through internal power and transforms into knowledge
• No direct physical confrontations occur; the chapter focuses on investigation, acquisition of knowledge, and internal spiritual struggle

Chapter Summary: Spatial Minor Divine Ability

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Yuanchen reflects on the terrifying history of Demon Ancestor Luo Hou, an ancient powerhouse who once rivaled Hongjun Daoist. Luo Hou wielded the God-Slaying Spear, the Twelve-Petaled World-Ending Black Lotus, and the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation.
• The appearance of an Innate Black Lotus suggests that Luo Hou—or someone who inherited his legacy—may still exist. Liu Yuanchen realizes that this potential enemy possesses an enormous advantage in cultivation and experience.
• Fearing another invasion of the Origin Spirit Realm, Liu Yuanchen considers retreating with his relatives and his Grotto-Heaven and Blessed Land using the Earth Book. This possibility calms him and motivates him to grow stronger before the next invasion.
• He concludes that Demon Cloud Sea, once a major battlefield, may contain valuable opportunities and ancient remnants. He also deduces that the Witch Race survived and still controls the upper levels of the Netherworld, meaning the Demon Race may be unable to overpower the Human Race easily.
• Within his Divine Ability Clone, the Ginseng Fruit Tree phantom absorbs blood-red energy from the Enlightenment Stone. The three Ancestor Witch phantoms grow stronger as well, creating a dangerous imbalance.
• Liu Yuanchen refuses to reclaim the energy from the clone because the blood-red power might corrupt his main body, control him through Witch Race or Black Lotus influence, or threaten the true Ginseng Fruit Tree.
• Instead, he supplies the clone with energy from the Ginseng Fruit Tree Immortal Seed. The phantom overwhelms and suppresses the Ancestor Witch projections.
• The Ginseng Fruit Tree phantom absorbs more energy from the Enlightenment Stone and gives birth to a gray-black mist containing spatial laws. Liu Yuanchen realizes that he has acquired a new spatial Minor Divine Ability.
• He tests the ability when two Peak Condensed Origin Realm vicious ghosts accuse him of stealing their opportunity and attempt to extort him.
• The mist creates an isolated space filled with invisible spatial cracks. When one ghost attacks, the cracks spread through the area, severing the ghost’s hand and then slicing both ghosts apart.
• Liu Yuanchen finishes them with wind blades and names the new ability Mist Space. He recognizes that combining it with Universe in the Sleeve could create both a powerful prison and a deadly attack.
• A powerful Late Spirit Platform Realm cultivator from the Cloud Sea Army then approaches and invites Liu Yuanchen to join, promising him excellent cultivation resources.

Character Developments

• Liu Yuanchen becomes more cautious and strategically minded. Rather than recklessly pursuing power, he establishes an escape plan and prioritizes protecting his main body and the Ginseng Fruit Tree.
• He gains confidence in his ability to analyze threats, identifying the possible survival of Luo Hou or his inheritor and recognizing the continuing strength of the Witch Race.
• His new Minor Divine Ability marks a major advancement in his understanding of spatial laws and significantly increases his combat potential.
• Liu Yuanchen also demonstrates ruthlessness and decisiveness when dealing with the two ghosts, quickly killing them after confirming the strength of Mist Space.
• The two vicious ghosts are revealed as opportunistic bullies. Their jealousy leads them to provoke Liu Yuanchen, greatly underestimating both his clone and his newly acquired ability.
• The Cloud Sea Army officer appears as a new potential ally or source of conflict, recognizing Liu Yuanchen’s talent and attempting to recruit him.

Significant Themes

• Power and vulnerability: Despite possessing valuable inheritances, Liu Yuanchen acknowledges that he remains insignificant before figures such as Luo Hou or his successor.
• Survival and preparation: The chapter emphasizes the importance of maintaining an escape route and accumulating strength before catastrophe arrives.
• Inheritance and legacy: The Innate Black Lotus may carry on Luo Hou’s power, while Liu Yuanchen’s own abilities derive from the inheritances of Grand Immortal Zhenyuan and the Ancestor Witches.
• Risk versus opportunity: The dangerous blood-red energy may corrupt Liu Yuanchen, yet it also produces a valuable spatial ability. He must exploit opportunities without endangering his foundation.
• Spatial law and growth: Mist Space is not merely a combat technique; it provides Liu Yuanchen with a path toward deeper comprehension of spatial laws and future advancement.
• Political balance: The surviving Witch Race prevents the Demon Race from gaining an overwhelming advantage, suggesting that the conflict among the races remains unstable.

Important Character Interactions

• Liu Yuanchen and the Ancestor Witch phantoms: Their power initially challenges the Ginseng Fruit Tree phantom, but energy from the Immortal Seed suppresses them.
• Liu Yuanchen and the Enlightenment Stone: The stone’s energy interacts with his Divine Ability Clone and nurtures the formation of Mist Space.
• Liu Yuanchen and the two vicious ghosts: The ghosts attempt to extort him, but Mist Space traps and mutilates them before Liu Yuanchen kills them.
• Liu Yuanchen and the Cloud Sea Army officer: The officer acknowledges his potential and offers him membership in the army, opening a possible new path for resources, protection, and future conflict.

Chapter Summary: Netherworld King’s Seal

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Yuanchen realizes that the Cloud Sea Army serves the Sea of Clouds General, a trusted subordinate of the Netherworld King. Joining the army could give him access to secrets about the Demon Cloud Sea and its connection to the Witch Race.
• A Cloud Sea Army officer recruits Liu Yuanchen. After initially pretending to be reluctant, Liu accepts when offered the position of company commander, command over three hundred ghost soldiers, and centurion-level benefits.
• Liu learns that the officer is Deng Zhenhai, a colonel commanding five thousand soldiers. Deng places him in the Personal Guard Company, a prestigious position with good opportunities for advancement.
• Liu’s clone settles in Linhai City and transmits the Misty Space Minor Divine Ability back to the main body, ensuring that the ability will survive even if the clone is destroyed.
• Over the next five years, Liu focuses on cultivation, occasionally studying the Enlightenment Stone and exploring the Demon Cloud Sea. He makes friends within the army and gathers information, though he learns little about the region’s deepest secrets.
• The blood-red energy within the Enlightenment Stone suddenly surges, triggering strange phenomena throughout the Demon Cloud Sea. Blood mist spreads across the sea, and a terrifying skeletal bird appears above the Enlightenment Stone.
• Liu escapes to Linhai City, which is placed under lockdown. Deng Zhenhai explains that a Demon Cloud Eruption occurs roughly every seven hundred years and may be connected to ancient experts sealed beneath the Demon Cloud Sea.
• A blood-formed roc emerges and unleashes violent winds and enormous waves, damaging Linhai City. Twelve pillars of light then appear around the Demon Cloud Sea, each manifesting one of the Twelve Ancestral Witches.
• The phantom of Dijiang, the Ancestral Witch of Space, creates a black hole that absorbs the blood mist and the roc, temporarily restoring calm.
• Deng warns that this was only the prelude to the Demon Cloud Eruption. The true outbreak will be far more dangerous and may require countless powerful beings to sacrifice their lives.
• Liu deduces that the Enlightenment Stone is a formation node in the Netherworld King’s seal, containing the power of Dijiang. He suspects the other eleven Ancestral Witch nodes may possess similar stones and could each grant a Minor Divine Ability.

Character Developments

• Liu Yuanchen becomes more deeply embedded in the Netherworld’s military structure while maintaining his true goal of gathering intelligence. He demonstrates patience and political awareness by appearing hesitant before accepting Deng’s offer.
• He grows increasingly interested in the relationship between the Demon Cloud Sea, the Witch Race, the Ancestral Witches, and the Netherworld King’s seal.
• His cultivation and inherited Ancestral Witch abilities improve over the five-year period, though he fails to comprehend another new Minor Divine Ability.
• Deng Zhenhai is established as a powerful and influential colonel who values Liu’s talent. He also reveals that he personally experienced the previous Demon Cloud Eruption and possesses information about the region’s hidden history, though he remains cautious about sharing it.
• Liu’s clone functions strategically as an expendable investigator, transmitting valuable abilities and discoveries to the main body.

Significant Themes

• Infiltration and strategic patience: Liu joins the Cloud Sea Army not out of loyalty, but to obtain information and access to restricted areas.
• Power and opportunity: Minor Divine Abilities are portrayed as exceptionally valuable because they can be used immediately and provide references for future cultivation.
• Hidden history: The Demon Cloud Sea appears to be the site of an ancient battlefield or prison containing remnants of the Witch Race and beings connected to the Black Lotus.
• Seals and suppressed power: The Enlightenment Stone is revealed to be part of a massive seal created by the Netherworld King, suggesting that the region’s strange phenomena are consequences of ancient forces struggling against containment.
• Foreshadowing and escalating danger: The initial eruption is only a warning of a much larger disaster that may threaten the entire Demon Cloud Sea.
• Discovery through cultivation: Liu’s comprehension of the Misty Space ability is linked directly to Dijiang’s power, showing that cultivation gains can arise from uncovering the true nature of ancient formations.

Character Interactions

• Liu carefully negotiates with the Cloud Sea Army officer, using modesty and reluctance to secure a better position and stronger benefits.
• Deng Zhenhai treats Liu as a promising subordinate and places him in his trusted Personal Guard Company.
• Liu and Deng discuss the Demon Cloud Eruption after returning to Linhai City. Deng gives him warnings rather than full explanations, implying that military secrets restrict what he can reveal.
• Deng accidentally mentions that the Demon Cloud Sea contains a seal left by the Netherworld King, then quickly changes his wording to attribute it to the general. Liu recognizes this slip as valuable evidence supporting the rumors.
• During the crisis, Deng assumes command and orders all soldiers to remain in Linhai City, while Liu observes the event and analyzes its connection to the Enlightenment Stone.

Chapter Summary:

Ancient Faction

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Yuanchen determines that the Enlightenment Stone is one of twelve formation nodes sealing the Demon Cloud Sea. Its ability to help cultivators comprehend laws and Minor Divine Abilities comes from the power of the Dijiang Ancestral Witch within the sealing formation.
• Since the other eleven nodes should possess similar functions, Liu Yuanchen sets out to locate the node connected to the Jumang Ancestral Witch, whose inheritance best complements his cultivation in wood, life force, and Astral Force.
• He travels from Linhai City to the eastern edge of the Demon Cloud Sea, following the directions of the pillars of light he previously observed. There, he discovers unusually vigorous vegetation almost untouched by Netherworld death qi, suggesting that Jumang’s life-attributed power is leaking from a nearby formation node.
• Because he is only using an avatar with limited strength, Liu Yuanchen attempts to find the node by resonating with the Jumang power within his own cultivation. Before he can do so, he is approached by an elderly cultivator named Qiu Hai.
• Qiu Hai recognizes that Liu Yuanchen is searching for a formation node and explains that the recent twelve pillars of light correspond to the twelve nodes. He proposes that they cooperate to explore them before the approaching Demon Cloud Eruption seals off the region in bloody mist.
• Qiu Hai leads Liu Yuanchen outside the jurisdiction of the Sea of Clouds General to a hidden cave in Blackcloud Ridge. There, he reveals that he belongs to the ancient Heaven-Restoration Sect, a faction opposed to the Netherworld King.
• Qiu Hai also sees through Liu Yuanchen’s disguise, identifying him as the Coiled Dragon General. The Heaven-Restoration Sect had already recorded the aura and energy fluctuations of his avatar.
• Qiu Hai claims that the Heaven-Restoration Sect was founded by beings oppressed by the ancient Witch and Demon Races. The sect wishes to cooperate with the Human Race against those two races.
• To prove the sect’s legitimacy, Qiu Hai gives Liu Yuanchen a Golden Book containing Earth Immortal Path inheritance. Liu Yuanchen confirms that it is extremely profound, shares certain origins with Grand Immortal Zhenyuan’s teachings, and includes a valuable method for opening a Spirit Realm regardless of one’s cultivation level.

Character Developments

• Liu Yuanchen demonstrates careful strategic thinking. He analyzes the formation’s structure, selects the Jumang node as his priority, and uses his knowledge of the twelve pillars to plan his search.
• His dependence on the Jumang Ancestral Witch inheritance becomes clearer. His cultivation methods, including the Ginseng Fruit Tree, Heaven-Reaching Divine Wood Technique, and Astral Force, align naturally with Jumang’s life and wood attributes.
• Liu Yuanchen remains cautious and politically aware. He initially hides behind the alias “Wen Jiting” and Deng Zhenhai’s authority, but abandons the deception once Qiu Hai reveals that he already knows his identity.
• Qiu Hai is introduced as a powerful but outwardly harmless elder. He is observant, well-informed, and connected to a hidden ancient faction capable of resisting the Netherworld King’s surveillance.
• Qiu Hai presents himself as cooperative rather than hostile, but his knowledge of Liu Yuanchen and his ability to identify him show that the Heaven-Restoration Sect has been monitoring him for some time.

Significant Themes

• Hidden inheritances and ancient continuity: The chapter reveals that powerful traditions may have survived for far longer than the known histories of the Human, Witch, and Demon Races.
• The struggle between concealment and revelation: Liu Yuanchen’s disguise is gradually stripped away, forcing him to decide whether to continue hiding or confront the truth openly.
• Pragmatic cooperation amid distrust: Both characters recognize the value of working together, yet Liu Yuanchen remains unwilling to trust Qiu Hai without proof.
• The legacy of oppression and resistance: The Heaven-Restoration Sect was allegedly formed by races and beings persecuted by the Witch and Demon Races, suggesting a broader historical conflict beyond the currently known factions.
• The value of lost cultivation traditions: The Golden Book indicates that fragments of the Orthodox Earth Immortal Path survived outside the major Human Race factions and may contain knowledge superior to what is currently available in the Yang Realm.

Character Interactions

• Liu Yuanchen and Qiu Hai initially meet as possible competitors searching for the same formation node.
• Qiu Hai attempts to establish cooperation by explaining the Demon Cloud Eruption, the twelve nodes, and the opportunities they contain.
• Liu Yuanchen questions Qiu Hai’s motives and identity, refusing to trust the Heaven-Restoration Sect merely on verbal assurances.
• Qiu Hai counters Liu Yuanchen’s skepticism by revealing that he knows his true identity and by presenting the Golden Book as evidence of the sect’s ancient and genuine inheritance.
• The exchange shifts from guarded confrontation to cautious negotiation, with Liu Yuanchen left to evaluate whether the Heaven-Restoration Sect’s offer is genuine.

Chapter Summary: Secrets of the Three Races

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Yuanchen studies a Golden Book containing an orthodox Earth Immortal Path inheritance. He realizes that the Human Race’s current Earth Immortal methods are incomplete adaptations of Witch Race techniques.
• The Human Race’s flawed Divine Spring method causes Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands to drain their cultivators’ life force, creating the otherwise unnatural ten-thousand-year lifespan limit.
• The Golden Book includes a corrected Divine Spring method and secret arts for drawing power from Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands. Liu recognizes it as valuable enough to form the foundation of an entire Earth Immortal sect.
• Despite the inheritance’s value, Liu remains suspicious of the Heaven-Restoration Sect. He concludes that the sect is not truly aiding the Human Race, but treating it as a useful chess piece.
• Liu agrees that cooperation with the Heaven-Restoration Sect may be possible, but only with strict limits. He believes the sect could eventually turn against the Human Race once their common enemies are weakened.
• Qiu Hai explains why the sect approached Liu: they value his extraordinary luck and his cautious, low-profile behavior. His survival against the Luochuan Dragon King, rise to Heavenly Dao True God status, and attempt to claim Blackcloud Ridge are presented as evidence of both qualities.
• Qiu Hai reveals that the Divine Court is effectively supported and controlled by the Witch Race. The Witch Race originally backed the Human Race as a strategic counterweight to the Demon Race, but later shifted its support toward the Divine Court.
• The Witch Race and Demon Race have remained locked in conflict within the Netherworld. The Witch Race is significantly strengthened there—especially the Earth Witch Lineage—while most Demon Races are weakened.
• The Demon Race’s powerful Innate Spirit Treasures have not been used to destroy the Human Race because the Witch Race keeps the Demon Race occupied in the Netherworld.
• The Netherworld King, Hou Yue, is revealed to be the leader of the Earth Witches and the de facto chief of the Witch Race.
• Qiu Hai states that both the Witch Race and Demon Race can still produce Longevity Immortals, unlike the weakened Human Race. The Witch Race obtains Innate Primordial Qi by extracting it from Earth Veins, while the Demon Race uses Innate Spirit Roots.
• Qiu Hai claims that surviving Human Race Longevity Immortals still exist, including some within the Heaven-Restoration Sect, and offers to train Liu Yuanchen to eventually become one himself if he joins them.

Character Developments

• Liu Yuanchen becomes more politically cautious. Although he is tempted by the Golden Book, he refuses to trust the Heaven-Restoration Sect blindly and recognizes the danger of becoming its pawn.
• He gains a broader understanding of the imbalance between the three races, particularly the Human Race’s lack of high-level experts and the hidden strength of the Witch and Demon Races.
• Liu also reflects on his own success and admits that luck played a major role in his rapid rise, even though he initially rejects Qiu Hai’s description of him as cautious.
• Qiu Hai presents himself as candid and knowledgeable, revealing major secrets about the three races while simultaneously attempting to recruit Liu. His comments show that the Heaven-Restoration Sect carefully evaluates talent for strategic reasons rather than simple admiration.
• Hou Yue, though not physically present, is established as a major political figure: the Netherworld King, leader of the Earth Witches, and effective head of the entire Witch Race.

Significant Themes

• Incomplete inheritance and dependence: The Human Race’s cultivation systems are revealed to be derivative and flawed because they originated from Witch Race methods.
• Power and manipulation: The Heaven-Restoration Sect’s willingness to share knowledge does not prove loyalty. Alliances are based on mutual enemies and strategic usefulness.
• Luck versus ability: Liu’s rise results from both personal intelligence and favorable coincidences, raising questions about destiny and individual achievement.
• Hidden political structures: The Divine Court’s apparent independence is undermined by its dependence on the Witch Race.
• Balance among the races: The Human Race survives not because it is strongest, but because the Witch and Demon Races are constrained by their own conflict.
• Foundations and longevity: The quality of cultivation inheritances determines not only strength but also lifespan and the possibility of producing top-tier experts.

Character Interactions

• Liu Yuanchen and Qiu Hai: Their conversation drives the chapter. Liu questions why the powerful Heaven-Restoration Sect seeks cooperation with him, while Qiu Hai explains that his luck, caution, accomplishments, and strategic potential make him valuable.
• Liu challenges the sect’s sincerity toward the Human Race, and Qiu Hai indirectly confirms that the sect acts according to its own interests.
• Liu uses Qiu Hai’s revelations to test the sect’s knowledge, asking about the Demon Race’s failure to exterminate humanity, the Witch Race’s strength, the Netherworld King, and the existence of Longevity Immortals.
• Qiu Hai responds with increasingly important secrets and ends by offering Liu membership and personal cultivation support, making the conversation both an information exchange and a recruitment attempt.

Summary: “Heaven-Restoration Sect’s Purpose”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Yuanchen rejects the Heaven-Restoration Sect’s offer to join them. His existing inheritance from Grand Immortal Zhenyuan already gives him a path toward the Longevity Immortal Realm, and he refuses to betray the Human Race.
• He agrees to possible cooperation only if it does not harm Human Race interests and if he retains the right to refuse their plans.
• Qiu Hai asks Liu Yuanchen to investigate the Sealing Grounds beneath the Demon Cloud Sea, where the Heaven-Restoration Sect has repeatedly lost experts.
• The sect wants him to retrieve a statue of the Witch Progenitor, a powerful artifact said to contain Pangu’s inheritance and to strengthen the Twelve-Celestial Capital Gods and Fiends Formation.
• Liu Yuanchen realizes that removing the statue could weaken or collapse the seal beneath the Demon Cloud Sea, potentially releasing whatever is imprisoned there and destabilizing the balance between the Human, Witch, and Demon Races.
• When Liu pressures Qiu Hai for more information, Qiu reveals that the sealed entity may be connected to the ancient invasion by Extraterritorial Lifeforms. The likely culprit is an Innate Black Lotus that once commanded those creatures.
• The Heaven-Restoration Sect intends to use the statue to break the seal and release the Black Lotus, hoping the resulting conflict will cause the Witch and Demon Races to weaken and create an opportunity for the sect and Human Race to rise.
• Liu recognizes this plan as reckless and dangerous. The Black Lotus would threaten the Human Race as well, and the Heaven-Restoration Sect could retreat while ordinary humans suffered the consequences.
• Nevertheless, Liu agrees to send an avatar into the Sealing Grounds to investigate, rather than risking his true body. He plans to study the statue and gather intelligence but not remove it.
• Qiu Hai provides records from surviving sect members. They decide that the safest opportunity to enter is during a Demon Cloud Eruption, when the Witch Race’s stationed experts are distracted suppressing the phenomenon.

Character Developments

• Liu Yuanchen demonstrates loyalty, caution, and strategic independence. He refuses to be manipulated by promises or favors and places Human Race stability above personal advancement.
• His curiosity and ambition remain strong: the possibility of obtaining Pangu’s inheritance, the Twelve-Celestial Capital Gods and Fiends Formation, or an Innate Spirit Treasure tempts him despite the danger.
• He becomes more distrustful of the Heaven-Restoration Sect after discovering that its goal is not merely investigation but deliberately breaking the seal.
• Liu’s use of an avatar reflects his growing sophistication. He balances risk and opportunity, seeking information while protecting his true body.
• Qiu Hai shifts from persuasion to partial disclosure. He initially withholds crucial information, but Liu’s threat to withdraw forces him to reveal the sect’s real objective.
• The Heaven-Restoration Sect is exposed as opportunistic and willing to endanger the entire Origin Spirit Realm for its own rise.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty versus ambition: Liu refuses to betray the Human Race even when offered powerful resources and inheritances.
• The danger of destabilizing balance: Releasing a sealed ancient power could weaken the Witch and Demon Races, but it would also expose the Human Race to catastrophe.
• Trust and manipulation: The Heaven-Restoration Sect presents cooperation as mutually beneficial while concealing its true plan.
• Knowledge versus risk: Liu is willing to investigate forbidden dangers to gain valuable information, but he carefully limits his exposure.
• Legacy and inheritance: The Pangu statue, the Twelve Ancestor Witches, and the Twelve-Celestial Capital Gods and Fiends Formation connect ancient powers to the present struggle.
• Hidden historical threats: The ancient Extraterritorial invasion may not truly be over, suggesting that past enemies and unresolved conflicts continue to shape the current world.

Character Interactions

• Liu and Qiu Hai engage in a tense negotiation over cooperation. Liu sets strict conditions, while Qiu attempts to secure his assistance through the Earth Immortal Path inheritance and secret information.
• Liu repeatedly challenges Qiu to reveal what lies beneath the Demon Cloud Sea. When Qiu hesitates, Liu pretends to end negotiations, forcing him to disclose the truth.
• Liu accurately guesses the existence of the Innate Black Lotus, surprising Qiu and confirming that Liu possesses significant knowledge of ancient events.
• Their relationship settles into cautious cooperation: Liu will send an avatar to investigate, while the Heaven-Restoration Sect supplies intelligence and access methods. Neither side fully trusts the other.

Chapter Summary: “Sealing Grounds”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Yuanchen accepts Qiu Hai’s reasoning that the Innate Black Lotus beneath the Demon Cloud Sea is likely guarded by powerful Witch Race experts. Because encountering them could expose his origins and invite the Netherworld King’s retaliation, he decides not to pursue the Ancestral Witch Inheritance for now.
• He agrees to enter the Sealing Grounds during the next Demon Cloud Eruption and investigate the Pangu Statue, relying on the Heaven-Restoration Sect to provide protection, communication methods, and guidance.
• After returning to Linhai City, Liu Yuanchen conceals his contact with the Heaven-Restoration Sect from the Sea-Suppressing Commandant and claims he found nothing during his search.
• Over the following year, the Demon Cloud Sea becomes increasingly unstable. Frequent disturbances damage the surrounding islands, while monthly eruptions severely threaten Linhai City and destroy most of its buildings. The sea eventually turns into a vast Blood Sea covered in strange Demon Clouds.
• The Eastern Plains Grand General sends large numbers of troops into the region and orders local generals to provide reinforcements. Liu Yuanchen refuses to risk his own subordinates, since his relationship with the Grand General is only an alliance.
• When the Demon Cloud Eruption reaches its peak, a blood-mist barrier forms around the Demon Cloud Sea, trapping everyone inside. At the same time, the bizarre Demon Clouds begin directly attacking nearby cities with spells and divine abilities.
• Linhai City’s defensive formation repels a lightning attack from a dragon-shaped Demon Cloud, while the city’s forces destroy the dragon. Other Demon Clouds immediately replace it, confirming that the eruption has fully begun.
• Liu Yuanchen’s fourth clone travels from the Netherworld to Qiu Hai’s cave. There, he meets a powerful Heaven-Restoration Sect steward, who gives him two protective artifacts:
  • Restriction-Breaking Armor, which allows him to pass through the sealing formation.
  • Void-Escape Battle Armor, which hides him in an isolated spatial pocket and protects him from the eruption.
• The steward instantly transports Liu Yuanchen to the shore of the Demon Cloud Sea, then disappears. Liu Yuanchen activates the armor and burrows underground to begin his mission.
• Beneath the surface, he discovers a massive Jumang Ancestral Shaman Statue serving as a formation core and encounters an unimaginably advanced Sealing Grand Formation. The Restriction-Breaking Armor allows him to pass through the formation with little resistance.
• Below the seal lies an eerie but beautiful valley containing a river, forests, animals, and a bright sun. Liu Yuanchen follows the river downstream to an azure lake and discovers a farming village built on the surrounding plains.
• At the village’s center stands another enormous Jumang statue. A three-zhang-tall, blue-feathered man emerges from one of the houses, apparently belonging to the Jumang Witch Race lineage or being a Witch-Human.

Character Developments

• Liu Yuanchen becomes more cautious and strategically restrained. He abandons his plans to seize the Ancestral Witch Inheritance, recognizing that the Demon Cloud Eruption and the Witch Race pose greater immediate dangers.
• He demonstrates greater willingness to rely on the Heaven-Restoration Sect, while still carefully concealing their cooperation from the Eastern Plains authorities.
• Liu Yuanchen’s confidence is challenged by the Heaven-Restoration Sect steward’s overwhelming power and by the sophistication of the Sealing Grand Formation.
• Qiu Hai continues to act as Liu Yuanchen’s guide and ally, coordinating the mission and arranging the protective equipment and escort.
• The Heaven-Restoration Sect steward is introduced as an extremely powerful but arrogant figure. He treats Liu Yuanchen dismissively, yet provides crucial assistance and protection.
• The Sea-Suppressing Commandant remains suspicious of Liu Yuanchen’s movements but accepts his explanation and warns him against further wandering.
• The appearance of the blue-feathered man introduces a possible new Witch Race or Witch-Human character and signals that Liu Yuanchen may soon encounter inhabitants of the sealed realm.

Significant Themes

• Caution versus ambition: Liu Yuanchen suppresses his desire for the Ancestral Witch Inheritance in favor of surviving the more urgent crisis.
• The danger of hidden power: The Demon Cloud Sea, the Witch Race, and the sealing formation all contain forces far beyond Liu Yuanchen’s current level.
• Alliance and secrecy: Liu Yuanchen must cooperate with the Heaven-Restoration Sect while concealing the relationship from the Eastern Plains Grand General and other authorities.
• The contrast between beauty and danger: The peaceful valley beneath the seal appears idyllic, yet its existence within the deadly Demon Cloud Sea creates an unsettling sense of mystery and threat.
• Ancient civilizations and inheritance: The Jumang statues, the Witch Race presence, and the immense sealing formation suggest that the Sealing Grounds preserve remnants of an ancient and powerful lineage.
• Protection through superior cultivation and artifacts: Liu Yuanchen’s survival depends not only on his own abilities but also on advanced techniques and equipment far beyond the Human Race’s current attainments.

Important Character Interactions

• Liu Yuanchen and Qiu Hai discuss the dangers of the Demon Cloud Sea and establish the plan for entering the Sealing Grounds during the eruption.
• Liu Yuanchen gives the Sea-Suppressing Commandant a carefully edited account of his activities, concealing his alliance with the Heaven-Restoration Sect.
• Qiu Hai introduces Liu Yuanchen to the Heaven-Restoration Sect steward, who provides the two armor artifacts and escorts him to the Demon Cloud Sea.
• The steward’s contemptuous attitude contrasts with Liu Yuanchen’s cautious respect and highlights the vast difference in their cultivation levels.
• At the chapter’s end, Liu Yuanchen encounters a mysterious blue-feathered man from the Jumang lineage, setting up a likely confrontation or investigation into the Witch Race inhabitants of the sealed realm.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Yuanchen enters a strange village within the Sealing Grounds beneath the Demon Cloud Sea. He realizes it is likely a perfect external illusion created through Zhu Jiuyin’s Time Law, recreating an actual historical event.
• He learns that destroying the village’s Jumang Ancestral Shaman Statue will break the illusion. Using a Space Law blade formed by his Void-Escape Battle Armor, he shatters the statue and escapes.
• The statue’s fragments enter his Sea of Consciousness and reveal the life of Ju Yuan, a descendant of Ancestor Witch Jumang:
  • Ju Yuan grows from a village hunter into a powerful Witch Race warrior.
  • He reaches the Longevity Immortal realm, the highest realm possible in the damaged Origin Spirit Realm.
  • During the invasion of Extraterritorial Lifeforms, he joins the other eleven Witch Race experts in activating the Twelve-Celestial Capital Gods and Fiends Formation.
  • The formation severely damages the Innate Black Lotus, but cannot destroy it completely.
  • The twelve Witch experts transform themselves into a seal beneath the Demon Cloud Sea.
• The Witch Race later constructs additional formations and condenses the Pangu Statue to connect the original seal with the new formations. The Pangu Statue functions as the central energy hub.
• Liu Yuanchen discovers the truth behind the Demon Cloud Sea:
  • The grand formation continuously extracts energy from the Innate Black Lotus.
  • Ordinary Demon Clouds are merely refined, ownerless energy.
  • Demon Cloud Eruptions occur when the Black Lotus releases accumulated power in violent bursts, attacking the formations and attempting to escape.
• Liu Yuanchen realizes that the Heaven-Restoration Sect’s plan to remove the Pangu Statue would disconnect the seal from the supporting formations and potentially release the Innate Black Lotus, causing another catastrophe.
• In the cavern surrounding the sealing core, his clone records numerous Witch Patterns, hoping to reconstruct or study the Witch Race’s formations.
• He eventually finds a chamber containing a yellow-jade altar, twelve chains linked to the surrounding mountains, and the central Great God Pangu Statue.
• Merely looking at the statue triggers an illusory axe strike that causes intense pain to both his clone and main body, though neither is physically injured.
• Because Liu Yuanchen practices an Astral Force cultivation art inherited from Ancestor Witch Jumang, the statue eventually recognizes him as an ally and stops attacking.
• The statue sends two golden lights into his clone, showing him a vision of Pangu fighting countless enemies and using nine axe strikes to split open the darkness and create the heavens and earth.
• Liu Yuanchen concludes that he has witnessed the legendary Nine Heaven-Cleaving Forms.

Character Developments

• Liu Yuanchen becomes more cautious and perceptive, correctly identifying the illusion’s nature and uncovering the true history of the sealing formation.
• His distrust of the Heaven-Restoration Sect deepens. He recognizes that following their instructions would endanger the entire Origin Spirit Realm rather than merely weaken the Witch Race and Demon Race.
• His connection to the Witch Race, particularly Ancestor Witch Jumang’s lineage, proves crucial. His Astral Force inheritance allows him to survive the Pangu Statue’s defensive power and receive its inheritance.
• Liu Yuanchen shifts from merely investigating the Sealing Grounds to actively preserving and recording the Witch Race’s formation knowledge.

Significant Themes

• Truth versus illusion: The illusion is not fabricated deception but a recreation of real history, showing that an illusion can preserve genuine truth.
• The danger of incomplete knowledge: The Heaven-Restoration Sect’s plan appears practical but would destroy the balance sustaining the seal and unleash the Innate Black Lotus.
• Sacrifice and duty: Ju Yuan and the other Witch experts sacrifice themselves to contain the Black Lotus and protect the realm.
• Inheritance across races and eras: Liu Yuanchen, a human cultivator, gains access to Witch Race knowledge because of his Jumang inheritance.
• Creation and destruction: The Innate Black Lotus threatens the world through corruption and energy accumulation, while Pangu’s axe symbolizes the ordering and creation of heaven and earth.
• Power concealed in simplicity: Pangu’s axe movements appear plain but contain profound and overwhelming mysteries that Liu Yuanchen cannot yet fully comprehend.

Character Interactions

• Liu Yuanchen interacts indirectly with Ju Yuan through the historical vision, witnessing his rise, military service, sacrifice, and role in the sealing of the Innate Black Lotus.
• He confronts the defensive will of the Great God Pangu Statue, initially suffering an illusory attack before being recognized through his Jumang-derived cultivation.
• Liu Yuanchen respectfully apologizes to the Pangu Statue, after which it grants him the vision of the Nine Heaven-Cleaving Forms.
• His relationship with the Heaven-Restoration Sect remains adversarial: he sees their proposed actions as reckless and possibly aligned with the interests of the Extraterritorial Lifeforms.