Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group returns from the Return-to-Ruins Secret Realm, which remains open for thirty days and can be entered repeatedly. Because it contains rare resources—especially valuable yang-attributed treasures such as Profound Yang Bone and Scarlet Yang Jade Jue—official and core disciples plan to explore it again.
• However, the group is concerned about a mysterious enemy who ambushed them inside the realm. This person severely wounded Mo Cha, cutting off one of his arms. Since Mo Cha is nearly unmatched among Foundation Establishment cultivators, the attacker is judged to possess at least late Foundation Establishment strength, possibly even Golden Core cultivation.
• Qin Baili decides to report the incident to the Immortal Sect and his master before the group determines whether it is safe to re-enter the realm.
• During a celebratory meal, Li Lingbi reveals the expedition’s spoils and generously allows Xu Changqing to choose three items.
• After considering his various Spiritual Roots and future cultivation paths, Xu selects:

Netherbone Flower

Netherworld Mud

Eclipse Moon Spirit Liquid

• Chu Qiu explains that these treasures are particularly suitable for Xu’s Water-Wood Dual Spiritual Roots and can help cultivate spirit plants and improve soil.
• The group discusses the structure and environment of the Secret Realm, which resembles a Netherworld Ghost Domain and is divided into four regions:
  1. Cold Abyss Ferry
  2. Bone Plain
  3. Eclipse Moon Caverns
  4. Yin-Yang Border Zone
• At the end of the gathering, Qin Baili privately asks Xu whether he would be interested in something related to his Water-Wood Dual Spiritual Roots, setting up a likely offer or development in the next chapter.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing demonstrates prudence and social awareness. Although offered any three treasures, he avoids choosing the rarer Profound Yang Bone because he did not participate in the expedition. His restrained choices preserve his reputation and show that he understands propriety.
• His diverse cultivation foundation is clarified: he has completed the Five Elements and is developing different Spiritual Roots through spirit-plant cultivation, insect cultivation, pill refinement, formation study, and future artifact forging.
• Li Lingbi shows generosity and trust by allowing Xu to choose three expedition treasures, while also maintaining authority over the distribution of the loot.
• Qin Baili and Li Lingbi both become more serious and cautious after considering the mysterious attacker. Their plans shift from immediate re-entry to reporting the danger and investigating further.
• Chu Qiu acts as a knowledgeable adviser to Xu, recommending treasures that best suit his current cultivation.
• Mo Cha’s reputation is reinforced through discussion: despite his formidable fighting ability, he was decisively defeated by the unknown enemy, emphasizing the threat facing the group.

Significant Themes

• Opportunity versus danger: The Secret Realm offers immense resources, but repeated entry may expose the group to a powerful and unseen enemy.
• Prudence and restraint: Xu’s modest selection of treasures reflects the importance of knowing one’s place and maintaining trust within a powerful group.
• Long-term cultivation planning: Xu evaluates every treasure according to his different Spiritual Roots and future professions rather than choosing based solely on rarity or monetary value.
• Extreme yin and yang balance: Though the realm is dominated by venomous yin and sinister yin treasures, extreme yin gives rise to extreme yang, explaining the existence and value of rare yang treasures.
• Cooperation and mutual benefit: The group shares resources, knowledge, and information, strengthening their relationships despite the dangers of the Secret Realm.

Character Interactions

• Qin Baili and Li Lingbi exchange grave looks while discussing the attacker, revealing their shared concern and cautious leadership.
• Li Sancai and Li Lingbi invite Xu to share in the expedition’s spoils, treating him as a trusted junior despite his lack of participation in the exploration.
• Chu Qiu guides Xu toward the three treasures most compatible with his Water-Wood cultivation.
• Qiu Su and Qin Baili react with surprise after learning that Xu and Chu Qiu both possess Water-Wood Dual Spiritual Roots, prompting Qin to take a particular interest in Xu.
• The chapter closes with Qin Baili approaching Xu directly and hinting that he possesses a potentially valuable item or opportunity for him.

Chapter Summary: “Gold Blade Technique!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Baili, a core disciple of Vajra Peak, invites Xu Changqing to tend spirit plants for a martial uncle who specifically requires a cultivator with Water-Wood Dual Spiritual Roots. Xu agrees after receiving Li Lingbi’s approval and arranges to go the next day.
• Qiu Su asks to purchase Xu’s Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice and Spirit Rice Wine. Xu generously gives her fifty jin of rice and five jin of wine instead, explaining that large-scale purchases must be arranged through Li Lingbi because most of his supply is already reserved.
• Han Xin visibly longs for the Spirit Rice Wine, having exhausted her own supply, but restrains herself because of the presence of Qin Baili and Qiu Su.
• After the guests depart, Xu admits that interacting with Golden Core cultivators makes him nervous because he fears offending them or accidentally revealing secrets. He cleans up and continues studying the Gold Blade Technique through the night.
• By the next morning, Xu successfully comprehends and perfects the Gold Blade Technique by spending lifespan through his attribute panel.
• At maximum level, the technique allows him to create three enormous golden blades, weaken artifact defenses, inflict tearing wounds, split into thirty-six razor-thin rays, and partially ignore defensive power.
• Xu tests the technique inside his Portable Space. He discovers that the blades can expand dramatically, reaching several zhang in size, and can be combined into a deadly net of golden rays.
• He then applies the technique to Sword Nest No. 1. Thirty-six Sword Pellets erupt with enhanced speed and power, forming a vast cutting formation capable of slicing through the air itself.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing: Becomes more confident in his combat abilities after mastering the Gold Blade Technique. He remains cautious and socially anxious around powerful cultivators, but his generosity and growing strength are evident. His Metal Spiritual Root proves highly compatible with the technique and greatly enhances Sword Nest No. 1.
• Qin Baili: Demonstrates goodwill toward Xu by offering him a valuable opportunity to work at Vajra Peak. His position as a core disciple and Golden Core cultivator reinforces his influence.
• Qiu Su: Shows a strong interest in Xu’s high-quality resources, especially the Spirit Rice Wine, and appears to have a close relationship with Li Lingbi and Qin Baili.
• Han Xin: Her intense desire for the wine reveals how valuable Xu’s products are, though she is careful not to behave improperly in front of senior cultivators.
• Li Lingbi: Quietly supports Xu’s decision to accept Qin Baili’s offer and appears to control or coordinate access to Xu’s Spirit Rice supply.

Significant Themes

• Power and specialization: The chapter emphasizes the exceptional combat potential of Metal Spiritual Roots, especially when paired with specialized techniques and artifacts.
• Resource management and cultivation economics: Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice and wine are valuable commodities, creating relationships, obligations, and potential business arrangements among cultivators.
• Caution around power: Xu’s unease around Golden Core cultivators highlights the dangers of revealing secrets or making social mistakes in the cultivation world.
• Accumulated preparation: Xu’s earlier cultivation and acquisition of Sword Nest No. 1 pay off when the Gold Blade Technique dramatically amplifies its power.
• Generosity and influence: Xu’s willingness to give away valuable resources strengthens his relationships, but also increases others’ interest in him and his products.

Character Interactions

• Qin Baili courteously recruits Xu for spirit-plant cultivation, while Xu accepts only after checking Li Lingbi’s reaction.
• Qiu Su attempts to establish a regular purchasing arrangement with Xu, but Xu directs large transactions through Li Lingbi.
• Xu’s generous gift impresses Qiu Su and silently confirms to Chu Qiu and Li Sancai that such generosity is typical of him.
• Han Xin observes the exchange with obvious envy but avoids demanding wine herself.
• After the visitors leave, Xu privately reflects on the pressure of dealing with them before focusing on his cultivation and combat testing.

Chapter Summary: “Vajra Peak!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Changqing tests Sword Nest No. 1, which has been enhanced with the Golden Blade Technique. Its attack power greatly surpasses his Max-Level Blazing Sun Finger and can seriously threaten even stronger opponents.
• He recognizes the weapon’s main weakness: after firing all its Sword Pellets, they must be retrieved before it can attack again. Xu decides to reserve the technique as a surprise trump card.
• After completing the test, Xu inspects his five mu of Spirit Fields:
  • The first two mu contain Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice.
  • The third and fourth contain medicinal herbs.
  • The fifth contains fruits and vegetables.
• Xu combines his own observations with the system’s analysis to improve his agricultural expertise. Over time, his personal judgment becomes nearly identical to the system’s assessment.
• Qin Baili arrives to accompany Xu to Vajra Peak, as they had agreed the previous night.
• After Xu finishes inspecting his fields, the two travel by Qin Baili’s sword-light technique.
• Xu reaches Vajra Peak for the first time and learns about its history, layout, and importance within the sect.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing demonstrates increasing mastery in both combat and spirit farming. He evaluates Sword Nest No. 1 realistically, acknowledging both its overwhelming destructive power and its practical limitation.
• His agricultural knowledge has advanced significantly. Rather than blindly relying on the system, he uses it to verify and refine his own observations, showing growing independence and expertise.
• Xu’s personality remains peaceful, practical, and detached from sect competition. He prefers the freedom and tranquility of his Spirit Fields to the status and resources offered by the Immortal Peaks.
• Qin Baili is shown as warm, observant, and proud of Vajra Peak. He respects Xu’s choices and does not pressure him to abandon his quiet lifestyle.
• Qin also reveals himself to be highly capable, transporting Xu at astonishing speed through sword-light travel.

Significant Themes

• Power and limitations: Even a devastating technique is not perfect. Xu understands that Sword Nest No. 1 must be used strategically rather than casually.
• Self-reliance and gradual mastery: Xu’s repeated comparison of personal observation with system analysis reflects his effort to turn external assistance into genuine skill.
• Freedom versus ambition: Xu values a peaceful, independent life over climbing the sect hierarchy, while the Immortal Peaks represent greater cultivation resources, competition, and advancement.
• Specialization and sect balance: Each Immortal Peak has its own strengths and pressures. Vajra Peak relies on artifact refinement, while Azurewood Peak and Redflame Peak possess unique resource advantages despite their lower rankings.
• History embodied in places: Vajra Peak is not merely a mountain but a transformed relic of an ancient battle and a powerful sword artifact.

Character Interactions

• Xu and Qin exchange polite greetings when Qin arrives. Qin patiently waits while Xu completes his field inspection, showing consideration for Xu’s priorities.
• Qin is impressed by Xu’s unusual residence, noticing its spirit beasts, pond, Spirit Fields, and the Poplar Tree Spirit. Xu explains that the tree became sentient after a past disaster.
• Qin praises Xu’s talent, including his planting ability and Mutual-Generating Dual Spiritual Roots, predicting that he could become a core disciple and ascend an Immortal Peak.
• Xu rejects this path, arguing that his current life is free and comfortable. Qin initially questions him but ultimately acknowledges the logic of Xu’s choice.
• During the journey, Xu asks about Qin’s sword-light transportation method. Qin responds cryptically that it is both a spirit artifact, a magic artifact, and a spell, leaving Xu amused and confused.
• At Vajra Peak, Qin acts as Xu’s guide and explains the peak’s origin and three major areas: Tai’e Hall, Ten Thousand Swords Grave, and White Tiger Cave.
• Qin reveals that the peak was created from the remains of the ancient sword artifact White Tiger, belonging to the deceased Sword Venerable Tai’e.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Baili brings Xu Changqing to Tai’e Hall at Vajra Peak, introducing him to the sect’s layout: Tai’e Hall on the sword’s body, the Ten Thousand Swords Grave on the hilt, and White Tiger Cave at the tip.
• They travel to the Heart-Nurturing residence, where Mo Yuan—an elder known as the “Mind’s Eye Sword”—lives.
• Qin Baili explains the different sword paths cultivators may pursue after reaching the Golden Core realm:
  • Mo Yuan follows the Divine Sword Path, using his soul and Divine Sense to control the sword and kill enemies from great distances.
  • Qin Baili follows the Grand Sword Path, relying on direct, overwhelming swordsmanship.
  • Xu Changqing privately reflects that he follows the Fission Sword Path, emphasizing repeated attacks and firepower.
• Mo Yuan examines Xu Changqing and immediately detects the lingering aura of the Mermaid Clan, correctly inferring that Xu has registered a marriage with a mermaid.
• After Qin Baili leaves, Mo Yuan explains that he needs help cultivating an extremely unusual spirit plant.
• He leads Xu to a rear courtyard containing a huge rune-covered stone wall. A strange flower has grown directly from it, apparently sharing the wall’s structure and containing both water and wood attributes.
• Mo Yuan admits that he does not know the flower’s identity or origin beyond the fact that it was extracted from a secret realm with the stone wall.
• Xu examines the plant and secretly uses the system’s identification ability, receiving information about it at the chapter’s end.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing remains cautious and highly secretive, worrying that Mo Yuan might discover his deeper secrets. He also relies on his Portable Space to absorb spiritual energy discreetly.
• Xu’s confidence and ambition are reinforced as he compares his own Fission Sword Path with Qin Baili’s and Mo Yuan’s sword philosophies.
• Qin Baili is shown to be respected throughout Vajra Peak, with fellow disciples greeting him warmly. He acts as Xu’s guide and intermediary.
• Mo Yuan is introduced as an eccentric yet powerful elder whose extraordinary perception allows him to identify the Mermaid Clan’s tracking aura instantly. Despite his plain appearance, his gaze and cultivation are intimidating.
• Mo Yuan’s slight pride and dry humor appear when he accepts Xu’s praise regarding his perceptiveness.
• Qin Baili’s teasing remark about Xu and Mo Yuan sharing a “common interest” suggests amusement at Xu’s mermaid marriage and Mo Yuan’s special attention to it.

Significant Themes

• Different paths to power: The chapter contrasts the Divine Sword Path, Grand Sword Path, and Xu’s Fission Sword Path, showing that cultivators develop strength according to distinct philosophies and combat principles.
• Hidden identity and perception: Xu’s anxiety about being seen through contrasts with Mo Yuan’s ability to detect concealed traces and secrets.
• Mystery and discovery: The unidentified flower and rune-covered wall introduce a new supernatural mystery, likely connected to ancient cultivation knowledge or the secret realm.
• Cultivation through specialization: The characters’ sword paths reflect their personalities—Mo Yuan’s subtle, soul-based killing, Qin Baili’s direct dominance, and Xu’s relentless, repeated attacks.
• Unusual relationships: Xu’s marriage to a mermaid becomes a point of intrigue and demonstrates how his previous adventures continue to affect his identity.

Character Interactions

• Qin Baili treats Xu as a junior while respectfully introducing him to the sect and its elders.
• Xu responds to Mo Yuan with formal respect but becomes nervous under the elder’s penetrating gaze.
• Mo Yuan and Xu quickly establish a dynamic based on scrutiny, secrecy, and reluctant mutual recognition.
• Qin Baili briefly teases the pair before departing, leaving Xu alone with Mo Yuan to investigate the mysterious spirit plant.

Chapter Summary: “Talisman-Spirit Flower”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Changqing examines Mo Yuan’s mysterious Talisman-Spirit Flower, a rune-like flower formed from patterns on a stone wall. The system identifies it as immature and lacking both spiritual energy and nutrients, but reveals that it can eventually mature and be harvested.
• Mo Yuan explains that even a highly respected Golden Core spirit farmer could not identify or cultivate it. He asks Xu Changqing to try the Four Seasons Scripture, a cultivation method normally restricted to Spirit Cultivators.
• Xu Changqing channels Wood Spiritual Power into the flower for five minutes, but nothing changes. The system still reports insufficient energy and nutrients, so Mo Yuan reluctantly gives up on it.
• During their conversation, Mo Yuan reveals that the flower is connected to the Inscribed Bone Mound, a secret realm opening only once every five hundred years. It is accessible to Golden Core cultivators and contains treasures related to puppets, runes, and talismans.
• As compensation for Xu Changqing’s efforts, Mo Yuan gives him a Burst Talisman Sword, capable of releasing a self-destructive attack equivalent to a full-force strike from a late Foundation Establishment cultivator. He then sends Xu Changqing back to the Spirit Fields.
• Having memorized the patterns on the stone wall and flower, Xu Changqing reproduces the rune on talisman paper. The system identifies it as the Bone-Pattern Lock, a technique capable of opening a temporary passage to the outer perimeter of the Inscribed Bone Mound.
• The Bone-Pattern Lock can open the passage for ten minutes and reduce damage from the secret realm’s repulsion runes by half. However, repeatedly activating it more than three times causes harmful rune fragments to remain in the body and disrupt Metal Spiritual Power.
• Xu Changqing realizes that simply drawing the rune is insufficient; it requires a “special medium.” When he enters his Portable Space, the talisman activates, merges with the space, and forms a gray vortex leading to a region filled with countless skeletons.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing demonstrates his growing confidence and versatility. His mastery of the Four Seasons Scripture and maxed-out Rune Craft allows him to understand and reproduce an extremely complex rune.
• He becomes increasingly resourceful, quickly connecting Mo Yuan’s information about the Inscribed Bone Mound with the rune’s potential function.
• Xu Changqing also shows restraint and independence by refusing Mo Yuan’s offer to become his disciple, explaining that if he were to join a peak, he would prefer Azurewood Peak.
• Mo Yuan is portrayed as knowledgeable but frustrated by the mysterious flower’s resistance to cultivation. He respects Xu Changqing’s abilities and rewards him despite the failed experiment, while also revealing important information about the secret realm.

Significant Themes

• Hidden potential and discovery: Objects whose purposes are initially unknown may conceal extraordinary abilities, as shown by the flower and the Bone-Pattern Lock.
• Knowledge as power: Xu Changqing’s mastery of cultivation techniques and runes lets him uncover opportunities that even powerful Golden Core cultivators cannot recognize.
• Patience versus limitation: The flower cannot be cultivated by conventional methods, and the Inscribed Bone Mound’s five-hundred-year cycle emphasizes the scarcity and value of opportunities.
• Risk and reward: The Bone-Pattern Lock offers access to rare treasures but carries serious physical dangers if overused.
• Independence and ambition: Xu Changqing refuses an easy path into Mo Yuan’s tutelage, choosing to preserve his own goals and affiliations.

Character Interactions

• Mo Yuan seeks Xu Changqing’s help because of his unique status as a Spirit Cultivator capable of using the Four Seasons Scripture.
• Xu Changqing and Mo Yuan discuss the limits of spirit-farming knowledge, the mystery of the flower, and the existence of the Inscribed Bone Mound.
• Though Xu Changqing fails to cultivate the flower, Mo Yuan still treats him generously by giving him the Burst Talisman Sword and personally transporting him home.
• After returning, Xu Changqing works independently, using the knowledge gained from Mo Yuan and the flower to unlock a passage into the mysterious skeletal realm.

Chapter Summary: “Bone-Inscription Puppet!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Changqing reaches the entrance to the Inscribed Bone Mound, a secret realm that opens once every five hundred years.
• Although tempted by the potential treasures inside, he remains cautious after observing the danger surrounding Mo Cha and Lan Tian.
• Unable to see through the realm’s restrictions with Spiritual Sense, Xu returns outside and brings Fortress into the Portable Space.
• He sends Fortress into the realm to explore, record its surroundings, retrieve anything useful, and bring back a skeleton.
• Fortress immediately encounters golden quicksand inscribed with repulsion runes. The sand lifts it into the air and begins eroding its body.
• Xu rescues Fortress using his Wood Spiritual Power. Fortress narrowly escapes but manages to drag out a human skeleton.
• Xu determines that entering the realm is extremely dangerous, even though the entrance already reduces damage by half. He decides that further preparation is necessary.
• Xu upgrades the Bone-Pattern Lock to the Masterful Tier by sacrificing ten years of lifespan.
• The upgraded lock grants numerous abilities, including creating a permanent entrance, reducing damage and spiritual-power drain, controlling Bone-Inscription Puppets, activating a defensive barrier, and receiving random hints about the realm.
• Xu discovers that the main danger is gradual fusion with the Inscribed Bone Mound the longer one remains inside.
• Recognizing the usefulness of expendable servants, he activates the retrieved skeleton as a Bone-Inscription Puppet.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing demonstrates increased caution and strategic thinking. Rather than personally entering the dangerous realm, he uses Fortress as a test subject and later plans to rely on puppets.
• His confidence in puppet arts allows him to identify the rune on the skeleton and understand its potential use.
• Xu’s cultivation and abilities advance when he upgrades the Bone-Pattern Lock, giving him greater control over the secret realm.
• Fortress proves obedient and courageous, following Xu’s instructions even under attack. It completes its mission despite sustaining minor damage.
• The newly awakened Bone-Inscription Puppet is revealed to have limited intelligence and can perform only simple commands, unlike Fortress or Xu’s spirit pets.

Significant Themes

• Caution versus opportunity: Xu refuses to rush into a rare secret realm, recognizing that immense rewards are accompanied by lethal dangers.
• Preparation and indirect action: Instead of risking himself, Xu gathers information through Fortress and plans to use expendable puppets.
• Control and mastery: The Bone-Pattern Lock functions as a key to the realm, while Xu’s puppet expertise allows him to exploit its resources.
• Hidden costs of power: The lock’s abilities are powerful, but prolonged exposure may cause Xu or others to fuse with the mound.
• Loyalty and obedience: Fortress’s willingness to risk itself for Xu highlights the bond between master and servant.

Character Interactions

• Xu gives Fortress detailed instructions and warns it to retreat if it encounters danger.
• Fortress obeys without hesitation and attempts to fulfill every part of the mission, including retrieving a skeleton.
• Xu rescues Fortress from the golden quicksand and later sends it to rest after confirming its injuries are minor.
• Xu briefly considers the Poplar Tree Spirit while moving Fortress into the Portable Space, maintaining secrecy about his preparations.
• After upgrading the Bone-Pattern Lock, Xu directly controls the recovered skeleton, establishing the possibility of using Bone-Inscription Puppets as disposable explorers.

Chapter Summary: “A Second Spring!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Because the previous Secret Realm entrance closed after ten minutes, Xu Changqing creates a new, permanent gray-vortex entrance using Water Spiritual Power and runes.
• He orders a Bone-Inscription Puppet to enter the Inscribed Bone Mound, remain alive, retrieve three skeletons of its kind each day, and scout the surrounding routes.
• Xu decides not to enter the dangerous Secret Realm himself until reaching the Golden Core Realm. Instead, he plans to have disposable puppets slowly transport its treasures over the next four hundred years.
• After leaving his Portable Space, Xu examines the Burst Talisman Sword given to him by Mo Yuan. He successfully analyzes its structure and discovers that it contains the power of a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator.
• He determines that the sword can be refined using Thunderstruck Wood, Mystic Iron, and Thunder-Drawing Talismans. Since he possesses an entire Lightning-Struck Tree, he realizes he could potentially create more than a thousand such weapons.
• While inspecting the tree inside his Jade-Green Gourd, Xu is shocked to find that it has begun regenerating. The gourd’s ability to repair wood-attributed objects has restored the tree over several years.
• Xu brings the tree into the Portable Space and uses the Four Seasons Scripture and his Wood Spiritual Power to accelerate its recovery, eventually restoring it completely.
• He discovers that the supposedly Lightning-Struck Tree is actually a rare Sinking-Water Tree, also known as a Dragon-Luring Root.
• Xu reconstructs the tree’s history: it attracted the Demon Dragon to Black Dragon Pool, was deliberately struck by lightning to combine yin and yang, and transformed into a Lightning-Struck Tree. The process killed the Demon Dragon but produced a Woodfire Spirit Crystal.
• The tree’s restoration gives it a “second spring,” revealing the Jade-Green Gourd’s extraordinary value.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing becomes increasingly strategic and cautious. Rather than risking his life inside the Secret Realm, he devises a long-term plan using expendable puppets.
• His confidence in his own abilities grows as he rapidly deciphers the Burst Talisman Sword and understands how to reproduce it.
• Xu also demonstrates greater knowledge of spiritual treasures and ancient events, correctly identifying the restored tree and deducing its connection to the Demon Dragon.
• His appreciation for the mysterious Jade-Green Gourd deepens, especially after witnessing its ability to repair an apparently dead spiritual tree.

Significant Themes

• Patience and long-term planning: Xu chooses gradual accumulation over reckless exploration, relying on centuries of time and expendable puppets.
• Resourcefulness and preparation: Dangerous discoveries are converted into practical advantages, such as mass-producing Burst Talisman Swords.
• Restoration and renewal: The central image of the chapter is the dead-looking tree receiving a “second spring.”
• Hidden origins and reconstruction of the past: Xu pieces together the relationship between the Sinking-Water Tree, the Demon Dragon, and the Lightning transformation.
• The value of overlooked treasures: Objects whose true nature is initially misunderstood may contain enormous potential.

Character Interactions

• Xu Changqing and the Bone-Inscription Puppet: Xu gives the puppet precise survival, retrieval, and scouting instructions, treating it as a useful but expendable tool.
• Xu Changqing and Mo Yuan: Although Mo Yuan does not appear directly, his gift of the Burst Talisman Sword becomes a major source of insight and potential power for Xu.
• Xu Changqing and the Jade-Green Gourd: The gourd functions almost like a silent partner, preserving and repairing the tree while revealing its hidden potential.
• Xu Changqing and the Demon Dragon’s legacy: Through investigation, Xu uncovers the Dragon’s past actions and realizes that its death indirectly created the Woodfire Spirit Crystal.

Chapter Summary: “Wangwang Happily Became a Father!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Changqing harvests five mu of Foundation-Firming Rich-Soil Rice in his Portable Space using the Golden Blade Technique.
• The harvest yields 5,000 stalks, restoring 50,000 days—136 years—of lifespan and raising his remaining lifespan to 823 years.
• He reflects that harvesting has become far faster since acquiring a Metal Spiritual Root, though the technique cannot be used on fields outside the Portable Space.
• Before leaving, Xu briefly checks the Inscribed Bone Mound, noting that many patterned-bone skeletons remain unexplored or uncontrolled.
• Hu Bugui contacts Xu to announce that the Golden-Furred She-Wolf, Wangwang’s mate, is about to give birth.
• Xu realizes he had forgotten about the pregnancy amid his many recent activities, then rushes with Wangwang to Beast Spirit Valley.
• Xu, Hu Bugui, Xu Yuan, and Wu Qiuya wait outside the tree hollow where the she-wolf is giving birth. Zhao Mo remains inside with her and uses a formation to prevent disturbances.
• After several hours, the she-wolf delivers her first pup, instinctively removing its fetal membrane, cleaning it, severing the umbilical cord, and caring for it.
• A second pup is born soon afterward, revealing that the litter may contain more than two pups.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing continues growing stronger and more efficient. His Metal Spiritual Root greatly improves his harvesting ability, while his lifespan reaches an extraordinary level for a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
• He displays a relaxed, somewhat absent-minded personality by forgetting Wangwang’s impending fatherhood, but quickly becomes enthusiastic and emotionally invested once reminded.
• Wangwang is portrayed as excited and curious, reacting eagerly to the upcoming birth and appearing ready to participate despite being kept quiet.
• Hu Bugui acts as the knowledgeable and practical guide, explaining the expected length of labor and correcting Xu’s assumptions.
• Zhao Mo demonstrates responsibility and care as the she-wolf’s owner, staying with her during labor and protecting the birth through defensive formations.
• The Golden-Furred She-Wolf follows her maternal instincts, carefully tending to each newborn immediately after delivery.

Significant Themes

• Growth and accumulation: The rice harvest symbolizes Xu Changqing’s steady progress, providing both resources and an astonishing extension of his lifespan.
• Power and efficiency: His new Metal Spiritual Root dramatically improves his abilities, showing how cultivation breakthroughs affect practical tasks.
• Life and reproduction: The chapter shifts from cultivation and exploration to the natural process of birth, emphasizing the continuation of life and the growth of a new generation of spirit beasts.
• Companionship and responsibility: Xu’s concern for Wangwang, Zhao Mo’s care for the she-wolf, and the group’s anxious waiting highlight bonds between cultivators and their spirit beasts.
• Humor and everyday life: Xu’s forgetfulness, his surprise at the length of labor, and Wangwang’s eager reactions add a lighthearted domestic tone to the cultivation setting.

Character Interactions

• Xu and Hu Bugui communicate through the Jade-Green Gourd, with Hu reminding Xu that the pups are Wangwang’s and urging him to come quickly.
• Xu teasingly tells Wangwang that it is about to become a father, while Wangwang responds with confusion and excitement.
• Xu, Hu Bugui, Xu Yuan, and Wu Qiuya gather together but must remain at a respectful distance because the she-wolf is protective during labor.
• Xu covers Wangwang’s muzzle to stop it from barking and disturbing the birth.
• Hu Bugui explains the birthing process to Xu, while Xu and the others silently share the tension and excitement of witnessing the first pup’s arrival.
• The chapter ends with the group realizing that the litter is likely larger than expected, complicating the earlier agreement over how the pups will be divided between Xu Changqing and Zhao Mo.

Chapter Summary

Plot and Events

• After six hours of labor, the golden-furred she-wolf gives birth to six pups, not the expected five.
• The sixth pup is strikingly different: smaller but heavier, earthy yellow, with unusual markings, dark rings on its limbs, and a short tail tipped with black fur.
• Zhao Mo identifies it as an instance of ancestral reversion, while Xu Yuan speculates that it has awakened a special bloodline, possibly connected to the earth attribute. None of the group can determine its exact species, but everyone agrees that it has extraordinary potential.
• Since Xu Changqing has first choice, he selects the unusual sixth pup for the Spirit Fields. Zhao Mo will deliver it after the pup has spent ten days to half a month nursing with its mother.
• The other pups are divided among Hu Bugui, Xu Yuan, and Wu Qiuya, while Zhao Mo agrees to raise the remaining two. The group also establishes the possibility of cooperating on similar matters in the future.
• Xu Changqing returns home with Wangwang and rewards him with a large bone and Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice Wine for fathering the litter. Wangwang happily accepts, understanding only the promise of meat.
• While reflecting on Wangwang’s successful mating and offspring, Xu Changqing begins thinking about marriage and children of his own. He ultimately decides to live in the present and trust that marriage will come if fate intends it.
• He falls asleep and later wakes in a peaceful nighttime setting, surrounded by the Fire Crows and the quiet, thriving Spirit Fields.

Character Developments

• The sixth pup is established as potentially far more gifted than either parent, with an unknown but powerful awakened bloodline.
• Wangwang gains importance and pride through fathering the litter. His apparent “reward cycle”—mating, producing pups, and receiving treats—also becomes a humorous source of motivation.
• Xu Changqing shows generosity and responsibility by choosing the rare pup for the Spirit Fields rather than treating it merely as a personal possession. He also reveals growing loneliness and a renewed openness toward marriage and family.
• Zhao Mo acts as the she-wolf’s attentive owner, remaining vigilant during the difficult birth and taking responsibility for delivering and raising the pups.
• Xu Yuan demonstrates his experience with spirit beasts by recognizing that the sixth pup may possess an awakened bloodline.
• Hu Bugui, Xu Yuan, and Wu Qiuya eagerly accept their share of the pups, though they are visibly disappointed when Xu Changqing chooses the rarest one.

Significant Themes

• Inheritance and transformation: The sixth pup represents ancestral reversion, genetic change, and the emergence of a new, potentially superior bloodline.
• Potential versus appearance: Though the pup is smaller and visually strange, its unusual traits suggest limitless future potential.
• Responsibility and cooperation: The characters divide the pups fairly and agree to support one another in future ventures.
• Loneliness and the desire for family: Wangwang’s offspring prompt Xu Changqing to confront his own isolation and consider marriage, children, and emotional attachment.
• Living in the present: Despite his fears and secrets, Xu Changqing chooses not to force the future, deciding that he will accept family life when fate brings it.

Character Interactions

• The group shares excitement over the birth but quickly becomes anxious when the she-wolf suffers through the sixth delivery.
• Zhao Mo, as the owner, remains especially concerned for the mother, while Xu Yuan and Hu Bugui help interpret the pup’s unusual characteristics.
• Xu Changqing’s selection of the sixth pup causes brief disappointment among the others, but they respect the original agreement that he would choose first.
• Xu Changqing warmly praises and rewards Wangwang, creating a comic contrast between the dog’s simple joy over food and his owner’s deeper reflections about parenthood.
• The final quiet scene contrasts the earlier excitement with Xu Changqing’s introspection, emphasizing both the vitality of his world and the emptiness he still feels within.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• As winter approaches, Xu Changqing resumes his quiet routine of cultivation, cooking, pill refinement, artifact forging, and occasional conversations with friends.
• Having completed all five elemental spiritual powers, he can now cultivate anywhere, but he has reached Foundation Establishment Perfection and is unwilling to attempt the dangerous breakthrough to Golden Core without certainty.
• His current goal is obtaining the materials and rune patterns for the Profound Origin Golden Light Talisman, which can forcibly withstand lightning tribulation. However, his low cultivation and status prevent him from accessing the necessary high-level information.
• Xu enjoys a simple breakfast of spirit rice porridge, cucumber salad, and eggs before receiving a message from Sun Peng. Sun Peng invites him to celebrate Yun Na’s birth of a daughter.
• Xu initially considers refusing but decides to attend because the event gives him a chance to collect the spirit stones owed to his disguised identity, Zhurong, after he previously helped the Red Tiger Squad.
• He travels to the Rogue Cultivator Market using his flying artifact, Shattered Moon, Falling Frost, rather than the sect’s Giant Flying Sword. He overtakes the sect disciples in spectacular fashion, enjoying the chance to show off.
• Near Dongqing City, he disguises himself as Zhurong with the Illusion Mask and enters through the Black Forest instead of using the flying ferry terminal.
• Xu investigates the Red Tiger Squad’s current circumstances. The group has become one of Dongqing City’s five strongest factions after displaying a Nightmare Wolf King, but its original unity has weakened.
• Red Tiger remains captain, while Li Tie has replaced Zhang Laizi as vice-captain after successfully reaching Foundation Establishment. Wang Linxun has left the team, while Zhou Cui remains.
• Suspecting a crisis of trust within the group, Xu decides not to interfere. His immediate priority is finding Zhang Laizi, who now works independently and occasionally joins demon-hunting teams.

2. Character Developments

• Xu Changqing: Has grown considerably stronger, reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection and gaining the confidence to travel alone on his artifact. He remains cautious about advancing to Golden Core and practical about concealing his abilities and identities. His playful pride is shown when he overtakes the sect’s flying sword, while his attachment to his peaceful home life appears in his interactions with Wangwang and his cooking.
• Wangwang: Has grown to the size of a calf and become increasingly clingy, though it remains obedient and good-natured.
• Red Tiger Squad: The group has expanded in influence and membership but has lost some of its former cohesion. Li Tie’s successful Foundation Establishment marks his advancement, while Wang Linxun’s departure and the change in vice-captain suggest internal conflict.
• Zhang Laizi: No longer serves as vice-captain and now operates as an independent cultivator, indicating a significant change in her relationship with the squad.
• Li Lingbi and others: Their involvement with the Return-to-Ruins Secret Realm keeps them too busy to help Xu obtain information about the Profound Origin Golden Light Talisman.

3. Significant Themes

• Caution and preparation: Xu refuses to pursue the Golden Core breakthrough until he is fully prepared, emphasizing the dangers of reckless advancement.
• Hidden identity and strategic behavior: He carefully separates his identities as Xu Changqing and Zhurong, using the latter to handle unfinished business without exposing himself.
• Growth and changing relationships: The Red Tiger Squad’s rise in status is accompanied by internal distrust, showing how success and time can alter close-knit relationships.
• Simple domestic happiness: Despite his growing power, Xu still values everyday pleasures such as cooking, eating, caring for Wangwang, and maintaining his peaceful lifestyle.
• Power and recognition: Xu enjoys the admiration inspired by his superior flying artifact, revealing a lighter side of his otherwise restrained personality.

4. Character Interactions

• Xu affectionately plays with Wangwang, teasing it for becoming clingier as it grows larger. Their relationship remains warm and familiar.
• He interacts with Sun Peng through the Jade-Green Gourd. Sun Peng’s invitation to Yun Na’s celebration both rekindles contact with Xu’s former associates and gives Xu a reason to visit the Rogue Cultivator Market.
• Xu observes the sect disciples’ reactions as he overtakes their Giant Flying Sword, silently enjoying their envy rather than stopping to greet them.
• His investigation into the Red Tiger Squad reveals past cooperation and present tensions among Red Tiger, Li Tie, Zhang Laizi, Wang Linxun, and Zhou Cui.
• Xu plans to locate Zhang Laizi to resolve the unpaid spirit-stone matter connected to his Zhurong identity.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Changqing finds Zhang Laizi after she has sold a demon and finished a solo hunt. She initially assumes he wants to recruit her, but is shocked to recognize him as “Senior Zhurong.”
• Zhang Laizi reveals that she has left the Red Tiger Squad. The squad’s fortunes changed dramatically after gaining the Wang Family’s support: Li Tie reached Foundation Establishment, Red Tiger became influential, and the group acquired considerable wealth.
• Zhang Laizi leads Xu Changqing to the Red Tiger Squad’s new residence so he can collect payment for the demons they sold. She refuses to enter, making clear that she has severed ties with the group.
• Red Tiger, Li Tie, and Zhou Cui welcome Xu Changqing. Red Tiger pays him one thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, explaining that the money is both his share and an expression of gratitude for helping them gain the Wang Family’s favor.
• Red Tiger then invites Xu Changqing to join an expedition into the Black Forest, where the Red Tiger Squad and the Wang Family may have discovered a secret realm. He offers to divide the profits seventy-thirty, but Xu Changqing declines.
• Red Tiger’s invitation gives Xu Changqing an idea: before attempting his Golden Core breakthrough, he needs the core materials of five demons corresponding to the five viscera and five elements. Rather than risk traveling to the Central Region’s Demon Battlefield, he decides to invest in a local demon-hunting squad and have them gather the materials.
• Red Tiger’s group is unsuitable because of its alliance with the Wang Family, while the Sun Clan is unavailable. Xu Changqing therefore considers Zhang Laizi and Wang Linxun, both former teammates who currently lack a squad.
• The chapter ends with Xu Changqing finding Zhang Laizi eating and drinking at a stall and asking her, “Do you… want to be a captain?”

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing: Demonstrates confidence and authority, effortlessly collecting his payment and rejecting Red Tiger’s offer. His focus shifts from immediate wealth to long-term preparation for Golden Core cultivation. He begins planning to build or sponsor a squad for his own purposes.
• Zhang Laizi: Has become estranged from the Red Tiger Squad and now works alone. Her contemptuous attitude toward Li Tie and refusal to reenter the squad show that she feels their paths have diverged permanently.
• Red Tiger: Has transformed from a daring, survival-driven cultivator into a wealthy and polished figure. His success has made him more cautious and politically dependent, though he remains grateful to Xu Changqing and recognizes the squad’s need for a stronger expert.
• Li Tie: Has advanced to Foundation Establishment and become the squad’s vice-captain, reflecting the group’s increased resources and status.
• Zhou Cui: Appears more prosperous and comfortable, symbolized by his enlarged belly, suggesting how greatly the squad’s fortunes have improved.

Significant Themes

• The corrupting or reshaping effect of wealth and status: The Red Tiger Squad’s prosperity has changed its residence, relationships, and personalities. Their material success contrasts with their former unity.
• Changing loyalties and diverging paths: Zhang Laizi’s departure shows that shared hardship does not necessarily survive newfound wealth and influence.
• Strategic preparation and calculated investment: Xu Changqing plans ahead for his Golden Core breakthrough, choosing to indirectly obtain dangerous resources rather than personally face unnecessary risks.
• Power and independence: Xu Changqing refuses to become dependent on the Wang Family or Red Tiger Squad, instead considering forming his own network through people he trusts.
• The unknown opportunities of the Black Forest: The possible secret realm expands the setting’s dangers and possibilities, though Xu Changqing chooses not to pursue it directly.

Character Interactions

• Xu Changqing and Zhang Laizi reconnect with mutual surprise, but her hostility toward the Red Tiger Squad remains clear.
• Li Tie treats Xu Changqing with great respect, while Zhang Laizi dismisses him and refuses to remain with the group.
• Red Tiger attempts to maintain a cordial relationship through generous payment and an invitation to cooperate, but Xu Changqing remains wary and quickly sees that Red Tiger has another motive.
• Xu Changqing’s final proposal to Zhang Laizi changes their relationship from former associates to potential business partners, setting up the formation of a new demon-hunting squad.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Changqing proposes creating a Demon-Hunting Team and consults Zhang Laizi about its operating costs.
• Zhang explains that maintaining a team requires relatively few Spirit Stones, though hunting expeditions significantly increase expenses.
• Xu gives Zhang one hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones to establish the team, recruit members, and secure a monthly supply of either:
  • A demon beast more than three hundred years old, or
  • The core material of a demon beast aligned with one of the five elements.
• To protect his investment, Xu and Zhang sign a contract requiring her to provide at least one hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones annually. Failure would incur a tenfold penalty of one thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.
• Motivated by ambition and the desire to improve her position in Dongqing City, Zhang accepts the responsibility. She plans to recall former teammate Wang Linxun and recruit experienced demon hunters, intending to build a large and successful team.
• Meanwhile, the Sun Clan holds a grand banquet celebrating the birth of Sun Peng’s daughter. Powerful families and even the Long Clan of Profound Heart City send representatives.
• Sun Peng anxiously waits for Xu Changqing, disguised as Cai Kun, hoping Xu will examine his daughter and possibly accept her as a disciple.
• Sun Peng and his wife Lei Yunna reflect on their family’s recent rise through Xu’s Spirit Rice and Spirit Rice Wine. Their attempt to expand through cooperation with the Long Clan angered Xu, causing him to stop visiting.
• Xu unexpectedly arrives at the banquet, prompting an enthusiastic welcome from the Sun Clan. Sun Peng brings his newborn daughter, Xiang’er, to meet him.
• The family asks Xu to give the child a formal name, clearly hoping to strengthen their connection with him. The chapter ends as Sun Peng begins suggesting a name based on the meaning of Xiang’er’s nickname.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing demonstrates his growing wealth, influence, and strategic caution. He is willing to fund useful ventures but insists on contractual protection against betrayal or waste.
• Zhang Laizi shifts from a struggling rogue cultivator into an ambitious organizer with a concrete opportunity to improve her status. Her determination to build the team reflects both practical survival instincts and long-held aspirations.
• Sun Peng remains eager to maintain Xu’s favor and secure a better future for his daughter. His anxiety reveals how important Xu’s approval has become to the Sun Clan.
• Lei Yunna provides a humorous, grounded contrast to Sun Peng’s nervous enthusiasm, reminding him that he was less anxious during their daughter’s birth.
• The Sun Clan is shown to be increasingly dependent on Xu’s support and fearful of losing his patronage after their recent overreach.

Significant Themes

• Opportunity and social mobility: Zhang receives a chance to transform her life through organization and specialized responsibility rather than cultivation talent alone.
• Trust and safeguards: Xu’s contract emphasizes that cooperation must be backed by enforceable terms, especially when large sums of resources are involved.
• Ambition and overreach: The Sun Clan’s rapid success caused their ambitions to expand, but their attempt to pursue greater profits nearly damaged their relationship with Xu.
• Patronage and dependency: Both Zhang and the Sun Clan seek to improve their futures by attaching themselves to Xu’s influence.
• Legacy and children’s futures: Sun Peng hopes his daughter can enter an Immortal Sect and avoid the limitations of Dongqing City, showing the importance placed on talent and inheritance.

Character Interactions

• Xu and Zhang negotiate the Demon-Hunting Team arrangement, with Zhang providing practical knowledge and Xu offering financial backing.
• Zhang’s acceptance of the contract marks a new professional relationship based on mutual benefit but guarded by strict obligations.
• Sun Peng and Lei Yunna argue humorously over his excessive anxiety about Xu’s arrival.
• Xu’s reunion with Sun Peng is cordial but carries an undercurrent of tension because the Sun Clan previously disappointed him.
• Sun Peng presents his daughter to Xu and attempts to use the naming ceremony to renew their bond and possibly secure Xu’s future guidance for the child.

Chapter Summary: “Learning the News!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Changqing inadvertently helps name Sun Peng and Sun Rong’s newborn daughter. His suggestion, Sun Shangxiang, is accepted over the original name, Sun Shenghua, and the baby appears to smile approvingly.
• Sun Peng privately apologizes to Xu Changqing for the Sun Clan’s association with the Long Clan and for previously considering involvement with Profound Heart City.
• Sun Peng promises that the Sun Clan will remain in Dongqing City and will no longer pursue ambitions involving Profound Heart City. Xu Changqing clarifies that, despite his dissatisfaction, he has never stopped cooperating with the clan.
• During their conversation, Xu Changqing learns shocking news:
  • The Dragon Vein beneath the Azuretide Sea Region was severed.
  • Foul waters and sea disasters have spread throughout the region.
  • The Long Clan abandoned Profound Heart City to avoid being implicated.
  • An earthquake damaged the City Lord’s Manor and cracked the Flood Dragon Suppression Tower.
  • The ancient Flood Dragon sealed beneath the tower escaped.
  • Water demons and sea monsters now run rampant across the region.
• Xu Changqing considers hunting the Flood Dragon to obtain its bloodline for his Nine Transformations of the Wandering Dragon, but recognizes that the thousand-year-old Greater Demon is far beyond his current strength.
• The chapter concludes with the Sun Clan’s lavish celebration banquet. Xu Changqing gives the newborn a protective talisman, then leaves after jokingly claiming he plans to visit the Fragrant Invitation Pavilion.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing experiences unfamiliar emotional turmoil after naming the child and receiving her apparent approval. He feels excitement, confusion, helplessness, and embarrassment.
• He remains cautious and somewhat resentful toward the Sun Clan but is not interested in breaking off their partnership.
• Xu Changqing’s recent misfortunes become clearer: the Verdant Touch Finger has stopped producing results, his Spirit-Gathering Abyss fishing rights were lost, and the Water Spirit Fruit remains with Xuan Zhu.
• Despite his curiosity about the escaped Flood Dragon, Xu Changqing demonstrates practical judgment by acknowledging that he is not strong enough to challenge it.
• Sun Peng becomes openly conciliatory, apologizing sincerely and promising loyalty to Dongqing City. His concern over Xu Changqing’s reaction reveals how seriously he values their relationship.
• Sun Rong and Sun Peng show great affection and pride toward their daughter, treating her birth as a major family event.

Significant Themes

• Reconciliation and trust: Sun Peng attempts to repair the Sun Clan’s relationship with Xu Changqing after their involvement with the Long Clan damages his confidence in them.
• The limits of ambition: Xu Changqing’s desire to obtain the Flood Dragon’s bloodline conflicts with the harsh reality of the creature’s overwhelming strength.
• Fate and unexpected consequences: A casual suggestion results in the child receiving the name Sun Shangxiang, while major disasters unfold elsewhere beyond Xu Changqing’s knowledge.
• Protection and responsibility: Xu Changqing gives the infant a powerful protective talisman, showing his concern for her safety despite her inability to cultivate yet.
• Information and isolation: The Immortal Sect’s news blockade leaves Xu Changqing unaware of major events, emphasizing how disconnected he has become from developments in the wider cultivation world.
• Family celebration amid looming danger: The joyful banquet contrasts sharply with the destruction and chaos affecting the Azuretide Sea Region.

Important Character Interactions

• Xu Changqing and the newborn: His naming of her creates an unexpectedly emotional moment, especially when she appears to smile in approval.
• Xu Changqing and Sun Peng: Their tense silence gives way to an apology and a reaffirmation of cooperation. Sun Peng then becomes Xu Changqing’s source of crucial information about Profound Heart City.
• Xu Changqing and the Sun family: He participates in their celebration and offers a protective talisman for Sun Shangxiang, strengthening his personal connection to the clan.
• Xu Changqing and the banquet guests: He attends the Sun Clan’s elaborate Spirit Cuisine feast before leaving at night, ending the chapter with his embarrassed excuse about visiting the Fragrant Invitation Pavilion.

Chapter Summary

Plot Points and Events

• After leaving the Sun Clan’s banquet, Xu Changqing walks through the Rogue Cultivator Market toward Fragrant Invitation Pavilion. He reflects on the difficult lives of ordinary rogue cultivators, especially those who must risk entering the Black Forest to hunt demons for a living.
• He thinks that if he had failed his third assessment in the past, he might have become a rogue cultivator himself, struggling merely to survive. In contrast, his current life is comfortable and privileged.
• At Fragrant Invitation Pavilion, Red Pearl, Xiao Taohong, and Yue’er are absent. Xu Changqing is attended by a new woman named Wen Ru, whom he selects as his companion for the evening.
• The next day, he purchases three thousand jin of Quality-Grade Spirit Rice at the market because it is cheaper there than at the Immortal Sect and can be used to brew wine.
• Disguised as Zhurong, Xu Changqing leaves Dongqing City. He notices that the five-person demon-hunting team he saw the previous night is following him, intending to rob and kill him after seeing him carry more than a hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.
• Rather than confront them in the city, Xu Changqing deliberately leads the group into the Black Forest and slows down to lure them into attacking near a stream.
• The five cultivators surround him and launch coordinated attacks using earth spikes, water arrows, and vines. Xu Changqing easily avoids them by transforming into firelight.
• He then summons five Fire Crows. Their flames evaporate the stream and instantly burn the attackers to death. Xu Changqing emerges unharmed and coldly declares that he did not even need to lift a hand to kill them.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing: His confidence and power are emphasized. He remains calm when targeted, recognizes the attackers’ intentions immediately, and turns the ambush into a trap. His reflections on rogue cultivators also reveal a degree of empathy and gratitude for his own fortunate circumstances.
• Wen Ru: Introduced as a newly transferred attendant from another Fragrant Invitation Pavilion. She is warm, flirtatious, and eager to please Xu Changqing, quickly establishing a friendly and intimate rapport with him.
• The five rogue cultivators: Initially appear organized and coordinated, using their different elemental abilities to prepare a group ambush. Their greed and overconfidence ultimately lead them to underestimate Xu Changqing and suffer a swift defeat.

Significant Themes

• Survival and inequality: Rogue cultivators must risk their lives hunting demons because they lack the resources needed for cultivation. The chapter contrasts their precarious existence with Xu Changqing’s comfortable life.
• Power and confidence: Xu Changqing’s effortless victory demonstrates the vast gap between him and ordinary Qi Refining cultivators.
• Greed and misjudgment: The attackers assume that Xu Changqing’s wealth makes him an easy target, failing to consider his true strength.
• Freedom and privilege: Xu Changqing enjoys the ability to drink wine, travel, and cultivate at his own pace—luxuries unavailable to most rogue cultivators.
• Deception and strategy: Xu Changqing uses his disguise, controlled movements, and deliberate retreat into the forest to manipulate the attackers into an advantageous position.

Character Interactions

• Xu Changqing observes and reflects on a newly formed demon-hunting team before later recognizing the same group as his pursuers.
• At Fragrant Invitation Pavilion, Wen Ru welcomes Xu Changqing, pours him wine, and playfully asks whether he likes her. He assures her that he chose her because he does, and she asks him to show her more affection.
• The five cultivators coordinate their elemental attacks against Xu Changqing, but their attempted ambush becomes an execution. Xu Changqing addresses them only briefly before destroying them with the Fire Crows.

Chapter Summary: “Inscription Ancestor!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Changqing effortlessly eliminates five rogue cultivators who attacked him, reducing their corpses to dust. He confiscates their three storage bags, though they contain only poor-quality pills, basic supplies, and incomplete cultivation techniques.
• On returning to the Immortal Sect, Xu Changqing finds Senior Brother Li Lingbi waiting outside his residence.
• Li Lingbi informs him that the expedition to the Return-to-Ruins Secret Realm has been postponed because the Immortal Sect is preparing a large-scale investigation and hunting operation in the Azuretide Sea Region.
• The culprit behind the destruction of the Undersea Dragon Vein is revealed to be the mysterious Yellow Springs Alliance, an ancient faction that has remained hidden for over a thousand years.
• The Yellow Springs Alliance has three levels:
  • Upper tier: Five Peaks Blood Pact
  • Middle tier: Four Rivers Fate Command
  • Lower tier: Nethermarket Hidden Agents
• Rong Long, despite being an Advanced Formation Master, belonged only to the lowest tier, demonstrating the Alliance’s terrifying strength and influence.
• The Immortal Sect will join forces with the Dragon-Tiger Immortal Sect and the Moon-Inviting Immortal Sect to investigate the Alliance. Many disciples are being redirected from the Return-to-Ruins Secret Realm to the Azuretide Sea Region.
• Li Lingbi invites Xu Changqing to visit the Spirit-Gathering Abyss with him, Qin, Chu Qiu, and a large portion of the Immortal Sect’s core disciples. The show of force is intended to prevent Profound Heart City from revoking Xu Changqing’s hundred-year fishing rights.
• Xu Changqing asks about the Profound Origin Golden Light Talisman, hoping to acquire materials for his seniors’ tribulation transcendence. Li Lingbi explains that only three people in the Heavenly Origin Realm can draw it: his master, a grandmaster from the Dragon-Tiger Immortal Sect, and the deceased Inscription Ancestor.
• The Inscription Ancestor’s tomb, the Inscribed Bone Mound, is a secret realm that opens only once every five hundred years, with more than four hundred years remaining until its next opening.
• Despite the apparent difficulty, Xu Changqing secretly resolves to explore the Inscribed Bone Mound more efficiently and locate either the Inscription Ancestor or the talisman.
• In his Portable Space, Xu Changqing finds that his first Bone-Inscription Puppet has been badly damaged after surviving for an unexpectedly long time. He withdraws its spiritual power and awakens a new group of puppets to continue exploring the mound.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing remains cautious and calculating. He hides his knowledge of the Azuretide Sea Region incident, pretends to be surprised by new information, and carefully conceals his true intentions regarding the Inscribed Bone Mound.
• He also demonstrates loyalty and gratitude toward Senior Brothers Sancai and Chu Qiu by claiming that he wants to gather tribulation resources for them.
• Li Lingbi is shown to be well-informed, supportive, and protective of Xu Changqing’s interests. He intends to use the Immortal Sect’s overwhelming presence to deter Profound Heart City from interfering with Xu’s rights.
• The first Bone-Inscription Puppet reaches the end of its useful life, marking the continuation of Xu Changqing’s methodical replacement and deployment of puppets.

Significant Themes

• Hidden power and escalating danger: The Yellow Springs Alliance’s long period of concealment and its ability to place an Advanced Formation Master in its lowest tier reveal a threat far greater than previously understood.
• Political and sectarian power: The joint response of the three great Immortal Sects shows how seriously the Alliance’s actions have destabilized the Heavenly Origin Realm.
• Pragmatism and long-term planning: Xu Changqing constantly conceals his goals, gathers information, and prepares for opportunities that may not bear fruit for centuries.
• Loyalty and reciprocity: Li Lingbi’s assistance and Xu Changqing’s desire to help Sancai and Chu Qiu highlight the importance of alliances and mutual support.
• Persistence through expendable means: The damaged puppet is replaced without hesitation, emphasizing Xu Changqing’s systematic and experimental approach to exploring dangerous areas.

Character Interactions

• Xu Changqing and Li Lingbi exchange light teasing over Xu’s visit to the Fragrant Invitation Pavilion, revealing familiarity between them.
• Li Lingbi shares sensitive information about the Yellow Springs Alliance and explains the Immortal Sect’s response.
• Their discussion of the Spirit-Gathering Abyss establishes Li Lingbi’s willingness to defend Xu Changqing against Profound Heart City.
• Xu’s questions about the Profound Origin Golden Light Talisman lead to the revelation of the Inscription Ancestor and the Inscribed Bone Mound, giving him a new long-term objective.

Chapter Summary: The Clever Crow Four!

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Changqing sends the Bone-Inscription Puppets deeper into the Inscribed Bone Mound while using Fire Crow Five’s shared vision to observe the secret realm remotely.
• The puppets safely cross the outer quicksand zone because they are recognized as part of the mound. Xu identifies the amber crystals there as ancient Sinking Runes, which counteract the Repulsion Runes.
• Xu orders Fire Crow Four to retrieve samples. It brings back both an amber crystal and, cleverly, two bone fragments sealed in amber.
• Xu discovers that the bones contain another type of ancient rune. He copies one rune in the air but cannot determine its exact function, suspecting it is either passive or an enhancement-type rune.
• The quicksand later transforms into a black, swamp-like substance that begins swallowing the puppets. Crow Five escapes by flying to another puppet. Xu suspects either a dangerous transformation or the presence of a hidden treasure and memorizes the location.
• In the middle region, the puppets encounter ruined buildings and short-lived flowers resembling Talisman-Spirit Flowers. Crow Four cannot successfully retrieve one because the flowers wither too quickly.
• Crow Four then independently enters an area filled with mysterious five-colored stones and returns with one. Xu praises its initiative but warns it not to act recklessly.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing demonstrates caution, technical knowledge, and methodical investigation. He uses shared vision, rune analysis, and controlled experiments to study the secret realm without risking himself.
• He recognizes that the ancient runes differ from modern techniques and considers testing their effects during future artifact refinement.
• Crow Four emerges as exceptionally intelligent and resourceful. It independently solves problems, retrieves multiple samples, and attempts to prove its usefulness after failing to obtain a Talisman-Spirit Flower.
• Xu realizes Crow Four is smarter than Crow One, though Crow One has superior potential and remains the stronger, dominant leader among the Fire Crows.
• Crow Five acts as a scout and responds intelligently to danger by abandoning a puppet sinking into the transformed quicksand.

Significant Themes

• Caution versus curiosity: Xu balances exploration with the need to protect his valuable spirit beasts in a dangerous realm.
• Ancient versus modern knowledge: The secret realm contains powerful but outdated runes, emphasizing the evolution of cultivation techniques and inscription methods.
• Hidden value and discovery: Ordinary-looking crystals, bones, flowers, and stones may contain unknown powers or historical secrets.
• Potential versus intelligence: The contrast between Crow One’s superior potential and Crow Four’s greater cleverness raises the question of whether innate talent or intelligence is more valuable.
• Controlled experimentation: Xu studies dangerous phenomena indirectly, using puppets and spirit beasts to minimize personal risk.

Character Interactions

• Xu gives Crow Four repeated missions, rewards its successes with praise and Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice, and affectionately strokes its head.
• Crow Four responds to Xu’s encouragement and appears eager to demonstrate its intelligence, even acting without permission.
• Xu gently reprimands Crow Four for entering the stone area without first checking for danger, showing both his protective nature and his concern for its survival.
• His comparison between Crow Four and Crow One reveals differing relationships with the Fire Crows: Crow One is respected for its potential and dominance, while Crow Four earns Xu’s admiration through cleverness and initiative.

Chapter Summary: “Evil Water!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Changqing experiments with the Five-Colored Stone, discovering that it responds to the five types of spiritual power: Wood produces green light, Fire produces red light and heat, and all five powers create a shifting multicolored glow. He concludes that it is likely a tool for testing Spiritual Roots and attributes, then stores it as a secret-realm treasure.
• For several days, Xu Changqing explores the Inscribed Bone Mound from the safety of his Portable Space. By sacrificing dozens—or sometimes hundreds—of Bone-Inscription Puppets each day, he maps dangerous and safe areas and identifies locations containing natural treasures.
• Xu Changqing forgets that he is scheduled to travel to Profound Heart City. Chu Qiu reminds him to gather at Foundry Peak, forcing him to quickly prepare and leave his animals and aquatic creatures in Fortress’s care.
• At Foundry Peak, Xu Changqing finds a huge contingent of Immortal Sect disciples preparing to depart. The sect has sent a large portion of its core and formal disciples, demonstrating the importance of the Azuretide Sea Region expedition.
• The group consists of Qin Baili, Li Lingbi, Chu Qiu, Xu Changqing, Han Xin, and Xuancang, an Advanced Alchemist from the Earthfire Zone at Foundation Establishment Perfection.
• Qin Baili transports the group toward the Azuretide Sea Region using an extremely fast sword technique. As they approach, the Water Qi becomes increasingly dense, particularly troubling Xuancang, whose Fire Spiritual Root is being suppressed.
• Xuancang casually consumes a large assortment of medicinal pills to counter the effects, shocking the others with his seemingly reckless confidence in his own alchemy.
• The group discovers that the Azuretide Sea Region has been transformed. After the Yellow Springs Alliance severed the Undersea Dragon Vein, the sea’s Water Qi became unbalanced, turning the water into poisonous, foul-smelling “Evil Water.”
• The region has become a dangerous breeding ground for water demons and sea monsters, and Profound Heart City appears heavily damaged by a massive crack running from the Flood Dragon Suppression Tower to the Scale-Claw District.
• Although Chu Qiu assumes the city is destroyed, Qin Baili senses that survivors remain. As the group descends to investigate, enormous black tentacles erupt from the Evil Water and attack them.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing becomes increasingly knowledgeable about the Inscribed Bone Mound through systematic exploration. His willingness to sacrifice large numbers of puppets shows his caution, resourcefulness, and growing understanding of the secret realm.
• He also continues collecting and evaluating treasures, recognizing the Five-Colored Stone’s potential usefulness despite its lack of immediate value.
• Xuancang is introduced as a quiet, eccentric, and highly self-assured alchemist. His ability to consume huge quantities of pills without hesitation suggests strong confidence in his own skills and unusual methods.
• Xu Changqing remains somewhat absent-minded, becoming so absorbed in the secret realm that he forgets the planned journey. His concern for Ji Mingxuan and the Spirit Grain Sect reveals his compassion and connections outside the Immortal Sect.
• Qin Baili acts as the group’s leader and protector, organizing the departure, transporting everyone, assessing the destruction, and detecting survivors in Profound Heart City.
• Chu Qiu and Li Lingbi quickly recognize the broader consequences of the Dragon Vein’s destruction, worrying about Profound Heart City and the other island-based sects.

Significant Themes

• Danger and exploration: Xu Changqing’s methodical use of expendable puppets emphasizes the lethal nature of the Inscribed Bone Mound and the risks of pursuing hidden treasures.
• Balance and catastrophe: The Dragon Vein once regulated the region’s positive energy and Water Qi. Its destruction demonstrates how the removal of a stabilizing force can corrupt an entire environment.
• Adaptation and preparation: Xuancang’s pills, Xu Changqing’s reconnaissance, and the group’s coordinated travel all show different approaches to surviving dangerous conditions.
• The consequences of power struggles: The Yellow Springs Alliance’s attack has devastated not only the sea but also Profound Heart City and the surrounding cultivation communities, revealing the widespread human cost of sect conflict.
• Transformation of nature: The Azuretide Sea Region has changed from a beautiful maritime area into a polluted, hostile realm filled with monsters and lethal currents.

Character Interactions

• Chu Qiu reprimands Xu Changqing for forgetting the expedition and orders him to report to Foundry Peak.
• Qin Baili directs the group’s departure and provides transportation.
• The group expresses concern for Xuancang as the Water Qi interferes with his Fire Spiritual Root, but his casual pill consumption leaves everyone stunned.
• Xuancang offers his pills to the others, though they immediately refuse.
• Chu Qiu and Li Lingbi discuss the likely destruction of Profound Heart City and the island sects, while Xu Changqing privately worries about the Spirit Grain Sect.
• Qin Baili reassures the group by detecting survivors in the ruined city, but their descent is interrupted when the Evil Water launches a sudden tentacle attack.

Chapter Summary

Qin Baili defeats the sea monster

As the group approaches Profound Heart City, Qin Baili deliberately lowers their altitude to lure out a hidden sea monster. Using his sword light, he splits it into dozens of smaller blades and easily severs the monster’s tentacles. When the creature attempts to flee, Qin Baili combines the blades into a massive golden sword, pierces the sea, kills the monster, and stores its enormous squid-like corpse. His overwhelming strength frightens the surrounding water demons into fleeing.

Arrival at the ruined Profound Heart City

Qin Baili leads Xu Changqing, Chu Qiu, Li Lingbi, and the others into Profound Heart City. The once-bustling city is now deserted and desolate, with nearly all cultivators and Rogue Cultivators having escaped.

Reunion with Ji Mingxuan

Among the survivors, Xu Changqing recognizes Ji Mingxuan, the senior disciple of the Spirit Grain Sect. Ji explains that he had intended to travel to Dreamlike Island after receiving Zhao Qianyun’s invitation but became trapped in the city. Despite having the strength to escape, he stayed behind to protect several cultivators and ordinary Dan People. Qin Baili admires his courage, while Xu Changqing promises to take responsibility for the survivors.

Zhao Qianyun and Dreamlike Island

Ji reveals that Zhao Qianyun had already led people to Dreamlike Island before the crisis and was likely safe there. The island is described as a secret realm safer than the current state of Profound Heart City.

The destruction of the City Lord’s Manor

Ji recounts that after the Flood Dragon broke free, it immediately destroyed the City Lord’s Manor, killing and devouring everyone inside. However, another survivor explains that most members of the City Lord’s Manor and the five great Lineages had already gone to Dreamlike Island. The Long Clan was the only major group that left people behind, but they fled afterward.

Growing suspicion

Li Lingbi finds the circumstances suspicious. Profound Heart City had possessed a powerful city lord, numerous cultivators, and protective formations, so its sudden collapse should not have been so easy. The simultaneous departure of the city’s major forces, the killing of the Undersea Dragon Vein by the Yellow Springs Alliance, and the Flood Dragon’s escape appear too conveniently connected. Xu Changqing concludes that Profound Heart City may have been deliberately abandoned as part of a larger plan.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Qin Baili demonstrates overwhelming swordsmanship and a decisive, ruthless attitude toward threats, while also showing respect for Ji Mingxuan’s willingness to protect civilians.
• Xu Changqing continues acting as a bridge between the group and outsiders, recognizing Ji Mingxuan and offering him support.
• Ji Mingxuan is portrayed as responsible and courageous because he remains behind to protect weaker survivors instead of escaping alone.
• Li Lingbi remains observant and skeptical, questioning the official explanation for Profound Heart City’s destruction.
• Chu Qiu challenges Ji Mingxuan’s decision to stay but appears to respect his answer.
• The reunion reveals the prestige of Qin Baili and the Dongting Immortal Sect, leaving Ji Mingxuan astonished.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming power: Qin Baili’s effortless destruction of the sea monster emphasizes the vast difference between peak Golden Core cultivators and ordinary threats.
• Courage and responsibility: Ji Mingxuan’s choice to protect civilians contrasts with the powerful factions that abandoned the city.
• Hidden conspiracies: The coordinated movements of the city’s major powers and the timing of the Flood Dragon’s release suggest deliberate manipulation rather than coincidence.
• Abandonment and survival: Profound Heart City’s emptiness reflects the collapse of order and the willingness of powerful groups to sacrifice weaker people for their own safety.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Changqing senses that something is seriously wrong and becomes extremely vigilant, hiding behind Qin Baili and Li Lingbi while preparing numerous talismans and spirit artifacts for defense.
• The remaining two great Immortal Sects arrive at the ruins of Profound Heart City:
  • The Dragon-Tiger Immortal Sect arrives in the flame-wreathed Heaven-Burning Chariot, led by Zhao Lie.
  • The Moon-Inviting Immortal Sect arrives aboard the silver New Moon Ship, led by Su Ningshuang.
• Zhao Lie and Su Ningshuang learn that the City Lord’s Manor and the five great Lineages have fled, leaving only a few survivors.
• The cultivators discuss the Yellow Springs Alliance and the consequences of the dead Dragon Vein. The Azuretide Sea Region has become the source of foul waters, attracting treasures, monsters, demons, and other dangerous creatures.
• Qin Baili and Zhao Lie reveal that the Dongting and Dragon-Tiger Immortal Sects intend to transform the region into a trial ground before the upcoming Thousand Sects Dharma Assembly. They plan to invite other factions to develop and compete over the region’s resources.
• Xu Changqing realizes the plan is likely an assessment and power contest arranged by the Immortal Sects’ higher-ups. The disciples chosen for the expedition—powerful swordsmen, battle-focused cultivators, and emotionally detached elites—were likely selected deliberately.
• The groups split up to investigate the ruined city. Li Lingbi leads Chu Qiu, Xu Changqing, Han Xin, and Xuancang toward the City Lord’s Manor. Xu Changqing refuses Ji Mingxuan’s offer to guide them, considering the area too dangerous.
• They reach the Flood Dragon Nest District and inspect the remains of the Flood Dragon Suppression Tower and City Lord’s Manor, both devastated by the Flood Dragon.
• Beneath the shattered tower, they discover the former prison of the Flood Dragon: a dark, foul-smelling, inky-green well that still radiates a chilling aura.
• Han Xin concludes that Profound Heart City’s feng shui was severely damaged because the Flood Dragon Suppression Tower had been destroyed.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing becomes increasingly cautious and suspicious. His instinct tells him that the situation contains hidden dangers, and he remains preoccupied with Spirit-Gathering Abyss and the mermaid princess, fearing that both may be lost to him after the region’s transformation.
• Qin Baili demonstrates his role as a confident representative of the Dongting Immortal Sect, openly negotiating the sect’s plans while maintaining a cordial relationship with the other leaders.
• Zhao Lie is established as a formidable, battle-hardened core disciple who values strength and reacts angrily to the destruction of Profound Heart City.
• Su Ningshuang appears cold, disciplined, and politically perceptive. She quickly identifies the territorial implications of the other sects’ plans and questions their intentions.
• Li Lingbi shows consideration for Xu Changqing by agreeing that Spirit-Gathering Abyss may be worth fighting for if it truly belongs to him.
• Han Xin contributes practical analysis, identifying the Flood Dragon Suppression Tower as the central cause of the city’s damaged feng shui.
• Ji Mingxuan is shown to possess valuable firsthand knowledge of the disaster, though Xu Changqing chooses not to rely on him because of the danger.

Significant Themes

• Competition disguised as cooperation: The Immortal Sects present their plan as joint development, but the expedition is clearly also a contest for prestige, resources, and future influence.
• Power and succession: The core disciples are treated as future pillars of their sects, and their performance in the Azuretide Sea Region may determine their standing.
• Hidden danger and suspicion: Xu Changqing’s unease suggests that the destruction of Profound Heart City and the appearance of the Yellow Springs Alliance conceal threats beyond the obvious monsters and ruined structures.
• Transformation and opportunity: The Dragon Vein’s death has devastated the region but also created a new source of treasures and trials.
• Feng shui and environmental destruction: The destruction of the Flood Dragon Suppression Tower has disrupted the entire region’s spiritual balance, showing how closely its prosperity was tied to the imprisoned Flood Dragon.

Character Interactions

• Qin Baili and Zhao Lie exchange familiar greetings and coordinate their sects’ intentions.
• Su Ningshuang challenges Qin Baili and Zhao Lie, forcing them to clarify whether they truly intend to divide and develop the Azuretide Sea Region.
• Xu Changqing observes the leaders’ negotiations critically, recognizing the political and competitive motives beneath their words.
• Li Lingbi organizes the investigation team and reassures Xu Changqing that his claim to Spirit-Gathering Abyss may still be defended.
• Chu Qiu teases Xu Changqing about his concern for Spirit-Gathering Abyss, while Xu Changqing responds with resigned humor.
• Xu Changqing declines Ji Mingxuan’s assistance, prioritizing caution over convenience.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Profound Heart City becomes increasingly crowded as disciples from the three great Immortal Sects and other cultivation sects arrive for the Azuretide Sea Region trial.
• The three great sects occupy the Flood Dragon Nest District and repair enough of the city’s damaged buildings to use as temporary lodgings.
• Xu Changqing asks Han Xin about the city’s abnormal feng shui. She confirms that it has been completely ruined but admits that a powerful formation master might be able to exploit the damaged feng shui to create a dangerous formation.
• Xu Changqing grows suspicious that Profound Heart City may have been deliberately prepared as a trap, though Han Xin dismisses the idea because so many powerful core disciples are present.
• Xu investigates the Flood Dragon Suppression Tower and discovers ancient runes around the imprisoned Flood Dragon’s well. The runes resemble those from the Inscribed Bone Mound, suggesting that someone connected to the Zhao Clan or the City Lord’s Manor inherited the Inscription Ancestor’s teachings.
• He suspects that members of the Yellow Springs Alliance may be hidden among the Zhao Clan and the city’s five major lineages, and memorizes the runes for future study.
• Over the following days, cultivators use Profound Heart City as a base while hunting water demons and sea monsters throughout the increasingly corrupted Azuretide Sea Region.
• Xu joins Li Lingbi’s group in the Turbid Current Belt. Li Lingbi effortlessly exposes and defeats a group of Wave-Chasing Shrimp Demons, while Xu contributes little and pretends to fight enthusiastically.
• The group later encounters a severely injured Ink-Crystal Dark Ao, a giant sea turtle whose damaged shell and missing limb indicate that it is fleeing from a far more powerful enemy.
• A terrifying dragon roar rises from beneath the seabed, releasing overwhelming pressure and leaving everyone shocked.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing becomes increasingly wary and investigative. Rather than accepting the apparent safety of Profound Heart City, he follows his intuition, studies the suppression tower’s runes, and begins connecting the city’s mysteries to the Yellow Springs Alliance and the Inscription Ancestor.
• Han Xin is shown as confident and teasing, but also knowledgeable about formations and feng shui. Although she rejects Xu’s suspicions, she confirms that the city’s ruined feng shui could potentially be weaponized.
• Li Lingbi demonstrates overwhelming combat strength and acts as a responsible senior, criticizing Xu for relying on others instead of training properly.
• Xu Changqing continues to display his opportunistic and lazy side during hunts, firing token water arrows while allowing stronger companions to handle the danger.
• The wider cultivation world becomes more interconnected as sects gather in preparation for the Thousand Sects Dharma Assembly, turning the Azuretide Sea Region into both a hunting ground and a preliminary trial.

Significant Themes

• Hidden danger beneath apparent safety: The growing number of powerful cultivators does not reassure Xu; instead, the ruined city and mysterious formations suggest a larger conspiracy.
• Ancient inheritances and secret alliances: The runes point toward the spread of the Inscription Ancestor’s legacy and possible infiltration by the Yellow Springs Alliance.
• Strength and survival: The corrupted sea region is becoming increasingly dangerous, forcing cultivators to rely on powerful leaders and constantly adapt.
• Foreshadowing and escalating threat: The injured Ink-Crystal Dark Ao and the dragon’s oppressive roar signal the arrival of a danger far beyond ordinary demon hunting.
• Camaraderie mixed with hierarchy: The interactions between senior and junior disciples combine teasing, instruction, dependence, and unequal levels of strength.

Important Character Interactions

• Xu and Han Xin discuss Profound Heart City’s feng shui, with Xu voicing his suspicions and Han Xin challenging them while acknowledging the possibility of lethal formations.
• Xu and Han Xin also maintain a playful relationship, with Han Xin correcting him when he addresses her too casually.
• Li Lingbi reprimands Xu for slacking during the hunt, while Xu responds agreeably without changing his behavior.
• Chu Qiu, Han Xin, and Xuancang fight alongside Li Lingbi’s group, efficiently handling the exposed Wave-Chasing Shrimp Demons.
• The group’s reaction to the fleeing Ink-Crystal Dark Ao shifts from excitement over valuable prey to alarm when the hidden dragon-like entity reveals its overwhelming presence.