Chapter Summaries

Xu Changqing diagnosed the Daiyu Fan’s damaged Ink Bamboo and advised Qing Xuan to clear its corrupt aura through Three Cleansings and Three Nourishings. At the Thousand Sects Grand Assembly, Xu Changqing supported Ruo Qunshuang’s Foundation Establishment duels and learned that Li Lingbi had recently emerged from a Secret Realm, though Qin Baili remained missing.

• Xu Changqing used his system to identify turbid spirit fluid and stagnant spirit veins in Qing Xuan’s Ink Bamboo, then traced the damage to an aura absorbed from Evil Cultivators in Southern Sky City.
• Xu Changqing prescribed Three Cleansings and Three Nourishings to clear the Daiyu Fan’s disruptive aura, and Qing Xuan left for Sorrowwind Cliff.
• After the Profound Heart City explosion left only ten survivors among more than ten thousand disciples, the Thousand Sects Grand Assembly held duels at the Flower Sea, Foundry Peak, and Black Lake.
• Xu Changqing brought supplies and encouragement for Ruo Qunshuang’s Foundation Establishment duels, while Li Xianglin went to compete in the Qi Refining duels.
• Li Sancai told Xu Changqing that Li Lingbi had emerged from a Secret Realm a month earlier, but Qin Baili was still missing.

Ruo Qunshuang won her duel through overwhelming gear, while Hu Bugui disgusted the spectators by sending Golden Toads to lick his opponent. That night, Xu Changqing used Clear-Spirit Dew to begin cleansing Qing Xuan’s Ink Bamboo, drawing gray mist from it.

• Ruo Qunshuang defeated Song Buran, who conceded after learning she was Xu Changqing’s Dao companion.
• Xu Changqing and Ruo Qunshuang watched Hu Bugui face Zhou Heng, and Hu Bugui ordered his Golden Toads to lick Zhou Heng.
• The spectators condemned Hu Bugui’s tactic, and Xu Changqing hurried away with Ruo Qunshuang.
• Qing Xuan gave Xu Changqing a Wind-Chant Spirit Pendant containing a Water-Soul Pearl and asked for his help with the Three Cleansings and Three Nourishings.
• Xu Changqing applied Clear-Spirit Dew to the Ink Bamboo, and a wisp of gray mist emerged from it.

Xu Changqing continued helping Qing Xuan repair his fan while the two became friendlier, and he watched Ruo Qunshuang and his other companions compete. After several ordinary-sect disciples were killed by disciples of the three great Immortal Sects, tensions erupted, and Ji Mingxuan warned Xu Changqing that more trouble was coming.

• Xu Changqing gave Qing Xuan green bamboo strips to gather moonlight essence for the fan, then shared spirit wine and stories with him before seeing him off.
• Xu Changqing continued his daily work and watched Hu Bugui lose matches, Han Su compete steadily, and Ruo Qunshuang win every duel with her artifacts and talismans.
• Several disciples of ordinary cultivation sects died in successive incidents involving disciples of the three great Immortal Sects, intensifying the conflict at the Duel Platform.
• Xu Changqing left the escalating confrontation with Ruo Qunshuang, Miao Huayu, and the others, and warned Ruo Qunshuang to be careful in her duel.
• Xu Changqing noticed Ji Mingxuan watching him, and Ji Mingxuan began warning him about what would come next.

Xu Changqing avoided getting involved in the growing unrest at the Black Lake Duel Platform while Ruo Qunshuang won another match. Bei Qingtang summoned him and several Wood Spirit Root cultivators to go to Redflame Peak, leaving Xu Changqing curious about their task and the rare Fire-Repelling Pill offered to them.

• Jiang Bo arrived to handle the trouble at the Duel Platform, and Ji Mingxuan warned Xu Changqing that more incidents were coming and urged him to stay away.
• Xu Changqing decided to warn his companions but refused to investigate, while the troublemakers at the Duel Platform quieted down under Jiang Bo's oversight.
• Ruo Qunshuang defeated a Foundation Establishment Perfection disciple from an ordinary cultivation sect and rose into the top fifty in the rankings.
• Bei Qingtang summoned Xu Changqing to Azurewood Peak, where he found Zhao Chengdao and several other Golden Core Wood Spirit Root cultivators waiting.
• Bei Qingtang told the group to go to Redflame Peak and promised each of them a Fire-Repelling Pill, prompting Xu Changqing to wonder what important task awaited them.

Xu Changqing and the others traveled to Redflame Peak, where Bei Qingtang assigned them to ripen Flame-Perching Wood around the Abyss-Cleansing Mountain Chariot. As the group began the task, Zhao Chengdao revealed that the chariot was a powerful artifact used to purify filth and evil entities.

• Bei Qingtang led Xu Changqing and the others toward Redflame Peak aboard Shattered Moon, Falling Frost and gave them Fire-Repelling Pills.
• The group saw that Redflame Peak was the enormous corpse of a three-legged bird, whose remains had become the mountain and spawned fire beasts.
• Bei Qingtang brought everyone to the right wing and told them to ripen Flame-Perching Wood around the Abyss-Cleansing Mountain Chariot for rewards.
• Xu Changqing proposed dividing the eight cultivators into two groups so they could take turns ripening the wood.
• While the women began their turn, Xu Changqing wandered around the chariot, and Zhao Chengdao told him that Dragon-Tiger Immortal Sect records identified it as an artifact for purifying filth and evil entities.

Xu Changqing and Zhao Chengdao discussed the Dragon-Tiger Immortal Sect’s plans before helping ripen the Flame-Perching Wood. After several days of exhausting work, Bei Qingtang revealed Xu Changqing’s next reward and promised to apply for him to use Azurewood Peak’s Life Pool.

• Zhao Chengdao explained that he and Zhao Wuji were not related, then chatted with Xu Changqing about the Abyss-Cleansing Mountain Chariot.
• Xu Changqing used the Four Seasons Scripture to help ripen the Flame-Perching Wood and avoided using the Spirit-Pointing Finger.
• Xu Changqing asked Bei Qingtang whether another senior brother could cover his duties, but Bei Qingtang said the others had even heavier tasks.
• Bei Qingtang told Xu Changqing that his second reward would be the rare spirit plant Phoenix Feather.
• Bei Qingtang promised to apply for Xu Changqing to soak in Azurewood Peak’s Life Pool for seven days and urged him to reach Golden Core quickly.

Xu Changqing learned that the Thousand Sects Dharma Assembly might be concealing a plot to weaken the three great Immortal Sects. As he and the others worked, a strange Spirit Fire appeared, awakening the Fire Spiritual Root sealed inside him and shaking Redflame Peak.

• Bei Qingtang explained how she and the other senior disciples had shielded Xu Changqing from trouble so their master could pursue a breakthrough, and Xu Changqing promised to complete his task.
• Zhao Chengdao told Xu Changqing that Zhao Lie of the Dragon-Tiger Immortal Sect had killed Fang Fei after Fang Fei attacked him outside the Foundry Peak arena, and that the discovery of Zhao Lie's imperial bloodline had inflamed the incident.
• Xu Changqing suspected that someone was using the Thousand Sects Dharma Assembly to provoke conflict and argued that the five great imperial dynasties would benefit most if the Immortal Sects fell.
• While Xu Changqing and the others ripened crops, fire energy gathered in the Spirit Fire District and formed a blazing bird with twelve crimson-gold fire serpents arranged like a burning eye.
• Xu Changqing's sealed Fire Spiritual Root stirred and generated fire-attributed spiritual power, then Redflame Peak began to shake violently.

A Phoenix undergoing nirvana gave birth to Phoenix Flame in Redflame Peak's Spirit Fire District, forcing Xu Changqing and the others to flee. Bei Qingtang brought Xu Changqing back to witness the phenomenon, where they encountered her powerful friend Qiu Xiao and Redflame Peak's peak master, Chao Jin.

• Xu Changqing and the others escaped the blazing Redflame Peak as it began to writhe, while many Fire Spiritual Root cultivators rushed toward it.
• Bei Qingtang ordered Xu Changqing to return with her and explained that Chao Jin had kept a suspected Fire Phoenix egg in the Spirit Fire District, where it had now produced Phoenix Flame.
• Bei Qingtang's friend Qiu Xiao shielded Xu Changqing from the unbearable heat with a cooling breeze.
• Xu Changqing and Bei Qingtang reached the Spirit Fire District and watched the Phoenix Flame with Qiu Xiao and Redflame Peak's leaders, including Chao Jin and Wang Yangyin.
• Xu Changqing recognized Chao Jin's formidable strength as the Phoenix Flame fluctuated violently before the peak master.

Redflame Peak gained influence after the Phoenix Flame appeared, while Qiu Xiang warned Bei Qingtang that the coming Sect Master succession would involve several Peak Masters. As Chao Jin transformed the Phoenix Flame, Bei Qingtang defended Xu Changqing from Qiu Xiang’s teasing, drawing onlookers’ attention.

• Chao Jin said the Phoenix Flame could fully activate the Abyss-Cleansing Mountain Chariot and improve pill quality, and Redflame Peak discussed testing it with disciples.
• Qiu Xiang told Bei Qingtang that Redflame Peak’s status had risen and warned her that the vacant Sect Master position would bring a contest among the Peak Masters.
• Qiu Xiang named Dark Nether Peak, Water Immortal Peak, Redflame Peak, and Azurewood Peak as contenders and described their Peak Masters’ strengths.
• Chao Jin used his mana to turn the Phoenix Flame’s twelve crimson-gold fire serpents into a halo, intensifying its heat and forcing people nearby to retreat.
• Qiu Xiang teased Xu Changqing for retreating, but Bei Qingtang defended him by saying he already had a family, prompting Qiu Xiang and nearby spectators to take notice.

Xu Changqing returned to the Portable Space to investigate the Phoenix Flame it had absorbed and discovered it was drawn to the Sinking-Water Tree. When the flame touched the tree, water, wood, and fire energies merged, leaving the tree transformed and brimming with Life Force.

• Chao Jin rewarded the disciples without Fire Spiritual Roots with one thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones each and ordered them to leave Redflame Peak as the temperature rose.
• Xu Changqing flew back to Red Maple Valley and entered the Portable Space to check on Little Linglong and the absorbed Phoenix Flame.
• Xu Changqing found the Phoenix Flame hovering above Dongting Lake and learned that it frightened Little Linglong.
• Xu Changqing discovered that the Phoenix Flame was drawn to the Sinking-Water Tree, and a Dragonfish he tested near it was instantly roasted.
• Xu Changqing brought the Sinking-Water Tree into contact with the Phoenix Flame, transforming it as water, wood, and fire energies converged and its Life Force surged.

Xu Changqing discovered an unfamiliar sacred tree, spent time with Little Linglong and Ruo Qunshuang, and told Ruo Qunshuang that Redflame Peak’s Phoenix Flame could change the rankings of the seven Immortal Peaks. The next day, he visited Li Sancai and learned that his senior brother avoided seeking a Dao companion because past family betrayal had left him wary of family ties.

• Xu Changqing identified the tree as an undamaged Three-Spirit Sacred Tree and decided to leave it growing in the water.
• Xu Changqing cleaned Little Linglong up, promised to arrange more fish for her later, and tried to tell her a bedtime story.
• Ruo Qunshuang reported that trouble at the Duel Platform had eased, and Xu Changqing told her that Redflame Peak’s Phoenix Flame could disrupt the seven Immortal Peaks’ rankings.
• Xu Changqing visited Li Sancai, whose Azure Harrier had grown large and fast, and remarked on Li Sancai’s unkempt appearance.
• Li Sancai told Xu Changqing that he resisted family life because his parents’ sacrifice for the Lineage had been followed by the loss of his compensation and cultivation resources.

Xu Changqing suspected that Mo Yin had entered the Dragon-Tiger Immortal Sect for an ulterior motive and asked Li Sancai for help investigating. They went to Li Lingbi’s residence on Water Immortal Peak, where they found Mo Yin diligently cultivating.

• Xu Changqing told Li Sancai his suspicions about Mo Yin and the recent unrest surrounding Zhao Lie’s imperial bloodline.
• Li Sancai explained that Li Lingbi’s people had been caring for Mo Yin and agreed to take Xu Changqing to see him.
• Xu Changqing and Li Sancai traveled to Water Immortal Peak and passed through its Inner Waters.
• Li Sancai led Xu Changqing into Li Lingbi’s luxurious cave abode, where they found Mo Yin diligently cultivating.

Xu Changqing and Li Sancai suspected that Mo Yin was pretending to be foolish and watched him cultivate, while Mo Yin argued with the remnant soul of Demon Emperor Hui Jiuming. Xu Changqing secretly followed Mo Yin to Dongqing City, where he recognized Yue'er in a courtyard.

• Xu Changqing and Li Sancai watched Mo Yin cultivate and wondered whether he had recovered or had never been mad.
• Xu Changqing told Li Sancai that Mo Yin was likely afraid to reveal his recovery, then asked him to contact Li Lingbi while he kept watch.
• Mo Yin sensed that someone might be spying on him, but Hui Jiuming's warning went unheeded as Mo Yin dismissed the suspicion.
• Mo Yin reminded Hui Jiuming that ten thousand years had passed and set out for the Rogue Cultivator Market to sell Four Seasons Fruit Trees and Jade Dew Spirit Sprouts.
• Xu Changqing followed Mo Yin to Dongqing City and recognized Yue'er in a courtyard.

Xu Changqing discovered that Zhao Yingyue was secretly draining life force from men and learned that Mo Yin was selling rare spirit plants from the Jade Dew Sect’s inheritance. After Mo Yin sold another pair of plants, Xu Changqing abducted him and confronted the Lord of the Abyss Ruins inside his body.

• Xu Changqing watched Zhao Yingyue absorb life force from Mo Yin, then from a male Rogue Cultivator for fifteen minutes, leaving the man dangerously weakened.
• Zhao Yingyue opened her back door to receive a female Rogue Cultivator, while Xu Changqing followed the male Rogue Cultivator home and confirmed he had lost part of his life force.
• Xu Changqing followed Mo Yin to the auction house and recognized the Four Seasons Fruit Tree and Jade Dew Spirit Sprout as rare plants from the Jade Dew Sect’s inheritance.
• Mo Yin sold both spirit plants, collected the Spirit Stones, and was suddenly rendered unconscious.
• Mo Yin awoke imprisoned in a water dungeon in the Black Forest, where Xu Changqing demanded to speak with the Lord of the Abyss Ruins inside his body.

Xu Changqing questioned Mo Yin and Hui Jiuming about the destruction of the Jade Dew Sect and the rare spirit plants. Hui Jiuming identified the attackers as Yellow Springs Alliance members and finally revealed that he was a ten-thousand-year Demon Emperor.

• Hui Jiuming explained how he gained an Abyssal Ruins Mark, created the Jade Dew Sect, and witnessed its slaughter forty years earlier.
• Xu Changqing tightened Mo Yin’s water prison and forced Hui Jiuming to take control of the body and answer his questions.
• Hui Jiuming named Qiao Baiyang as the traitor who helped the attackers destroy the Jade Dew Sect.
• Hui Jiuming recognized Old Wu’s mask, leading Xu Changqing to identify the attackers as Yellow Springs Alliance members.
• Xu Changqing challenged Hui Jiuming’s claim that he was a Jade Dew Sect spirit snake, and Hui Jiuming confessed that he was the ten-thousand-year Demon Emperor of the Demon Race.

Xu Changqing forced Hui Jiuming to hand over the Jade Dew Sect’s cultivation methods, treasures, and spirit plants, including a rare Jade Dew Spirit Spring. After Xu Changqing disappeared and released the illusion, Mo Yin escaped the Black Forest with his Silver-Banded Snake while Hui Jiuming kept some resources hidden.

• Xu Changqing asked Hui Jiuming about the Three-Spirit Sacred Tree and learned it could evolve into an Undying Parasol Tree under Law-Turbid Lightning.
• Xu Changqing demanded the Jade Dew Sect’s methods, spells, and accumulated cultivation knowledge, and Hui Jiuming handed them over.
• Xu Changqing took Hui Jiuming’s storage pouch, then discovered a concealed snake-scale storage item containing more treasures and the Jade Dew Spirit Spring.
• Xu Changqing vanished and the water cell dissolved, allowing Mo Yin to recover and learn from Hui Jiuming that some resources remained hidden.
• Hui Jiuming urged Mo Yin to flee the Black Forest, and Xu Changqing dispelled the illusion trapping him in a loop so he could leave.

Xu Changqing returned to the Immortal Sect with the Jade Dew Sect’s treasures and planted rare spirit plants in his Portable Space. He left Little Linglong asking what had happened to the wine she had brewed for him.

• Xu Changqing inspected his harvest, including the Jade Dew Spirit Spring, the Spirit Plant Seedling Manual, and a large snake scale with storage space.
• After failing to contact Li Sancai, Xu Changqing returned to Red Maple Valley and entered his Portable Space.
• Xu Changqing poured out Little Linglong’s strange brew while she slept, then carried her to the Water Spirit Palace.
• Xu Changqing planted Four Seasons Fruit Trees and Jade Dew Spirit Sprouts, then used the Grand Cloud-Rain Art to hasten their growth.
• Little Linglong woke and asked Xu Changqing about the new trees and the missing wine, and he claimed he had drunk it all.

Xu Changqing reunited Little Linglong with Ruo Qunshuang, and the two quickly grew close as a family. Days later, Xu Changqing was summoned to Water Immortal Peak, where Li Lingbi revealed his return to a gathering of cultivators and the crazed prince Mo Yin.

• Xu Changqing told Little Linglong that she would meet her mother, and Ruo Qunshuang welcomed the girl into her arms when she arrived.
• Ruo Qunshuang and Little Linglong grew close over the following days, while Xu Changqing felt like the odd one out.
• Li Sancai sent Xu Changqing a Communication Talisman, saying Li Lingbi had returned and something important was about to happen.
• Xu Changqing hurried to Water Immortal Peak and joined Li Sancai, Chu Qiu, Pei Mo, Han Xin, and Xuancang at Li Lingbi's cave residence.
• Mo Yin arrived and called Li Lingbi his father emperor, but Li Lingbi said Mo Yin's real father emperor would never return.

Li Lingbi revealed that the Yellow Springs Alliance had helped overthrow the Black Rust imperial family, leaving Mo Yin's parents dead and the dynasty in chaos. He recruited the group to reclaim the Central Region and disclosed his plan to help Mo Yin take the throne, leaving them to decide whether to join his struggle.

• Li Lingbi told Mo Yin that his parents and more than a thousand members of the Black Rust imperial family had been killed in a coup backed by the Yellow Springs Alliance.
• Chu Qiu, Han Xin, and the others recognized that the coup threatened the Central Region and the Heavenly Origin Realm.
• Li Lingbi explained that the Immortal Sect would investigate after the Thousand Sects Dharma Assembly and then launch an assault, and he gathered Chu Qiu, Pei Mo, Han Xin, Xuancang, and Li Sancai for the mission.
• Li Lingbi told Xu Changqing that the Grain Lord had returned, so Xu Changqing no longer needed to manage the Spirit Fields.
• Li Lingbi revealed that he intended to support Mo Yin's claim to the Black Rust throne and urged the group to join him.

After refusing to join Li Lingbi’s expedition to the Central Region, Xu Changqing returned to Red Maple Valley, where Qing Xuan repaired his fan and gave him a Communication Jade Talisman. Pei Mo then visited and explained that the Central Region was a deadly front line against the Demon Race, leaving Xu Changqing relieved he had stayed behind.

• Pei Mo, Chu Qiu, Xuancang, Li Sancai, and Han Xin agreed to join Li Lingbi’s team, with Han Xin demanding help reaching the Golden Core Realm.
• Xu Changqing declined to join the expedition and left Water Immortal Peak, while Pei Mo secretly told him he would visit later.
• At Red Maple Valley, Qing Xuan repaired his folding fan, offered Xu Changqing a Communication Jade Talisman, and accepted an invitation to try his wine another time.
• Pei Mo arrived after Qing Xuan left and told Xu Changqing that the Central Region was a dangerous front line where demon-hunting teams faced Greater Demons.
• Pei Mo admitted he had also advised Xu Changqing to stay because he would miss Xu Changqing’s wine if he died.