Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: Past Deeds of an Unranked Immortal

Key Plot Points and Events

• Greedy Wolf Star Lord explains the status of Unranked Immortals: powerful rogue cultivators outside the Heavenly Court’s Immortal Register. Only cultivators at least in the Myriad-Forms Heaven Realm who control a domain of heaven and earth qualify, and only around three thousand exist across the Nine Provinces.
• He reveals that Qin Zhisui was once the most powerful among them, standing at the very top of the Three Thousand Unranked Immortals and possessing strength comparable to the greatest figures of his era.
• Jiang Yuechu becomes excited at the prospect of Qin becoming her backer, imagining that she could rely on his overwhelming strength instead of personally risking herself against powerful enemies.
• Greedy Wolf Star Lord then admits that Qin suffered a terrible accident and is no longer as powerful as he once was.
• Zi Ling bluntly clarifies the truth: Qin was forcibly crippled during a past upheaval, lost all his cultivation, and has now fallen into mortality. He may not even be able to defeat an ordinary strongman.
• Shocked and alarmed, Jiang Yuechu asks to leave the vessel, realizing that becoming Qin’s disciple might expose her to enemies even more dangerous than those she has already provoked.
• Greedy Wolf Star Lord persuades her to stay, arguing that Qin’s survival as a mortal proves he possesses extraordinary protection or secrets.
• He reveals that Qin’s identity is closely connected to the Innate True Gods of the Primordial Divine Court, suggesting that Qin may still possess immense hidden significance despite his current mortal state.
• Jiang Yuechu accepts the arrangement, reasoning that Qin’s connection to the True Gods may allow him to protect her.
• As the flying vessel slows, Zi Ling notices their destination and asks whether Qin currently lives there, ending the chapter on a note of anticipation.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu shifts from excitement and opportunistic confidence to suspicion and alarm after learning Qin’s true condition. However, her curiosity about his mysterious origins and possible connection to the True Gods ultimately overcomes her doubts.
• Greedy Wolf Star Lord appears evasive and somewhat embarrassed while revealing Qin’s decline, but he remains confident that Qin still has hidden value and can serve as Jiang Yuechu’s protector.
• Zi Ling acts as the blunt realist of the group, exposing the severity of Qin’s condition when her master attempts to soften the truth.
• Qin Zhisui, though absent, is characterized through contrasting images: once an unrivaled immortal who dominated the rogue cultivators, now a crippled mortal whose continued survival hints at extraordinary secrets.

Significant Themes

• The contrast between past glory and present ruin: Qin’s former supremacy is set against his current mortality, emphasizing how dramatically power and status can be lost.
• Hidden strength and identity: Qin’s connection to the Primordial Divine Court suggests that apparent weakness may conceal immense origins, protection, or potential.
• Reliance versus self-sufficiency: Jiang Yuechu, accustomed to fighting alone, is tempted by the safety and advantages of having a powerful backer, even though the reality proves far more complicated.
• Reputation and true ability: Qin’s legendary title no longer reflects his current strength, raising questions about whether past achievements, bloodlines, or hidden powers matter more than present cultivation.
• Humor amid danger: Jiang Yuechu’s fantasies of comfortably following Qin around and looting defeated enemies contrast comically with the revelation that he may be unable to protect himself.

Important Character Interactions

• Jiang Yuechu and Greedy Wolf Star Lord: He presents Qin as a powerful potential backer, while she excitedly imagines the benefits. Their conversation turns tense when she learns Qin is now mortal, but he convinces her to reconsider by invoking Qin’s mysterious background.
• Jiang Yuechu and Zi Ling: Zi Ling’s blunt disclosure overturns Jiang Yuechu’s assumptions and forces her to confront the danger of the arrangement.
• Greedy Wolf Star Lord and Zi Ling: Zi Ling challenges her master’s evasive explanation, revealing the truth about Qin’s crippling and mortality.
• The group and Qin Zhisui: Although Qin does not appear directly, the entire conversation builds anticipation for meeting him and raises questions about how a former pinnacle Unranked Immortal survives as an ordinary mortal.

Chapter Summary: “Crouching Ox Ridge”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yuechu, Zi Ling, and the Greedy Wolf Star Lord arrive at Crouching Ox Ridge, a barren and desolate wilderness that serves as Qin Zhisui’s secluded residence.
• The ruined landscape surprises them, especially because Qin Zhisui was once powerful enough to defeat the three thousand Unranked Immortals of the Nine Provinces. Now reduced to a mortal, he apparently lives in extreme isolation and hardship.
• Two powerful disciples emerge to block their flying boat. They explain that Crouching Ox Ridge is Qin Zhisui’s private retreat and warn the visitors not to disturb him.
• The Greedy Wolf Star Lord identifies himself and explains that he wants Jiang Yuechu to become Qin Zhisui’s disciple. The disciples are skeptical, noting that Qin has lost his cultivation and has no desire or ability to involve himself in outside affairs.
• The Star Lord presents a sealed letter bearing the authority of Qingwei Heaven. Although the disciples initially intend to refuse, the connection to Qingwei Heaven persuades them to deliver the request to Qin.
• One disciple returns to the mountains to consult their master while the other remains behind, observing Jiang Yuechu. After some time, the returning disciple invites the visitors into the mountains, implying that Qin Zhisui has agreed to receive them or at least hear their request.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu: Remains composed despite the disciples’ scrutiny. She realizes that Qin’s disciples possess extraordinary strength and concludes that Qin’s knowledge and connections must still be immensely valuable despite his loss of cultivation. Her determination to join the sect strengthens because she sees it as an opportunity to greatly advance herself.
• Zi Ling: Casually criticizes the desolate surroundings but is quickly reprimanded by her master. She becomes more cautious and restrained afterward.
• Greedy Wolf Star Lord: Shows deep respect toward Qin Zhisui, even bowing toward the barren mountains. He acts humbly and diplomatically, recognizing that he lacks the authority to demand Qin’s cooperation. He relies on Qingwei Heaven’s letter to strengthen his request.
• Qin Zhisui’s Disciples: Revealed to be extremely powerful cultivators, both at the Myriad-Forms Heaven Realm. They are protective of their master and initially look down on Jiang Yuechu, but their attitude becomes more measured after observing her calmness and receiving Qingwei Heaven’s request.
• Qin Zhisui: Does not appear directly, but his past reputation, current mortal state, powerful disciples, and connections to Qingwei Heaven establish him as a mysterious and influential figure.

Significant Themes

• Power beyond cultivation: Qin’s loss of cultivation has not erased his knowledge, reputation, or influence. The strength of his disciples suggests that his true value extends beyond personal power.
• Respect for hidden greatness: The characters treat the seemingly impoverished Crouching Ox Ridge with caution because they understand that appearances are deceptive.
• Opportunity and ambition: Jiang Yuechu views entry into Qin’s sect as a chance to obtain enormous benefits and shorten her path to success.
• Hierarchy and connections: Qingwei Heaven’s reputation carries enough weight to change the disciples’ response, demonstrating the importance of alliances and status in the cultivation world.
• Humility and discretion: The Star Lord emphasizes patience and restraint, while Qin’s disciples insist that outsiders cannot assume access to their master.

Character Interactions

• Zi Ling’s careless comment about the location leads to a stern correction from the Greedy Wolf Star Lord.
• The Star Lord respectfully introduces himself and Jiang Yuechu to Qin’s disciples and requests that she be accepted as Qin’s disciple.
• The blue-robed disciple politely but firmly refuses at first, explaining Qin’s condition and lack of interest in outside affairs.
• The Star Lord counters by presenting Qingwei Heaven’s sealed letter, prompting the disciples to reconsider.
• The female disciple silently examines Jiang Yuechu, while Jiang assesses both disciples’ formidable cultivation. Their mutual scrutiny gradually shifts from disdain and suspicion toward cautious recognition.
• After consulting Qin, the blue-robed disciple returns and tells the group to follow him into Crouching Ox Ridge.

Chapter Summary: First Meeting with the Chief of the Unranked Immortals

Key Plot Points and Events

• Greedy Wolf Star Lord, carrying letters from the elders of Qingwei Heaven, is reassured that he has a strong chance of meeting the mysterious Senior Qin.
• He travels with Jiang Yuechu and Zi Ling to Crouching Ox Ridge, which proves unexpectedly desolate and neglected. They follow a muddy animal trail through withered vegetation to a ruined courtyard.
• Qin Zhisui’s disciple explains that Qin’s health and mental state have deteriorated badly. He often forgets people and events, fluctuates emotionally, and is difficult to approach, so the disciples have allowed the residence to fall into disrepair.
• Greedy Wolf Star Lord becomes deeply concerned that Qin may no longer be capable of teaching Jiang Yuechu, especially because her future cultivation will become increasingly difficult and dangerous.
• Jiang Yuechu remains calm. She believes that even fragments of Qin’s techniques or secrets would be enough for her to record and reconstruct through her mysterious panel and Dao Cultivation.
• The group enters Qin’s humble, decaying dwelling and finally sees the once-peerless Chief of the Unranked Immortals, now reduced to a frail, aged, and deteriorating mortal state.
• Qin reacts violently upon seeing the visitors, causing his disciples to fear an attack or medical crisis. However, after regaining composure, he reveals that the apparent distress was simply because his legs have gone numb and he needs help standing.

Character Developments

• Greedy Wolf Star Lord: His confidence gives way to anxiety. Although he publicly promised to protect Jiang Yuechu for a thousand years, he privately recognizes the immense difficulty of her future path and fears that Qin may no longer be able to guide her.
• Jiang Yuechu: She demonstrates unusual composure and practicality. Rather than despairing over Qin’s memory loss, she focuses on extracting even incomplete information and using her own abilities to deduce the rest.
• Qin Zhisui: His legendary status contrasts sharply with his current condition. Once powerful enough to defeat three thousand Unranked Immortals, he is now physically weak, mentally unreliable, and living in extreme poverty.
• Qin’s disciples: They are highly respectful and protective of their master. Their nervousness reveals how unpredictable and fragile Qin has become.
• Zi Ling: She accompanies the group but has little direct involvement in the chapter’s events.

Significant Themes

• Decline and impermanence: The ruined residence and Qin’s failing body emphasize the contrast between former glory and present decay.
• Legacy beyond physical strength: Even if Qin can no longer cultivate or teach normally, his knowledge may still be invaluable. Jiang Yuechu’s attitude suggests that fragments of wisdom can preserve a great legacy.
• Hope versus practical anxiety: Greedy Wolf Star Lord worries about the dangers ahead, while Jiang Yuechu remains confident in her ability to adapt and make use of whatever Qin can offer.
• Reversal of expectations: The legendary “foremost Unranked Immortal” is introduced not as an overwhelming figure, but as an infirm old man whose immediate need is assistance with numb legs.
• Humor amid tragedy: The tense buildup to Qin’s apparent violent reaction ends in an unexpectedly mundane request, lightening the otherwise bleak atmosphere.

Important Character Interactions

• The green-robed disciple apologizes to Greedy Wolf Star Lord and the others for the poor state of Crouching Ox Ridge and warns them to tolerate Qin’s unstable behavior.
• Greedy Wolf Star Lord respectfully accepts the conditions but privately doubts whether Qin can fulfill his role as Jiang Yuechu’s mentor.
• Jiang Yuechu notices Greedy Wolf’s concern and reassures him through her calm expression and reasoning.
• Upon entering the house, Greedy Wolf respectfully pays homage to Qin.
• Qin’s sudden reaction alarms his disciples, who nearly prepare to defend him or restrain the visitors, but the tension dissolves when Qin asks his disciple to help him stand.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hebi helps his crippled master, Qin Zhisui, stand after his legs become numb from sitting too long.
• Greedy Wolf Star Lord formally introduces Jiang Yuechu and proposes that Qin take her as a disciple.
• He praises Jiang Yuechu’s extraordinary advancement—from the Chessmaster Realm to the Myriad-Forms Heaven—but admits she recently attacked a fifth-rank divine general of Yuyu Heaven.
• Qin questions Jiang about the incident. Rather than conceal anything, she openly reveals that she previously killed Gold Mother’s descendant and an immortal official, explaining that the divine general had come after her.
• Greedy Wolf Star Lord realizes his attempt to soften Jiang’s reputation has failed, fearing Qin will reject her.
• Instead, Qin is amused by her honesty and challenges her claim that she can repay him for accepting her.
• Qin recounts his former glory as one of the most powerful immortals in the Nine Provinces, contrasting it with his current state as a cultivationless cripple.
• Jiang remains fearless and declares that since they are already in this situation, they might as well try. However, she admits she cannot repay him now and must first learn enough to gain the ability.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu demonstrates extreme honesty, courage, and self-awareness. She refuses to manipulate Qin or hide her crimes, having learned from past consequences that concealment can harm others.
• Qin Zhisui is revealed as a legendary former powerhouse who has lost his cultivation and now lives in physical weakness. Despite his intimidating history, he is perceptive, humorous, and intrigued by Jiang’s unusual character.
• Greedy Wolf Star Lord appears protective of Jiang but also politically cautious. He tries to present her in a more acceptable light, fearing the consequences of her actual history.
• Hebi is respectful toward Qin and visibly surprised by Jiang’s audacity and criminal record.
• Immortal Maiden Zi Ling remains mostly silent but, like Hebi, is astonished by Jiang’s boldness.

Significant Themes

• Honesty versus political manipulation: Jiang’s refusal to hide the truth contrasts with Greedy Wolf Star Lord’s attempt to present a safer version of events.
• Courage and recklessness: Jiang’s fearless attitude allows her to confront Qin directly, though it also highlights how dangerously bold she is.
• Past glory and present decline: Qin’s grand recollection of his former power emphasizes the tragic contrast with his current crippled state.
• Mentorship as mutual risk: Jiang treats apprenticeship as a transaction, while Qin views it as something requiring qualifications and the ability to withstand immense danger.
• Trying despite impossible odds: The chapter’s central idea is captured by Jiang’s attitude: even if success is uncertain and repayment is currently impossible, one should still attempt the opportunity.

Character Interactions

• Hebi respectfully assists Qin but is reprimanded when he forgets that Qin’s legs have gone numb.
• Greedy Wolf Star Lord advocates for Jiang while trying to conceal the most damaging parts of her past.
• Qin directly tests Jiang’s honesty and courage by asking why she attacked the divine general.
• Jiang responds without fear, accepts the risks of rejection, and effectively challenges Qin to give her a chance.
• Qin, rather than becoming angry, is entertained by Jiang’s bluntness and appears increasingly interested in accepting or testing her.

Chapter Summary: A One-Year Agreement

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yuechu refuses to immediately accept Qin Zhisui as her master. Instead, she asks him to teach her several techniques first so she can judge whether his abilities are worth learning.
• Qin Zhisui, once the foremost of the Three Thousand Unranked Immortals but now stripped of his cultivation and reduced to an ordinary man, is amused and offended by her audacity.
• Despite his disciple He Bi’s disbelief, Qin agrees to let Jiang Yuechu “inspect” his teachings.
• When Qin asks for a reasonable time limit, Jiang unexpectedly proposes only one year.
• Her answer shocks everyone. Greedy Wolf Star Lord believes she is wasting a rare opportunity for protection and instruction, while Qin interprets the short deadline as evidence that she is not sincerely seeking the Dao.
• Qin accepts the one-year arrangement but decides that Jiang will be expelled once the year ends if she fails to prove herself.
• Greedy Wolf Star Lord attempts to defend Jiang, suggesting she may simply not understand the significance of one year, but Qin refuses further discussion.
• The Star Lord leaves with Zi Ling, leaving Jiang behind at Crouching Ox Ridge.
• He Bi takes Jiang to her assigned residence: a severely ruined courtyard with collapsed walls, overgrown weeds, and a nearly destroyed thatched hut.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu: Demonstrates confidence, practicality, and unusual directness. She treats apprenticeship like an evaluation, wanting to see tangible results before committing. Her one-year limit reveals either extreme self-assurance, a hidden plan, or a lack of understanding of Qin’s true stature.
• Qin Zhisui: His pride and eccentric temperament are revealed. He is unused to being judged by others, especially by a junior cultivator, and Jiang’s attitude stirs emotions that had long been dormant. Though offended, he agrees to give her a chance.
• He Bi: Shows deep respect and concern for Qin. He is shocked by Jiang’s behavior and worries that his master’s recent mental changes may be affecting his judgment, but he dutifully carries out Qin’s orders.
• Greedy Wolf Star Lord: Acts as Jiang’s informal protector and negotiator. He is frustrated by her lack of caution but still tries to explain her behavior and wishes her success before departing.
• Zi Ling: Appears reluctant to leave and seems to have something she wants to say, suggesting concern for Jiang or unease about the situation.

Significant Themes

• Pride and judgment: Jiang evaluates a legendary figure as though he were an ordinary teacher, reversing the usual relationship between powerful master and humble disciple.
• Opportunity and impatience: The chapter questions whether one year is enough to gain meaningful understanding from an extraordinary teacher and whether Jiang is recklessly limiting her own future.
• Hidden potential: Both Qin and Jiang appear to possess abilities or motives that are not yet fully understood. Their agreement may lead to unexpected results.
• Reversal of status: Qin’s former greatness contrasts sharply with his current helpless condition, while Jiang’s seemingly inferior position gives her surprising leverage.
• Tests of sincerity: Qin doubts Jiang’s seriousness, while Jiang insists on verifying the value of his teachings before committing herself.

Character Interactions

• Jiang and Qin engage in a tense but intellectually playful exchange, with Jiang confidently setting terms and Qin reluctantly accepting them.
• He Bi challenges the arrangement indirectly through his alarm and concern, but Qin dismisses his objections.
• Greedy Wolf Star Lord tries to mediate between them, defending Jiang and worrying that she has mishandled a rare opportunity.
• Before leaving, Jiang respectfully thanks the Star Lord and promises to help him in the future, reinforcing her straightforward and independent nature.
• He Bi’s final interaction with Jiang is formal and distant as he leads her to the dilapidated dwelling that will serve as her home for the coming year.

Chapter Summary: Changes in Myriad-Forms Heaven and Earth

Key Plot Points and Events

• He Bi warns Jiang Yuechu not to alter anything at Crouching Ox Ridge. Although the hut and surroundings are dilapidated, every object was arranged by his master, Senior Qin, and disturbing the layout could provoke him.
• He explains that Senior Qin gives a Dao lecture only once every seven days, for half an hour at dawn from a boulder behind the mountain. Jiang realizes she has very few opportunities to learn from him during her one-year stay.
• Jiang accepts the rules and decides to use the limited time to strengthen herself. She is determined not to remain passive against those who have targeted her.
• After He Bi leaves, Jiang examines her status and finds that she has only 120 Dao Essence left after spending more than 900 to defeat the Heavenly Court Divine General.
• With five days remaining before Senior Qin’s next lecture, she plans to leave the mountain temporarily to earn more Dao Cultivation.
• Before departing, Jiang activates her Myriad-Forms Heaven and Earth. Its range has expanded from several meters to twenty meters, greatly increasing her control over the surrounding space.
• She suspects the improvement may be connected to her previous battle and her apparent ability to strip away an opponent’s Dao Painting, but she cannot determine the true cause.
• Jiang becomes increasingly eager to attend Senior Qin’s lecture, hoping to infer information about the Myriad Demon Records and her unusual abilities.
• Just as she prepares to leave, Black Bear urgently contacts her through their mental connection and reports that Azure Firmament Grotto is in trouble.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu: Demonstrates patience and adaptability by accepting Crouching Ox Ridge’s strange rules despite her frustration. Her determination grows stronger as she confronts the one-year deadline, dwindling resources, and threats against her. She also becomes more curious and cautious about the hidden powers of her Myriad Demon Records.
• He Bi: Acts as a guide to Jiang, explaining the customs of Crouching Ox Ridge. He remains polite but privately doubts that she can achieve much under Senior Qin within a single year.
• Senior Qin: Though absent for most of the chapter, his eccentricity and overwhelming reputation are emphasized. His carefully ordered residence and rare lectures make him appear mysterious and difficult to approach.
• Black Bear: Signals the next crisis by urgently informing Jiang that Azure Firmament Grotto is endangered.

Significant Themes

• Time and urgency: Jiang’s one-year deadline and Senior Qin’s once-weekly lectures highlight how little time she has to improve.
• Respect for established order: Crouching Ox Ridge’s arrangement reflects the importance of obeying the rules and intentions of powerful figures, even when those rules appear irrational.
• Uncertainty and self-discovery: Jiang’s expanded domain and possible Dao Painting-stealing ability raise questions about the true nature and future potential of the Myriad Demon Records.
• Resource management: Having nearly exhausted her Dao Essence, Jiang must balance cultivation, survival, and the need to earn more power.
• Growth through adversity: Rather than retreating after being targeted, Jiang resolves to become strong enough to confront her enemies directly.

Character Interactions

• He Bi instructs Jiang on the customs of Crouching Ox Ridge and the timing of Senior Qin’s lectures. Jiang responds respectfully, though she privately finds the restrictions unreasonable.
• Jiang mentally analyzes her past confrontation with the Heavenly Court forces, questioning how her powers developed and whether she can reproduce them in the future.
• The chapter ends with Black Bear breaking into Jiang’s thoughts to request help, creating an immediate new conflict involving Azure Firmament Grotto.

Chapter Summary: Heavenly Court Inspectors Arrive

Key Plot Points and Events

• Great Tang completes its takeover of Azure Firmament Grotto with the assistance of several Palace Clan sisters. Because Azure Firmament Hermit had previously kept other Painting Realm rogue cultivators away, the transition occurs with little resistance.
• Great Tang’s younger generation gains practical experience managing the immortal land. They begin overcoming their initial fear and unfamiliarity, realizing that the Land of Immortals and Gods still follows the same harsh law-of-the-jungle principles as their own world.
• Bai Yulou supervises the organization of Azure Firmament Grotto’s treasures and resources. Zhao Zhongliu, Gu Wanlan, You Wujiang, Niu Ben, and others help sort the grotto’s accumulated wealth.
• Old Red Flood Dragon discovers several jade chests filled with Merit formed from Incense-Fire Power. The resources are extremely valuable and could greatly accelerate everyone’s cultivation.
• Although the group is tempted to use the Merit, Bai Yulou orders that none of it be touched before Jiang Yuechu returns. Everyone accepts this decision, recognizing that Jiang Yuechu bears the greatest dangers and needs the resources more than those cultivating safely behind the lines.
• The group is suddenly warned that two powerful cultivators have arrived outside, claiming to represent the Heavenly Court.
• At the mountain gate, Xuan Yuanming confronts the visitors. They identify themselves as Heavenly Court immortal officials assigned to inspect Azure Firmament Grotto’s submission.
• The visitors’ arrival creates immediate tension, since Great Tang understands that the Heavenly Court is a supreme power and that submission is a serious political matter. Xuan Yuanming asks them to wait while he reports their arrival.

Character Developments

• Bai Yulou demonstrates discipline, responsibility, and loyalty to Jiang Yuechu by refusing to allow the Merit to be used for personal cultivation.
• Great Tang’s younger generation becomes more confident and capable. Their direct involvement in governing the grotto helps them adapt to the immortal world and shed their instinctive fear.
• Gu Wanlan and You Wujiang take on administrative responsibilities, showing their growing maturity and usefulness within Great Tang’s new territory.
• Old Red Flood Dragon remains eager to claim credit and display his cleverness, but his discovery of the Merit proves genuinely valuable.
• Xuan Yuanming shows caution and resolve when confronted by powerful outsiders. Though he recognizes the danger, he also draws confidence from the strength of the Palace Clan cultivators and Black Mountain Bear Lord stationed within the grotto.
• Jiang Yuechu, though absent, remains central to everyone’s thoughts. Her sacrifices and dangerous position inspire the others to restrain their own desires and preserve resources for her.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility versus personal advancement: The characters must choose between using precious resources to strengthen themselves and preserving them for the leader carrying the greatest burden.
• Adaptation to a higher world: Great Tang’s people gradually learn that the immortal world, despite its grandeur, operates according to familiar principles of power, hierarchy, and survival.
• Loyalty and sacrifice: Jiang Yuechu’s efforts to secure a future for Great Tang motivate the others to act with restraint and loyalty.
• Political submission and hierarchy: The Heavenly Court’s inspection introduces the larger power structure governing the world and suggests that Great Tang’s control of Azure Firmament Grotto must be formally recognized.
• Hidden danger beneath apparent stability: Although the takeover proceeds smoothly, the arrival of Heavenly Court officials shows that external powers may challenge or scrutinize Great Tang’s new position.

Character Interactions

• Bai Yulou gives orders to the gathered Great Tang members, and they obey despite their desire to use the Merit.
• Old Red Flood Dragon boasts about discovering the Merit, while the others react with silent exasperation before becoming impressed by the treasure’s value.
• The group’s discussion of the Merit reinforces their collective concern for Jiang Yuechu.
• Xuan Yuanming challenges the Heavenly Court visitors at the gate, while the younger inspector speaks dismissively of Azure Firmament Grotto. The older official restrains him and formally states their purpose.
• The chapter ends with Xuan Yuanming delaying the visitors while preparing to alert the cave master, leaving the grotto’s response to the Heavenly Court inspection unresolved.

Chapter Summary: “We Do Not Ask for Much”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Xuan Yuanming’s Demon-Suppression Guards leave, the inhabitants of Azure Firmament Grotto gather nervously at the mountain gate to receive two officials from the Heavenly Court.
• Black Mountain Bear Lord, the grotto’s nominal master, steps forward to welcome them. Though he is uneasy, he tries to present himself as loyal and submissive.
• The younger Heavenly Court official is openly contemptuous of the grotto’s inhabitants, viewing them as unsophisticated “country bumpkins.” He objects to Bai Yulou and the Great Tang group attending the inspection.
• The older official intervenes diplomatically, allowing Jiang Yuechu’s trusted people to remain because they are part of the grotto’s core leadership.
• In the main hall, the officials announce that the Heavenly Court will formally recognize Black Mountain Bear Lord’s rule, enter him into the Immortal Register, and provide protection to Azure Firmament Grotto.
• They then reveal that this protection requires an annual tribute of Incense-Fire Power and Merit. They initially offer a reduced rate of twenty percent for the first three years.
• Black Mountain Bear Lord accepts, remembering Jiang Yuechu’s instructions to agree to reasonable conditions if doing so would secure the grotto’s legitimacy.
• After everyone relaxes, the older official reveals an additional demand: apart from the twenty-percent tribute owed to the Heavenly Court, Azure Firmament Grotto must privately give the two officials another fifty percent for their “efforts” in arranging the protection.
• The chapter ends with the older official casually asking whether there is any problem, exposing the Heavenly Court’s corruption and extortion.

Character Developments

• Black Mountain Bear Lord acts as a cautious and obedient representative. Although he dislikes being placed under pressure, he understands the importance of securing official recognition and tries to avoid confrontation.
• The younger Heavenly Court official is established as arrogant, disdainful, and aggressive. He looks down on the Outer Lands and has little patience for local customs or people.
• The older official initially appears reasonable, generous, and diplomatic, but this impression is gradually revealed to be deceptive. His polite manner conceals greed and manipulation.
• Bai Yulou and the Great Tang group show their importance within Azure Firmament Grotto. Their presence is politically significant, even though the Heavenly Court official dismisses them.
• Jiang Yuechu’s influence remains strong despite her absence. Her instructions guide Black Mountain Bear Lord’s decisions, and her trusted subordinates form the grotto’s real administrative core.

Significant Themes

• Institutional corruption and exploitation: The Heavenly Court presents itself as a lawful authority offering protection, but its officials use that authority to demand excessive tribute and personal bribes.
• Power disguised as benevolence: The older official frames the tribute as a fair exchange for Heavenly Court protection, masking coercion beneath courteous language.
• Political legitimacy versus independence: Black Mountain Bear Lord must decide how much to sacrifice in order to have Azure Firmament Grotto recognized as legitimate.
• Class and regional prejudice: The younger official’s contempt for the Outer Lands reflects the Heavenly Court’s arrogance toward remote or lesser territories.
• Public authority and private control: The official distinction between the Heavenly Court’s twenty-percent tribute and the officials’ private fifty-percent demand highlights the abuse of institutional power for personal gain.

Character Interactions

• Black Mountain Bear Lord repeatedly flatters and reassures the officials, attempting to protect the grotto from hostility.
• The younger official challenges and insults the local leadership, while the older official repeatedly restrains him and adopts a more diplomatic posture.
• The older official’s interaction with Black Mountain Bear Lord shifts from reassurance to coercion: he first promises recognition and leniency, then adds a huge private demand.
• The grotto’s residents remain largely silent but emotionally react to the exchange, first feeling relieved by the twenty-percent tribute and then facing renewed tension when the additional fifty-percent payment is imposed.

Chapter Summary: “What Gives Her Such Confidence?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Two Heavenly Court immortal officials demand an exorbitant fifty percent of Azure Firmament Grotto’s annual tribute, far exceeding the Heavenly Court’s official twenty-percent demand. They threaten to replace Black Mountain Bear Lord if he refuses.
• Black Mountain Bear Lord outwardly submits and attempts to negotiate while secretly contacting his master, Jiang Yuechu, for help.
• Jiang Yuechu orders him to stall the immortal officials until she can return.
• Before leaving her temporary residence on Crouching Ox Ridge, Jiang Yuechu decides to inform He Bi, not wanting him to misunderstand her absence.
• She tells He Bi that she has personal matters to handle but will return before the lecture in five days.
• He Bi considers her behavior disrespectful and lacking in sincerity toward his master. He warns her that countless geniuses would desperately seek the opportunity she is treating casually.
• Jiang Yuechu appears unfazed by his criticism, simply saying she understands before leaving.
• He Bi complains about her arrogance to his senior sister, but the woman instead reflects on Jiang Yuechu’s unusual confidence and temperament.
• The chapter ends with the senior sister wondering what gives Jiang Yuechu the confidence to believe she can accomplish her ambitious goal despite being a newcomer with shallow foundations.

Character Developments

• Black Mountain Bear Lord: Demonstrates fear and political helplessness under the immortal officials’ pressure. Though submissive externally, it remains loyal to Jiang Yuechu and immediately seeks her intervention.
• Jiang Yuechu: Reveals herself as decisive, confident, and focused on her own affairs. She neither panics over Azure Firmament Grotto’s crisis nor feels obligated to justify herself to He Bi. Her confidence in fulfilling her one-year goal remains absolute.
• He Bi: Becomes increasingly frustrated with Jiang Yuechu’s casual attitude toward the opportunity to learn from his master. He interprets her independence as arrogance and disrespect, though his irritation also suggests he is personally invested in how she behaves.
• He Bi’s Senior Sister: Shows greater insight and restraint than He Bi. Rather than accepting his judgment, she recognizes that Jiang Yuechu is likely sincere rather than boastful. Her curiosity about Jiang Yuechu’s confidence deepens.

Significant Themes

• Abuse of authority and corruption: The Heavenly Court officials exploit their position, demanding far more tribute than officially required and threatening to remove the local ruler.
• Outward submission versus inner resistance: Black Mountain Bear Lord must bow and plead publicly while secretly resisting and seeking help.
• Confidence versus arrogance: Jiang Yuechu’s behavior appears arrogant to He Bi, but the senior sister suspects it comes from genuine conviction rather than vanity.
• Different attitudes toward opportunity: He Bi views access to his master’s teachings as an extraordinary privilege requiring reverence, while Jiang Yuechu treats it pragmatically and refuses to exaggerate her respect.
• Unexplained potential: Jiang Yuechu’s certainty is presented as a mystery. Her limited cultivation and newcomer status seem inconsistent with her confidence, creating anticipation about her true abilities.

Important Character Interactions

• The confrontation between the immortal officials and Black Mountain Bear Lord establishes the immediate external crisis.
• Jiang Yuechu’s mental communication with Black Mountain Bear Lord shows their master-servant relationship and her willingness to intervene.
• Jiang Yuechu and He Bi clash indirectly: she remains calm and matter-of-fact, while he views her actions as disrespectful and warns her about the consequences.
• He Bi’s conversation with his senior sister reveals a contrast between his emotional judgment and her more perceptive assessment of Jiang Yuechu.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• In Azure Firmament Grotto, the two Heavenly Court immortals demand that Black Mountain Bear Lord surrender fifty percent of the grotto’s Annual Tribute.
• Zhang Qiuren speaks arrogantly, claiming that allowing Outer Lands cultivators to enter the Immortal Register is already a great favor and that they have no right to negotiate.
• The older immortal, Zhang Qiuren’s Third Uncle, restrains him and diplomatically grants Black Mountain Bear Lord three days to provide a definite answer.
• The black bear accepts the deadline, secretly receiving reassurance or instructions from the mysterious girl, and quickly leads Bai Yulou and the Great Tang group out of the hall.
• After isolating the hall, Zhang Qiuren argues that they should use force rather than wait. His uncle refuses, explaining that Azure Firmament Grotto has a respectable foundation and that unnecessary conflict could create complications.
• The older immortal reveals that Zhang Qiuren’s father has disappeared after meddling in lower-realm affairs. He also hints that Zhang Qiuren’s family background remains powerful through his mother and the Zhang Family.
• Zhang Qiuren’s impatience is rooted in family shame: rumors claim his father left behind an illegitimate son and disgraced Zhang Qiuren’s mother. Zhang wants to acquire resources quickly, advance his cultivation, and restore his mother’s honor.
• Three days pass. Zhang Qiuren grows increasingly contemptuous when no response arrives, but his uncle remains calm.
• Just as Zhang Qiuren complains that the grotto may resist, Black Mountain Bear Lord arrives and announces that it has found the immortals “a great treasure.”

Character Developments

• Black Mountain Bear Lord acts cautiously and diplomatically, enduring humiliation while buying time. Its secret confidence suggests it has received an important plan or opportunity from the mysterious girl.
• Zhang Qiuren is revealed to be arrogant, impatient, and deeply sensitive about his family’s reputation. His hostility toward his father stems from resentment over the disgrace brought upon his mother and himself.
• The older immortal, Zhang Qiuren’s Third Uncle, is composed and politically experienced. He restrains Zhang Qiuren’s aggression and emphasizes patience, calculation, and avoiding unnecessary risks.
• Zhang Qiuren’s mother does not appear directly, but her suffering and concern for reputation strongly influence Zhang Qiuren’s actions.
• Zhang Qiuren’s missing father becomes an important source of tension. His scandalous past and disappearance have left his family to deal with the consequences.

Significant Themes

• Power and exploitation: The Heavenly Court immortals treat the grotto’s tribute as an entitlement and present coercion as generosity.
• Patience versus impulsiveness: Zhang Qiuren favors direct force, while his uncle stresses caution and long-term strategy.
• Family honor and shame: Zhang Qiuren’s ambitions are driven less by filial affection than by his desire to erase his father’s disgrace and restore his mother’s status.
• Hidden resistance and strategic deception: Black Mountain Bear Lord appears submissive but is secretly preparing a countermeasure.
• Privilege and hierarchy: The immortals’ confidence comes from their Heavenly Court background, while the grotto’s cultivators are dismissed as inferior “wild cultivators.”

Character Interactions

• Zhang Qiuren verbally pressures Black Mountain Bear Lord, while the older immortal softens the exchange and negotiates the three-day deadline.
• Black Mountain Bear Lord remains deferential to the immortals but coordinates privately with the mysterious girl and silently communicates with Bai Yulou’s group.
• Zhang Qiuren challenges his uncle’s restraint, but the older man counsels him like a concerned mentor, urging him to control his emotions.
• The uncle reassures Zhang Qiuren that his family background will allow him to surpass his father and recover his mother’s honor.
• At the chapter’s end, Black Mountain Bear Lord returns with an apparently unexpected offer, setting up a reversal in the confrontation.

Summary of “Look Behind You”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Qiuren and his third maternal uncle, two Heavenly Court immortal officials, are discussing Azure Firmament Grotto’s Annual Tribute when they hear that the grotto possesses a “great treasure.”
• The officials initially suspect that the grotto’s cultivators are either foolishly trying to curry favor with the Heavenly Court or secretly plotting an ambush. They ultimately dismiss the latter possibility, believing Azure Firmament Grotto far too weak to threaten them.
• Black Mountain Bear Lord enters the hall with Bai Yulou, Zhao Zhongliu, and the others. He claims the treasure is rooted deeply in a cliff and cannot be moved, so the two immortals must inspect it personally.
• Zhang Qiuren grows suspicious, wondering whether the rear mountain contains a hidden formation. His uncle nevertheless agrees to go, confident that their overwhelming strength makes any trap meaningless.
• At the rear mountain, the beautiful landscape contains no obvious treasure. When challenged, Black Mountain Bear Lord abruptly drops his fearful, servile act and tells the officials to “look behind” them.
• The immortals instinctively turn around, finding nothing. As Zhang Qiuren prepares to kill the demon for mocking him, a dazzling spear—apparently a powerful Dao Armament—suddenly appears and attacks him.
• Zhang Qiuren’s defensive Dao Painting is shattered instantly. He calls for his third uncle’s help, only to discover that the uncle is already being restrained by a mysterious white-clad girl, who has appeared without warning and completely suppresses him with a single raised kick.

Character Developments

• Zhang Qiuren remains arrogant and contemptuous toward the grotto’s cultivators, treating them as insignificant “ants.” His confidence collapses into terror when confronted by the spear’s overwhelming power.
• Zhang Qiuren’s third maternal uncle initially displays calm judgment and confidence in the Heavenly Court’s authority and his own strength. His certainty proves misplaced when he is unexpectedly restrained by the white-clad girl.
• Black Mountain Bear Lord convincingly performs fear and submission in the hall, but his true confidence emerges once he lures the immortals away. His relief suggests that the entire exchange was a carefully prepared trap.
• The white-clad girl is introduced as a mysterious and immensely powerful figure. Her sudden appearance and effortless suppression of Zhang Qiuren’s uncle establish her as the likely force behind the ambush.
• The Azure Firmament Grotto cultivators cooperate in the deception, allowing the Heavenly Court officials to underestimate them.

Significant Themes

• Arrogance and underestimation: The officials assume that Azure Firmament Grotto is too weak to pose any danger, making them vulnerable to the trap.
• Deception and role-playing: Black Mountain Bear Lord’s fawning behavior is an act designed to lower the officials’ guard and lure them into a disadvantageous position.
• Hidden strength: The grotto’s apparent weakness conceals powerful weapons and allies, reinforcing the danger of judging others solely by their visible cultivation.
• Heavenly Court authority versus reality: The immortals rely on the prestige and fear associated with the Heavenly Court, but that status offers no protection against superior strength.
• Reversal of power: Those who entered expecting tribute and obedience are suddenly placed in a life-threatening position.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Qiuren and his uncle discuss the supposed treasure and debate whether the grotto’s offer is genuine or a trap.
• Black Mountain Bear Lord adopts a submissive tone before both officials, carefully reassuring them while guiding them toward the rear mountain.
• Zhang Qiuren openly insults and threatens Black Mountain Bear Lord, while the latter conceals his confidence until the trap is sprung.
• After the officials are deceived by the “look behind you” tactic, the hidden attackers reveal themselves: the Dao Armament targets Zhang Qiuren, while the white-clad girl confronts and overpowers his uncle.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Shili, a Myriad-Forms Heaven Initial Realm cultivator, is shocked when Jiang Yuechu physically overwhelms him with a single whip kick despite neither of them using their Myriad-Forms Heaven and Earth.
• He summons a white jade gourd that releases powerful azure waves, forcing Jiang Yuechu back briefly and giving him time to deploy his Myriad-Forms Heaven and Earth.
• Zhang Shili’s domain manifests as white jade mountains and vast emerald tides, expanding to thirty meters—an impressive range for his cultivation level.
• Jiang Yuechu responds by unleashing her own blood-colored domain. Her blood sea collides with Zhang Shili’s emerald tides, matching them without yielding.
• Believing his domain and background give him the advantage, Zhang Shili prepares to boast, but his nephew Zhang Qiuren suddenly charges toward Jiang Yuechu in a frenzy.
• Zhang Shili rescues Qiuren by dragging him back with the emerald waves and reprimands him for recklessly challenging a Myriad-Forms Heaven cultivator.
• Qiuren reveals that the woman is Jiang Yuechu, the notorious Sky-Patrolling Guard responsible for the death of Immortal Official Xuan Luan and the defeat of a fifth-rank divine general.
• Realizing he cannot possibly defeat her, Zhang Shili panics and flees with Qiuren, abandoning his white jade gourd.
• After reaching a distant mountain, Zhang Shili slaps Qiuren out of his fury and fear, forcing him to regain his composure.
• Qiuren acknowledges his recklessness but redirects his hatred toward Jiang Yuechu, deciding to endure, cultivate, and seek revenge in the future.
• Just as Zhang Shili begins to calm down, Jiang Yuechu’s blood sea suddenly appears again, implying that she has pursued them and that the danger is not over.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu: Demonstrates overwhelming physical strength and an exceptionally powerful Myriad-Forms Heaven and Earth. Her calm silence and aggressive pursuit reinforce her reputation as a terrifying and decisive figure.
• Zhang Shili: Begins confident in his cultivation, family background, and domain, but quickly becomes terrified once he recognizes Jiang Yuechu. His survival instinct overcomes his pride, leading him to flee.
• Zhang Qiuren: Initially loses control and blindly attacks Jiang Yuechu out of hatred connected to his father’s downfall. After Zhang Shili slaps him, he regains rationality and resolves to hide his weakness, cultivate, and seek revenge later.

Significant Themes

• Strength versus reputation: Zhang Shili assumes his cultivation and prestigious background will protect him, but Jiang Yuechu’s actual power proves far greater than expected.
• Fear and survival: Even a confident cultivator can be reduced to panic when confronted by someone with a deadly reputation and proven strength.
• Revenge and obsession: Qiuren’s hatred overwhelms his judgment, while his later decision to cultivate in secret shows revenge transforming into a long-term motivation.
• The consequences of the past: Jiang Yuechu’s earlier conflict with the Heavenly Court continues to affect others, drawing new enemies into the aftermath.
• Power hidden beneath appearances: Jiang Yuechu appears young and relatively inexperienced, yet her physique and combat ability far exceed what her aura suggests.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Yuechu and Zhang Shili engage in a direct clash between their respective domains, with neither side initially gaining ground.
• Zhang Shili protects Qiuren from Jiang Yuechu, then angrily chastises him for acting recklessly.
• Qiuren identifies Jiang Yuechu and triggers Zhang Shili’s sudden fear and retreat.
• After escaping, Zhang Shili physically disciplines Qiuren, who accepts the reprimand and suppresses his immediate urge for revenge.
• The chapter ends with Jiang Yuechu catching up to them, renewing the confrontation.

Summary: “Battle Against Zhang Shili”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Shili is stunned when Jiang Yuechu’s terrifying sea of blood reappears and pursues him. He attempts to flee with Zhang Qiuren, but Jiang’s grayish-yellow rope briefly delays him.
• Zhang Shili destroys the rope with his Yellow-Grade Dao Armament-level power and immediately unleashes his Myriad-Forms Heaven and Earth, manifesting vast emerald waves.
• Jiang Yuechu’s blood-red domain collides with Zhang Shili’s watery realm. Instead of being damaged, her Heaven and Earth devours Zhang’s, growing stronger and expanding as it absorbs his foundations.
• Jiang condenses the blood sea into a scarlet cloak and attacks with Four Seas Divine Radiance, forming a massive bloody dragon at the spear tip.
• Zhang Shili desperately defends himself by creating enormous watery hands, but Jiang’s spear shatters them. He is severely injured, while Zhang Qiuren is hurled into a distant mountain and left unconscious or possibly dead.
• Realizing Jiang’s overwhelming strength, Zhang Shili begs for mercy and offers all the Merit treasures on his person, claiming that their earlier conflict was a misunderstanding.
• Jiang refuses to spare him because he has recognized her identity. She fears that releasing him would allow the Heavenly Court to retaliate against Azure Firmament Grotto and endanger the people of Great Tang.
• Zhang Shili attempts one final counterattack, but Jiang uses an extraordinary soul-affecting technique that transforms his emerald Heaven and Earth into yellow sand.
• Jiang’s spear pierces through the ruined domain and Zhang Shili’s chest, killing him. A system notification confirms that she gains 113 strands of Dao Cultivation from his death.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu demonstrates that, despite only recently entering the Myriad-Forms Heaven Realm, her combat ability vastly exceeds Zhang Shili’s. Her blood sea can consume and strengthen itself through an opponent’s Heaven and Earth.
• She reveals a frightening new ability—possibly a divine ability—capable of directly disrupting or transforming another cultivator’s Myriad-Forms Heaven and Earth.
• Jiang becomes more decisive and ruthless. She recognizes the political danger of sparing Zhang Shili and chooses to eliminate him to protect Azure Firmament Grotto and Great Tang.
• Her decision also reflects her growing responsibility as a protector. She believes the people of Great Tang must eventually become strong enough to survive independently rather than remain permanently sheltered by her.
• Zhang Shili shifts from arrogance and confidence to terror, desperation, and finally a last-ditch willingness to fight to the death. His inability to protect himself or Zhang Qiuren exposes the gap between his reputation and Jiang’s actual strength.
• Zhang Qiuren is largely removed from the battle early, thrown into a mountain by the clash of powers.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming power and cultivation disparity: Jiang’s newly achieved realm does not limit her; her unique abilities allow her to dominate a more experienced Heavenly Court official.
• Protection versus independence: Jiang’s relocation of Great Tang to the Outer Lands is portrayed as both dangerous and necessary. True security requires her people to integrate into the wider world and develop their own strength.
• The cost of mercy: Jiang understands that sparing Zhang Shili could expose everyone under her protection to Heavenly Court retaliation. Compassion toward one enemy could endanger an entire community.
• Resolve and responsibility: Jiang accepts the risks of killing a Heavenly Court official because protecting her people takes precedence over avoiding future consequences.
• Mystery of divine abilities: Her power to turn Zhang Shili’s Heaven and Earth into sand suggests that Jiang possesses abilities beyond ordinary immortal arts, hinting at greater future potential.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Shili initially tries to flee with Zhang Qiuren but abandons concern for his nephew when his own life is threatened.
• Jiang and Zhang Shili engage in a direct clash of their respective Heaven and Earth domains, with Jiang’s blood sea consuming his emerald waves.
• Zhang Shili verbally appeals to Jiang, offering his treasures and insisting their conflict was a misunderstanding; Jiang responds without words, making her intent to kill clear through her spear.
• Their final exchange is not a negotiation but a contest of resolve: Zhang attempts to resist, while Jiang calmly dismantles his defenses and executes him.

Chapter Summary:

The Price of Divine Powers

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yuechu finishes killing two human cultivators: one in the Myriad-Forms Heaven Initial Realm and another in the Wandering Void Sea Perfection Realm. The system rewards her with only a modest amount of Dao Essence compared to the rewards from killing demons and devils.
• She reflects on the power of the Three Origins Nine-Evasions Heaven-Earth Transformation, which allows her to directly interfere with and overturn an opponent’s Myriad-Forms Heaven and Earth. This power enabled her to kill a Myriad-Forms Heaven cultivator instantly, even without spending Dao Essence to temporarily enhance herself.
• However, the technique severely exhausts her. Her right hand trembles, and she is left nearly devoid of combat strength. Jiang Yuechu realizes she was careless and could have been in danger if the enemy had possessed stronger endurance or another life-saving technique.
• After resting briefly on a mountain rock, Jiang Yuechu heads toward Azure Firmament Grotto, intending to reassure others before returning in time for an important lecture.
• The scene shifts to Kunlun, where the Eight-Wu Divine General arrives carrying a man bound tightly in black chains. He secretly approaches the Jade Pool, hoping to catch Gold Mother bathing, but finds it empty.
• Gold Mother catches him spying. He humorously claims he was merely cleaning a stone, and she dismisses his antics.
• The Eight-Wu Divine General delivers the captured man to Gold Mother in exchange for a jade box. He jokingly refers to rumors that the prisoner was once Gold Mother’s lover, but her cold response makes him retreat.
• After he leaves, Gold Mother reveals the true reason for bringing the prisoner to her: he is Zhao’er’s biological father, and Zhao’er’s Yang Body has been destroyed. She intends to use the father to help Zhao’er reconstruct his immortal body.
• Gold Mother’s apparently gentle words conceal a threatening purpose, suggesting the prisoner will be forced to pay the price for protecting or restoring her son.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu demonstrates greatly increased combat ability through her new divine technique. She can now defeat powerful Myriad-Forms Heaven cultivators decisively, but the chapter emphasizes that this strength comes at a tremendous physical and Dao Essence cost.
• Her cautious and practical nature remains intact. She regrets wasting resources and recognizes that relying on the technique recklessly could leave her vulnerable.
• Eight-Wu Divine General is portrayed as irreverent, mischievous, and shameless, openly trying to spy on Gold Mother despite his official responsibilities. Nevertheless, he is competent enough to capture and deliver a powerful prisoner.
• Gold Mother appears composed, elegant, and controlled, but her calm demeanor hides ruthlessness. Her concern for Zhao’er drives her to use his father as a tool, regardless of the man’s fear or suffering.
• Zhao’er, although absent, becomes more important through the revelation that his Yang Body has been destroyed and that Gold Mother is willing to take extreme measures to restore him.

Significant Themes

• Power and its cost: Jiang Yuechu’s divine ability grants overwhelming strength but nearly exhausts her, reinforcing that extraordinary power always demands a sacrifice.
• Resource scarcity: Dao Essence is precious, and Jiang Yuechu views every expenditure as significant. Her survival depends not only on strength but also on careful resource management.
• Protection and sacrifice: Gold Mother’s actions suggest that protecting or restoring a loved one can justify morally troubling choices.
• Hidden motives beneath humor and elegance: The Eight-Wu Divine General’s jokes conceal his role as a capable enforcer, while Gold Mother’s graceful speech masks coercion and possible cruelty.
• Relationships as sources of obligation: The prisoner’s former relationship with Gold Mother and his role as Zhao’er’s father determine his fate, regardless of his own wishes.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Yuechu’s internal reflection centers on the tension between her newfound power and its dangerous consequences.
• The Eight-Wu Divine General and Gold Mother exchange playful but hostile banter. He teases her about the Jade Pool and rumors of her past relationship, while she responds with restrained menace.
• The General delivers the bound prisoner and receives payment, establishing a transactional relationship between them.
• Gold Mother’s final interaction with the prisoner shifts from public composure to private intimidation. She speaks tenderly while making it clear that his role as Zhao’er’s father has placed him in her control.

Chapter Summary: “There Are Dogs?!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• In Azure Firmament Grotto, the people of Great Tang anxiously await Black Mountain Bear Lord’s return after he escorts two Heavenly Court immortal officials away.
• The officials had demanded half of Great Tang’s Annual Tribute, leaving everyone worried that yielding would only invite further exploitation.
• Bai Yulou reassures the group that Jiang Yuechu, who holds a position in the Heavenly Court, may be able to protect them. Zhao Zhongliu counters that the officials’ backing could be powerful enough to implicate Jiang Yuechu.
• Old Red Flood Dragon suggests retreating to Great Tang until Jiang Yuechu establishes herself in the Outer Lands. Gu Wanlan harshly criticizes this cowardice, reminding him that Jiang Yuechu fought to secure their refuge and provided them with cultivation resources.
• Black Mountain Bear Lord returns alone and reveals that the two immortal officials are probably dead. He clarifies that Jiang Yuechu was responsible, having returned secretly to eliminate the threat.
• Jiang Yuechu appears soon afterward. Old Red Flood Dragon immediately confesses its defeatist remarks and begs for punishment, but she calmly forgives it.
• The group relaxes and shares their recent experiences. Jiang Yuechu learns that everyone has been cultivating and making use of Azure Firmament Grotto’s resources.
• Old Red Flood Dragon discovers that Hu Cuihua and Niu Ben secretly advanced their cultivation while pretending to “lie flat” with him. Feeling betrayed, he jokingly cries out that there are “dogs” around him—people secretly working harder than he was.
• Jiang Yuechu distributes the remaining Merit in Azure Firmament Grotto among the group and tells them not to save it for her.
• Before leaving, she instructs them to contact Black Mountain Grotto Master if trouble arises. Her departure leaves the group encouraged and determined to continue cultivating.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu demonstrates both overwhelming strength and emotional maturity. She quietly resolves the Heavenly Court threat, forgives Old Red Flood Dragon, and recognizes that fear is natural for people facing forces far beyond their former level.
• Old Red Flood Dragon is exposed as fearful and self-preserving, but also sincere and capable of acknowledging his mistakes. His comic reaction to his companions’ hidden progress reinforces his role as the chapter’s source of humor.
• Gu Wanlan shows loyalty and moral firmness by defending Jiang Yuechu’s efforts and condemning the suggestion of retreat.
• Bai Yulou and Zhao Zhongliu represent the group’s caution and uncertainty regarding the Heavenly Court’s power and political influence.
• Hu Cuihua and Niu Ben reveal that they have been diligently cultivating despite pretending to be idle. Niu Ben takes pride in outsmarting Old Red Flood Dragon, while Hu Cuihua is more apologetic.
• Black Mountain Bear Lord acts as a reliable intermediary between Jiang Yuechu and the Great Tang faction, though he humbly rejects the idea that he defeated the immortal officials himself.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and courage: The group must decide whether to remain committed to Jiang Yuechu’s cause or retreat when confronted by a much stronger power.
• Growth through adversity: The people of Great Tang have entered a world of immortals and gods, forcing them to cultivate, adapt, and develop courage.
• Leadership and compassion: Jiang Yuechu leads through strength but does not punish understandable fear. Her tolerance is rooted in remembering Old Red Flood Dragon’s past loyalty.
• Hard work versus complacency: The contrast between those who secretly cultivate and Old Red Flood Dragon’s desire to “lie flat” highlights the necessity of effort in a dangerous new environment.
• Community and morale: Jiang Yuechu’s relaxed conversation restores warmth and confidence, transforming the group’s anxiety into laughter and renewed determination.
• The burden of leadership: Jiang Yuechu has little time to rest, suggesting that her growing responsibilities and battles continue to pull her away from the people she protects.

Character Interactions

• Bai Yulou and Zhao Zhongliu debate the risks of confronting the Heavenly Court.
• Gu Wanlan rebukes Old Red Flood Dragon for suggesting retreat and reminds him of Jiang Yuechu’s sacrifices.
• The group initially misunderstands Black Mountain Bear Lord’s return, assuming he may have killed the immortal officials himself.
• Old Red Flood Dragon dramatically confesses his “treasonous” thoughts to Jiang Yuechu, only to receive a calm pardon.
• Jiang Yuechu reconnects with the group through an informal gathering, answering cultivation questions and listening to their experiences.
• Niu Ben and Hu Cuihua humorously reveal that they deceived Old Red Flood Dragon about their cultivation progress, prompting his exaggerated complaint.
• Jiang Yuechu entrusts the group’s future to Black Mountain Bear Lord and leaves them with an encouraging reminder to continue advancing.

Chapter Summary: “Still Has the Nerve to Show Up?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• At dawn on the rear mountain of Crouching Ox Ridge, several of Qin Zhisui’s disciples gather around a natural bluish stone to attend their master’s lecture.
• Though they appear ordinary, the disciples have reached profound realms of cultivation and have “returned to simplicity,” blending naturally with heaven and earth.
• He Bi repeatedly looks toward the forest, anxiously waiting for someone who has not yet arrived. The others notice his unease, but he conceals the reason.
• Qin Zhisui arrives. Despite his aged, weakened body and lost cultivation, his former majesty still commands deep respect from his disciples.
• Qin notices that the recently accepted white-clad girl, Jiang, is absent and feels briefly disappointed. He decides not to wait for her, believing that opportunities must be seized by individuals themselves.
• The lecture begins. Qin answers his disciples’ cultivation questions with concise but profound guidance, demonstrating that his wisdom remains extraordinary despite his physical decline.
• Just as the lecture reaches its most insightful point, Jiang arrives dramatically by tearing through the clouds at high speed.
• Her late arrival shocks He Bi and angers the other disciples, who view her timing as disrespectful—especially since she is apparently a new disciple attending her first lecture.

Character Developments

• He Bi: Reveals a surprisingly worried and protective attitude toward Jiang. He understands that the other disciples may react harshly to her lateness, so he hides her identity and struggles to explain his anxious behavior.
• Qin Zhisui: Shows both lingering expectations and resignation regarding Jiang. He hopes she will take her opportunity seriously but refuses to chase after or accommodate her. His authority and insight remain intact even though his body is frail and his cultivation has vanished.
• Jiang: Makes a bold entrance that reinforces her confident, unconventional personality. Rather than arriving early and respectfully, she appears in the middle of the lecture, seemingly unconcerned about the impression she creates.
• The senior disciples: Display strong discipline, reverence for Qin, and suspicion toward Jiang. Their immediate hostility suggests they are deeply protective of their master and intolerant of anyone who treats him or his teachings casually.

Significant Themes

• Opportunities must be seized: Qin believes that people are responsible for recognizing and grasping opportunities; those who let them pass cannot blame others.
• Respect for wisdom and tradition: The disciples continue to revere Qin despite his lost cultivation, emphasizing that true greatness lies in knowledge, experience, and character rather than current power.
• Appearances versus reality: The disciples look ordinary but possess astonishing cultivation, while Qin appears physically weak yet retains unmatched insight and authority.
• Belonging and acceptance: Jiang’s late arrival immediately places her at odds with the established group, setting up a likely conflict between the newcomer and Qin’s disciplined disciples.
• Unconventional ambition: Jiang’s decision to arrive late yet still attend suggests confidence, independence, or disregard for conventional expectations.

Important Character Interactions

• The sword-bearing senior disciple questions He Bi about his restlessness, but He Bi avoids revealing Jiang’s existence.
• Qin and his disciples interact through a formal master-disciple exchange, with each disciple seeking guidance and Qin directly resolving their cultivation difficulties.
• Qin silently notices Jiang’s absence, while He Bi worries about her failure to arrive.
• Jiang’s sudden appearance changes the atmosphere of the lecture: He Bi is startled, while the other disciples immediately regard her with suspicion and indignation.

Chapter Summary: “Disciplining on the Master’s Behalf”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yuechu arrives late to her first Dao lecture at Crouching Ox Ridge.
• She ignores the hostile atmosphere surrounding the bluestone and formally bows to her master, Qin Zhisui, apologizing only for being late.
• Qin Zhisui accepts her apology without comment and tells her to sit, but his other disciples interpret her behavior as disrespectful.
• Gao, a barefoot, hemp-robed disciple carrying a sword, confronts Jiang Yuechu on the master’s behalf. He accuses her of disregarding the rules and lacking reverence for Qin Zhisui.
• He Bi attempts to defend Jiang Yuechu, suggesting that she may have had unavoidable circumstances and urging the others to hear her explanation.
• Jiang Yuechu refuses to make excuses, openly admitting that being late was her fault. Her blunt response frustrates He Bi, who feels she has rejected the opportunity he created for her to apologize and avoid conflict.
• Gao challenges Jiang Yuechu to withstand three of his attacks. If she succeeds, she may stay and listen to the Dao; if she fails, she must leave and return seven days later.
• Gao unleashes powerful wind-and-thunder sword intent without using his full technique, while the other disciples and Qin Zhisui watch without intervening.
• Despite being at an apparent cultivation disadvantage, Jiang Yuechu calmly accepts the challenge.
• She summons a long spear and prepares to counter Gao’s Heavenly-Grade Immortal Art, Thundering Dragon, with Four Seas Divine Radiance. She chooses not to use her more overwhelming Myriad-Forms Heaven and Earth ability, intending instead to establish dominance through direct strength.
• The chapter ends as she strikes the incoming thunder dragon with her spear.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu: Demonstrates composure, honesty, and an aggressively independent personality. She refuses to flatter others or offer excuses, even when doing so would be safer. Her decision to meet Gao’s attack head-on reveals confidence in her own strength and a desire to command respect.
• Gao: Emerges as a stern and protective senior disciple who believes he must defend Qin Zhisui’s dignity. Though his challenge is framed as discipline, his anger and pride clearly influence his actions.
• He Bi: Shows compassion and practical judgment by attempting to mediate. His willingness to help Jiang Yuechu disappears after she bluntly rejects his diplomatic approach, though he remains visibly worried about her safety.
• Qin Zhisui: Remains quiet and inscrutable. His lack of intervention suggests either approval of the test or confidence that Jiang Yuechu can handle it.
• The other disciples: Act collectively as guardians of their master’s honor, viewing Jiang Yuechu as an outsider who must prove herself.

Significant Themes

• Respect versus personal dignity: The disciples equate punctuality and ritual behavior with respect, while Jiang Yuechu believes honesty and strength matter more than performative submission.
• Proving oneself through strength: Acceptance within the group is presented as something Jiang Yuechu must earn by surviving a direct challenge.
• Tradition and hierarchy: The disciples rigidly enforce the rules of Crouching Ox Ridge and Qin Zhisui’s authority, even when the master himself does not demand punishment.
• Independence and defiance: Jiang Yuechu refuses to conform to expectations or rely on others to excuse her behavior.
• Hidden strength: Although viewed as a young and relatively weak newcomer, Jiang Yuechu’s calmness and powerful counterattack suggest that her true abilities may exceed the disciples’ assumptions.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Yuechu formally acknowledges Qin Zhisui but does not attempt to placate the other disciples.
• Gao confronts and condemns her, positioning himself as Qin Zhisui’s enforcer.
• He Bi tries to protect Jiang Yuechu and encourage her to apologize, but she rejects his implied guidance by simply admitting fault without offering excuses.
• He Bi becomes resentful yet remains concerned for her when Gao’s attack begins.
• The other disciples silently support Gao’s challenge, while Qin Zhisui’s silence leaves his intentions ambiguous.
• The chapter culminates in a direct clash between Gao’s thunderous sword technique and Jiang Yuechu’s spear, establishing the conflict between the established disciples and the new arrival.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• A violent clash erupts at Crouching Ox Ridge between Gao Wen and the newly arrived Jiang Yuechu, causing massive explosions and threatening to destroy the mountain.
• The disciples protect their ailing master, Qin Zhisui, from the aftershocks. He Bi anxiously worries that the destruction might worsen Qin’s condition.
• Gao Wen claims he used only ten percent of his cultivation, but the other disciples realize he clearly used far more. Jiang Yuechu, despite being newly advanced into the Myriad-Forms Heaven Realm, withstands his attack almost effortlessly.
• Jiang Yuechu’s ability to alter the thunder attack suggests she possesses an unusual and powerful divine ability. Even Gao Wen is secretly astonished and becomes wary of her.
• Qin Zhisui awakens and reprimands Gao Wen for acting on his behalf without permission, joking that the sect might change its name to the Gao family’s branch if Gao continues overstepping.
• Qin treats Jiang Yuechu with unexpected warmth, asking whether she was frightened or injured and accepting her apology for arriving late.
• He invites Jiang Yuechu to sit beside him on the sacred bluestone where he normally teaches the Dao—an honor none of his long-term disciples has received.
• When Gao Wen interrupts to ask Qin to finish his previous explanation, Qin dismisses him harshly, telling him to figure it out himself. Gao Wen is left humiliated and frustrated.
• Qin then asks Jiang Yuechu what she wishes to learn. She hesitates because her current repertoire is limited: her divine abilities are costly to use, while her Grand Profound Tribulation Thunder Art is becoming inadequate for her new cultivation level.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu demonstrates extraordinary combat ability and composure. She defeats or neutralizes Gao Wen’s attack without relying on obvious Immortal Arts, establishing herself as an exceptional genius.
• Gao Wen shifts from confident senior disciple to embarrassed and threatened rival. His pride is wounded both by Jiang Yuechu’s strength and by Qin’s preferential treatment of her.
• Qin Zhisui reveals a warmer, more perceptive side toward Jiang Yuechu while remaining irritable and sharp-tongued with his established disciples. His interest in her hints that he recognizes something unusual about her abilities.
• He Bi and the other disciples become increasingly aware of the gap between their own treatment and Jiang Yuechu’s. Their admiration is mixed with jealousy, confusion, and resignation.
• Jiang Yuechu shows humility and courtesy by apologizing for her lateness, despite having just proven herself powerful enough to withstand Gao Wen.

Significant Themes

• Comparison and jealousy: The disciples’ resentment grows as they compare their years of service with Jiang Yuechu’s immediate recognition and special treatment.
• Hidden talent and underestimated strength: Jiang Yuechu’s calm defense exposes how misleading appearances and cultivation levels can be.
• Favoritism based on potential: Qin’s behavior suggests that true ability matters more to him than seniority, loyalty, or conventional rules.
• Pride versus humility: Gao Wen boasts about limiting his strength, while Jiang Yuechu remains restrained and respectful despite her superior performance.
• The burden of cultivation: Jiang Yuechu’s hesitation reflects the difficulty of advancing into a higher realm when her existing techniques no longer match her growing power.

Character Interactions

• Gao Wen attacks Jiang Yuechu, then attempts to save face by minimizing the strength of his strike.
• Qin reprimands Gao Wen for defending him without permission, then immediately gives Jiang Yuechu the kindness and respect his disciples envy.
• Jiang Yuechu politely explains her late arrival, and Qin reassures her rather than scolding her.
• Qin invites Jiang Yuechu to sit beside him and offers to teach her directly, while dismissing Gao Wen’s request for continued instruction.
• The chapter ends with Jiang Yuechu contemplating what she should ask Qin to teach, as the other disciples silently suffer from seeing her receive privileges they never enjoyed.

Chapter Summary: “Qin Zhisui’s Relapse”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yuechu decides that improving her cultivation realm is more important than acquiring powerful techniques. Because the loss of her former “Heavenly Demon Divine Ability” has left her stuck in the Myriad-Forms Heaven Initial Realm, she asks Qin Zhisui to teach her a suitable cultivation method.
• Qin Zhisui examines her Myriad-Forms Heaven and Earth, which manifests as an enormous, intensely baleful Blood Sea. He then teaches her the Great Netherworld Blood Sea Scripture, a cultivation art specifically suited to her blood-sea-based Dao.
• Jiang Yuechu’s system records the scripture, confirming that she has successfully obtained it.
• Immediately afterward, Qin Zhisui suffers a severe mental relapse. He becomes bloodshot-eyed, struggles violently, and repeatedly cries that what happened is not his fault.
• His disciples restrain him and reveal that these episodes have occurred for hundreds of years. Initially they were brief trances and muttering, but they gradually worsened into frequent bouts of madness.
• He Bi explains that he and the senior female disciple have tried spells and medicines, but nothing has helped. The only option has been to wait for Qin Zhisui to recover on his own.
• After some time, Qin Zhisui becomes limp and is carried away to rest. His disciples are devastated by their helplessness.
• Senior Brother Chu explains that Qin Zhisui concealed his condition because he did not want to burden his disciples. The disciples resolve to care for him and search for another solution.
• Jiang Yuechu is invited to accompany them, reflecting Qin Zhisui’s apparent regard for her despite her not yet formally becoming his disciple. She accepts and joins the group.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu: Demonstrates maturity and practicality by prioritizing cultivation foundation over flashy techniques. She accepts Qin Zhisui’s scripture and becomes more closely connected to his disciples after witnessing his relapse.
• Qin Zhisui: Revealed to be suffering from a long-term, worsening mental condition, likely connected to a past catastrophe and the loss of his cultivation. Despite his illness, he forces himself to teach Jiang Yuechu an important cultivation method.
• He Bi: Shows loyalty and emotional strain as Qin Zhisui’s caretaker. He has obeyed his master’s wishes by hiding the illness but finally discloses the truth when concealment is no longer possible.
• Gao Wen and the other disciples: Their respect and gratitude toward Qin Zhisui deepen into determination to protect him. They are troubled by their inability to repay his kindness or relieve his suffering.
• Senior Brother Chu: Acts as the one who interprets Qin Zhisui’s motives, explaining that his secrecy came from concern for his disciples rather than indifference.
• The cool-looking female disciple: Shows consideration toward Jiang Yuechu by inviting her to accompany the group, acknowledging her special connection to Qin Zhisui.

Significant Themes

• Foundation over power: Jiang Yuechu recognizes that powerful techniques are meaningless without a strong cultivation realm and suitable method.
• Teacher-student bonds and gratitude: Qin Zhisui’s disciples feel indebted to him and refuse to abandon him once they learn of his suffering.
• Concealed suffering: Qin Zhisui hides his deteriorating condition to avoid burdening those he cares about, emphasizing his self-sacrificing nature.
• Helplessness and responsibility: The disciples’ inability to cure or even meaningfully ease Qin Zhisui’s relapses creates a sense of grief and urgency.
• Trust and inclusion: Jiang Yuechu’s willingness to reveal her Dao and accept Qin Zhisui’s teaching strengthens her relationship with him and opens the way for her integration into the group.

Important Character Interactions

• Jiang Yuechu respectfully asks Qin Zhisui for a cultivation method, and he examines her Dao before teaching her the Great Netherworld Blood Sea Scripture.
• Qin Zhisui’s disciples restrain and care for him during his relapse, exposing the depth of their concern.
• He Bi confesses the truth about Qin Zhisui’s illness after Gao Wen and the others demand an explanation.
• Senior Brother Chu reframes Qin Zhisui’s secrecy as an act of kindness, motivating the disciples to help him.
• The female disciple invites Jiang Yuechu to join them, and Jiang Yuechu accepts, bringing her closer to Qin Zhisui and his disciples.

Chapter Summary: “Two Methods”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yuechu returns to the dilapidated house, where Qin Zhisui’s disciples have gathered around their unconscious master.
• Qin lies in an extremely weak state, but none of the disciples—including Chu Tiange, all highly accomplished cultivators—can identify any physical illness or injury.
• Chu Tiange proposes two possible causes:
  1. An old external injury or hidden ailment has resurfaced now that Qin’s cultivation has been lost.
  2. Qin’s psychological inability to accept his fall from supreme cultivator to mortal has damaged his Spirit Platform over time.
• He concludes that Qin’s Spirit Platform and mind have been affected, and that powerful treasures capable of nourishing the soul might help.
• He Bi reveals that he and another disciple have already tried countless medicinal treasures without producing any improvement.
• Chu Tiange insists that they must seek something even more powerful, whether from the Heavenly Court or Buddhist Sect—and, if necessary, take it by force.
• Jiang Yuechu asks whether they have any concrete leads. Chu Tiange identifies two supreme treasures:
  • The Buddhist Sect’s Nine-Colored Bodhi
  • The Peach Dew possessed by Kunlun’s Gold Mother
• Both treasures are extraordinarily rare and valuable, with effects capable of stabilizing the divine soul and Spirit Platform.
• The disciples recognize that obtaining either treasure would be extremely dangerous, especially with the Peach Banquet approaching and tensions between the Heavenly Court, Buddhist Sect, and rogue cultivators.

Character Developments

• Chu Tiange emerges as a calm, analytical leader. Although he cannot diagnose Qin, he organizes the problem logically and advocates taking decisive action rather than waiting helplessly.
• He Bi reveals the extent of the disciples’ long-term efforts to save Qin, emphasizing that ordinary remedies have already failed.
• Jiang Yuechu shows unexpected concern for Qin’s condition despite being a recent arrival. Her interest is also partly self-serving, since Qin’s madness could prevent her from obtaining further benefits from him.
• The other disciples are shown to be deeply worried but largely powerless, having considerable cultivation yet lacking the means to address Qin’s mysterious condition.

Significant Themes

• Powerlessness despite strength: Even Myriad-Forms Heaven Realm cultivators cannot diagnose or treat Qin, demonstrating that cultivation alone does not solve every problem.
• The consequences of downfall: Chu Tiange suggests that Qin’s loss of status and cultivation may have created a psychological wound that gradually damaged his mind.
• Desperation and moral compromise: The disciples are willing to seek forbidden or dangerous treasures—and even seize them by force—to save their master.
• The value of rare treasures: The Nine-Colored Bodhi and Peach Dew represent nearly unattainable resources, highlighting the immense cost of healing Qin.
• Conflicting motives: Jiang Yuechu’s concern combines genuine curiosity with a desire to preserve her access to Qin’s teachings and remaining value.

Character Interactions

• The disciples look to Chu Tiange for guidance after every examination fails.
• Chu Tiange challenges He Bi’s report that all available remedies have been tried, arguing that they must search beyond ordinary resources.
• Jiang Yuechu’s question draws the group’s attention and causes Chu Tiange to reassess her as someone invested in Qin’s survival.
• Gao Wen and the others briefly regain hope when Chu Tiange identifies the Spirit Platform as the likely source of Qin’s illness, but that hope fades when they learn how difficult the necessary treasures will be to obtain.
• The chapter ends with the disciples confronting the danger of challenging the Buddhist Sect or Kunlun’s Gold Mother, leaving Qin’s fate uncertain.