Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Zhisui suffers another violent episode, repeatedly insisting that he is not a sinner and clawing at his own face.
• His disciples restrain him carefully because his current body is mortal and extremely fragile. Their healing spells fail, and his condition worsens until he begins bleeding from the throat.
• Jiang Yuechu offers to treat him, but Gao Wen doubts her due to her relatively low cultivation and limited experience. He Bi supports giving her a chance, while Chu Tiange ultimately authorizes her attempt.
• Jiang first uses her healing ability, Eternal Imperishability, flooding Qin Zhisui with vitality. Although it restores some color and strength to him, it does not calm his disturbed mind; instead, his cries become even louder.
• Realizing that ordinary healing cannot cure a mental affliction, Jiang suddenly punches Qin Zhisui in the face, knocking him unconscious.
• The disciples are shocked and furious at her reckless-looking action, but Chu Tiange confirms that Qin is unharmed and that his mind has temporarily become calm.
• The group recognizes that Jiang’s method only suppresses the symptoms. To cure Qin permanently, they must obtain rare medicines such as Nine-Colored Bodhi or Peach Blossom Dew.

2. Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu demonstrates calm judgment, confidence, and unconventional medical insight. She correctly realizes that Qin’s problem is mental rather than physical and uses a precisely controlled punch to stop the episode.
• Qin Zhisui is shown to be deeply tormented by guilt or an accusation of sin, despite repeatedly declaring his innocence. His mental anguish is severe enough to endanger his mortal body.
• Chu Tiange acts as the most rational and authoritative disciple. Though cautious, he recognizes Jiang’s specialized ability and trusts her judgment. His concern for Qin is evident when he personally checks his condition.
• Gao Wen remains skeptical and protective of his master. His anger reflects both distrust of Jiang and fear that her treatment could accidentally kill Qin.
• He Bi is more practical and desperate, willing to try any possible solution because Qin’s condition is rapidly deteriorating.
• The disciples’ helplessness becomes clear: despite their strength and experience, they cannot solve an illness affecting the mind.

3. Significant Themes

• Powerlessness before psychological suffering: Even powerful cultivators are unable to resolve Qin’s mental torment through force, spells, or vitality.
• Specialization and humility: The disciples learn that Jiang’s lower cultivation does not mean she lacks expertise; different people excel in different fields.
• Unconventional solutions: Jiang’s punch appears disrespectful and dangerous, but it succeeds where conventional healing fails, emphasizing the value of practical results over tradition.
• Symptoms versus root causes: Knocking Qin unconscious only suppresses the crisis. A true cure requires rare medicinal treasures and deeper treatment.
• Loyalty and care: The disciples’ panic, restraint, and fear of harming Qin reveal their deep respect and affection for their master.

4. Character Interactions

• He Bi argues with Gao Wen over whether Jiang should be allowed to help, prioritizing Qin’s survival over concerns about her qualifications.
• Chu Tiange settles the disagreement by granting Jiang permission and reminding the others that expertise can take many forms.
• Jiang’s healing attempt earns the group’s initial respect, but her sudden punch causes Gao Wen to confront her angrily.
• Chu Tiange interrupts the confrontation after confirming that Qin is safe, preventing the conflict from escalating.
• He Bi later asks Jiang to warn them before striking again, acknowledging that her method worked while expressing concern about its danger and impropriety.

Chapter Summary: “Dividing Forces into Three Routes”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group discusses obtaining a Nine-Colored Bodhi, an extremely rare Buddhist treasure capable of awakening spiritual intelligence, purifying the soul, and stabilizing a cultivator’s foundation.
• Gao Wen suggests obtaining Kunlun’s Peach Dew instead, but Chu Tiange explains that Kunlun is currently under heavy surveillance because the Peach Banquet is approaching.
• Since the group consists of rogue cultivators without official Immortal Register status, infiltrating Kunlun—or attempting to steal from the banquet—would effectively mean declaring war on the Heavenly Court.
• Chu Tiange argues that the Buddhist Sect, despite being more powerful overall, may be easier to infiltrate because it welcomes outsiders to listen to its teachings and discuss the Dao. This creates opportunities to act unnoticed.
• However, the Buddhist Sect and Heavenly Court are bitter enemies. If the group is mistaken for Heavenly Court spies, the consequences could be disastrous.
• The disciples nevertheless reaffirm their loyalty to their master, declaring that they are willing to risk confronting even the Buddhist Sect or Heavenly Court for his sake.
• Chu Tiange rejects the idea of sending everyone together, reasoning that a large group would attract attention and expose them. He therefore proposes dividing their forces into three routes:
  1. Chu Tiange’s group will infiltrate Buddhist territory and seek the Nine-Colored Bodhi.
  2. The remaining disciples will go to Kunlun, investigate the Gold Mother, and search for an opportunity amid the Peach Banquet preparations.
  3. He Bi will remain behind to care for their master.
• The chapter ends by shifting to Hengyun Commandery, where a small monk—apparently a Buddha Son—stands atop the White Pagoda composing and admiring his own poetry. His self-satisfaction is interrupted when someone arrives to ask when he will depart at the Arhat’s command.

Character Developments

• Chu Tiange demonstrates strategic judgment and responsibility. Rather than relying on a single dangerous plan, he creates multiple backup routes and prioritizes protecting both the mission and their injured master.
• Gao Wen initially makes several impractical suggestions, including stealing Peach Dew during the Peach Banquet, but ultimately reveals his sincerity and courage by affirming his willingness to face any danger for their master.
• He Bi shows loyalty and emotional strength. Although he wants to participate, he accepts that remaining behind is his most useful role and promises to guard their master.
• The disciples collectively display strong unity and devotion, willing to risk their lives despite the extreme danger.
• The little monk introduced at the end appears humorous, eccentric, and self-important, contrasting sharply with the serious planning of Chu Tiange’s group.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and gratitude: The disciples are prepared to risk conflict with major powers because their master once treated them as though he had remade their lives.
• Strategy over brute force: Chu Tiange emphasizes careful planning, deception, and dividing resources rather than confronting powerful factions directly.
• Risk and sacrifice: Every possible route carries severe danger, forcing the characters to balance their master’s survival against their own lives.
• Political tension: The hostility between the Buddhist Sect and Heavenly Court creates a dangerous environment in which unaffiliated rogue cultivators can easily be mistaken for enemy agents.
• Contrasting personalities: The grave, high-stakes mission is juxtaposed with the monk’s comic vanity and poetic self-admiration.

Character Interactions

• Chu Tiange patiently explains why Kunlun is nearly impossible to infiltrate, correcting the others’ assumptions about the Peach Banquet.
• Gao Wen’s naïve suggestion to steal Peach Dew produces an awkward silence and humorous embarrassment among the disciples.
• The group’s reactions to Chu Tiange’s plan show their trust in his leadership.
• Chu Tiange assigns He Bi the responsibility of guarding their master, and He Bi responds with restrained emotion and solemn support.
• The final exchange between the little monk and the hurried messenger introduces a new character dynamic: the monk’s leisurely self-absorption conflicts with the Arhat’s expectation that he depart promptly.

Chapter Summary: “Old Man Qin Isn’t Human?!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Buddhist Son is interrupted while meditating and reminded that the Gratitude Assembly is about to begin. Though irritated by his subordinates’ past laziness and hypocrisy, he agrees to depart rather than risk conflict with the powerful cultivators he currently needs.
• In the frontier of He Province, the Buddhist Son’s group travels at tremendous speed toward their destination. Chu Tiange, Gao Wen, and the other Myriad-Forms Heaven Realm cultivators display extraordinary movement techniques.
• Jiang Yuechu struggles to keep up, revealing that her cultivation and escape techniques are still inferior to those of the veteran cultivators.
• Qiu Yinong kindly invites Jiang Yuechu onto her auspicious cloud, allowing her to catch up with the others.
• During their journey, Jiang Yuechu asks about Senior Qin’s condition. Qiu Yinong explains that Qin’s illness is connected to something called the “Primordial True Spirit Record.”
• Qiu Yinong reveals that the Heavenly Court once forced Qin into his current state. She and He Bi have also pieced together fragments of Qin’s delirious mutterings, leading them to believe that he may not be human.
• Jiang Yuechu initially wonders whether Qin might be a demon, but Qiu Yinong clarifies that Qin is most likely an Innate True God.

Character Developments

• The Buddhist Son is shown as calculating and pragmatic. Although he despises his subordinates’ greed and incompetence, he restrains himself because he needs their strength for the coming events.
• Jiang Yuechu demonstrates humility and practicality by accepting Qiu Yinong’s help instead of stubbornly struggling to keep pace. Her curiosity about Qin’s identity also shows her increasingly personal interest in the mysterious elder.
• Qiu Yinong reveals herself to be considerate and perceptive. She notices Jiang Yuechu’s difficulty, offers assistance, respects her reluctance to discuss her age, and eventually shares sensitive information about Qin.
• Jiang Yuechu’s thoughts remain irreverent and mischievous: upon hearing that Qin may not be human, she immediately imagines the possibility of recording or studying him if the treatment fails.

Significant Themes

• Pragmatism over pride: Jiang Yuechu accepts help when necessary, while the Buddhist Son suppresses his temper for strategic reasons.
• Hidden identities and forgotten origins: Qin’s mysterious illness and possible status as an Innate True God introduce questions about his true nature and past.
• Power and hierarchy: The disparity between veteran Myriad-Forms cultivators and younger practitioners highlights the importance of accumulated experience and cultivation foundations.
• The Heavenly Court’s influence: Its past actions appear connected to Qin’s downfall, suggesting deeper conflicts involving ancient powers and suppressed truths.
• Trust and guarded disclosure: Qiu Yinong cautiously reveals information to Jiang Yuechu, balancing suspicion with growing trust.

Character Interactions

• The Buddhist Son dismissively responds to the messenger urging him to attend the Gratitude Assembly, exposing his contempt for the supposedly grateful creatures serving him.
• Qiu Yinong assists Jiang Yuechu during the journey and begins a friendly conversation with her.
• Jiang Yuechu questions Qiu Yinong about Qin’s condition, prompting the revelation about the Primordial True Spirit Record and Qin’s possible nonhuman origin.
• Qiu Yinong becomes nervous that Jiang Yuechu may misunderstand or disrespect Qin, quickly clarifying that he is not merely a demon but likely an Innate True God.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yuechu reacts to the revelation that Old Qin may be a True God, beings believed to be naturally divine, immortal, and nearly indestructible. She questions why such a powerful existence would become the chief of the Unranked Immortals under the Heavenly Court.
• She reasons that Old Qin’s status may explain why the Heavenly Court did not kill him after suppressing him. Perhaps his unique nature as a True God made him difficult or impossible to destroy, even if they crippled his cultivation and abandoned him at Crouching Ox Ridge.
• As the group travels toward the Buddhist Sect’s territory to obtain the Nine-Colored Bodhi, Gao Wen voices his suspicion that Jiang Yuechu may be a spy from the Heavenly Court.
• Gao Wen points out that Jiang Yuechu has known their master for only a few days, yet is willing to accompany the disciples on a highly dangerous mission. He finds her motives suspicious, especially since she has no obvious personal connection to Old Qin.
• Chu Tiange acknowledges that Gao Wen’s doubts are reasonable. Although he considers several possibilities—including Jiang Yuechu harboring a grudge against the Buddhist Sect or Gold Mother of Kunlun—he ultimately orders Gao Wen to keep watch rather than expel her.
• Gao Wen threatens Jiang Yuechu through an exaggerated gesture, pointing to his eyes and then drawing a finger across his throat.
• Jiang Yuechu treats the threat with indifference and jokingly asks Qiu Yinong whether Gao Wen is mentally ill. Qiu Yinong apologizes for him and explains that he is strange but well-intentioned.
• The group is informed that they will reach the Buddhist Sect’s territory in roughly one or two days.
• Jiang Yuechu then withdraws into meditation and opens her internal system panel, revealing the next cultivation method: “Great Nether Blood Sea Scripture” (Not Learned).

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu demonstrates sharp reasoning by analyzing the contradiction surrounding Old Qin’s identity and the Heavenly Court’s treatment of him. She also makes clear that her motives are largely pragmatic: she is accompanying the group to seek opportunities for Dao cultivation, not solely out of loyalty to Old Qin.
• Gao Wen is established as suspicious, impulsive, and confrontational. Despite his aggressive behavior, his concern for the mission and his master is genuine.
• Chu Tiange emerges as a cautious and authoritative leader. He neither dismisses Gao Wen’s suspicions nor acts rashly, instead ordering surveillance while allowing Jiang Yuechu to remain useful to the group.
• Qiu Yinong acts as a mediator, attempting to smooth over the tension between Jiang Yuechu and Gao Wen. Her embarrassment at Gao Wen’s behavior also highlights his lack of social tact.
• Old Qin gains greater mystery and significance through the possibility that he is a True God whose powers or nature prevented the Heavenly Court from eliminating him.

Significant Themes

• Mystery and hidden identities: Old Qin’s possible status as a True God raises questions about his past, the Heavenly Court’s power, and the true meaning of his apparent defeat.
• Trust and suspicion: Jiang Yuechu’s rapid integration into the group is viewed with distrust, emphasizing the difficulty of forming alliances in a dangerous cultivation world.
• Loyalty versus personal motives: The disciples risk their lives out of devotion to their master, while Jiang Yuechu follows for more self-interested reasons, creating a contrast between familial loyalty and opportunistic cooperation.
• Power and vulnerability: Even a being as exalted as a True God may be suppressed, suggesting that status and immortality do not guarantee freedom or safety.
• Pragmatism and survival: The characters prepare for danger by balancing cooperation with vigilance, recognizing that the mission may involve betrayal or death.

Character Interactions

• Gao Wen privately warns Chu Tiange about Jiang Yuechu and urges him to consider her a possible Heavenly Court spy.
• Chu Tiange responds with measured caution, instructing Gao Wen to monitor her and kill her if she proves treacherous.
• Gao Wen openly intimidates Jiang Yuechu from a distance, but she responds with calm mockery rather than fear.
• Qiu Yinong defends Gao Wen while apologizing for his behavior, helping prevent the exchange from escalating.
• Jiang Yuechu remains emotionally detached from the group’s suspicions and turns her attention back to cultivation, preparing to learn the Great Nether Blood Sea Scripture.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yuechu reflects on cultivation techniques and their classification by the highest realm they can ultimately support. The Great Netherworld Blood Sea Scripture is considered a Myriad-Forms Heaven Realm technique, despite its profound potential.
• Aware that her current Myriad-Forms Heaven Initial Realm cultivation may eventually become a weakness, Jiang Yuechu spends 213 Dao Essence to advance the technique to the Beginner realm.
• Her inner world transforms dramatically: the blood sea expands to forty-three meters, and a dark-red, multi-tiered pagoda rises from its depths. The pagoda stabilizes and strengthens the blood sea, giving it a powerful, circulating heavenly intent.
• Jiang Yuechu concludes that the improvement is worthwhile. Her enhanced blood sea is now strong enough to defeat the Heavenly Court immortal official she previously fought without relying on a divine ability.
• After several days of travel, the group reaches the border of Buddhist Sect territory, identifiable by golden Buddhist radiance and numerous ancient temples.
• Chu Tiange warns that non-Buddhist cultivators entering the region will have their cultivation suppressed to roughly forty or fifty percent. Although they can forcefully resist the suppression, doing so would reveal their presence to the Buddhist Sect.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu demonstrates exceptional talent, decisiveness, and relentless dedication to improving her strength. Her cultivation technique advances rapidly despite its enormous cost.
• Her breakthrough significantly increases both the size and quality of her Myriad-Forms Heaven and Earth, giving her far greater combat power and reducing her anxiety about being outmatched by higher-level opponents.
• Qiu Yinong initially mistakes Jiang Yuechu’s breakthrough for the result of diligent meditation and admires her discipline. After realizing that Jiang Yuechu has casually advanced a profound technique to the Beginner realm, Qiu becomes stunned and begins to recognize her terrifying natural talent.
• Chu Tiange acts as the group’s knowledgeable guide, explaining the dangers of Buddhist territory and emphasizing caution.
• Gao Wen remains concerned about the practical consequences of entering an area where their combat strength will be heavily restricted.

Significant Themes

• Talent versus effort: Qiu Yinong first attributes Jiang Yuechu’s strength to hard work but is forced to acknowledge that her extraordinary talent is the greater explanation.
• The importance of cultivation foundations: Jiang Yuechu recognizes that realm and technique quality are essential, even when one possesses unusual abilities and powerful weapons.
• Power and cost: The breakthrough requires a massive expenditure of Dao Essence, emphasizing that great strength demands significant resources.
• Concealment and restraint: The group must balance using their full power against the need to avoid alerting the Buddhist Sect.
• Territorial suppression: The Buddhist Sect’s domain demonstrates how powerful factions can shape and control their environment, creating danger even before any direct confrontation occurs.

Character Interactions

• Qiu Yinong silently supports Jiang Yuechu during her breakthrough by slowing the auspicious cloud and avoiding interruption.
• After sensing Jiang Yuechu’s transformed aura, Qiu questions her about the technique’s progress. Jiang Yuechu answers modestly that she has merely “gained a little,” leaving Qiu speechless.
• Chu Tiange informs the group about Buddhist radiance and urges everyone to avoid revealing their true strength.
• Gao Wen reacts anxiously to the prospect of fighting while weakened, highlighting the risks the entire group faces as they enter Buddhist Sect territory.

Chapter Summary: Gratitude Assembly

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yuechu learns from Chu Tiange that the Buddhist Sect’s territory contains dangerous, mysterious formations and golden light surrounding the Eight-Treasure Merit Pool. She realizes that entering recklessly could have killed her and is relieved she did not act impulsively.
• Chu Tiange divides the group into two teams to investigate the region around the Eight-Treasure Merit Pool:
  • Chu Tiange and the quiet Junior Brother Liu take one route.
  • Jiang Yuechu travels with Gao Wen and Qiu Yinong.
• Gao Wen is displeased by the arrangement and continues to underestimate Jiang Yuechu, dismissing her previous feat of enduring his attack because she had not used her full power.
• The three-person group reaches West Creek Commandery, the city nearest the Eight-Treasure Merit Pool and a gathering point for cultivators and demons before the Buddhist Sect’s major assembly.
• They disguise themselves by concealing their auras and enter the city like ordinary travelers. The city appears largely mundane despite being under Buddhist Sect rule, though Buddhist light hangs across the sky.
• While listening to conversations in the city, the group discovers that the Buddhist Sect is holding the Gratitude Assembly earlier than usual and that it will coincide with the Heavenly Court’s Peach Banquet.
• This news shocks Gao Wen and Qiu Yinong, who recognize that the event’s timing represents a major and potentially dangerous change.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu shows caution, composure, and perceptiveness. She recognizes the danger of the Buddhist Sect’s territory and remains calm despite Gao Wen’s hostility and the alarming news about the Gratitude Assembly.
• Chu Tiange demonstrates leadership and strategic judgment by dividing the group into smaller teams while ensuring they can support one another.
• Gao Wen remains arrogant and dismissive toward Jiang Yuechu. He believes her earlier performance was only a trick because she had not activated her Myriad-Forms Heaven and Earth. However, his confidence gives way to visible shock when he hears about the Gratitude Assembly’s timing.
• Qiu Yinong acts as a polite and knowledgeable intermediary. She explains the nature of the Buddhist Sect’s lands and the significance of the assembly while showing concern over the event’s unusual scheduling.
• Junior Brother Liu remains silent and mysterious, contributing little dialogue but accompanying Chu Tiange as his assigned partner.

Significant Themes

• Caution versus recklessness: Jiang Yuechu’s restraint contrasts with the danger of blindly entering the Buddhist Sect’s territory.
• Underestimation and hidden strength: Gao Wen’s dismissal of Jiang Yuechu suggests that her true abilities may exceed what the others understand.
• Ordinary life beneath divine rule: Qiu Yinong notes that, despite the presence of Buddhas and Immortal Venerables, ordinary people must still struggle through daily life.
• Political and spiritual tension: The Buddhist Sect’s decision to hold the Gratitude Assembly at the same time as the Heavenly Court’s Peach Banquet signals a break with tradition and hints at wider conflict or competition between the two powers.
• Gathering of cultivators and opportunity: The assembly draws powerful figures and creates expectations of rare opportunities near the Eight-Treasure Merit Pool, attracting both major forces and rogue cultivators.

Character Interactions

• Chu Tiange gives the group instructions and assigns Jiang Yuechu to Gao Wen and Qiu Yinong’s team.
• Gao Wen warns Jiang Yuechu not to cause trouble, revealing his irritation and lack of respect for her.
• Qiu Yinong apologizes for Gao Wen’s attitude and speaks privately with Jiang Yuechu about the Buddhist Sect’s culture and territory.
• Jiang Yuechu’s curiosity about the city and her calm responses contrast with Gao Wen’s impatience.
• After overhearing rumors about the assembly, Gao Wen and Qiu Yinong react with alarm, prompting Qiu Yinong to explain its importance to Jiang Yuechu.

Key plot points and events

• Gao Wen, Jiang Yuechu, and Qiu Yinong arrive in Xixi Prefecture, hoping to exploit weak Buddhist Sect defenses while the Peach Banquet distracts them.
• They discover that the Buddhist Sect has unexpectedly organized a large-scale Gratitude Assembly, meaning the sect’s territory—especially the Eight-Treasure Merit Pool—is heavily guarded.
• The group takes refuge in a secluded inn and seals the room against outside detection.
• Qiu Yinong attempts to contact Chu Tiange through a communication jade pendant, but receives no response. Gao Wen confirms that the connection is completely dead.
• They consider two possibilities: Chu Tiange and Liu may be in an area that blocks communication, or they may have been instantly suppressed by an existence beyond the Myriad-Forms Heaven Realm.
• Rather than recklessly search for Chu Tiange and risk exposing themselves, Qiu Yinong suggests gathering intelligence in Xixi Prefecture about the early Gratitude Assembly.
• Before they can act, a rat demon arrives with a package specifically for Jiang Yuechu. It contains a warm rice cake and a note reading: “Since we parted in Longyou, Lord Jiang, I hope you've been well.”

Character developments

• Jiang Yuechu remains composed and practical, immediately accepting that the situation must be investigated rather than panicked over. Her calm leadership subtly challenges Gao Wen’s authority.
• Gao Wen initially tries to maintain control and appear decisive, but Chu Tiange’s disappearance exposes his anxiety and dependence on his senior brother. He also becomes suspicious of Jiang Yuechu when the mysterious delivery arrives.
• Qiu Yinong demonstrates clear judgment and emotional steadiness. She calms Gao Wen, logically analyzes Chu Tiange’s disappearance, and proposes the safest course of action.
• Chu Tiange, though absent, is established as the group’s strongest and most reliable strategist, making his unexplained silence especially alarming.
• Jiang Yuechu’s past connection to the sender is hinted at through the personal note, suggesting that her claim of having no acquaintances in the Buddhist Sect’s territory may be incomplete or misleading.

Significant themes

• Uncertainty and hidden danger: The group cannot determine whether Chu Tiange is merely isolated or has been defeated by a superior force.
• Caution versus impulsiveness: Qiu Yinong’s rational planning contrasts with Gao Wen’s initial panic and desire for immediate action.
• Power and vulnerability: Even powerful cultivators may become helpless when confronted by forces beyond their realm or by the Buddhist Sect’s heightened security.
• Secrets and concealed identities: The unexpected message implies that Jiang Yuechu has undisclosed history and connections.
• Political and sectarian tension: The early Gratitude Assembly disrupts the group’s plans and suggests a larger, possibly dangerous development within the Buddhist Sect.

Character interactions

• Jiang Yuechu’s calm decision-making frustrates Gao Wen, who hurriedly takes the lead to preserve his authority.
• Qiu Yinong repeatedly mediates Gao Wen’s anxiety, persuading him to follow a more rational strategy.
• Gao Wen and Qiu Yinong react with growing alarm when Chu Tiange cannot be contacted, while Jiang Yuechu remains comparatively composed.
• Gao Wen becomes distrustful of Jiang Yuechu when the rat demon specifically asks for her.
• The chapter ends with Jiang Yuechu receiving an intimate, cryptic greeting from an unknown figure, sharply shifting attention toward her past.

Chapter Summary: “Longyou? Longyou!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yuechu receives a mysterious note bearing the message: “Since we parted in Longyou, may you have been well, Lady Jiang.”
• The note is delivered by a frightened rat demon, who claims that an unknown child gave him the message and paid him one hundred gui of Merit to deliver it.
• Suspicious of the reference to Longyou and the sender’s familiarity with her, Jiang Yuechu interrogates the rat demon harshly, briefly lifting him by the throat.
• The rat demon insists that he knows nothing more and quickly flees after being released.
• Jiang Yuechu secretly orders Golden Thread Ancestor to follow the rat demon and investigate whether he is telling the truth.
• She then enters her Dao Painting and travels to Longyou Commandery.
• Longyou is shown to have changed dramatically. Once plagued by Great Demons and evil spirits, it is now peaceful and prosperous after the Eldest Princess’s arrival caused the demons to disappear.
• The Demon-Suppression Guards have become local helpers, handling mundane problems such as missing livestock, leaking roofs, and repairs instead of fighting monsters.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu becomes visibly cautious and suspicious. The note unsettles her because Longyou is connected to her past and should have no apparent connection to her current location in the Outer Lands.
• Her usual composure gives way to decisive, even intimidating action when she interrogates the rat demon.
• Rather than accepting the rat demon’s explanation, she arranges covert surveillance through Golden Thread Ancestor, showing her strategic and distrustful nature.
• The rat demon is portrayed as a minor opportunist who accepts a simple delivery job for payment but immediately regrets it when confronted by Jiang Yuechu.
• Golden Thread Ancestor continues to function as Jiang Yuechu’s discreet agent.
• Gao Wen and Qiu Yinong recognize that Jiang Yuechu is behaving unusually. Gao Wen prepares for possible danger, while Qiu Yinong cautiously asks what happened, but both ultimately refrain from pressing her.
• The Demon-Suppression Guards of Longyou have adapted to peaceful life, becoming more relaxed, humorous, and involved in ordinary community affairs.

Significant Themes

• Mystery and unresolved connections: The note suggests that someone from Jiang Yuechu’s past—or someone claiming such a connection—has found a way to reach her in the Outer Lands.
• The transformation brought by peace: Longyou has shifted from a dangerous frontier ruled by fear to a stable community where former warriors handle everyday civic problems.
• Vigilance and distrust: Jiang Yuechu does not take the mysterious message at face value and immediately seeks to trace its source.
• The contrast between danger and normalcy: The tense mystery surrounding the note is juxtaposed with the Demon-Suppression Guards’ comic, ordinary routine.
• The humanizing effects of peace: Warriors who once expected death daily now enjoy leisure, camaraderie, and the satisfaction of helping civilians with mundane concerns.

Important Character Interactions

• Jiang Yuechu confronts and threatens the rat demon, demanding to know who sent him.
• The rat demon pleads for his life and explains that an unknown child gave him the note and payment.
• Qiu Yinong gently asks Jiang Yuechu about the incident, but Jiang Yuechu dismisses it.
• Gao Wen watches the street to ensure the rat demon leaves safely and senses that Jiang Yuechu should not be disturbed.
• Jiang Yuechu privately commands Golden Thread Ancestor to track the messenger.
• In Longyou, the Demon-Suppression Guards joke with Old Li about a widow’s leaking roof, revealing their close camaraderie and the relaxed atmosphere of the commandery.

Chapter Summary: “Bujie”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yuechu returns to Longyou after receiving a mysterious letter from someone claiming to be an old acquaintance. The sender’s ability to locate her in the Buddhist Sect’s territory suggests that someone can freely enter and leave her Dao Painting world, raising serious security concerns.
• She visits the Demon Suppression Office and reunites with General Wei He and Xu Changfeng. Rather than returning for nostalgia, she asks them to investigate the former squad members who served under her: Monk Bujie, Chen Tong, and Liu Ke.
• Wei He and Xu Changfeng retrieve old case files detailing the three men’s assignments, cultivation progress, and accomplishments.
• Jiang Yuechu notices that Liu Ke resigned six months earlier to care for his seriously ill father, Liu Boren, the master of Falling Goose Manor. Although the explanation seems reasonable, his disappearance stands out as a possible lead.
• The records show that Bujie and Chen Tong have continued patrolling Longyou. Bujie has advanced to the Late Bone-Resonance Realm, while all three men appear to have lived and worked normally.
• Jiang Yuechu asks where Bujie and Chen Tong currently are, shifting the scene to the two men on patrol.
• Chen Tong complains about the dullness of Longyou’s peaceful days, while Bujie jokes that mundane tasks such as finding lost cats and pigs are also a form of cultivation.
• Chen Tong suspects Bujie of secretly buying a large quantity of rice cakes late at night. Bujie deflects the accusation with humor, but his normally cheerful manner soon gives way to melancholy.
• Bujie reflects cryptically on meetings, partings, and the possibility that his current life of cultivation may soon come to an end, hinting at hidden troubles or an impending crisis.
• The chapter ends with an author’s note announcing a one-day break.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu: Demonstrates increased vigilance and responsibility. Though emotionally detached on the surface, she is deeply concerned about the mysterious letter and the safety of her former companions. Her return marks a shift from passive uncertainty to active investigation.
• Wei He and Xu Changfeng: Show respect for Jiang Yuechu’s authority and immediately obey her request. Xu remains somewhat awkward and humorless around her teasing, while Wei takes the inquiry seriously.
• Liu Ke: Becomes a person of interest because of his abrupt resignation and return to Falling Goose Manor. His stated reason—caring for his ill father—appears innocent but may conceal something more.
• Bujie: Retains his humorous, gluttonous, and easygoing exterior, but his final melancholy remarks reveal a more serious inner state. His secretive behavior and ominous words suggest that he may know more than he says or be facing an important turning point.
• Chen Tong: Remains blunt, energetic, and suspicious of Bujie’s unusual behavior. His teasing shows their close friendship and familiarity.

Significant Themes

• Mystery and hidden threats: The unknown letter writer and their ability to cross boundaries create a larger threat beyond ordinary political or military dangers.
• Nostalgia versus duty: Jiang Yuechu briefly feels the weight of returning to a familiar place but suppresses those emotions to focus on her investigation.
• Change over time: Jiang Yuechu realizes that only a year or two has passed, yet Longyou and its people feel completely different, emphasizing how rapidly lives and circumstances can change.
• Friendship and separation: The chapter repeatedly invokes reunion and parting, especially through Bujie’s reflection that meetings are brief and departures inevitable.
• Peace and purpose: Chen Tong finds peace frustrating because it leaves the guards without meaningful battles, while Bujie argues that even ordinary duties can be a form of cultivation.
• Hidden identities and concealed motives: The apparently ordinary records of Jiang Yuechu’s former companions may conceal deeper developments, particularly in Liu Ke’s case and Bujie’s strange behavior.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Yuechu reunites with Wei He and Xu Changfeng, briefly teasing Xu before giving them a serious investigative order.
• Wei He and Xu Changfeng work together to gather the old records and provide Jiang Yuechu with information about the three former soldiers.
• Chen Tong and Bujie exchange humorous banter during patrol, with Chen mocking Bujie’s appetite and Bujie responding through Buddhist aphorisms.
• Chen’s teasing gradually exposes Bujie’s unusual late-night behavior, but Bujie avoids explaining himself.
• Their lighthearted friendship contrasts with Bujie’s final somber reflection, signaling that the chapter’s comedic surface may conceal an approaching danger.

Chapter Summary:

Bujie’s Warning

Key Plot Points and Events

• In Longyou, Chen Tong and a group of patrolmen travel along an official road through fierce autumn winds and blowing sand.
• Monk Bujie deliberately sends Chen Tong and the others ahead, claiming he has private matters to handle. Before they leave, he loudly warns Chen Tong that if he encounters an opponent he cannot defeat, he should flee rather than fight recklessly.
• Once Chen Tong disappears, Bujie’s carefree expression fades. Jiang Yuechu appears, having traced him through a mysterious note.
• Jiang Yuechu confronts Bujie and demands an explanation. She unleashes her Blood-Sea Heaven and Earth, making clear that she is prepared to use force if necessary.
• Bujie explains that he has visited the World Beyond the Painting and knows the Buddhist Sect of the Nine Provinces. He warns Jiang Yuechu that Great Tang and its world are far more important than they appear.
• He tells her that if she only wants a peaceful life, she should withdraw from the affairs of the Nine Provinces and remain safely within Great Tang. However, if she intends to continue pursuing the truth and advancing further, she must never abandon this world.
• Bujie then begins fading away, suggesting that communicating with Jiang Yuechu has cost him greatly. Before vanishing into the wind and sand, he recites a Buddhist verse and promises that they will meet again.
• Jiang Yuechu is left confused about Bujie’s identity, his ability to travel between worlds, and the hidden significance of Great Tang. Nevertheless, she decides to focus on increasing her strength, believing the truth will eventually reveal itself.
• The scene shifts to West Creek Commandery, where Gao Wen and another person wait outside a sealed room. They worry that the young woman inside has fled after Senior Brother Chu disappeared and may be in danger.

Character Developments

• Bujie: His usually careless and mischievous demeanor is shown to be a mask. His farewell warning to Chen Tong reveals genuine concern, while his conversation with Jiang Yuechu establishes that he possesses deep knowledge of the Nine Provinces and the worlds beyond the Dao Painting. His fading body suggests he is under serious restrictions or has paid a heavy price to communicate.
• Jiang Yuechu: She demonstrates increasing power and authority through her Blood-Sea Heaven and Earth, but also shows restraint by dispersing it after sensing that Bujie is not openly hostile. His warning strengthens her determination to cultivate and uncover the truth rather than retreat.
• Chen Tong: Now a Bone-Chiming Realm expert, Chen Tong is confident and proud of his strength. He dismisses Bujie’s warning, unaware that it may be a serious farewell or an indication of approaching danger.
• Gao Wen: He is anxious and suspicious about the missing Senior Brother Chu and assumes the newly joined girl has abandoned the group.

Significant Themes

• Hidden identities and concealed motives: Bujie’s outwardly frivolous behavior hides profound knowledge and complicated loyalties.
• The importance of one’s home world: Great Tang, seemingly only a small painted realm, may possess extraordinary significance within the larger Nine Provinces.
• Strength and survival: Bujie emphasizes that survival sometimes requires retreat rather than courageously confronting an unbeatable enemy.
• Pursuit of truth versus safety: Jiang Yuechu must choose between withdrawing to live peacefully and continuing toward danger in search of answers.
• Limits of perception: The characters’ understanding of their world is challenged by the existence of larger realms and forces beyond their knowledge.
• Impermanence: Bujie’s Buddhist quotation and sudden disappearance reinforce the transient, dreamlike nature of life and existence.

Character Interactions

• Bujie and Chen Tong: Their bantering relationship masks Bujie’s sincere concern. Chen Tong interprets the warning as annoying nonsense, while Bujie appears to be preparing him for a dangerous future.
• Bujie and Jiang Yuechu: Their confrontation is tense but restrained. Jiang Yuechu demands direct answers, while Bujie offers cryptic guidance rather than a full explanation. Though she distrusts him, she recognizes that he has gone to great lengths to contact her and likely does not intend her harm.
• Gao Wen and his companion: Their exchange reveals fear and uncertainty surrounding Senior Brother Chu’s disappearance and the mysterious woman inside the house.

Summary: “The Buddhist Sect’s Purpose”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yuechu emerges after resolving the immediate crisis in Great Tang, though she remains uncertain whether similar incidents may occur there again. The demon sculptures she left behind in Chang’an should protect the region until her return.
• Jiang, Qiu Yinong, and Gao Wen return to the streets of the prefectural city and disguise their cultivation levels as they investigate recent developments.
• They enter a busy teahouse to gather information. The city is noticeably more crowded with cultivators and demons, suggesting that many are being drawn toward the upcoming Buddhist Gratitude Assembly.
• The main rumor is that the Buddhist Sect has deliberately moved the Gratitude Assembly forward so that it will occur close to the Heavenly Court’s Peach Banquet.
• A knowledgeable Wandering Void Sea cultivator explains that the Buddhist Sect is not merely reacting to recent losses or omens. It intends to compete directly with the Heavenly Court for public support.
• Unlike the exclusive Peach Banquet, which is reserved for powerful Immortals, the Gratitude Assembly welcomes human cultivators, demons, clans, and Rogue Cultivators. Attendees may receive Buddhist blessings, merit, and other opportunities.
• The Buddhist Sect is therefore presenting itself as open and generous, contrasting its willingness to benefit ordinary beings with the Heavenly Court’s elitism.
• This strategy is expected to attract an enormous crowd, potentially creating both opportunities and dangers for those seeking the Nine-Colored Bodhi.
• Qiu Yinong and Gao Wen realize that the Buddhist Sect’s confidence in opening the assembly so widely implies that it has prepared powerful safeguards.
• Gao Wen concludes that their immediate priority must remain finding Chu Tiange and the others. Knowing the Buddhist Sect’s motives does not solve their central problem: without Chu, obtaining the Nine-Colored Bodhi will be extremely difficult.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu remains calm and cautious. Although she has handled the crisis in Great Tang, she does not become complacent and continues considering possible future threats.
• Qiu Yinong demonstrates strategic awareness by suggesting that the group gather information in the city. She quickly recognizes the implications of the Buddhist Sect’s mass gathering and worries about the immense number of competitors.
• Gao Wen initially doubts that ordinary Rogue Cultivators can know the truth, but after hearing the informed traveler, he regains confidence and resumes his leadership role. His concern for Chu Tiange reveals how dependent the group is on their missing senior brother.
• Chu Tiange, though absent, remains central to the group’s plans. His disappearance has left Gao Wen uncertain and has seriously weakened their chances of securing the Nine-Colored Bodhi.

Significant Themes

• Religious and political competition: The Buddhist Sect is using the Gratitude Assembly to challenge the Heavenly Court’s influence and reputation.
• Inclusivity versus elitism: The open Buddhist gathering is contrasted with the exclusive Peach Banquet, highlighting competing methods of gaining loyalty and authority.
• Rumor versus reality: The teahouse is filled with speculation, exaggeration, and hearsay, but the informed traveler provides a more credible interpretation of events.
• Opportunity amid danger: The assembly may offer Rogue Cultivators access to rare blessings, but the massive crowd and Buddhist Sect’s hidden preparations make the situation increasingly perilous.
• Dependence and leadership: Gao Wen must resume leadership despite the absence of Chu Tiange, emphasizing both the group’s vulnerability and its need to cooperate.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Yuechu meets Qiu Yinong and Gao Wen after the crisis, and the three immediately coordinate their next move.
• At the teahouse, the group listens to several Rogue Cultivators debate the Buddhist Sect’s motives.
• A powerful traveler silences the others and explains that the Buddhist Sect is deliberately competing with the Heavenly Court, changing the group’s understanding of the assembly.
• Qiu Yinong and Gao Wen privately discuss the strategic consequences, agreeing that the event’s popularity will make obtaining the Nine-Colored Bodhi even harder.
• Gao Wen reasserts himself as the group’s leader and insists that locating Chu Tiange must come before making further plans.

Chapter Summary: “Reunion with the Venerable”

With only two days remaining before the Gratitude Assembly, Qiu Yinong, Gao Wen, and Jiang Yuechu race to retrace Chu Tiange’s route and locate him before seeking the ripening Nine-Colored Bodhi at the Eight-Treasure Merit Pool. They cannot afford to wait until after the assembly, because the Bodhi is usually harvested immediately and the next crop may not appear for many years.
During the journey, Jiang Yuechu receives an update from Golden Thread Ancestor about the rat demon. After fleeing, the rat demon hid in a cave, eventually spent the hundred gui of Merit he had obtained, and was then robbed by a stronger demon. Although this seems to confirm his earlier story, Jiang remains cautious and orders continued surveillance in case he is deliberately concealing something.
Qiu Yinong discovers a peculiar scratch resembling a pig’s head on a half-buried stone. Gao Wen recognizes it as Chu Tiange’s secret signal. A second identical mark confirms that Chu had passed through the area and had enough freedom to leave clues, suggesting he had not been overwhelmed by a Supreme Capital-level opponent. The three follow the trail, encouraged that they may be close to finding him.
Meanwhile, Chu Tiange and his injured junior brother, Liu, are being held by a powerful, burly cultivator. Liu is unconscious, while Chu is severely wounded. The captor demands that Chu reveal the whereabouts of a certain female cultivator—clearly Jiang Yuechu—but Chu refuses and insists he has never seen her. His calm defiance reflects his loyalty and determination to protect her, while the discovery of his marks gives him hope that Gao Wen and the others are coming.
The captor explains that he used an Earth-Grade Dao Armament to suppress part of Chu’s cultivation within the Buddhist Sect’s Buddha-light-filled territory. Although Chu is a late-stage Myriad-Forms Heaven cultivator and would defeat the captor in a direct confrontation, the weapon prevents him from escaping. The captor admits he cannot kill Chu, so he decides to take him back to the Buddhist Son.
The captor’s true motivation is revealed: he covets Jiang Yuechu’s mysterious ability to transform demon fiends into intelligent puppets without significantly weakening them. He dreams of mastering this technique so he can command an enormous demon army and escape his current position as a subordinate who must curry favor with the Buddhist Sect.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Jiang Yuechu remains strategic and suspicious, verifying the rat demon’s story while continuing to monitor him.
• Gao Wen demonstrates leadership and familiarity with Chu’s habits, quickly interpreting the secret marks and assessing the danger Chu faced.
• Qiu Yinong actively searches for clues and keeps the group moving despite the severe time pressure.
• Chu Tiange endures torture and injury without betraying Jiang Yuechu, showing loyalty and courage.
• Chu Tiange and his captor engage in a tense confrontation: the captor relies on force and threats, while Chu resists through silence and deception.
• The captor is revealed as ambitious and opportunistic, valuing Jiang’s technique more than revenge or immediate victory.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and sacrifice: Chu protects Jiang Yuechu despite his vulnerable position.
• Time and urgency: The approaching Gratitude Assembly and limited ripening period for the Nine-Colored Bodhi force the protagonists to act quickly.
• Suspicion and verification: Jiang’s continued surveillance of the rat demon highlights the danger of trusting appearances.
• Power and ambition: The captor’s desire to control demons reveals how extraordinary abilities can inspire greed and political aspirations.
• Resistance against oppression: Chu’s refusal to cooperate contrasts with the captor’s reliance on superior strength and borrowed equipment.

Gao Wen and Qiu Yinong tried to confront the Golden-Scaled Demon, but he easily defeated Gao Wen and kept Chu Tiange and Junior Brother Liu suppressed. Jiang Yuechu appeared and pierced the demon with her spear, then unleashed her Blood Sea heaven and earth; the demon sealed off the area and attacked her, but their realms’ collision left him realizing something was wrong.

• Gao Wen attacked the Golden-Scaled Demon with a thunderous sword strike, but the demon shattered it with a casual blow and sent him crashing into the wasteland.
• Qiu Yinong spotted Chu Tiange and Junior Brother Liu pinned on the ground and tried to help them, while the demon prepared to pursue his advantage.
• Jiang Yuechu appeared and pierced the Golden-Scaled Demon with her spear, and he greeted her with delight, saying how much he had missed her.
• Jiang Yuechu unleashed her Blood Sea heaven and earth, prompting the demon to seal off the area with his white jade pagodas to prevent the Buddhist Sect’s cultivators from intervening.
• The Golden-Scaled Demon launched a White Pagoda at Jiang Yuechu’s Blood Sea, but as their realms collided, his mockery faded and he sensed something was wrong.

Jiang Yuechu’s blood-sea domain resisted the Golden-Scaled Demon, while Qiu Yinong and Gao Wen joined the fight. After the demon crushed their attacks with the Buddhist Sect’s compressed-domain technique, he saw that Jiang Yuechu had adopted the same approach.

• Jiang Yuechu’s blood sea swallowed the Golden-Scaled Demon’s White Jade Pagodas, surprising him and the onlookers.
• Chu Tiange urged Qiu Yinong to help Jiang Yuechu, and Qiu Yinong attacked the demon with a bamboo tiger head.
• Gao Wen summoned his Thunder Dragon and charged the demon, but the demon’s golden fist shattered the dragon and sent Gao Wen flying.
• The Golden-Scaled Demon drew in Buddhist light and compressed his domain around himself, greatly strengthening his body and power.
• The demon noticed Jiang Yuechu had contracted her blood sea around herself, and she smiled and thanked him for showing her the technique.

Jiang Yuechu discovered that the quality of her Myriad-Forms Heaven and Earth let her contend with the Golden-Scaled Demon despite its smaller scale, then overwhelmed him with a series of attacks. When he called for Buddhist Sect reinforcements, she silenced him by driving her spear through his jaws and into the ground.

• Jiang Yuechu imitated the Golden-Scaled Demon's condensed Buddhist Sect technique but gained only a modest boost.
• Jiang Yuechu clashed with the Golden-Scaled Demon, and her Dark Red Pagoda and Blood Sea matched and then surpassed his golden light.
• Jiang Yuechu kicked the Golden-Scaled Demon into a crater and crushed his golden scales with another blow.
• The Golden-Scaled Demon dispersed his barrier and called on the Venerable Arhats for help, alarming Chu Tiange, Qiu Yinong, and the others.
• Jiang Yuechu kicked her spear through the Golden-Scaled Demon's jaws and pinned him to the earth.

Jiang Yuechu killed the Golden-Scaled Demon by briefly dispersing his Myriad-Forms Heaven and Earth, then escaped Buddhist Sect territory with Qiu Yinong and the others. On the auspicious cloud, she counted her gains and found she had 1,037 Dao Essence.

• Qiu Yinong urged Jiang Yuechu to leave before Buddhist Sect reinforcements arrived, but Jiang Yuechu decided the Golden-Scaled Demon had to die.
• Jiang Yuechu used the Three Origins Nine-Evasions Heaven-Earth Transformation to disperse the demon’s Myriad-Forms Heaven and Earth for an instant, then pierced his skull and killed him.
• Jiang Yuechu obtained 975 Dao Essence, stored the demon’s corpse, and took the golden iron ring beside Chu Tiange’s feet.
• Jiang Yuechu asked Qiu Yinong to get her out, while Chu Tiange thanked her and went to retrieve Gao Wen with Junior Brother Liu.
• On the escaping auspicious cloud, Jiang Yuechu checked her panel and saw that she had accumulated 1,037 Dao Essence.

Jiang Yuechu took the spoils from her battle and left to find a private place before allocating cultivation points. At the Eight-Treasure Merit Pool, the Buddha Son learned that Venerable Golden Scale had vanished and ordered someone to find him.

• Jiang Yuechu reviewed the demon corpse and golden iron ring she had obtained, then left Qiu Yinong and the others to find a secluded place.
• At the Eight-Treasure Merit Pool, the Buddha Son admired the site while Venerable Dingguang urged him to seek arhat fruition at the Gratitude Assembly.
• A Buddhist Sect follower told the Buddha Son that Venerable Golden Scale had not returned and could no longer be contacted.
• The Buddha Son, worried that he could not control the demons under his command, ordered his follower to find Venerable Golden Scale.

Jiang Yuechu obtained the Supreme Merit Scripture by tracing the Golden-Scaled Earth-Crouching Lizard and discovered she could cultivate it alongside the Great Netherworld Blood Sea Scripture. After testing the new method, she prepared to spend her remaining Dao Essence improving her cultivation.

• Jiang Yuechu used Shadow Tracing on the Golden-Scaled Earth-Crouching Lizard and obtained the Supreme Merit Scripture at Perfection.
• Jiang Yuechu found that the Supreme Merit Scripture's golden Buddhist light harmonized with her blood sea instead of conflicting with the Great Netherworld Blood Sea Scripture.
• Jiang Yuechu consumed five thousand gui of merit, expanding her Myriad-Forms Heaven and Earth to a hundred meters and strengthening its golden radiance.
• Jiang Yuechu concluded that the new method demanded vast amounts of merit and considered, then dismissed, trying to fleece the bank again.
• Jiang Yuechu checked her remaining 497 Dao Essence and told the system to continue the infusion.

Chapter Summary: Will She Come Back?

Key Plot Points and Events

• After escaping through the sky, Chu Tiange, Qiu Yinong, Gao Wen, and Junior Brother Liu land in a secluded wilderness.
• Gao Wen is severely wounded and has lost much of his combat strength, though his life is not in immediate danger because his Dao Painting remains intact.
• Jiang Yuechu is absent. She told the others to find a safe place and regroup while she handled an unknown matter, promising to return once they sent her their location.
• Chu Tiange becomes concerned that Jiang Yuechu may have attracted the attention of the Buddhist Sect. He recalls that the Golden-Scaled Demon had shown him a portrait of Jiang Yuechu and asked about her whereabouts, suggesting she has a history or unresolved conflict in Buddhist Sect territory.
• With the Gratitude Assembly only two days away, the group’s original plan to obtain the Nine-Colored Bodhi is now severely compromised. Gao Wen is injured, Junior Brother Liu is unable to fight, and Qiu Yinong lacks sufficient experience to support a major battle.
• Chu Tiange decides they will wait for Jiang Yuechu. If she has not returned after two days, Qiu Yinong must take the injured disciples away while Chu proceeds alone.
• He establishes a defensive formation around the group and leaves to keep watch nearby. He orders Qiu Yinong to abandon him and flee with the others if the Buddhist Sect finds them.
• At the Eight-Treasure Merit Pool, preparations for the Gratitude Assembly are nearly complete. Several powerful Buddhist-aligned demons are gathered in a side hall.
• A Buddhist Sect messenger informs them that the Buddha Child has ordered them to leave the Merit Pool and search for Venerable Golden Scale, who has disappeared and lost all communication. The demons react with displeasure because the assembly is about to begin.

Character Developments

• Chu Tiange displays strong responsibility and self-sacrifice. Recognizing that his companions have become liabilities in their weakened state, he prepares to risk his life alone rather than allow them to die with him.
• Qiu Yinong becomes increasingly worried about Chu Tiange. She understands the hidden meaning behind his instructions and realizes that he may be preparing for a mission with little chance of survival.
• Gao Wen is revealed to be badly injured but not beyond recovery. His reduced strength significantly affects the group’s plans.
• Jiang Yuechu becomes more mysterious. Her unexplained absence, connection to the Golden-Scaled Demon, and possible history with the Buddhist Sect suggest that she is pursuing a personal objective in addition to helping Chu Tiange.
• The gathered Buddhist demons show that they are powerful beings integrated into the Buddhist Sect despite their monstrous appearances, emphasizing the unusual structure and influence of the sect.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice and responsibility: Chu Tiange accepts the burden of facing danger alone to protect his junior companions.
• Uncertainty and trust: The group must rely on Jiang Yuechu’s promise to return without knowing what she is doing or whether she is safe.
• The cost of survival: Though the group escaped alive, their injuries and loss of strength have made their original mission far more dangerous.
• Hidden motives and past grudges: Jiang Yuechu’s connection to the Buddhist Sect hints at unresolved conflicts and motivations beyond the stated mission.
• Appearance versus identity: The Buddhist Sect’s demon followers possess pure Buddha light, challenging the assumption that demons and Buddhist practitioners are entirely opposed.

Character Interactions

• Qiu Yinong checks on Gao Wen, while Chu Tiange assesses his condition and the group’s remaining strength.
• Chu questions Jiang Yuechu’s absence and receives her communication token through Qiu Yinong.
• Chu and Qiu discuss their next move, with Chu giving her strict instructions to protect the injured disciples and flee if necessary.
• Qiu silently recognizes Chu’s willingness to die alone and wishes for Jiang Yuechu to return, believing that Jiang’s strength could greatly improve their chances.
• At the Merit Pool, Buddhist Sect officials order the demon Venerables to search for the missing Golden Scale, creating tension between the sect’s urgent command and the demons’ reluctance to abandon their positions before the Gratitude Assembly.

Chapter Summary: “The Buddhist Son Is Truth”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A messenger informs the assembled demon venerables that the Buddhist Son has ordered them to search for Golden Scale, who has failed to return.
• The demons resist, prioritizing the approaching Gratitude Assembly and the opportunities it offers over finding Golden Scale. They privately resent Golden Scale and do not want to lose their share of the expected fortune.
• The Pig Demon openly mocks the Buddhist Son, questioning his authority. The other demons immediately distance themselves from him, fearing the consequences of disrespecting the Buddhist Son, who is regarded as the reincarnation of the Three Buddhas.
• The Buddhist Son arrives unexpectedly and hears the Pig Demon’s remarks. He initially responds with apparent calm, but then demonstrates overwhelming strength by pressing the powerful Pig Demon into the floor with one hand.
• Sitting on the Pig Demon’s back, the Buddhist Son declares that although he is normally generous and reasonable, to these demons, “this Buddhist Son is truth.”
• He gives the demons two days to locate Golden Scale before the Gratitude Assembly begins. He warns that anyone who continues to obey outwardly while defying him secretly will be punished.
• Once he leaves, the frightened demons immediately depart to search for Golden Scale.

Character Developments

• The Buddhist Son: Reveals that his previously concealed strength is far greater than the demons assumed. His tolerance ends when his authority is challenged, and he adopts a ruthless, commanding attitude to establish control. He recognizes that verbal orders and apparent status are insufficient to command the demons, who respect only power.
• The Pig Demon: Changes from arrogant and openly defiant to terrified and submissive after being effortlessly overpowered. His fear illustrates the Buddhist Son’s ability to enforce obedience through intimidation.
• The other demon venerables: Their cowardice and self-interest become clear. They mock authority privately but immediately abandon the Pig Demon and submit when the Buddhist Son appears. After witnessing his strength, they obey without further protest.
• Golden Scale: Remains absent, but his disappearance drives the chapter’s conflict and forces the Buddhist Son to assert his leadership.

Significant Themes

• Authority backed by strength: Titles and religious status alone cannot command respect from ambitious, self-interested demons. The Buddhist Son must physically demonstrate his power.
• Hypocrisy and opportunism: The demons publicly serve the Buddhist Sect but are mainly motivated by personal gain. Their loyalty disappears whenever obedience threatens their interests.
• Hidden strength and strategic restraint: The Buddhist Son has deliberately concealed his capabilities, but the approaching Gratitude Assembly forces him to abandon some of that discretion.
• Fear as a tool of leadership: The Buddhist Son’s harsh display establishes immediate obedience, though it also reveals the unstable and coercive nature of his rule.
• The contrast between Buddhist ideals and reality: Although the Buddhist Sect preaches salvation and compassion, its demon followers pursue fortune, while its leader must use violence and intimidation to maintain order.

Character Interactions

• The messenger struggles to deliver the Buddhist Son’s command as the demons interrupt and ridicule it.
• The Pig Demon attempts to justify his refusal, then quickly apologizes when the Buddhist Son appears.
• The Buddhist Son silently humiliates and overpowers the Pig Demon before confronting the entire assembly.
• The other demons refuse to defend the Pig Demon and instead submit to the Buddhist Son, later urging one another to obey his order before he punishes them individually.