Chapter Summaries

Chapter 281 Summary

Plot and events

Bian Chunchou and Lin Congcong reconcile after their earlier disagreement, making a wager that whoever clears more tower levels must buy the other ten boxes of Jade-Scented Yuan Cake. Before the group can proceed, six cultivators arrive, including Xia Ying and Wu Fang. They learn that this tower stage is a confrontation match: the opposing team must capture everyone on their side, while Wen Xu’s group only needs to avoid capture for twelve hours.
Chen Zui immediately charges at the enemy, believing defeating them all is the simplest path to victory. Xia Ying follows his lead and prepares to fight. Meanwhile, Wu Fang and Wen Xu engage in a sword duel while the other cultivators begin fighting around them.

Character developments

Wen Xu demonstrates unexpectedly formidable swordsmanship despite claiming to have studied for only six years. His Windfold Sword, combined with the Wind-Searing Sword Art, overwhelms Wu Fang, whose injuries have not fully healed. Wu Fang’s confidence and competitive spirit are rekindled, but he realizes that his own swordsmanship remains incomplete.
During the battle, Wen Xu reflects on his own stagnant progress. He begins to question whether a swordsman must rigidly follow a set sword art, recognizing that swordsmanship should perhaps be as free and natural as wind or water. This insight may mark a breakthrough in his cultivation.

Character interactions

Xia Ying enthusiastically welcomes Lin Congcong and explains the rules of the confrontation match, though she becomes alarmed when Chen Zui rushes into battle. She asks Wen Xu to stop him, but Wen Xu admits he cannot.
Wu Fang and Wen Xu exchange respectful remarks before dueling. Wu Fang is increasingly shocked by Wen Xu’s skill and initially suspects that Wen Xu is exaggerating his limited experience. Their battle becomes both a contest of strength and an exchange of ideas about swordsmanship.

Significant themes

The chapter explores competition, pride, and cooperation among cultivators forced onto opposing sides. More importantly, it examines the difference between mastering a technique mechanically and understanding its underlying spirit. Water and wind become metaphors for swordsmanship: Wu Fang’s water-based sword lacks aggression, while Wen Xu realizes that his own wind-based style may be too restricted and predictable. The battle gives Wen Xu a moment of inspiration, suggesting that true mastery comes from developing one’s own path rather than merely following established forms.

Chapter Summary: “Fifth”

Wen Xu’s sword insight and transformation

Reflecting on Chen Zui’s instinctive, body-refinement-like blade cultivation, Wen Xu realizes that he should not merely imitate established sword techniques or try to “control” the sword mechanically. Instead, he must resonate with the sword and make it embody his own will. He understands that a sword’s true power depends on its wielder, and he resolves to create his own path: the Windfold Sword, using it to “fold down” and command the wind.

Breakthrough during battle

Wen Xu’s realization causes his offensive strength to increase dramatically in the middle of his fight with Wu Fang. Wu Fang is bewildered and frustrated by the sudden surge, especially since the battle is only a trial within the Radiant Dawn Tower Secret Realm. Forced to fight seriously, Wu Fang still struggles as Wen Xu grows stronger under pressure.

Understanding the second layer of his cultivation technique

Wen Xu gains new insight into the second layer of Myriad Things in Concert, “Growth of Myriad Things.” He realizes that although growth appears to depend on sunlight, rain, food, and nourishment—elements associated with other Spiritual Roots—wind connects and distributes these forces. Wind is the invisible medium that enables all things to develop and transform. This leads Wen Xu to understand wind as a force of control, quietly governing heaven and earth.

Alignment with his Dao and weapon

Wen Xu recognizes that the Dao of Control, rather than the Emotionless Sword Dao suggested by his master, suits him best. His understanding resonates with Windfold, which can function both as a sword and a magical fan that gathers and commands surrounding wind. Wen Xu and the weapon seem to merge into one, becoming an embodiment of unstoppable wind.

Chen Zui’s battle and reaction

Even Chen Zui, normally completely absorbed in combat, notices Wen Xu’s transformation. He taunts his own opponent, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, questioning whether the man has run out of spiritual power. Chen Zui’s opponent is shocked by the ferocity and unnatural precision of his blade, feeling as though he is fighting a sentient weapon rather than an ordinary cultivator.

Character development

Wen Xu moves beyond dependence on inherited techniques and discovers an authentic personal sword path. His confidence and mastery deepen as he recognizes his compatibility with wind and control. Wu Fang becomes increasingly exasperated and cautious, while Chen Zui remains a terrifyingly instinctive fighter whose casual remarks highlight the overwhelming pressure he places on his opponent.

Themes

The chapter emphasizes self-discovery, individual mastery, resonance between cultivator and weapon, and the hidden power of seemingly gentle forces. Wind symbolizes invisible control: restrained on the surface, yet fundamental in directing the growth and transformation of all things.

Chapter 283 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zui continues battling a reluctant Foundation Establishment cultivator, cheerfully treating the fight as an attempt to become friends. Despite his harmless attitude, his overwhelming strength and saber skills terrify his opponent.
• Meanwhile, Bian Chunchou, Xia Ying, and Lin Congcong cooperate against three stronger Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators. Bian uses talismans, Lin employs earth techniques to restrict and exhaust enemies, and Xia serves as the main attacker with her Radiant Scorch Sword.
• Bian and Lin secretly compete to prove themselves before Her Majesty Radiant Dawn, though their rivalry strengthens rather than harms their teamwork. Their relentless attacks even make Xia’s explosive style appear comparatively refined.
• After twelve double-hours of fighting, the tower challenge ends. Chen Zui is dissatisfied because he feels he did not have enough fun and wants to fight again, forcing Xia Ying to restrain him before he drives the exhausted opponents to desperation.
• The Tower Spirit does not immediately send everyone away, allowing the participants to recover in separate camps.
• Bian Chunchou reconnects with Wu Fang, whom the group had previously encountered. Wu Fang is deeply discouraged after being completely outclassed by Wen Xu’s swordsmanship.
• Chen Zui bluntly tells Wu Fang that he is unsuited to sword cultivation and should instead learn the saber, claiming Wu Fang’s ancestor had also taken up the sword only after failing at saber cultivation. This shocks Wu Fang, who demands to know how Chen Zui knows the hidden history of his ancestor.

Character Developments

• Chen Zui: Remains innocent, sociable, and disastrously blunt. He sees combat as play and friendship-building, while his terrifying physical strength and combat instincts become increasingly apparent. His unusual insight into Wu Fang’s lineage suggests he knows more than he should.
• Xia Ying: Acts as the practical stabilizing force, coordinating the team and physically restraining Chen Zui. Her experience with Chen Zui’s overwhelming strength gives her new empathy for Wen Xu.
• Bian Chunchou and Lin Congcong: Develop a competitive but effective partnership. Both push themselves to perform well before Radiant Dawn, turning their rivalry into motivation.
• Wen Xu: His superior swordsmanship profoundly damages Wu Fang’s confidence, though he notices Wu Fang’s despair and considers offering comfort.
• Wu Fang: Suffers a major blow to his pride and Dao heart after realizing that decades of sword training cannot compare with Wen Xu’s natural mastery. Chen Zui’s suggestion that he abandon the sword provokes anger and confusion but may point toward a more suitable path.

Significant Themes

• Talent versus effort: Wu Fang’s decades of practice are decisively surpassed by Wen Xu’s six years of swordsmanship, raising questions about innate ability and the limits of perseverance.
• True aptitude and self-knowledge: Chen Zui suggests that Wu Fang may be pursuing the wrong weapon entirely, emphasizing the importance of recognizing one’s natural strengths.
• Competition as cooperation: Bian and Lin’s rivalry motivates them to contribute more strongly, demonstrating how competition can reinforce teamwork.
• The gap between appearance and reality: Chen Zui appears childish and socially odd but possesses terrifying combat ability and unexpected knowledge. Similarly, Wu Fang’s respectable lineage does not guarantee genuine talent.
• Blunt honesty and social tact: Chen Zui’s straightforward comments are both insightful and socially disastrous, while Bian repeatedly tries to prevent him from worsening tense situations.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zui repeatedly tries to befriend his opponent through combat, while the opponent desperately attempts to survive.
• Xia Ying restrains Chen Zui after the battle and briefly experiences the physical burden Wen Xu has endured dealing with him.
• Bian and Lin work together while competing for recognition, with Xia serving as their powerful frontline attacker.
• Bian warmly greets Wu Fang, but Wu Fang remains troubled by his defeat.
• Chen Zui’s unfiltered critique of Wu Fang’s swordsmanship escalates into a confrontation about Wu Fang’s ancestry and his potential connection to saber cultivation.

Chapter Summary: “Questioning”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zui reveals that Wu Fang may be descended from Rongshan Jian, the legendary Sword Venerable of Thunderclap Manor, whose alleged history includes abandoning blade cultivation to study the sword.
• Wen Xu explains that he identified Wu Fang’s origins by connecting his surname, cultivation background, and resemblance to descriptions of Rongshan Jian. Wu Fang regrets not using an alias but refuses to abandon the name given by his mother.
• Wu Fang doubts the rumor about his ancestor and trusts his family’s version of events. However, he decides to return to Thunderclap Manor after leaving the secret realm to investigate the matter and visit his great-great-grandfather.
• Chen Zui enthusiastically encourages Wu Fang to cultivate the blade rather than the sword—not because of any personal concern, but because he wants more powerful opponents to fight. Wu Fang remains unconvinced that he has blade talent.
• The Tower Spirit expels everyone from the secret realm except Wen Xu, then questions Wen Xu’s cultivation method and background.
• The Tower Spirit mistakenly assumes Wen Xu’s master, Lord Cheng Wei, is his father and imagines an elaborate family situation. Wen Xu clarifies that he has no parents in the cultivation world and that Cheng Wei is merely his master.
• Wen Xu reveals that Cheng Wei has advanced to the Body Integration Realm and that Jun Zhaoying is now the strongest person below the Tribulation Transcendence Realm. The Tower Spirit is shocked but reassured that Jun remains more powerful.
• The Tower Spirit questions why Wen Xu did not become Jun Zhaoying’s disciple. Wen Xu tactfully explains that he has never met her and could not become her disciple simply by wishing for it.

Character Developments

• Wu Fang: Becomes more determined to uncover the truth about his ancestor and grows nostalgic for Thunderclap Manor and his family after ten years away. Although he rejects blade cultivation for now, Chen Zui’s assessment plants some uncertainty in his mind.
• Chen Zui: Demonstrates an instinctive ability to recognize potential opponents and remains eager to promote blade cultivation because it would give him more worthy fighters.
• Wen Xu: Shows careful reasoning, diplomacy, and patience. He calmly corrects the Tower Spirit’s misunderstandings while revealing his unusual origins and the impressive advancement of his master and Jun Zhaoying.
• Tower Spirit: Appears childish, impulsive, and prone to wild assumptions. Its admiration for Jun Zhaoying remains unchanged, and its curiosity about Wen Xu’s background drives much of the chapter’s humor.
• Bian Chunchou: Provides amused commentary on Chen Zui’s unexpectedly sophisticated language and praises both Chen Zui’s mother and Wen Xu.

Significant Themes

• Identity and ancestry: Wu Fang’s inherited name and lineage expose hidden connections and force him to reconsider his family history.
• Trust versus rumor: Wu Fang struggles between trusting his family and investigating a seemingly absurd public rumor.
• Cultivation and destiny: The chapter questions whether talent and future potential can be accurately judged by reputation or current circumstances.
• Misunderstanding and communication: The Tower Spirit repeatedly misinterprets Wen Xu’s words, creating comic confusion that Wen Xu must patiently resolve.
• Longing and belonging: Wu Fang’s decision to return home reflects his lingering attachment to family despite years of separation.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zui directly confronts Wu Fang about his ancestry and presses him to consider blade cultivation.
• Wen Xu explains how he recognized Wu Fang’s identity, earning both Wu Fang’s suspicion and reluctant acceptance.
• Bian Chunchou and Wen Xu exchange silent commentary about Chen Zui and his mother.
• The Tower Spirit interrogates Wen Xu about his parentage, master, and cultivation path. Wen Xu repeatedly corrects its assumptions, especially regarding Cheng Wei and Jun Zhaoying.
• The Tower Spirit’s admiration for Jun Zhaoying shapes its reaction to Wen Xu’s explanation and ends the chapter on a humorous note.

Chapter Summary: “Shock”

• Tower Spirit reacts to news from the Immortal Realm: Wen Xu explains that his master, Cheng Wei, has not taken another master and that Mist Mountain God Venerable is no longer a sword cultivator but has advanced to the Body Integration Realm. Tower Spirit is astonished that Body Integration Realm cultivators have become so common and that Wushan abandoned sword cultivation. Its surprise reveals how long it has been isolated from events in the Immortal Realm.
• Tower Spirit’s resentment toward Cheng Wei resurfaces: From its comments, Wen Xu realizes that Tower Spirit was once close to the three God Venerables, especially Jun Zhaoying and Mist Mountain God Venerable, while having the most antagonistic relationship with Cheng Wei. Tower Spirit complains that none of them have visited it in decades, particularly Cheng Wei, whom it still calls a “Half-Dragon.”
• Wen Xu reveals Cheng Wei’s unusual seclusion: When Tower Spirit asks whether Cheng Wei has left any message or gift, Wen Xu states that his master has remained at Yonglu Mountain for five hundred years. Tower Spirit finds this impossible, since Cheng Wei’s restless personality supposedly would not allow him to stay anywhere for even five years. Wen Xu’s statement hints that something significant may have changed in Cheng Wei.
• Discussion of Jun Zhaoying and Mist Mountain God Venerable: Wen Xu admits he knows little about Jun Zhaoying’s current situation because she is at the Hehe Sect. Tower Spirit is puzzled that the former companions have apparently lost contact. It also notices traces of Mist Mountain God Venerable’s spiritual energy on Wen Xu and examines the jade-bottle mini-secret realm he gave him.
• Tower Spirit enhances Wen Xu’s treasure: Recognizing the jade bottle as a secret realm, Tower Spirit is impressed that Mist Mountain God Venerable learned how to create one. It acknowledges that he is genuinely kind and secretly feels that he may be somewhat pitiful. Before returning the bottle, Tower Spirit infuses it with spiritual energy, doubling the density within the mini-secret realm.
• Attempt to recruit Wen Xu: Tower Spirit proposes that Wen Xu abandon Cheng Wei and become Jun Zhaoying’s disciple. It offers him the advantage of entering the Radiant Dawn Tower even after forming his core, despite the normal restriction that only cultivators below the Golden Core Realm may enter. Tower Spirit’s real motive is to gain a legitimate excuse to contact Jun Zhaoying and annoy Cheng Wei.
• Wen Xu remains loyal to his master: Wen Xu respectfully refuses. Although he admits that Jun Zhaoying is admirable and that his first impression of Cheng Wei had been shocking, he emphasizes that Cheng Wei has treated him well. Wen Xu values loyalty and gratitude over choosing a stronger or more prestigious master. He recalls that he began as an ordinary mortal and considers becoming Cheng Wei’s disciple an extraordinary blessing.
• Ending interaction: Tower Spirit is surprised and slightly embarrassed by Wen Xu’s principled refusal. It recognizes that he is not opportunistic, though it still wants a reason to contact Jun Zhaoying—possibly to congratulate her on reaching the Body Integration Realm. The chapter ends with Tower Spirit asking Wen Xu his name.

Key Themes

• Loyalty versus ambition: Wen Xu refuses to exchange masters for better cultivation prospects, showing that personal bonds and gratitude matter more to him than status.
• Changing relationships and lost connections: Tower Spirit’s complaints highlight the distance and estrangement that have developed among the older generation of powerful cultivators.
• Isolation and transformation: Cheng Wei’s five-hundred-year seclusion and Mist Mountain God Venerable’s change in cultivation suggest major unseen developments in their lives.
• Comic misunderstanding and affection: Tower Spirit’s dramatic reactions, grudges, and schemes create humor while also revealing its lingering attachment to its former companions.

Chapter 286 Summary

Key plot points and events

• Wen Bu Jing clarifies that Wen Bu Jing is his courtesy name and that his given name is Wen Xu.
• The Radiant Dawn Tower Spirit asks Wen Xu to write a congratulatory letter for God Venerable Jun Zhaoying, praising his literary ability and handwriting. It also decides to send a letter to Wen Xu’s master, though it admits he can write it however he likes.
• During their conversation, the Tower Spirit asks whether Half-Dragons can reach the Body Integration Realm. Wen Xu reveals that his master, Cheng Wei, transformed into a dragon five hundred years earlier.
• Wen Xu reflects on the three major theories surrounding Cheng Wei’s long seclusion on Yonglu Mountain:
  1. He was hiding from a powerful enemy.
  2. He had fallen out with Jun Zhaoying.
  3. After becoming a dragon, he grew weary of human nature and withdrew from the Immortal Realm.
• Wen Xu considers the third explanation the most plausible, believing Cheng Wei stayed hidden to protect the Immortal Realm from the disruptive consequences of his transformation.
• Shocked by the revelation, the Tower Spirit realizes it missed major events during its dormant period. It briefly tries to persuade Wen Xu to reconsider following Cheng Wei, then gives him spiritual treasures as a parting gift.
• Wen Xu rejoins Chunchou and Chen Zui. Although he feels he was gone for a long time, they appear to have experienced almost no delay, suggesting that time flows differently within the tower.

Character developments

• Wen Xu demonstrates his education, eloquence, and tact, using his talents to please the Tower Spirit. He also shows strong loyalty and admiration toward Cheng Wei, rejecting the negative rumors surrounding his master.
• The Tower Spirit becomes increasingly fond of Wen Xu because of his flattery and competence. Its humorous, impulsive personality is evident, but it also displays genuine sensitivity and insight when it recognizes the sacrifice involved in Cheng Wei becoming a dragon.
• Cheng Wei’s character is explored indirectly. His transformation appears to have been a deliberate and potentially selfless decision, possibly made to prevent his powerful, destructive nature from destabilizing the Immortal Realm.
• Jun Zhaoying is presented as highly respected and close enough to the Tower Spirit to merit a formal congratulatory letter, while the exact nature of his relationship with Cheng Wei remains uncertain.

Significant themes

• Reputation versus reality: The chapter contrasts the Immortal Realm’s rumors about Cheng Wei with Wen Xu’s more favorable understanding of his motives.
• Self-restraint and sacrifice: Cheng Wei’s seclusion may represent an effort to protect others from the consequences of his dragon nature rather than cowardice or exile.
• Transformation and identity: His change from Half-Dragon to Divine Dragon raises questions about whether one’s nature, cultivation, or choices define one’s identity.
• The limits of knowledge: Even the Tower Spirit, an ancient and powerful existence, has gaps in its understanding because it was dormant during crucial events.
• Humor and social maneuvering: Wen Xu’s polished speech and the Tower Spirit’s exaggerated reactions provide comic relief while advancing important revelations.

Character interactions

• Wen Xu and the Tower Spirit develop a friendly, playful rapport, with Wen Xu respectfully flattering it and the Spirit affectionately calling him “Little Wen Xu.”
• The Tower Spirit questions Wen Xu about Cheng Wei, reacting with surprise and concern as it learns that he became a dragon.
• Wen Xu defends his master’s character through his interpretation of the rumors about Cheng Wei’s seclusion.
• The Tower Spirit jokingly compares following Cheng Wei unfavorably with following Jun Zhaoying, then sends Wen Xu away with valuable treasures.
• Wen Xu’s return to Chunchou and Chen Zui highlights the Tower’s distorted passage of time, though they do not realize how long he has been away.

Chapter Summary: “Three Doors”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wen Xu and his companions finish clearing another tower stage and receive several valuable spiritual treasures as rewards. Wen Xu tells Bian Chunchou that he may choose whichever treasures he wants once they return.
• Bian Chunchou deliberately announces that their group has now cleared five doors, provoking Lin Congcong, who leaves angrily after accusing them of benefiting from arriving early.
• Xia Ying bids farewell to Wen Xu, Chen Zui, and Bian Chunchou. She recognizes that although their personalities differ greatly, the three work exceptionally well together: Wen Xu’s blindness is compensated for by Chen Zui’s directness and Bian Chunchou’s social skill.
• Shortly afterward, Xia Ying and the others are reunited because the Tower Spirit appears to have arranged for them to enter another challenge together. Everyone suspects that Tower Spirit Zhao Xia is deliberately creating opportunities to watch Bian Chunchou and Lin Congcong quarrel.
• The next challenge involves tending spiritual plants. Because Wen Xu has recently become interested in planting, the group clears it with ease and advances to the second-to-last door.
• Bian Chunchou and Lin Congcong resume their verbal sparring. Wen Xu suggests that Zhao Xia may be arranging their repeated meetings for entertainment, though Bian Chunchou refuses to believe that such a supposedly fair and dignified Tower Spirit would indulge in such behavior.
• The group reflects that the later stages seem easy only because they are exceptionally powerful. Challenges that would defeat ordinary cultivators—such as an early Foundation Establishment cultivator surviving against a high-tier opponent for twelve hours—are manageable for them.
• Chen Zui finds the thought-based challenge unsatisfying and says he would rather fight demonic beasts or powerful cultivators. He especially enjoyed fighting Wu Fang in a previous stage.
• Feeling intimidated by Chen Zui’s enthusiasm for combat, Bian Chunchou edges closer to Wen Xu.

Character Development

• Wen Xu: Continues to act as the group’s calm center and shows growing interest in spiritual planting. He also displays a dry, perceptive sense of humor by accurately suggesting that Zhao Xia arranged the repeated encounters for amusement.
• Bian Chunchou: Becomes increasingly confident and mischievous after the group’s successes. He enjoys provoking Lin Congcong but is also sincere, sociable, and protective of his companions. Despite his bravado, Chen Zui’s enthusiasm for fighting makes him cautious.
• Chen Zui: Remains blunt, straightforward, and battle-oriented. He is uninterested in intellectual or nurturing challenges and prefers direct combat, revealing both his simplicity and his exceptional strength.
• Xia Ying: Gains a clearer understanding of the group’s unusual dynamic. Though she initially sees Wen Xu’s blindness as a possible limitation, she realizes that the three companions complement one another extremely well.
• Lin Congcong: Becomes increasingly irritated by Bian Chunchou’s teasing and by the closeness between Bian and Wen Xu. His pride prevents him from openly engaging further, though he is clearly emotionally affected.
• Zhao Xia/Tower Spirit: Remains unseen but exerts control over the group’s encounters. His apparent enjoyment of their arguments adds a playful, mischievous dimension to his otherwise imposing authority.

Significant Themes

• Strength beyond cultivation level: The chapter emphasizes that true power depends not only on realm or spiritual roots. Exceptional individuals can easily overcome opponents and challenges far above their apparent level.
• The value of teamwork: Wen Xu, Chen Zui, and Bian Chunchou have contrasting personalities and abilities, yet their differences make them more effective together than separately.
• Friendship and social distance: Xia Ying observes that Wen Xu’s extraordinary status makes him difficult for ordinary geniuses to approach, while Bian Chunchou’s openness allows him to form connections across social and ability gaps.
• Humor amid danger: The tower’s deadly trials are balanced by teasing, rivalry, and the Tower Spirit’s apparent enjoyment of the contestants’ conflicts.
• Appearances versus reality: Although the later doors seem easy, they are objectively very difficult. The group’s relaxed attitude reflects their unusual talent rather than the challenges being poorly designed.

Character Interactions

• Bian Chunchou and Lin Congcong: Their relationship is defined by constant provocation. Bian intentionally needles Lin, while Lin reacts with wounded pride and indignation.
• Bian Chunchou and Wen Xu: They share an easy, playful rapport. Bian is comfortable teasing Wen Xu, and Wen Xu responds with understated humor and practical observations.
• Xia Ying and the trio: Xia Ying respects their teamwork and recognizes Bian’s unusual ability to make even distant, proud geniuses feel comfortable.
• Chen Zui and Bian Chunchou: Chen’s eagerness for combat contrasts sharply with Bian’s more cautious and talkative nature, causing Bian to retreat physically toward Wen Xu.
• The group and Zhao Xia: Though Zhao Xia does not appear directly, everyone reacts to his authority with caution. His hidden manipulation of their encounters becomes a source of both suspicion and comedy.

Chapter Summary

• Cooperation and separation: Lin Congcong and Bian Chunchou finally clarify which gate each will take, avoiding another collision. They part ways with Xia Ying and Lin Congcong taking one route, while Bian Chunchou, Chen Zui, and Wen Xu choose the shortest, lowest gate. Chen dislikes the gate because it is barely taller than his blade, prompting teasing from Bian Chunchou and Wen Xu.
• The final gate’s unusual trial: After passing through the narrow entrance, the three are unexpectedly separated. Wen Xu discovers that the gate disappears behind him, leaving him alone at the entrance of the Radiant Dawn Tower. The setting has reverted to the tower’s original Buddhist form, complete with incense, sacred statues, and an atmosphere resembling its former heyday.
• Wen Xu’s ascent: Wen Xu climbs through the tower, paying respects to the Buddhist images and advancing floor by floor. He reflects on the Buddhist “Three Gates of Liberation”:
  • Emptiness, in which all phenomena are seen as empty;
  • Formlessness, which involves seeing through worldly appearances and avoiding attachment;
  • Desirelessness, the rejection of worldly longing and attachment.
    He assumes the tower may be testing his Buddhist understanding and doubts his qualifications, especially because he cannot see people’s faces and considers this his only connection to “formlessness.” Contrary to his expectations, the stairs continue appearing, allowing him to reach the sixth floor.
• The sixth floor and exit: The sixth floor contains Buddhist relics and evokes the sound and spirit of an ancient temple. Moved by the atmosphere, Wen Xu performs a solemn Buddhist salute. He is then transported outside the tower, where he meets Her Majesty Zhaoxia’s translucent tower spirit.
• The tower’s true purpose revealed: Zhaoxia questions what Wen Xu was thinking during the trial, then explains that the Radiant Dawn Tower Secret Realm was created to find an heir for the Radiant Dawn Pagoda. It was refined by the last abbot of Zhaoxia Temple, who made a great vow before his death. The abbot helped the tower spirit grow into a living spirit, creating a karmic debt that obliges Zhaoxia to fulfill his final wish.

Character Development and Interactions

• Bian Chunchou remains practical and teasing, openly assigning the smallest gate to himself and encouraging Chen Zui to endure it.
• Chen Zui displays his characteristic bluntness and discomfort, judging the gate by whether it is taller than his blade.
• Wen Xu initially doubts his Buddhist aptitude but demonstrates humility, reverence, and inner composure as he progresses through the tower. His successful ascent suggests that his understanding may be deeper than he believes.
• Wen Xu and Zhaoxia’s tower spirit share the chapter’s central interaction. Her questioning forces him to confront the meaning of the trial, while her revelation establishes that the entire secret realm is connected to a long-standing vow and the search for a worthy successor.

Significant Themes

• Spiritual qualification versus self-perception: Wen Xu believes he is unsuited to Buddhist cultivation, yet his calm and respectful conduct allows him to pass the trial.
• The nature of liberation: The chapter explores Buddhist ideas of emptiness, formlessness, and desirelessness, presenting them as both philosophical principles and possible tests of character.
• Karmic obligation and vows: The tower spirit’s existence and purpose are bound to the abbot’s vow, emphasizing that promises and karmic debts can outlast death.
• Inheritance and destiny: The Radiant Dawn Tower is not merely a trial site but a mechanism designed to locate the person capable of inheriting the pagoda and its legacy.

Chapter 166: “Eyes” — Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Tower Spirit tries to persuade Wen Xu to pursue Buddhism and inherit the Radiant Dawn Tower. Since Wen Xu has reached the sixth floor—farther than almost anyone else—the spirit believes he may eventually reach the ninth floor and become the tower’s successor.
• Wen Xu refuses, explaining that he has already chosen his own path and is Cheng Wei’s disciple. He believes sincerely entering the Buddhist Sect requires genuine conviction, not merely pursuing the benefits of a powerful inheritance.
• Wen Xu also points out that the Tower Spirit is bound by karmic principles: if someone more suitable eventually appears, the spirit might abandon him for that person. The Tower Spirit angrily denies that he would behave so fickly.
• The Tower Spirit becomes frustrated upon learning that Cheng Wei obtained Wen Xu as a disciple first, especially because Cheng Wei had been hidden away for five hundred years. Wen Xu recounts how he accidentally entered the cultivation world and became Cheng Wei’s disciple.
• Although disappointed, the Tower Spirit rewards Wen Xu generously before sending him out of the secret realm.
• Wen Xu discovers that he has spent an entire month inside the tower. His friend Bian Chunchou had been waiting anxiously with the others in Baigu City, where they stayed at Yonglu Mountain’s local branch.
• As Wen Xu exits, the Radiant Dawn Tower begins closing. The cultivators discuss its unpredictable opening schedule and the valuable resources people obtained during this visit.
• Bian Chunchou explains that he failed to enter the tower properly: he only saw it from outside, could not find the entrance, and was transported out after paying his respects.

Character Developments

• Wen Xu demonstrates strong loyalty and personal resolve. Despite the enormous opportunity offered by the Radiant Dawn Tower, he refuses to abandon Cheng Wei or change his chosen path for immediate power.
• His understanding of Buddhist principles and karmic causation impresses the Tower Spirit, showing that Wen Xu possesses unusual clarity and insight even though he does not intend to become a Buddhist cultivator.
• The Tower Spirit becomes increasingly attached to Wen Xu and views him as a promising successor, but also reveals a childish, competitive, and possessive side through his resentment toward Cheng Wei.
• Bian Chunchou is shown to be a sincere and anxious friend. His concern over Wen Xu’s month-long absence contrasts humorously with his own inability to enter the tower.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty versus opportunity: Wen Xu chooses loyalty to his master and commitment to his path over a potentially life-changing inheritance.
• Sincerity in cultivation: The chapter emphasizes that talent and rewards cannot replace genuine conviction. Buddhism cannot be entered merely for power or advantage.
• Karma and attachment: Wen Xu challenges the Tower Spirit’s attachment to finding a successor, suggesting that clinging to appearances or personal preferences conflicts with Buddhist teachings.
• Constancy and personal integrity: Wen Xu acknowledges that he is not perfectly steadfast, but he refuses to become someone who changes allegiance whenever a better opportunity appears.
• The unpredictability of fate: The tower’s irregular openings, Wen Xu’s accidental entry into the cultivation world, and his unexpected discipleship under Cheng Wei all reinforce the role of chance and destiny.

Character Interactions

• Wen Xu and the Tower Spirit engage in a philosophical but increasingly humorous debate over whether Wen Xu should inherit the tower.
• Wen Xu respectfully refuses the Tower Spirit while subtly exposing the spirit’s emotional attachment and insecurity.
• The Tower Spirit reacts with exaggerated frustration over Cheng Wei, creating a comic contrast with Wen Xu’s calm reasoning.
• After Wen Xu returns, Bian Chunchou warmly welcomes him, expresses concern about his disappearance, and shares the amusing story of his own failed attempt to enter the tower.

Chapter Summary:

Heavenly Retribution

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wen Xu reunites with Bian Chunchou after their experiences in the Buddhist Tower. Chunchou reveals that Wen Xu did not miss much: he himself failed to enter, while Chen Zui entered, found no opponents on two floors, and left.
• Xia Ying returned to her sect because of an urgent message, while Lin Congcong remains someone Chunchou dislikes and avoids.
• Wen Xu explains that his long absence was due to private matters involving His Majesty Zhao Xia and Wen Xu’s master, who apparently have an old connection. Chunchou jokes that he should have praised the Divine Dragon earlier to gain more spirit-food recipes.
• Chen Zui has disguised himself as a rogue cultivator and become popular in the Rogue Cultivator Alliance, where people regularly challenge him. He had also driven Wu Fang away in part, though Wu Fang’s attitude changed after learning Wen Xu’s true identity.
• Wu Fang has returned to Thunderclap Manor but still intends to pursue sword cultivation rather than switch to saber cultivation. He hopes to challenge or seek guidance from Wen Xu in the future, which frustrates Chen Zui.
• Wen Xu and Chunchou discuss celebrating their return by eating at a famous local spirit-food shop, Little Cozy Home.
• Their conversation is interrupted by a terrifying incident: a disheveled young man cries that someone has taken his eyes and begs for them to be returned. His eye sockets are completely empty, yet appear to retain active capillaries.
• When Chunchou tries to help him, the seemingly ordinary man grips him with extraordinary strength. Wen Xu pulls Chunchou away, leaving both of them disturbed and confused.
• No bystanders know who the man is or what happened to him. Although no Evil Cultivator aura is detectable, Wen Xu and Chunchou suspect this may involve an unfamiliar evil technique or deception.

Character Developments

• Wen Xu: He reflects on how his status has changed. Once isolated and envious of those born with family, power, or protection, he now possesses a reputation that causes others to admire and envy him. Although that reputation may not fully represent his true self, he feels proud that he has achieved something uniquely his own.
• Bian Chunchou: He remains cheerful, talkative, and food-loving, but the encounter with the eyeless man reveals his vulnerability and unsettles him. He becomes unsure whether he was compassionate or simply frightened when he failed to resist the man’s grip.
• Chen Zui: He has embraced life among rogue cultivators and continues to assert his preference for saber cultivation. His rivalry with Wu Fang remains intense, especially because Wu Fang refuses to abandon the sword.
• Wu Fang: Rather than giving up his chosen path, he remains committed to swordsmanship. Learning Wen Xu’s identity seems to have helped him release some emotional burdens, though he still seeks future improvement through Wen Xu.
• Wen Xu’s master and Zhao Xia: Their past relationship is hinted at but not explained, suggesting possible importance later.

Significant Themes

• Identity and earned worth: Wen Xu contrasts his lonely past with his present reputation, recognizing that he has developed an identity and achievements of his own.
• Reputation versus reality: Wen Xu’s fame is based partly on misconceptions about his background, raising questions about whether external recognition reflects a person’s true value.
• Cultivation paths and personal choice: Chen Zui and Wu Fang represent competing approaches to cultivation, emphasizing persistence in one’s chosen path despite pressure from others.
• The limits of appearances: The eyeless man looks like an ordinary victim, yet possesses frightening strength, suggesting that visible weakness may conceal danger.
• Unexplained supernatural threats: The mysterious eye incident introduces a darker plotline involving possible evil techniques, deception, or heavenly retribution.

Character Interactions

• Wen Xu and Chunchou share their usual friendly, humorous exchange, with Chunchou teasing Wen Xu about his connections and Wen Xu quietly correcting his assumptions.
• Chunchou’s admiration for Wen Xu’s status is mixed with his practical interest in gaining food recipes and local delicacies.
• Chen Zui’s conflict with Wu Fang is discussed through Chunchou’s gossip: Chen wants Wu Fang to abandon sword cultivation, while Wu Fang remains determined to continue.
• Wen Xu acts protectively toward Chunchou during the encounter with the eyeless man, pulling him away when the man’s grip becomes unnaturally strong.
• The chapter ends with Wen Xu and Chunchou facing a disturbing mystery that interrupts their lighthearted reunion.

Chapter Summary

Plot points and events

Wen Xu and Bian Chunchou encounter a deranged, eyeless man in the street. When the man grabs Wen Xu and accuses someone else of stealing his eyes, Chunchou angrily argues with him, while Wen Xu eventually knocks him unconscious to stop the disturbance. Despite their bizarre encounter, they decide to bring him back to Elder Sui for examination in case an Evil Cultivator injured him.
Elder Sui uses spiritual power to inspect the man but finds no physical damage: even the empty eye sockets appear healthy and full of vitality. He suggests the man may have “eyes but no pupils” because of a heavenly punishment caused by breaking a sincere oath made before Heaven and Earth. Since the man’s origins are unknown and he remains unconscious, Chunchou begins contacting people in Baigu City to discover his identity.
Meanwhile, Wen Xu explains that he stayed behind in the secret realm and Elder Sui confirms that the important treasure he retrieved is safe. Elder Sui sends a Communication Talisman to the Sect Master announcing the mission’s success and their impending return. Chunchou’s city-guard acquaintance, He Zhizhuo, arrives after hearing about the mysterious man. He also recognizes Wen Xu as the increasingly famous young hero who has emerged from the Radiant Dawn Tower Secret Realm.

Character developments

• Wen Xu demonstrates his calm, practical nature by agreeing to help the injured or mentally unstable man, then efficiently ending the argument by rendering him unconscious. He also notices the strange sensation of being watched despite the man’s empty sockets.
• Bian Chunchou reveals his compassion and strong sense of responsibility. Although he becomes comically offended when the man claims his eyes were stolen, he still insists on helping him and takes responsibility for finding his home. His friendship with He Zhizhuo also shows that he has become more socially connected and capable while Wen Xu was away.
• Elder Sui remains characteristically indifferent to unnecessary trouble, but he carefully examines the man and offers a plausible explanation involving heavenly oaths and punishment. He is relieved that Wen Xu and the mission’s treasure have returned safely.
• He Zhizhuo is established as a reliable city patrol guard and a friend of Chunchou. His personal arrival suggests the case may connect to something he knows.
• The eyeless man remains mysterious. His claims, unnatural eyes, and possible connection to a heavenly oath suggest a hidden past.

Significant themes

• Compassion versus inconvenience: Chunchou and Wen Xu help someone who is strange, difficult, and seemingly unrelated to them, emphasizing their willingness to uphold moral principles.
• Heavenly justice and oaths: The possibility that a sincere oath can invoke real punishment highlights the strict and supernatural nature of the Heavenly Dao.
• The limits of appearances: Although the man appears eyeless and injured, spiritual examination reveals no actual bodily damage, suggesting that truth in this world may be concealed beneath appearances.
• Growing reputation: Wen Xu’s emergence from the secret realm has made him widely known, showing how quickly fame spreads among cultivators and increasing the attention directed toward him and Yonglu Mountain.

Character interactions

Wen Xu and Chunchou work together despite their contrasting personalities: Chunchou reacts emotionally while Wen Xu acts decisively. Their exchange with the eyeless man provides comic tension, particularly when Chunchou argues that his own eyes are “original factory set.” Elder Sui balances Chunchou’s concern with pragmatic reluctance to get involved. Chunchou’s friendship with He Zhizhuo becomes important when He responds to the request for information and comes personally to investigate the mysterious man. His recognition of Wen Xu also confirms that Wen Xu’s reputation has spread throughout Baigu City.

Chapter Summary: “Madman”

Key plot points and events

He Zhizhuo visits Wen Xu and Bian Chunchou after learning that six other people in Baigu City have mysteriously become “eyeless”—their eyes remain physically present, but they cannot see. The victims range from children to the elderly and appear to have no known origins, causing concern that the incidents may provoke public panic. The City Lord’s Office has placed the victims under observation, though their behavior has become increasingly violent and irrational.
The latest victim suddenly wakes and panics when He Zhizhuo enters, accusing him of taking his eyes and warning Wen Xu to flee from “eye-snatchers.” He Zhizhuo explains that all the previous victims reacted similarly, attacking City Lord’s Office personnel or demanding that their eyes be returned. The victims seem especially terrified of the City Patrol Guards.
Wen Xu notices a faint incense scent on He Zhizhuo. He identifies it as Hidden Cloud Incense from the Wei Household’s Immortal Shrine, which He Zhizhuo frequently visits. Since the victim reacted specifically to He’s scent despite being unable to recognize his appearance, Wen Xu theorizes that the culprit may carry the same incense fragrance.

Character developments

• He Zhizhuo is established as a responsible but relatively ordinary member of the He Household, working as a City Patrol Guard despite lacking exceptional talent or access to elite family resources. He is earnest and concerned about the victims, though his attempts to help unintentionally frighten them.
• Wen Xu demonstrates sharp observation and a strong sense of smell. Though pretending to be blind, he uses the victim’s reaction to deduce an important connection between the incidents and the incense. He also protects the distressed man from He Zhizhuo.
• Bian Chunchou remains trusting of the City Lord’s Office and readily accepts its offer to take responsibility for the victim. His faith in official authority contrasts with Wen Xu’s more cautious analysis.
• The “madman” reveals through his terrified accusations that the victims may retain fragmented memories of the attacker, particularly an association with eye-snatching and a distinctive scent.

Significant themes

The chapter explores fear caused by unexplained supernatural events and the danger of mass panic. It also emphasizes the difference between appearances and reality: the victims look mad, but their seemingly incoherent words may contain clues. Trust in institutions is another theme, as the City Lord’s Office appears benevolent yet is repeatedly identified by the victims as a threat. The mystery also raises questions about sensory memory, identity, and whether the victims’ blindness is connected to a deliberate ritual or curse.

Character interactions

He Zhizhuo explains the investigation to Wen Xu and Bian Chunchou, while the madman reacts violently to his presence. Wen Xu places himself between the two men and shields the victim, then questions He about the incense scent. Bian Chunchou helps clarify the situation by explaining that the townspeople know little about the victims. Wen Xu’s deduction links He Zhizhuo’s scent—and potentially the Wei Household shrine—to the unknown culprit, providing the chapter’s main investigative breakthrough.

Chapter 293 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• He Zhi-Zhuo visits Yonglu Mountain to take custody of the eyeless “madman,” whom he suspects may be connected to the strange incense spreading through the Wei Household Immortal Shrine.
• Wen Xu refuses to hand the man over, pointing out that he has committed no crime and is unwilling to go to the City Lord’s Office. Because Wen Xu is Yonglu Mountain’s most senior authority, He Zhi-Zhuo cannot challenge the decision and leaves to investigate the incense himself.
• After He Zhi-Zhuo departs, Wen Xu reveals that the eyeless man is deliberately pretending to be insane. When Wen Xu protected him, the man pressed his empty eye sockets against Wen Xu’s hand, allowing Wen Xu to sense that the man actually possessed eyeballs.
• Wen Xu concludes that the man has not lost his eyes physically; rather, the “soul” or spiritual essence of his eyes has been stolen. The man likely sought Wen Xu specifically because of Wen Xu’s reputation and unusual blindness.
• Bian Chunchou explains the history of the Wei Household Immortal Shrine: it was built on the site of Wei Family Village, whose inhabitants were slaughtered by demons. The shrine now receives incense from countless visitors, making it a possible source of the mysterious scent.
• Wen Xu decides that the suspicious man will investigate the shrine, while he waits to see whether the man genuinely needs help or is plotting against them.
• At the end, the supposed madman finally speaks, dismissing He Zhi-Zhuo as an insignificant Foundation Establishment cultivator who is not even worthy of being used as a chess piece.

Character Developments

• Wen Xu demonstrates authority, insight, and cautious curiosity. Rather than blindly trusting or rejecting the eyeless man, he protects him while intending to uncover his motives.
• He Zhi-Zhuo appears outwardly polite and righteous, but Bian Chunchou notices that he behaves very differently in public and private. He is forced to abandon his immediate goal and investigate the incense independently.
• Bian Chunchou shows his trusting and straightforward nature. He worries that his tendency to befriend anyone could eventually endanger Wen Xu and Chen Zui, but Wen Xu reassures him that this openness is part of his nature and that greater strength will protect him from schemers.
• The eyeless man is confirmed to be intelligent and deliberately deceptive. His final statement reveals that he possesses considerable confidence and may have a much higher status or cultivation than He Zhi-Zhuo assumed.

Significant Themes

• Deception and hidden identities: The “madman” is acting, while He Zhi-Zhuo’s public politeness conceals a harsher private attitude.
• Trust and friendship: Bian Chunchou’s openness contrasts with Wen Xu’s careful judgment. Their relationship is built on mutual loyalty and concern.
• Strength and authority: Wen Xu emphasizes that power determines respect in the cultivation world and can deter others from plotting against one.
• Mystery and investigation: The stolen essence of the man’s eyes and the incense from the shrine suggest a larger supernatural conspiracy.
• Appearances versus reality: The chapter repeatedly challenges assumptions about blindness, madness, innocence, and social status.

Character Interactions

• Wen Xu and He Zhi-Zhuo clash over custody of the eyeless man, with Wen Xu asserting Yonglu Mountain’s authority.
• Bian Chunchou vents his anger at He Zhi-Zhuo’s hypocrisy and confronts the supposed madman, who ignores him while eating.
• Wen Xu explains the man’s hidden condition and motives to Bian Chunchou, strengthening their trust.
• Wen Xu reassures Bian Chunchou about his trusting personality and encourages him to become stronger.
• The eyeless man’s final remark dramatically changes the group’s understanding of him, suggesting that he sees the entire situation from a far higher level than they expected.

Chapter 169 Summary

Key plot points and events

• Bian Chunchou confronts the eyeless man surnamed Wei after Wei jokingly asks to borrow his eyes. Bian knocks him down and threatens to poison him, establishing their hostile but comedic dynamic.
• Wei demonstrates that he is not truly helpless: despite appearing blind and deranged, he moves normally, washes his hands, eats pastries, and cleverly dodges questions.
• Bian realizes Wei somehow identified He Zhizhuo’s Foundation Establishment cultivation, raising doubts about whether Wei is genuinely an ordinary person.
• Wen Xu decides not to tolerate Wei’s cryptic behavior. He allows Wei to stay but insists that he speak honestly rather than manipulate them with ambiguous hints.
• Wei reveals that only he pretended to be mad; the six people before him genuinely lost their minds. He implies that continued exposure or wandering outside may cause him to go mad as well.
• Wen Xu and Bian prepare to leave for a restaurant, but Chen Zui returns after hearing that Wen Xu has emerged from the Radiant Dawn Tower Secret Realm. His return interrupts their conversation and adds to the chapter’s comedic tension.
• The group discusses how quickly news of Wen Xu’s return has spread and the economic impact of the Secret Realm’s rewards. Rogue cultivators are selling rare herbs and spirit flowers, even forming a consignment association to prevent merchants from underpaying them.

Character developments

• Wen Xu shows growing confidence and emotional maturity. Rather than fear Wei’s possible background or hidden enemies, he directly demands honesty and refuses to hide on Yonglu Mountain simply to avoid danger.
• Bian Chunchou remains suspicious, outspoken, and prone to imaginative speculation. He jokingly invents a dramatic “persecuted young master” backstory for Wei, but he also notices inconsistencies in Wei’s behavior.
• Wei is established as intelligent, evasive, and possibly powerful or unusually perceptive. His blindness and madness appear at least partly—if not entirely—an act, though his warning about eventually becoming truly mad carries genuine menace.
• Chen Zui is shown as blunt and socially inattentive, returning with a saber after hearing others discuss him rather than responding to a Communication Talisman.

Significant themes

• Trust and honesty: Wen Xu rejects coded speech and insists that people state their intentions clearly.
• Courage versus avoidance: Wen Xu recognizes that hiding from danger would make him a coward, emphasizing his developing resolve as a disciple of Yonglu Mountain.
• Appearances and deception: Wei’s performance as a mad, blind beggar contrasts with his sharp reasoning and hidden abilities.
• The value of opportunity and commerce: The Secret Realm’s treasures have reshaped Baigu City’s markets, showing how cultivation rewards affect ordinary economic and social life.
• Comedic companionship: Hostile banter and misunderstandings among Wen Xu, Bian Chunchou, Chen Zui, and Wei create a light tone despite the underlying danger.

Character interactions

• Bian and Wei trade insults, with Bian acting aggressively while Wei responds with playful evasiveness.
• Wen Xu takes control of the situation by setting clear boundaries with Wei, earning a moment of reluctant surprise from him.
• Bian and Wen Xu discuss whether Wei is a persecuted aristocratic heir, though Wei denies their assumptions.
• Bian criticizes Chen Zui for staying out late, only for Chen to return unexpectedly and confront him.
• Wen Xu, Bian, and Chen then discuss the rapid spread of news and the profitable aftermath of the Radiant Dawn Tower Secret Realm.

Chapter Summary: “Rainy Night”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wen Xu, Bian Chunchou, and Chen Zui decide to celebrate completing their journey through the Radiant Dawn Tower Secret Realm.
• Unable to find seats at the crowded Little Pleasant Abode Spirit-Food Restaurant, they enter the deserted “Friends Come from Afar,” whose proprietor claims the shop has only just opened.
• Although the restaurant seems suspicious and has no menu or customers, the owner serves them extraordinarily delicious spirit-food.
• The meal contains immense spiritual energy despite being made from ordinary ingredients. The three eat everything, with Bian Chunchou especially impressed and worried about the cost.
• The proprietor asks for 10,000 Spirit Stones but suggests that the meal could instead be considered hospitality between friends. Bian, misunderstanding or rejecting the implied bargain, insists on paying in full.
• The owner attempts to frame their payment as the beginning of a friendship, but Bian firmly argues that business should be paid for fairly and drags his companions away.
• After they leave, the owner observes that the three are unusual and reveals that he is a “Young Master” investigating someone using Awakening Sea’s name to conduct fraudulent or deceptive dealings.
• His subordinate also delivers clues concerning Hidden Cloud Incense, while news from Awakening Sea is still pending.

Character Developments

• Bian Chunchou is shown as honest, straightforward, frugal, and somewhat naïve. Though distressed by the enormous bill, he willingly pays because he believes the food was worth it and refuses to exploit the proprietor’s apparent generosity.
• Chen Zui remains blunt and quiet, often responding dryly to Bian’s worries. His silence and trust in his companions make a strong impression on the proprietor.
• Wen Xu is portrayed as composed and extraordinary. His background as a peerless genius of Yonglu Mountain is indirectly confirmed through the owner’s observations.
• The restaurant proprietor appears hospitable and eccentric but is revealed to be an intelligent, influential young master with hidden objectives. He evaluates the trio carefully and becomes intrigued by them.
• The trio’s friendship is reinforced through their relaxed celebration, shared meal, and mutual trust.

Significant Themes

• Friendship versus transaction: The proprietor tries to turn a business exchange into a personal connection, while Bian insists that even friends should keep accounts clear.
• Appearances and hidden motives: The empty restaurant seems suspicious, yet its food is exceptional; the friendly proprietor also has secret investigations and political or commercial concerns.
• Integrity and fairness: Bian’s refusal to accept a free meal demonstrates his strong sense of honesty, even when it costs him dearly.
• The value of ordinary things: Ordinary ingredients become extraordinary through skill, suggesting that mastery matters more than rarity.
• New opportunities and hidden dangers: The lively conditions in Baigu City and the clues involving Hidden Cloud Incense and Awakening Sea hint at broader intrigue ahead.

Character Interactions

• Bian and Chen exchange humorous, sarcastic remarks throughout the meal, especially over Bian’s fear of washing dishes and losing his money.
• Wen Xu and his companions share a comfortable, celebratory dynamic, with the two younger—or less experienced—travelers relying on his steadiness.
• The proprietor attempts to charm and befriend the trio through food and flexible payment, but Bian’s literal honesty undermines the effort.
• From a distance, the proprietor assesses each member: Bian is guileless, Chen is loyal and silent, and Wen Xu is exceptionally calm and talented.

Chapter 296 Summary

• Wei’s unresolved warning: After encountering the three men earlier, Wei becomes determined to uncover the truth behind them. Rather than accept their rejection, he decides to force his way into becoming their friend, relying on his stubbornness and persistence.
• Discussion of Hidden Cloud Incense: Back at their courtyard, Bian Chunchou wonders what Wei had intended to tell them. Wen Xu explains that Wei’s real clue was the Hidden Cloud Incense from Awakening Sea, implying that the incense used at the Wei Household Immortal Shrine may be connected to a larger problem. Wen Xu is displeased that Wei seems to be manipulating them into investigating the matter rather than speaking openly.
• Awakening Sea and the shrine’s finances: Bian Chunchou learns more about Awakening Sea, a remote island famed for its pure spiritual energy and extraordinary incense-making techniques. Hidden Cloud Incense is extremely expensive, making its widespread use at a shrine that charges only a small entrance fee and two qian per incense offering financially suspicious. The shrine may be consuming vast amounts of Spirit Stones, suggesting fraud, hidden funding, or corruption.
• He Zhizhuo’s possible investigation: Wen Xu points out that He Zhizhuo is capable of investigating the incense purchases. Although Bian Chunchou doubts him because he belongs only to a collateral branch, Wen Xu notes that the shrine carries the Wei family name. Internal rivalries and power struggles within the seven connected households may be motivating someone in Baigu City to expose or undermine the shrine.
• Interactions with Chen Zui: Chen Zui enters and immediately assumes that Bian Chunchou has caused trouble again. Wen Xu promises to call him if a fight breaks out, prompting Chen Zui to leave cheerfully, saying that Wen Xu’s presence makes him feel safe. Bian Chunchou is offended, while Wen Xu privately concludes that the two are similarly troublesome.
• Nighttime intrusion: After the secret realm disappears, Baigu City becomes quiet. A violent rainstorm later covers the city, creating ideal conditions for covert action. Wen Xu senses that someone has come to cause trouble on Yonglu Mountain’s territory, likely connected to the dangerous “madman” encountered earlier.
• Elder Sui’s warning: Elder Sui confirms that the visitor Wen Xu brought in during the day is dangerous. The intruder’s cultivation is comparable to Elder Sui’s own, and although Elder Sui dislikes trouble, he is unwilling to tolerate an enemy provoking Yonglu Mountain on its own ground. He warns Wen Xu to be careful.

Character Development

• Wen Xu becomes increasingly wary of being used by others and recognizes the political motives behind the incense investigation. He remains calm and analytical but is prepared to confront threats directly.
• Bian Chunchou shows his usual bluntness and lack of insight, though he gradually understands the financial implications of the Hidden Cloud Incense. His comedic exchanges with Wen Xu and Chen Zui reinforce his impulsive personality.
• Wei is portrayed as stubborn, persistent, and determined to uncover the truth—even if he must manipulate others or force a friendship.
• Elder Sui reveals a rare willingness to defend Yonglu Mountain despite his normally passive, trouble-averse nature.

Major Themes

• Suspicion and manipulation: Clues are presented indirectly, raising questions about who is using whom.
• Corruption within powerful institutions: The supposedly unified seven households may conceal rivalries, greed, and political schemes.
• Justice versus personal agendas: Wen Xu insists that disciples should not become tools for someone else’s version of justice.
• Hidden danger beneath ordinary appearances: The inexpensive shrine, the mysterious incense, and the harmless-looking visitor all conceal deeper threats.

Chapter Summary: “Confrontation”

Plot and key events

After sensing the cultivation breakthrough of the eyeless man into the Middle Golden Core realm, Elder Sui and the Yonglu Mountain disciples detect two intruders approaching through a sudden torrential rainstorm. One of the attackers is apparently stronger than Elder Sui, suggesting at least one Late Golden Core cultivator is present. The rain severely limits visibility and suppresses wind-based techniques, weakening Wen Xu and most of the defenders. Communication Talismans also fail, confirming that the attackers came prepared and may have isolated the area.
Wen Xu suspects the intruders may be targeting him rather than only the eyeless man, because of rumors about his eyes and Destiny Pattern. He had already sent an emergency message to Elder Zhao Qi before the confrontation began. As the battle is about to erupt, Wen Xu orders the weaker disciples to investigate whether the people in the courtyard have escaped and to avoid directly participating. Chen Zui, however, immediately charges the Golden Core enemies, eager to test himself against stronger opponents.

Character developments

• Wen Xu demonstrates caution, strategic thinking, and responsibility. Although curious about his own combat ability, he refuses to endanger his companions unnecessarily and prepares for outside help. He also shows unusual intuition in recognizing that the rain may have been deliberately anticipated or manipulated.
• Elder Sui recognizes the danger quickly and sympathizes with Wen Xu, understanding that exceptional talents inevitably attract serious threats.
• Chen Zui is revealed as fearless, impulsive, and battle-hungry. Rather than being intimidated by the difference between Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivation, he is thrilled by the opportunity to fight a stronger opponent. His blade techniques are naturally adaptable to the rain, making him unusually effective despite his lower realm.
• The local Yonglu Mountain disciples show loyalty and courage by preparing to defend their post despite their inferior cultivation.

Character interactions

Elder Sui warns Wen Xu about the multiple Golden Core enemies. Wen Xu tells Chen Zui not to force himself, but Chen Zui ignores the warning with complete confidence. Wen Xu then instructs the weaker disciples to stay out of the fight and search the courtyard, while he prepares to confront the attackers. The disciples offer to cover Wen Xu’s retreat, but he refuses, believing the enemies came specifically for him.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes the danger surrounding gifted cultivators and the way fame, rumors, and unusual abilities attract powerful enemies. It contrasts cautious leadership with reckless courage: Wen Xu prioritizes survival and collective safety, while Chen Zui seeks growth through direct combat. The rain functions both as a physical obstacle and as a symbol of the attackers’ careful preparation, creating an isolated battlefield where the defenders’ usual strengths are neutralized.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wen Xu, Chen Zui, and Bian Chunchou continue battling a Middle Golden Core cultivator beneath the rain while Elder Sui fights a Late Golden Core opponent.
• The enemy tries to defeat Chen Zui and Chunchou quickly so he can assist his companion, but the three Foundation Establishment cultivators coordinate remarkably well and resist him.
• Wen Xu realizes that their group has repeatedly fought opponents above their cultivation levels. Rather than fear the danger, he accepts it with unusual calm and commits fully to the battle.
• Wen Xu launches a precise attack through the rain, forcing the Golden Core cultivator to recognize the threat posed by their combined strength.
• The cultivator becomes increasingly alarmed, questioning how three early Foundation Establishment disciples—especially those from the supposedly weakest Yonglu Mountain—can endanger him.
• Meanwhile, others discover that Wen Xu’s room is empty. He escaped using an illusion talisman, despite supposedly being a mortal, and had already sent word to the sect before they could report his disappearance.
• The battle lasts far longer than expected. Elder Sui realizes the two attackers’ abilities and Spiritual Roots counter his own, while he must fight cautiously to protect the younger disciples.
• Elder Sui suspects that the attackers may be targeting Yonglu Mountain’s famous “little Martial Uncle-Grandmaster,” likely to murder him for his wealth or reputation.
• As the rain eases, all combatants are badly wounded, but the three young cultivators grow increasingly excited by the fight. Elder Sui prepares to reveal more of his true strength.

Character Developments

• Wen Xu demonstrates exceptional composure under pressure. He embraces his role as the group’s strategist and coordinator, becoming increasingly willing to fight directly rather than relying solely on intellect.
• Chen Zui remains the primary attacker, relying on instinct and his naturally aggressive fighting style. Wen Xu understands his temperament and uses it effectively rather than forcing him into conventional cooperation.
• Bian Chunchou contributes as a flexible support fighter, using talismans and exploiting openings while occasionally moving in for ambushes.
• Elder Sui is shown to be both powerful and responsible. Although capable of greater aggression, he restrains himself because he must protect the younger disciples.
• The opposing Golden Core cultivator shifts from contempt to genuine fear and respect as the trio’s coordinated attacks threaten him.
• Wen Xu, Chunchou, and Chen Zui develop a stronger shared enthusiasm for combat, with Wen Xu in particular discovering that fighting can be exhilarating.

Significant Themes

• Strength through cooperation: The trio’s effectiveness comes not from equal abilities but from trust, complementary roles, and Wen Xu’s strategic direction.
• Overcoming cultivation limits: Three lower-level cultivators challenge a much stronger Golden Core opponent through experience, courage, and coordination.
• Trust and unity: Chen Zui and Chunchou follow Wen Xu’s instructions without hesitation, creating the impression that they share one mind.
• Hidden talent and underestimated strength: Yonglu Mountain’s disciples are dismissed because of their low ranking and cultivation, yet repeatedly defy expectations.
• Growth through combat: The battle becomes not merely a struggle for survival but an opportunity for the young cultivators to discover new confidence and enjoyment in fighting.

Character Interactions

• Wen Xu directs Chen Zui and Bian Chunchou, adapting their different fighting styles into a unified strategy.
• Chen Zui acts as the group’s spearhead, while Wen Xu supports and refines his attacks instead of restraining him.
• Bian Chunchou fills gaps in the formation with talismans and opportunistic strikes.
• The Golden Core opponent is frustrated by their seamless coordination and their refusal to fear death.
• Elder Sui attempts to question the attackers, but they refuse communication and continue fighting, forcing him to protect the disciples while preparing to end the confrontation decisively.

Chapter Summary: “Hard Clash”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The disciples confront two Golden Core cultivators who launched a surprise attack without warning.
• Although badly outmatched and initially expecting to die, the younger cultivators discover that Elder Sui and the three martial granduncles are far more formidable than anticipated.
• Bian Chunchou, despite being injured, fights alongside his friends and feels exhilarated by the battle.
• Chen Zui suffers a severe chest wound from a concealed weapon, but instead of weakening, he becomes more aggressive and precise with his blade.
• His intense battle experience triggers a state of enlightenment, allowing him to approach a breakthrough into the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
• The enemy Golden Core cultivator notices Chen Zui’s impending advancement and decides to kill him before he can complete it, reasoning that eliminating such a gifted disciple would compensate for the failed ambush.
• The cultivator launches a vicious attack aimed at destroying Chen Zui’s Dantian.
• The blind genius intercepts part of the attack, taking a serious injury to protect Chen Zui.
• Chen Zui counterattacks through the heavy rain, striking the Golden Core cultivator’s waist and severing the hand he uses for concealed weapons.

Character Developments

• Chen Zui: Displays extraordinary resilience and combat instinct. His injuries push him into a state of complete concentration, where his blade moves instinctively rather than through conscious calculation. His near-breakthrough confirms his exceptional talent and potential to become a major sword cultivator.
• Bian Chunchou: Gains confidence and enthusiasm from fighting alongside his companions, viewing the battle almost like an exhilarating intellectual challenge despite his injuries.
• The blind genius: Demonstrates powerful protective instincts and remarkable combat ability by intercepting the enemy’s killing blow against Chen Zui, even at the cost of severe injury.
• Wen Xu: Acts as a protector and observer, covering Chen Zui’s openings while accurately recognizing that Chen Zui is on the verge of a breakthrough.
• The younger disciples: Their fear and despair shift toward admiration and renewed courage as they witness their seniors fight Golden Core cultivators despite overwhelming disadvantages.
• The enemy Golden Core cultivator: His confidence deteriorates as the battle goes against him. Jealousy and fear of Chen Zui’s potential drive him to abandon restraint and attempt a cruel, opportunistic killing blow.

Significant Themes

• Combat as a path to enlightenment: Chen Zui’s breakthrough comes not from routine cultivation but from instinct, danger, and the pressure of battle.
• Courage and resilience: Physical injuries do not necessarily weaken a cultivator; in Chen Zui’s case, they intensify his determination and sharpen his attacks.
• Protection and loyalty: The blind genius willingly suffers a severe wound to save Chen Zui, emphasizing the group’s solidarity.
• Talent provoking fear and hostility: Chen Zui’s potential terrifies the enemy cultivator, showing how gifted young cultivators become targets before they can mature.
• Overconfidence and miscalculation: The attackers underestimate Elder Sui, the younger disciples, and especially the blind genius and Chen Zui, causing their original plan to collapse.

Character Interactions

• The disciples encourage and protect one another during the battle, with Wen Xu guarding Chen Zui’s exposed weaknesses.
• The younger cultivators admire their martial granduncles, who accomplish what they themselves believe impossible.
• Chen Zui ignores warnings and continues attacking with reckless determination, forcing his allies to support rather than restrain him.
• The enemy cultivator’s attempt to exploit Chen Zui’s breakthrough is thwarted when the blind genius intervenes, allowing Chen Zui to counterattack.
• The chapter ends with Chen Zui decisively turning the tables, maiming the concealed-weapon specialist and intensifying the confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “High Profile”

Key Plot Points and Events

• During a night raid on Yonglu Mountain, Chen Zui, Bian Chunchou, and Wen Xu fight two Golden Core cultivators.
• Chen Zui reaches the threshold of a cultivation breakthrough, but suppresses it so he can complete his attack and secure victory. His guiding principle is that winning with his blade comes before advancing his cultivation.
• The three young cultivators suffer serious injuries, while Elder Sui defeats his opponent and seals the spiritual power of the two Golden Core attackers.
• Elder Sui orders the prisoners locked in the woodshed and postpones further questioning until the storm passes.
• Elder Zhao Qi arrives with reinforcements, learns that the disciples successfully defeated a Golden Core cultivator, and realizes that the attack was aimed at Little Martial Granduncle and Yonglu Mountain.
• Mysterious Physician Lin Rujian is assigned to treat the injured. Zhao Qi goes to interrogate the prisoners and prepares to retaliate against those who dared attack the mountain.
• The captured Golden Cores consider using hidden talismans to summon help, but Zhao Qi arrives before they can escape, making them realize their situation is hopeless.
• The next day, Chen Zui refuses the medicine prescribed for him, claiming that ordinary Blood-Replenishing and Qi-Gathering Pills are sufficient. He only agrees to take the stronger medicine after being warned that his blood loss could damage his foundation.

Character Developments

• Chen Zui: Demonstrates extraordinary combat ability and a firm, uncomplicated devotion to the blade. He willingly sacrifices a cultivation breakthrough to ensure victory and shows his characteristic stubbornness by refusing treatment he believes he does not need.
• Bian Chunchou: Acts as the group’s protector, frantically using talismans to preserve his friends’ heart meridians. His overuse of spiritual power causes him to collapse from dizziness, highlighting both his concern and his limits.
• Wen Xu: Fights alongside Chen Zui and Bian Chunchou, sharing in the danger and injuries of the battle.
• Elder Sui: Efficiently handles the aftermath, recognizing the young disciples’ strength and arranging for the prisoners and wounded to be dealt with. He also reveals a practical, somewhat humorous side through his thoughts about bathing and interrogation.
• Elder Zhao Qi: Arrives late but immediately takes command. His concern for Little Martial Granduncle quickly turns into anger toward the attackers, suggesting that Yonglu Mountain will respond forcefully.
• The captured Golden Core cultivators: Shift from attempted resistance and escape to fear once they realize a Nascent Soul elder has arrived and their plans have failed.
• Lin Rujian: Serves as the group’s medical expert, emphasizing the severity of Chen Zui’s injuries and the danger of neglecting them.

Significant Themes

• Victory versus personal advancement: Chen Zui chooses immediate victory over a rare cultivation breakthrough, showing that his identity and values are centered on his swordsmanship rather than power for its own sake.
• Loyalty and friendship: The three young cultivators protect one another despite severe danger. Bian Chunchou’s desperate medical support and Chen Zui’s willingness to risk himself underscore their strong bond.
• Hidden strength and unexpected capability: The attackers underestimate the young disciples, especially Chen Zui, whose Foundation Establishment cultivation conceals battle strength capable of defeating a Golden Core opponent.
• Consequences of attacking the sect: The prisoners’ failed raid turns into a serious threat against them once Yonglu Mountain’s elders become involved.
• Stubbornness and practicality: Chen Zui’s refusal of medicine contrasts with the physicians’ concerns, creating a humorous but meaningful example of his blunt, self-reliant nature.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zui’s decisive strike secures the victory while Bian Chunchou anxiously supports both Chen Zui and Wen Xu with protective talismans.
• Elder Sui assesses the injured disciples, seals the prisoners’ powers, and organizes their confinement and treatment.
• Zhao Qi questions the gatekeeping disciple, learns of Chen Zui’s remarkable victory, and then confronts the captured attackers.
• Lin Rujian and the medical disciples treat the wounded, with Lin warning that Chen Zui’s injuries could harm his cultivation foundation.
• Chen Zui initially rejects the medicine, but a junior disciple persuades him by explaining the potential long-term consequences.