Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

• Wen Xu, Bian Chunchou, and Chen Zui-Zui interrogate an ambushed group in the snow-covered Rongyuan City. Wen Xu uses psychological intimidation, threatening a Soul Search and claiming they could kill the captives without leaving evidence. The group’s leader, terrified of death despite being a Nascent Soul cultivator, quickly agrees to answer their questions.
• The leader accuses them of being impostors rather than righteous cultivators, but Bian Chunchou views Wen Xu’s threats as mostly a civilized bluff. Wen Xu maintains a cold, controlled demeanor and continues the interrogation.
• The captives explain how Rongyuan City deteriorated after being sealed off. The snowfall initially seemed ordinary, but it gradually intensified and corrupted the city’s water spiritual energy. Cultivators with Water Spiritual Roots became increasingly irritable and prone to violent spell duels.
• Even the Judicial Enforcement Corps lost control, and the city descended into chaos. Cultivator battles caused widespread destruction, while ordinary people became afraid to leave their homes.
• The snow also absorbed or “appropriated” the city’s water. This caused ordinary people, crops, and spiritual plants to die of thirst. Although residents could melt the snow for drinking water, it was contaminated: consuming it damaged emotions, willpower, divine souls, and Dantians. Some people even swallowed snow to commit suicide.
• Bian Chunchou is disturbed by the apparent inaction of the city’s powerful cultivators and the city lord, questioning why no one has broken the Snow Formation. The leader explains that if anyone had been capable of doing so, Rongyuan City would not have reached such a desperate state.
• The group’s ambush was motivated by survival. Because the Snow Formation made cultivation dangerous while the city’s violence forced cultivators to remain strong, people first consumed Spirit Stones and forging materials for power. When those resources ran out, someone created a formation that extracted spiritual energy from captured cultivators, allowing others to continue cultivating.
• This method resembles the practices of Evil Cultivators, but the leader insists that most people had no meaningful alternatives: those who refused to participate either hid themselves or died. His despair exposes how thoroughly the city’s inhabitants have been driven into moral collapse.
• Wen Xu questions the point of struggling when the captives believe escape is impossible, then asks whether the city lord is still forging a divine weapon. Bian Chunchou assumes the answer will be obvious, but the leader’s response shocks him, ending the chapter on a cliffhanger.

Character Development and Interactions

• Wen Xu demonstrates calm ruthlessness and strong psychological insight. He controls the interrogation by exploiting the captives’ fear of death, though his threats may be more performative than genuine.
• Bian Chunchou acts as the moral and emotional counterpoint, reacting with sympathy to the city’s suffering and discomfort at Wen Xu’s harsh methods. He also reflects on the broader tragedy and on the mistaken belief that another city was in the worst condition.
• Chen Zui-Zui contributes through physical intimidation, holding a blade to one of the captives while Wen Xu handles the verbal interrogation.
• The captured leader and his companions shift from defiance to panic and confession. Their breakdown reveals that even powerful cultivators are vulnerable to hopelessness, thirst, fear, and moral desperation.

Significant Themes

• Civilization collapsing under prolonged catastrophe: Rongyuan City moves from orderly society to violence, scarcity, and predation.
• Survival versus morality: Desperate conditions force people to adopt methods resembling Evil Cultivation, blurring the distinction between righteous and wicked behavior.
• Psychological corruption: The Snow Formation affects not only bodies and cultivation but also emotions, judgment, and willpower.
• The fragility of human compassion: The chapter questions whether people remain morally responsible when every choice appears to lead to death.
• Hidden motives and political indifference: The city lord’s continued work on a divine weapon suggests that the disaster may be connected to a larger plan, making the suffering in Rongyuan City seem even more deliberate or sinister.

Chapter Summary: “Pink Snow”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wen Xu learns that the unusual pink snow may not be merely a phenomenon caused by the workshop master. It is believed to have been deliberately created to celebrate the birth—or imminent completion—of a powerful divine weapon.
• The workshop master has spent eight hundred years refining this weapon, abandoning all other artifacts and becoming dangerously obsessed with it. Wen Xu realizes that such obsession may have driven the master and others to disregard all moral limits.
• Wen Xu connects the events in Rongyuan City to the demon’s broader strategy. He suspects the demon deliberately arranged the crises in several cities and chose to remain in Pill Fragrance City because the other cities’ preparations were too burdensome to manage directly.
• He becomes concerned about Bushi in Pagoda City, reasoning that the attack may specifically target Buddhist cultivators and that Bushi’s newly formed core and Innate Buddha Bone could make him especially vulnerable.
• Wen Xu forces captured cultivators to provide a current map of Rongyuan City. Although he agrees to release them in exchange, he instead has Chen Zui knock them unconscious, bind them, and place them in their secret realm so they cannot continue hunting others.
• Suspecting that the Spiritual Power Transformation Formation is connected to the divine weapon’s creation, Wen Xu, Bian Chunchou, and Chen Zui disguise themselves and infiltrate the formation’s location.
• They discover that the formation extracts spiritual power from bound cultivators. Though it keeps them alive, their cultivation is permanently destroyed, and the process causes severe agony. Wen Xu views this as effectively equivalent to murder.
• The trio attacks the group operating the formation, defeats them completely, and imprisons them in the secret realm.

Character Developments

• Wen Xu shows strong strategic judgment, recognizing that direct confrontation would be wasteful and choosing infiltration and deception instead. He also demonstrates moral resolve by refusing to leave the captured cultivators free to harm others.
• Wen Xu becomes increasingly aware of the danger posed by obsession, both in the workshop master and potentially in himself. He worries about how the demon might exploit his own hidden weaknesses.
• To guard against losing control, Wen Xu establishes a psychological signal: as long as he keeps the ribbon over his eyes, he is still himself; removing it will indicate that the demon’s influence has taken hold.
• His concern about face blindness reveals a personal vulnerability. If the demon magnifies it, Wen Xu may no longer be able to recognize allies accurately.
• Chen Zui remains utterly dependable, immediately agreeing to restrain Wen Xu if necessary and offering to follow behind him so he can identify Chen by the sound and presence of his blade.
• Bian Chunchou provides energetic support and practical assistance through talismans. His comparatively pure and uncomplicated nature may make him less susceptible to the psychological corruption spreading through Rongyuan City.
• Wen Xu feels grateful that the three companions entered the city together, recognizing that their mutual trust and differing strengths help protect them from the demon’s influence.

Significant Themes

• Obsession and moral corruption: The workshop master’s eight-century fixation on the divine weapon has erased ordinary principles and made the exploitation of others seem acceptable.
• The cost of power: The divine weapon requires an enormous supply of spiritual energy, leading its creators to sacrifice other cultivators and destroy their cultivation.
• Psychological warfare: The demon does not rely solely on physical attacks; it manipulates people by identifying and amplifying their deepest weaknesses.
• Trust and self-monitoring: Wen Xu’s anchor and his reliance on Chen Zui and Bian Chunchou emphasize the importance of companions in resisting mental corruption.
• Cultivation as identity and life: Since cultivation represents a cultivator’s second life, permanently draining it is presented as a fate nearly indistinguishable from death.
• Strategy over force: Given the presence of several powerful Nascent Soul cultivators, the trio chooses disguise, investigation, and coordinated action rather than reckless confrontation.

Character Interactions

• Wen Xu questions the captured cultivators and extracts information about the pink snow, the divine weapon, and the city’s current layout.
• He bargains with them for a map but deceives them afterward, having Chen Zui bind and imprison them.
• Wen Xu explains his suspicions about the Spiritual Power Transformation Formation to Bian Chunchou and Chen Zui, persuading them to investigate.
• He asks Chen Zui to restrain him if he shows signs of losing control, and Chen immediately agrees, while Bian Chunchou also supports the plan.
• The group works cooperatively during the infiltration: Wen Xu leads the investigation, Chunchou scouts with talismans, and Chen Zui provides loyal protection.
• After witnessing the formation’s cruelty, all three act together to eliminate the operators and rescue—or at least secure—the victims from further exploitation.

Chapter 663 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wen Xu, Chen Zui, and Bian Chunchou defeat several cultivators inside Rongyuan City, including a Nascent Soul Late Stage artifact refiner whose strength has been heavily suppressed by the city’s formation—reduced to roughly the level of a Late Golden Core cultivator.
• They speculate that the formation is draining or siphoning spiritual power from everyone inside the city. Wen Xu uses Jade Banyan Fruits from No Spring to replenish their energy.
• The trio searches the snow-covered city for the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Cauldrons, the city’s divine-weapon forging site. Along the way, they capture bandits and place them in Wen Xu’s Jade Bottle Mini-Secret Realm, while giving ordinary civilians water and Grain-Repelling Pills.
• Unable to locate the pavilion, they conclude that another Bewildering Formation is concealing it. They dig through the snow for an entire day and night, using Mist Mountain God Venerable’s formation disk, which consumes a massive number of Spirit Stones.
• They eventually discover the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Cauldrons. Warmth from its artifact-refining furnaces reaches them through the formation, but Bian Chunchou senses that the spiritual flame inside is dangerous and may be producing demonic weapons.
• Wen Xu receives a one-word message from his master: “Leave!” Recognizing the seriousness of the warning, he decides that they must not enter the pavilion.
• Before they can retreat, the snowfall abruptly changes. The snow grows heavy and blood-red, creating a violent storm that begins affecting the trio mentally and spiritually.

Character Developments

• Wen Xu demonstrates quick judgment and responsibility. He immediately takes his master’s warning seriously and chooses retreat rather than recklessly investigating the pavilion.
• Chen Zui continues to act as the group’s sharpest combat observer, accurately identifying the enemies’ weakened condition and remaining ready to fight.
• Bian Chunchou shows practical resourcefulness by suggesting they dig through the snow when ordinary searching fails. His Fire-Water Spiritual Root reacts strongly to the opposing spiritual energies of the snow and the furnace flame.
• Bian Chunchou also becomes increasingly anxious about the group’s situation. He realizes that the blood-red snow is affecting Wen Xu’s Dao Heart, consciousness, and soul, while Chen Zui is becoming dangerously eager to practice his blade techniques.

Significant Themes

• Suppression and survival: The city’s formations drain spiritual power, forcing cultivators to rely on scarce resources such as Spirit Stones, warming talismans, water, and Jade Banyan Fruits.
• Hidden danger beneath appearances: The Pavilion of Ten Thousand Cauldrons appears to offer warmth and refuge, but the furnace’s spiritual flame may be connected to demonic weapon-making.
• Trust and obedience: Wen Xu’s immediate response to his master’s warning highlights the importance of trust and the dangers of acting out of curiosity.
• The corruption of the environment: The blood-red snow is not merely a natural phenomenon; it directly attacks cultivators’ bodies, minds, Dao Hearts, and souls.
• Team dependence: The group’s strength depends on each member’s role—Chen Zui’s combat ability, Wen Xu’s judgment and resources, and Bian Chunchou’s formations, talismans, and adaptability.

Character Interactions

• Wen Xu and Chen Zui discuss the strange weakening of the enemy cultivators, combining Wen Xu’s understanding of formations with Chen Zui’s combat perception.
• The trio cooperates closely while searching the buried city, rescuing ordinary people and capturing hostile cultivators.
• Bian Chunchou relies on Wen Xu’s Jade Banyan Fruits to maintain his spiritual power and shares the group’s concern over their dwindling resources.
• Wen Xu’s master’s urgent message changes the group’s course, but the sudden appearance of the blood-red snow leaves them trapped.
• Bian Chunchou notices that both Wen Xu and Chen Zui are becoming compromised by the phenomenon, placing unexpected responsibility on him to protect or stabilize the group.

Chapter Summary: “Spiritual Light”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bian Chunchou focuses on escaping the land of Pink Snow with Wen Xu and Chen Zui, prioritizing rescue over understanding why he alone seems unaffected.
• Wen Xu is overwhelmed by the Pink Snow, which carries the accumulated resentment, hatred, helplessness, and fury of Rongyuan City’s buried citizens into his body.
• He discovers that his Golden Light can purify these negative entities, but its supply is limited. Fearing that the Demon Seed could parasitize him while the Golden Light is depleted, he chooses to endure the pain rather than use it.
• Remembering that Wen Xu might lose control once the ribbon over his eyes loosens, Chen Zui knocks him unconscious with his saber hilt as a precaution.
• Bian Chunchou and Chen Zui carry Wen Xu through the increasingly dense Pink Snow. Bian uses talismans to create a temporary vacuum, though the snow continues to affect Chen Zui.
• They eventually escape the Pink Snow, but Chen Zui collapses while carrying Wen Xu. Bian drags both of them into a nearby house and starts a fire.
• After Chen Zui awakens, he and Bian argue over Wen Xu’s condition and Chen’s overly forceful rescue method. Wen Xu then regains consciousness with severe pain in both his neck and spirit.
• Wen Xu realizes that he is not strong enough to withstand the Pink Snow, much less enter the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Cauldrons and confront his master. He concludes that the unfinished divine weapon—not the Demon Seed—is currently preventing his master from saving Rongyuan City.

Character Developments

• Wen Xu: Shows restraint and self-sacrifice by conserving his Golden Light despite immense suffering. His faith in his friends helps him resist despair, but his awakening deepens his doubts about whether he can fulfill his mission.
• Chen Zui: Demonstrates unexpected practical judgment by knocking Wen Xu unconscious before he can lose control. Though physically affected by the Pink Snow, he stubbornly continues carrying Wen Xu.
• Bian Chunchou: Takes on the group’s immediate leadership, using talismans and navigation skills to get the others to safety. His thoughts also highlight his growing appreciation for Chen Zui’s reliability despite Chen’s comic lack of subtlety.
• The trio: Their bond becomes more evident as they rely on one another under extreme conditions. Wen Xu’s reminder that he is not fighting alone contrasts with the danger threatening to overwhelm him.

Significant Themes

• Endurance versus salvation: Wen Xu must choose between using his limited Golden Light to save the tortured spirits immediately or preserving it against the greater threat of the Demon Seed.
• Friendship and trust: Wen Xu’s ability to endure is strengthened by remembering that he has companions who will risk themselves for him.
• Practical action in crisis: Chen Zui’s blunt decision to incapacitate Wen Xu reflects the need to act decisively before disaster occurs.
• The burden of collective suffering: The Pink Snow embodies Rongyuan City’s accumulated anguish, turning the citizens’ negative emotions into a physical and spiritual threat.
• Limits of individual power: Even Wen Xu’s exceptional abilities cannot easily overcome the city’s catastrophe, suggesting that larger forces—the Demon Seed and the divine weapon—are at work.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zui and Bian Chunchou provide comic relief through their disagreement over knocking Wen Xu unconscious and Chen’s confidence in his own controlled strength.
• Bian protects and guides both companions, while Chen physically carries Wen Xu through the snow.
• Wen Xu’s trust in his friends contrasts with his uncertainty about his master and the larger situation in Rongyuan City.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The artifact refiners remain determined to complete the dangerous “divine weapon,” despite the obvious risks and the effects of the Pink Snow.
• Wen Xu searches for a way to escape their predicament. Breaking the Pill Formation directly is considered impractical, so he focuses on stopping the weapon’s forging.
• He realizes that their strongest potential resource is the Creation Giant Tree, which is stored inside Bian Chunchou’s Bright Moon Secret Realm.
• The tree was originally the foundation of the secret realm, but Master Wushan later shifted the realm’s core to No-Shu City, allowing the Creation Giant Tree to be removed safely.
• The Creation Giant Tree possesses immense defensive power, comparable to the standards used by heaven and earth to judge magical artifacts. Wen Xu believes it may be able to withstand the Pink Snow and possibly interfere with the immature demonic weapon.
• Bian Chunchou retrieves the tree. Chen Zui tests it with his blade, but the tree remains completely unharmed. Wen Xu explains that the tree rejects weapons that already have owners.
• Since the tree is unaffected by the snow, Wen Xu devises a tentative plan: Bian Chunchou will carry it into the Pink Snow Grounds and deploy it at the right moment.
• Wen Xu will remain inside the Bright Moon Secret Realm because the Pink Snow affects him especially severely. Bian Chunchou accepts the plan, despite being given no precise instructions about what opportunity to wait for.

Character Developments

• Wen Xu demonstrates resourcefulness and strategic thinking. Although he cannot directly overcome the Pill Formation or resist the Pink Snow, he identifies an unconventional solution by recalling the Creation Giant Tree.
• Bian Chunchou shows growing responsibility as acting head of the Household. He is nervous about the danger but agrees to take the risk and shoulder responsibility for the plan.
• Chen Zui remains confident and somewhat irreverent, testing the mysterious tree with his blade and taking satisfaction in learning that its refusal to be cut is related to the blade’s ownership.
• Master Wushan’s abilities are further established through his sophisticated modification of the Bright Moon Secret Realm.

Significant Themes

• Desperation and ingenuity: When conventional methods fail, survival depends on recognizing overlooked resources and exploiting unusual possibilities.
• Risk and responsibility: The characters must gamble with a powerful artifact despite lacking certainty that the plan will work.
• The limits of individual strength: Neither Wen Xu nor the others can solve the crisis through force alone, emphasizing the need for cooperation and strategy.
• Legacy and preservation: The Creation Giant Tree, originally belonging to the Shu Household, continues to serve a vital purpose even after being separated from its original environment.

Character Interactions

• Wen Xu consults Bian Chunchou about the Bright Moon Secret Realm and persuades him to use the Creation Giant Tree.
• Bian Chunchou worries that Wen Xu intends to awaken his weakened second father, but Wen Xu clarifies that he has another plan.
• Chen Zui tests the tree and receives an explanation about its rejection of owned weapons, leaving him satisfied.
• Wen Xu and Bian Chunchou agree to proceed with an uncertain strategy, with Bian jokingly warning Wen Xu not to blame him if the plan goes wrong.

Chapter Summary: “Intrusion”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wen Xu-Xu, Chen Zui-Zui, and Bian Chunchou launch their second attempt to enter the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Cauldrons.
• Because Wen Xu-Xu cannot directly withstand the Bewildering Formation and Pink Snow, Chunchou stores him inside the Bright Moon Secret Realm while he and Chen Zui-Zui proceed.
• Chen Zui-Zui blindfolds himself to reduce the Pink Snow’s influence, which magnifies his desire to practice and wield his blade. Despite the overwhelming impulse, he forces himself not to attack.
• Bian Chunchou guides him through the Pink Snow using talismans, but the formation conceals and distorts the Pavilion’s entrance. As visibility worsens, Chunchou realizes that panic will only lead them to ruin.
• Remembering that their previous success came from using brute force to disturb the formation, Chunchou orders Chen Zui-Zui to unleash his blade and stir up the snow. The resulting disruption gives him brief opportunities to search for the entrance.
• Chunchou is nearly deceived by a false image of the Pavilion’s signboard. Chen Zui-Zui knocks him down to prevent him from charging toward the illusion, painfully but effectively restoring his awareness.
• After continuing the search, Chunchou finally identifies the real Pavilion. He releases the Creation Giant Tree, using its enormous silver-white branches to shield them from a devastating impact as they cross the final barrier.
• The two successfully enter the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Cauldrons. Inside, the cold disappears and the spiritual energy is far denser, making the Pavilion seem like a hidden paradise within Rongyuan City.
• Before releasing Wen Xu-Xu, Chunchou suggests that he and Chen Zui-Zui scout the area first.

Character Developments

• Bian Chunchou demonstrates growing composure and tactical ability. Although initially overwhelmed by anxiety, he regains his rationality and applies a practical strategy based on their earlier experience.
• Chunchou also shows courage and responsibility, continuing despite dwindling talismans and the danger of being trapped. He bears the burden of guiding Chen Zui-Zui while Wen Xu-Xu is unavailable.
• Chen Zui-Zui displays extraordinary self-control. The Pink Snow intensifies his swordsmanship obsession, but he refuses to surrender to it. His blindfold, restraint, and ability to act instantly on Chunchou’s orders show discipline and reliability.
• Chen also proves perceptive and protective by recognizing the false signboard and striking Chunchou to stop him from falling into the illusion.
• Wen Xu-Xu, though physically absent from the assault, remains central to the group’s survival. His earlier acquisition of the Creation Giant Tree provides the crucial defense that allows the others to enter safely.

Significant Themes

• Self-control versus desire: Chen Zui-Zui’s struggle against the Pink Snow reflects the danger of allowing obsession to overwhelm reason.
• Trust and cooperation: Chunchou and Chen rely on each other without wasting time on unnecessary reassurance. Their complementary abilities—Chunchou’s judgment and Chen’s strength—make their success possible.
• Reason overcoming confusion: The Bewildering Formation creates false perceptions, but Chunchou succeeds by calming himself and returning to first principles rather than panicking.
• Preparedness and resourcefulness: Talismans, the Creation Giant Tree, and lessons from the previous attempt all become vital. Survival depends not just on strength but on using every available resource at the right moment.
• Hidden refuge: The Pavilion’s peaceful, spiritually rich interior contrasts sharply with the lethal Pink Snow outside, emphasizing the boundary between danger and sanctuary.

Character Interactions

• Chunchou and Chen communicate efficiently, with Chunchou directing the strategy and Chen following his commands without hesitation.
• Chunchou empathizes with Chen’s struggle but avoids distracting him with empty concern.
• Chen protects Chunchou from a deceptive illusion, even knocking him down when necessary; the painful intervention reveals both their trust and Chen’s practical concern.
• Their successful entry strengthens their partnership, though Chunchou remains cautious and recommends scouting before freeing Wen Xu-Xu.

Chapter Summary: “Won’t”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bian Chunchou leaves the gigantic Creation Tree in place because it serves as a landmark for finding the exit; removing it could trap them inside the secret realm.
• He and Chen Zui-Zui enter the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Cauldrons, discovering that it is vast, empty, and increasingly hot.
• They find numerous Spirit-Seizing Formations, confirming Wen Xu-Xu’s theory that the formations were used to steal cultivators’ spiritual power to forge a divine weapon.
• The pair eventually reaches a volcanic mountain range hidden within the pavilion. The volcano’s magma powers a massive forging process and threatens to destroy Rongyuan City and the surrounding regions if the formation fails.
• Above the magma floats a strange fireball containing what appears to be a living weapon embryo. Bian suspects it may be a Demon Seed parasitizing the weapon.
• Bian hesitates to release Wen Xu-Xu immediately, fearing the area is a trap designed to capture or corrupt him. He decides to investigate first.
• Cheng Wei, the Dragon Venerable, is nearby but cannot intervene because he is maintaining control over the dangerous formation. If he withdraws, the city could be destroyed. He correctly guesses that Bian’s missing disciple is inside the Bright Moon Secret Realm.
• Bian and Chen reach the crater and discover the horrifying truth: cultivators are seated on platforms around the volcano, each beneath a Spirit-Seizing Formation, sacrificing their spiritual power and lives to forge the weapon.
• Chen senses that the emerging sword is suffering and resisting its creation, becoming enraged on the weapon’s behalf.
• Wen Xu-Xu, trapped in the secret realm and anxious about his companions, is finally released at the chapter’s end.

Character Developments

• Bian Chunchou becomes increasingly determined to stop the weapon’s creation despite recognizing the overwhelming scale of the conspiracy. He shows caution and strategic judgment by delaying Wen Xu-Xu’s release until he can assess the danger.
• Chen Zui-Zui displays an unexpected emotional sensitivity toward weapons. His ability to sense the sword’s anguish turns his usual interest in weapons into moral outrage.
• Wen Xu-Xu struggles with helplessness while waiting in the secret realm, but he restrains his frustration and remains rational. His eventual release sets him up to confront the weapon or the Demon Seed.
• Cheng Wei is shown as powerful but constrained. Although he wants to help his disciples, he must remain in place to prevent the formation from collapsing and killing the city’s inhabitants. His concern for his disciples reveals a reluctant sense of responsibility.
• The mysterious sword is characterized as more than an object: it appears conscious, unwilling, and capable of suffering.

Significant Themes

• The cost of power: The divine weapon is being forged through the mass sacrifice of cultivators, questioning whether any weapon can be considered divine when created through cruelty.
• Exploitation and fanaticism: The artifact refiners’ willingness to sacrifice an entire group—and potentially a whole city—shows the destructive extremity of their ambition.
• Free will and suffering: The sword’s apparent resistance suggests that even a weapon may possess its own will and can be victimized by those who create it.
• Responsibility versus helplessness: Cheng Wei’s inability to leave, Wen Xu-Xu’s forced waiting, and Bian’s fear of making the wrong move all highlight the tension between wanting to act and being unable to control events.
• Moral contrast: The weapon is implicitly compared with the Heaven-Shattering Divine Sword, emphasizing that origin and purpose matter as much as power.

Important Character Interactions

• Bian and Chen work together while exploring the pavilion, with Bian handling strategy and Chen contributing his unique sensitivity to weapons.
• Bian considers Chen’s and Wen Xu-Xu’s abilities while planning how to approach the forging site.
• Cheng Wei observes Bian and the others from a distance, understanding their actions and worrying about his disciple while remaining trapped by his duty to contain the formation.
• Chen’s declaration that the sword is “wailing” profoundly changes the group’s understanding of the weapon: it may not be an evil object by nature, but a suffering being forced into existence.
• The chapter ends with Wen Xu-Xu rejoining the unfolding crisis, just as the group prepares to confront the weapon-forging ritual.

Chapter 668 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chunchou and Chen Zui survive the crisis, but they witness a terrifying scene: numerous renowned artifact refiners are sacrificing their lives and cultivation to nourish an unfinished demonic weapon.
• The Demon Seed has not possessed the refiners themselves; instead, it has parasitized the inanimate weapon. If completed, the weapon may control its wielder rather than be controlled by them.
• Cheng Wei remains trapped and unable to act freely. The formation is connected to Rongyuan City, and any attempt to interfere could destroy the city, the Pill Formation, and everyone outside it.
• Cheng Wei identifies Wang Jiwen, the master of Rongyuan City, as the mastermind behind the situation. Wang has used Cheng Wei to guard the Qi-Refining Furnace while he oversees the weapon’s creation.
• Cheng Wei explains that Wang Jiwen has pursued the creation of an unparalleled divine sword for eight hundred years. He wants to forge a weapon so powerful that even an ordinary person could become the greatest Sword Cultivator by wielding it.
• Wang’s obsession has consumed his reason. After years of failure, he accepted the Demon Seed’s temptation and sacrificed countless lives—including those of the artifact refiners—to complete the weapon.
• Cheng Wei deliberately insults Wang’s ambition in an attempt to provoke him. Wang angrily defends the divine weapon, insisting that all Sword Cultivators will submit to whoever possesses it.
• Chen Zui openly mocks Wang, arguing that true sword mastery comes from the wielder, not from relying on an external weapon. He declares that anyone who depends on Wang’s sword to reach greatness is merely a useless coward.

Character Developments

• Cheng Wei remains calm and protective despite the danger. He is prepared to sacrifice himself, and possibly Rongyuan City, if necessary to contain the disaster. His composure also allows him to analyze Wang’s motives and manipulate him psychologically.
• Wang Jiwen is revealed as a tragic and deeply corrupted figure. Once a gifted artifact refiner, he has become obsessed with surpassing the Heaven-Shattering Divine Sword and proving that a weapon can stand above its wielder. His desperation and wounded pride make him vulnerable to demonic influence.
• Chen Zui demonstrates his blunt courage and firm understanding of swordsmanship. Rather than being intimidated by Wang or the demonic weapon, he directly challenges Wang’s beliefs.
• Chunchou and the other disciples are frightened by the spectacle, emphasizing the horrifying scale of the weapon’s creation and the danger facing them.
• The Demon Seed proves more dangerous than expected by infecting a weapon itself, suggesting that the completed artifact could possess or dominate its user.

Significant Themes

• The danger of obsession: Wang’s pursuit of artistic and martial perfection has become madness. His desire for recognition outweighs concern for life, morality, and even his own survival.
• Wielder versus weapon: The chapter contrasts the traditional belief that a cultivator gives a weapon its power with Wang’s dream that a weapon can make anyone supreme.
• True mastery and external dependence: Cheng Wei and Chen Zui emphasize that genuine strength comes from the individual. A powerful weapon may enhance ability, but it cannot replace understanding or skill.
• Corruption through ambition: Wang’s original aspiration to create a divine sword was not inherently evil, but his inability to accept failure allowed the Demon Seed to exploit his pride.
• The cost of greatness: The weapon is being forged through the lives and cultivation of countless refiners, raising questions about whether any achievement is worthwhile when built on mass sacrifice.

Character Interactions

• Cheng Wei reassures his frightened disciples while explaining the situation, combining mentorship with strategic analysis.
• He verbally provokes Wang Jiwen, attacking the legitimacy of his ambitions and attempting to disrupt his composure.
• Wang responds defensively and passionately, proclaiming that the completed sword will force all Sword Cultivators to submit.
• Chen Zui interrupts with a sharp rebuttal, directly attacking Wang’s lack of understanding and arguing that only the incompetent rely on weapons to achieve greatness.

Chapter Summary: “Truth”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Divine Venerable Cheng Wei is surprised when Chen Zui, usually blunt and inarticulate, delivers an unexpectedly long and convincing argument.
• Wang Jiwen, master of Rongyuan City, defends the blazing weapon he is forging and challenges Wen Xu’s identity as a Sword Cultivator.
• Wen Xu reveals that he received the Heaven-Shattering Divine Radiance, proving that he is connected to the legendary Heaven-Shattering Divine Sword and is genuinely a Sword Cultivator.
• Wen Xu condemns Wang Jiwen’s creation, arguing that merely taking the shape of a sword does not make it a true treasured sword. A weapon without the proper spirit and principles would be an insult to swordsmanship.
• He compares the weapon to a Demonic Beast: strength and ferocity alone do not make something worthy of forming a contract with, especially if it may consume or betray its master.
• Wang Jiwen becomes increasingly enraged and reveals his grand ambition: he wants his divine sword to eliminate the need for comprehending the Dao. Anyone holding it would supposedly become powerful enough to stand above all others.
• Bian Chunchou mocks this dream, saying Wang Jiwen is essentially trying to forge an “Immortal Stairway” that would let everyone become immortal without cultivation.
• Bian further points out the contradiction in Wang Jiwen’s plan: even if the sword were the greatest weapon in existence, only one person could wield it at a time. The idea that the entire world would fight over it is impractical and self-serving.
• He suggests that Wang Jiwen’s true desire is not to benefit cultivators, but to watch them kill one another over his weapon while elevating him to an unrivaled position.
• Bian then threatens to use the influence of the Five Major Sects to ruin the sword’s reputation after Wang Jiwen’s death. They could spread stories that the weapon is cursed, drains its wielder’s life, and caused the deaths of artificers during its creation, ensuring that no one would dare seek it out.

Character Developments

• Wen Xu: Displays a deeper and more nuanced understanding of sword cultivation. He rejects the idea that Sword Cultivators are inherently superior to practitioners of other paths, emphasizing that all cultivation routes depend on genuine mastery rather than labels or weapons.
• Chen Zui: Demonstrates sharp insight despite his usual bluntness. He immediately recognizes Wen Xu as a Sword Cultivator and openly questions Wang Jiwen’s credibility as a swordsmith.
• Bian Chunchou: Becomes the primary verbal attacker. He uses logic, sarcasm, and practical reasoning to expose the unrealistic and egotistical nature of Wang Jiwen’s ambitions.
• Wang Jiwen: His obsession with the unborn divine sword has driven him into madness. He no longer responds rationally to criticism and views anyone who challenges the weapon as an enemy. His stated goal reveals immense arrogance and a desire to reshape the cultivation world through force.
• Divine Venerable Cheng Wei: Observes the others’ arguments with surprise and amusement, particularly Chen Zui’s sudden eloquence and the coordinated verbal assault against Wang Jiwen.

Significant Themes

• True mastery versus external power: A weapon’s form or reputation cannot substitute for the cultivator’s own understanding and ability.
• The danger of obsession: Wang Jiwen’s fixation has destroyed his judgment, turning an ambitious project into a delusion.
• Cultivation cannot be bypassed: The chapter rejects the fantasy that a single artifact can grant effortless supremacy or replace years of comprehension and training.
• Practicality versus heroic mythology: Bian Chunchou challenges the romantic idea that famous weapons should cause endless struggles, pointing out that such conflicts are irrational when only one person can use the weapon.
• The meaning of a true sword: Wen Xu argues that a sword is more than an instrument of slaughter. Its value depends on its relationship to the Dao and to the principles of cultivation.
• Power through reputation and narrative: The Five Major Sects can determine how the weapon is remembered, showing that political influence and public belief may be as powerful as the artifact itself.

Character Interactions

• Wen Xu and Wang Jiwen: Wen Xu directly challenges Wang Jiwen’s authority, identity as a swordsmith, and understanding of swords. Wang Jiwen responds with disbelief and rage.
• Chen Zui and Wang Jiwen: Chen Zui innocently but bluntly questions how Wang Jiwen could forge swords if he cannot recognize a Sword Cultivator, further humiliating him.
• Wen Xu and Chen Zui: Wen Xu appears to adopt Chen Zui’s unusually direct speaking style, finding it effective. Their perspectives align in criticizing Wang Jiwen’s weapon.
• Bian Chunchou and Wang Jiwen: Bian dismantles Wang Jiwen’s ambitions through sarcasm and logic, then threatens to destroy the weapon’s reputation after Wang Jiwen’s death.
• The group as a whole: Wen Xu, Chen Zui, and Bian Chunchou form an unexpectedly unified front, combining expertise, blunt observation, and rhetoric to expose Wang Jiwen’s delusions.

Chapter 670 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bian Chunchou proposes ruining Wang Jiwen’s reputation throughout the Cultivation Realm, and Wang’s opponents enthusiastically support the idea.
• Wang Jiwen suddenly attacks Chunchou. Chen Zui intervenes to protect him, and their clash causes the surrounding lava to surge. Divine Venerable Cheng Wei must suppress the volcanic power to prevent catastrophe.
• Wen Xu learns that Wei Zhou entered Rongyuan City but was left outside by Cheng Wei. Wei Zhou is likely rescuing civilians.
• Cheng Wei explains that the snow covering the city is Wang Jiwen’s work. Wang is using the entire city’s spiritual energy to nourish the sword embryo and create a terrifying Demon Fetus, an existence capable of causing widespread destruction.
• The artifact refiners surrounding the sword embryo are not willingly sacrificing themselves. Wang Jiwen secretly used a Soul-Confounding Curse to force them into becoming sources of spiritual energy.
• Cheng Wei plans to sever the formations feeding the Demon Fetus. Wen Xu realizes this could kill the exhausted artifact refiners, so he proposes finding a more efficient solution instead.
• Seeing Chen Zui struggle against Wang Jiwen, Wen Xu joins the battle using Windfold. Wang mocks his plain, low-grade sword, attempting to provoke him by attacking both his weapon and his status as Cheng Wei’s disciple.
• Cheng Wei becomes enraged when Wang insults Wen Xu and attacks him. As Wang retreats, Chen Zui and Wen Xu coordinate attacks from different directions.
• Wang Jiwen reveals his intention to use the last surviving dragon—Cheng Wei—as a final sacrifice for the sword named Dragon Slayer, believing the sword’s power and reputation would become unmatched if born through killing a dragon.
• As the battle intensifies, a mysterious streak of golden light flashes through the lava, signaling Wen Xu’s likely counterattack or the activation of his Golden Light.

Character Developments

• Wen Xu demonstrates greater decisiveness and tactical awareness. Rather than blindly destroy the formations and endanger the artifact refiners, he seeks a safer solution and willingly enters the fight.
• Cheng Wei shows intense protectiveness toward Wen Xu. He remains calm when explaining the crisis but reacts immediately and violently when Wang insults his disciple.
• Wang Jiwen is revealed as increasingly unstable and consumed by his obsession with creating the ultimate divine sword. He has become willing to sacrifice an entire city, enslave artifact refiners, and kill the last dragon.
• Bian Chunchou remains humorous and boastful, but his danger becomes clear when Wang attacks him, prompting Chen Zui to defend him.
• Chen Zui acts loyally and protectively, immediately confronting Wang to save Chunchou.
• Wei Zhou is characterized as compassionate and responsible, remaining outside the city to rescue civilians.

Significant Themes

• Obsession and madness: Wang Jiwen’s devotion to artifact refinement has turned into demonic fanaticism, causing him to abandon morality and humanity.
• Life versus ambition: The chapter emphasizes that even the greatest divine weapon is meaningless if its creators and wielders are dead.
• Reputation and pride: Wang judges Wen Xu by his weapon and status, while Chunchou turns reputation into a source of mockery against Wang.
• Cooperation against overwhelming power: Wen Xu, Chen Zui, Chunchou, and Cheng Wei work together despite their differences to stop Wang and the Demon Fetus.
• Moral responsibility: The protagonists must prevent the Demon Fetus without sacrificing the manipulated artifact refiners, highlighting the danger of treating people as expendable resources.

Character Interactions

• Chunchou and Chen Zui exchange comic but supportive banter before Wang attacks.
• Cheng Wei and Wen Xu discuss the Demon Fetus and the danger posed by the artifact-refining formations, with Cheng Wei guiding his anxious disciple.
• Wen Xu and Wang Jiwen clash verbally over Wen Xu’s ordinary sword, with Wang attempting to exploit Wen Xu’s pride.
• Cheng Wei immediately retaliates when Wang insults Wen Xu, revealing the depth of their master-disciple bond.
• Chen Zui and Wen Xu attack Wang from opposing directions, forcing him to defend against multiple threats while he struggles to maintain the sword embryo’s nourishment.

Chapter Summary: “Qi Surge”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cheng Wei intercepts Wang Jiwen’s attack, but a golden light pierces his palm and enters his divine soul. Wen Xu reveals that the light was deliberately directed at him.
• Wang Jiwen’s Spirit-Seizing Formation draws spiritual power from the entire city. He uses his own body as a refining hub, filtering the chaotic energy into pure fire spiritual power to nourish the sword embryo.
• Cheng Wei cannot evade the attack because doing so would doom Rongyuan City. By fighting Wang Jiwen directly, he becomes trapped in the formation and helps consume the excess spiritual power within Wang Jiwen.
• Cheng Wei realizes the full danger of Wang Jiwen’s plan: the Demon Fetus has already taken root in the sword embryo. If the demonic sword is completed, the Demon Fetus will become its sword spirit and control whoever wields it, potentially spreading catastrophe.
• Since the golden light cannot directly destroy the Demon Seed, Cheng Wei applies it to Wang Jiwen, the source supplying the sword embryo. The energy disrupts Wang Jiwen’s spiritual power and inevitably contaminates the sword embryo.
• Wang Jiwen discovers that the golden power cannot be expelled or isolated. It clings to his spiritual energy and continues flowing into the sword embryo, threatening the sword’s birth.
• Realizing Wen Xu must be eliminated, Wang Jiwen directs intense killing intent toward him. Instead of being intimidated, Wen Xu becomes energized and prepares to fight without restraint.
• Cheng Wei witnesses this transformed side of Wen Xu and realizes that his disciple’s apparent caution had concealed a powerful, youthful aggression.

Character Developments

• Cheng Wei: Demonstrates self-sacrifice and strategic insight. He endures the formation and Wang Jiwen’s attacks to protect Rongyuan City and recognizes that stopping the sword’s creation is more important than merely preventing direct possession by the Demon Seed.
• Wen Xu: Reveals a far more aggressive and battle-hungry side than usual. His confidence in his swordsmanship grows, and he refuses to accept Wang Jiwen’s judgment of what constitutes a “true” Sword Cultivator.
• Wang Jiwen: His obsession with forging the divine sword is shown to have erased much of his humanity. Though intelligent and rational in some respects, he is willing to sacrifice himself and an entire city for his goal. His composure begins to crack when Wen Xu’s power disrupts the sword embryo.
• Cheng Wei and Wen Xu’s relationship: Cheng Wei sees Wen Xu in a new light, recognizing that the disciple’s restraint was not weakness but deliberate control. Wen Xu’s willingness to fight fiercely emerges partly because he knows his master stands beside him.

Significant Themes

• Obsession versus humanity: Wang Jiwen’s pursuit of the perfect divine sword has made him disregard ordinary morality and human life.
• Sacrifice and responsibility: Cheng Wei accepts personal danger because avoiding the battle would condemn Rongyuan City.
• Corruption and indirect control: The Demon Seed’s greatest threat is not simply possession but its ability to use a sword as a tool to manipulate countless others.
• The nature of a sword and swordsmanship: Wen Xu challenges Wang Jiwen’s authority to define what a true sword or Sword Cultivator should be, emphasizing understanding and lived experience over rigid labels.
• Hidden strength and personal growth: Wen Xu’s cautious exterior gives way to a fierce, authentic fighting spirit, showing that his restraint concealed rather than limited his ability.

Character Interactions

• Cheng Wei and Wang Jiwen: Their battle becomes both physical and ideological. Cheng Wei fights to protect the city and prevent the demonic sword’s completion, while Wang Jiwen fights solely to preserve his creation.
• Wen Xu and Wang Jiwen: Wang Jiwen initially dismisses Wen Xu as an insignificant Nascent Soul Cultivator, but the golden light forces him to acknowledge Wen Xu’s ability. Wen Xu responds to Wang Jiwen’s hostility with excitement rather than fear.
• Cheng Wei and Wen Xu: Cheng Wei’s presence gives Wen Xu confidence, while Wen Xu’s sudden ferocity allows Cheng Wei to recognize the depth of his disciple’s character.

Chapter Summary: “Stubborn Stone”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wen Xu, Chen Zui, and the other young cultivators continue battling Wang Jiwen inside the volcanic Spirit-Seizing Formation. Cheng Wei observes and records the fight while protecting his disciples.
• Wen Xu has matured greatly through hardship. Relying on instinct and sword intent rather than calculated techniques, he unleashes his strongest swordsmanship and uses Golden Light to restrain Wang Jiwen.
• Wang Jiwen realizes he cannot defeat the three young cultivators while the dragon, Cheng Wei, remains present. Unable to attack Cheng Wei without destroying the formation, he becomes increasingly desperate.
• Wang Jiwen releases a tremendous surge of power. The magma consumes the cultivators trapped on the platforms, who have only just escaped the Soul-Confounding Curse. Cheng Wei cannot save them because their spirits have already been seized.
• The fireball sword embryo descends into the magma and absorbs the surrounding Fire-Spirit Power. The resulting force nearly overwhelms Wen Xu and the others, while Cheng Wei transforms into his true form and carries them away.
• Wang Jiwen’s hands are consumed by the flames, but he remains ecstatic, believing his Demon Seed is finally transforming into the divine weapon he has always desired. He accepts that he may not become its master as long as he witnesses its birth.
• Just as the Demon Sword begins taking shape, Bian Chunchou creates a water sphere that suppresses Fire-Spirit Power and envelops the sword embryo, temporarily halting its transformation.
• Knowing the restraint will not last, Bian Chunchou calls for Wen Xu to test the sword. Wen Xu immediately charges toward the Demon Sword, understanding that the fate of the Cultivation Realm may depend on their success.

Character Developments

• Wen Xu: Has transformed from a solitary, proud youth into a disciplined and courageous disciple. He now fights through instinct, conviction, and sword intent rather than relying solely on analysis. His Golden Light makes him uniquely resistant to the Demon Sword, making him the group’s best hope.
• Cheng Wei: Acts as both protector and observer. He recognizes how much Wen Xu has grown and deliberately allows Wang Jiwen to become desperate, believing that his reckless reaction may create an opportunity.
• Wang Jiwen: Becomes increasingly fanatical and consumed by his obsession with forging a divine weapon. Even as his body is destroyed, he views the Demon Sword’s birth as worth every sacrifice. His ambition and madness override self-preservation.
• Bian Chunchou: Displays courage and loyalty by using his water-based power to restrain the Demon Sword despite the physical pain and danger. His anxiety reflects how high the stakes have become, but he trusts Wen Xu to succeed.
• Chen Zui and the other young cultivators: Continue supporting Wen Xu in the battle, combining saber and sword intent against an enemy who can only be harmed by those forces.

Significant Themes

• Growth through adversity: Wen Xu’s development shows how crisis can transform a proud, isolated individual into a dependable and powerful cultivator.
• Sacrifice for the greater good: The group risks their lives because failing to stop the Demon Sword could endanger the entire Cultivation Realm.
• Obsession versus responsibility: Wang Jiwen sees the weapon’s creation as the ultimate achievement, while the protagonists recognize it as a catastrophic threat.
• Trust and teamwork: Success depends on coordinated roles—Cheng Wei’s protection, Bian Chunchou’s restraint, and Wen Xu’s unique ability to confront the sword.
• The danger of unchecked ambition: Wang Jiwen’s dream of becoming history’s greatest artifact refiner has driven him to sacrifice countless lives and ultimately destroy himself.

Character Interactions

• Cheng Wei watches Wen Xu fight with pride, recognizing the profound change in his disciple.
• Wen Xu and Chen Zui fight together using pure sword and saber intent, supporting one another against Wang Jiwen.
• Wang Jiwen verbally and psychologically confronts the group, refusing to accept that he has been cornered.
• Bian Chunchou calls to Wen Xu and relies on his courage to finish the plan, while Wen Xu responds immediately without hesitation.
• The chapter closes with Wen Xu rushing into the dangerous water sphere to confront the emerging Demon Sword, setting up the decisive test.

Chapter 673 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wen Xu enters Chunchou’s protective water sphere and approaches the blazing sword embryo, enduring intense heat that burns his body and causes blood to seep from his seven orifices.
• He reaches the sword’s hilt, which initially refuses to move and begins drawing him inward. Hidden tendrils from the Demon Seed attempt to burrow into his body and make him the sword’s first wielder.
• Wen Xu’s Golden Light activates automatically, expelling and pursuing the demonic tendrils. It then enters the sword embryo and awakens the sword’s remaining consciousness.
• Wen Xu hears the sword’s faint instinctive plea for help. Moved by its resistance to demonic corruption, he decides to save it despite the overwhelming danger.
• As Wen Xu pulls, the sword gradually loosens. The sword’s memories reveal its origins and the long history of its oppression.

Character Developments

• Wen Xu demonstrates extraordinary resolve and compassion. Though inexperienced in truly understanding swords, he recognizes the sword embryo as a living, spiritual being deserving freedom.
• His Golden Light, once merely a defensive power, displays an unexpectedly aggressive and protective nature, proving especially effective against the Demon Seed.
• Wen Xu’s philosophy deepens: his belief in “Myriad Things in Concert” leads him to treat even an object such as a sword as a living entity with its own will.
• The sword embryo is revealed to possess a stubborn, independent spirit. Despite prolonged suppression, it retains its desire to resist and avoid being corrupted.
• Wang Jiwen is shown to have initially valued the Heavenly Mountain Ore as a rare material, but his ambition to create a personal divine sword ultimately led him to violate and suppress its nature.

Character Interactions

• Wen Xu is protected by his master’s spiritual power while Chunchou’s water sphere enables him to reach the sword.
• Wen Xu and the sword embryo form a spiritual connection when his Golden Light answers the sword’s suppressed consciousness.
• The Demon Seed attempts to dominate both the sword and Wen Xu, but Golden Light opposes and drives it back.
• Wang Jiwen’s relationship with the sword is one of possession and forced refinement rather than mutual understanding.

Significant Themes

• Freedom versus forced transformation: The sword resists being reshaped into a divine weapon against its will.
• The spiritual nature of all things: Wen Xu’s belief that every object may possess life and consciousness is affirmed through the sword’s memories and plea for help.
• Resistance and selfhood: Even after near-total suppression, the sword preserves its identity and refuses to surrender completely.
• Compassion and courage: Wen Xu chooses to act not because success is likely, but because he recognizes another being’s suffering.
• Corruption through desire: Wang Jiwen’s ambition and the Demon Seed’s evil exploit the sword’s fear, sorrow, and unwillingness, turning its emotions into tools of oppression.

Backstory Revealed

The sword embryo originated from Heavenly Mountain Ore that had absorbed the sun and moon’s essence and gradually developed spiritual roots. After being mined, it passed through merchants, auctioneers, and artifact refiners before Wang Jiwen placed it into his divine-sword project. The stone never wished to become a sword, but was gradually refined until its consciousness nearly disappeared. Wang Jiwen then inserted a Demon Seed, provoking the stone’s fury and awakening its final resistance. Though forced into hiding, the sword’s lingering will now resurfaces through Wen Xu’s intervention.

Chapter Summary: “Three Times”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wen Xu attempts to force the newly forming Demon Sword to break free from the Creation Giant Tree’s influence. He communicates his hope and the existence of the tree to the sword’s faint consciousness, convincing it that it must develop a Swordheart rather than rely on brute strength.
• Wen Xu pours more Golden Light into the sword embryo, helping it take on a recognizable form. At the same time, Chunchou’s protective water sphere is destroyed by the surrounding heat.
• Wang Jiwen witnesses Wen Xu wielding the sword and reacts with fury, believing Wen Xu has stolen or coveted the object he desired. His anger turns to horror when the Shu Household’s Creation Giant Tree emerges from the crater.
• Wen Xu strikes the tree with the Demon Sword, but the tree rejects it as a “defective product” and activates its destruction procedure.
• The tree’s branches transform into enormous restraints, crushing the sword. The sword body fractures and disintegrates, leaving only its hilt before that too dissolves.
• Wen Xu catches a remaining fragment of the Demon Sword but collapses from exhaustion and falls toward the magma.
• Chen Zui rescues him. Wen Xu’s master then uses a dragon claw and spiritual power to restrain the escaping Demon Seed. Before Wen Xu can warn him or explain further, Wen Xu loses consciousness.

Character Developments

• Wen Xu demonstrates extraordinary determination and self-sacrifice. Despite severe burns and overwhelming pain, he refuses to release the sword, acting as both its wielder and its final support.
• He shows increasing understanding of the Demon Sword, realizing that it must gain recognition through a Swordheart in order to become a true sword.
• The Demon Sword/Demon Seed develops a rudimentary consciousness and shows a powerful desire for freedom. It responds to Wen Xu’s encouragement and struggles against the Creation Giant Tree, though it ultimately loses its formed body.
• Wang Jiwen’s obsession and resentment toward Wen Xu become more explicit. His desire for the divine sword leaves him powerless when the Creation Giant Tree destroys it.
• Chen Zui acts as a dependable protector, immediately intervening to save the exhausted Wen Xu.
• Wen Xu’s master reveals decisive strength and control by restraining the escaping Demon Seed.

Significant Themes

• Birth through destruction: The Demon Sword must pass through a violent “tribulation” before it can become a genuine creation, paralleling the idea that transformation requires suffering and sacrifice.
• Recognition versus raw power: The Creation Giant Tree will only acknowledge a sword possessing a Swordheart; strength alone cannot establish legitimacy.
• Freedom and will: The Demon Seed’s struggle reflects its instinctive desire to escape its parasitic, defective state and become an independent existence.
• Sacrifice and trust: Wen Xu risks his life and endures immense pain to help the sword, while the sword responds to his guidance and determination.
• Creation and annihilation: The tree embodies both the power to grant created objects distinction and the authority to destroy those deemed failures.

Character Interactions

• Wen Xu mentally communicates with the Demon Sword, encouraging it and guiding it toward the possibility of becoming a true sword.
• Wang Jiwen confronts the scene with outrage, but his reaction is overshadowed by the appearance and destructive judgment of the Creation Giant Tree.
• The Creation Giant Tree directly opposes Wen Xu and the Demon Sword, treating the sword as an unworthy creation and crushing it.
• Chen Zui physically saves Wen Xu after he collapses, while Wen Xu’s master captures the fleeing Demon Seed, ending the chapter with the Demon Seed’s fate still uncertain.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zui brings the unconscious Wen Xu to join Bian Chunchou and the defeated Wang Jiwen.
• Wang Jiwen realizes that his carefully prepared plan has failed because the Creation Giant Tree was brought to Rongyuan City. Its power counteracted the disaster he had engineered.
• Enraged and near death, Wang Jiwen attempts to throw himself into the magma, but Chen Zui stops him with Blade Peak.
• Wang Jiwen reveals that he intended to sacrifice Rongyuan City’s inhabitants and use their flesh and blood to forge a divine sword. In desperation, he commands the Spirit-Seizing Formation to kill everyone.
• He abandons his body and releases his Nascent Soul, hoping to activate the Life-Seizing Formation within the city. Cheng Wei captures it before it can escape or be destroyed.
• Cheng Wei reveals that the city’s formation has already failed. Wei Zhou arrives, explaining that he successfully disrupted the formation from outside using an array disk prepared by his master, Wushan.
• With the Spirit-Seizing Formation broken, Cheng Wei transforms into his true form and uses his immense power to melt the ice and snow covering Rongyuan City. The protective Pill Formation collapses, allowing sunlight to return for the first time in months.
• The crisis ends, and Rongyuan City is restored to the mortal world.
• Bian Chunchou, exhausted from overusing Waterborne Flame, finally relaxes and faints. Chen Zui carries him away.
• Outside the city, Cheng Wei gives Wang Jiwen’s Nascent Soul to Wushan and hands the weakened Demon Seed to Meixi Sword, who begins destroying it.
• The group learns that Wang Jiwen’s plan nearly sacrificed the entire city. Wushan reflects that Cheng Wei’s earlier actions at the Shu Household unintentionally preserved the vital opportunity that ultimately saved Rongyuan City.

Character Developments

• Wang Jiwen is exposed as a fanatical and humiliated schemer. His failure drives him into madness, revealing the full cruelty of his plan. Even at death’s door, he attempts to destroy the city rather than accept defeat.
• Bian Chunchou demonstrates sharp wit and psychological control, taunting Wang Jiwen despite his own severe exhaustion. Once the danger passes, his body gives out, showing the physical cost of his earlier efforts.
• Chen Zui remains practical and dependable, repeatedly carrying injured or unconscious companions and stopping Wang Jiwen’s attempted suicide.
• Cheng Wei displays overwhelming power and decisive leadership. He captures Wang Jiwen’s Nascent Soul, restores Rongyuan City, and ensures the Demon Seed is dealt with.
• Wei Zhou proves the value of his Spirit-Seizing Sword abilities by accurately sensing the formation’s energy drain and fulfilling his mission to sabotage it.
• Wushan is shown to be careful and farsighted; his preparation of the array disk enables Wei Zhou to succeed.
• Wen Xu is confirmed safe, easing the group’s concerns.

Significant Themes

• The collapse of elaborate schemes: Wang Jiwen’s meticulous preparations are defeated by unexpected factors, emphasizing that arrogance and overconfidence cannot account for every possibility.
• Fate and unintended consequences: Cheng Wei’s earlier pursuit of the Bright Moon Secret Realm preserved a “thread of vitality” that eventually became crucial to saving Rongyuan City.
• Sacrifice versus survival: Wang Jiwen views human lives as raw material for his ambition, while the protagonists fight to preserve the city’s inhabitants.
• Justice and retribution: Wang Jiwen’s cruelty and pride ultimately lead to his humiliation, capture, and failure.
• Relief after catastrophe: The return of sunlight symbolizes the end of oppression and the restoration of life and hope.

Character Interactions

• Bian Chunchou verbally torments Wang Jiwen, making clear that his lifelong plan has failed.
• Chen Zui protects Wen Xu and prevents Wang Jiwen from jumping into the magma.
• Cheng Wei captures Wang Jiwen’s Nascent Soul and later entrusts it to Wushan.
• Wei Zhou reports his successful mission, validating both his own intuition and Wushan’s preparations.
• Jun Zhaoying openly expresses relief at Cheng Wei’s safe return.
• Meixi Sword accepts the Demon Seed and begins destroying it, while the group collectively processes how close Rongyuan City came to annihilation.

Chapter Summary: “The News Spreads”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jun Zhaoying informs Cheng Wei that the Pill Formation protecting Pagoda City has been deliberately lifted, suggesting that the city’s defenders are desperate and that the old Buddha Lotus of Bitter Crossing Temple may be near defeat.
• Jun Zhaoying and Wushan prepare to leave for Pagoda City, while Cheng Wei remains behind to protect Wen Xu. Since Wen Xu is known throughout the Cultivation Realm as the nemesis of the Demon Seeds, the demons are expected to target or kill him before he can reach Pagoda City.
• Wen Xu continues recovering from the injuries sustained when he drew the Demon Sword. His master spends three days extracting the magma fire poison from his body, allowing him to begin healing properly.
• Wen Xu discovers that his cultivation and understanding of the Myriad Things Arise Art have improved after surviving the dangerous ordeal.
• He reveals that he retained a small fragment from the Demon Sword’s collapse. The fragment contains no demonic aura and may resemble the “stubborn stone” associated with his master’s teachings. Wen Xu plans to have Senior Brother Zheng examine it.
• With the snow melted in Rongyuan City, the survivors emerge, but the city has suffered immense casualties because of the Spirit-Seizing Formation. The Heaven-Shattering Sword Sect continues handling the dead and the aftermath.
• Meixi Sword temporarily becomes workshop master because the city is leaderless. His authority, reinforced by his Thunder Sword Intent, enables the sect to impose order and begin reconstruction.
• Wen Xu, Bian Chunchou, and Chen Zui remember that prisoners are still being held inside Wen Xu’s Jade Bottle Mini-Secret Realm. The next day, Wei Zhou arrives to collect them for investigation.
• Wei Zhou promises that the Heaven-Shattering Sword Sect will punish those guilty of wrongdoing while considering the coercive circumstances that drove some people to commit crimes.
• Having heard that Wen Xu shattered Wang Jiwen’s scheme by drawing the sword, Wei Zhou asks to arrange a future sword match. Wen Xu agrees, leaving the timing to fate.

Character Developments

• Wen Xu grows stronger through adversity, gaining both improved cultivation and deeper insight into his martial art. He also becomes increasingly recognized as a major threat to the Demon Seeds.
• Cheng Wei takes on a protective role toward Wen Xu, remaining behind rather than joining the urgent mission to Pagoda City.
• Jun Zhaoying and Wushan respond decisively to the crisis in Pagoda City, showing their willingness to confront the wider danger.
• Meixi Sword, despite disliking administrative responsibilities, accepts leadership of Rongyuan City and uses his power to restore order.
• Wei Zhou demonstrates responsibility and fairness. Though still injured, he personally handles the prisoners because of their importance and his commitment to proper judgment.
• Bian Chunchou remains humorous and anxious, especially about the Creation Giant Tree, while also admiring the determination of Sword Cultivators.
• Chen Zui acts as a practical and supportive voice, defending the discipline and fighting spirit expected of warriors.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of sacrifice: Rongyuan City’s survival comes at a terrible cost, and the dead cannot be restored even after the formation is destroyed.
• Growth through danger: Wen Xu’s injuries and ordeal become an opportunity for cultivation, reinforcing the idea that peril can strengthen both body and understanding.
• Rising conflict: The lifted formation at Pagoda City signals that the larger struggle against the demons is escalating and that Wen Xu’s importance has made him a target.
• Justice and responsibility: The prisoners’ fate raises the question of how to judge people who committed wrongs under extreme circumstances. The Heaven-Shattering Sword Sect seeks punishment balanced with a full investigation.
• The warrior’s path: The chapter presents combat and the desire to test oneself as essential to cultivation, contrasting Bian Chunchou’s complaints with Chen Zui and Wen Xu’s acceptance of the warrior ideal.
• Fate and future encounters: Wei Zhou and Wen Xu’s proposed duel reflects the long journey ahead and the relationships formed through shared respect rather than immediate rivalry.

Character Interactions

• Jun Zhaoying and Cheng Wei discuss the emergency in Pagoda City and Wen Xu’s vulnerability as the demons’ principal enemy.
• Wen Xu and Bian Chunchou examine the mysterious sword fragment, with Bian speculating about its origin.
• Bian Chunchou and Chen Zui joke about cultivation habits before helping Wen Xu remember the forgotten prisoners.
• Bian Chunchou and Wei Zhou exchange mutual respect while discussing the prisoners and the difficult question of justice.
• Wei Zhou and Wen Xu establish a future martial challenge based on admiration for each other’s swordsmanship.
• Bian Chunchou jokes about Sword Cultivators, while Chen Zui and Wen Xu unite in defending their dedication to battle and cultivation.

Chapter Summary: “Riding a Dragon”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bian Chunchou worries about the badly damaged Creation Giant Tree, which was nearly dismantled by Heaven-Shattering Sword Sect disciples after being used to crush a demonic sword.
• Wen Xu reassures him that the Shu Household will likely repair the tree, especially because it was damaged while saving Rongyuan City. He also suggests that Rongyuan City should cover the repair costs.
• Wen Xu agrees to obtain a copy of Dragon Venerable’s Shadow Recording Stone, which may contain footage of the dragon taking his true form and rescuing Bian Chunchou, Chen Zui-Zui, and Wen Xu.
• The three injured survivors recuperate while Cheng Wei conceals the crisis in Pagoda City from them, unwilling to send them into another dangerous battle before they recover.
• Rumors spread throughout the Cultivation Realm that Wen Xu should immediately go to Pagoda City, where the situation is worsening, since Rongyuan City has already been saved.
• A group of cultivators causes trouble at Yonglu Mountain’s gates, accusing the sect of withholding Wen Xu’s aid. Sect Master Gu Wufang responds harshly, ordering them seized and sent to Pagoda City as laborers.
• Yonglu Mountain releases footage of the Rongyuan City rescue. Seeing Wen Xu badly injured and falling into magma silences most of his critics and makes the cultivation world realize how close to death he and the others may have been.
• Despite the rumors, Wen Xu, Bian Chunchou, and Chen Zui-Zui remain listed on the Prodigies Ranking, confirming that they are still alive.

Character Developments

• Bian Chunchou remains anxious about the consequences of the Creation Giant Tree’s damage, particularly the financial burden of repairing it. His worries ease when Wen Xu explains that the Shu Household and Rongyuan City may handle the matter.
• Bian’s admiration for Dragon Venerable becomes even more obvious, as he desperately wants to preserve a recording of the dragon’s rescue.
• Wen Xu demonstrates responsibility and consideration by promising to help Bian obtain the recording and by defending his companions’ need to rest. He also shows a growing ability to respond playfully to Bian’s jokes.
• Gu Wufang reveals Yonglu Mountain’s stern, uncompromising side. He refuses to tolerate public pressure or ingratitude, turning the agitators’ demands into forced rescue work.
• The broader cultivation community shifts from suspicion toward sympathy after witnessing the severity of Wen Xu’s injuries.

Significant Themes

• The cost of heroism: Saving Rongyuan City leaves Wen Xu and the others gravely injured and causes serious damage to the Creation Giant Tree, emphasizing that victory comes with lasting consequences.
• Public judgment versus reality: Outsiders criticize Wen Xu for not immediately helping Pagoda City because they do not understand his condition. The Shadow Recording Stone exposes the gap between rumor and truth.
• Responsibility and fairness: The characters debate who should pay for the damaged tree, ultimately recognizing that the city saved by it should bear responsibility.
• The misuse of moral outrage: The protesters demand sacrifice from others while ignoring the actual dangers involved. Yonglu Mountain’s response highlights the difference between empty rhetoric and genuine aid.
• Reputation and evidence: The recordings and Prodigies Ranking provide concrete evidence of what happened, countering speculation and confirming the survivors’ status.

Character Interactions

• Bian Chunchou and Wen Xu discuss the Creation Giant Tree, with Wen Xu reassuring him and agreeing to help secure compensation and repair support.
• Bian’s excited request for the Dragon Venerable recording creates a humorous exchange, and Wen Xu lightly plays along with his dramatic wording.
• Gu Wufang confronts the protesters at Yonglu Mountain, transforming their accusations into an opportunity to send them to Pagoda City as logistical workers.
• Cultivators debate Wen Xu’s choices, but their attitude changes after seeing the recording of his sacrifice and injuries.

Chapter 678 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Yonglu Mountain refuses to send the severely injured True Lord Wen Xu to Pagoda City, cultivators begin arguing over the decision. They warn that only Wen Xu may be capable of dealing with the Demon Seed, but others point out that sending him while wounded could amount to certain death.
• Yonglu Mountain’s firm response reveals the extreme danger at Pagoda City. Many low-level Rogue Cultivators, especially after witnessing the devastation at Rongyuan City, become frightened and ashamed of criticizing Wen Xu. Some volunteer for logistical work near Pagoda City, while Pill Cultivators send large quantities of healing pills to Yonglu Mountain.
• Wen Xu does not need the pills because Cheng Wei is personally treating him. His injuries have nearly healed, and his cultivation has improved considerably.
• Cheng Wei explains the true crisis: the protective Pill Formation surrounding Pagoda City has been broken—not by the rescuers, but by the Devil Master himself. The original plan had been to use Bitter Crossing Temple’s Buddha Lotus to purify the Demon Seed after breaking the formation, but the plan failed.
• The Demon Seed has successfully parasitized Venerable Wen Chishan. Wen Chishan’s idealistic desire to eradicate all evil, grudges, love, and hatred has been twisted by the Demon Seed into a dangerous, fanatical ideology.
• Pagoda City’s spiritual mineral vein has been almost completely exhausted. The sacrifice of the mine allowed Siren, a young Buddhist cultivator, to restrain Wen Chishan temporarily. Siren broke through from Early Golden Core to Late Golden Core during the battle, but remains too weak to face Wen Chishan alone. The Buddha Lotus arrived in time, creating a temporary balance.
• Once the formation collapsed, Wen Chishan’s demonic influence spread beyond the city. People gathered outside to search for relatives and friends were easily affected, and Wen Chishan began attracting believers through his distorted teachings.
• Siren entered Pagoda City with the Buddha Lotus and was reportedly captured by Wen Chishan after the formation broke.
• Jun Zhaoying and Wushan have temporarily contained the demonic qi within a hundred-kilometer radius, but Cheng Wei must now go to Pagoda City to assist the Buddha Lotus. The chapter ends with Wen Xu asking whether his master is confident.

Character Developments

• Wen Xu: Shows maturity and filial concern by wanting to share Cheng Wei’s burden rather than recklessly seeking glory. His recovery is nearly complete, and his cultivation has grown stronger. He also recognizes the danger posed by Wen Chishan and worries about Siren.
• Cheng Wei: Reveals his deep concern for Wen Xu despite his willingness to let him face danger. He balances paternal affection with his responsibilities as a powerful cultivator and prepares to personally intervene in Pagoda City.
• Wen Chishan: Once known for an excellent temperament, he has become possessed by the Demon Seed. His lofty goal of purifying the world has transformed into a form of ideological extremism and mass manipulation.
• Siren: Demonstrates courage and rapid growth, advancing two minor stages during battle. Despite his achievements, he remains in serious danger after reportedly being captured.
• Buddha Lotus: Acts as the foremost authority on Buddhist principles and remains essential to containing Wen Chishan, though even his strength is being tested.
• The Cultivation Realm: Public opinion shifts from suspicion and criticism of Wen Xu to shame, respect, and practical support once the seriousness of the crisis becomes clear.

Significant Themes

• The danger of judgment without understanding: Cultivators initially criticize Wen Xu, but the truth of Pagoda City’s crisis forces them to recognize how little they understood.
• Responsibility and sacrifice: Wen Xu wants to share his master’s burden, while Cheng Wei is prepared to risk himself rather than send Wen Xu into a hopeless battle.
• Corruption of ideals: Wen Chishan’s desire to eliminate evil and suffering is noble in theory but becomes destructive when distorted by the Demon Seed.
• Cultivation and moral karma: The cultivators’ awareness that spoken words create karmic consequences causes them to reflect on their unfair criticism and seek atonement through action.
• Limits of strength: Even powerful figures such as the Buddha Lotus, Jun Zhaoying, and Wushan can only contain the crisis temporarily. Skill, ideals, and cultivation are all being pushed to their limits.

Character Interactions

• The unnamed cultivator’s criticism of Yonglu Mountain is silenced by others who defend Wen Xu and emphasize the danger of Pagoda City.
• Wen Xu and Cheng Wei have a tender master-disciple conversation: Wen Xu insists he wants to help, while Cheng Wei reassures him that he does not need to be overly sensible or shoulder every burden.
• Cheng Wei explains the situation to Wen Xu, including Wen Chishan’s possession, Siren’s predicament, and the failure of the original plan involving the Buddha Lotus.
• Wen Xu reacts with shock and concern, particularly upon learning that Wen Chishan has been parasitized and that Siren may have been captured.
• Jun Zhaoying and Wushan coordinate with Cheng Wei by containing the spread of demonic qi, setting the stage for Cheng Wei’s intervention at Pagoda City.

Chapter Summary: “Awaiting”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wen Xu decides to travel to Pagoda City despite rumors that he is gravely injured. His appearance there could expose Yonglu Mountain’s deception, but he insists that he must go because he feels an inexplicable inner calling.
• Cheng Wei worries that Wen Xu’s presence could reveal the truth about his Golden Light and weaken the larger strategy against Chishan. He also recognizes that Wen Xu may need to become the final reinforcement for the Demon-Slaying Grand Formation.
• Wen Xu’s friends, Chunchou and Chen Zui, interrupt the discussion and insist on accompanying him. Wen Xu accepts, knowing they would follow him regardless.
• Cheng Wei grants permission, and the group immediately departs. Their urgency reflects the worsening crisis in Pagoda City.
• The narrative then explains Pagoda City’s history. It grew around a powerful Spiritual Ore Vein beneath the city, which regenerates Spirit Ore endlessly and is protected even from Tribulation Transcendence experts.
• Pagoda City became famous for its many Buddhist pagodas and strong defenses. Nine golden pagodas maintain the city-protecting formation, making it seem like the safest of the four sealed cities.
• However, after the city’s Pill Formation was broken, the disaster was revealed to be connected to the Buddhist Cultivators and the Blissful Union Sect. The Blissful Union Sect becomes the target of widespread public hatred, especially because it already had a poor reputation.
• Wen Zhiyi refuses to believe that his gentle master, Chishan, caused the chaos. Meanwhile, Master Yicheng oversees the situation outside the city while worrying about his trapped disciple Siren and grand-disciple Bushi.
• The chapter ends with Yicheng warning that entering Pagoda City now may be useless.

Character Developments

• Wen Xu: Shows decisive courage and a willingness to risk his cultivation—or even his life—in response to the mysterious guidance he feels. His behavior mirrors Cheng Wei’s earlier decision to transform into a dragon despite the danger, suggesting a shared tendency to follow destiny rather than caution.
• Cheng Wei: Acts as a concerned master and strategist. Though he understands the danger of Wen Xu’s choice, he ultimately respects his disciple’s determination and permits the journey.
• Chunchou and Chen Zui: Demonstrate loyalty by demanding to accompany Wen Xu. Their willingness to follow him into danger confirms their close bond and established habit of fighting together.
• Wen Zhiyi: Remains loyal to Chishan and refuses to accept the accusations against him, even as the Blissful Union Sect becomes universally condemned.
• Master Yicheng: Is torn between regret over past decisions and the need to manage the present crisis. His concern for those trapped inside Pagoda City highlights the personal stakes of the disaster.

Significant Themes

• Destiny versus caution: Wen Xu follows an unexplained inner voice, just as Cheng Wei once followed the guidance that led him to become a dragon. The chapter suggests that some choices must be made even when their consequences are terrifying.
• Sacrifice and responsibility: Wen Xu may have to risk his cultivation to complete the defensive formation. His decision reflects a willingness to sacrifice himself for the survival of others.
• Loyalty amid public condemnation: Wen Zhiyi’s faith in Chishan contrasts with the public’s eagerness to blame the Blissful Union Sect. The chapter questions whether reputations and popular judgments can reveal the truth.
• Appearances versus reality: Pagoda City appears to be the safest and most protected city, yet its defenses have failed from within. Likewise, the public narrative about Chishan and the Blissful Union Sect may be deeply misleading.
• Regret and consequences: Yicheng recognizes that earlier choices helped permit the current crisis, showing how past political or strategic decisions can produce unforeseen disasters.

Character Interactions

• Cheng Wei and Wen Xu debate whether Wen Xu should go to Pagoda City, combining strategic concerns with their deep master-disciple relationship.
• Wen Xu’s insistence reminds Cheng Wei of his own past recklessness, creating a moment of recognition between them.
• Chunchou and Chen Zui actively insert themselves into the conversation and secure permission to accompany Wen Xu, reinforcing their camaraderie.
• The three young cultivators leave together under Cheng Wei’s approval, emphasizing their unity.
• Wen Zhiyi’s faith in Chishan stands against the hostility directed at the Blissful Union Sect.
• Master Yicheng’s warning to those outside the city introduces a more pessimistic view: courage alone may not be enough to change the situation in Pagoda City.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wen Zhiyi begs Master Yicheng for permission to enter Pagoda City and rescue his master, Venerable Chishan, whose Heart Demon and Demon Seed have taken control of him. Yicheng agrees but warns that entry is currently impossible because the city’s Pill Formation has collapsed and its demonic qi is being restrained only by three Divine Venerables.
• Yicheng advises Wen Zhiyi to wait for the Dragon Venerable of Yonglu Mountain, whose arrival may provide a chance to enter.
• When Wen Xu and Yonglu Mountain’s newly advanced Nascent Soul True Lords arrive, Wen Zhiyi asks to accompany them. Wen Xu agrees, understanding that Wen Zhiyi cannot simply remain outside while his master suffers.
• Wen Xu admits that he is not confident he can remove Chishan’s Demon Seed, especially since his own injuries from Rongyuan City have not fully healed. Wen Zhiyi nevertheless vows to protect him and die before allowing him to be harmed.
• Chen Zui and Bian Chunchou rebuke Wen Zhiyi’s overly tense attitude, prompting him to regain his composure.
• With Divine Venerable Cheng Wei’s assistance, Wen Xu, Wen Zhiyi, Chen Zui, and Bian Chunchou enter Pagoda City secretly at night. Cheng Wei remains outside because the other guardians need him to maintain the city’s defenses, and his presence inside might provoke Chishan.
• The four-direction formation temporarily restrains the demonic qi and weakens Chishan. However, if Chishan abandons all remnants of his humanity and devours the city’s inhabitants, the guardians may have to destroy both him and Pagoda City at the cost of their own cultivation.
• Inside the city, Wen Xu’s group discovers an overwhelming Buddhist atmosphere that makes them feel small and insignificant. Wen Xu realizes that Pagoda City is profoundly different from the other afflicted cities.
• Wen Xu concludes that Chishan’s strategy of suppressing demonic qi within his own body allowed the Demon Seed to target and corrupt him. Although this method demonstrated extraordinary Buddhist power, its chance of success was dangerously low.

Character Developments

• Wen Zhiyi abandons his usual composure, revealing intense anxiety and devotion toward Venerable Chishan. His willingness to kneel, wait indefinitely, and risk death shows how deeply he feels responsible for his master.
• Wen Xu displays compassion and practical judgment by agreeing to bring Wen Zhiyi inside, despite the danger. He is honest about his limited ability to remove the Demon Seed while also concealing the extent of his recovery to maintain the reputation others have built around him.
• Chen Zui remains protective and blunt, insisting that Wen Xu will not die while the group is guarding him. His irritation at Wen Zhiyi’s arrival also adds a humorous edge.
• Bian Chunchou acts as a calming influence, encouraging Wen Zhiyi to control his emotions so that anxiety does not worsen the situation.
• Cheng Wei demonstrates both concern for his disciple and responsibility toward the larger defensive formation. He trusts Wen Xu to create a miracle but cannot accompany him.
• Wen Chishan is further characterized as a powerful Buddhist cultivator whose compassionate method of containing evil has ironically made him vulnerable to demonic corruption.

Significant Themes

• Devotion and responsibility: Wen Zhiyi’s desperation reflects the lengths a disciple will go to save a fallen master.
• Sacrifice: Everyone involved is prepared to risk their cultivation—and possibly their lives—to prevent Chishan from destroying the city.
• The danger of suppressing evil: Chishan’s attempt to contain demonic qi within himself suggests that suppression without true eradication can allow evil to grow stronger.
• Trust and hope: Despite Wen Xu’s uncertainty, the group relies on him, with Cheng Wei insisting that he can “create miracles.”
• Inner demons and moral corruption: The Demon Seed exploits existing flaws in human nature, making spiritual strength and self-knowledge essential defenses.

Character Interactions

• Wen Zhiyi repeatedly pleads with Master Yicheng, who recognizes his resemblance to his own former disciple, Chishan.
• Wen Xu readily accepts Wen Zhiyi’s request, empathizing with the pain of watching one’s master suffer.
• Wen Zhiyi promises to protect Wen Xu, but Chen Zui firmly rejects the idea that Wen Xu will need such protection.
• Bian Chunchou urges Wen Zhiyi to remain calm and not let fear compromise the mission.
• Cheng Wei encourages Wen Xu before they part, while Wushan and Jun Zhaoying react more skeptically or pragmatically to Cheng Wei’s confidence, creating a brief moment of humor amid the crisis.