Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Jun survives a brutal battle against the Old Peacock, an Earth Core Realm demon-beast, though he suffers severe internal injuries.
• He consumes several Demon Cores using the Heavenly Demon Core-Devouring Art, rapidly healing his shattered bones, restoring his cultivation energy, and gaining two additional Profound Core Runes.
• Lin Jun kills the Old Peacock and obtains his Earth Core Realm Demon Core, while the system rewards him with a large amount of experience.
• Seven-Tail returns after defeating another demon-beast. Lin Jun uses experience to convert its Demon Core into Demon-Beast Essence Blood, allowing it to evolve into Eight-Tail and further purifying Lin Jun’s Sky Fox Bloodline.
• Lin Jun examines the Old Peacock’s powerful Demon Weapon, the Seven-Colored Flowing Radiance Bow, but cannot determine how it works.
• Bai Jie arrives and reveals the painful history of her family: her mother loved a human, her grandfather forced her father into suicide, and later ordered Bai Jie’s brother to kill their mother.
• Bai Jie thanks Lin Jun for killing the Old Peacock, whom she despised but could not personally oppose.
• She explains that the bow can only be used by members of the Peacock Clan. In return for it, she offers to have it reforged into a weapon Lin Jun can use, also noting that his cracked saber needs replacing.
• Bai Jie admits that she failed to kill Zhang Zhen, who escaped after being seriously wounded.
• Determined to eliminate the threat, Lin Jun enters the mist to pursue Zhang Zhen himself.

Character Developments

• Lin Jun demonstrates his increasingly powerful physique, recovery ability, and cultivation techniques. He remains cautious with his experience points, preferring to save them for cultivation breakthroughs rather than artificially creating Demon Cores.
• His strength and confidence have grown significantly; despite serious injuries, he quickly recovers and immediately prepares to pursue another powerful enemy.
• Seven-Tail evolves into Eight-Tail, strengthening both its own bloodline and Lin Jun’s inherited Sky Fox Bloodline.
• Bai Jie reveals her emotional conflict: she hates her grandfather for destroying her family but cannot bring herself to kill him because he is still her kin.
• Bai Jie’s view of Lin Jun rises considerably. She recognizes that he has surpassed Yang Wan in ability and may eventually become an important aide to the Marshal.
• Zhang Zhen is established as a dangerous and elusive opponent who relies on escape and concealment rather than direct confrontation.

Significant Themes

• Power gained through sacrifice and battle: Lin Jun’s growth comes from surviving dangerous fights, absorbing Demon Cores, and converting victory into cultivation resources.
• Family loyalty versus justice: Bai Jie’s hatred of her grandfather conflicts with her inability to personally kill him, highlighting the burden of familial bonds.
• Human-demon relationships: Bai Jie’s parents’ tragic love story reflects the prejudice and hostility between humans and demons.
• Pragmatism and resource management: Lin Jun carefully preserves experience for cultivation while using available Demon Cores and weapons efficiently.
• Relentless pursuit of threats: Lin Jun’s refusal to let Zhang Zhen escape emphasizes his cautious, decisive approach to eliminating future dangers.

Character Interactions

• Lin Jun and Bai Jie share a quiet conversation about her family tragedy, with Lin Jun offering practical sympathy by creating stools for them to sit on.
• Bai Jie sincerely thanks Lin Jun for killing the Old Peacock rather than blaming him.
• Bai Jie agrees to help transform the Peacock Clan’s bow into a suitable weapon for Lin Jun.
• Lin Jun seeks Bai Jie’s help identifying the bow but becomes dissatisfied when he learns Zhang Zhen survived. He immediately leaves to hunt Zhang Zhen, declaring that he cannot rest while the fox remains alive.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Jun refuses Bai Jie’s warning to retreat after she reveals that Jiyuan and the Demon Exorcist Army will arrive in roughly half a month to hunt Zhang Zhen.
• Lin Jun insists on pursuing Zhang Zhen immediately because he has sensed Zhang Zhen’s Sky Fox Bloodline and fears the injured demon will recover before the army arrives.
• Bai Jie tries to stop him but is unable to catch him once he enters the white fog. She worries that Lin Jun may not survive confronting a weakened but still immensely powerful Heavenly Pill Grand Completion demon.
• Bai Jie reveals a severe injury caused by Zhang Zhen’s Soul-Seizing and Spirit-Snatching ability, with the affected flesh continuing to wither.
• A crimson phenomenon and terrifying ancient aura appear in the northern sky, signaling that the Qingqiu Ruins have opened near Great Wilderness Mountain.
• In Brocade City, Jiyuan receives confirmation that Zhang Zhen truly used Flesh-and-Blood Rebirth and is currently weakened. However, the sudden opening of the Qingqiu Ruins leads Jiyuan to suspect that the technique was used to gain access to them.
• Jiyuan orders the assembled Demon Exorcist Army to surround Great Wilderness Mountain, but immediately departs himself after learning that Lin Jun has pursued Zhang Zhen.
• Jiyuan recognizes Lin Jun’s courage but fears he cannot survive a direct confrontation with Zhang Zhen. He races north to intervene.
• Meanwhile, Zhang Zhen continues fleeing toward the ruins while repeatedly checking behind him. Lin Jun remains in pursuit, despite Zhang Zhen’s efforts to escape and his confusion over how Lin Jun can track him through the perception-blocking fog.

Character Developments

• Lin Jun demonstrates exceptional resolve, impatience, and confidence in his own strength. His awareness of the Sky Fox Bloodline makes him unwilling to give Zhang Zhen time to recover, and he prioritizes revenge and immediate action over safety or military strategy.
• Bai Jie reveals a protective concern for Lin Jun. Although she has no formal authority over him, she attempts to prevent him from throwing his life away. Her own serious injury emphasizes the danger Zhang Zhen poses.
• Jiyuan shifts from coordinating a large-scale operation to personally intervening. His amusement at Lin Jun’s audacity masks genuine concern, and he prepares to confront Zhang Zhen directly as both a rescue effort and a warning to hostile demons.
• Zhang Zhen is shown to be badly weakened but still highly dangerous and cunning. His use of Flesh-and-Blood Rebirth appears connected to the Qingqiu Ruins, suggesting a deeper plan. He is frustrated and unsettled that Lin Jun can repeatedly track him despite the fog.

Significant Themes

• Striking while an enemy is weakened: Lin Jun believes delay is more dangerous than immediate confrontation, reflecting the chapter’s central principle of eliminating a threat before it can recover.
• Revenge versus caution: Lin Jun’s personal grudge drives him to disregard Bai Jie’s warnings and the safer plan of waiting for reinforcements.
• Hidden schemes and uncertainty: Zhang Zhen’s self-mutilating technique, the sudden appearance of the Qingqiu Ruins, and the fog’s effects create doubt about his true objective.
• Protective concern and responsibility: Bai Jie and Jiyuan both recognize Lin Jun’s potential but worry that his recklessness will destroy him before that potential can develop.
• Escalating conflict: The opening of the Qingqiu Ruins turns a planned hunt into a chaotic confrontation involving powerful demons, the Demon Exorcist Army, and competing agendas.

Character Interactions

• Bai Jie physically attempts to restrain Lin Jun and urges him to wait for Jiyuan and the army; Lin Jun respectfully but firmly refuses.
• Bai Jie’s concern is contrasted with Lin Jun’s determination, establishing a tension between experienced caution and youthful urgency.
• Jiyuan and Jiang Jue discuss Zhang Zhen’s weakened state and the mystery surrounding the Qingqiu Ruins. Their conversation shows the Demon Exorcist Bureau’s strategic awareness.
• When Jiang Jue reveals that Lin Jun has pursued Zhang Zhen, Jiyuan responds with admiration for Lin Jun’s courage but immediately acts to protect him.
• Zhang Zhen and Lin Jun do not directly converse, but their pursuit reflects their ongoing blood feud: Zhang Zhen seeks to escape toward the ruins, while Lin Jun relentlessly closes the distance.

Chapter Summary: “Great Wilderness Mountain’s Call”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Jun pursues the wounded Zhang Zhen across the Boundless Gobi for seven days and nights without rest.
• Despite the intense pursuit, Lin Jun not only avoids exhaustion but becomes stronger after consuming Old Peacock’s Demon Core. The demon power restores his depleted Golden Core and adds two additional patterns.
• Zhang Zhen is shocked that Lin Jun grows more energetic instead of weakening. Realizing he cannot escape, he stops near Great Wilderness Mountain and prepares to fight.
• Zhang Zhen attacks with his Sky Fox Bloodline, using a howl that assaults Lin Jun’s mind and a claw aimed at his chest and soul.
• The attack unexpectedly backfires. Lin Jun’s body absorbs Zhang Zhen’s soul, preventing Zhang Zhen from withdrawing his claw.
• Eight illusory tails and an ancient, extremely pure Sky Fox aura emerge from Lin Jun. Zhang Zhen realizes that Lin Jun possesses a bloodline purer than his own and may be connected to his supposedly dead child.
• Terrified and convinced that Lin Jun is an ancient Qingqiu descendant infiltrating the Demon Exorcism Bureau, Zhang Zhen severs his own claw and flees toward Great Wilderness Mountain.
• Lin Jun becomes distracted by a mysterious summons from the mountain. The call affects his mind so strongly that he nearly rushes toward the mountain against his will.
• After resisting the influence, Lin Jun decides to continue pursuing Zhang Zhen. He then senses an enormous number of demon auras and encounters a vast group of foxes that regard him with familiarity rather than fear.

Character Developments

• Lin Jun: Demonstrates remarkable endurance, recovery, and growing power through the use of Old Peacock’s Demon Core. His hidden Sky Fox Bloodline is revealed to be extraordinarily pure, though he himself appears unaware of its full significance. He also shows caution by resisting Great Wilderness Mountain’s mental summons, but remains determined to finish his pursuit.
• Zhang Zhen: His confidence collapses after his soul attack is reversed. He becomes terrified of Lin Jun’s bloodline, interpreting it as evidence of a powerful ancient identity and a major conspiracy within the Demon Exorcism Bureau. His desperation is shown by sacrificing his own claw to escape.
• Eight-Tail/Sky Fox power within Lin Jun: This presence or bloodline appears to possess its own influence and responds to Zhang Zhen’s attack, suggesting that Lin Jun’s connection to the Sky Fox lineage is deeper and more dangerous than previously known.

Significant Themes

• Hidden identity and lineage: Lin Jun’s human appearance conceals an exceptionally pure Sky Fox heritage, challenging assumptions about his nature and allegiance.
• Fear of the unknown: Zhang Zhen is more frightened by Lin Jun’s bloodline and possible identity than by his actual cultivation level.
• Predator becoming prey: Zhang Zhen initiates the attack expecting an easy victory, only to have his soul devoured and be forced to flee.
• Temptation and free will: Great Wilderness Mountain’s mysterious call exerts a powerful mental influence, but Lin Jun resists surrendering his will to it.
• Escalating power: Lin Jun’s rapid recovery and newly revealed abilities suggest that his strength and significance are growing far beyond what others understand.

Character Interactions

• Lin Jun and Zhang Zhen engage in a prolonged pursuit that culminates in a confrontation.
• Zhang Zhen attempts to kill Lin Jun through a soul-targeting attack, but Lin Jun’s hidden Sky Fox power reverses the situation and traps him.
• Zhang Zhen interprets Lin Jun’s bloodline as being connected to his child and as evidence of a possible infiltration of the Demon Exorcism Bureau.
• Great Wilderness Mountain exerts a mysterious, almost sentient influence over Lin Jun.
• The approaching foxes show unexpected affection and familiarity toward Lin Jun, hinting that they recognize him as part of their lineage or as a significant figure.

Chapter Summary: “See You Again”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Jun is approached by an old fox demon and surrounded by young foxes. Rather than attacking, the old fox surrenders his entire clan to the Demon Exorcism Bureau, offering their blood essence in exchange for protection.
• The fox clan has become vulnerable after the deaths of its leader and Xia Feng, a young fox who had awakened the Sky Fox Bloodline. Without their protectors, the clan risks being devoured by other demons.
• Lin Jun visits the foxes’ territory, which resembles a human village, and discovers a mourning hall for their dead leader.
• The old fox initially gives only partial information, but Lin Jun realizes he is concealing a more serious threat. He eventually reveals that the clan is being targeted by the subordinates of Cicada Lord, a powerful Demon Lord.
• The real reason for the attack is the Qingqiu Ruins’ Trial Token. Only those possessing a token can enter the ruins, which are believed to contain an exceptionally pure ancient Sky Fox Bloodline. Only three tokens remain, and the fox clan is unable to produce the one demanded by Cicada Lord’s forces.
• Cicada Lord’s subordinates have sealed off Great Wilderness Mountain and are preparing to exterminate the foxes.
• Although another fox doubts that an apparently ordinary Demon Exorcist like Lin Jun can help, Lin Jun agrees to protect the clan. His true motivation is to test the strength of Cicada Lord’s forces and investigate the Qingqiu Ruins.
• The chapter ends with a powerful Wolf King, serving under Cicada Lord, heading toward the fox territory with more than a hundred black wolves. The surrounding demons identify him as Danglu Lord.

Character Developments

• Lin Jun: Demonstrates caution, perceptiveness, and confidence. He sees through the old fox’s initial half-truths and recognizes that the clan is hiding a deeper crisis. His decision to help is motivated less by compassion than by curiosity and the opportunity to gauge the Demon Lord’s forces.
• The old fox: Appears humble and desperate, willing to surrender his clan’s freedom and blood essence to ensure its survival. He is also cautious and initially attempts to manipulate Lin Jun by withholding the truth, but Lin Jun forces him to reveal the full situation.
• The fox clan: Is portrayed as frightened, weakened, and politically vulnerable. Their dependence on Lin Jun highlights their loss of leadership and protection.
• The white-robed middle-aged fox: Distrusts Lin Jun because he appears young and ordinary, creating tension within the clan and emphasizing how desperate their circumstances are.
• Cicada Lord and Danglu Lord: Though Cicada Lord does not appear directly, his influence dominates the chapter. Danglu Lord is introduced as a proud and powerful Demon King trusted by Cicada Lord and sent to deal with the foxes.

Significant Themes

• Survival and submission: The fox clan must choose between extinction and surrendering its autonomy to humans.
• Appearances versus true strength: Lin Jun looks like an ordinary young exorcist, but the old fox senses that his killing intent is unusually terrifying. Likewise, the foxes’ humanlike village conceals their demonic nature.
• Power and leverage: Blood essence, Trial Tokens, ancient bloodlines, and protection all function as tools of control. The foxes’ survival depends on finding someone powerful enough to counter Cicada Lord.
• Hidden motives and manipulation: Both the old fox and Lin Jun conceal their true intentions. The old fox seeks protection while hiding the token crisis, whereas Lin Jun agrees to help partly to investigate the ruins and assess his enemies.
• Decline and inheritance: The foxes’ connection to the ancient Qingqiu lineage has weakened over time, but the Sky Fox Bloodline remains a source of immense potential and conflict.

Character Interactions

• The young foxes cling to Lin Jun, instinctively treating him as their potential protector.
• The old fox kneels before Lin Jun and offers the clan’s blood essence, showing extreme submission and desperation.
• Lin Jun questions the old fox and detects his evasiveness, forcing him to disclose Cicada Lord’s involvement and the importance of the Trial Token.
• The white-robed fox challenges the old fox’s judgment and dismisses Lin Jun as too weak to help, while the old fox begins to suspect that Lin Jun’s apparent weakness is deceptive.
• The chapter closes by setting up the impending confrontation between Lin Jun and Danglu Lord, as Cicada Lord’s forces finally move against the fox clan.

Chapter Summary: “A Familiar Face”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Danglu Lord, now working undercover within Cicada Lord’s ranks, travels toward the Qingqiu Ruins with his demon subordinates.
• His subordinates worry that the Demon Exorcism Bureau will discover his involvement, but Danglu Lord dismisses their concerns. Because he has not harmed any humans and avoids human-related orders, he has gained a respectable reputation among the Demon Lords.
• Danglu Lord unexpectedly encounters Lin Jun near a fox gathering and mourning hall in the Boundless Gobi.
• Lin Jun recognizes him, and the two reunite after a long separation. Danglu Lord is dismayed because he had fled far away specifically to avoid Lin Jun.
• The nearby foxes and their leader are stunned when Danglu Lord—the feared “Wolf King”—immediately submits to Lin Jun’s authority. Lin Jun even pats him on the head, reinforcing the comedic impression that Danglu Lord is like a subdued dog.
• Danglu Lord dismisses the foxes’ leader and their group, effectively clearing the area so he can speak privately with Lin Jun.
• Lin Jun observes that Danglu Lord has grown stronger, but Danglu Lord is shocked to discover that Lin Jun’s power has increased even more rapidly.
• Lin Jun explains that he has come to investigate the Qingqiu Ruins, particularly the powerful bloodline contained within them.
• Danglu Lord warns him that the ruins may be far more dangerous than they appear. According to information from the Demon Lords, the entire Qingqiu Ruins may actually be a Demon Weapon.

Character Developments

• Danglu Lord: Continues balancing his role as a Demon Lord subordinate with his loyalty to the Demon Exorcism Bureau. His fear and resignation toward Lin Jun remain strong, but he has also become more socially established among the demons. His rapid growth in power is revealed, though he remains clearly inferior to Lin Jun.
• Lin Jun: Has undergone an astonishingly rapid increase in strength and now commands enough presence to make even Danglu Lord defer to him. He remains casual and teasing in his treatment of Danglu Lord, despite the latter’s obvious anxiety.
• The foxes and their leader: Their expectations are overturned when the supposedly powerful Wolf King behaves submissively toward Lin Jun. Their confusion emphasizes Lin Jun’s hidden authority and strength.

Significant Themes

• Fate and irony: Danglu Lord reflects on how fate has brought him into the very position he once would have resisted, ironically owing his current circumstances to Lin Jun.
• Power and submission: The reunion demonstrates the shifting power balance between Lin Jun and Danglu Lord. Public reputations are shown to be misleading, as the feared Wolf King is obedient toward Lin Jun.
• Loyalty and divided identity: Danglu Lord’s undercover position highlights his conflict between serving the Demon Lords and remaining loyal to the Demon Exorcism Bureau.
• Hidden danger: The revelation that the Qingqiu Ruins may itself be a Demon Weapon foreshadows a much larger threat behind the ruins’ mysterious bloodline.

Character Interactions

• Danglu Lord’s subordinates express concern about his undercover activities, while he reassures them that he has done nothing wrong.
• Lin Jun and Danglu Lord exchange a humorous but tense reunion: Lin Jun casually greets and pats him, while Danglu Lord reacts with dread and resignation.
• Danglu Lord intimidates the foxes’ leader into leaving, showing his authority, but immediately acts submissively toward Lin Jun.
• Lin Jun questions Danglu Lord about his involvement with the Demon Lords, and Danglu Lord jokingly insists that his “heart has always belonged” to the Demon Exorcism Bureau.
• Danglu Lord then shifts from comedy to seriousness by warning Lin Jun about the true nature of the Qingqiu Ruins.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Danglu Lord reveals that Cicada Lord sent him to obtain the Demon Weapon, which contains the lingering souls of Qingqiu’s ancient demons. Releasing them would plunge Jinzhou into chaos.
• Cicada Lord’s larger strategy is to create crises on two fronts, forcing the Demon Exorcism Bureau’s Headquarters to divert forces into the desert.
• Danglu Lord claims he did not kill the fox leader in the coffin. When Lin Jun opens it, the coffin is empty, confirming that the leader—Xia Yue—had faked his death and escaped.
• Lin Jun learns that the Qingqiu Trial’s formation will close in two days. He initially refuses to enter the ruins, deciding to return to Brocade City for reinforcements rather than risk facing countless ancient demon souls.
• Lin Jun orders the surviving foxes to report the situation to the Demon Exorcism Bureau and records Danglu Lord’s intelligence about Cicada Lord.
• A mysterious voice begins calling Lin Jun toward Great Wilderness Mountain. Although no one else can hear it, Lin Jun senses that the mountain is dangerous and prepares to leave.
• Xia Yue suddenly appears. He reveals himself as the supposedly dead fox leader and attacks Danglu Lord, crushing him with invisible force and breaking one of his legs.
• Xia Yue dismisses Cicada Lord as insignificant and claims that Lin Jun killed his son well. Instead of seeking revenge, he becomes fascinated by Lin Jun’s exceptionally pure bloodline.
• Xia Yue demands that Lin Jun offer up his bloodline to help restore Qingqiu’s glory, promising to grant him a Celestial Fox body. Lin Jun responds by readying his saber, prompting Xia Yue to prepare for battle.

Character Developments

• Lin Jun demonstrates caution and strategic judgment. Rather than recklessly entering the ruins, he recognizes the danger posed by the ancient souls and chooses to seek reinforcements.
• His mysterious connection to the mountain becomes more important, as an unseen force repeatedly calls to him despite his intention to leave.
• Danglu Lord continues acting as a pragmatic survivor and double agent. He tries to justify his actions, supplies information about Cicada Lord, and remains terrified that his deception will be discovered.
• Xia Yue is revealed to be alive and far more powerful than expected. His priorities are not simple revenge: he is obsessed with Lin Jun’s bloodline and views him as a means to revive Qingqiu.
• The fox survivors, especially the middle-aged man in white, are shaken by the discovery that their leader abandoned them by faking his death.

Significant Themes

• Pragmatism versus recklessness: Lin Jun refuses to risk his life for a dangerous trial when the odds are unfavorable, emphasizing calculated survival over glory.
• Manipulation and divided loyalties: Cicada Lord uses the Demon Weapon and the Qingqiu ruins to force the Demon Exorcism Bureau into a strategically disadvantageous conflict, while Danglu Lord secretly serves multiple interests.
• Power and bloodline: Xia Yue’s fixation on Lin Jun’s lineage reflects the importance of inherited power and the desire to restore a fallen civilization through another person’s strength.
• Deception and survival: Xia Yue’s fake death and Danglu Lord’s constant maneuvering show how deception becomes necessary in a world dominated by powerful demons.
• Ancient forces resurfacing: The Demon Weapon and the lingering souls of Qingqiu’s demons connect the present conflict to an older, potentially catastrophic history.

Character Interactions

• Lin Jun questions Danglu Lord about his motives, exposing the latter’s self-serving but practical approach.
• Lin Jun’s discovery of the empty coffin undermines the foxes’ understanding of their leader and reveals Xia Yue’s deception.
• Danglu Lord mocks Xia Yue for abandoning his followers, but Xia Yue effortlessly retaliates and nearly kills him.
• Xia Yue treats Lin Jun less as an enemy than as a valuable vessel or resource, while Lin Jun rejects his offer and prepares to fight.
• The chapter ends with a direct confrontation imminent between Lin Jun and the powerful Xia Yue.

Chapter Summary: “Relic Demon Weapon”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Beneath Great Wilderness Mountain, the fox demon Xia Yue confronts Lin Jun, demanding that Lin Jun surrender his exceptionally pure fox-demon bloodline so Qingqiu can be restored to its former glory.
• Despite Xia Yue’s superior cultivation, Lin Jun effortlessly avoids every attack using his transcendent Qi-Riding Cloud-Soaring Art, openly mocking Xia Yue and revealing that speed is his main advantage.
• Xia Yue summons a miniature replica of Great Wilderness Mountain, strongly implying that the Qingqiu Ruins are actually a powerful Demon Weapon.
• From the weapon, Xia Yue releases Zhang Zhen, who has been partially enslaved or absorbed by the relic. Zhang Zhen realizes that the supposed Qingqiu Trial was a deception and that his ancestors sacrificed him for their own plans.
• Xia Yue orders Zhang Zhen to attack Lin Jun, intending to use him to capture the younger fox demon’s bloodline.
• Lin Jun manifests eight enormous tails, displaying an ancient and incredibly pure demonic aura. However, the tails separate from his body and transform into an independent Eight-Tail Fox Demon, while Lin Jun himself is revealed to be fundamentally human.
• The Eight-Tail Fox immediately attacks Xia Yue, catching both Xia Yue and Zhang Zhen off guard.
• Meanwhile, Jiyuan, Zuo Jin, and Jiang Jue arrive at Great Wilderness Mountain with a large Demon Exorcist Army. Upon sensing the overwhelming demonic aura—and realizing Lin Jun is inside—Jiyuan rushes toward the battlefield.

Character Developments

• Lin Jun demonstrates extraordinary speed, confidence, and composure, treating a much stronger opponent as an opportunity to test his abilities. His transformation also raises major questions about the nature of his bloodline and identity.
• Xia Yue is revealed as an obsessive Qingqiu loyalist willing to manipulate and sacrifice others to restore the fox clan. His excitement over Lin Jun’s bloodline exposes both his ambition and desperation.
• Zhang Zhen suffers the consequences of trusting the Qingqiu legacy. With part of his soul controlled, he recognizes that the ruins and trial were a cruel trap. His hatred of Lin Jun has disappeared, replaced by pity for someone he believes is about to suffer the same fate.
• Jiyuan acts decisively as a military leader, bringing reinforcements and immediately responding to the danger surrounding Lin Jun.
• Zuo Jin and Jiang Jue join the effort against the forces within the ruins, expanding the conflict from a personal confrontation into a major military intervention.

Significant Themes

• Deception and betrayal: The Qingqiu Trial is exposed as a facade designed to exploit descendants and outsiders.
• Sacrifice for power and legacy: Xia Yue and the Qingqiu ancestors justify cruelty as necessary for reviving their clan’s former glory.
• Identity and transformation: Lin Jun’s human soul and detachable demonic tails challenge assumptions about bloodline, species, and what it means to be a fox demon.
• Control versus freedom: Zhang Zhen’s loss of part of his soul contrasts with Lin Jun’s apparent ability to separate his demonic power from his human self.
• Arrogance and hidden strength: Xia Yue dismisses Lin Jun as a junior, only to discover that Lin Jun’s abilities and nature are far beyond his expectations.

Character Interactions

• Lin Jun and Xia Yue: Their exchange is dominated by mockery and intimidation. Xia Yue demands obedience in the name of Qingqiu, while Lin Jun refuses and humiliates him by evading every attack.
• Xia Yue and Zhang Zhen: Xia Yue treats Zhang Zhen as a tool rather than a descendant, ordering him to capture Lin Jun and warning him not to damage the valuable bloodline.
• Zhang Zhen and Lin Jun: Zhang Zhen attacks under compulsion but no longer truly resents Lin Jun. His pity suggests he understands that Lin Jun may become another victim of Qingqiu’s manipulation.
• The Eight-Tail Fox and Xia Yue: The newly separated demon acts independently and launches a sudden attack on Xia Yue, overturning his expectations.
• Jiyuan, Zuo Jin, and Jiang Jue: The three leaders coordinate their arrival at Great Wilderness Mountain, with Jiyuan taking immediate action once Lin Jun’s danger becomes clear.

Chapter Summary: “Ancient Shadow”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xia Yue survives a devastating wound to his neck, revealing his extraordinary regenerative ability, while Eight-Tail attacks him under Lin Jun’s command.
• Zhang Zhen assumes Lin Jun is defenseless once Eight-Tail leaves to fight Xia Yue. He attacks Lin Jun, but is repeatedly trapped inside enormous tornadoes formed from Astral Qi.
• Lin Jun unleashes five successive tornadoes, despite being only at the Profound Core Realm. His unusually powerful Golden Core, Human Core foundation, and the Demon Cores he consumes allow him to sustain the attacks.
• Zhang Zhen survives the first four tornadoes but is finally reduced to half a body by the fifth. Lin Jun defeats him with repeated punches, even after Zhang Zhen’s desperate counterattack with his fox claws.
• Lin Jun receives 80,000 experience for killing Zhang Zhen, realizing that Zhang Zhen’s reward reflects his former status as a Heavenly Pill Grand Completion demon and Lesser Demon Lord, despite his current weakened realm.
• After Zhang Zhen’s death, Xia Yue appears to have transformed. His flesh collapses away, revealing an ancient black shadow possessing an exceptionally pure Sky Fox Bloodline.
• The shadow reveals that it is not Xia Yue, but an ancient entity that borrowed his body. It has waited in the ruins for tens of thousands of years and recognizes Eight-Tail as a rare and promising descendant of Qingqiu.
• The shadow claims that Lin Jun has “ruined” Eight-Tail by taking away his consciousness and making him wholly dependent on Lin Jun. Despite appreciating Lin Jun for bringing Eight-Tail to it, the shadow declares that Lin Jun must die.

Character Developments

• Lin Jun: Demonstrates overwhelming endurance, control of Astral Qi, and tactical determination. He refuses to let Zhang Zhen escape again and reveals that his physical foundation is far stronger than that of ordinary Profound Core cultivators. His ruthless execution of Zhang Zhen shows his growing decisiveness and lack of mercy toward enemies.
• Zhang Zhen: His confidence turns into disbelief and desperation as Lin Jun’s attacks continue far beyond what should be possible. Once arrogant about the gap between their realms, he dies unable to understand Lin Jun’s abnormal energy reserves.
• Eight-Tail: Remains loyal to Lin Jun but is physically and spiritually suppressed by the ancient shadow’s superior Sky Fox Bloodline. His lack of independent consciousness is identified as a consequence of his bond with Lin Jun.
• Xia Yue: Is revealed to have been only a vessel for the ancient shadow. His body and identity are discarded, confirming that the apparent Xia Yue was not truly in control.
• The Ancient Shadow: Emerges as the new major threat. It possesses a purer Sky Fox Bloodline than any other demon present and views Eight-Tail as a valuable descendant of the destroyed Qingqiu lineage.

Significant Themes

• Power beyond appearances: Lin Jun’s apparent Profound Core cultivation conceals an extraordinary foundation and energy capacity, allowing him to defeat a much stronger opponent.
• Bloodline hierarchy and suppression: The chapter emphasizes the overwhelming influence of the Sky Fox Bloodline among fox demons, especially the instinctive submission it causes in weaker descendants.
• Consciousness and possession: Eight-Tail’s identity and autonomy are questioned, while Xia Yue is exposed as a body controlled by another being.
• Revenge and determination: Lin Jun’s refusal to allow Zhang Zhen to escape reflects his resolve after being pursued and attacked for days.
• The decline and restoration of Qingqiu: The ancient shadow’s grief and pride reveal the destruction of Qingqiu and its desire to reclaim or preserve the fox lineage’s former glory.

Character Interactions

• Lin Jun and Zhang Zhen: Their confrontation shifts from Zhang Zhen’s contempt to fear and confusion as Lin Jun repeatedly overwhelms him. Lin Jun offers no explanation and ends the conflict through relentless physical violence.
• Lin Jun and Eight-Tail: Eight-Tail acts as Lin Jun’s ally and subordinate, but the ancient shadow interprets their relationship as Lin Jun having taken control of Eight-Tail’s life and consciousness.
• Eight-Tail and the Ancient Shadow: Eight-Tail trembles and becomes nearly immobilized in the shadow’s presence, demonstrating the profound bloodline suppression between them.
• Lin Jun and the Ancient Shadow: The shadow initially acknowledges Lin Jun’s strength and thanks him for bringing Eight-Tail, but quickly becomes hostile after recognizing Lin Jun’s influence over its descendant. The chapter ends with the shadow announcing its intention to kill him.

Summary of “Bloodline Power”

Key Plot Points and Events

• In the Gobi, Lin Jun is pursued by a powerful black shadow, who repeatedly tries and fails to catch him.
• Danglu Lord, disguised as a lifeless pile of flesh, admits he cannot help because the shadow’s bloodline is too intimidating. He explains that demon bloodlines can create overwhelming suppression within the same species, allowing stronger-blooded demons to defeat opponents across an entire major cultivation realm.
• Lin Jun realizes that this suppression is much weaker between different species and decides to exploit it.
• After placing Zhang Zhen’s corpse nearby, Lin Jun stops running and waits for the black shadow. Eight-Tail, now possessing a ninth tail and having become a true Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, rushes to Lin Jun’s side.
• The black shadow recognizes Eight-Tail’s transformation and becomes intensely excited. He reveals that he wants Eight-Tail to surrender his bloodline, believing it will allow him to obtain the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox inheritance.
• Meanwhile, General Jiyuan and a group of Demon Exorcists arrive at Great Wilderness Mountain. They find massive signs of destruction and conclude that an extraordinarily powerful demon has been involved.
• The group discovers the shattered remains of Lin Jun’s blade, causing them to fear that Lin Jun has been defeated or killed.
• Jiyuan uses Soul Departure to scout the area. Although others briefly mistake this for evidence that he has reached the Grandmaster realm, Jiang Jue explains that Jiyuan has been stuck at the threshold for a long time.
• Jiyuan returns visibly shocked and confused by what he has seen, unable to believe the apparently absurd situation.

Character Developments

• Lin Jun demonstrates strategic intelligence rather than relying solely on strength. He recognizes the limits of bloodline suppression and deliberately uses the black shadow’s desire for Eight-Tail’s bloodline against him.
• Danglu Lord remains cowardly and opportunistic, immediately pretending to be dead once Lin Jun tells him he is no longer needed.
• Eight-Tail completes a major transformation by growing a ninth tail and becoming a genuine Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox. His submissive eagerness toward Lin Jun humiliates and enrages his ancestor.
• The black shadow shifts from confident pursuer to frustrated and then excited aggressor. His obsession with obtaining the Nine-Tailed bloodline reveals a long-standing ambition.
• Jiyuan is presented as highly capable but still unable to break through to the Grandmaster realm. His shocked reaction suggests that he witnesses something far beyond his expectations.

Significant Themes

• Bloodline hierarchy and inherited power: Demons’ strength and status are deeply tied to bloodline purity, with superior inheritances capable of overwhelming major differences in cultivation.
• Strategy over brute force: Lin Jun succeeds by understanding the rules governing his enemy’s power and manipulating the enemy’s desires.
• Transformation and identity: Eight-Tail’s ninth tail marks a decisive evolution, changing his status and making him the focus of the black shadow’s greed.
• Misjudgment and appearances: The shattered blade and battlefield damage make Lin Jun appear dead, while Danglu Lord’s lifeless disguise shows how appearances can be used deceptively.
• The limits of cultivation: Jiyuan’s stalled progress emphasizes how difficult the Grandmaster realm is to reach, even for powerful figures.

Character Interactions

• Lin Jun questions Danglu Lord about bloodline suppression and uses his explanation to formulate a plan.
• Danglu Lord refuses to fight and hides, while Lin Jun accepts his uselessness with sarcastic approval.
• The black shadow confronts Eight-Tail as his ancestor, demanding the fox surrender its newly acquired bloodline. Eight-Tail’s loyalty to Lin Jun intensifies the ancestor’s anger.
• Jiyuan, Zuo Jin, and Jiang Jue discuss the battlefield evidence and Jiyuan’s cultivation. Their reactions shift from concern over Lin Jun’s apparent defeat to confusion about Jiyuan’s strange discovery.

Chapter Summary: “Cause and Effect”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Demon Exorcist Army arrives at the battlefield expecting a desperate confrontation with Zhang Zhen, only to discover that he has already been killed.
• Zhang Zhen’s dried corpse is found and identified, astonishing Jiyuan, Zuo Jin, Jiang Jue, and the rest of the army. The notorious fox demon, who had repeatedly escaped Jinzhou’s forces, has been defeated by the much younger Lin Jun.
• Lin Jun is pursuing a powerful black shadow across the Gobi with a miniature Great Wilderness Mountain. The shadow appears to be an ancient fox demon that has borrowed a body to reincarnate.
• Nine-Tail’s transformation and bloodline exert overwhelming suppression over the black shadow. The Demon Weapon Relic, which had previously served the ancient demon, abandons it and submits to Lin Jun.
• The relic is revealed to have been created for suppression, soul-nurturing, and bloodline refinement. The supposed “Sky Fox Bloodline trial” was a deception: ancient Fox Demon remnant souls lured young fox demons into the ruins, refined their bloodlines, and used those essences to recreate the legendary bloodline.
• The remnant souls had sustained themselves for tens of thousands of years by consuming the accumulated bloodline energy. Their final reserve was used to create the black shadow, while the ancient relic itself has become unstable and is close to breaking apart.
• Lin Jun destroys or severely damages the relic by using the Great Wilderness Mountain to crush the fleeing shadow. He reflects that the Sky Fox Bloodline is likely not as powerful as its legends claim.
• Nine-Tail unexpectedly awakens Self-Awareness after absorbing Zhang Zhen and growing a ninth tail. Lin Jun recognizes this as a significant improvement, since Nine-Tail can now think independently rather than merely obeying commands.
• The Demon Exorcist Army realizes that its planned battle was unnecessary: Zhang Zhen is dead, the ancient fox demon is being subdued, and there is little left for them to do.
• Jiyuan approaches Lin Jun and, pleased that he is comfortable in the Demon Exorcism Bureau, suggests that Lin Jun become a Court Pillar responsible for protecting an entire region.

Character Developments

• Lin Jun: Demonstrates overwhelming combat ability and unusual control over powerful artifacts. He remains calm and pragmatic, showing no concern about damaging the Demon Weapon because it does not belong to him. His understanding of the Qingqiu Ruins deepens, and he begins to be considered worthy of the rank of Court Pillar.
• Nine-Tail: Evolves significantly after absorbing Zhang Zhen. The growth of his ninth tail awakens his Self-Awareness, allowing him to communicate through thought and react with humanlike doubt and curiosity. He is also revealed to possess powerful bloodline-based dominance over other fox demons.
• Jiyuan: His earlier disbelief turns into admiration and relief. Zhang Zhen’s death means Jinzhou will finally enjoy a period of peace. He takes a personal interest in Lin Jun’s future and proposes that he assume greater responsibility.
• Zuo Jin and Jiang Jue: Their expectations of a deadly battle are overturned. Their teasing and banter provide comic relief as they recognize that Lin Jun has resolved the crisis before their army could intervene.
• Zhang Zhen: Though absent for most of the chapter, his death marks the fall of a long-standing threat and demonstrates how far Lin Jun has surpassed expectations.
• The Black Shadow: Revealed to be an ancient fox demon dependent on the relic and its bloodline reserves. Despite its power and age, it is helpless before Nine-Tail’s pure bloodline and Lin Jun’s control of the Great Wilderness Mountain.

Significant Themes

• Cause and effect: The chapter exposes the consequences of Qingqiu’s obsession with restoring its former glory. The Fox Demon remnant souls’ long-term scheme ultimately creates corruption, deception, and instability rather than true revival.
• The danger of legends and false beliefs: The Sky Fox Bloodline is treated as a supreme power, but Lin Jun suspects that the legend was exaggerated, perhaps even by those who believed in it themselves.
• Bloodline hierarchy and inherited power: Nine-Tail’s transformation reveals the immense influence of bloodline purity among demons, allowing him to suppress an ancient and powerful fox demon almost effortlessly.
• The passage of time and decay: Although the relic survived for tens of thousands of years, its remnant souls and structure are finally reaching their limits. Ancient power cannot remain unchanged forever.
• Growth through consciousness: Nine-Tail’s awakening suggests that true strength involves independent thought and self-awareness, not merely physical power or obedience.
• Unexpected reversals: The army prepares for a life-or-death battle but instead finds the enemy already defeated, emphasizing how dramatically Lin Jun’s power has changed the situation.

Character Interactions

• The Demon Exorcist Army jokes with and questions one another upon discovering that the supposedly blind Jiang Jue can apparently see, reinforcing their confusion about the strange battlefield.
• Jiyuan and Zuo Jin react with shock when Zhang Zhen’s corpse is identified, highlighting Zhang Zhen’s former reputation as an almost impossible enemy to capture.
• Lin Jun confronts the black shadow while Nine-Tail’s presence terrifies and suppresses it. The relic’s remnant souls abandon the shadow and submit to Lin Jun.
• Lin Jun speaks to Nine-Tail after noticing his newly awakened intelligence. His casual remark that the Sky Fox Bloodline is “not powerful” causes Nine-Tail to privately question whether he himself is weak.
• Jiang Jue and Zuo Jin exchange sarcastic remarks about arriving too late to contribute, while Jiyuan quietly shares their amusement.
• Jiyuan then speaks seriously with Lin Jun, asking about his life in the Bureau and suggesting that he become a Court Pillar, signaling Lin Jun’s rising status and the beginning of a possible new responsibility.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Jun shows Jiyuan the miniature Great Wilderness Mountain, which is actually the Demon Weapon connected to the Qingqiu Ruins. Its ancient aura and countless suffering remnant souls reveal the danger it once contained.
• Lin Jun explains how he uncovered and neutralized the threat hidden beneath the Boundless Gobi. The Demon Weapon is already deteriorating, so he willingly gives it to Jiyuan to take back to the Demon Exorcism Bureau headquarters in the Capital City for study.
• Jiyuan formally thanks Lin Jun for eliminating the Qingqiu threat, killing Zhang Zhen, and restoring peace to Jinzhou. Lin Jun becomes embarrassed by Jiyuan’s ceremonial praise.
• Lin Jun releases control of the Demon Weapon and brings Nine-Tail back to the Demon Exorcism army. He admits that he could not destroy the mysterious black shadow directly, but used Nine-Tail’s bloodline and the Demon Weapon to suppress and seal it, leaving its fate to Jiyuan.
• The assembled Demon Exorcists celebrate Lin Jun’s achievements. Zuo Jin enthusiastically praises him for killing Zhang Zhen, while Jiang Jue questions how Lin Jun managed to gain control over powerful demons.
• Lin Jun demonstrates his influence by calling over Danglu Lord, a Wolf King who transformed from dead flesh and willingly serves him.
• Before Jiang Jue can fully process this, the Great Wilderness Mountain Fox Clan arrives to submit to the Demon Exorcism Bureau. Their leaders offer the essence blood of the entire clan in exchange for protection and official recognition.
• Zuo Jin explains that the foxes are descendants of the ancient Qingqiu bloodline. They had fled to Great Wilderness Mountain after Jinzhou’s earlier purge of Fox Demons and were once supported by a Demon King.
• Jiang Jue realizes that Lin Jun is responsible for persuading both the Wolf King and the Fox Clan to submit. Overwhelmed by Lin Jun’s accomplishments, he jokingly suggests making Lin Jun the Court Pillar of the Armaments Division.

Character Developments

• Lin Jun demonstrates extraordinary growth, having risen from an ordinary Demon Exorcist to a Quasi-Court Pillar in less than a year. He is also shown to possess unusual talent for earning the loyalty of powerful demons.
• Jiyuan acknowledges Lin Jun’s achievements and treats him as a major contributor to Jinzhou’s security. Though normally dignified, he shows warmth and respect toward Lin Jun and appears eager to bring the Demon Weapon to the Capital City.
• Jiang Jue shifts from questioning Lin Jun’s methods to being astonished and somewhat humbled by them. Lin Jun’s success makes Jiang feel that the Armaments Division’s traditional methods of training demons are inferior.
• Zuo Jin remains boisterous and affectionate, physically congratulating Lin Jun while openly admiring his courage.
• Nine-Tail is established as a powerful Qingqiu-descended demon who follows Lin Jun by choice rather than through ordinary taming.
• Danglu Lord confirms that Lin Jun has gained the voluntary allegiance of other powerful demons.
• The Fox Clan abandons its former independence and seeks protection under the Demon Exorcism Bureau, marking a major political shift for the surviving Qingqiu bloodline.

Significant Themes

• Rapid growth and exceptional talent: Lin Jun’s astonishing advancement challenges everyone’s understanding of what a young Demon Exorcist can accomplish.
• Human-demon cooperation: Rather than simply exterminating demons, Lin Jun earns the loyalty of powerful demon beings, suggesting a new model of coexistence and alliance.
• Authority through merit: Lin Jun’s influence increasingly rivals that of established officials, even though he is technically much younger and less experienced.
• The legacy of ancient powers: The Qingqiu Ruins, Nine-Tail, and the Fox Clan connect the present conflict to the ancient Demon Race and its surviving bloodlines.
• Shifting perceptions of strength: Traditional institutions such as the Armaments Division are forced to reconsider their methods as Lin Jun succeeds where conventional training and control have failed.

Character Interactions

• Lin Jun and Jiyuan discuss the Demon Weapon and Qingqiu Ruins, with Jiyuan expressing gratitude for Lin Jun’s service.
• Jiyuan’s formal praise embarrasses Lin Jun, highlighting their familiar and relatively relaxed relationship.
• Zuo Jin warmly celebrates Lin Jun’s victory over Zhang Zhen, while Jiang Jue interrogates him about his ability to command demons.
• Lin Jun introduces Danglu Lord as proof that demons willingly choose to follow him.
• Jiang Jue initially mistakes the Fox Clan’s appearance for a request for official Mountain God positions, but soon learns that they intend to submit their entire clan.
• When Jiang Jue discovers that Lin Jun orchestrated their submission, he jokingly suggests promoting Lin Jun into his own division, emphasizing how thoroughly Lin Jun has exceeded expectations.

Chapter Summary: “Departure for the Capital City”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Demon Exorcist Army from Brocade City arrives at Great Wilderness Mountain, expecting a battle, but instead finds the local army peacefully listening to the fox demons recount how Lin Jun defeated the Ancient Fox Soul.
• The fox demons are grateful to Lin Jun despite his suppressing their ancestor and restricting their freedom. Lin Jun had actually saved them from both Danglu Lord and their own ancestor, who intended to consume their bloodlines.
• Lin Jun studies the Trial Token and learns that the relic Demon Weapon is deteriorating. It can now smelt only three fox demons at a time and will likely disappear within ten years. The lingering souls inside had viewed Lin Jun, with his Celestial Fox aura, as their last hope.
• Lin Jun confirms that the Wolf King, Danglu Lord, is acting as a spy near the Demon Lord. Jiyuan remains skeptical, while Danglu Lord defensively insists on his loyalty. Lin Jun jokingly compares him to a well-trained house dog.
• Jiyuan announces that he and Lin Jun must travel to the Capital City. Lin Jun’s achievements in Jinzhou are too significant for the local authorities to reward adequately, so the General Directorate will compensate him.
• Lin Jun is offered a Thunder Pool cleansing, a rare opportunity that can strengthen the body and soul, assist breakthroughs, and potentially awaken greater talent. His enormous merits may entitle him to several sessions.
• Jiyuan also promises to obtain Lin Jun new clothing and a replacement saber, emphasizing that Lin Jun will represent Jinzhou before the Capital City and the other states.
• After waiting two days in the desert, Bai Jie arrives with Zuo Huai and Lu Wei. They prepare to depart for the Capital City and the Thunder Pool.
• Zuo Huai mentions that Lin Jun can record his Hammered Core insights for additional merit. Jiyuan is shocked to learn that Lin Jun formed his Golden Core through Hammered Core rather than ordinary Core Condensation.

Character Developments

• Lin Jun: Gains further recognition for defeating the Ancient Fox Soul and preserving the fox demons. His exceptional achievements make him a symbol of Jinzhou’s strength. He is also revealed to possess an unusually advanced cultivation method, having formed his core through Hammered Core at only twenty years old.
• Jiyuan: Becomes increasingly proud and protective of Lin Jun. He intends to secure the best possible rewards for him and use Lin Jun’s accomplishments to restore Jinzhou’s prestige among the other states.
• Danglu Lord: Continues serving as a spy for the Demon Exorcism Bureau but feels insulted by the humans’ distrust and their comparison of him to a house dog. His loyalty is presented humorously, though he remains useful and important.
• Bai Jie: Arrives with a complicated expression, apparently surprised that Lin Jun truly eliminated the fox demons. Her relationship with him remains somewhat tense or uncertain.
• Zuo Huai and Lu Wei: Continue supporting Lin Jun and are preparing to benefit from the Thunder Pool as well. Zuo Huai also recognizes the value of Lin Jun’s cultivation insights.

Significant Themes

• Trust and loyalty: Danglu Lord’s position as a Demon King serving humans challenges assumptions about whether demons and humans can cooperate.
• Freedom versus survival: The fox demons accept the loss of their freedom because Lin Jun saved them from certain death and bloodline destruction.
• Recognition and merit: Lin Jun’s achievements exceed what Jinzhou can reward, highlighting how exceptional accomplishments are measured through official merit and political prestige.
• Regional inequality: Jinzhou’s constant border warfare leaves it with fewer cultivators and fewer Thunder Pool candidates, despite receiving substantial aid from the court.
• Talent and institutional power: The Thunder Pool represents Great Yin’s investment in cultivating powerful Demon Exorcists, while Lin Jun’s Hammered Core achievement suggests he may surpass conventional standards.
• Political reputation: Jiyuan hopes Lin Jun’s presence in the Capital City will force other states to acknowledge Jinzhou’s strength and talent.

Character Interactions

• The local and Brocade City armies listen together as the fox demons praise Lin Jun, creating an unusual scene of humans and demons united in admiration.
• Jiyuan questions Lin Jun about Danglu Lord’s reliability, prompting Danglu Lord’s indignant defense of his loyalty and Lin Jun’s teasing response.
• Jiyuan encourages Lin Jun to accept the Thunder Pool cleansing and promises to secure him equipment and rewards.
• Bai Jie, Zuo Huai, and Lu Wei join Lin Jun and Jiyuan for the journey, with Zuo Huai explaining additional ways Lin Jun can earn merit.
• Jiyuan’s astonishment at Lin Jun’s Hammered Core method reinforces how extraordinary Lin Jun’s cultivation is and raises expectations for his reception in the Capital City.

Chapter Summary: A Chance Encounter on the Road

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiyuan separates from Bai Jie’s group because, as a Half-Step Grandmaster, he travels much faster and must reach the Capital City quickly.
• Bai Jie, her disciples, and Lin Jun’s group continue toward the Capital City, expecting the journey to take about a month.
• Lin Jun learns that his achievements, demon-slaying record, Core-Embracing cultivation, and the old general’s recommendation make him a strong candidate for a Court Pillar position in the General Directorate.
• Bai Jie suggests that Lin Jun replace Jiang Jue, but Lin Jun declines, showing little interest in status or political advancement.
• The group encounters Song Zhen, an elderly Divine-Soul Warrior from Bingzhou, traveling on a massive crane demon with his veiled disciple, Ming Xiao. Ming Xiao is heading to the Thunder Pool to attempt Core Condensation.
• Zuo Huai explains the distinction between the martial traditions of Jinzhou and Bingzhou:
  • Jinzhou emphasizes physical-body cultivation.
  • Bingzhou focuses on cultivating the Human Soul, which its practitioners call the Divine Soul.
  • Some monks and Daoists, such as Huijue and the people of Sunrise Temple, are considered partial Divine-Soul Warriors.
• Song Zhen probes Bai Jie about Jinzhou’s critically ill Grand Marshal, apparently checking whether Jinzhou is seeking assistance from Bingzhou. Bai Jie assures him that the trip is only for her disciples to undergo cleansing at the Thunder Pool.
• Song Zhen and Bai Jie exchange competitive remarks rooted in the long-standing rivalry between Bingzhou and Jinzhou. Song Zhen challenges Bai Jie to a race to the Capital City, then departs on his crane.
• Rather than accept Bingzhou’s superiority, Lin Jun proposes competing. The chapter ends with Song Zhen discovering that a gigantic, many-tailed fox is rapidly pursuing him—apparently Lin Jun’s group using the Celestial Fox to travel.

Character Developments

• Lin Jun: Displays remarkable composure and humility by rejecting the chance to take Jiang Jue’s position. He remains focused on cultivation and practical matters rather than authority or fame. His willingness to challenge Song Zhen also reveals a competitive streak and confidence in his resources.
• Bai Jie: Acts as a mentor and political guide to Lin Jun, explaining the significance of Court Pillar appointments and the differences between regional martial traditions. She is distrustful of Bingzhou and familiar with its political maneuvering.
• Zuo Huai: Provides useful background about Divine-Soul Warriors and the rivalry between Jinzhou and Bingzhou, while also contributing humor to the conversation.
• Song Zhen: Introduced as powerful, proud, and somewhat childish in his competitiveness. He initially dismisses Lin Jun as a young junior but quickly becomes shocked by the appearance of the enormous multi-tailed fox.
• Ming Xiao: Remains mostly quiet, but her status as a fifty-year-old disciple preparing for Core Condensation emphasizes the unusual youth and advancement of Lin Jun.
• Lu Wei and Nine-Tail: Lu Wei continues caring for Nine-Tail, while Nine-Tail’s true significance becomes increasingly apparent. Her size, speed, and many tails astonish Song Zhen and imply great future power.

Significant Themes

• Humility versus prestige: Lin Jun’s indifference toward the Court Pillar position contrasts with the importance others place on rank and resources.
• Regional rivalry: The apparent unity of Great Yin conceals competition and friction between Jinzhou and Bingzhou, particularly over martial traditions and relative strength.
• Different paths of cultivation: The chapter contrasts Jinzhou’s dangerous body-tempering methods with Bingzhou’s Divine-Soul cultivation, suggesting that neither path is unquestionably superior.
• Youth and talent: Lin Jun’s age and accomplishments surprise others, especially when compared with Ming Xiao’s decades of cultivation.
• Hidden power and expectations: Nine-Tail’s mysterious origins and rapidly emerging abilities hint that she may become a major force as she matures.

Character Interactions

• Lin Jun and Bai Jie discuss his possible promotion, revealing their mentor-like relationship and Lin Jun’s lack of ambition for official status.
• Bai Jie, Zuo Huai, and Lin Jun discuss regional martial systems and the meaning of Divine-Soul cultivation.
• Song Zhen intrudes into the group’s journey, teasing Bai Jie and questioning her intentions, while Bai Jie responds cautiously because of the political tension between their provinces.
• Song Zhen patronizes Lin Jun as an inexperienced junior, unaware of his capabilities and his connection to the powerful Celestial Fox.
• Bai Jie accepts Song Zhen’s offer of transportation partly to unsettle him, turning the encounter into a race that Lin Jun escalates with Nine-Tail’s unexpected speed.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Zhen and his disciple Ming Xiao pursue Bai Jie’s group toward the Capital City. Song Zhen is enraged that their domesticated Nine-Tailed Fox, Nine-Tail, can outrun his white crane, repeatedly slowing down just to prevent him from overtaking them.
• During the journey, Lin Jun asks about Song Zhen’s ability to fly. Bai Jie explains that Divine-Soul Warriors can ride the air once they reach the Transcendent realm, but their bodies are physically weak and vulnerable at close range.
• Bai Jie warns Lin Jun not to abandon martial-body cultivation for the Divine-Soul path. She emphasizes that cultivating both body and spirit requires too much time and effort, though Divine-Soul cultivation can be used as a secondary method.
• Fifteen days later, the group reaches the Capital City. Lin Jun conceals Nine-Tail before entering so that the fox will not cause alarm.
• Song Zhen catches up, exhausted and frustrated, but quickly becomes friendly. Bai Jie asks him to look after Lin Jun while she and the others report intelligence to the Marshal.
• Song Zhen takes Lin Jun and Ming Xiao into the city. He explains that the Demon Exorcism Bureau Headquarters governs the bureaus throughout Great Yin and that the cleansing ceremony will not begin for another half month.
• Song Zhen leaves with Ming Xiao to familiarize her with the area and prepare for her Thunder Pool cleansing, leaving Lin Jun alone at the inn. Lin Jun plans how to use his 120,000 experience points and intends to investigate Nine-Tail’s abilities.
• At the Headquarters’ Internal Affairs Office, officials evaluate the merits of martial artists attending the cleansing. Ming Xiao’s achievement of reaching Core Condensation at fifty draws considerable attention, and the officials prepare to reward her heavily.
• Lin Jun’s merit record causes confusion and disbelief. It credits him with killing Zhang Zhen and his son and suppressing the ancient soul of Qingqiu, with the report signed by General Jiyuan. The officials initially suspect fabrication but realize the information is genuine.
• Upon seeing that Lin Jun is only twenty years old, the officials are left stunned, leading to the chapter’s concluding reaction: “What the hell is this?”

Character Developments

• Lin Jun: Shows curiosity about different cultivation paths but ultimately reassures Bai Jie that he understands the importance of maintaining his martial foundation. His enormous merit record hints that his abilities and accomplishments far exceed what others expect from someone his age.
• Bai Jie: Acts as a mentor and protector toward Lin Jun. She worries that the more comfortable and impressive Divine-Soul cultivation might tempt him away from physical martial training. She also demonstrates strategic awareness by separating Lin Jun from the group and entrusting him to Song Zhen.
• Song Zhen: Begins as competitive and resentful, especially after being outpaced by Nine-Tail, but quickly becomes hospitable once given responsibility for Lin Jun. His pride in Ming Xiao is evident as he brings her to the Capital City to secure recognition and resources.
• Ming Xiao: Is presented as an exceptionally talented young martial artist who reached Core Condensation at age fifty. Her upcoming Thunder Pool cleansing is important to both her development and Bingzhou’s reputation.
• Zuo Huai and Lu Wei: Support Bai Jie’s warning and help persuade Lin Jun to remain focused on martial cultivation.
• The Capital officials: Shift from routine evaluation to shock when confronted with Lin Jun’s extraordinary accomplishments and young age.

Significant Themes

• Physical cultivation versus Divine-Soul cultivation: The chapter contrasts the harsh but reliable path of bodily martial training with the more effortless yet physically fragile Divine-Soul path.
• Talent and reputation: Ming Xiao’s achievement is considered extraordinary, but Lin Jun’s record suggests an even more startling level of talent, challenging the officials’ expectations.
• Regional rivalry and cooperation: Jinzhou and Bingzhou have longstanding tensions, yet their demon exorcists still cooperate professionally. Song Zhen’s rivalry with Bai Jie also carries a playful, competitive quality.
• Hidden strength and misunderstanding: Lin Jun appears to be an ordinary young martial artist, but his documented feats—including defeating powerful enemies and suppressing an ancient soul—make him difficult for others to comprehend.
• Recognition and political value: The cleansing and the evaluation of merits are tied not only to personal cultivation but also to provincial prestige, future resources, and influence within the Demon Exorcism Bureau.

Important Character Interactions

• Bai Jie and Lin Jun discuss the dangers and limitations of Divine-Soul cultivation, revealing Bai Jie’s concern for his future.
• Zuo Huai and Lu Wei reinforce Bai Jie’s advice, encouraging Lin Jun to focus on becoming powerful through his own body.
• Bai Jie deliberately entrusts Lin Jun to Song Zhen, showing trust despite the rivalry between their regions.
• Song Zhen’s competitive pursuit of Bai Jie’s group becomes comic relief, especially because Nine-Tail effortlessly outpaces his white crane.
• The Capital officials’ reaction to Lin Jun’s record establishes a major mystery and builds anticipation for how the city will respond to his arrival.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Two elderly officials review records about Lin Jun and are shocked by his extraordinary achievements. His listed merits are enough for nine rounds of Thunder Pool tempering, despite the fact that he achieved Core Condensation without relying on the pool.
• The records also claim that Lin Jun killed Zhang Zhen and suppressed the remnants of Qingqiu’s souls. Doubting the report, one old man verifies the information in the archives and confirms that it is genuine.
• Meanwhile, Lin Jun begins cultivating the Deathward Eye Origin True Scripture, a Divine Soul martial art at the Core-Embracing Realm.
• He rejects the option of abandoning his physical body to pursue pure Divine Soul cultivation, preferring his powerful body and close-combat fighting style. He also chooses not to upgrade Blood-Transforming Astral Wind yet.
• Through cultivation, Lin Jun develops Deathward True Qi, a special energy associated with Divine-Soul Warriors. He demonstrates its power by lifting objects from a distance with an invisible force.
• After years of simulated effort and experimentation, Lin Jun reaches major accomplishment in the technique.
• By directing Deathward True Qi into his eyes, he gains a strange vision of the world in black and white, with colored dots marking vulnerabilities called Death Gates.
• Touching a Death Gate causes an object to disintegrate and would allow him to kill or cripple living targets. The technique is especially deadly against weaker opponents, though stronger martial artists may have fewer or dimmer Death Gates.
• Lin Jun considers combining Deathward True Qi with Astral Qi but postpones experimentation until he leaves the Capital City to avoid attracting attention.

Character Developments

• Lin Jun is portrayed as an unprecedented martial prodigy who has reached Core Condensation through his own strength. His cultivation continues to expand beyond physical martial arts into the mysterious Divine Soul path.
• He demonstrates caution and strategic judgment by refusing to abandon his body, delaying the enhancement of Blood-Transforming Astral Wind, and preserving his remaining experience points for future needs.
• Lin Jun’s understanding of martial cultivation deepens as he learns how Divine Soul Warriors use true qi and discovers the lethal potential of the Deathward Eye.
• The two elderly officials shift from disbelief to stunned acceptance after independently confirming Lin Jun’s accomplishments. Their reaction emphasizes how abnormal his achievements are.
• Bai Jie, though absent from the chapter, has previously helped Lin Jun understand the nature of Divine-Soul Warriors.

Significant Themes

• Extraordinary talent and disbelief: Lin Jun’s accomplishments are so extreme that even experienced officials initially assume the records must be false.
• Multiple paths to power: The chapter contrasts physical martial cultivation with Divine Soul cultivation, presenting neither as absolutely superior but emphasizing their different strengths and weaknesses.
• Power versus restraint: Lin Jun gains a terrifying killing technique but chooses not to recklessly test or expand it in the Capital City.
• The nature of death and vulnerability: The Deathward Eye reveals hidden “Death Gates,” suggesting that all beings possess points of weakness and that mastery comes from perceiving and exploiting them.
• Accumulation and long-term planning: Lin Jun avoids spending all his resources immediately, showing that disciplined preparation is as important as raw strength.

Character Interactions

• The elderly officials discuss and investigate Lin Jun’s achievements, with one challenging the report’s authenticity and the other verifying it through official archives.
• Lin Jun’s earlier interaction with Bai Jie shapes his decision regarding Divine Soul cultivation.
• His practical interactions with objects—the cabinet, teacup, and stool—allow him to test and understand Deathward True Qi before observing its effects on martial artists and ordinary civilians.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fifteen days after the previous events, the Thunder Pool cleansing begins, an event held once every three years.
• Song Zhen takes Lin Jun to Thunderclap Mountain, a massive mountain artificially created by Great Yin’s ancient Void-Refining Martial Saints. The mountain houses the Thunder Pool, an inverted pool of lightning used to temper martial artists.
• Although Song Zhen initially expects Lin Jun to observe a Core Condensation cleansing, officials recognize Lin Jun and reveal that he is eligible for the higher-level cleansing at Thunder Echo Mountain.
• Song Zhen realizes that Lin Jun is already a Core-Embracing Realm martial artist, despite being only twenty years old. He is shocked and embarrassed because he had previously boasted about his own disciple to Bai Jie.
• Lin Jun chooses to undergo all nine rounds of lightning cleansing at once, despite the officials warning that the process could kill him.
• The attending elders assume Lin Jun is unable to endure the lightning because each bolt immediately returns to the sky rather than remaining in his body.
• In reality, Lin Jun uses the Nine-Tail within him to seize strands of Divine Thunder and channel them into his Golden Core.
• The lightning creates nine patterns or cracks across the Golden Core, allowing Lin Jun to shatter it. He then uses the ninth bolt of Divine Thunder to reforge the core.
• The reforged core becomes a crystalline “Jade Core” containing a miniature bolt of lightning, which continues tempering Lin Jun’s body and Divine Soul.
• Lin Jun successfully breaks through into the Earth Core Realm. A phantom resembling him appears beside the Jade Core, marking the emergence of his Human Soul or Divine Soul.

Character Developments

• Lin Jun: Demonstrates immense confidence, endurance, and hidden control over the Divine Thunder. His apparent recklessness is actually calculated, as he uses the cleansing to complete a major breakthrough rather than merely temper his body. He advances from the Core-Embracing Realm into the Earth Core Realm and develops a powerful Jade Core and Human Soul.
• Song Zhen: Begins as Lin Jun’s guide and mentor-like companion but becomes increasingly astonished by Lin Jun’s talent. His pride turns to embarrassment when he discovers that Lin Jun is far more advanced than expected.
• The Internal Affairs elders: Initially regard Lin Jun as arrogant and worry that he lacks the will to withstand the cleansing. Their misunderstanding highlights how extraordinary and unconventional Lin Jun’s cultivation method is.
• Bai Jie: Does not appear directly, but Song Zhen’s recollection of Bai Jie’s strange reaction suggests that Bai Jie already knew or suspected Lin Jun’s exceptional cultivation level.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and misjudgment: Lin Jun’s actions appear foolish or weak to observers, but he is secretly manipulating the lightning for a much greater purpose.
• Talent versus perseverance: The elders debate whether Lin Jun’s confidence reflects true ability or empty arrogance. His success proves that extraordinary talent can be accompanied by extraordinary resolve.
• Transformation through destruction: Lin Jun must shatter his Golden Core before reforging it into a stronger Jade Core, reflecting the theme that advancement requires abandoning an old foundation.
• The legacy of powerful ancestors: Thunderclap Mountain and the Thunder Pool demonstrate the overwhelming power left behind by Great Yin’s ancient Martial Saints.
• The limits of conventional understanding: The elders interpret the lightning’s behavior using ordinary assumptions, while Lin Jun’s unique abilities allow him to achieve something they consider impossible.

Character Interactions

• Song Zhen escorts Lin Jun to the Thunder Pool and attempts to educate him about Thunderclap Mountain and the cleansing ritual.
• An official interrupts Song Zhen’s explanation by identifying Lin Jun as a candidate for Thunder Echo Mountain’s higher-level cleansing.
• Song Zhen reacts with disbelief when he realizes Lin Jun has reached the Core-Embracing Realm at an exceptionally young age.
• The two elders discuss Lin Jun’s apparent arrogance and devise a plan to humble him, only to misunderstand his success.
• Lin Jun respectfully rejects the elders’ caution and insists on completing all nine cleansing rounds, silently using the lightning to break through into the Earth Core Realm.

Chapter Summary: “Headquarters Court Pillar”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Lin Jun completes his trial at Thunder Echo Mountain, the two elder guardians assume he has failed to gain much from the experience and attempt to comfort him.
• Once Lin Jun leaves, they discover that he has nearly drained the entire Thunder Pool of divine thunder. Shocked by the scale of his consumption, they temporarily close Thunder Echo Mountain to replenish it.
• Lin Jun meets Zuo Huai, who explains that their superiors are holding secret discussions with the Marshal. With free time available, Zuo Huai takes Lin Jun through the Capital City.
• They visit a massive temple where Martial Dao Golden Bodies are being forged. Zuo Huai explains that becoming a Court Pillar usually requires an assessment involving the escort of one of these Golden Bodies to the border—a dangerous mission because demons and fiends covet the materials.
• Meanwhile, at the Capital City headquarters’ Medical Department, Bai Jie, Jiyuan, and the supposedly gravely ill Jinzhou Marshal Chen Dao meet in secret.
• Jiyuan presents Chen Dao with detailed intelligence on the Cicada Lord, obtained through a Wolf King whom Lin Jun planted as an undercover agent.
• Jiyuan recounts Lin Jun’s recent accomplishments: resolving Zhang Zhen’s rebellion, eliminating Qingqiu’s remnant soul, and slaughtering demons from Green Forest County to the Boundless Gobi.
• Jiyuan formally recommends Lin Jun for promotion to Court Pillar. Bai Jie suggests removing Jiang Jue from the Armaments Division position to make room for him.
• Instead, Chen Dao proposes appointing Lin Jun to the vacant Headquarters Court Pillar position. Bai Jie and Jiyuan immediately object, warning that the post has historically been extremely dangerous and that its holders rarely survive more than ten years.

Character Developments

• Lin Jun: Demonstrates extraordinary endurance and capacity during the Thunder Echo Mountain trial by consuming almost the entire Thunder Pool. His achievements, judgment, courage, and tactical intelligence establish him as an exceptional candidate for advancement.
• Zuo Huai: Acts as Lin Jun’s guide and mentor, explaining the significance of the Martial Dao Golden Bodies and the responsibilities awaiting a future Court Pillar. He openly envies Lin Jun’s clear path toward promotion.
• Jiyuan: Shows strong confidence in Lin Jun, praising his decisiveness, caution, talent, and ability to eliminate future threats. He takes responsibility for recommending Lin Jun to headquarters.
• Bai Jie: Remains protective of Lin Jun and concerned that promoting him too quickly could lead to his death, especially after already losing Yang Wan.
• Chen Dao: Reveals that his weak, dying appearance was largely a performance based on a genuine injury. He carefully evaluates Lin Jun’s potential and makes the bold proposal to appoint him to the most dangerous vacant Court Pillar post.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and underestimated ability: Lin Jun’s apparent failure at Thunder Echo Mountain is revealed to be an astonishing success, emphasizing that his abilities exceed others’ expectations.
• Talent versus risk: Lin Jun’s remarkable potential makes him suitable for a major position, but the promotion could place him in a role with a notoriously high mortality rate.
• Merit and advancement: The chapter explores how courage, ability, judgment, luck, and service determine whether someone can become a Court Pillar.
• Political maneuvering: Lin Jun’s promotion depends not only on his accomplishments but also on negotiations among powerful figures and decisions regarding existing positions.
• The burden of power: Becoming a Court Pillar brings prestige but also dangerous obligations, particularly the responsibility to defend the realm against demons and fiends.

Character Interactions

• The elder guardians misunderstand Lin Jun’s results and comfort him, only to discover afterward that he has achieved something extraordinary.
• Zuo Huai and Lin Jun bond while walking through the Capital City, with Zuo Huai explaining the traditions and dangers surrounding Court Pillars.
• Jiyuan briefs Chen Dao and Bai Jie on Lin Jun’s accomplishments and intelligence network, strengthening the case for his promotion.
• Bai Jie and Jiyuan unite in opposing Chen Dao’s suggestion that Lin Jun take the Headquarters Court Pillar position, fearing the role will destroy a promising young warrior before he fully matures.

Chapter Summary: “New Official Takes Office”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Marshal Chen Dao explains that Jinzhou is vulnerable: the Jinzhou Marshal is badly wounded, and a newly appointed, inexperienced Court Pillar is taking office. The border’s Demon Lord may exploit this weakness and invade.
• Chen Dao reveals that the apparent crisis is partly intentional. He believes the Demon Lord wants to attack Jinzhou for reasons beyond targeting Human Medicine martial artists, and that drawing him out may expose the hidden Cicada Lord threatening Jinzhou.
• Because the plan could place Lin Jun in serious danger, Chen Dao asks to speak with him personally rather than forcing him into the role.
• Bai Jie presents Chen Dao with the Seven-Colored Flowing Radiance Bow, which contains her essence blood. Chen Dao removes its Demon Mark, making it usable by an ordinary martial artist.
• Chen Dao also gives Lin Jun a Flood Dragon bone blade blank, named Abyssal Inquiry, which Lin Jun can forge into a weapon suited to his unusual horse-chopping saber style.
• Lin Jun is offered the position of Headquarters Court Pillar in Jinzhou. Despite the danger and Bai Jie’s warnings, he accepts immediately.
• Chen Dao gives Lin Jun a crimson token and orders him to report to the General Directorate. As part of the official tradition, Lin Jun must transport Chen Dao’s Martial Dao Golden Body to Fufeng Commandery.
• The Golden Body is needed because the Pressing Dragon River is becoming active again, and Fufeng’s newly appointed Court Pillar cannot suppress the ancient Demon Dragon there.
• Bai Jie explains that Martial Dao Golden Bodies can absorb Incense Power and allow other Demon Exorcists to borrow the power of their creator. A Grandmaster can even leave part of their Human Soul inside one, effectively allowing others to borrow their strength.

Character Developments

• Chen Dao appears frail and weakened but is shown to be politically astute and willing to take calculated risks to protect Jinzhou. He respects Lin Jun’s autonomy and offers him valuable weapons as compensation for the danger.
• Lin Jun demonstrates decisiveness and a strong willingness to take responsibility. He accepts the Court Pillar position without hesitation, partly because the dangerous border will give him more opportunities to kill demons and gain experience.
• Bai Jie shows concern for Lin Jun’s safety and initially hopes he will refuse the appointment. She also gives him the powerful bow and continues helping him understand the wider situation.
• Jiyuan is reminded of how serious Jinzhou’s military weakness has become, while Chen Dao’s explanation reveals that he lacks complete knowledge of the border’s hidden dangers.

Significant Themes

• Duty versus personal safety: Lin Jun chooses to face danger rather than pursue a safer path of cultivation.
• Political strategy and calculated sacrifice: Chen Dao deliberately uses Jinzhou’s apparent weakness to lure out the Demon Lord and possibly the Cicada Lord.
• The burden of leadership: Taking the Court Pillar position means accepting responsibility for a region threatened by both external demons and internal conspiracies.
• Weapons and individual identity: Since a martial artist’s weapon is closely tied to their fighting style, Lin Jun’s custom blade represents his unusual path and growing power.
• Hidden systems of power: The explanation of Golden Bodies expands the chapter’s depiction of how martial authority, Incense Power, and Grandmasters’ souls support Demon Exorcists.

Character Interactions

• Chen Dao and Jiyuan discuss the military weakness of Jinzhou and the likely reaction of the border Demon Lord.
• Bai Jie and Jiyuan worry about the danger Lin Jun will face, while Chen Dao insists on allowing Lin Jun to choose for himself.
• Chen Dao meets Lin Jun, tests his resolve, and offers him the Court Pillar position. Lin Jun accepts, surprising Chen Dao with his lack of hesitation.
• Chen Dao equips Lin Jun with the purified bow, the Abyssal Inquiry blade blank, and the official token.
• Afterward, Bai Jie teases Lin Jun for disregarding his safety, thanks him for accepting the appointment, and explains the true purpose of the Martial Dao Golden Body and the danger facing Fufeng Commandery.

Chapter Summary: “Dragon-Climbing Tower”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Jun leaves the Capital City after completing his formalities at the General Directorate, escorting a Golden Body by ship toward Fufeng Commandery.
• Because of its unusual materials, the Golden Body cannot be stored in a banner and must remain on the ship.
• After Lin Jun’s departure, Jiyuan questions Marshal Chen Dao’s decision to appoint Lin Jun as a Court Pillar and send him to deliver the Golden Body near the dangerous Pressing Dragon River. Jiyuan suspects Chen Dao may be deliberately placing Lin Jun in danger.
• Chen Dao explains that the Flood Dragon currently cannot act and that Lin Jun’s delivery is meant mainly as a warning: the authorities are watching the Flood Dragon. He denies intentionally giving Lin Jun a blade connected to the Flood Dragon’s blood.
• Jiyuan remains worried that the Flood Dragon might cooperate with Cicada Lord or attract the attention of powerful demons from the Eastern Sea.
• After ten peaceful days of travel, Lin Jun’s ship reaches the Pressing Dragon River. The local demons avoid attacking because they recognize that only a Court Pillar would escort a Golden Body.
• Lin Jun reflects on his new status. Although he is only twenty, his achievements have earned him the title of Court Pillar and the service of thirty-three Demon Exorcists. However, the authority and luxury quickly bore him because they are less satisfying than fighting demons.
• Lin Jun detects a strong demonic aura mixed with the scent of human blood. He orders the ship to stop and goes ashore alone to investigate.
• Using Nine-Tail, Lin Jun disguises himself as a powerful demon and follows the aura to a newly built three-story establishment called the Dragon-Climbing Tower.
• The building is hosting a lavish celebration with musicians and opera performances. A rabbit demon explains that the celebration is for the awakening of the Dragon Lord suppressed beneath the Pressing Dragon River.
• According to the rabbit demon, the Dragon Lord has begun restoring his severed body and is expected to reclaim control of the region. The celebration was arranged by the Dragon Lord’s “Third Young Master” to announce his return and encourage demons to pledge allegiance.
• The rabbit demon claims the Demon Exorcism Bureau is powerless because the local Court Pillar is supposedly bedridden. Lin Jun, concealing his identity, enters the Dragon-Climbing Tower to investigate.

Character Developments

• Lin Jun: His promotion to Court Pillar has transformed how others treat him, but he remains emotionally detached from status and privilege. His boredom shows that he is most comfortable in dangerous action rather than ceremonial authority. He also demonstrates caution and intelligence by disguising himself before entering the demon gathering.
• Chen Dao: He appears pragmatic rather than malicious. Though his decisions place Lin Jun in danger, he claims to be using the delivery as a political warning to the Flood Dragon. His concern about the Flood Dragon and Cicada Lord reveals that he is managing a larger, delicate conflict.
• Jiyuan: Jiyuan acts as a skeptical and protective voice, questioning Chen Dao’s motives and worrying about the consequences of provoking powerful demons. His anxiety emphasizes the seriousness of the situation.
• The rabbit demon: It is opportunistic and eager to benefit from the Dragon Lord’s apparent resurgence. Its enthusiastic support reveals how quickly minor demons may shift their allegiance when they believe power is changing hands.
• The Demon Exorcists: They respect and fear Lin Jun because of his extraordinary age, accomplishments, and authority, highlighting how unusual his rise has been.

Significant Themes

• Power and authority: Lin Jun’s new title commands instant respect, but the chapter questions whether official status alone is meaningful or satisfying.
• Political maneuvering: Chen Dao’s decision to send Lin Jun is part of a broader attempt to monitor and pressure the Flood Dragon without provoking open conflict.
• Resurgence of old powers: The awakening of a Dragon Lord from the previous dynasty suggests that buried forces and former regimes may be returning.
• Appearance versus reality: Lin Jun appears to be an ordinary visitor—or a demon—through disguise, while the rabbit demon mistakes his identity and intentions. Similarly, the claim that the Court Pillar is bedridden may conceal the truth.
• Fear and opportunism: The demons celebrating the Dragon Lord’s return are motivated less by loyalty than by the possibility of gaining power and rewards.

Important Character Interactions

• Chen Dao and Jiyuan: Jiyuan challenges Chen Dao’s judgment, while Chen Dao defends his strategy and denies intentionally setting Lin Jun against the Flood Dragon.
• Lin Jun and his attendants: The Demon Exorcists treat Lin Jun with formal respect, reinforcing the social distance created by his promotion.
• Lin Jun and the rabbit demon: Lin Jun questions the rabbit demon about the gathering while hiding his identity. The rabbit demon enthusiastically reveals the Dragon Lord’s awakening and the supposed weakness of the Demon Exorcism Bureau.
• Lin Jun and the emerging Dragon Clan: Though Lin Jun has not yet confronted the Dragon Lord, his arrival at the Dragon-Climbing Tower places him directly inside the Dragon Clan’s public attempt to reclaim influence over the Pressing Dragon River.

Summary of “Liu Wei’s Death”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Jun enters Dragon-Climbing Tower, a tavern-like venue filled with demons and human collaborators celebrating the Dragon Lord’s return.
• He is mistaken for a powerful demon lord because of his overwhelming aura and is allowed upstairs without an invitation.
• A demon offers Lin Jun a human infant as food, revealing the cruelty and depravity of the demons and their human servants. Lin Jun suppresses his anger, dismisses the offering, and silently memorizes everyone present.
• Liu Wei, a human scholar from a prominent family, arrives with a lavish procession to demonstrate his loyalty to the Dragon Lord. He brings captured Jingya Sect disciples and offers them to the demons as slaves, livestock, or food.
• Liu Wei humiliates the captives, forcing one to crawl and bark while the demons mock and kick them.
• He then presents Chongyue, a powerful figure associated with Fufeng Commandery’s Court Pillar and an old enemy of the Third Young Master, claiming that his family has subdued him.
• Liu Wei’s actions publicly align the noble clans of Fufeng Commandery with the demons and against the Demon Exorcism Bureau.
• When Liu Wei attempts to force Chongyue to bark, Lin Jun intervenes. He declares that he wants all the captured disciples—and Liu Wei himself.
• Liu Wei recognizes Lin Jun as Lord Lin, the Headquarters Court Pillar, and realizes that he has unknowingly insulted and threatened an overwhelmingly powerful enemy.
• Before Liu Wei can react, Lin Jun kills him instantly by severing his head. The chapter ends with the demons’ realization of Lin Jun’s true identity and their terrified screams.

Character Developments

• Lin Jun: His controlled disgust at the infant offering and the abuse of captives shows his moral opposition to the demons’ brutality. He remains calm and observant until Liu Wei’s cruelty forces him to act. His true identity and immense power are revealed dramatically.
• Liu Wei: Initially appears as a submissive, calculating opportunist seeking protection by flattering the Dragon Lord. His willingness to sacrifice prisoners and degrade Chongyue exposes his ruthlessness and political ambition. His confidence collapses when he recognizes Lin Jun, but his fear comes too late.
• Chongyue: Reduced from a powerful military figure to a captive treated like an animal, emphasizing the demons’ dominance and Liu Wei’s treachery.
• The demons: Their mockery and eagerness to consume or abuse humans reveal their savagery. Their confidence turns instantly to terror once Lin Jun’s identity becomes clear.
• Human collaborators: Their presence demonstrates that the demons’ power is supported not only by monsters but also by opportunistic human clans willing to betray their own people.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal and political opportunism: Liu Wei and the Fufeng Commandery clans abandon human authorities to side with the rising Dragon Lord.
• Dehumanization: Humans are treated as food, slaves, entertainment, and animals, while Liu Wei deliberately participates in this degradation to gain favor.
• Hidden identity and power: Lin Jun’s disguise allows him to observe the demons from within, while his eventual revelation reverses the power dynamic.
• Moral restraint versus cruelty: Lin Jun’s silence and controlled anger contrast with Liu Wei’s enthusiastic participation in torture and humiliation.
• The consequences of choosing sides: Liu Wei believes aligning with the stronger faction will secure his family’s future, but his betrayal instead leads directly to his death.

Character Interactions

• The rabbit demon respectfully escorts Lin Jun upstairs after sensing his strength, while other demons speculate about his origins.
• Minor demons offer Lin Jun a newborn as food, exposing the customs and expectations of the gathering.
• Liu Wei flatters the demons despite their insults, presenting prisoners as gifts to prove his loyalty.
• The demons enthusiastically participate in humiliating the Jingya Sect disciples.
• Liu Wei attempts to use Chongyue as a final offering and tries to make him bark, prompting Lin Jun’s intervention.
• Lin Jun and Liu Wei engage in a tense verbal exchange in which Lin Jun turns Liu Wei’s own language against him by claiming Liu Wei as something he wants.
• Liu Wei recognizes Lin Jun only moments before Lin Jun kills him, transforming the banquet from a celebration into a scene of panic.